"Is this really necessary?" Théadan griped, as the two guards held him to a wall and secured his chains through some metal pegs to keep him from moving. Not long after Navia and Yousef had left, Théadan had received another visitor to his cell making it three in two days. He was popular man to visit it seemed, though having agreed with Navia to not be sarcastic in front of others, he duly kept that thought to himself. Instead watching as the guards finished making sure he was restrained and crossed over the room to leave the cell, making way for the older looking Khluri man who walked in carrying a wooden chair which he set down between him and the door. He must have been in his fifties, Théadan couldn't be entirely sure, but he had a lot of grey hairs, more than he had seen on most older looking Khluri's, so it seemed a fair assumption. His clothing was just all neat and proper, colouful with it's purples and silvers, and with a number of jewels tied woven into the chest piece just to make him appear that much more important, or so Théadan presumed. What he could tell was this man did not like a thing to be out of place. No creases, everything perfectly symmetrical.<br/><br/>He was one of the advisors to the King, Marek as Navia had called him, one he had briefly met yesterday before being dragged away. Hesat down on the chair before him, crossing his legs and resting his hands at his waist lacing his fingers together as his eyes studied Théadan. More than likely he was assessing him just as Théadan had been doing so to him. "You waged a war against us, murdering thousands of our people. Yes, it's necessary." He remarked, his tone matter of fact. "You and our dear<i>sitvati</i>are the talk of the palace at the moment. People are equally joyous to see her return, and horrified to see you arrive with her." The guards shut the door leaving the two of them alone for the time being. Clearly chained to the wall as he was, he could be of no threat to this man. "Théadan Rúl, I am Marek Bakar, advisor to the King, and it is my job to ascertain what threat you are to our nation."<br/><br/>Théadan could not recall hearing his name before, but he was important, and he was one of the people he had to impress if he was to leave this cell. They were worried he was a threat to their nation, somehow he had to prove otherwise. "Now I have questions, all of which I expect answers from, and it will be in your best interest to give me those answers, for if you do not, I assure you, that window will be the only link to the outside world you'll have for the rest of your life." Marek pointed to the window above Théadan's head to make his head, and then shifted in his chair to sit up properly and keep a straight back. "Now lets begin. Why have you come to Khlurios?"<br/><br/>"To be with Navia, living a safe and free life away from my family, and close to the people she loves." It was the honest answer, maybe Marek was expecting something different, but that was the truth of it.<br/><br/>"You will never be safe within Khlurios." Came another matter of fact reply. Still Marek's brow furrowed as he cocked his head. "Your crimes are far too great for that. Bloodthirsty though you maybe, that does not mean you are a complete fool." He said suspiciously, wondering what the real reason was, what alternative would make sense? "What is Mes'Mo'Tan planning?"<br/><br/>Théadan struggled to suppress a laugh. It had been months since they had left, and when they had Mes'Mo'Tan had only just finished celebrating their victory over Khlurios. "Nothing as far as I know." He shrugged, not meaning to be condescending with his mannerisms. "I have parted ways from my family. These scars you see are not all from war, many are their idea of how to teach." He held open his hands so he could see the most recent of them, burns that would not have come from battle. "Navia and I left the moment my brother died, it was the only way I could guarantee her safety, and-."<br/><br/>"And yours." Interrupted Marek, finding that to be a much more believable answer. The prince was seeking to keep himself safe. He was a scarred man, many will have come from war, but some may have come from his own family. Perhaps it was his brother who scarred him so? Perhaps he lashed out in anger and attacked him? "We heard the rumours your brother Argyle had died. So explain what happened. The<i>sitvati</i>claims to have been the one to murder him. The man was known for his warrior instinct and the cold way with which he murdered civilians to bait us into battles. Do you expect us to believe the<i>sitvati</i>, who has never so much as touched a weapon, will have succeeded in killing him?" The elements of this story did not fit with the duchess all of the nobility knew. She was a prideful woman, more vociferous than most women, but some found that endearing about her. She had a strong personality, but never she was never violent, bringing herself to take a life, even out of desperation? That Marek could not see. "What did you have to gain from his murder?"<br/><br/>"Again nothing." Théadan replied, but that was perhaps not true. He had gained Navia with his brothers death, though that was not a thought he wanted to entertain. "I did not murder him. I arrived too late to help Navia, she simply defended herself." He remembered the blood, the tears and shock on Navia's face, the last gurgles of his brothers life escaping him. They were memories he did not want to revisit. "I've lost everything but Navia, she is all I have, and all I want."<br/><br/>"Yes," Marek remarked dubiously. "And I'm sure you intend to use her, steps will be taken to ensure that is not the case. But she is not the topic we are interested in." Clearly whatever plans this prince had, it directly involved Navia, be it for his own safety, or to regain some measure of power. Whatever the reason the best way to disrupt his plans would certainly be to keep him and Navia apart. "So explain to me in detail just what happened to the Crown Prince and yourself, what we can expect of Rhodon, and the state of your Father, we know he grows weaker with every day." Mes'Mo'Tan's succession would bring new troubles, the prince was willing to talk, and with his own family wanting him dead there was certain to be truths mixed in with any lies he told. It would be a matter of unraveling fact from fiction. "How long until Rhodon ascends to the throne, and will he come seeking revenge for his murdered brother?"