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[Haspen]

"Yes, yes I will go to sleep soon. Is there a tent ready for us?" Prince Asoth looked from above the papers.

"The tent opposite of this has been emptied. There's some bed rolls and blankets. That's all we can afford for now. Princess has been given her own small tent, for privacy. It's nearby... Altmorin will take you there."

[birdy51]

: "That will be just fine, thank you. I trust that your guard will take care of the Lady Eleanore and see to it that her rest is not disturbed yes?"

[SeriousConcentrate]

"Jorund take care of it. Jorund guard. Ordered to."

Jorund looked down and rubbed the back of his head with a massive hand.

"Jorund only guard left now."

He meant Halldora. As far as he was concerned, Colt, Cidney, and Einar were people he was sent to protect besides Eleonore.

"Jorund do it right this time. Keep Eleonore safe to the end."

[Haspen]

"Of course." Asoth replied to Colt while the Princess have left the tent. He looked at the entrance for a moment, before turning back to Colt.

"Tell me in detail what happened."

[SeriousConcentrate]

Jorund followed Eleonore out and sat down in front of her tent, laying his trusty axe across his lap and starting to sharpen it. The blade was starting to grow dull and was nicked in places; soon it would be useful only for splitting firewood, and even then only because of the strength of the man swinging it. Even though Jorund was a rather simple fellow, his mind was able to stay on the task of guarding Eleonore; sharpening his axe was just something to do to pass the time while he fulfilled his duty.

[birdy51]

Colt had nearly stepped out after the princess before the prince had stopped him. This was not going to be a pleasurable experience.

Colt had nearly walked out after Eleanore when he was stopped by the prince's voice. He should have suspected that the young princess had told him nothing. It would have been a task too harsh for her gentle soul. This was not going to be a pleasurable experience, but it had to be done.

: "Very well..."

: "As you know, we took a shortcut through the woods on our way to Baron Layverque's castle. It should have been an easy trip, for we have many of our number who are used to working outdoors where beasts and monsters roam. And for a while we did have no trouble. There were some injuries among our number, but we were pushing through."

: "We ran into issues upon splitting the party. The princess and some of her closest companions pushed on while me and two others of our number took a different path to elicit aid from nearby cottage. They ran back to give aid to the princess... I carried on.

: "Some bastard son of Layverque was tending the cottage, a hedge mage who had long abandoned his title. Bit of sleepy sort, a kind wholly unsuited for..."

The mage paused and considered what he was about to say and stopped. He shook his head and canceled his previous thought.

: "Perhaps... Perhaps I shouldn't be so hard on him..."

: "It took more effort than it should have but I got him through the door and he agreed to help us. When we arrived back with the other group, his light magic was essential to our victory. But... Victory came at a terrible cost. The Lady Eleanore was nearly killed by monsters and many of our number was deeply wounded. One of us, the princess' closest companion and a childhood friend... She didn't make it. We had to bury her body in that wretched swamp alone and cold in that black earth. The Lady Eleanore was particularly shaken up, but we forced ourselves to push on."

: "After a brief and bitter funeral, we forced ourselves to push on and the hedge mage left our number. We arrived at the castle and stormed over an outside wall until we could reach the Baron's hide away. We found evidence of black magic being performed behind a false wall... The raising of the dead to form twisting shambling monstrosities. But when we reached the Baron himself we put him to the sword. He fought valiantly, but our strength prevailed... Barely. Soon after that, your men pierced the wall into our position. We were escorted out of the castle and back to here to your camp... And that is where we are now."

: "I trust my report is sufficient?"

[Haspen]

"Yes, it is enough." Prince suddenly remembered about something and dug under his apers, pulling out a small book bound in black leather.

"I almost forgot. One of my officers is a historian and had this book with himself in the garrison back in the city. I've meant to give it to you but you already left to deal with the Baron... can you take it to your Princess? I believe she was looking for such a book." He passed the book to Colt; the title read 'Noble Families and Ancestry in Turbulent Times of Early Rivan Empire'.

[birdy51]

Colt looked with surprise at the book and turned it over in his hands.

: "Of course... The lady shall have it promptly. Might I ask how you came across such a volume? It was my understanding that the early age of the Rivan was not well documented."

[Haspen]

"I've told you. One of my officers is a historian and a noble. When we talked about these times, in relation to your Princess' search, he mentioned he has one such book in his small collection. I've then borrowed it for Princess Eleonore. Please do not misplace it, though; I have to give it back in a few days."

[birdy51]

The prince did not answer the question to Colt's satisfaction, but when did anyone answer his question in a satisfactory way. At any rate, it was evident that he had annoyed the prince and further discussion was only going to incite something negative.

: "Understood. I shall take my leave of you."

Colt did a pathetic, but polite bow and left the tent. It was rather rude of him, but he wasn't about to give it to the princess just yet.

As soon as he was out of sight of the prince' and Altomorin's field of view, he turned the book open and looked for a passage that related directly to the conquest of Rivan over Eferia as he made his way lazily to the Lady Eleanore's tent.

[Haspen]

There was a passage on the page that described Eferian-Rivan relations. It claimed that the last princess of Eferia had married the son of Ashath, who died early in the siege of Castle Eferia.

Nearby, it was all visible on the genealogy tree: Ophelia, Last Princess of Eferia + Asalmo, son of Crown Prince Ashath. Underneath, the lines directed into three different sons and two daughters, and the adnotation on the bottom pointed that Azmar, the first son of this marriage, was the next Rivan Emperor, because Asalmo died young. Further adnotations pointed that Azmar's line continues all the way to current Rivan royal family.

[birdy51]

Colt gave the book a mute look of disgust as if it were some kind of sick joke. Was this entire journey to be for nothing?

: "Damn it all..."

He stood there for a few moments and considered his options. No. The princess wasn't ready for a truth like that... Not yet anyways. The mage slowly slipped the history tome into his jacket. Perhaps tomorrow when she had rested. Maybe then. But tonight she had enough to worry about and this book would give her no comfort. He stood up straight and marched into Eleanor's tent.

He stopped and reached up to gave Jorund a slight pat on the shoulder before he went in.

: "Lady Eleanor... I had wanted to speak tonight but I fear it's already getting a bit late. You'll need your rest. Tomorrow morning... We'll talk. Alright?"

[Haspen]

"Colt, we've been removed from the past and flung to the future. I believe we have lot of time to spare. What is it you wanted to speak about? After... after today I want to have some company. Are you worried about something?"

[birdy51]

Colt bit his tongue. He had been hoping to leave it go till tomorrow but... Perhaps it would be for the best. His hand reached for the book he had concealed in his jacket and brandished it.
: "I had wanted to wait until tomorrow or sometime after everything had calmed down but..."

He leafed through the pages swiftly and stuck his thumb to keep the page. He held it out to her and tried to avoid looking at the book itself.

: "The Prince. He found this book. Apparently, a friend of his had compiled it or... It regards you. And Eferia as well. It... Well..."

His voice trailed off into silence as he shook his head and gave the book a little push. It was better that she read it first hand. There could be no softening or sugarcoating of the matter. It was in her hands now to do with as she will.