Meanwhile...
Arnwall stood in front of Valura staring her in the face and causing her to feel nervous.
Arnwall: how much have you heard?
She jumps. She heard enough to know why the red fury was seen more as a hero rather than a threat to the initial residence. And enough to know there is more than one person with red hair. She couldn't admit to it. She felt afraid.
Arnwall: madam. I know what you are and I know you are the reason Caya fell ill during the time I spent with you. I need you to tell me how much of our conversation you heard.
She started to feel guilt welling up in her. He knew she wasn't normal, but for how long?
Arnwall: *sigh*... I will tell you something useful to you. Will you tell me then?
He was bargaining. Why? Do those mean so much to him? Will they take him from her is she speaks? But what does he have to say?
Arnwall: stay clear of the guardian. She is hunting Wickeds. Whatever you heard from us. Swear to me that you won't speak a word of it. To anyone. Not even your servants. You do and I promise to keep you safe from tonight. I won't let anyone or anything lay a single hand on your head. Please, madam Valura.
Not bargaining. Begging. What she heard could mean his death? Is that what he's telling her?
Valura: ...tell me... Why would you go so far for them? As often as you where compared to Zao. After losing such a lovely person to him. Why do you go so far for them, to even lower yourself to beg me for such a thing?
Arnwall: ...They are my family. The only friends I've had in my life. I would trade the world for them. And if allowed, I would chose to spend the rest of my days in the dungeons for what I allowed myself to do to them.
Valura: and what of me? What would you do to me had none of these things occurred in the first place. What would you do if I told you...!? If I told you I....
Arnwall lifts her chin and kisses her softly. She is caught off guard as he deepens the kiss until she lets herself fall into the trance she felt. He lets her go after what seemed like a long while.
Arnwall:... I don't want to lose you either. Nothing will change what's been done. That being said, I want to trust you with all my heart, madam. This will be the one and only thing I will ask of you. Either tell me what you heard or keep what you know to yourself until this is all over?
Valura stands before him in bliss and shock. She finally leaves her trance and shakes her head.
Valura: ... from when you entered here. I promise not to speak. I swear it. But only if you mean what you just told me! Only if you show me how much I truly matter to you!
Arnwall: That's if you feelings are true as well, madam Valura. For now lets head back to the meeting. I'm sure the others are wondering where you are.
Valura:... Yes... Of course. And I'm just as glad to know everything is well for you three. I am truly sorry for all I've caused and...!?
Arnwall covers her mouth and looks her in the eyes. Valura turns bright red.
Arnwall: apologize to them when this ends.
Arnwall turns around and knocks on the hollow wall were the servants walk through and guides her away to the meeting.
Gen peers through the secret passage once they left and guides three others behind him. John was part of the group.
John: well. That was quite a twist.
Gen: that it was. I honestly did not expect that coming from him but hey it worked in our favor. Let's take the secretary room first. He holds most of the secrets as a fail safe.
John: Rex. We should go look for some other secrets in the other rooms above.
Rexar appears from over Johns shoulder and puffs into smoke and stars around John. John rushes out of the smoke in a new form with a tail, larger ears and claws as he takes off to the opposite direction to the upper level of the tower.
John follows the corridors for a long while looking through the room and knocking out any wondering guards until he makes it to a flight of stairs.
Meanwhile...
Gen and his second party, Vasallo, rush through the room doing the same until they hit a fork in the path. One headed to the dungeons and the other to a supposed dead end.
Gen: Take the stairs and remove EVERYTHING you can get your hands on.
Vasallo: what's there, sir? It looks like a dead end.
Gen: Arnwall marked it as a secret passage somewhere. So it must be something in there. No door is locked to us remember?
Vasallo smiles and continues down the stairs, leaving gen to the dead end. Gen vanishes in a puff of smoke and appears on the other side in the darkness. It was a simple small room lit by one candle, which made it hard to see clearly. Gen lets one of his eyes turn white and he sees what john sees now. A nearly endless stairwell curling along the wall to the top.
John stops as he sees the same as his vision clears through the darkness so he could see the rest of the room surrounding gen. It was tattered and falling apart with an empty pedestal in the center. On the wall behind it made both of them sick to look at. A man hung from rusting chains beaten and starved. He looked exactly like the ambassador.