The Eretol painted a convincing picture. Here she was, a girl begging for help from the “strong” guards. One seemed prepared to give it all in and help, but Rodney was quick to intervene. Tobias cursed under his breath as the senior guard began on a power trip. “Firstly, you, shut up.” Tobias bit back a bitter retort, realizing that Rodney would be quick to forget their drinks and turn the bow on him. Still, Rodney had sound logic. There was reason to be afraid of these strangers. Tobias wasn’t sure it was quite so simple, but how could he explain that to the victims of those raids?

The mention of prison was a dull eventuality, but still frustrated Tobias. Rodney, now emboldened, was leading the group of new prisoners with a strut in his step. He noticed the presumed leader of the small band whispering instructions, and tried to get closer, only for Rodney to stop him mid-sentence. 

The front guard approached Tobias, and Tobias nodded quickly at his instructions. He wanted answers, and apparently this man did too. Or at least, not to see the pretty women die, the gentleman.

As they traveled through the streets, the mood turned violent. The people Tobey had taken care of, who had taken care of him for all these years, were a violent mass of screaming faces and raised fists. Tobey ran to those he recognized, and tried to calm them down, but was greeted by furious replies. “How can you defend them! I thought you were one of us, Tobey!” The words bit hard, and Tobey was cowed into quiet by the shouts of disdain from those he had called neighbours and friends.

That was before they began throwing items. Tobias moved to the fringes of the group, trying to keep up while avoiding the various projectiles, but found himself being targeted almost as much as the prisoners on display. He didn’t have the nerve to call back.

After a time, he reached the keep. He was nearly denied entry, but the guard who had recommended he come along let him through, and into the dungeons to wait with the prisoners. Upon entering the grounds, a wave of nostalgia wash over him. Aretan architects weren’t know for there extreme innovation, and this castle reminded him of Lormanie, his family’s seat. He was reminded of them once again. What had become of his Father? Or his half-brother, who he had left without a goodbye? He had never heard news from home, and at the time had been quite happy with that, but standing on the grounds of the keep, Tobey felt a deep curiosity build up in him. He needed to know what had come of his family. A country had sunken into the ground, and the rapidity of this event made Tobey anxious. Could something similar occur to Areta?

As he left, Rodney threw a dark glance towards Tobias, who replied with a crooked smile. Internally, Tobey wanted to crack him across the face, but knew that there was little chance of that coming about in a way that would let Tobey walk away a free man. Tobey approached the prisoners cautiously, glancing to the guards who were waiting, but they seemed to care little for the bearded man’s movements.

“Well, well,” One of the elves said, her tone biting. “What a warm and pleasant welcoming from the Viceni! I am so glad that even with all the difficulties they face, they still put in the effort to be hospitable to strangers.” Tobias broke into laughter. 
“What did you expect, dare I ask? A parade?” The proud elves could suffer the hit to their ego. “You raided a village, [i] their [/i] village. Didn’t you?” He took a moment to examine the group more carefully. They were battle hardened, most of them wounded, the rest exhausted.

“You had a reason, though.” He continued. “A reason for your attack. You weren’t trying to kill us, that much is certain. So what was your motive? Be honest, please. I may be your only chance of making it out of here in a timely manner, if at all.” The words were hollow, he wasn’t quite sure what he could do, but he did wish to help them, if he could. There was more to this than he understood, and he would refrain from making judgment until he did.