Meanwhile, Doubar and friends were talking to a woman with 3 sons.
"We were wondering if you could tell us anything about the King or Queen" smiled Doubar.
"Who's asking?" asked the woman slightly scared.
"It's ok. We are foreigners, searching for some information about the King and Queen." he smiled.
"We bring you no harm" added Doubar.
"Ok." Replied the woman. Come in"
They entered her small house (leaving Dermott perched outside) and sat down opposite her. Her smallest son crawled over to Doubar and sat on his lap whilst Doubar played with him.
"His names Felix" smiled the woman.
"He's a lovely boy" smiled Doubar. "You must be very proud"
"I am" replied the woman. "You are good with kids"
"Yeah" smiled Firouz. "He's a real softy at heart"
"Then I trust you" smiled the woman. "My name is Adele."
"I'm Doubar, and this is Firouz, and that's Rongar"
"What can you tell us about the Queen?" asked Firouz.
"Do you swear not to tell a soul I told you?" asked Adele.
"I promise" replied Firouz.
"Shan't say a word" added Doubar.
"And what about your friend?" she asked signaling Rongar.
"He couldn't if he wanted to." sighed Firouz.
"Why?" asked Adele.
"Do you mind if we tell her Rongar?" He asked. Rongar signed "go ahead".
"Ok then. Rongar had his tongue cut off for not betraying his family" supplemented Doubar. Adele gasped as Doubar shook his head.
"You poor man. Then I shall tell you what you wish to hear. The Queen is evil. She has the King under some sort of spell. I don't know how or what. All I know is she is only after the power and money. She even sleeps with all her servants."
"Does the King know this?" asked Firouz astonished.
"Oh yes, but while he is under her spell, he does whatever she says."
"That's awful" sighed Doubar.
"It gets worse. The Kings first wife, and real wife, died a couple of months ago after giving birth to their child. The Queen treats him like her own. He is a lovely boy, but she treats him badly. He is kept in the palace, and away from his friends. He is a good boy, and knows what is right and wrong. She keeps his father away from him, and whips him if she catches him doing something she has forbidden him to do." she sighed.
"That is dreadful" said Firouz.
"I agree, and the slaves are treated worse. The Queen only has one thing in mind. The only way to free them would be to replace them"
"Thanks for your help" smiled Doubar. "We'd better be going"
"And don't worry" smiled Firouz. "I think we have a way of saving them"
"That's wonderful" smiled Adele. "My husband got taken 4 months ago. I haven't heard from him since."
"We will get him back" smiled Doubar. "And that's a promise."
The three men left the cottage and made their way back to the Nomad to meet the others.