The imperial soldiers took a step back and stood down. Due to the de-escalation, most breathed a sigh of relief except for the captain, whom seemed to be a bit disappointed. The same was true of the Emperor, considering that he wouldn't have minded the extra excitement. The truth was that the lives of the soldiers would have been forfeit if that glove had been removed. None were anywhere as useful to him at the present as Rohaan was. It was probably more of shame that this would enable the Shifter more leverage to hold over him, though that wouldn't be all that significant in the long term. He was already entrusting him with the greatest prize within the entire empire - his only daughter. Besides, he wasn't maintaining the secret for his own vanity. The only concern was that he was giving the Shifter the means and opportunity to betray him later. It was inevitable, depending on whether he chose to continue to make use of the shapeshifters talents after this first mission.

"I could have raised my banners and marched an entire army to gates of Durgan Fortress. But then my lords would wonder why I was committing such significant resources on Durgan. What could possibly be there that the emperor would be so interested in? If I don't keep them squabbling amongst themselves, their focus changes to me. Some are loyal. Most aren't. All would give anything to gain any leverage over me." There was a sad truth in all of that, though he didn't actually fear any of them. They weren't the enemies that actually threatened the empire. They were merely flies, annoying and harmless in nearly every aspect, but they would love the chance to feed off of his decaying corpse as the empire burned around them. 

"An assault would be too chaotic and uncertain. We are talking about one of the greatest fortresses ever built in this world. Assuming that it is properly manned, the loss of life would be staggering, assuming they aren't wise enough to figure out what I'm truly after and use my daughter as a bargaining chip. Besides, I need far more precision in this situation."

"The same goes with sending my own agents. I have absolutely no idea what's going on within that fortress. My agents may of been more than enough to challenge whatever may be happening within that fortress. Yet, there's still a risk that something unnatural is occurring; if so, no normal man can handle that. No matter what, I can't be flippant with my daughter's life. I need you." Karl Valdemar had no pleasure in stoking the ego of the Shifter, but none of his actions taken so far was based on a mere whim. There were multiple facets to what he needed done. First, he needed his daughter, preferably alive. Second, he needed to know what was actually going on in that fortress. He was essentially blind, and he hated to lack intelligence about anything within his empire.

"I needed secrecy to shroud my actions. That forced my hand to act swiftly. However, if you ever learn to properly read, then maybe I'll send you that letter that you so desperately crave." He probably wouldn't. He much preferred to inject the Shifter's life with excitement whenever he could. This very well may not be their only partnership. "I think I've covered this well enough, unless you're only broaching this subject over and over again just to annoy me."

Once again, when Rohaan finally shifted back to his base form, it wasn't a pleasant experience for Karl Valdemar. At least it finally ended the odd experience of talking with a nearly identical version of himself. The captain gritted his teeth at Rohaan's latest comment, but it didn't make much of a difference to Karl Valdemar. He hardly needed to two of them to be friends. The Emperor finally returned to his seat, crossing his legs as he did so.

"Oh, I'm not embarrassed by it in the slightest. I just need it to remain a secret for the foreseeable future. Keep your lips sealed and the terms won't change. I can promise you that." Obviously neither of them trusted one another, but so long as their interests intertwined, a deterrent would remain. "Oh, and please refrain from threatening my daughter. It will gain you nothing aside from me placing you in an unmarked grave." Based on the Emperor's expression, it was more than just a threat, and it wasn't a bluff like before. It was a promise.

He let a slight sigh leave his lips before he continued. "When she was born, I named her Astrid, but she does not know of that name. She was given a new name by her grandfather, the Lord of Durgan. I believe it's pronounced... Asharavasti." Though the old man bore him a grudge for many things, at least he was an honorable man. Karl Valdemar was able to entrust the care of his child to him, which was helpful since there was growing turmoil within the empire even after the victory against the Centauri.

"Whatever happened at Durgan… I know for a fact that my daughter wasn't there when it happened. She doesn't care for staying in castles. Mountain-climbing, hunting in the valleys, whatever. More or less, she can disappear for weeks at a time, but she must of returned to Durgan by now, and it wasn't through the gates. Retrace her steps and you should be able to find her." If the girl was smart, then she would have gone back to Durgan, but from everything that had been told to him by his agents, he knew that wasn't the case. Independent, tenacious, and hopelessly stubborn... who did that remind him of?

"As for what she looks like, she has my eyes. Nobody else at Durgan has these eyes." Karl Valdemar pointed his eyes, which were golden. They were warm and bold, almost the perfect set of eyes for an emperor to have. At the same time, however, these eyes seemed to be more appropriate for a beast or predator.

"Keep the flask." Karl Valdemar figured he'd offer the Shifter a memento of their first meeting. "And take this. You shouldn't need it, but it'll show any man that represent my authority." The Emperor pulled a ring off his right hand, which bore the Imperial seal. It was something that could only be given by an emperor, and couldn't be so simply stolen. "You've gotten so friendly with Captain Johann Basch that I think I'll make him your liaison. Go to him for anything that you may need. With your shapeshifting abilities, I doubt travel will be one of those." The captain only offered Rohaan a deathly glare.

Karl Valdemar walked over to one of the fishing poles that were laying on the shore, adjusting the line so it would properly operate. "Upon your return, meet me at Last Vigil where I had you taken from. Seems as good as a place as any." With a quick flick of the wrist, the fishing line was cast into the middle of the lake. He'd probably take the boat out tomorrow. "If that's everything, I'd like to do a bit more fishing while there's still light."