"I knew it!" Rabert leapt up, forgetting etiquette entirely. "I knew you were acting strangely, Your Highness. How could I have been so foolish?!"
"Sh, Captain, don't blame yourself," Rose tried to calm him.
"It is completely the princess's fault," Caitlyn agreed. The blonde threw a dirty look at her lady-in-waiting. Rabert failed to notice as he rubbed his forehead.
"Everything in my gut said something was wrong. I should have been more thorough." Pacing the floor, the Captain was lost in his thoughts. "Where was he hiding? Wait, I don't want to know. This is so embarrassing! I should tell the King and resign my post."
"Slow down, Captain! You are not resigning. As I said, this is completely my doing. I will take responsibility." Rose began to worry that Rabert would do something rash. "Let us just talk calmly about this for a moment, please?" She motioned gently for the chair, but the man was reluctant to sit.
Rabert was clearly torn, his eyes filled with turmoil. He ran his hands through his hair. "I should tell the Commander what we found. He might have an explanation. But if he did do something, then we have tipped our hand and put ourselves in danger. Yet Borit should have the ability to defend himself against such an accusation. I would want to a chance to tell my side of a story such as this."
The princess nodded. She understood his reasoning. Were it not for the strong pull that the stranger had on her, Rose would have felt the same struggle. "I appreciate your loyalty, Captain. But is your ultimate loyalty to the King or to Borit?"
"The King, of course." Rabert said without hesitation.
"Then we need the whole story before we go to the king. A false accusation would be detrimental for everyone involved." There was a determination in the princess's eyes.
"I don't like that look," Caitlyn said. "You are about to do something crazy."
"Not crazy. Necessary." Rose countered. A plan was taking shape in her mind already, but she knew those present were not going to like it.
"What are you going to do?" Rabert also did not like the steel in her voice.
"I'm going to find Silver…"
"NO!" Rabert shouted.
"Not happening." Caitlyn instinctively reached out and took the princess's arm like she might fly away that moment. Disentangling herself from her lady in waiting, the blonde huffed quietly.
"Just hear me out," Rose help up her hands before Caitlyn could take them captive again. "Silver will speak to me. I know he will. I will get the story and come back, then we can tell father what we know."
"King Rhodri will not allow you to go," Caitlyn insisted. She could already see the King's face adamantly denying the princess's request. It would be a brutal battle of wills, but Rhodri would be the victor as he locked away his daughter even more tightly to prevent her rash decision.
"My father wishes me to be married... Surely if I am old enough to for that kind of commitment, then I am old enough to make decisions about if I leave the castle. I refuse to be kept in a cage."
"It is not that simple and you know it," the lady-in-waiting tried to reason with her.
"I will go in your stead," Rabert said. "Send me with a note for the Guardian, I will bring his message in response."
"That will get you tried for abandoning your post at the palace. Or if Borit finds out what you are after, he may try to hang you for treason. I will not have it." Rose flatly denied him.
"Then let me send some of my men. I will not let Borit know they have gone with you. I can keep them from getting into trouble." Rabert was growing desperate.
Rose was about to refuse him when Caitlyn broke in, "Please listen to Rabert. Let him send the men for you. You can still get the answers you seek."
'Can I? I have so many questions.' However, Rose knew she was outnumbered, and she could see they were on the verge of telling her father of her plans. "Very well," she conceded. "Two of your men may go, Captain Rabert. I will prepare my message."
"Cole and Philip will go. I trust them." Rabert tapped his chin lightly. "Does that meet with your approval?"
Rose had already taken a liking to Cole, and his knowledge on what was found was as deep as her own. He would be able to get an accurate account of the events of so long ago. As for Philip, she would not miss his stoic gaze one bit. "I approve, Captain. Thank you."
The tension in the room eased. "Of course, Your Highness. Anything for you." The man bowed. "I will tell the men and they can leave before first light."
Already the world was becoming shroud in the shadows of darkness. The men would have very little time to prepare. But that also meant very little time to be discovered.
"The sooner, the better," the princess ran her fingers along her skirt nervously. She knew that she would not be at ease until the truth was discovered.
"This isn't your problem, Princess Rose. Are you sure you want to do this?" Caitlyn tried to understand.
"I--I can't explain it..." Again the dam containing Rose's memories in her mind threatened to break free.
Pressing her eyelids shut, Rose concentrated, trying to peek through the cracks in the impenetrable wall, but her efforts were in vain. Ever since the stranger had entered her life just the day before, the barrier seemed to be weakening. That is what drove her to seek the truth even more than finding justice for the poor forsaken village. She felt a tinge of guilt for her selfishness.
"I have to know what happened," she said at last. The two others stared at her, hoping she would say more. "I mean, if Borit did this and covered it up, what else could he be hiding?"
Rabert remembered the battle between Silver and Borit years before. At the time, Rabert had assumed that the soldier was trying to shortcut the justice system to take down a criminal.
It was wrong, but at least there seemed to be a reasoning behind it. The events, however, had left a bad taste in Rabert's mouth and were the reason for the rift between himself and the commander. Now the captain wondered if the events had much more meaning to them than he had previously believed. If Silver knew about Borit's treachery, then the two men's history went further back than that fateful day in Rynnlee.
Like the princess, Rabert, too, wanted answers. "Let us hope we are both mistaken and this is a simple understanding. For my own peace of mind, did Silver tell you why he came to the palace at all?"
Rose shook her head. "He was vague on that point."
"Then I will add my own letter to him to inquire on that point. Since nothing was reported stolen, he either failed, or he was after something unseen. I would love to close the case on the matter." Rabert stood. "There is much to do, please excuse me."
"Of course, Captain. I will send my note as soon as I have it prepared." Rose bent at the waist from her seat.
"Thank you, Your Highness. Oh and happy Reading," the Captain smiled. He turned to the door and left.
Rose felt for the book within the crease of the couch. Like Rabert, she knew she had a full evening ahead of her.