Gabriel looked calmly when the young knights hesitated first before first older knights stepped to his side and solidified the foundation with the young ones. He felt no pride or smug about it, just relief that he had got this much support to help him and the king. When Michael made his question Gabriel placed his gauntleted hand on his shoulder and said warmly; "Astounding success when consider circumstances my lord, a pride is a emotion which can poison even noblest of hearts. A poison which may take while to be defeated by those who had succumbed to it. A hurt pride of a knight is something very hard to cure. We would not had got this far if you had not been brave and honest. I only added more fire and passion to words which you told to the knights." Gabriel hoped this to encourage king to feel more confident and perhaps learn how to independly create that fire and passion himself, learn speak virtuously when he speaks bravely and with honesty. Qualities for a king who makes speeches.<br/><br/>When the final split is done with departure of the knight captain and remaining old knights Gabriel spoke overall to the young knights and also to the old ones and duke's knight commander; "I thank all of you stepping forward. As said it's up to you decide do you want make oaths of services towards the king but I ask only for now your aid to help restore the kingdom and defeating protectors. Only I and you know that king is absent from the castle, not even protectors know that king is here all for king's safety. So this secret binds all of us to be part of king's protection which is secrecy because then enemies of the king do not know where to strike as their target is missing. I spread protectors around to work as decoys for rebels, in two separated locations.<br/><br/>Altough majority of protectors are gone, there is still few of them in the castle. Two veterans and two fresh recruits. I do not want protectors alarms turned on upon sightly appearance of knights coming from here, so I advice you humble yourselves to disguise as average mercenaries or towns guardsmen and go to the castle and enlist yourself as new recruits to the king's army. This way I can command you directly without anyone being aware of who you are. Of course some of you, especially you knight commander and all old knights, you can be easily recognized so I ask you merely sneak in to the capital and we would meet in secrecy when I give you commands as your experience and skill make you more better in tasks where I need fewer number but skilled crew.<br/><br/>Reason for this caution is simple; I suspect one the protectors has kidnapped Maria Shadecliff, specifically protector Sartel who has at least namely taken command of protectors since former commander died during defense of the castle. Sartel had shown aggressive courting measures against Maria Shadecliff before Sartel departed to one decoy locations to her duties but same night Shadecliff mansion had been attacked and made into butcher house. According duke's daughter who had been part of rebellion told the mask of shadow knight which I found was fraud, and even if rebels may be ruthlessly seeking uncrown the king the slaughtering of servants from noble house from one their members sounds something completely crazy. As Mr Shadecliff I had caught being supporter of the rebels and according duke's daughter he had specifically requested leave his daughter out from rebels ploys completely. So Maria Shadecliff is innocent victim of a kidnap.<br/><br/>So before Maria Shadecliff had been rescued we cannot openly act against protectors reign, so remember that. Once we got her rescued we can start work on arresting them altough one decoy locations is something very hard to breach through with direct attack so we would need subtlety still in there." Gabriel turns now upon duke's knight commander and the old knights, counting them and also try recall any information about the old knights and know their specialities while he asks; "Now gentlemen, do you have any advices or suggestions for my plan? Or concerns to address upon before I dismiss this meeting and get to work return to the castle with the king and restore his disguise?"