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"It saw me and shattered the door," Jack glanced back at Tala who nodded in agreement, "Damned creature nearly scared me hald to death, but the Prince is safe." he extended his sword to the right, "Went off in that direction."

The men were surprised they can't caught sight of a tail disappearing off around the next corner, but nodded and took their leave. Jack and Tala exchanged a glance before the younger male headed for the closet.

"I'm going to have to stay here lad, but your lady-friend and her pet are going to have to find somewhere other than my closet to hide...the guards will be scouring the castle for them..."

"Why did you protect them?" Tala was curious, having not seen chivalry since Caran had spent that time trying to earn his trust...

"The King was wrong to cast out your friend, but you must understand he fears for his own safety and that of his kingdom..." he figured Rosa might just have been listening and felt it worth explaining how the King had once trusted a witch work her magic and help him gain an heir to the throne...This witch had felt betrayed when the King refused to give her what she wanted in return and stole away the child...Tala.

Tala of course listened intently, but gave the man little reaction to the tale...

"Since then, Trogan has held little trust towards those with the ability to use magic...Especially when they appear as strong as your friend..."

"He didn't seem bothered when I fried that fly." Tala frowned, remembering how amused the man had been when the insect had disappeared in a puff of smoke...

Jack breathed a sigh, then heard movement from the closet as the Horzun seemed to be growing impatient at being shut away... "I would advise you stay here, for both your sakes... if you leave with the girl, she will be punished for stealing you away again...and I'd hate for that to happen to one so innocent..."

"The King is quite observant, as is Queen Lyssandra...it might just work...But swearing off magic isn't easy..." Jack didn't doubt that Rosa might just be able to pass off as a servant, but it would be at her own risk... What they would do with Meta would be another story entirely...

Tala remained silent as the man and Rosa spoke, he didn't like the idea of remaining in the castle, but now Rosa was here and with Meta as well, an escape would be foolish - especially with all the guards on high alert.

He crossed the room as the pair discussed what they might have to do in order to remain 'hidden' in plain sight; His eyes drifted to Jack's painting, it was a strange scene, yet beautiful at the same time - it was an old castle overlooking a field of red flowers...perhaps from a distant past or a story from the old?

"I can accompany you to the maid's quarters, but you would have to follow the matron's orders to the T...her temper can be worse than Trogan's...What we will do with your...Steed will be another matter..."

"It can't stay in my room..." Jack shook his head, "It wouldn't be fair on either of us, neither your beast for his confinement, or me for the erm...smell. No offense of course." he glanced towards the closet,

"WI will him out after nightfall," Breaking his silence, Tala looked towards the pair, "Cut him loose, let him roam...he'll come back if we need him, right?" he glanced at Rosa in particular, wondering if she would be alright with letting the beast go...

"And how would you do that?" Overlooking Rosa's question about how they might have met in the past - for the moment, Jack turned to face the male fully, "You are virtually on lockdown until the King has calmed himself, the guards are still searching for your friend..."

"You don't want him here, he doesn't want to be here. This is the only option."

Jack breathed a sigh, looking at Rosa as the verdict would be hers, "I will no doubt be the one to set this beast free...Should the Prince be caught with such an entity would press questions for all parties."

There was a look in the female's eyes as she exited the closet that left Tala feeling as though she was not happy with him, like he'd done something wrong, but he couldn't quite work out why...

Jack had resolved to trying to work on the King about pardoning the female after his rash actions, in the meantime, he would accompany Rosa down to the maid's quarters, knowing even though the Matron there would be something close to what one would refer to as 'a battleaxe' it was the least he could do to keep her close to the Prince until things had been worked out.

As night fell, Tala would work with the man on getting Meta outside. They placed rags on the beast's feet to soften the sound of its hooves as they led the Horzun down the corridor, then, once they had reached the gates, Jack would distract the guards before Tala signalled the beast to run.

Meta would cast a brief glance back at the castle, sensing the female before rearing up and darting for the gates. The guards were stunned as the large beast charged towards them and all but one foolish man leapt out of the way. Meta could vault over the remaining guard before landing nimbly on the other side. Tala had taken cover by then and met Jack as he returned after the guards had given chase. The Horzun of course could run faster than the average horse and would loose them easily.

"Off to bed with you then lad." Jack met Tala inside the building, 'accompanying' him to his bedroom - now with the window mended and the glass cleared. He hadn't thought to mention the bloodstains on the male's sleeve as he wouldn't doubt there would be no wound when Tala got changed for bed...

Hearing the man's words, Tala lifted his eyes almost disgusted that after all that, the guy still had the audacity to order him to bed...

"King Trogan should be in a better mood tomorrow... I know it's still early days, but you will be expected to meet and greet, and of course follow your Royal Duties now that you are here..."

Tala immediately began to wish he was back in Sune with his adopted family...the wild dogs never ordered him around and he could sleep when he wanted...

Jack didn't leave until Tala had changed and was in bed - this was all quite strange for the male, the soft comfy bed was still foreign to him, but once the man had left, Tala found himself drifting off...

It didn't take long for his mind to wander into dreams of the past, he could see the wild dogs, the orbs...Sune's beautifully glowing forests glistening in the unseen moonlight, he breathed a contented sigh, recalling the comfort of sleeping in Naneth's boughs with his brethren...

...It was pleasant for some time, then something, dark and thick like tar threatened into the edges of his vision, he watched helpless as the blackness seeped into every blade of grass, turning it cold and dark, enveloping the light of every flower until he was surrounded by nothing but black and dead... The netherbeast would whimper and wail, the black taking them and dragging them down, deep into the black pools, he retreated to the safety of Naneth's branches, but the blackness began to climb her trunk before twisting like climbing vines around her boughs and turning her leaves as black as night...

He retreated to the furthest of branches, watching as the black sap drew ever nearer before hearing the inevitable 'crack' as the branch gave way to the weight of the tar-like-substance as it advanced...

Tala hit the floor with a thud...Fighting frantically to free himself from the sheets that had wrapped tightly around him during his slumber... As he returned to consciousness, he could have sworn he'd heard a throaty chuckle before he opened his eyes...

Realising he had just been dreaming, but not comfortable with returning to bed so quickly, Tala took a seat at the window; glancing out across the landscape as the guard fires glistened in the distance before eventually finding himself drifting once more... Jack would find him curled up on the window seat the next morning and would arouse the male carefully before leading him to his first task of the day...

The first place they seemed to head was the dressing room - an entire hallway it seemed, dedicated to the changing of one's attire...

Tala was overwhelmed, but had little time to take it all in as he was suddenly approached by two maids who ushered him deeper inside the chamber before setting upon him. He tried to fight, but Jack had followed and advised him against it... Eventually, the maids let him go and he emerged looking far different from the person that had first walked in...

He glanced behind him as the maids chuckled amongst themselves, uttering words such as 'cute' and the likes... there was no doubt word would rush quickly around the castle and he turned his head away and started to walk swiftly from the room...

"Perhaps we should head to the great hall for breakfast?" Jack looked on somewhat amused, relieved that even though the lad had put up a fight, he still came out looking quite presentable. "I know I'm rather hungry myself..."

Tala wasn't overly bothered, but his stomach was telling him other things...perhaps breakfast was a good start...

Tala's eyes drifted about the corridor as they made their way down to the great hall, glancing briefly at the maids as they skittered about trying to clean the place up before he passed them by.

There was one maid in particular that caught his eye from the distance and as they drew even closer, he realised why...

He twisted round as they approached, opening his mouth to speak whilst raising his hand slightly as though debating whether or not to reach out for her arm and let her know he was there... Jack quickly saw to that however and nudged him back on course... Tala gave a growl as they passed her by before glancing back over his shoulder as the maid seemed to pause in her work to watch him...

They entered through the main doors and Tala was surprised to see a long table with settings at the head, but no other soul - besides the Matron - in sight...

"The King and Queen take their breakfast together before you lad." Jack noted the male looking for the pair, "Hence why I've joined you so you won't be eating alone."

Tala recalled how he'd spent every meal with his brethren back in Sune, nobody ate alone unless they were too sick to join the pack at mealtimes... Jack led him to the chair at the head of the table before taking the seat at his right-hand-side.

Hearing the sound of the door opening, Tala turned his head, his eyes widening as several servants brought in a breakfast fit for the King himself...