A King with no audience was an interesting thing to witness for D'artagnan. While holding a respect for the power the crown held the actual person under its weight never much concerned him. He had only been the subject of one monarch in his lifetime and though his influence was fast it wasn't intimate. Rarely did anything done at that level of government directly affect D'artagnan. The politics he had to muck through was a whole different animal. The King beckoned for the two mages to lift their heads and come to the council that was in session. The gravity of the situation could be heard in the tone everyone was using. [color=f7941d]"Thank you for your quick arrival Oliver. This is the young man you were speaking of before?"[/color] Said the man standing next to the King. D'artagnan couldn't place him, but felt he was someone he should. [color=00aeef]"Yes Duke. This is my former student D'artagnan Bardot who was a former agent within the MMI. His departure was due to internal politics I assure you and not about performance."[/color] Oliver then continued only this time shifted to speak directly to the King. [color=00aeef]"As it happens the report you had mentioned earlier was written by both myself and this young man."[/color] He then paused as the King held up a hand in a command that silenced him. When he spoke the King seemed as though he was trapped. Each word seemed a labor. [color=ec008c]"You said this man could work outside the confines of a normal mission and that is what we need Oliver. I trust your judgement."[/color] D'artagnan was about to say thank you for the trust; however, before he could the doors opened once more and a woman followed by several guards arrived. Instead of the walking jibs he had to endure this woman seemed to cause the whole room anxiety. Even Oliver and Duke seemed to tighten their stance. Her first words only seemed to reinforce her barbwire reaction from the group. [color=f7941d]"I think you can understand why we won't be returning your accessories."[/color] The Duke said coldly. Oliver and him exchanged a look and then the King spoke. [color=ec008c]"A woman of the shadows and a disgraced mage. This is the best my inner council can summon..."[/color] He gave no effort to holding back his tone when he spoke and both the Duke and Oliver seemed to stop themselves from jumping in to defend whatever it was that was going on. [color=f7941d]"Since the party is here we should, I think, explain to our guests why they have been summoned to a place that normally would detest their attendance."[/color] The Duke said, but before that he looked at the woman who had just joined them and gave a curt nod. [color=f7941d]"I have it on good authority that you are the gold standard in your profession. I ask that you note that is not the kind of job you have been brought here to accept."[/color] Oliver then looked over at D'artagnan and simply said. [color=00aeef]"Don't be an ass."[/color]