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Entry tags:

ambergeldar,
logan

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It sounded simple enough, when Logan suggested it. They would simply go find the page. Their guard had wandered off to who-knows-where, and time was of the essence.

How hard could it be?

Well, for one thing, palaces have a ridiculous number of corridors.

Meg is not entirely certain they haven't already been down this one.

"I can't quite believe I let you talk me into this," she says. "Do you even know where we're going?"

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"It's not a big deal," Logan says. "I mean, he's 12. And tiny. Do you think we can't handle a prepubescent page?"

Even if said page probably has weapons training.

"And yeah, I totally know where I'm going. I got the full tour when I first came here on vacation."

It was from a very nice lady-in-waiting whose younger brother was a page.

"Well, we could run into someone who's not twelve and tiny," Meg points out.

She sighs.

But, in for a penny . . .

"Lead on."

She really does think she's seen that suit of armor before.

Maybe she has, but it's not too long before they're in the right corridor, where they do happen to run into someone who is neither 12 nor tiny.

"Lord Julius," Logan says, bowing creditably enough. "Have you met Lady Meghan? We were just looking for a wayward page."

"Baron," says the very gorgeous person they have just run into, with a slight bow. "I had not realized you were staying with us."

Really, the Queen has the strangest friends, and their visits are all highly irregular. The Protocol Officer cannot approve.

"And I have not had the pleasure. Lord Julius, Count Fylderow, at your service."

(The bow to Lady Meghan is rather less prefunctory. At least until he knows who the blazes this is, best to err on the side of caution.)

Meg tries to remember ballet lessons from half a life ago and manages a fairly competent curtsey.

"An honor, my lord," she says.

"If you'll excuse us, milord, we are in something of a rush," Logan says. "We believe this page has vital information regarding the king's abduction."

The protocol officer is somewhat in their way.

"Oh?" says Lord Julius.

"A page, you say? With that sort of information? Perhaps I could be of assistance.

"After all, His Majesty's safe return is of the utmost concern to every loyal Ambergeldan.

"Who is it you're looking for?"

"James Archibald of, um, Veldenyard, I believe," Meg says.

"James Archibald? Really?

"I asked him to come help me with something. I didn't realize anyone was looking for him.

"Would you like me to take you to see him?"

He offers his arm to Lady Meghan.

His interest makes Logan wary. He'd be hard-pressed to put a finger on why, but he's got a bad feeling about this.

"Maybe you could just tell him to come see us when he's finished," Logan says. "I'm sure it can wait."

Edited 2009-03-22 01:53 (UTC)

"If he knows something about the King's abduction? It cannot wait even a moment, Baron.

"I insist."

Logan gives Meg a warning look, hoping she'll go along with things until he figures out a way for them to get away from Julius.

"Certainly, milord. What task have you given the page?"

"Nothing that matters in light of what you have just told me, Baron."

He takes Lady Meghan's arm and starts down the hall, without giving her a whole lot of choice about accompanying him.

Meg is in so far over her head here, trying to navigate court manners and warning looks, and a dress made out of about ten more metres of fabric than seems stickly speaking necessary, and one of her best friends has been abducted by a dragon, and she's really not at her best.

She has no idea whether Logan trusts this person or not, because he's sending really mixes messages on that front.

So she just . . . goes along with things.

Which means letting Lord Julius guide her down the hall.

(Seriously, how many times are they going to pass that suit of armor?)

Logan doesn't...not trust Lord Julius, but he certainly does not trust him.

And he really, really doesn't like him, so there's that.

But he doesn't see anyway of getting out of this situation without resorting to violence at this time, so he continues following Julius and Meg.

He doesn't lead them far, and he's perfectly polite, assuring Lady Meghan that he hopes he'll have a chance to show her the palace more properly at a less trying time.

He opens a door, and escorts her (with the Baron -- not the most annoying of Her Majesty's friend but close -- still following) into a very grand room and over toward the book cases by the fireplace.

There's no fire. There's nothing on the desk or any of the tables. No candles are lit or show any sign of having been.

It certainly doesn't look like anyone has been working in here recently.

Logan frowns. "You sent the page on an errand in here?"

Because it really, really doesn't look like there is anything anyone would need in this room.

He looks around for James Archibald, taking his eyes off Lord Julius and Meg to do so.

And when the Baron looks away, Lord Julius quickly opens the hidden latch on the door behind the bookshelves, and shoves first the Baron and then Lady Meghan into the room hidden there.

They're startled enough that it's not hard, and they don't have time to react before he's slammed and locked the door.

Thank provinance James Archibald had found him before this interferring pair had, though James Archibald will be far from grateful that he did something to tip them off.

Lord Julius makes one last check of the lock, and then goes off to contact Lord Maximilian.

Something is going to have to be done.

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