After having bathed and found some clothes in one of the chests of drawers, Bastian also found a razor to shave with. After thinking on it for a few seconds he decided to keep the beard, but he did give it a trim.
He was now standing by one of the windows, keenly watching the plaza below. He'd counted twenty soldiers scattered about, all were armed with guns.
The door opened behind him and he turned to see a maid walk in, two guards behind her.
"Your meal." She said without raising her eyes. In her hands was a tray with food on it. He took a step forward and saw both of the guards place their hands on their swords.
Bastian stopped and gestured to a side table by the couch nearest the door, "You can leave it there."
She bowed her already bowed head and walked mutely to the table. Once she'd set it down he thanked her and he could see a startled expression on her face, but she left immediately and the guards closed the door and left as well.
He sighed, by the sun's position he could tell that it was near noon. He sat and ate the meal of chicken and mushrooms with beans. He had not eaten since he'd caught that bird yesterday, and he'd given most of it to Hydrangea.
Even after he'd finished his meal the Premier was yet to show his face. He sat on the couch, thinking as he waited.
Samadur had not intervened, it was most likely because their lives were not in danger. He still did not know exactly what Samadur wanted. He assumed that the Primal wanted Cadarama to not be in the hands of Lord Stone, but did he want it in his hands? He'd certainly done many things to keep him alive, to keep Hydrangea alive as well. But what was the end goal?
As he pondered over these troubling times the door unlocked and was opened.
He looked over his shoulder and saw a soldier standing there, his polished bronze armour and green sash making him known as a lieutenant.
"The Premier will speak with you now." He said and then stepped out of the room. Bastian rose and followed him down the walk, the main hall always kept in view.
He was led to a door with rather fanciful metal working inlaid on the wood.
The lieutenant knocked, and a voice came from within, "Enter."
The door was opened and Bastian walked in confidently. The room was dark and was lit by a single candle that sat on a desk covered with papers. Two chairs sat near a curtained window, a slit of light escaping and lighting the empty chair.
The other chair was occupied by the Premier he assumed, only his legs visible in the dark room. This man was certainly strange
"Please, sit." The Premier said and Bastian sat on the free chair. With his back straight he observed the silhouette of the Premier and waited for the man to speak and explain.
"A few days ago a trio comprised of two men and one woman was spotted entering the city." The Premier started, "I was immediately alerted when one of the men had features similar to that of the Sovereign. As you would expect, the Lords Stone and Gaul have placed an order that any such man be arrested and sent to the island. So, I did as they had ordered. I sent out my men to bring the three persons to me."
Bastian clenched his fists and his eyes darkened. So he was the one that ordered the death of Ariston.
"My soldiers did as I said but when they went to carry out these orders they only brought back one man, and not the man that was said to look like the Sovereign. This young man told me that he was travelling with the Sovereign and his Queen, and that he was attempting to cross into Viskogorny."
'And then he was killed.' He thought in bitter anger as he pictured the moment when he'd been forced to leave Ariston behind. Only nineteen years of age, and dead because of this Premier.
"I thanked the young man, Ariston Filotimo, the son of the previous premier of Wanington, Premier Hector." The man paused and Bastian knew that he was watching his facial expressions.
"After thanking him he asked if he could be sent to a safe place of his, and I granted his request. I sent him with a horse and food enough to survive the journey."
Bastian's throat closed. Ariston was… alive? He's alive. He swallowed and cleared his throat, "Go on." He said in a voice as smooth as he could manage.
The Premier nodded, "After this I sent word to the wall, the wall that the Lords instructed me to build. Now, just after if sent off my messengers I get word that there was a massacre outside of the north gate. I went myself to see what had happened and I saw the fields covered in blood and the dead bodies of my men. The guards positioned on the wall told me that only one man fought them, and he slayed all of them within moments." He paused once more and Bastian did his best to hide his uneasiness.
"Now, after two days of waiting, word reached me that the two people had been found, the woman and the mysterious man who'd slain a small army singlehandedly. I ordered them to blindfold these two and then send them to me." He paused and Bastian could see the glint in his eyes, "And now here we are. A man who claims to be the Sovereign in my study, and a woman whom he claims is his wife and Queen in my dungeons."
Bastian sat motionless as he waited for the man to make a move. He had him utterly and helplessly trapped. One false move and he would risk his life and Hydrangea's.
"Now, the question is not if you are who you say you are, but what your actions are and if they are for Cadarama's best interest." He said and Bastian still did not speak. He would let this man play out his script in its entirety.
"Why do you want to get into Viskogorny? To flee from this country or to seek help for this country?"
Bastian thought of his words carefully before he spoke, "Both. I wish to ask help from Tzar Matvey, and to escape from the hunting hounds of the Lords."
The Premier nodded, "And the woman in that cell is truly your Queen?"
Bastian nodded, "She is. She is my wife through Union."