[center][h1]Collab with 13Org and Pezz570 [color=6ecff6]Karina Frost[/color] [color=gray]Lord Ru'Tev[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] Lord Ru’Tev’s eyes fell upon Karina as soon as the woman spoke. The man’s mouth twitched in annoyance. His eyes narrowed in suspicion in realization regarding the trap he had been snared within. For a second, his eyes glanced toward the Tavern’s entrance, as if hoping to see the medic pop in at any moment. With no medic in sight, he then looked back to Karina, exhaled, and forced a smile. [color=gray]"Lady Frost, am I correct? What a pleasure to meet you! You sure are a ways from home, aren’t you? Although I suppose that’s nothing new to your people."[/color] Lord Ru’Tev stated nonchalantly. [color=gray]"You know, Lady, this is most unusual. If you had wished to speak with me, might I suggest you send my people a request for an audience? After all, I am a busy man."[/color] His smile widened as he spoke the words. Karina's smirk wasn't affected by Lord Ru'Tev's words and snarky comments. Both of them knew how bad the situation was for him right now and how much worse it could become. She still had the upper hand in that conversation. [color=6ecff6]"I see you still remember me, Lord Ru'Tev. Impressive, considering how adamant you seemed to be in ignoring my and the princess' requests for an audience... I was starting to think you was actively trying to avoid us... But I am sure that isn't the case. Otherwise, that would mean you had absolutely no interest in searching for any help until now that you were forced to face the population and hear their voices..."[/color] Karina said, her smirk even more apparent as she was sure that would wipe the smile off his face. Especially since the patrons were all hearing their conversation. [color=6ecff6]"Regardless of what were your intentions back then, we are here once again to offer our cooperation. We believe that the people deserve as much safety as you have yourself in your guarded manor, Lord Ru'Tev."[/color] she continued, inflaming the moods of the other patrons even more by insinuating that the Lord himself was much safer than they were. The crowd muttered briefly. [color=gray]"You mean the well guarded mansion dangerously positioned atop the prison which I act as the warden to?”[/color] He asked, brow raised. He eyed Karina up and down, taking the woman in. The lord appeared to relax in his chair. This had become a battle of politics. That was something Lord Ru’Tev could do. [color=gray]"Fine then, if you insist on doing this here, so be it.”[/color] Lord Ru’Tev turned to the tavern’s patrons. [color=gray]"My subjects. Context is required to understand what you are hearing here. This woman, Lady Frost, is daughter to The Mirage, Viktor Frost. The High General of the Empire’s army. She has come here to me by The Mirage’s own command.”[/color] Mutters again broke out through the room. [color=gray]"Furthermore she appears to have an imposter at her side walking around and claiming to be our very own Princess El’lysael. And even if this imposter just so happened to be the real princess, I would think that would make her a traitor, would it not? Either that, or a prisoner… And you-”[/color] Lord Ru’Tev turned back to Karina, a gaze of confidence in his eyes. [color=gray]"-her captor.”[/color] Whispers spread like fire throughout the Tavern. Suspicious gazes turned towards Karina. [color=6ecff6]"Have you ever stepped down from your castle to see the filth that runs below it? You might be safe atop your castle, but for the people below... That might be another story. After all, I am sure most of your guards are too worried keeping your mansion, high atop the prison safe."[/color] Karina said, still confident despite Ru'Tev's words. When Ru'Tev turned towards the patrons and 'exposed' her as the 'daughter' of Viktor Frost, Karina's expression didn't change. Instead, she merely waited for him to finish before she began speaking again. [color=6ecff6]"You will refer to me by my full title, Ru'Tev. I am Lieutenant Colonel Karina Frost. I come here as an envoy of the Military of Touch."[/color] she said, raising her voice so all patrons could hear. The tone on her voice changing ever so slightly. That, coupled with the fact she dropped his title as a 'lord' was a delicate warning to Ru'Tev. [color=6ecff6]"Do you think the Military of Touch would send a high-ranking official without a very good reason? The rumors that we heard about coordinated crazed attacks proved to be concerning enough to warrant dispatching a high-ranking official to assist in this issue. An issue that might be grave enough to threaten all nations."[/color] Karina continued. [color=6ecff6]"Despite that, you 'conveniently' refused to meet us. Again and again... You should be careful, Ru'Tev... your actions might be misunderstood by some as being rather suspicious... Almost as if you are trying to hide something by avoiding us like that..."[/color] Karina continued. When Ru'Tev mentioned the princess, calling both her and Karina traitors, even saying the princess was being kidnapped, Karina couldn't help but let out a satisfied expression. Ru'Tev made quite a gamble by trying to expose her like that... Unfortunately, the girl accompanying them was indeed the real princess. [color=6ecff6]"Your words, Ru'Tev. Would you care to repeat them? Accusing a high-ranking officed of the military of touch of being a traitor and kidnapping a royal is already a [i]very[/i] serious issue... But accusing someone of royal blood of being a traitor would be enough to warrant an execution... Wouldn't it?"[/color] Karina said, with a dangerous stare as she looked towards Ru'Tev. [color=6ecff6]"But even an execution might not be enough... After all, revealing the princess' identity so openly when she is on a dangerous mission, endangering her own life might incur the wrath of the King himself... I wonder what he would do if he knew his dear daughter was put into grave danger due to the words and actions of an insolent Lord, who doesn’t respect those with Royal blood…"[/color] Karina said, shrugging as she provoked Lord Ru'Tev even further. Lord Ru’Tev raised his eyebrow upon hearing of a coordinated crazed attack. This appeared to be news to him. Such events were rare and often unheard of. The suspicion was still there, but less certain. [color=gray]"An execution?”[/color] He said coolly. [color=gray]"Is that how they do things where you're from? The enemy is at my doorstep and you think it wrong of me to question the company she brings with her?”[/color] [color=6ecff6]"Princess El'lysael, would you mind approaching this insolent lord and prove your identity?"[/color] Karina said, turning back as she looked towards the princess, making a discreet bow and extending her hand towards the princess, with her palm facing up, similarly to how one would escort someone important in a social event. The tavern fell silent, the only sound, the drumming of fingers upon a tabletop in the far corner of the room. Lord Ru’Tev turned his gaze towards the sound. A fair young lady of age 17 sat in the corner. She had made sure to properly prepare her appearance for today, but had refused to wear anything too formal. Lord Ru’Tev narrowed his eyes in suspicion as the girl glanced wryly from Ru’Tev to Karina and back again. The lord opened his mouth to speak but was immediately cut off by Princess El'lysael, or Lys as she preferred to be called. “Well milk my mother,” Princess Lys cursed, “this whole conversation has been a right mess hasn’t it Lord Ru’Tev?” Whispering broke out among the Tavern’s patrons. Ru’Tev raised his head ever so slightly as the girl’s crase language and turned his attention back to Karina. [color=gray]"You honestly can’t expect me to believe that this girl-”[/color] “Really Ru’Tev? It’s only been like what? Only a little over three years? Do you really not recognize me, or have I grown so… womanly… that your eyes don’t make it to my face?” Lord Ru’Tev blinked, as if caught off guard. Lys raised her brow. “You showed me around the ‘safe’ areas of the prison. I rudely asked if I could see your brother in his cell, but you politely turned me down. Said it was ‘too dangerous’.” Lord Ru’Tev narrowed his eyes and gave Lys a good stare, then… recognition. Lord Ru’Tev turned his eyes back to Karina. His expression, now serious. [color=gray]"Princess El'lysael… Does your father know you’re here?... With such… company.”[/color] “He does not.” Lys smiled. “So far as I know, at least.” [color=gray]"So, you’ve joined forces with the Empire then? Turned away from your own people?”[/color] This comment wiped the smile from Lys’s face. She rose to her feet, looking more regal than one ever knew she could. “Never!” She exclaimed. “It is my father who has abandoned his people! Fighting a war he cannot win. Allowing the Cult to rule in his stead.” Lord Ru’Tev frowned at this accusation. He had of course heard of the Cult assisting the King in the war, but to say that they were the ones ruling right now… “When my father loses this war,” Princess Lys continued, “The Empire will need someone to rule in his stead. Someone who can bring the people with her. By assisting the Empire, I do not betray my country, but rather I cleanse the stain my father’s latest actions have made upon the throne!” Lord Ru’Tev put his hand to his mouth contemplatively. [color=gray]"Why is it that you people are here?”[/color] He asked. “I believe my friend here mentioned it already. They are looking into a series of incidents. Incident involving multiple Crazed. Crazed who have been attacking Empire supply lines in an unusually coordinated manner.” Lord Ru’Tev looked back at Karina. The distrust was still there, but he now seemed willing to listen.