Leaving

As Asterid led Pala and Putuga to the edge of the forest, where she had forgotten she had Sky and a guardsman waiting for her. Sky was surprised, and the guardsman worried, as they walked from the forest into their small camp. Motioning the guard to stand down, Asterid directed Sky, "Small change of plans, we're going to take these two back to the castle. They have important information that the King should know." She noticed the small meal her maid and the guard had just been sharing. "Though it is no rush at the moment." Asterid turned to Pala and asked, "Have you two eaten anything recently? If not, we can rest here for you to regain some strength."

Putuga's stomach rumbled and he gave an embarrassed dry cough of a laugh. Pala wearily smiled, "I guess if we're to do anythin' good we ought to get somethin' in us."

The guard was still at the ready, though now less towards the two bedragled figures that Asterid brought before them, and Sky was clucking with compassion as she grabbed some food from what was packed for what would have been Asterid's luncheon. Heikka grumbled in Asterid's ear as they watched them eat, "I wouldn't mind a little more food, too. I feel like I've been living on table scraps the past few days." Asterid rolled her eyes and ignored him.

"What we do have to do, though, as we enter the castle, is to make sure Prince Primi doesn't notice us." Asterid put forth to everyone. "We've no idea if he has anything to do with what happened to Prince Heikka. What we do know is that he would be interested in a way we would not like, in those who have knowledge." The guard stood a little straighter as Asterid's gaze fell on him. "Guardsman Granite, I would like you to go to the castle and bring back a cart for my two guests and to make sure that the Prince is otherwise occupied so as not to see our return." She paused in thought, "I suggest reporting to Captain Conchoidal, this information is something that has to do with the safety of our Kingdom."

Granite's young face stretched out and parched of color, a contradiction of feelings exchanging places on it. "I feel I cannot leave you unguarded, it would be remiss of my duties."

Sky nodded in agreement, "If this information is as important as you say, your safety is most important." She looked at her pony nearby, suddenly very cross with what she was about to say. "The best thing would for me to go."

Asterid was shocked, "But you find the exercise of riding," she paused, trying to find the right words, "troubling. Are you sure you can make it alright on your own?"

Sky sighed and nodded her head in determination, "After all these years following you around as you rode about, I have enough confidence to at least not fall off."

Heikka, now next to Putuga sharing some of the meat between the two of them, and Pala watched as the guardsman Granite escorted and helped Sky up onto a dull and lazy pony's back, Asterid holding the reins as she settled herself.

They all watched as Sky headed towards the castle, sitting on the slowly trotting pony like a sack of potatoes.

Pala spoke through her sandwich, "I suppose we'll have time to rest up then."

By the time a nondescript cart came from the castle and Asterid, upon Smithy again, managed to get back to the castle it was afternoon. The captain of the guards, Conchoidal, and a number of his men escorted them to the castle. Calling for servants to prepare a bath and new clothes for them, Asterid left them to clean up as she and Heikka headed to a small study where she would await them, her father, and sister.

The study had a small fireplace, empty now, and a modest desk that were the focal point of the room, the other furniture within seeming to bask in its nonexistent heat. Deciding to sit on a chair near a side table, Asterid let Heikka sit on the chair next to hers.

"Do you think Primi noticed anything?" Heikka worried as he tried to find a sitting position that made him look less frog like.

Asterid, holding back her laughter as he sat in a human like way, told him, "Stop trying to look human, it just makes you look ridiculous." Heikka ribbitted at her and stopped. "If he's still looking into this as if you were dead, I doubt he'd see me and two roughed up commoners as suspicious."

Heikka squinted his eyes, "I suppose you are right. How long do you think before your father and sister get here?"

"They'll probably get here not too long after Pala and Putuga join us."

"Not sooner? I thought your saying how crucial this information was would get them here faster."

"The fact that we don't want your cousin to know it changes how fast they can get here." Asterid raised a brow, "I thought that would be fairly obvious."

Heikka was glad frogs couldn't blush, rolling his eyes, "Sorry, I'm a bit eager to return to my regular body."

The door to the study opened again, two guards leading Pala and Putuga came in followed by several maids holding a tea service for seven people, as Asterid had ordered. The guards placed themselves along the walls in such a way that if they needed to they could easily get to any part of the room. Pala and her husband bowed, clean and now dressed in probably the nicest common clothes they've ever worn, uncomfortable in the finery around them. Putuga, nervous and fidgety like a worn and abused dog, kept his mouth shut and didn't leave the side of his wife, who was just as highly strung. After the maid finished setting up the service and left Pala wrung her hands and bowed to Asterid again, "Thank you 'or your kindness, Princess. You're givin' us right more than we could ever give 'ack."

Asterid motioned for them to sit on the opposite couch from her, "You have been through a lot and the information you have is truly critical. My motives for taking you in is not just out of desire to help you, but to have you migrate here. What person wouldn't want such hard working and good people in their nation?"

Heikka croaked in discontent, "It's too bad my uncle is a fool." The guards startled and looked about the room, hands on their swords, before cautiously easing as Asterid calmed them with a nod of her head. Heikka gave a smile, "It'll be interesting to see various peoples reactions as I'm reintroduced to them."

Asterid prepared tea for the four of them and they sat, trying to calm Pala and Putuga down before Adamas' and Atkis' arrival. By the time Heikka managed to gnaw one butter cookie into his stomach, the door to the study opened again. Pala and Putuga stood abruptly to bow as Asterid waved to them with a smile.

Adamas, brow raised at Asterid, nodded to the couple and walked to stand in front of the desk. Atkis bestowed a beaming smile to the room to sit in a chair beside her father. Adamas cleared his throat before giving Asterid a look, "Important information, that needs to be kept from our guest?"

Asterid nodded and gestured to the still standing couple, "Yes, information on a loophole in the rules of the Cartazonos Forest can be manipulated and information pertaining to the political strife within the Empire." She looked to Pala, "This is Pala and her husband Putuga. If you would start from when this all started for you."

Pala looked nervously to share a look with her husband before she faced the king, "Magesty, it were not 'ut a for'nigh' ago when all the sudden me whole family and me were dragged off by our lord's men to some fancy mansion. We were tossed in front of some posh man who told me to kill a man in your woods." Adamas frowned, the guards stiffened, Pala wrung her hands and Putuga rubbed her back in encouragement. "I told him I couldn't, I hadn't anyway to do that. He had his men pull me from my husband and boy, had them be hit." Her voice broke, "He said I better not lie, or else. He pointed at a portrait, told me to get rid of him, then he'd give back my family." Her eyes teared up. "I said yes, yes, and yes! It weren't long 'efore a man o' his led me to your woods and had me go in. Knowing that there'd no way I could kill I had a transform spell on me. I changed that man to a frog and hurried 'ack. The big man wouldn't see me, then men there said that I had to do more 'efore I could see my boys." Tears started to flow. "Twas only my man kickin' up a fuss that let me find him. They attacked and chased us! We couldn't find my boy! They had been separated not long after I left. They had planned on shippin' my poor husband off to a mine as a criminal!" Pala started sobbing, "What have they done to my boy?"

Putuga, now holding his wife, spoke slowly, continuing their story, "The only place my wife thought safe were the woods."

Heikka spoke up, "Which is where Asterid and I encountered them." Adamas and Atkis jumped and looked around before landing on Heikka, in all his froggy glory. He gave a small bow, "Thank you for your care this past while, sorry for not tell you when I was first brought back here."

Atkis recovered first, gave Asterid a wry look, "It's of no import, it's hard enough to believe, with all we've heard, that you're alive now as a frog. I doubt we'd have been very open minded toward an unknown frog with your voice trying to convince us of his identity." She smiled again, "Though with what these two have told us, it's a little easier to accept."

Adamas nodded, "I imagine you not wanting Prince Primi to be aware of this has to do with the man who currently has their son?"

With a serious look Heikka agreed, "The man is my uncle and Primi's father. I've no idea whether Primi is in on my uncle's scheme or not. Even if he is not, I've no idea if he'd side with me against his father."

Atkis tilted her head in thought, holding her chin much like Asterid would, to hold her head. "Would you perhaps trust him with a letter to someone? That you would trust and wouldn't twig him or his father of you being alive?"

"Hmm," Heikka gave a ribbit and it some thought, "perhaps if it was to my youngest cousin, we would be able to get in touch with my aunt who is active in our politics unlike my parents."

Adamas spoke, "Heikka, is there a reason why you are still a frog?"

"Oh, good point! Why still a frog?" Atkis clapped her hands together.

Asterid shrugged, "Something to do with true love's kiss, the spell has gone beyond what Pala planned."

"Asterid was kind enough to help me find this out, and was going to help me to the border today before we encountered Pala." Heikka leaped over to land on Asterid's chair's arm.

"I see. Now that we're aware of this though," Adamas gave a nod to Pala and Putuga, "We'll set things right, and in a way that doesn't involve dangerous journeys surprising grieving family members." He turned to Atkis, "If you would go see if you can get Primi to deliver a letter to this cousin-"

"Jinso." Heikka interjected.

"-in as little of a suspicious manner as you can." He faced Pala and Putuga, "If you wouldn't mind staying here a while longer before we work to find your son, if you could tell any information you can remember about this mansion and what happened to my captain, it would be appreciated and most useful." Adamas nodded for the guards to escort them.

The coupled bowed, Pala stuffily replied, "O' course Magesty, anything so we can get our Fusi 'ack safe." They left the room quietly.

"Prince Heikka, Asterid, if you two would compose a letter that can be sent?" Adamas turned his gaze to Heikka, "And for tonight, I feel that you rate your own accomodations instead of my daughters."

They shared a blinking look, before they nodded to Adamas.

Atkis stood and headed out, "Right, then I'm off to go see Primi and get my way with him." She gave a small wave, "See you all later tonight."

Adamas followed after her, "Indeed, after dinner tonight, Heikka can join me."

Heikka ribbetted as the door closed behind them. "Did I do something to anger your father?"

Asterid shrugged, "Maybe? You could ask."

"I think perhaps I shall not." He jumped to the desk and looked at Asterid, "Shall we get on with our work then?"