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[SirAston]

As Rork moves into the metaphorical spotlight, all eyes are drawn towards him.
"N-no, you don't..."

"Ah. You're one of Dunas' men, if I'm not mistaken."
"Either that dragon has been dealt with or this commoner ran away from his duty."
"Well, it's been quiet for a while, so I assume the former. Is your liege nearby perchance?"

"That he is, Your Royal Highness."

Dunas' eyes widen when he heard the voice even before he looks towards the source. From the other end of the intersection, the far side of where Prince Arnston and Marchioness Thylessa Brand, a figure most familiar to the entourage emerges from a dark corner. Someone that made Noel seek cover behind Rork in an instant, grabbing his shirt and not wanting to let go.
Ernod.

[Now Playing: Tear Ring Saga - Grim Resolution]

He calmly walks down the corridor, passing the entourage and Noel as if they were strangers, before kneeling in front of Arnston.

"The entire group is here, so it is safe to assume the dragon has been vanquished. Most tragically, I could not find who assaulted His Majesty."
"That is unfortunate... Please continue reporting. Sir Dunas, would you mind bringing father, Orlsen and Dulosta to the medical ward so a healer can take care of them?"
"... I... ... He..."
"Is something the matter?"
"... He..."
"What are you stammering about, knight? That was an order from His Royal Highness with the purpose to save His Majesty! Leave the Prince's safety to me and him."
"B-but..."
"Do not worry about us, Sir Dunas. My bodyguard has always protected me from the shadows."
"Body-?!"
"... Alright, men. Let's bring them to the ward, swiftly."

[rustytengo]

"Right." Eiriol said giving a nod to Dunas as she moved to assist making sure to pass by the Prince's bodyguard and give him the most nasty look she could as she moved past them.

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian's axe creaked with the force she squeezed it with. She'd almost had it, but her aim was off. She took an aggressive step forward, without thinking.
"You. . . !"

[TricMagic]

"Grandmother, what do you have to do with him?" escapes her lips involuntary.

At her Liege's order (And grandmother's words) she responds

"I'll do my best Sir Dunas." Just ignore it. Even if it burns now isn't the time with the wounded.

[GreenKnight]

Rork takes a moment to look at the man, as it takes a while to recognize him despite his lack of mask. Instead of getting angry, he simply shakes his head in resignation. Whatever rot had this kingdom was deep, if someone like this was masquerading as a bodyguard to a prince. What a farce.

At the least, he doubts the man will try anything... Yet. They managed to avoid being suspicious enough during the Manakete trouble to allow him an edge there, right?

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"Lord Dunas."
Emilia lightly taps his shoulder.
"Do you need a moment?"

[SirAston]

When Rhian took her step forward, Ernod only raises one of his eyebrows.
"... Pardon? Do we know each other?"

Meanwhile, Dunas shakes his head in response to Emilia.
"I can have a moment later, at the ward, when we're waiting..."

Now, the prince and the marchioness were looking towards Ernod and Rhian, puzzled.
"It's clear she recognizes you, Ernod. You will explain yourself."
"Hmmm... She likely managed to see me while I was performing my duty. Battle for Caranbough Hills. I was active in Wyrmpeak for the crown."
You know he was formulating his sentences like that to dodge the truth. Sadly, the way he phrases things makes it rather hard to break these statements up to gain any opportunity to verbally attack.
"... Well, there are more pressing matters. Get the king healed, now!"

Dunas lightly taps Rhian's shoulder twice before he motions to carry the three wounded to the medical ward. Once everything was in order and a healer took over, Dunas finds a nearby chair and slumps into it, visibly exhausted.
"... I am glad that I have you on my side. People not directly involved with anything here."
"And... I'm sorry for not having disclosed it earlier who I truly am. There are... reasons. You likely wouldn't have believed me anyway... Ah, first, we need to think about what to do next. That man is trouble, but right now it's hard to touch him without being branded traitors."
"Never thought I'd meet a worse snake than Ghal. Definitely want to peg him down a notch."
"I just... ... I should say... It was him."
"What do you mean?"
"He took out Alfalm and Dulosta in one motion. Then I hid myself as he walked away. Did he... Did he knew you'd come, so y'all watching from aside gave him a convenient cover?"
"No man can foresee the future. But we know now he enjoys trust, so even a weak cover like that is good enough. For now, we rest and..."
"... ask father what really happened. Back then. This is the only chance we get."


After the three unconcious bodies got moved, the trio of Arnston, Thylessa and Ernod were on the way themselves, walking down corridors until they reach a storage room.
"It's not your usual mode to step out of the shadow, Ernod."
The prince twisted a series of old, slightly dust-covered bottles.
"They have seen me before. I figured that it would change nothing."
Afterwards, Arnston swapped out two different bottles.
"They were hostile to you. What did you do, you imbecile?"
Part of the stone wall now sinks to the ground, revealing a secret passage. They move towards it.
"I moved the body of Ghal. They noted me back then. I guess they assume I belong to the Marauders, so seeing me confused the people and made that one lady filled with rage."
"So seeing you did made a difference."
"Well, it's not like His Majesty's favourite Knight wouldn't have started investigating anyway, given what happened today. Maybe I was a catalyst, but so was you talking about Zornac while they were in earshot."
"... Ah well. I should take the attack on His Majesty as a blessing in disguise anyway. By right of birth, I will lead today's meeting of the Eternal Dawn instead of him. And there will be many questions to be answered. Why Ghal was protected by father. Or why he hired the Alchemist."
"..."
"..."

The stone wall closes behind them.

[Chevaleresse]

Rhian ground her teeth the entire way back to the infirmary.

". . . Dunas, I need to talk to you later. Alone."

[GreenKnight]

"Looks like we have problems, and we're not strong enough to fight them. If he managed to cut both people down in one go, we'll need to be careful." Rork said. He seems less perturbed by Dunas' hiding his past, as nobody needs to point out the hypocrisy if he somehow took offense. Regardless, he kept watch for any suspicious movement in case the man had ideas for what to do with those who had seen too much.

[SirAston]

Dunas raised his head to look at Rhian. He tried to keep a composed exterior, but it was obvious in his eyes that he was exhausted.
"... Trust me, I am as dissatisfied with myself as you are with me. You can of course talk with me at the next opportune moment."

Meanwhile, Noel was thinking again.
"... Those are some big wounds. As in, multiple. Only managed to see when Ernod struck them, but I think they already were kinda down the dumps?"
"Ernod's one hell of an opportunistic cowtipper. Would make sense. But how they'd be exhausted in the first place?"
"Dunno. Might have seen wrong, but it would fit what we know about that butt."

[Chevaleresse]

"I'm not angry at you. I'm angry at all this. I don't know why half of it happened and the parts I do understand piss me off."

[IamanElfCollaborator]

"A secret like that is not one to be dropping to just anyone, not if you aren't sure who to trust. Truth be told, I suspected something similar was up. My brother...well....he'd said something to me, and I was left to thinking."

[SirAston]

Dunas slowly nods at Rhian.
"I'd have expressed it differently... but I feel the same. All I know is that it is all centered around this."
He pulls out the Fire Emblem. As Dunas was still wearing his gauntlets, it naturally was not shining and his birthmark was not showing.
"... I wonder if the other nations have that much trouble because of their Emblems, too..."
Dunas then packs the Emblem away and looks towards Emilia.
"Would you mind elaborating on what your brother said?"

[rustytengo]

Eiriol let out a "tsk" as she frowned at the situation

"This all is starting to feel like I'm back home with all the secrets and shadowy stuff. Make its hard to know what bad guys I need smack." she mumbled as she listened to the others.

[IamanElfCollaborator]

Dunas slowly nods at Rhian.
"I'd have expressed it differently... but I feel the same. All I know is that it is all centered around this."
He pulls out the Fire Emblem. As Dunas was still wearing his gauntlets, it naturally was not shining and his birthmark was not showing.
"... I wonder if the other nations have that much trouble because of their Emblems, too..."
Dunas then packs the Emblem away and looks towards Emilia.
"Would you mind elaborating on what your brother said?"

Emilia nods.
"I suspect he wasn't sure either. All he said to me was that he suspected you weren't entirely who you said you were."