Your Life or Your Loyalty|Grandisle, Firegem Isles

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc rubs his arm and glances around, "I don't really want to split up unless we have to. I don't really want to go back into the palace right now either...as much as I'd like to find where my family is." He frowns and looks down, "I'm scared Adrian."

[Kender Bard]

Adrian frowned at Kadoc. Their families had, at last count, been in accord with one another and not nursing any grudges of any kind. Not that it really mattered; most of those petty issues disappeared at the beginning of the day. He put an arm around the younger man, trying to offer a bit of comfort. "Me too," he admitted. "But we've got responsibilities to our Houses, what's left of them. Let's go check the Gwilim manor."

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc gives the barest of smiles and nods, "You're right, I'm sorry. Let's go." He turns and sets off toward the Gwillim manor, hoping desperatly they don't run into any stray pirates.

[Kender Bard]

They saw dozens, but nobody approached them. It seemed to be understood that if anyone was out and about walking by now, they had a right to be. Off in the distance, Adrian could see, barely, people being herded onto a large ship and he felt his heart constrict with pain. "They're loading up the slaves already," he told Kadoc worriedly and quickened his steps.

The Gwilim manor looked no different than it had before the assault, aside from some flags being hung out. Black and gold, grey and red. Adrian felt his anger rise but he did his best to smother it and knocked at the door.

As if it were any other day, one of the House servants answered. "Yes?" the man asked. He sounded a little shaken, still, but seemed relieved when it was just two young native men at the door.

[Skittlebug]

"Is Lord Gwillim here?" whether the man still had his title or not, using them was going to be a hard habit to break. "We would like to speak with him."

[Kender Bard]

"He is," the servant replied. "You are... Kadoc Ryker and Adrian Melanthios, correct?"

"That is right," Adrian agreed. The servant opened the door a little wider. "Please, step inside and be seated. I will inform his lordship immediately."

Adrian murmured his thanks and stepped into the home. The first room was of course a waiting area, filled with comfortable seats and an assortment of little snacks that kept well over time. Adrian slumped into the first seat he could see and looked at the tray of candies. Stomach twisting, he pushed the tray away. "What do we say?" he asked Kadoc.

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc begins to pace slowly, unable to sit down, "That we swore our allegiance and want to know if our families can do the same?" he twists his mouth at that, as if it even tasted badly. "If he can help us, I guess."

[Kender Bard]

"Right," Adrian murmured. "Straightforward enough."

Soon enough, Mirko walked into the room, hands clasped behind his back and looking every inch the bored lord he usually did. "Hello boys," he greeted soberly. "I didn't expect to find you in my home. Why have you come?"

"We swore an oath of allegience to our new lords," Adrian murmured, unable to meet the other man's eye. "But does that save only us or our families as well?"

Mirko frowned deeply. "I don't honestly know," he admitted. "It would have been much easier for your Houses if they had surrendered immediately--as soon as the horns of warning went up. Now... Well... You could try to reason or bargain your enslaved families back into safety, if you move quickly. The rest are... The rest are probably dead."

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc takes a sharp breath at that, and does sit down, "My sisters...my mother." He looks up suddenly, "What could we possibly have left to bargain with?"

[Kender Bard]

"That, I don't know," Mirko answered gravely. "Secrets? Anything of worth you've hidden away somewhere? I honestly can't say, boys. I'm really sorry. I wish it hadn't come to this."

"Why did you turn?" Adrian asked Mirko angrily.

Mirko held up his hands. "Hey, hey. I didn't..." He looked around, frowned, and lowered his hands. "We do as we must."

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc puts his head in his hands, "If I'd known...but they surprised us, we didn't have a chance to surrender."

He stands up again, looking to Mirko, "I have to try, do you know who I would need to speak with?"

[Kender Bard]

"I don't know the person's name," Mirko told Kadoc. "But she's a very tall woman in Morilantan colors. She should still be in the court hall. By now, with the Emperor gone and the Dread Lord busy, she's probably going to be the most noticeable authority figure there."

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc licks his lips and steadies himself to head to the palace. "Thank you," he turn to look at Adrian, "Will you come too?"

[Kender Bard]

"Of course," Adrian agreed, standing quickly. "I have family being taken to those ships too, you know."

"Good luck, boys," Mirko murmured, sounding tired and sad. "Now if you pardon me, there are things I must do as well."

Adrian bowed a hasty greeting farewell to Mirko and left with Kadoc back outside. "Take a deep breath, Kadoc," he told the other boy. "I know you don't want to go back in there. Forces, but I don't either. But we'll need to be quick if they're already loading slaves."

[Skittlebug]

Kadoc nods, "I know," he takes off with Adrian quickly.

A chill creeps up his spine as they enter the room that had so recently been full and he has to take a deep breath to keep from panicking altogether. He casts about the room for the woman Mirko had described.