[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrrZdOloeUY][b]Interlude II[/b][/url][/center]

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Amidst whispers amongst the few surviving Sarifen aristocrats, Lucius' breath escaped his lips as he trudged towards the grill that offered a clear view of the Palais de Voltas. Vengeful eyes stared up towards the towering, marvel of former Valanian architectural ingenuity mixed with touches of a flare of Sarifen flourishes and domed characteristics. Something brought the Prince to a death-defying stare. Having spent several hours to relieve his exhaustion, a new born restlessness seemed to ignited the former Prince in fanatical manner that only Yadin-Hamon and Athirat could know. 

As the survivors moved towards the assembling Nezamnissaries, the Prince somehow rose to his feet and rushed to block their path carrying only a single torch. The fires that cast around him gave the man a more pronounced and commanding presence amidst the sewer's pitch black darkness. Several Nezamnissaries glanced in his direction with watchful eyes and hands wrapped around their curved, Khilij sabres.

“Do not be alarmed. I do not wish to bar your path nor do I wish to intrude on rather delicate discussions, however, we all know what we saw at the Château.”

His piercing eyes swept across the weary party, most of whom had ample to time to have caught their breath and some form of rest, despite the smell and several terrifying hours spent laying beneath moving hostile soldiers and mounted cavaliers. Several such Sarifen aristocrats had simply looked for any escape route whilst the Nezams tended to their wounded. The remaining Valanians continually eyed each other with suspicion and contempt.

“Whomever else amongst this party desires a slow and prolonged death … you are free to move on past and towards the Merchant's Quarter, however, know that the moment you cross, you will be butchered like animals … that is … if you survive the night. It is to my belief that whatever awaits you there may prove even worse than what you earlier saw at the Château.”

“Yes, Comte Le Crosse, that much is obvious,” the hobbling Councillor Gisgo flatly voiced as she leaned upon Dae, “I'm not certain if I follow though. Mother Athirat receives all in life and death and unless you know of another, lesser known escape route, I believe we shouldn't linger here.”

“You don't realize how gingerly our woes have played out, do you?” Lucius questioned as he stalked away and across the cobble-stoned walkways beside the filth canals that stretched along the Voltisian sewer grounds. Through curled lips, the Prince glanced up towards the grill that offered a view towards the Palais de Voltas where upon his hands reached through his belt to retrieve a loaded pistol. Just before several Nezamnissaries retrieved their rifles, the Prince offered the former retainer a shoulder pat and his loaded pistol before retrieving and stuffing the guard's emptied pistol with shot and powder. 

“The Lord Sovereign, Richter von Conqvist,” the Prince began again, “Is [i]much[/i] more dangerous than we thought and commands [i]a seer[/i] within his ranks whom...”

“A seer …?” the Councillor interrupted through raised eyebrows and picqued interest amidst murmurs amongst the other survivors.

“An individual whom commands the elemental ability to eavesdrop upon whomever he wants, [i]whenever[/i] he wants!”

More murmurs amongst the survivors and Nezamnissaries as the Prince nodded before continuing, “Yes, given that elemental forces are now part of the equation, I need not explain how dangerous such a latent supernatural power may present itself and if we do not strike now, what we endured in the Chateau will only happen again and again … and again and again until we are dead and the great Sarifen Houses and the Lord Sovereign seize what they want. Those that ... wish to seek an escape are free to go as they please for I wish you all the best. Otherwise, come with me to strike into the Palais de Voltas and seize this [i]seer[/i] so we may end this nightmare ...”