<div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;">The Bannered Mare: Ru'Ashka's Room</span></div><br/>Lethander listened to Ru's words, seeming interested at first. When she began talking about things only a few would know of here in the Hold, his face turned from entertained to shocked. He continued listening to her words throughout the story and explanation, it was unclear if he was doing such out of courtesy or just surprise. He sat there as she rose, still seeming in contemplative thought. Finally his blue eyes came up to her's with a sigh, and he shook his head.<strong>"The thought has been considered. It's why we've tightened the security, even had the court wizard arrange for 'additional guards'. Without me in the keep, however; I fear it may be fer not."</strong>The cracking of his calm was obvious in his words. The surprise of his birth savior standing before him had not been something the Captain was prepared for.<br/><br/>Lethander seemed to consider those words for a moment, eyes still on her's while an obvious conflict arose inside him. Finally, his mouth started moving.<strong>"What they are after, only I and the Jarl know about. I figure he'll tell Lucretia, though. It's a mask; similar to the one ye showed me. Though it's not the same one."</strong>He explained, standing from the chair as he did such.<strong>"Lucretia was charged with storing the Item, and Frothar took it from her as a favor. From my knowledge, the Blade's tasked her in finding a safe keep for the relic. She know far more about it then we do; the stories she told the Jarl certainly made him believe it was important."</strong>The Captain's fingers tapped the table as if there was more to the story then he was letting out.<br/><br/>After but a moment of thought, Lethander made an exasperated sigh.<strong>"The next bit will likely cost me my position. I doubt Frothar will even let Lucretia know. The Jarl donned the mask at the beginning of these attacks, and it overwhelmed him. He managed to slow their progress with it, but since he's had strange dreams. Cut ins to the future."</strong>His eyes cast down then, but soon his fist gripped as he seemed to pull himself back together. His face realigned, before he stood straight in his trademark upright posture.<strong>"The keep is at risk with my outing, however. I should be heading back."</strong>He announced, but just as those words ended, candles within the bannered mare began flickering.<br/><br/>A shrill wind on this calm night sent the shutters bursting open just to Ru's left, and a wisp of purple wind passed through them with an enchanting cry.<strong><em>The Soldier's play... Me thinks the Soldiers should play with me."</em></strong>The harrowing, yet whimsical voice called out. And before the two of them it materialized, swirling into a vortex that formed formed the wispy silhouette of a woman. Energy radiated from the woman's fingertips as a giggle rang out; one that threatened to ensnare the minds of those that heard it.<strong><em>"Come Soldiers; let us play."</em></strong>The form beckoned, and from it's fingers those wispy tendrils of energy lashed out at the two of them.