Phoebus's men lowered their spears when the painted guards turned to focus on Merida. The captain held up a hand to stop them from instigating anything. As soon as Kuzco stopped talking, he stepped between the Emperor and young noblewoman.

"First of all, Your Majesty, I would warn you not to threaten to gag a lady, or have your guards do so. It's a fast way to find a blade -- or candelabra -- between your legs, and next time, I would not step in to prevent you from becoming unable to create heirs."

Then he turned to Merida. "That does [i]not[/i] excuse [i]your[/i] behavior, however, young lady. I support women being given a chance to have their say, but I did not address my question to you. You are not part of their group and therefore do not have the knowledge nor the right to presume the reason for their presence. Regardless of any of that, your behavior has been very rude and un-lady-like, and I am quite certain your mother would disapprove, assuming your family is as noble as your horse leads me to believe."

Phoebus checked to make sure neither his soldiers nor the foreign ones were gearing up to start fighting. Suspicion was to be expected, and caution of course part of the job, but aggression was not something conducive to a diplomatic situation. He took a deep breath and shook his head, before stepping back and returning his attention to Kuzco.

"In regards to your intentions, Your Majesty, I am afraid I do not have the authority to direct you to our monarch. I can direct you to the local magistrate, however. Given time and a lot of paperwork, he may choose to direct you to the city's steward, who may direct you to... I think a Duke of some sort?" He shrugged. "Unfortunately I was rather less interested in such politics in my schooling years, and less so since I joined the army."