Aurana had tensed up when Janius got firm with Julan. Her eyes blinked over to him when he tried to change the subject. "I, um...they told me that..." She was having trouble.

"Hold that thought, Aurana," Janius said calmly. "Julan, we will deal with this first, understand? Now, Aurana, I don't want to interrogate you, but what was it about Rhazii and Julan that made you want to follow them?"

"Uh..." Aurana completely froze up. "I..." She glanced at the boys out of the corner of her eye. Her brow raised slightly. "There was someone peeping through my window. Up a tree. I didn't see who it was, they ran off. But I thought at the time that it was Rhazii and Kaj-Julan. I found out it wasn't them, then we started speaking and...we worked out our relation. It was quite the coincidence."

It was a convincing enough lie that Janius did not even hint at disbelief. He nodded respectfully. "Very well, that settles it. Son?" Janius looked again to Julan. He spoke with authority, but not anger. "Leaving the castle without telling us was rash. You and Rhazii need to ask us our permission, else we do not know where to find you if you don't return on your own. We were searching the streets for some time until we found you, and you were told that the city is not safe during the night. After tonight, you and Rhazii are to be confined to the barracks for a day unless otherwise told, understood?"

At the table, Rhazii groaned quietly. It was disappointing, but a light punishment in comparison to going more directly against their parents' word, such as being caught visiting Julan's grandparents. Aurana had vouched for them in that regard.

Fendros gave a small nod to Janius in agreement.