The Queen smiles at you like you're a misbehaving child. "It's not so simple. You need to think more before you come to conclusions."
At the Queen's words, Fizza's face goes from cinnamon brown to apple red, as if the matriarch is scolding her directly.
"Any thoughts on the matter, Siegfried?" the Queen asks Kelton.
"Hmm, well, it could be anything, really," Sir Kelton says, rubbing the salt-and-pepper stubble on his cleft chin. "What have the border reserves reported?"
"Unfortunately, nothing much. One patrol failed to send a report back last week, a small mountain post. When our soldiers investigated, they found the post abandoned. Then this week the same thing happened at a watchtower deep in the forest. We don't have any answers yet."
"That's strange…." Sir Kelton says.
"Yes." Then, the Queen looks over her shoulder and steps toward Kelton, motioning for you and Fizza to come closer. "Actually," she says quietly, "they did find something. But please be discreet about how you speak of this information."
You and Fizza lean in eagerly.
"They found one soldier, but his state was peculiar. As if he was completely frozen in ice, his body was rigid and his eyes were wide, staring ahead in terror. He was brought back to the castle, and I had him examined by the court magician." The Queen looks at Sir Kelton, her eyes revealing as much fear as her regal composure will allow. "I was there, Siegfried. The magician revived him and—and all he could do was scream. Loudly, continually, he just screamed on and on…. There was nothing I or anyone else could do to comfort him. After half an hour of this, he simply stopped. The life was all drained out of him then. We had to bury him without any answers."
Sir Kelton simply shakes his head in bewilderment.
"I don't expect you to understand the horror of what happened, but I tell you this so you'll be careful. This estate is just over the mountains from Illan, after all." The Queen turns toward you. "I need you to be on your guard, and protect yourselves."