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Arthur seemed relentless in following the Prince, so Tala decided to retire to bed early... Once his 'advisor' was off his tail, then perhaps he could go in search of Jack...

Making his way over to the window, Tala lent against the sill to watch as the guards started lighting the fires that would burn until daylight. Already the soldiers had started their nightly patrols, circling the castle grounds before splitting off to watch the streets.

At some point, the Prince had managed to drift off...having lent against the wall, he was well balanced and managed to sleep upright for a short while - it wasn't until his knees threatened to cease holding him upright that he snapped awake.

What little time he'd been asleep, the guards had finished lighting the fires and had come round for a second patrol. Pushing away from the window, Tala grabbed a long, black, hooded cloak from the rack and slipped it on before making his way to the door.

Twisting the handle, he pulled the door opened a crack, glancing along the corridor for any sign of life before slipping out into the corridor.

He would head for Jack's room first, if the old warrior had been given leave after the incident, perhaps he would be resting in his room...? Checking the coast was clear once again, he lifted a hand and knocked upon the door.

It wasn't long before the sound of footsteps coming up the corridor forced his hand... He gave the door a shove, then reached for a set of lockpicks hidden inside his cloak pocket. Hastily, he picked the lock before pushing his way into the room and bolting the door behind him.

It was pitch black, but his eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness and he scanned the room. Had Jack been present, he would have been set upon the second he'd closed the door... Forming a tiny blue orb in his hands Tala allowed it to float freely around the room, illuminating anything it passed over, but not casting enough light to attract attention from outside...

Having found nothing out of the ordinary, Tala decided it was best to take his leave and search elsewhere...

Opening the door a crack, he listened intently for signs of movement before slipping out once again. Almost instantly he was grabbed and thrust back against the wall. Instinct kicked in and he reached for his weapons, only to have them knocked from his hands which were then twisted round behind his back as he was pushed down to the ground...

"Sire?!" Arthur's stunned voice broke the tension as Tala's hood was pulled back from his face, "Let him up!" The guards immediately released him and Tala spun away, scowling at the advisor who had lost his look of surprise and instead replaced it with a frown. "What on Terra are you doing out of your room?!"

"Where is Jack!?" Tala wiped off the sensation leaving his arms tingling before glaring between the three faces that now regarded him with narrowed eyes,

"Jack Marshall is not here." Arthur's reply was blunt, "You should be in bed, Sire, you need your rest."

"I'm not resting until I find him." Tala growled, pulling his cloak back a little to reveal his daggers which hung from his belt, "Now show me where he is, or I'll find someone who will!"

"...If that is what you wish, Sire...?" Arthur breathed a sigh then waved for the male to follow before starting at a somewhat relaxed pace down the corridor. Tala cast a wary glance towards the guards who seemed to wait for him to move before following closely as he led the way behind the advisor.

He hadn't been sure, but something had drawn the Prince's attention momentarily as they passed by a darkened alcove...he would have lingered, but the guards urged him onward and he could do no more than glance over his shoulder as they moved further away...

They seemed to walk for some time before Arthur finally came to a stop. Tala was somewhat edgy having been led to a part of the castle he had yet to visit, but his mind was set more on finding the old warrior and uncovering why he'd been replaced by Mr Creed...

"After you my Liege..." Arthur pulled open the door, holding an arm out to allow the Prince to be the first to enter;

Tala took a step forward, the room was dark - so dark he couldn't see anything past the light of the flickering torch... Narrowing his eyes he turned back, ready to send the advisor in before him... A sudden impact to his chest however winded him and he stumbled backwards, landing with a thud before sitting up as the door slammed shut.

"Ensure someone keeps guard until I've mentioned this to the King..."

Tala couldn't quite make out the man's words, but quickly rose to his feet, throwing himself at the door before beating upon the woodwork as though it would help him escape... Eventually, he turned round from the door, trying hard to see anything in the darkness, yet making out nothing but black...

Growling to himself, he sat down and drew his knees up to his chest... Whatever was going on, he wasn't impressed...

Feeling the touch, Tala immediately snapped to his feet, putting his back hard against the wooden door as he felt a finger grace his lips as though to silence him... He would have attacked, but something made him hesitate and he looked towards the dark shape as it started to speak...

Hearing its words, he relaxed slightly, quickly realising it too was searching for Jack...that meant they were allies - for now at least...

Drawing away from the figure, Tala lifted his hand slightly; just above his palm would appear a tiny, blue orb, it grew from the size of a small bead and would continue to grow until it was about the side of a large marble, illuminating the darkened area around them.

Tala kept his eyes on the orb for some time before lifting his gaze towards the figure - he scrutinized his face for just a moment, taking note his heterochromic inheritance before turning his attention to the room around them. What he saw behind the male sent a shiver down his spine and he released his hold on the light, plunging them into darkness once more...

"It's not you." Tala shook his head, wary about revealing the entirety of the torture chamber they had stumbled upon to the individual... "We need to find a way out of here."

He had briefly memorised the room in that moment and was careful to avoid the familiar cloak that had been hung up where it was to be seen by all who entered... It still had the fresh and familiar copper-like scent of blood on the worn fabric and Tala could do no more than turn his head away from the smell as he walked past.

Outstretching his hands, he traced it across the wooden boards that covered the window, they were stuck on firmly and this meant that having seen no other means of escape, he would have to illuminate the room again...

"Brace yourself..." He started to form the tiny orb again, dropping his eyes in the hopes he wouldn't see anything that would have him jump to conclusions about the old warrior's fate...

"I'm afraid the boy is terribly sick..." Arthur shook his head sadly, "It appears his body isn't used to our style of life and he is suffering greatly..."

Trogan was seated on his throne and lowered his head slightly, exhaling a sigh before lifting his eyes again, "Is there nothing we can do for him?" he wondered if it had been his son's life in Sune that had made things a challenge...? He had seen that Tala wasn't used to the busy environment, especially the close contact - it upset him how the boy shied away from people - especially from his mother...and even though Tala was the Prince, in the end he would only wish the best for him...

"I have an associate who would be more than happy to take the boy in and care for his needs... He won't be here in the castle of course, infact it would be quite a journey, but I believe it might just help bring him round..." Arthur watched as Trogan seemed to zone out - it was clear the King was deep in thought and the man had learnt well to allow his charges time to think...

After a moment or two, Trogan rose to his feet, "I must consult my wife about this...Inform your man of my interest, but do not act until a decision has been made." It was clear he had Tala's sanity in his best interest and it seemed in the advisor's eyes that his mind was already made up...

Arthur watched as the King took his leave of the room, then he turned and crossed towards the guards by the door.

"I'm sure Lyssandra can be easily influenced towards her son's needs...ensure our charge is comfortable whilst we wait for an answer..." He of course used the term 'comfortable' lightly, aware of the smirks splitting the guard's faces as they nodded and left for the dungeon...

Tala could only guess why Arthur had chosen to trap him there, the fact he'd left a bloodied cloak in plain view left the Prince thinking that perhaps his advisor was trying to rile him up and make him foolish...

He wasn't going to jump to conclusions, but had the man laid a stray finger upon the old warrior, he was going to pay greatly - nobody hurt those Tala considered pack members, and even though he and Jack hadn't gotten off to a great start, the old warrior had taken the time to look out for him and guide him the best he could and that meant a lot.

Tala twisted round as he became aware of the approaching footsteps... He had seen the servant's true form, but having resided in Sune from such an early age, he was unperturbed by the male's appearance and if anything, welcomed the change from the humans that had plagued him over the preceding days...

"It's your choice, but I'd run when you have the chance..." Tala had noted that the servant had taken cover and calmly extinguished the light, narrowing his eyes as the guards opened the door.

He decided to give them a chance to prove themselves friend or foe, but as they entered the room he quickly noted their intent and prepared to defend himself... As the light of their flaming torch illuminated the space, the men spotted their target and advanced, malicious grins upon their faces...

Tala wasn't phased by their looks, he even allowed them to get close enough before throwing them back against the walls with an unseen force...

"Run!" The light was snuffed out and Tala charged towards the corridor, his cloak billowing behind him as he fled the torture room...

"I grew up in Sune," Tala saw sense in seeking out his Father, understanding it would be an advantage - if anyone could tell him what was going on, it would be Trogan... "I almost feel comfortable seeing one not so human in such a place..." He meant no offence by that, but with the correct etiquette in speech being something he had yet to learn, it may have come across as slightly insulting to the male...

They would dart through the corridors for some time, dodging guards until eventually they found their way to the doors of the great hall.

Tala would push these open, expecting to find Trogan sitting on his throne, but was greatly displeased to find none other than Arthur sitting in his father's seat...

"So good of you to join us..." the advisor seemed amused, waving his guards forward before rising from the throne.

Tala had little chance to escape as the soldiers swarmed him with shackles and chains. Panicked, he glanced back over his shoulder for the servant, hoping he had managed to slip away unnoticed in the fray... Within seconds, the guards had his arms shackled and outstretched, a guard on each link as a collar was placed around his neck before he was dragged before the man.

"Your parents are concerned for you...and think you should be sent away to recover from your ills..." the man looked amused, strolling down the steps towards them as the guards forced the Prince to his knees, "I had a feeling you would escape, so felt it only wise to make things seem as though you had become maddened... You will be with his Real Highness before you know it...Along with your old companion..."

"If you've hurt Jack, I'll...!" Tala felt a sharp tug on the collar as though the guard had tried to correct him, then he was forced to stifle a growl as Arthur hushed him with a wave of the hand,

"You should be more concerned for yourself my boy..." Arthur cooed, "Where you're going, nobody can help you." he chuckled, then laughed, watching as the guards pulled the Prince to his feet before dragging him from the throne room. Tala would try and pull away and even attempt to attack the men, but they had chained him with the confidence that he would be unable to move provided they kept the chains taught.

The men dragged the Prince roughly down the corridor, he proceeded to fight, tugging against the chains as he was led towards the main doors into the courtyard...

Outside the sky was still dark, but he could easily make out the figures of his parents - Lyssandra looked quite distraught whilst Trogan held her tight, trying to console her that it was for the best...

"Why is this happening?!" the Prince locked eyes with the Queen momentarily, knowing she would be easier to contact, "What have I done?!" He caught sight of the thick-walled carriage usually used to house the most dangerous of criminals for transport, "Why won't you help me?!"

"...We are helping you." Trogan drew the male's attention to him as the doors to the travelling cell were opened... "Just...quieten down, you're upsetting your mother."

Tala once again locked eyes with the Queen who drew a breath and hid her face in her husband's chest,

"He's working for the enemy!" Tala decided to try a last ditch attempt to break free, catching the soldiers off guard and allowing himself to rush towards Lyssandra and grip her arm - something he would have never had done before...

The Queen looked stunned, her crystal blue eyes widened as the Prince grabbed her arm, the look on his face was one of fear and unknowing and it struck a chord in her heart... She brought her other hand round, her intention reassure herself that they were doing the right thing, but the guards gripped him around the torso and dragged him off his feet...

Trogan turned his wife away as the Prince was thrown in the back of the carriage, she looked up at him, wondering how it had come to this before she was led inside by one of the servants...

Regardless as to whether or not they had attached the chains to the inner walls of the carriage, Tala found his way to his feet and started to struggle, thrashing around in an attempt to break free before stumbling and falling to his knees as the carriage set off towards the castle gates...

A handful of servants and maids would lead the Queen back to her quarters before dispersing along the corridor back to their respective dorms, many walked in silence, but some of the younger ones couldn't help but raise their concerns as they reached the door to their quarters...

"I can't see why they did this..." the first dropped her eyes, "He was such a nice guy..."

"A little screwy if you ask me...what with his little habits and all, but I know what you mean...He never said a word to me, but he was courteous enough to let me pass before him that time..." They continued into their room, not noticing the female as they passed her by...