Act 3: The Ball - Crisis

Konrad pauses to think about that. Finally, he nods. "I will accept your assurance on the man's past life, Your Majesty. I would only ask that you spare me the details."

"Yes. I believe it would be best if we avoided this subject. It was bad enough that Jacob himself agreed that we should remove him from power. Unfortunately, it seems that my success here has convinced Edward to do the same thing everywhere else..."

Tibur lowers his head in resignation.

"It was Adfrio Tremelius. Though he was as confused as all of us that she was leaving."

"Thirza already asked Tremelius about it," Tibur says. "According to him, the men who were to guard the doors to the ballroom left the palace three days ago to make merry in town. Most likely, the Enemy turned them to their side then."

"Thirza's forces captured the ones we could find. As for the guards who escorted the young lady, well, you would know better than me."

"I think those were the ones that ran away after the Elemental engaged us."

Théo asks, "Are you sure?"

"I think so?" Steve hesitates a moment and finishes by saying, "The battle is such a blur now."

The king raises an eyebrow. "I don't know. We've never tested it. Personally, I wouldn't recommend it. The risks would be too great."

Tibur shakes his head. "In all likelihood, the Mimic is the one who possessed her, and we don't have much experience with it. The only way I can see her getting better is by giving her an orb."

"Alright, we'll take care of that part. Any ideas on how we can get them back to our ship?" Steve looks at the King and his friends to see if anyone has any ideas but starts things off with one of his own. "Like say a cab or something?"

The king thinks for a second. "Can't you take them through this place you call the Shroud?"

"That could work if we Pull a Thirza." He looks at his Mihai and Konrad to see what they think.

"It should work, but the Shriekers returned during the battle, so we will have to be ready to do without."

Steve says, "Well, our best defense in there will be the speed of the cab, but if it comes to it whoever is escorting them could jump everyone back real quick and then we can complete the rest of the ride the old fashioned way."

Tibur briefly mulls over this plan the adventurers have come up with, then says, "We've confined Isidora Venator to the basement. I'll give you access to it. Thirza tells me the mercenaries here can be trusted to keep a secret, so don't worry about them; they won't speak a word of the ladies' disappearance to anyone. Most likely, they'll believe I've ordered you to take them somewhere far away where they'll suffer a slow and agonizing death. As for the guests tonight, I think it's only a matter of time before they start to blab about the existence of the Shroud. Not to the general populace of course, but they will wonder what it is and whether or not I have influence over it. So be ready for that."

Konrad nods. "We will, thank you. We'll do that as soon as we've found out what happened to our friends. Fara, Andrei, Van, our pet Carbuncle... Sean. Did anyone keep track of them?"

Steve says, "Sean left before the fire but I do need to find him. Perhaps the group he was with will know? Or maybe Andrei."

"The guests are waiting the end of the hostilities in a nearby manor, a block away from here. I can send someone to show you the way there. In the meantime, we can keep the Venators here if you need to speak to your friends first."

"That sounds perfect. Our Myrzen squad will leave the guards with you. Will you please point them back to our ship?"