[center][h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5157586][color=MediumAquamarine]Arin von Astastel[/color][/url][/h1][/center]
Arin had mixed feelings about how well the group conducted their investigation of the vault. Some did help, albeit in varying degrees. Callista provided insight from a non-magic user perspective. Even Vuthaternock came up with a few ideas, some rooted more in the realm of possibilities than others. Both, however, lacked evidence and time needed to gather said evidence from the vault or the castle.

Elra’s initial input was helpful, but then she thought now would be a good time to revert to her slave days, fetching her master ---nay, employer’s daughter--- and her guests' things that Rynn undoubtedly already prepared beforehand unless the trip to Timberholde was decided at the spur of the moment. One could chalk it up as her being considerate, but Arin couldn't entirely. Who asked her to do it? Arin certainly didn’t. It wasn’t her job, far from it in fact, or was the king hiring new servants simultaneously with hiring people to find the Dark Dagger? No, she made the decision herself, before anyone asked her to do it. Just like a well-trained slave who learned the hard way what happened when she wasn’t “considerate” enough.

Arin was most disappointed in Ernestus. He apparently spent one full hour talking to one of his guards and not once did he ask about the thefts. It was a lost opportunity for them to get information that perhaps the guards were hesitant to reveal to their superiors but were more open to tell an old friend. He might have discovered that the guards fell asleep or were drunk while on duty or that they left their posts the moment of the theft for one reason or another. The fact of the matter was that if the thief did use the front door to enter the vault, then they needed to pass the guards. What were they doing when that happened? If magic was used ---and Arin would find out soon enough--- then he’d be more forgiving depending on the type of spell, but if magic wasn’t used then that would mean they were present to see the vaults open and, or, they weren’t present at all. Both were equally bad in their own ways.

The elf didn’t expect impeccable results, especially with the time given, but he couldn’t help feeling dissatisfied. He’d only have to hope that the group would shine out in the field. Most of them did look like they’ve seen their fair share of battle. Perhaps, with this party’s composition, it would be more effective to beat up every suspect ---royalty or not--- they come across to get to the dagger and its thief. Arin let out a deep and long sigh at the thought. 

He glanced at the princess, recalling her earlier response to Vuthaternock’s comment about Rynn accompanying them and how her parents would not approve of it. 

[quote=@Shadow Dragon]He tilts his head. "Why do you keep saying "we"? You assume that you're coming? I highly doubt your parents would approve. As their only heir, if you were to die, the royal family would die out completely. If you come with, we cannot guarantee your safety. We will likely have to undergo many obstacles in out search for the dagger, and if you are hurt or killed under our watch, it is us, the people, who will suffer the most." He shakes his head. "It is not in your best interest to come with us. I might be able to get you a wyvern bodyguard if you wish."
[/quote]
[quote=@pinkkoala321]"Regardless," Rynn said, turning her nose up at the dragonborn, "someone managed to get into our vaults [i]without[/i] doing any of that. And they got through all the spells guarding the inside of the vault as well. There is not a single item untouched by a ward in that vault. Certainly not the Dark Dagger, but someone found a way to take it without leaving a trace."

She snapped her fingers. The guards moved to attention. "As I said before, we ride for Timberholde."
[/quote]
She responded, by not addressing it at all. Arin rubbed the bridge of his nose. For a moment, the elf considered going to the king for confirmation, then dropped the idea. Babysitting the princess was not part of the deal, as such, it was not Arin’s problem. The contract specifically demanded that he would investigate the theft, especially that of the dagger. He would not be bridging the contract by not taking care of Rynn or by not reporting her to the king. If the king was not going to hold his end of the deal because something happened to Rynn, it was King Silas who would suffer the consequence. The contract would make sure of that.