Lucius had his eyes upon the front as the fair maiden stepped to her seat. He glanced at Evelyn when he thought of the robbery, and smiled as if to say, “No need to dilly-dally”. Damien supped from his cup as the rest of the courtiers mingled amongst each other and made gossip of little importance to him. He did not notice the drunken noble and the young man who stood from his seat to go and seemingly help him. He trusted Evelyn and Lucius to be his eyes and ears in the court and kingdom respectively, which left him to be the mastermind that oversaw the new kingdom they ruled over with intelligence and power.
 
[B][I]Agravaine… It has been a long time… 24 Years, no? [/I][/B]He began to think to himself as he swiveled his opulent goblet and held his head up with his chin upon his fist. [B][I]Since we fought side-by-side as brothers… Hmph… [/I][/B]Damien noted. Damien was so deep in thought about what was to come next after he had dealt with Agravaine, he did not notice Evelyn snap her fingers. He had closed his eyes for a moment when the young man felt the shock and wondered what it was. 
 
Lucius noticed both however, and he watched Evelyn, who seemed fixated on the boy. He said nothing has he watched the court like the king’s pet hawk, eyes keen in the shadows and nobly idle in waiting. 
 
Damien continued his thoughts as nobody directly interrupted him, and his red wine still swirled and swished within the confines of his goblet. [B][I]You may have saved my life countless times during that bloody war… [/I][/B]He began. [B][I]But I owe you nothing in this world where only the will to do what is necessary to ascend always transcends your feeble honour that only the dogs of Wesirinfell would admire… [/I][/B]Damien continued, clutching his goblet a little tighter at the thought of the Lance Commander, the valiant leader of the Chevalier Bannerets and favoured of the old king. 
 
Damien opened his eyes slowly to the court as he then realized where he was sitting. [B][I]And you are still nothing but a feeble old baron to me, and I have become your lord and liege, because I have done what is necessary, not what is right and just. [/I][/B]Damien thought with contempt. [B][I]Your time will come, and when it does, I will ensure it is when you are desolate with nothing but your worthless chivalry that you hold dear. [/I][/B]Damien vowed to himself. 
 
Damien sipped from his cup once more as Lucius drew his eyes away from the intimacy that Evelyn had established with one of the young courtiers, and then glanced to the fair maiden. He noticed her shaking her head at her lap, and felt intrigued. Lucius was certainly entranced by her beauty, but he was also interested in her story, of what tales lay beneath her radiance and heavenly countenance. When she decided to stand, Lucius was intent on following her.
 
He then bowed towards Damien.
[B]“My king, if you will excuse me…” [/B]He begged his leave. Damien nodded and waved his hand to the baron.
[B]“Yes, yes, you may go Lucius.” [/B]Damien noted. [B]“Report back to me when you have anything new I must know.” [/B]He added. Lucius nodded to his liege, then to Evelyn in farewell before exiting behind the curtains and into the corridors. 
 
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
 
Lucius darted through corridors and made his way around. He knew every inch of the Palace intimately well, better than anyone else did. The map of the layout was all in his mind, and it was second nature to him to find the secret passageways and shortcuts. He knew where the fair maiden took residency, and hastened to catch up with her rather than intercept her. He imagined she would only be suspicious. 
 
He moved into a hallway and glanced around for guards, before slinking into a passage behind a statue, sealing up the door behind him. He took up one of the lanterns on the sconces and followed the winding passage up to the noble apartments. 
 
Hanging the lantern up on the sconce by the secret door, he took a look through the peepholes of a painting. There, he saw the fair maiden walking by gracefully, and he shut the peepholes as swiftly and silently as he had opened them. He then waited for a few moments until she had moved past and then emerged into the corridor from the secret passage, shutting the door behind him whilst adjusting his attire and dusting it off. 
 
Lucius then chased after the fair maiden, looking rather beat from ‘running’ after her. 
[B]“Mi’lady! Mi’lady!” [/B]He called out after her, keeping an even pace as he caught up with the young maiden. [B]“Ah...! My apologies… I wanted to applaud you for your admirable performance, and also seek to know you more if your ladyship would please?” [/B]Lucius began. His eyes widened at his ‘appalling entrance’ and he kneeled sincerely. [B]“Ah! Where are my manners? Mi’lady, I am Baron Lucius Garthois, at your service…” [/B]He introduced, holding up his hand to accept the fair maiden’s own if she saw fit to grace him.
 
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ 
[B][U]Tikki[/U][/B]

"[I]Yes! Yes! You'll do nicely. Now pick me up![/I]" A voice had cried out when Tikki entered the room.
But Tikki stared at the statue wide-eyed and quivering as she pointed her dagger, waiting for it to respond to her questions. 
 
There was a sigh, and then a response.
"[I]No, silly. I'm the sword. I'm a talking sword.[/I]" It shouted at her. Tikki raised an eyebrow instantly and looked confused and bewildered. "[I]I'm not cursed, I'm just not capable of moving on my own. Someone thought it would be funny to leave me down here for a century or two. It's not funny. I promise you, it is not funny to leave an immortal being somewhere for centuries. And I swear to any deities that might be watching, if you don't help me, I will be upset with you for as long as you live.[/I]"
 
Tikki’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.
[B]“You must be a really, really, really grumpy and dusty sword then... Tikki really isn’t sure about this…” [/B]She responded, making conversation with the sword. [I]What have you gotten yourself into, Tikki? You’re talking to a sword! A talking sword![/I] Tikki thought confusedly.
"[I]But if you do help me, I'll never fail you. I am Surtr Nothung, 'Black Wrath' in your tongue, I think. You can call me Gram, though. That means 'Fury' if I'm not mistaken. Could be wrong, I haven't been around for a while.” [/I]Tikki hopped from one foot to the other, not sure whether to leave or pick up the grumpy sword.[I] “Now stop gawking and dancing about. Pick me up and let's get out of here, you can admire me outside in the sunlight.[/I]" The voice ordered.
 
Tikki didn’t really understand the first part of what it said, and she felt cautious, but almost just as curious. She finally edged towards the sword and, after sheathing her dagger, lifted it up, or tried to anyways.
[B]“Unfh! Why are you such a big sword? Tikki isn’t sure about big swords…” [/B]Tikki complained a little as she slung the sheath over her shoulder with a heave and placed it between her wings. She sighed with slight relief of carrying the thing instead of holding it.
"[I]Help yourself to the baubles too, if you like, I think there's a chest behind the statue if you pull the rightmost sconce to the left.” [/I]The sword added. 
 
Tikki’s eyes then beamed at the mention of ‘chest’. She then followed the sword’s directions. 
[B]“Oooh! Tikki likes baubles! Are they shiny? Oh! Oh! Once, Tikki had this beeeeeeaaa-utiful bauble made of gold and—“ [/B]Tikki excitedly began to embellish as she found the chest, but the sword cut her off.
[I] “But be quick about it, I want out of here. Weapons aren't made to sit around and do nothing...[/I]" It ordered, with an almost threatening tone to it.
[B]“Humph! Okay, okay… Tikki will be quick… Grumpy sword…” [/B]Tikki muttered and frowned as she searched the chest. Her eyes then gleamed at the sight of shiny little trinkets.
 
She giggled happily as she eagerly pocketed and bagged as much treasure as she could before setting off to leave the cave. She made the same measures as she did before to avoid the traps, despite being eager and excited to leave the cave.
 
As she hopped out into the sunlight, she stretched a little with sigh and giggled happily over her loot. She then remembered the sword.
[B]“Oh! Right, let’s have a look atchu, grumpy sword!” [/B]She exclaimed as she then put the sword in its sheath on a rock nearby. She put one foot on the sheath and then grunted as she pulled the sword carefully out of its sheath, one hand on the lower handle and other hand on the upper handle. Finally, out into the sunlight the blade was held, free of its sheath and shimmering in its masterful glory. Even Tikki ogled at it a little excitedly, naturally only because it was shiny. [B]“Ooooooooh…” [/B]She murmured with her mouth open in awe.