At Emeris' words the tension left Bazel, he gave the other man a soft smile, "Thank you, I feared you might not agree. It's dangerous to go against a witch and few who've done so have lived to tell the tale. But it's not impossible, I've found more than a few records of people who have succeeded in breaking spells and slaying witches...however they seem to have kept the 'how' vague on purpose, perhaps to prevent every second idiot from using methods they don't understand,"<br/><br/>They also kept how to identify a witch a secret as well, for which he was grateful. While Witches did have a few visible traits in common they also shared them with hundreds of ordinary people. How many innocents would die if such information was common knowledge? Enough to where the idea made his stomach roll.<br/><br/>Though that was neither here nor there.<br/><br/>Bazel then went stiff again and was unable to prevent taking a slight step back. Again he began to avoid Emris' gaze, "Though neither of us will be actually hunting her. There are a few records of people who do hunt witches, however tracking one down is proving to be a challenge. I have a few leads but not enough time to fallow them, as I said the witch is pushing for me to marry her and my father has agreed. It would take something rather dramatic for him to postpone the date, I...I've managed to come up with something. It...I will understand if you wish to go back on your word. It's not something I should ask and I wouldn't if I felt I had another choice..."<br/><br/>The prince took a deep breath, body braced as though he expected a blow, "In order to buy time I need you to pretend to be my lover."<br/><br/>It'd been all he could think of, to hold off the wedding. To explain why he'd gone from being a recluse to traveling. To explain Emris' appearance at the castle. It wasn't the best plan, with the views he'd heard from both those of common blood and noble it was a dangerous one, but it was all he had. If Emris took offence it was possible that being a prince wouldn't save him from getting a split lip and even that was the best case scenario. He'd heard of particularly horrid things that'd been done to those like him and with no one aware where he was, even asking was dangerous. Though unless Emris agreed he was on barrowed time anyhow. The kingdom would fall if something wasn't done and if he had a chance to save his family he'd take it, even in the face of the possibility of being beaten to death.<br/><br/>"I-I understand that this is profoundly insulting but...I won't ask you to do more than pretend. To use my name and pretend to be fond of me," He couldn't keep his voice from shaking, gaze flicking to Emris' hands then away, "I don't...I don't-you're not required to well...I won't ask you to do more,"