“Yes sir,” Will replied in kind.

“So, about the town...” Ryker started. “These are honest people, and the guardsmen are bleeding them dry with made up taxes to line their pockets. I watched it happen last night at the inn,” he frowned, thinking about it again.

“To speak so callously, you have yet to consider it from Ryker Dare’s point of view. At the very least, you could talk to his brother...” Sofka’s voice was low, like a purr.

“I would not be so quick to decide there is no way to get answers,” Sofka advised Bair.

Amelia smiled, curtsying lightly. “Thank you both,” she said.

"And what's your plan to fix this issue? We can't just depose the entire guard and instate a militia." Percival asked.

Gavin Sr said nothing more, going back to looking for fellow merchants to chatter with to waste time.

 Veronica got very quiet at that. She never really thought about it like that. She actualyl had to stop and think about if her life was just...Bair...she's going to be a Queen some day, an actual Queen. What would happen if she took the throne now? She wouldn't do anything without either the Council or Bair to hold her hand. For the first time in a while, she started to see outside her relationship. 

Maybe it was time to do what made her happy and not just what made Bair happy. 

"My father is dead"  was Bair's response to that. 

Alyssa kept moving as she checked on Kaos who was just minding his own business. Nothing so far...

Richard stated "You're a woman now" he wiped a stray tear from his eye "If only your mother could have seen this..." 

Eric was quiet kind of wishing his own mother was here to see this day, as Kira held his hand in support. 

Sofka watched Veronica quietly as she processed the question

“Your father was a religious man, was he not?” Sofka asked Bair.

Amelia was a bit surprised her father would talk to openly about her mother. “Dad, don’t cry,” she said.

“I’ll be honest, not the greatest at that part. I was a military dog, not a school boy,” Ryker said.

Galahad huffed. "And you expect us to do that part for you?" He asked.

Bair wiped his eyes a bit as he whispered "Thank you" 

"Well I didn't betroth Eric to anyone" Richard commented "Granted we were in war times when he turned 18 but  I will let my children make their own choices unless something important happens where there's no other option." RIchard smiled a bit and said "You are my daughter, you deserve to be happy with who make you happy" 

(Yes and no, Richard did fully intend for Amelia to choose for herself...it's part of his plan to keep Amelia in line no matter what. Daddy will "love anyone" she would choose.

If he didn't like them...well then...oops...sorry Amelia they had an accident.

If he did like them...great. He's happy, Amelia's Happy, Elodus is happy.

But when Will's dad comes along...as Richard said...unless it was necessary. He's going to lie and say that this is necessary...by throwing Will's dad under the bus)

Sofka rose from her meditation. “Very well. I will return to Hollow with you,” she stated.

Amelia didn’t have words. She had thought...everyone had told her differently. “Really?” She asked quietly.

“I don’t have much to offer money wise, but if there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll do it,” Ryker said.

"We'll help you with this endeavor if you can offer us some form of help with our own first, and consider that payment. How does that sound?" Percival asked. "Just some information, nothing difficult."

Bair blinked a few times feeling embaressed.

Veronica snarked a little playfully at Bair "And note the lack of nausia"

Richard chuckled "Maybe back in the day, but since everything that's happened." He sighed "The mind grows wiser, unless something happens that gives me no other option, you are free to marry and love whoever you want. Just be careful, young adult boys are like wild animals"

Sofka stretched, her tail flicking a bit as her claws dug into the ground for a moment before straightening up. "I suppose I need to meet everyone?"

"I...thank you Father," Amelia said quietly.

"Oh, uh, well, yeah," Ryker said, not expecting that line of questioning, but he supposed it made sense. "I often worked as a guard with my brother in the castle, and before that I was invited to the royal dinners, yes."

"Have you been around their prisons at all? The private ones?" Percival asked.