not everything is normal in this country. You were right on your first opinion, I was in fact a prisoner heading for a lifelong stay in a small cell.” He said as he tried to find a way to eat the stew with his hands bound.
“Why would the king put his own son in prison?” Darryl said as he unbound the prince’s hands so that he could eat.
With his hands free the prince rubbed his wrists and gave Darryl a sad smile. “My father didn’t have me put in a prison, my uncle did. My father has been sick for quite some time and my uncle has been running the county as the regent. Over the past three years he has siphoned off our limited wealth to strengthen the army for an attack against Farlan. At the same time I have been trying to round up nobles in an attempt to dethrone my uncle. I wish to try and normalize relations with Farlan. We get nothing from continuing to antagonize our neighbor to the north. In the end all it does is cause us further hardship. When the attack failed my uncle claimed that I had sent information to the Queen of Farlan and had me arrested in my father’s name. That is where you found me.”
Eloen shook her head. Instead of saving their friend they had ended up freeing the enemy prince. He didn’t seem like a bad guy though he didn’t fit what she thought a prince would look like. He was dressed for the part and his demeanor was right but when one thought of an Ablaian prince the thought of someone like Ballard came to mind. “That is quite a story, and if it’s true it might come in useful. In the best scenario we might even be able to help each other out.”
William smiled at Eloen. It was a dazzling smile, one she had seen her sister give to men they wished to use many times. “I have been all over Abla, and while you seem to be nice enough people I don’t believe you’re from any part of my country. Before I agree to anything I would like to know who you are and why you are in my land attacking prison transports.”
Eloen let out a long sigh. Nothing was never easy but if he was who he said he was and his attitude toward relations with Farlan were the truth he might be willing to help. “I am Eloen the heir to the duchy of Calisaren of Farlan. We have come here to find a friend who was captured at the battle for Southpass Fort. When we came across your group we thought we had caught up to his captors but it looks as if we were wrong.”
The prince's face never changed as he listened to Eloen's story. He asked a few questions about when Thad was taken, and what route they had taken to follow him. When Eloen was done the prince shook his head. “You took the long way though the mountain pass. The chances are that the prisoner who you are looking for has already reached Treforge.” The prince stopped and rubbed his head slightly and a deep furrow spread across his face. “What I don’t understand is why a Farlan noblewoman would enter into Ablaian territory for a male.
Eloen nearly cursed. She didn’t trust the prince enough to tell him that Thad was a mage. If she did there was little chance of him helping them get him back but neither could she think of a suitable enough lie to tell the man. “I can't tell you why we are after him but I will tell you that the man is very important not only to myself but also to the Queen of Farlan. You wish to help normalize relations with Farlan helping us free our friend would go a long way in that effort.”
“I know when it's useless to ask further questions, and that seems to be the case in this situation. I don’t know how much help I can be but I still have some connections within the country and that includes in Treforge. I have sent some of my men to keep tabs on who has been sent to the prison. I know my uncle would like nothing better than to arrest and detain some of my sympathizers, so I have taken steps to help ensure that doesn’t happen. If you can get me there I will do my best to see if your friend has been brought in. If
“Why would the king put his own son in prison?” Darryl said as he unbound the prince’s hands so that he could eat.
With his hands free the prince rubbed his wrists and gave Darryl a sad smile. “My father didn’t have me put in a prison, my uncle did. My father has been sick for quite some time and my uncle has been running the county as the regent. Over the past three years he has siphoned off our limited wealth to strengthen the army for an attack against Farlan. At the same time I have been trying to round up nobles in an attempt to dethrone my uncle. I wish to try and normalize relations with Farlan. We get nothing from continuing to antagonize our neighbor to the north. In the end all it does is cause us further hardship. When the attack failed my uncle claimed that I had sent information to the Queen of Farlan and had me arrested in my father’s name. That is where you found me.”
Eloen shook her head. Instead of saving their friend they had ended up freeing the enemy prince. He didn’t seem like a bad guy though he didn’t fit what she thought a prince would look like. He was dressed for the part and his demeanor was right but when one thought of an Ablaian prince the thought of someone like Ballard came to mind. “That is quite a story, and if it’s true it might come in useful. In the best scenario we might even be able to help each other out.”
William smiled at Eloen. It was a dazzling smile, one she had seen her sister give to men they wished to use many times. “I have been all over Abla, and while you seem to be nice enough people I don’t believe you’re from any part of my country. Before I agree to anything I would like to know who you are and why you are in my land attacking prison transports.”
Eloen let out a long sigh. Nothing was never easy but if he was who he said he was and his attitude toward relations with Farlan were the truth he might be willing to help. “I am Eloen the heir to the duchy of Calisaren of Farlan. We have come here to find a friend who was captured at the battle for Southpass Fort. When we came across your group we thought we had caught up to his captors but it looks as if we were wrong.”
The prince's face never changed as he listened to Eloen's story. He asked a few questions about when Thad was taken, and what route they had taken to follow him. When Eloen was done the prince shook his head. “You took the long way though the mountain pass. The chances are that the prisoner who you are looking for has already reached Treforge.” The prince stopped and rubbed his head slightly and a deep furrow spread across his face. “What I don’t understand is why a Farlan noblewoman would enter into Ablaian territory for a male.
Eloen nearly cursed. She didn’t trust the prince enough to tell him that Thad was a mage. If she did there was little chance of him helping them get him back but neither could she think of a suitable enough lie to tell the man. “I can't tell you why we are after him but I will tell you that the man is very important not only to myself but also to the Queen of Farlan. You wish to help normalize relations with Farlan helping us free our friend would go a long way in that effort.”
“I know when it's useless to ask further questions, and that seems to be the case in this situation. I don’t know how much help I can be but I still have some connections within the country and that includes in Treforge. I have sent some of my men to keep tabs on who has been sent to the prison. I know my uncle would like nothing better than to arrest and detain some of my sympathizers, so I have taken steps to help ensure that doesn’t happen. If you can get me there I will do my best to see if your friend has been brought in. If
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