The duke considered Tehr's question briefly, and nodded his head in turn, a smile crossing his lips again at the time.<strong>"I mainly wanted to share my thoughts about the current situation, and get a feel for where you would stand on my proposition. I have some other matters on my mind but none that are particularly urgent at the time, nor of real relation to the current circumstances. You have my attention though,"</strong>he said before glancing about.<br/><br/><strong>"Though given where we are and your words, I would venture to guess you that you have some hope of finding more about my current condition, and perhaps something to aid in it? If so, I would certainly appreciate it. While my life doesn't feel threatened anymore, and the pain itself is neglible when the wound is not being poked at, it does seem prone to sending a jolt of pain through me if I move the wrong way,"</strong>he remarked with a small grimace.<strong>"Though the hospitalers seemed rather troubled by how little is written down about things like that. It is, no doubt, largely due to the branch of magic being relatively rare and quite possibly seen as blasphemous, by a fair number of religions. I wonder if some 'heretical' writings would have contained more knowledge though if they had not been destroyed in the past. I am not sure if even the royal library would contain materials like that,"</strong>he added a bit uncertainly.<br/><br/>Truthfully, there was a fair number to look through, but Tehr had already spotted a few titles that were promising.<em>"Weapons of the Profane", "The Forsaken Arts Index", and "The Grimoire of Worms".</em>The first being a book written about old wars long ago when darker magics were wielded more freely, another tome that was known to contain examples and explanations to various arts in the past without going into details beyond some basics and where and when they had been used, and the last being a book written on the necromantic arts in particular, a book that the arch mage had mentioned in passing before while Tehr visited the palace, though it had been to do with the search for the darker tomes out on the market in the past weeks then.<br/><br/>The Royal Library wasn't really a place that books were supposed to be removed from, but Tehr had, with the blessings of both the Queen and the Arch Mage, a bit of a better position being able to withdraw a few at a time. Though at the present moment he already had some books borrowed and without returning some, he'd only be able to take one along, and they were all rather thick tomes regardless. Two, if he dropped off a book that had helped him set things up with the Oathstone in the passing days, though that particular one still seemed promising with ideas for other projects as well.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">OOC</div><div class="spoiler_body">Rolled Knowledge checks for Tehr before presenting those books, he recognized a few of them based on the rolls, and I thought to provide the basics he'd know from a glance inside and what he might have overheard, presenting an option to bring one or two back home to Caroline or for himself to read, also wanted to leave a possible spot here for the discussion if you wanted to expand upon it, I could have voiced Tehr telling the Duke about the suggestion but decided not to, leaving it as an option.</div></div><br/><hr/><hr/><br/>The court session was soon over, and while the Queen had heard people out, not all left satisfied, but it was impossible to keep everyone happy. Nevertheless, once the actual day at court was over, a familiar figure clad in tight leather outfit stepped over, saluting Tehr and the Duke.<em>"Her Majesty has retired to her private chambers, but has sent for you to join her. I shall accompany you there. Though I must ask that you turn in any weapons to the guard behind the door to her private section of the palace. They will be placed in a locked chest and the key handed to you for the duration of your visit. This is a new precaution we are calling on everyone now if they are to be alone with the Queen, and from what I heard she wishes to talk to you two without any guards present,"</em>she stated with a neutral, and a little formal tone.<br/><br/>Tehr, who had come to know the guard captain a bit more closely in the past however could tell the young woman was a little awkward telling him this as he had been permitted to her presence several times without such requirements being in place.<br/><br/>The duke merely removed his sword from his side and then pulled out a dagger from his boot, as well as reaching behind him to pull a thin wire out of his hair.<strong>"My weapon, my holdout dagger, and my hairstring. The last one is hardly a weapon, but I imagine being thorough would still be a fair idea,"</strong>he remarked with a touch of humor on his tone, not seeming to take particular offense.<br/><br/>The captain Lilian nodded her head before turning, and heading along to lead them on towards the Queen's quarters. The way the leather hugged her legs and rose up to grasp on those buttocks should have been a mystery on how she could squeeze in those pants to begin with, but given that Tehr had seen them come off, he had some ideas at least. Didn't mean they didn't draw the eye, and while the duke wasn't looking in an obvious manner, there was a fleeting glance enough to say that he did appreciate the view their guide provided, followed by a look at Tehr though he said nothing at that time.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">ooc</div><div class="spoiler_body"> Guard Captain Lilian, Black Haired young woman, leader of the Queen's guard following the assassination attempt, that's what I have on my notes at a quick glance but I am checking back on that a bit. Still, figured I'd give her a bit of screen time even if passingly before meeting the queen, and sending her Captain to greet the two and lead them should convey some respect to balance out the request hopefully, but I still wonder if I managed to screw that all up in writing this scene. Nonetheless, its been fair bit longer without reply than I should allow it to get on my part, so here's a reply in turn my friend.<br/><br/>I'll likely try and play out some conversation between the three (or at least two others if I feel I shouldn't try and insert comments to Tehr's mouth in the coming conversations ahead) soon but wanted to leave some space for a reply before getting there, but was thinking the Queen's having them meet her in her quarters, though dressed normally, less fancy than the court room but not as casual as when alone with Tehr. As for the procedure, the Queen's guard has merely been tightening the watch over her after the attempt on her life.</div></div>