2nd Interlude: The Conspiracy

Nick eyes Edward, slightly surprised that this man would be some kind of scientist.

Deception 20. Is Edward telling the truth?

May looks relieved to hear that. "At least there's that."

"I'm glad we could learn one way or the other." She looks at Edward more closely. "I don't see an armband. Are you a red mage?"

Nick:

"Yes, I am," the Captain says. "To wear an armband would only make my duty a lot harder."

He motions at the Emperor, the man he is bound to protect. Anne chooses this moment to ask a question of her own.

"Your Highness... what about the green mages that we know about?"

The Emperor meets the white mage's gaze and gives her a pragmatic answer. "We will monitor them and remove them from any position of power. Those in the military will be sent on the front lines."

Anne is shocked by Hammerfist's response. She lowers her head and says, "I understand, Your Highness."

Nick looks like he wants to protest, but ends up biting his tongue.

May frowns. "There is no other way?"

"There is no other way, no."

"For now at least," Jacob adds.

All of a sudden, the meeting is interrupted by loud knocking that is coming from the other side of the door. Edward furrows his brows and puts a hand on the handle of his sword, ready to fight if need be. Marcus and Anne instinctively brace themselves.

"Who is this?" Edward asks with an authoritative tone.

"It's your Prince. Open the door."

The Emperor's face loses all traces of warmth when he hears this. With a stern gaze, he signals the Captain not to let him in.

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, my Lord," Edward says.

"You open this door right now, or I'll do it myself."

Sam doesn't like that tone. She stands up, still at attention for the Emperor, ready to bolt when ordered or dismissed.

Knowledge: Politics 19
I'm sure I'm about to find out, but what is baby Hammerfist like in person? And how bad is his influence on the Empire?

Nick stands up and motions for Jacob to hide.

Samantha:

With an alarmed and confused look on his face, Jacob deploys his wings and hides into Samantha's satchel.

"I think we must say goodbye for now," Hammerfist sighs. "Edward, please escort them outside."

"Your Highness." Edward acknowledges the order and opens the door, which reveals the youthful face of a man in his late twenties. Draped in a purple toga that's much more lavish than his father's, Arthur Hammerfist has the appearance of a refined aristocrat who's never done one day of manual labor. His curly auburn hair have just been coiffed and he sports a nicely trimmed goatee.

He walks past Edward without so much as a glance for him or the squad members.

"Father," he begins, irritated. "What are you doing here? The rest of the court is waiting for you."

"Hello Arthur," the Emperor says nonchalantly. "How was your morning?"

"Busy. I've been working. What have you been doing here?"

Edward motions at the others from the door to follow him.

Nick and Smirk promptly follow Edward away from this mess.

May springs to her feet and follows the others out of the room. She takes a swig of wine as she walks out so she doesn't have to make eye contact with Arthur Hammerfist as she passes him. She doesn't want him to see how much she despises him for his churlish behavior.

After following Edward out, Sam places her ear at the door when it is closed.

Awareness 13

The Prince glares at the squad members with his clear blue eyes, waiting for them to leave the room before he resumes talking. Once the door is closed and the party members are out in the hallway, Edward turns to face them.

"Please excuse the Prince," he says. "I suspect he woke up on the wrong side of the bed and—"

He then notices Samantha eavesdropping on the Emperor and the Prince, and so does the rest of the group.

"Sam?" Anne begins hesitantly. "...The Emperor said the room was magically sound-proof."

"Which clearly doesn't work both ways, by the by." - Smirk whispers.

Sam immediately stops what she's doing. "Uh, right. Sorry."

May shrugs and whispers, "Let's go, go, go to another place then and get on vith mission."

"Please do not do this again," Edward tells Samantha.

"Eavesdropping isn't a crime yet, is it?" Colonel Riddle asks.

"I... don't think it is, no."

"We'll have to add that to the list. Sam, let's go. And try not to get caught next time."

Edward scowls for a moment, at least until he decides to turn away and head down the hallway. Marcus and Anne follow him, their steps resonating loudly each time their boots touch the marble floor. The Imperial guard hands over his satchel to the Colonel and says, "You'll need this. Your ship is waiting for you at the docks; it's called the Happy Frog."

"I won't," she says, adding with a whisper, "Do it again, I mean."

"....I. Love. That. Name."

The monk laughs and says, "May agree. Fine name for ship."

Sam just rolls her eyes at Smirk. "You would. Yes, a fine name."

Edward Fox raises an eyebrow at the squad members. "I expect your shall find it cozy as well," he adds. "And inconspicuous."

He takes a left and continues down a corridor bathing in sunlight. Large windows line up the wall on the right, all of them recently cleaned.

"Thank you Captain," Marcus says. He then asks his subordinates, "Are you all ready to go?"