Nielle raised his eyebrows in surprise and smiled with genuine amusement: "A threat... to the prince," he laughed and took a gentle step towards him, "I see we're going to have a long talk today... in the dungeon." he looked into his bright blue eyes with pleasure and signalled to the guys behind him to take this individual.
Ylre just smirked at how he had no problem blasting this white-haired idiot with his bare hands even with his gang in black, when Rue suddenly stepped between them and intervened:
"There is no reason for conflict," he smiled lightly and gave Nielle a look, "Ylre didn't mean it that way, he just doesn't want you to suspect us," he said, "we didn't commit murder, we left the game room yesterday right to the inn, the White Swan, Ylre was with me the whole time and I'm sure everyone remembers me in the inn after one of your men attacked us early yesterday...the one at the camp I don't think he likes me very much but he can testify that we were indeed there in the evening...at least at dinner time...and we didn't leave the inn at night," he clarified in a calm voice, as if he were talking to a child who doesn't know the truth when he sees it and needs to calmly explain it.
Nielle was silent for a moment, what a strange feeling filled him again in front of Rue. He couldn't quite define it, but somehow it didn't let him push Rue to the side and continue dragging Ylre to the dungeon. He felt a strange and uncomfortably natural respect for him that he wanted to willingly follow, even though his mind told him that it was stupid, that he didn't know him, and that he was just a random Lacrisan whose words meant nothing.
Nielle had no idea why he believed them, why he felt like nodding to everything he said and complying with his wishes. He felt strange, as if Rue was superior to him even before he was born. And Nielle had no idea how to get rid of the need not to contradict him, even though all his life he wasn´t listening to others.
However, before he could react and really say something, one of his men rushed out from the alley next to him: "Your Highness!" He stopped right next to them.
"Can't you see that I'm in the middle of a debate? What do you want?" he glared at him irritated.
"Your new Lacrisan has disappeared," the man said.
Nielle blinked slowly, "How did he disappear?"
"I followed him, as you ordered, he and Iuwine took the victims to Elyan. Afterwards, they ate in the inn, but only Iuwine went out. Looks like he's looking for him too, we don't know where he went." he stated.
Nielle sighed deeply, "Where is Iuwine?"
"We don't know, sir…I came back as soon as I found out your Lacrisan had disappeared," he stated.
Nielle's eyes widened and he said irritably: "You don´t know?" Are you new?" he raised his voice.
"I-I am, sir," he didn't understand.
Nielle sighed more exasperatedly, "You lost Lacrisan...and now you've lost Iuwine...do you have any idea how many people in the city are after Iuwine? Do you want to explain to Louis what happened to him? Why was he even giving him to me? Ah...don't you think I've had more bad luck than luck these past few days?"
"Your Highness, Iuwine can take care of himself," one of the guards informed him.
Nielle knew that with Iuwine's luck and abilities, it was unrealistic for anything to happen to him. However, this didn´t change the fact that things could always get complicated. It wouldn't be the first time that a Lacrisan had been kidnapped from the royal palace, and Nielle clearly didn't intend to be responsible for that.
He sighed in displeasure and looked at the place where Ylre and Rue were standing a moment ago. He shook his head and left them alone for the moment as finding his Lacrisan and Iuwine was the priority. He clearly didn't expect them to disappear. He only let his Lacrisan go because he knew he would try to contact one of the Lacrisan spies in the city. He let him go because he planned to track him down and prevent complications right from the start... but to let him disappear? In a city he controlled? When he was guarded by Iuwine on top of that?
Not possible. And yet he did. Nielle intended to find him before he lost the chance to find out where his contact was. However, no matter where he disappeared to, he intended to show him forcefully after finding him that such behavior wouldn´t go unpunished. Since he obviously went easy on him.
***
Shane couldn't believe it was that easy. At first he thought that they would really go back to Nielle. He thought for a moment that it might not be the worst idea to reconnect with him first and then disappear right away. However, as they walked and he became more and more aware of how the city was filled with eyes focused on him, he realized that it wasn´t wise to return to the prince immediately.
Therefore, when they passed by a very nice restaurant, he suggested that they stop and eat first. Iuwine didn't object, and even though it looked like he sensed that he was trying to do something, in the end, he had no chance to stop him in any way. Shane said he had no money and let Iuwine pay.
On his way to the bathroom, he informed one of the waiters that Iuwine would like a special order for the upcoming feasts at Prince Louis's request, thus simply keeping Iuwine busy. Iuwine wanted to follow him at first, but getting out of the staff's encirclement wasn´t easy, and Shane disappeared before he could.
He wasn't sure if he could sneak out the back entrance unnoticed, but it was his best chance, so he slowly made his way to the nearest establishment. He stayed in it for a while, came out and went to another business. He walked for a while, turned down a few alleys he had memorized in the comfort of Lacris, and entered another establishment before repeating the process a few more times. When he was sure that even if someone was watching him, there was no way he could remember where he had been today, he entered the bank. He walked over to the far counter, which was currently empty.
"Hello, my name is Shane Gill Feagh, I came to Rinsel yesterday but I got robbed and I have no money, I would like to withdraw some" he said.
"Your code?" the employee asked.
Shane dictated the ten digit code where his money was stored in the international banks and after the guy made sure it was real, he let him in the back where another man took charge.
"A colleague from your sector will take you to the treasury, thank you for using our services." the cashier left him to a man who took him further along the corridor.
Shane was silent as they walked through the building to the stairs to the underground where they stored most of the gold, stones, and other valuables that the people and countries stored here. Practically in every country in every capital there was an international bank where anyone could withdraw their money, deposited in another part of the world, under account. Shane was really grateful, as otherwise he would have been completely penniless in the country.
However, his goal wasn´t only to get some money, but the banker himself, whom he wanted to meet and contact today. They slowly entered the underground maze of corridors and rooms that were literally overflowing with treasure chests. Shane couldn't imagine how much money each of these banks held, but he didn't care. The man led him to the cash register belonging to his number and slowly opened it for him, giving Shane a glimpse of the money he currently needed. Most of them were provided by Lacris, some of them he owned himself, as he had made quite a bit of money in Prince Darwin´s service over the years.
"Just give me the pouch," he said.
The man fulfilled the instruction, filled the bag with gold and closed the treasury. He then handed Shane the money:
"How does it look?" the man asked.
"Splendidly…I got to Nielle," Shane clarified.
The man frowned unkindly: "Really unpleasant."
"That's why I haven't had a chance to look for anything yet. I'll start today when I get a chance...although I don't think he'll give me much leeway. It looks like everyone is keeping an eye on me" he clarified unsurprised.
"It doesn't matter...do what's required and bring it to me, I'll take care of the rest...as soon as you do, we'll send you back home," he informed.
Shane nodded softly, "Prince Nielle will be the most difficult… Prince Brelle won't be a significant problem and I'll handle Prince Louis somehow," he said.
"And the king?" he wondered.
"Let's leave the king for the end...I don't have a plan yet," he said.
"Do as you want," he said.
Shane nodded, took the bag and walked out of the bank. He didn't intend to linger here unnecessarily in case someone was really watching him. He noticed that he had been here too long, so he stopped at the next establishment right after the bank, where he finally bought something. He then went out, went into another, and bought something again. He wasn't going to let Nielle find out that the only business he'd visited and actually used was a bank.
He walked from one store to another, wondering how to most efficiently begin to attend to his duties in the service of such an unpleasant prince as he had been given. However, no matter how strongly he had the urge to pursue his goals, he currently had another problem to solve. How to get back to everyone without ending up in a dungeon for his disappearance.
After all, he didn't really have time to spend several weeks there, and his prince didn't really look like he would condone such behavior. Shane sighed deeply and walked out of the new establishment. The moment he found himself in the middle of the alleys, he noticed that something was different. His gaze ended on a pair of men in black who were no longer holding back in silent observation.
He caught a flash of white hair somewhere off to the side and he sighed deeply as he realized his problem was solved for him. He was getting more and more fed up with his new life in a new country.