[color=gold]"So, Kal, mind telling me what exactly happened? Judging by the cheer in the courtyard, you either announced that your men could go wenching, or you were successful in your mission. So? What happened over in Helcomb?"[/color]

Kal leaned back and sighed. The Turnips, the Yelb... the statuette. He decided to simply not mention the statuette for the moment.

[color=Orange]"Well, the Turnips proved to be of very little trouble and went down quickly. The..."[/color]

He scratched his forehead absentmindedly, with the words he had forming in his head vanishing as he grew distracted by other thoughts creeping in his head. [i]Statuette... Alexandria... do I hear something downstairs?[/i]

His father leaned forward, putting his arm on his knee and his head in his hand. [color=gold]"Very good. Something else?"[/color] He gave his son a questioning look, noting the empty word at the end.

[color=Orange]"...the... town recovered very well after the bandits were gone."[/color]

[color=gold]"Did you get along with the ladies?"[/color] his father gave a wink.

[color=f26522]"Yes indeed."[/color] Reindolous filled in when Kal left the question with a silence.

[color=Orange]"Yes. Sorry."[/color] Kal repositioned himself in his seat to regather his composure. His attention was plainly being eaten away, but by what? Why couldn't he keep his mind on the subject at hand?

[color=gold]"Have a drink, son."[/color] As Reindolous got up to find the wine in one of the room's many chests, the king leaned back and looked at Kal not without a little concern. [color=gold]"Hard trip back, I suppose?"[/color]

[color=Orange]"Not that bad, actually."[/color] Kal finally made some words come out. [color=Orange]"We met some Yelb on our way back, but... not much happened otherwise."[/color]

Reindolous shot Kal a questioning look before opening another chest and sifting inside, the distinct noises of clinking glass coming over a few seconds later. Kal didn't know why he felt it necessary not to mention the statuette; it seemed as though he was almost compelled not to mention it.

The king smiled and said with a light tone as Reindolous came over with a wine bottle and three glasses, [color=gold]"Well son, it seems like your mission was met with full success. Great work. Now-"[/color]

All heads turned when a high pitched scream came from downstairs, followed by shouting.