After a month with no attempted contact between Bernard and Auren, Roy realized the truth in Bernard's words. The man proved to be as silent as Auren, giving no new information despite Roy's repeated attempts.

Resigned to the fact that he would get no information from the man, Roy took a step in the direction of peace that Auren so stood for. Carrying two bottles of a finer Drachman beer, he let himself into Bernard's cell and sat down next to him on the bench. "Beer?"

Bernard stared at Roy as though he were insane, but took it just the same. "Why you are giving me beer? Oh, but it's from home!"

"Truce," Roy said with a sigh. "If I can get no more information from you, then perhaps a simple chat is in order." He popped the cap on his own bottle, taking a sip. "Mm, strong."

"Most of our beer is." Bernard chuckled before taking an appreciative swig. "Ahh, bless the beer which warms us from the cold." Though he spoke in Drachman, Roy understood it well and replied with a laugh.

"When I first began working in the north, beer was a major comfort. Unfortunately, it seems what I've been drinking is inferior."

"Good to hear you admit it, Colonel." Bernard leaned back against the cold stone wall. "What is it you would like to talk about? Politics? My country, yours?"

"How about you?" Though accustomed to the chill of the north, Roy was surprised by the relatively frigid feel of the cell he was in. "How did you come to be working under me?"

"Ahhh, naturally. You ask me before, you know this."

"And you never answered."

"You had not brought me beer." Bernard took another sip of his drink before continuing. "I volunteered. I know several languages, Amestrian and my native Drachman are the two you know. And according to Auren, I am good actor and good man." He shrugged. "Not good enough. You know my truth."

"You had me fooled for quite some time," Roy admitted. "Long enough, I wager, for you to pass some worthwhile information to your General."

"Perhaps. That is for him to decide, yes?"

"Mm." Roy sighed. "I don't suppose you'd tell me more about him?" When he received a blissful grin in response, he changed the subject. "I thought not. All right, tell me why your Amestrian is broken. When you worked under me, it was perfect."

"You achieved the rank of Colonel and you need ask that?" Bernard looked genuinely surprised. "It does not come as natural to me as my own language. I need to really focus to speak it like a native. But now I have no need. I can speak the lazy way. It doesn't harm my pride. I am already in a cell!" He laughed. "You speak Drachman more than I speak Amestrian. It comes natural to you. I commend you."

"Thank you." Roy smiled halfheartedly. "I admit that my drive to learn, and to reintegrate myself with Drachman affairs.."

"Is your friend, yes?" There was no taunting on Bernard's face, only empathy.

"...Yeah. If you could have met Edward..." Roy sighed, taking a decent swig of the beer. "I know you don't want to tell me about Auren...but...did he do it? Was he the one who...sentenced Ed?"

Bernard sighed, setting the bottle down next to him. "...No. I know he taunt you with it...but he is good man and do not like to see people die, see families torn apart."

"It has been too long since a man with peace in his heart enters a place where war reigns."

"Too long but much needed." Bernard took another sip, commenting about how sad that the bottle was nearly empty. "I don't suppose you have more for me?"

"Another day," Roy said with a laugh. "I worry that one more bottle will have me telling you Amestrian military secrets."

"Now, we couldn't have that, could we?" Bernard chuckled and handed his emptied bottle to Roy. "Thank you for the company, Colonel."

"Even if it is with the enemy?"

"We are not enemies. We are simply on opposite sides of a misunderstanding."

Roy paused, watching Bernard before nodding and leaving the room. He made his way back to his office, gazing at the case of Drachman beer under his desk as Bernard's words ran through his mind.

Over the few months following their first chat, Roy and Bernard spoke often and traded stories about their past and their home country. Bernard had even referred to Roy as a friend, who was a bit hesitant to return the sentiment-given that Bernard was actually a spy.

Roy had yet to squeeze out any more information about Auren, only the same old claims-a man working for peace; gruff, good heart, strict when he pleased.

In light of Roy's failure to extricate more useful information, he received a phone call addressing Ustor's relocation to Central. Dismayed and knowing that Bernard would refuse them information as well, he shared one last drink with his Drachman buddy, letting slip the plans for the next few days. Bernard's response was rather casual... that he would rather stay, as it's too warm in Central.

Two days later, Bernard's escorts had arrived... but they left empty handed, as he had slipped out the night before, completely unseen. Though, Roy had a feeling...that Bernard could have escaped long ago.

"General!"

"Bernard?" Auren replied in Drachman, mild surprise in his voice. He sat up, having been lounging at his desk. "Did you enjoy your time in the Colonel's company?"

"Honestly, sir? He's not as bad as you-"

"Did you learn anything useful?" Auren interrupted, walking toward Bernard as he stared him down.

"I..no, sir. Nothing I hadn't told you already over the phone."

"Stuck in captivity for months and you learn nothing of use for our plans." Auren sighed, shaking his head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a thick wad of cash, shoving It into Bernard's hands. "Go home, Ustor. You have been in Amestris for far too long."

Bernard looked at the cash in confusion, wondering if he was being discharged. "Sir..?"

"Spend a week however you like. Go out, have a drink, find a lady." Auren grinned. "Then you return to me, I will find work for you in that time."

"Are you angry that I was caught?"

"No. I am not happy that you were careless so early into your mission, but capture is always a risk for a spy." Auren returned to his desk with a tired sigh. "I fear Mustang may grow bold and try his own infiltration soon. His men may be more apt to shoot than ours, and I do not want any bloodshed..."

"Why do you not just propose peace to the Amestrian government? Drachma will support you, you know it!"

"Yes, they will. But there are many in Amestris in a seat of power who will sabotage my claims and make them look a ruse. I cannot risk it yet." He grumbled, pulling out a beer from below his desk, popping the cap off with his thumb. "Perhaps we can infiltrate Central Command more thoroughly, with trusted men..."

"Sir?"

Auren grinned mischievously. "How well does the Colonel trust you?"