In the meantime, the chaos had only worsened, even as the king tried to restore some semblance of order. "Be still, all of you!" he said, his hands and voice raised. "There is no immediate danger. Glen Avon is not going to fall." It was next to impossible to tell whether or not this was true. The king, like any skilled aristocrat, could be a masterful liar. In any case, a panicked nobility would only make matters worse.<br/><br/>Beside him, Qaizel was speaking rapidly, loud enough for anyone paying attention to hear. "He was alive, the last I saw him. His back was turned, she could have killed him, but she didn't. Perhaps Calbriz wants him as a hostage? Oh, how could she have done this? His Highness trusted her. I trusted her!" He clasped his hands tightly, appearing overcome with emotion. "What will I do if he's harmed?" He seemed to be talking about something other than the existential threat to Glen Avon.<br/><br/>The guards that weren't protecting the king or rushing to the prince's rescue were, indeed, attempting to block the exits. There would be riots if news of this got out. It was unclear whether they would succeed in holding back the flood of panicked bodies, but they managed to hold out for now.