"Yes, yes. Take that down." Said Deborah, gesturing at a pair of workers who were standing on a platform taking down several paintings from the walls of the throne room. It was one of the many paintings depicting several war heroes, kings, princes, and honored ministers of parliament. This particular painting, the largest of the bunch depicted the late King. Carefully, the workers descended down the platform carrying the painting with them. 

"Where should we take it, My Lady?" Asked one of the workers, a young man of Delni origin. 

"To the basement of course. Put a blanket over it or something. Just get it out of my sight." Replied the Queen, avoiding eye contact with the worker who simply nodded and along with the other worker carried the painting off the throne room. 

Sighing, she walked over to the throne passing her fingers along the silver finish of the throne. She then proceeded to sit down, getting comfortable in the black phelt cushions that decorated the seat and back. 

"What do you think, Lennart?" She asked, looking over to her bodyguard who was standing just a few feet away from her. "It fits me, no?"
 
Lennart has been observing the workers removing the assumed priceless items of the throne room. A waste it would be to see such things stored... he thought to himself as he sniffs lightly from the small amount of dust being dispersed from the untouched regions of the throne room, however small. He’s been tasked by his natural King to protect the Queen and so he shall.

He responds lightly to his Queen, ”Quite, your highness. It’s regalcy and charm suite you greatly.”
 
"Of course, I-" Before she could finish hee thought, the great doors at the end of the room opened. Entering the room was the Supreme Commander of the Leinsteiner Armed Forces Balthasar von Horgen. The general was middle aged, of tall stature and a medium build. He wore his formal uniform, carrying his cap under his arm. His face was covered in scars along with a pair of small screws at either side of his forehead. The most prominent feature were his extensive cybernetics. A pair of metallic looking tubes extended from a small tank attached to his belt upwards toward his nose, providing him with oxygen. Every step he took echoed along the mostly empty hall. 

Walking alongside him was Harold Foltz, a younger man in his early 30's wearing the crimson colors of the Royal Guard. Foltz was an acquaintance of Pirhonen's. They had met through their shared duty of protecting the Queen. While Pirhonen was tasked with protecting the Queen, Foltz was the Captain of the Royal Guard tasked with protecting the royal family as a whole. Every now and then, the two would share a drink at the barracks or simply make small talk on their rare breaks.

"Your Highness." Balthasar said as he approached the throne, giving the Queen a bow along with Foltz who did the same. "The problematic Parliamentarians have been dispatched. I've ensured that all them will vote to hand the crown over to you."
"Good." She replied, laying back on the throne and placing her arms on the arms rests. "What about Valkner?" 

"Nothing yet. So far, he has refused to sign the confession." As Balthasar spoke about the Prince, his forehead became stressed, then he grabbed his cap and firmly gripped it between his hands in front of him.

"He's a child. How hard can it be to beat a confession out of him!?" She shouted, pointing at the General. "You are the best this nation had to offer yet it you are bested by some kid." Glaring at Foltz, she continued scolding Horgen. "Tell your men to work over-time. I want a confession by the end of tomorrow. Is that clear?" 

"Yes, Your Highness. If I may, Madam?" 

"Yes?" 

Horgen glanced at Pirhonen before continuing. "Perhaps we should transport him to the Mountain Peak. Our best agents work at the facility. They will be able to extract a confession sooner than the men at the City Prison." 

"Go ahead. But I need a confession as soon as possible." She sighed, standing up from her throne. "Dismissed, General." 

Bowing, he spun around and walked out of the room. The Queen did the same, going ahead through a side door. When Lennart went to follow her, she raised her hand. "I have private business to attend to. You are dismissed until I call for you." Before he could answer, she opened the side door and slammed it behind her. Slowly, he heard her ascend up a spiral staircase that was behind the door, her steps becoming more faint as she walked away.
Foltz walked over to Pirhonnen, stretching his arm out for a handshake. 
"How have you been?" He asked.
 
Pirhonen watched the transmission carefully, glancing back at Horgen after he had glanced at Pirhonen, then to Foltz, smirking a little. He silently resented such backhanded measure to ensure a crown, but what must be done must be done, he supposes.

When his charge leaves, he only has time to open his mouth for a goodbye before she is gone. Foltz walks up to him,

Lennart smiles lightly, firmly shaking Foltz’s hand, ”I’ve been good, Captain. Standing here next to the Queen has been an exhilarating experience for me, I don’t think anything could top it.” Pirhonen chuckles lightly, ”Sorry, her highness has been removing paintings and various other things to storage, a waste if you ask me. Those works of art would be perfect inside a museum.”
 
Foltz looked around, and gestured for Pirhonnen to follow him. "Let's take a walk outside. There's something I want to talk to you about."
 
Pirhonen nods, running his hand through his short brown hair, his helmet was hanging off the back of his body armor via a neck strap but the uniform jacket was padding the burgonet from clanking around. He slings his semi-automatic rifle around his shoulders as it was originally sitting stock to ground facing up in resting position. ”Yes, sir.” Pirhonen nods and is ready to follow.
 
Foltz leads him into the palace gardens, with a great view of the sea beyond. He was silent for a moment, staring out into the distance. Then, he continued walking stopping by a marble railing that separated the beach from the palace. 

"What do you know about the King's death?"
 
Pirhonen cocked an eye, wondering why Foltz brought it up, ”Well, he was...murdered, wasn’t he?”

"What do you think?" He asked, still staring into the endless sea beyond. Standing there, Foltz gripped the railing with both of his hands, leaning into it.
 
Pirhonen tried to read Foltz as he leans into the railing, it seemed such a question was hanging on Foltz mind, ”Well, it’s a shame the King has died, but he had been gone from prying eyes for quite some time...I was able to see him during this time. He seemed down with a cold or a fever or something...Valkner also doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to murder his father...but that’s been proven wrong before...what about you, Captain?”
 
There was a moment of silence, then Foltz turned his head to look at Pirhonnen. "The Prince is being framed." He said, sounding as if that was a weight off his shoulders.
 
Lennart blinks a couple times processing what the Captain had just said, ”He’s being framed?” Lennart steps a little closer to Foltz, speaking his sentence in a hushed tone. ”By who?”
 
"I don't know. Too many people are benefitting from his death. The General, von Horgen, the Chancellor, and the Queen. But I know the Prince. I know it wasn't him." He sighed, fiddling with his wedding ring on his left hand. "The Queen wants him to sign a confession. She won't allow me to open a proper investigation. I didn't even have enough time to look over the body. This whole thing reeks, but I can't tell who's behind it."
 
”I see.,” Lennart says before leaning on the railing too, ”Well how is the General benefiting?”
 
"The King wanted to shrink the Armed Forces. The General is a veteran of the war and has always believed that the War should have gone on for longer. I've heard from his aides that he has always despised His Majesty." There was no hesitation in Holtz' voice. "Not to mention, he blamed him for his daughter turning on him."
 
”Hmph. So they all have motive. I assume the Queen barring your investigation is what tipped you off something might be up?”
 
"Yes." He replied, fidling with his wedding ring again. "There's something wrong with all this. And I want to get to the bottom of it. The people deserve it and the Prince deserves it."
 
”Of course,” Lennart says, pushing off the railing lightly, cracking his own neck, ”My orders are, however, to protect the Queen but she did dismiss me. I’m not going to lie, Captain, this is piquing my interest as well. What do you have in mind?” As he finishes, Pirhonen opens a side pocket in his uniform jacket, splitting the red jacket pocket and then opening a second pocket. He pulls out a small rectangular block with a rotating lid. Inside he pulls out what looks like a cigarette, then packs it down into a second compartment in the wooden block. He pulls it back up, takes a lighter from his pants pocket, and lights the pipe. He blows some vapor  from his mouth when he exhales.
 
"I trust you. But you are also close the Queen. If she lets anything slip, I need you to let me know. As for the Chancellor and the General, I'll take care of those. For now, whatever we do, we have to keep everything under wraps. Otherwise, we might as well join the Sultanate." 

Before he could continue on, Pirhonnen and Foltz heard a familiar voice call out to Lennart

"Pirhonnen!" Shouted General Von Horgen, who was standing several feet away. "I've a job for you." 

Foltz lightly patted his back. "Be careful. I'll contact you again soon." He said, before walking away. 

"Pirhonnen! I haven't got all day!" Shouted the General, sounding impatient.
 
Pirhonen nods as Foltz speaks, finishing off the pipe, he blows through it and ash comes out the front. He aims it at a spot of grass or sand—whichever is closer. He puts the whole apparatus up as Horgen calls out to him.

”Yes, sir.” Pirhonen says as Foltz walks away. He quickly turns on his heels and lightly jogs up to the General.

”Yes, sir?”
 
"Pack up travel supplies. You're coming with me to Mountain Peak." He said, crossing his arms as he spoke.
 
Pirhonen salutes the General, ”Yes, sir. I’ll grab my gear.” He makes note of the General’s current demeanor and body language, probably nothing out of the ordinary for the General’s disposition. I’ have plenty of time to possibly prod the General on the way up... he thinks to himself. He waits to be dismissed.

"Meet me at Sahberg Station." Seeing Pirhonnen stand there made the General's snow white eyebrows furrow. "What are you waiting for? Get going!"
Sahberg station was one of the military train stations located outside the city. Most likely, the General wanted Pirhonnen to accompany the Prince to Mountain Peak.
 
Pirhonen salutes once again before leaving really only wanting that last piece of info on where to go. He returns to the barracks and kits himself back out for the trip, packing his supplies in his backpack or on his person. He rips a small piece of paper out of a drawing notebook of his and writes: ”P accompany Gen, Sahberg to MP, suspecting royal charge” He folds the paper a few times and writes, “Foltz” on the front. It’s a risk but worth it. He finds the Captain’s bunk/room and puts the note under his pillow or if the Captain has a room, slips it under the door into the room. He then quickly makes his way to the station, smoking another pipe load on the way over. He checks his rifle and his service pistol also. He tests his helmet which was of burgonet design: the helmet was capable of being hermetically sealed like a gas mask because the front folding part was actually a mask as well. He arrives at the station approximately 15 minutes early.
 
Unlike other times, the station was completely empty. No guards, no soldiers, nothing. The only thing present at the station was Pirhonnen and the train which seemed empty as well. Perhaps Foltz was right. All this seemed highly irregular.
 
Pirhonen did think it rather odd. He eyed up and down the train and around the yard. If it weren’t for daytime, the station would probably be dead silent. He walks up to the train and tries to enter it.
 
Every single door Pirhonnen tried to open were either locked or simply wouldn't budge. As he tried the doors he heard a door open on the far side of the platform. Leading a group of soldiers was the General himself. He was flanked by two members of his infamous Blackguard, behind them were a squad of what appeared to be Tal-Karan soldiers. In the center of the squad, being held by his arms was the Prince, who had his hands bound by handcuffs and his eyes bound and mouth gagged. It was odd seeing Valkner without opulent clothes, instead he was wearing a simple old white shirt and trousers both of which were stained with dried blood. The Prince himself looked worse for wear as the group approached Pirhonnen. Now that he was closer, he spotted fresh bruises and cuts on his face and forearm. Not to mention, he was thinner than usual. 

"Good. You're here early." Said Horgen, as he gestured for the Tal-Karans to take the Prince into one of the train cars. The Blackguards opened the car with a key and dissapeared as they went inside the prisoner transport car. 
"Listen to me carefully. You are going to get in that car with Valkner and you will not let him out of your sight until you reach Mountain Peak. Once you arrive, hand him over to the Warden and return. Any questions?"

As they spoke, more Tal-Karan soldiers arrived, boarding the passenger cars behind the prisoner transport car which was at the very front of the relatively short train.
 
”Yes, sir if you don’t mind. Why are there so many Tal-Karan soldiers here? I’d expect our men to be escorting the Prince.”
Pirhonen makes note of how many Tal-Karans there are getting on the train. This could be an interesting opportunity...
The only thing that bothers him is that he may not have brought enough bullets for said opportunity.
 
"The Queen hired them. I hate the idea as much as you do. Nothing either of us can do about it. Anything else?" 
He seemed irritated with the question. But his demeanor barely changed.
 
”No sir, Thank you.” He saluted to the General before turning and heading onto the train. He boards the prisoner train, taking in his surroundings. He pulls that same dugout from his pocket and begins packing the pipe again.
 
The prisoner car was fairly spacious. It had a small cabin on one side with a bed, and a small desk. Then, on the far side at the very end there was a cage door with metal bars. The walls were lined with loops to tie prisoners with sitting down. Lennart saw as the Tal-Karans practically dragged the Prince inside, attsching his cuffs to one of the metal loops, forcing his arms above his head. Before leaving, one of the soldiers kicked  Valkner in the stomach making him groan and cough as the Tal-Karans laughed. Turning around, they closed the gate, locking it with a key. Then, one of the Tal-Karans handed the key over to Lennart. 

"Sei ga'hda, Leinsteiner." He said as he tossed the keys toward Lennart walking to the adjacent passenger car.
 
Lennart catches the keys, holding them to his chest as he watches the Tal-Karans leave. He waits a few moments after they leave before moving. He looks around the car, taking a hit off his pipe. He walks up to the bars and taps on them to try to get the Prince’s attention.
 
It takes him a moment or two to raise his head up toward the noise, but he does. He mumbles something over his gag, but it's so faint Lennart can't understand it.
 
”Prince? I will speak quickly,” He gives a quick bow to the Prince out of respect then continues quietly, ”I know you are being framed for your father’s murder. A friend of mine is working to find out who’s plan it was to frame you. When we start moving I’ll drop your binds but in case the Tel-Karans get smart I have to leave you in the cell while I work out what needs to be done...so please, stay strong your highness.”
 
Lennart couldn't see it, but the otherwise dead sunken eyes of the Prince lit up with just a bit of hope under the blindfold. He nodded weakly in response. 

One of the Tal-Karans peeked inside the car, whistling to get Lennarts attention. 

"Oi! Ger bai, Leinsteiner." He said, gesturing at the car in front.

Lennart turns quickly his pipe still in his mouth. He pulls on the pipe as he walks forward, nodding. He blows the ash out into a trash bin and moves to the front car. If need be, of course, he has clearance to remain in the prisoner car—maybe even keep the Tel-Karans from coming in.
 
The Tal-Karan closed the door, locking it from the outside. He then entered the passenger car. It was more open and decorated than the prisoner car and was filled with Tal-Karan soldiers. There were at least 15 of them in here. Lennart walked all the way to the end of the car, spotting an older Tal-Karan with a green headscarf. 

"You Leinsteiner? One with Prince?" He asked as the train began to move.
 
”Yes, I am. And you?” Pirhonen disliked Tal-Karans as much as the next guy but put up a front for them. The train started shuffling around as he began talking to the man so he moved to sit down but realized he still had his pack and his rifle. He took a seat for the time being and slung his pack on the ground, he sat his rifle on the ground facing up like normal. It was loaded, of course. 20 rounds. He began packing another round in his pipe as the men may continue talking.
 
"Me. I'm Vanu. These. My men." He said, taking a puff from his own pipe. "You too tense, Leinsteiner. This job easy. You and I. Friends?" The man smiled, clearly seeming to be under the influence of some kind of narcotic.
 
Lennart smirks, shrugging his shoulders to loosen the tension, he offers his cigarette pipe to the man, ”Friends.” Lennart figures some brownie points with the Tal-Karans might go a long way for whatever lies ahead.