Their exit from the carriage was quiet and uneventful.  The journey back to their respective rooms should have been just as much so, and probably would have been, if not for the figure that seemed to be haunting the entrance hall.  It was no stretch to imagine that the man had been waiting for their return specifically, and once the conversation got underway, Keth was sure of it.<br/><br/><i>…has His Imperial Majesty behaved himself?</i><br/><br/>Kethaias wondered if the drink or the rush of what had happened in the carriage just moments ago still had his head swimming, because that seemed like a barely veiled verbal attack.  A few short sentences later and the attack was more direct.<br/><br/><i>…a heathen’s harem… a barbarian…</i><br/><br/>The assault had him angry, but who could tell?  Keth himself was far too focused on the prince holding to his arm to let himself get swept up in a conversation that seemed more about him than it included him, and Ryland and the Duke were more concerned with arguing their positions.  Perhaps it was all for the best.  Besides, Kethaias was of the opinion that the prince was beautiful when he was being strong and commanding, and it was something of a treat to see the beautiful blond put someone in their place.<br/><br/>They left the entrance hall and the scolded Duke behind, Keth still holding his silence.  Whatever opinions he had of the man and what he’d like to have done with him had surely crossed Ryland’s mind, so there was no need to voice them and create more of a stir.  Talk of murder was not usually acceptable conversation in civilized society.  Ryland’s easy slide back into his typical carefree and smiling nature was too stark a contrast, and when they came to a stop where they had to part ways, Kethaias sighed and narrowed his eyes at the complicated young man.<br/><br/>Without a word, Keth pulled out a small box he’d had tucked away all night and opened it up.  The gift he’d almost decided not to give the prince was small, simple, though not without value.  It was merely a jeweled pin that he fastened into Ryland’s cloak himself.<br/><br/>“Why do you care whether or not I come across as charming?” he finally asked, though it was clear that he was not so desperate for the answer so much as curious.  He finished adjusting the pin and neatly tucked his hands behind his back.  They were more likely to behave there.<br/><br/>“Surely you would find it easier to argue any attempt I make to ask your family for your hand if they all thought me a… barbarian.”<br/><br/>He didn’t wait for a response to his own question before he pondered the one about lunch.  It really was a waste of time, wasn’t it?  His eyes seemed to scan the ground for the elusive answer.  Turning down the offer would have been the wisest, most sensible thing, but then he was not always a wise or sensible man.<br/><br/>“We shall see,” he concluded.  “I have a lot of thinking to do.  Send someone around tomorrow.”<br/><br/>It would have been better to leave it at that, but Kethaias reached for the prince’s hand, drawing the man nearer.  Another taste of that pretty mouth would have been nice, but their location, as well as the possibility that someone, or several, might be watching gave him pause.  But why?  He often warned that he was a man who didn’t care what others thought, who went all out for his wants and needs, and who didn’t back down.  Why did Ryland provoke him into being more thoughtful?  He didn’t like it.<br/><br/>He kissed the prince’s hand.<br/><br/>“Do not mistake me for a delicate, pampered creature of grace or charm,” he whispered.  “Duke Teleyard was right, despite what his true intentions may or may not be.  I<i>am</i>a brute,” he insisted with great honesty, “and a dangerous man, one who might have left the loose-tongued bastard gutted in the entrance hall had some dazzling and powerful beauty not been firmly attached to my sword arm.”  He looked down at his hand, still holding to Ryland’s, and swept his rough thumb across the more elegant fingers of refined culture and good breeding.  “My title puts me in position to be standing here with you now, to gain audience with your father and brother, and to rule an army and my people, but it is hardly the whole story, is it?”<br/><br/>He was quiet for a moment as he mused over this.  And as he realized how captivated he was with Ryland’s hand, with the softness and warmth of it, he gave himself a mental shake.<br/><br/>“Forgive me.  I must have had more to drink than I thought and it’s caused me to babble.  Good night, Prince Ryland.  Pleasant dreams.”<br/><br/>He turned away and headed toward the rooms he had the privilege of occupying during his stay there in Banque, and though it was hard to turn his thoughts away from Ryland, the moment he saw Rijek he immediately remembered that idiot Duke.  The sudden look of anger and frustration was enough to earn some light probing, but that was all it took to get him to tell his friend about the entire encounter.  Rijek was stuck between being amused and concerned, mostly because it sounded like the Duke had a lot of power and had reason to voice any and all concerns to get the<i>barbarians</i>out of the kingdom for good.  It was hard telling what kind of trouble a man like that could stir up.  Kethaias was not nearly as worried about that, only furious that the snooty prick had been so presumptuous and rude, not only to him, but to Ryland.<br/><br/>“Back home, he would be missing his head by now,” he commented, being offered a drink that he did not turn down.<br/><br/>“That’s true.”<br/><br/>“There was no respect.  None!”<br/><br/>“So you stated.”<br/><br/>“To me, a stranger, guest or not… a foreign leader?  It is offensive, but at least I understand it, if he does not agree with my presence here.  But Ryland?  This is the man’s country.  His family rules the kingdom!  Does that not demand respect?”<br/><br/>“Their ways are not yours.”<br/><br/>“Exactly.  Their society appears to be steeped in politics… backstabbing and lying smiles… plotting and secrets.  Such a bold move from someone so high up should be unexpected.”  That calmed him,  if only because he began to question the entire scene.  “What would he have to gain?”