Callum was immediately concerned. Ezran called them back here on short notice, and then rather taking care of business, insisted that they take a rest even it was the early afternoon. It could wait till tomorrow morning. A shared glance with Rayla confirmed it, she saw it too.

Anyone they could corner, knew nothing. Even odder, anyone who might know something about whatever Ezran was hiding from them, was no where to be seen. Claudia was impossible to track down, and the Captain of the Crown Guard was suspiciously absent. Even though the maids had seen Ellis and Ava, neither of them were anywhere to be found. Wondering what the King was up to kept the two of them up for most of the night.

The next morning, the King met them for breakfast. "Ez, what's going on here?" Callum asked with a diplomatic glower. He and Rayla did not enjoy surprises, and even less the thought of anyone trying to do something as stupid as meddle in their friendship.

"What do you mean, Callum? Everything seems normal to me." Ezran coolly replied as he cut a off a section of a pancake. No matter how calm he tried to be, the mischievous glint in his eyes betrayed him.

"Oh, don't you give us that ya wee runt! We know that something is up. We know all about your plan." Rayla asserted.

Callum noticed with a smile of satisfaction that Rayla got Ezran to slow his chewing. He was certain that she caught it as well. So, there was an organized plan to do something! "Ez, you know that we don't like surprises! What. Is. Going. On." Callum questioned with finality before raising an eyebrow.

"Okay, fine you got me. I see why you two were the best diplomats ever! As a thank you for everything you've done for the sake of peace, the other Kings pitched in to throw you a party at the Breach, and I had to detain you. Soren, Claudia, and Ellis helped get it set up last week and were too excited. They weren't sure if they could keep a secret." Callum's younger brother lied. Fortunately, it was believable enough that Callum and Rayla were holding a hushed conversation about what path to take to avoid the Breach itself, and the party that they believed was there.

"Look," Ezran interrupted their barely audible whispers, much to their annoyance. "there is a problem that I am having with a group of unsatisfied noblemen. I was hoping that you could help me out a little by calming two or three of their key members down? Please, Callum?" Callum turned away and closed his eyes. Pulling out Bait from underneath the table, he put on his best puppy dog eyes, "Pwease Rayla?"

With that display, Rayla felt her resistance shatter in an instant. Hanging her head in shame she conceded, "Alright, fine ya wee monster, we'll help you. Just don't expect us ta be happy about it!". Now she knew why Callum had look away. Somehow the sixteen-year-old king and Bait could get the sourest of men to squeal, "Awww, that's so cute!".

It defied all logic she thought as breakfast proceeded quietly with regular conversation. How was your trip? How was random town? How have you been? Just really boring human stuff, letting Callum carry most of their half of the conversation. Only answering the questions that were addressed to her.

Eventually break fast was finished, "Well, Your Majesty, what is the deal with these uppity nobles?" Rayla asked.

"Not here, I had the old crown room secured for things like this. We don't want anyone overhearing things that shouldn't." Ezran answered with a quick glance at the guards. Well, this serious, Rayla realized. She immediately began to ponder strategies as the three walked to the old crown room. Callum began going on about the history of the crown room. Having to choose between preparation or listening to the lovable dummy, she chose preparation. It wouldn't do to get one of them killed by being sloppy and not setting up the usual network of informants before applying pressure.

Once they reached the room, Ezran held the door open and waved them through. As she and Callum entered, she froze. The door had been cracked and had a knob. It was an automatic locking mechanism! She turned back in time to see Ezran close the door with a smile. Oh shit.

Callum groaned behind her, "Did Ezran just play us?"

"Yep."

"May as well sit down." He suggested as walked over towards a chair.

"Nooope, I'm goona break it down!" Rayla stated.

"What?! No-no-no." he countered as he rushed to her side shaking his head. "Rayla, that door is over a thousand years old. Make from forgewood. You can't break it down, not without magic."

"Guess who is going ta do some magic then." Rayla smirked as her turn to face him, hands across her chest.

"Not a chance! This door is very old and rare, and the sunforged elves no longer even know hoe to make them!"

"Unbelievable!" shrieked Rayla.

"Look, Ez is just playing a prank. He'll be back to let us out in no time, and I mean, if he isn't, its not like he's malicious. He will have left food in here." Callum said as he turned towards to look at the room for potential hiding places.

"Fine! You can look, I'm sitting down, and I may just skin your brother when he comes back!" She snapped.

Callum spent time checking out the room. The light was dim in here, and it could change colors. A faint music hung in the air. He sighed. He could sense Claudia's hand in this. He found two barrels, stuffed with cheese, bread, fruits, and jelly tarts. He also found a bottle of Moonberry wine, he and Rayla had split one when she turned twenty-one last year. It was good, hard to get though. He checked the two doors on either side of room, opposite each other. They both led to bedrooms, and there was dust on everything! He grabbed the Moonberry wine and joined Rayla at the table.

"Well we have food, beds and this!" He offered as he produced the wine from behind his back.

"Yeah but your brother couldn't clean the room apparently! There's dust everywhere." Rayla rejoined.

He realized that Rayla looked flushed, "Hey, are you feeling well? You look hot." Reaching a hand towards her forehead before she swatted it away.

"You don't look much better yourself!" she countered.

"Yeah, it is hot in here for some reason." He agreed.

Ezran felt it best to let the two stew for a few hours before getting her. Claudia was eager to see how they would react to the news that they were stuck for a day or two. She and Ezran were joined by Soren and Ellis as they headed towards the room. It started low, but it sounded like there was a fight.

"Ezran, do you hear that?" Claudia apprehensively asked. She really hoped it wasn't a fight. Enhancement spells like what she did were notoriously fickle in their effects. She was certain that she did it correctly and used the right ingredient.

"Sounds… sounds like they're sparing." Ezran answered after straining to hear.

"I don't know Ezran, that was pretty dark." Said Soren, who now sounded concerned. As the party drew closer, they could hear intelligible shouts and grunts. "Wow, uh. That didn't take long," Soren said as quickly stopped everyone. "They must- uh- already be in a relationship and just not publicly in one. We should go." A loud scream and roar emanated from the room, still a good hundred feet away. "Yep, we should definitely be going!" He confirmed as he began trying to herd Ellis and Ezran back up the hallway.

"What they doing? Are you they are not hurting each other? It sounds a big fight! Not like their confessing their feelings." Ezran said as Soren hustled him Ellis past Claudia. He did notice however, that Claudia's face changed from joy to confusion.

Soren had as well, "Claudia… Oh no… Please tell you didn't?" Soren begged.

"Claudia could only look at the three of them and bite her lip sheepishly as she nervously said "So, uh, I'm guessing that a dermal aphrodisiac wasn't part of the plan then?"