L'Arachel woke the next morning to find it was pouring rain. She got up and closed her windows. She got dressed and went to get breakfast. She went into the kitchen and found the cook standing over something with a frying pan. Looking over she saw he was standing over someone.
"What's going on?"
"Oh your majesty, I found this man sneaking around so I just gave him what for."
"That's Eric he helps guard the palace!"
"That would explain the guard uniform…"
"You need to check your rage cook."
"Sorry ma'am I was jumpy what with the attack."
"Well be a little more careful next time."
"Look he's waking up…"
"Oh where am I?"
"Eric its okay…what were you doing here?"
"I locked myself out of my house…all I wanted was some food…"
"Okay well don't worry our cook is always like that."
"I am not just most of the time…"
"Well the point is you are a little violent."
"Good point my lady."
The cook went back to work and L'Arachel pulled Eric onto his feet.
"Sorry about that."
"It's okay I kinda deserved it."
"Don't say that it's not true!"
"But I broke into the palace and I…"
"You broke in?"
"It wasn't that hard."
"Really, that isn't good news."
"I know…"
"Eric, I have a question."
"Yeah?"
"Do you have any idea where Myrrh is?"
"Of course not milady I couldn't possibly know."
"all right…"
"Which reminds me, where is Dozla?"
"He left to fight Carcino last night with some other men."
"And are you okay?"
"I guess, I haven't really decided yet."
"Well I had better get back to work."
"Okay."
Eric went to the guard's room to get his armor and weapons. He found a friend he had made while on duty.
"Hey seth."
"Eric I wondered where you went."
"I got locked out of my house."
"How did that happen?"
"It's a long, depressing story."
"Well I'll hear later, word around town is Mansel thinks there's a guard here who might be a spy for Carcino."
"Oooh how exciting!"
"Which reminds me, L'Arachel told me you had something to say to me."
"Uhhhh…about what?"
"Something about her, not sure why she didn't tell me."
"Were you around company?"
"Yeah like two other people."
"Oh in that case she wouldn't, She…."
"Yes?"
"Well I'm not sure why she wants you to know but…"
"Come on! Tell Me!"
"You remember Myrrh?"
"The dragon lady?"
"Yep, she and L'Arachel…love each other."
"And by…love you mean…?"
"Yes, so can you keep this a secret?"
"Sure but why would she want me to know?"
"I'm guessing that she made a connection between us and figured you could be trusted."
"Oh that builds confidence."
"I guess it would…or…"
"What?"
"I just thought…maybe she's getting support…"
"For what?"
"Maybe she means to make a public announcement…"
"Of her romance?"
"Maybe and then she would be looking for loyal palace staff."
"Well, Eric you could be wrong so, don't go doing anything stupid like…telling other people."
"Oh, right I wouldn't intentionally."
"Well in that case we should get out on duty."
"Okay."
They walked out of the break room and outside. It was still pouring rain and there was thunder in the distance. They climbed a ladder up to the walls and were greeted by an interesting sight, two other guards were talking quietly to each other, the looked up as eric got to their position.
"What's going on?"
"Mansel has decreed something interesting."
"Oh what?"
"That's not the interesting part, he has ordered the capture of three unidentified people who slipped across the border from Grado last night."
"That's bad."
"I know if he doesn't find them…"
"He might go to war with Grado as well."
"Then what will happen to our credibility as a nation?"
"Maybe…"
"What Eric?"
"Well Seth and I were just talking and I wonder if maybe…never mind."
"Okay then you keep to yourself."
Eric ran back downstairs and found L'Arachel sitting on the staircase.
"Milady I think Myrrh might be inside the country."
"What makes you think that?"
"Well apparently, Mansel wants three unidentified people captured."
"And so?"
"Well so…I guess it might be her…"
"With who?"
"Uhhh…well that I haven't figured out yet."
"The effort is appreciated Eric but stay with guard duty."
"My apologies milady."
Eric left thoroughly confused. Who would Myrrh travel with? More to the point, why would anyone travel with Myrrh? It was a known fact that many people feared Manaketes, even though large numbers haven't been seen in thousands of years. He went back outside and found the Rain had gotten worse. He soon found Seth and tried to talk.
"Hey where did the other two go?"
"I dunno I think inside."
"I don't blame them this rain is ridiculous."
"Maybe we should head inside, no one would be able to see in this."
"Okay."
They trekked back inside and went to the break room. The other two guards were inside having a hot drink. Seth sat down and Eric got them both drinks too. They sat down at the table and they all drank and played cards while the rain poured outside.
Elsewhere others were in less comfort. Myrrh had woken suddenly to lighting flashing outside their cave, and then the rain had started. Lance had woken up and covered the entrance with his blanket. She hadn't gotten much sleep since then. A grizzled looking Morgan shook her awake a few hours later.
"Hey myrrh we should probably leave."
"Oh…its raining."
"Yeah well Lance says he has a friend that can help us out."
"Oh…who?"
"A frined of his, Tancred I think his name was…"
"Oh…he was at the dinner…"
"He was what was he doing there?"
"He was a bishop of some kind…or a mage."
"Oh…Hey Lance!"
"What?"
"Your friend tancred, what was he?"
"Sage. He's married I think."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah I cant remember but I think she might have been from Grado…"
"Oh really."
"But Mansel didn't allow marriage outside of the country."
"Tancred's tancred he does what he wants. Mansel really cant challenge him as he does quite a bit of hard work for Mansel and might even be the next emperor."
"But…L'Arachel is…"
"I know Myrrh but she wont marry a guy. So…Lance I just had an idea!"
"Ooooh what?"
"well say L'Arachel is supposed to have an Heir for the Kingdom when she's gone."
"Yeah…"
"And what if she names Tancred the next heir after Mansel…"
"Go one…"
"Then L'Arachel and Myrrh could live together and If Tancred is Married to a woman…"
"They can have a kid!"
"Exactly!"
"This will solve all our problems…"
"Except I wonder if Tancred would want to do that…"
"I dunno he never really jumped at the chance to go up in the world."
"Well…try to convince him…I like the plan."
"See Lance, Myrrh likes the plan."
"Fine I'll try but don't be disappointed."
They got their supplies gathered and packed and walked into the rain. Soon they were all soaked to the skin. Myrrh had her wings as a sort of umbrella Lance and Morgan had nothing however and by the time they got to what Lance said was Tancred's house.
"Okay this is it."
"Oh that's good I'm freezing."
"…It's pretty big."
"Yeah I guess it is."
"Well wish me luck sometimes he is a little angry when you visit."
Morgan and Myrrh waited with baited breath. Lance raised his hand and knocked three times on the door.
