Fin eyed the pile of damp hay in the corner warily before moving his gaze to the stained chamber pot that could have been white at some point…

“I thought you mentioned a cot, Captain?” Fin called over his shoulder as the clack of his cell door being locked rang out.

“I may have embellished its existence.”

Slowly turning back around to show the military man his less than thrilled expression, the redhead was promptly distracted by the loud entrance of Baron Gauva and his men.

“-UNHAND ME, YOU! I WILL NOT BE STORED DOWN HERE WITH THESE CRETINS! I MUST SAVE HIS MAJESTY!”

It was taking three Knights to physically subdue the Lord as he tried to pull free with his shackled hands.

“Lord Gauva, unless you want to share a cell with five other Troivackian men, you will reside here until his majesty decides where your new… quarters shall be.” Captain Antonio’s cool voice silenced the man only briefly.

“This is preposterous! I could be held in my estate just outside of Austice, I-”

“His majesty wants you kept nearby and under close watch given your treasonous actions today.” Mr. Howard stepped through the dungeon doorway with his own set of armed guards that carried torches for him.

Fin turned from the dramatics and was pleased to note that there were windows in this dungeon, albeit barred small ones. They still cast a respectable amount of light, meaning he wouldn’t have to speculate over the time.

“You’re locking me up beside the witch?!”

Fin’s back stiffened as he pretended not to hear the incredulous tone in the Baron’s voice.

“You’ll be sharing a cell with a couple of your Knights,” Mr. Howard explained while reading over the scroll in his hand.

“This is absurd!” The Baron blustered a few more curse words until Mr. Howard raised his clear blue eyes and fixed him with a flat glare.

“What is absurd is you committing treason over something as ludicrous as witches having the power to control minds. Not to mention you pulled this little stunt with her majesty’s life hanging in the balance and a war about to break out.” Mr. Howard replied curtly.

The Baron’s purpling face looked ready to explode, when a streak of black fur rushed through everyone’s legs, and through the bars of Fin’s cell.

“Oh Gods, what is that?!” Lord Gauva demanded while brandishing a finger towards the feline that had itself wrapped around the redhead’s legs.

“A cat,” the witch replied shortly before scooping his familiar up in his arms.

As the tirade continued on behind him, Fin looked to Kraken who seemed quite eager to talk to him for once.

“Witch! I have not seen you in two days and now find you here! What have you done?”

Fin glanced over his shoulder and ensured that no one was close enough to hear him over the din of the Baron and his men.

“It’s fine, this is more for politics than my being in trouble. Everything will be cleared by the morning.”

“While I am not exactly fond of this new setting, I must admit the rats do seem lovely and plump.”

Fin hesitated then sidled over to the cell door.

“Captain?” he called softly as Mr. Howard continued dealing with the rest of the dungeon.

The man leaned back so that his back rested against the bars of the redhead’s cell.

“How upset will Sir Doffer be if his rats were to… er… go missing?”

The Captain’s lone eye swiveled over and noted Kraken in Fin’s arms. He gave a smile that could have also been a grimace. “I’ll ask, but maybe don’t let him out of your sight for a while.” He gestured to Kraken with a jerk of his chin then moved away.

Walking back further into his cell, Fin resumed his conversation with his familiar.

“Don’t eat the rats. One of the Knights here is rather attached to them.”

Kraken gave his witch a long stare before blinking slowly.

“You humans grow stranger every day. Very well then, Witch, I have come to give you some news. Your whiskers might be a little bit ruffled about it all, but I swear everything was done for the overall good.”

Fin raised an eyebrow and waited.

“I’m the one who set the fire and smoked out the strange smelling enemies.”

“YOU WHAT?!”

Everyone in the dungeon fell silent and turned to the witch who had his back to them and was staring angrily at the feline in his arms.

“You could have been killed! Why in the world did you-”

“Because of my deeds you and your fellow humans are safer, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but that isn’t the point! Why didn’t you come to me with this?”

“These plans were in motion before we could properly converse, and it was a time sensitive operation. I heard yesterday that you were looking for them on your own, however… and I am glad for it. There are more in the city, and there are humans of this land that conspire with our enemies.”

Fin’s mind was floundering over his familiar’s report. “Who?”

“Is the witch talking to a cat?! A beast that could eat our souls?!”

At this everyone, including Fin turned their attention back to the Baron.

“And I thought that bard was over the top,” the redhead muttered, making the Captain and his Knights snort in laughter.

“Mr. Ashowan, are you conversing with your flea-ridden pet?” Mr. Howard turned around looking vastly unamused.

Fin sighed before setting Kraken back down. “We need to talk. Stay here.” He whispered low enough that no one else could hear before moving over to his cell door.

“That conversation would be better when I am not behind bars,” the redhead addressed the assistant dryly.

“I won’t lie to you, Ashowan, seeing you stuck here like this is the highlight of my day. If I could commission a portrait of this moment I would.” Mr. Howard folded his arms and strolled over looking incredibly smug.

“Just remember that me being down here means you have to keep eating the food my assistants cook.”

A brief haunted look crossed the man’s face before he shook his head.

“I still have ale and wine.”

“You and I know you really just want some pork chops and fresh herb bread with that ale.”

The two continued glaring at each other.

“Mr. Howard, I’m glad that you at least had the good sense not to romantically pursue the cook. Even if you obviously care for him,” Baron Gauva grumbled.

Fin burst out laughing while Mr. Howard swung around, his violent intent bright in his eyes.

“I am not interested in the cook! I-”

The assistant was interrupted by the arrival of Keith Lee, who was escorting a hooded figure, though they paused in confusion at the overly crowded dungeon.

“I didn’t realize the dungeon was such a popular part of the castle,” the almost-mage announced quite seriously.

“I am here to take Baron Gauva’s statement, then Mr. Ashowan’s. The Captain is here as a witness and interrogator if need be.” Mr. Howard shot a half crazed glance to the Baron who was standing at his cell door with his hands wrapped around the bars.

“Ah, I see. Well, why is it Lady Jenoure’s maid is here?” Keith gestured over his shoulder as the figure was in the process of lowering her hood to reveal Clara.

Before anyone could think to ask a question, Clara was unceremoniously shoved aside as Lady Emily Gauva rushed forward, several Knights were trailing behind her as she quickly found her husband and descended upon him.

“Rafael! What is the meaning of this! You committed treason?!” she demanded, her eyes burning in fury.

“He’s a witch! He must have cursed our King’s mind and-”

Keith snorted derisively. “Please, magic is a gift from the Gods. They would never bestow a gift that would take away someone’s free will.”

For once, Fin didn’t loathe every word that came from the young man’s mouth.

Emily Gauva turned to stare at the cook who was leaning casually against his cell wall while the chaos unfolded around him, studying him for a brief moment before turning back even more infuriated to her husband.

“What in the Gods names has happened?”

“Emily, my dear, you need not-”

“Rafael one more word and I will scream. Captain Antonio, what all has transpired?” she demanded with her hands placed on her hips. Her silken gown the color of a setting sun stuck out like a sore thumb amongst the grime of the dungeon, and yet it also somehow made her all the more imposing.

“Just as your husband said. He attempted to charge her majesty’s bed chamber against the King’s orders, and placed her majesty the Queen in grave danger.”

A look of pure horror filled the woman’s face before she turned to the Baron.

“You… You’ve ruined us,” she whispered the words, but everyone could hear the utter despair in her voice.

“I haven’t ruined anything! That witch and his mother are powerful and have the ear of the King! Look, even Lady Jenoure’s servant comes for him. She’s the sister of Earl Piereva you know, she could be plotting with him to-”

“Enough!” Emily snapped as tears wet her eyes. “I don’t like that trollop anymore than the next person, but she is no traitor. She’s probably just having an affair with the cook… Rafael, how could you do this without talking to me?!”

Fin’s face drained of color and his heart skipped a beat as he waited for someone to turn and realize that the Lady had hit the nail perfectly on the head. However, fortunately for him, everyone seemed to be a tad more focused on the more serious crimes…

“The mage boy there just said it isn’t possible that the King and Queen have been bewitched! Why didn’t you even ask if it was possible before charging in?!”

“He was informed at today’s meeting by Mage Lee himself, my Lady, as well as by Mr. Ashowan,” Mr. Howard recited dutifully.

Emily then proceeded to bombard her husband with questions on his actions, all the while ignoring those around her.

Captain Antonio leaned down to Mr. Howard as the Lady carried on and whispered,“I love it when the wives do the interrogating for me.”

Even Fin chuckled at that one as the men all shared knowing smiles.

Meanwhile, Clara discreetly moved over to Fin’s cell and gestured with her chin for him to draw closer to her.

Sidling over as casually as possible so as not to draw further attention, Fin leaned his head against the bars.

“Is she okay?” he asked quietly not wanting to risk uttering Annika’s name.

“Oh, she’s just about ready to declare war on the castle, but otherwise fine. She’s stressed enough right now you know.” The maid eyed Fin with a glimmer of accusation in her eyes.

“I know. I didn’t really have a choice. The King ordered me to stop the Baron no matter what, so I did.”

Clara sighed and shook her head. “Given that no one seems all that angry with you I take it things are alright?”

“I landed a blow on Baron Gauva’s newphew as they were being arrested. The Captain says one night in here will politically help me with the nobles.”

“Hmm... Possibly.” Clara considered the notion with her usual smooth expression not giving away anything. “It’s true then? That you’re a witch?”

Fin hesitated for only a moment before giving a small nod.

“Well that explains a few things. Aren’t witches educated by their Coven?”

Frowning, he nodded again.

“My grandfather used to hunt your kind, sorry. He paid close attention to them.”

Eyeing her carefully, Fin wondered if he was going to have issues with Annika’s maid.

“Don’t look at me like that. My grandfather was an ass. Luckily my father didn’t take after him at all.” She gave a dainty single shoulder shrug before changing the topic. “So you’ll be released tomorrow. I’ll go tell her, and please, for both our sakes, spend the night at the estate tomorrow. Every time you’re late or don’t return she develops a new outlandish reason that isn’t ever as strange as the reality.”

Fin chuckled. “Is she staying safe?”

“No. She’s still going around trying to find… something. I don’t know. Ask her yourself. Don’t worry though, she hasn’t survived this long for no reason.” Clara drew her hood back up.

Fin pursed his lips. He didn’t want Annika putting herself in danger, but recognized how hypocritical it would be of him to say so.

“Oyy, why are you here?” Mr. Howard called out frowning, interrupting the exchange.

“Oh! I think I know! You said your name is Clara, yes? I remember my dad was talking about their wedding nearly a week ago!” Keith piped up making Fin’s eye twitch involuntarily.

“Fin you two are married?!” Captain Antonio exploded standing straighter. “You’re going to break your mother’s heart with this, you should have told her!”

“I thought he was gay?” Baron Gauva called out equally confused.

“My Lord some people prefer both!” One of the Knights imprisoned with the noble offered helpfully.

“Well it was awfully fast after Mr. Howard rejected him- perhaps she is with child?” Lady Emily Gauva offered while turning to study the maid, her recent troubles momentarily forgotten.

“We’re not married!” Fin held up his hands defensively, while also being torn between laughing and banging his head against the bars of his cell.

“Nor am I with child,” Clara added acidly towards the Lady who shot her a haughty look in response.

“Then why are you here?” Captain Antonio demanded more authoritatively.

“I was unaware it would be so… active down here,” Clara replied after giving a dutiful curtsy to the Captain.

“That doesn’t answer the question,” Mr. Howard pointed out suspiciously.

“I am… here… because…” Clara was obviously not used to being the one lying to nobles as she kept her eyes fixed on the ground.

“Let me guess, the Cook is Lady Jenoure’s paramour?” Emily Gauva scoffed openly.

“No!” Both Fin and Clara burst out in unison.

“Look, Clara and I recently… attempted courting… only she just came down here to end things with me.” Fin jumped in desperately, knowing that there was no other way to throw them off the scent. “I suppose being arrested isn’t what most women like in a man.”

There was a beat of silence where it was unclear whether or not the lie would be believed.

Then, for the second miraculous time that day, Keith jumped in to help.

“Arrested and abandoned all in one day… that is unfortunate, Mr. Ashowan. Perhaps I can offer you some advice?”