Acrius felt a stiff cold breeze enter the room as the door opened to reveal Balthazar. If he was being honest, being under the strict and cold eyes of Balthazar was magnitudes worse than receiving (an albeit loud and shouting) reprimand from Siegfried. From the two 'figures', he much preferred the scoldings of the latter over the former. When Balthazar was furious, the cold air seeped into every vestibule. It was a rare occurence, although that fact alone made it more terrifying when it did occur.

[b][color=#FF9900]"Of course."[/color][/b] Acrius stood up and stared back at the spymaster's unfeeling gaze. The boy wasn't one to cower and hide behind excuses. He readjusted his stance and folded his arms behind his back before he continued.

[b][color=#FF9900]"... I'll report the pertinent sections."[/color][/b] He said, [b][color=#FF9900]"As you are aware, it was only myself and Naysein with the Prince. Naysein was by His Highness while I 'sampled' the food nearby."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#FF9900]"I felt eyes observing me but I thought it to be nothing but nerves and a trick of the city,"[/color][/b] Acrius paused before continued, [b][color=#FF9900]"... My suspicions proved true when I spied one of the 'citizens' drop clear liquid onto a buffet meant to be served to the Prince."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#FF9900]"I thrashed the food myself and warned a servant to tell the Prince to not eat any of the food."[/color][/b] He grimaced at his words, [b][color=#FF9900]"That proved to be a mistake. Instead I should have secured the Prince myself... because the Servant also seemed to be an accomplice."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#FF9900]"On my side I chased and then managed to fend off two of them but one slipped my grasp."[/color][/b] He said, [b][color=#FF9900]"I personally captured the other and applied... [i]ahem[/i], emergency medical 'procedures' via cauterization. I believe he is in the cells."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#FF9900]"Another bit of information is that they coated their weapons with the same liquid."[/color][/b] Acrius let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding, [b][color=#FF9900]"They seemed to think it paralyzed me when they thought it scratched me."[/color][/b]

[b][color=#FF9900]"That concludes my report."[/color][/b] Acrius said, [b][color=#FF9900]"I'll accept my punishment for failing to protect Prince Leonidas."[/color][/b]