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Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa was gentle with Anja as he undid the bandaging on her shoulder, looking at the wound and shaking his head. "******** bastards... The silver inlaid restraints are bad enough for you." He moved to prop her up against him so he could work, half hugging her as he held the cup over the wound. "This is going to hurt Anja, if need be you can bite me... Not really sure how that works with your people if it means anything."

He then began to pour the water in a slow drizzle over the wound, his free hand wrapping around her shoulder to open the wound a bit wide to flush out the contaminants inside more easily. She was strong, but it seemed the pain got the better of her as she slumped due to blacking out. He continued to work past that point, until the cup he had was empty, one side of their clothing now wet. Tousa set the cup aside and just held her for a few small moments, keeping her close and petting her head before kissing her forehead affectionately.

He set the strip that had been torn from his sleeve to previously cover the wound aside. That wasn't going to be used again to cover the wound, it had the possibility of containing trace amounts of silver on it. Instead he took his teeth and ripped another strip of silk off of the same sleeve, the sleeve now halfway gone as his hands gently worked on wrapping the wound up.

Once that was done he moved to drag Anja to the hay, removing his top and tearing one side of the sleeves open so they could get past the chains on his arms and be used as blankets. He laid her down ever so softly on the hay and then laid his top clothing over her as best as he could to cover as much of her as possible. Then he turned to the food.

Tousa tasted at her food first, checking for poisons and other such chemicals in her food. When he couldn't find any from what little he tasted, he moved to set it next to the hay before going over to his own, eating at it carefully, and measuring out how much he did eat, only eating roughly half before setting it next to Anja's dish.

He then reached for his small bag of various items and pulled out one item in particular. They were now a month old, but he looked at them for a long while. They were the beans that had been put into his soup all the way back in the small village they had saved. He had made a promise to Anja to get her out of here, and this is what he had to work with. A collection of moldy, highly poisonous beans. "How can I make this work..." He murmured.

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa had stayed up longer than he probably should have that night, thinking of a plan of action that could get them all free of this mess and his mind always just went back to the beans. Eventually however, his body told him it was time to sleep. He slipped the beans back into the small bag of various items and tied it up, slipping it back onto his person.

The next morning he awoke with a small shiver and the sound of someone eating. One eye opened with hazy vision and he gave a tired smile. "Hey Anja... Good to see you eating... How did you sleep?" His gaze shifted down to the shirts he had torn to make blankets for her were now around his person. "Hope you don't mind me being shirtless for the rest of our stay in here." The tired smile just turned into a smirk. "In better conditions, I might have asked you if you were enjoying everything."

His head slumped back against the wall before he let out a yawn and finally got up, stretching his body as best as he could. Then he moved to set the clothing on the hay so it could be used by either of them and he shifted to get closer to Anja, immediately inspecting the bandage on her shoulder in silence.

With a nod he reached and paused her eating with a hand just long enough to place a kiss on her cheek like he had done yesterday. "Hopefully you don't mind our kitchen's food at its worst." He motioned to the portion and a half worth of food in front of her. "Soon I can offer you something more filling."

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa hummed gently at the kiss on the mouth. Even in a cell, in his own castle's prison this was one of the best experiences he had in his life in his memory. He just smiled at her and scratched at a cheek when she teased him back about the view and then complimented the basic food.

However as nice as it was, it had to end sometime and now with the guard approaching it was. He stood as the door was opened, shirtless but proud. Tousa's gaze glanced to Anja and then back at the guard. "I will do as my father has requested only if he swears on our family name that she will not be harmed or touched by any man or woman that is within this city. I will not allow my guest, even one whom acted in such poor judgement, to be disgraced any further than she has been."

His gaze was narrowed. He knew what he was doing would reflect poorly on him in the meeting with his father, but he had made a promise to her and he was going to see it through. He wasn't going to let her get harmed while he still had some form of influence. An oath on a family name was not to be taken lightly, and it would cost him dearly if he didn't follow through with what his father wanted, more than just the risk of his ire. Everything he was he was now setting on the table just to make sure she wouldn't be harmed.

Prince Tousa of Darinest & King Zalar of Darinest

Tousa walked in silence through the castle, bare chested but proud, the only shackles now on his person those around his hands, and even those were going to be removed once he was in the study. Many of the servants in the castle bowed to him, and the guards flat out ignored him for the most part. Just before he entered the study they stopped and unbound his wrist, a servant bringing a simple shirt for him. He held up a hand. "No need."

With that Tousa pushed open the double doors to his father's study and looked at the man who was discussing something in muted tones with a woman he did not recognize something, glancing up only when Tousa came in.

"Tousa, my son... It seems your time in the dungeon has removed your dignity for some reason. Why are you without shirt?" The older man asked, glancing past hi to the servant who was holding the clothing that he was supposed to be wearing.

"Because the clothing I wish to wear was ripped yesterday after I had to tend to my friends wound when a silver knife stabbed her shoulder. I didn't want her falling ill so I made them into blankets as best as I could. I also did not know I would be meeting someone." Tousa feigned ignorance. He knew very well what this was about, but he would embarrass his father as much as he could while he could do it.

"Well, now that you know, I think it is best you put some clothing on." He gestured for the servant to come in who hurriedly tried to fix their mistake, offering the shirt up once more. Tousa took it, not wanting the servant to bear his trouble, slipping it on and folding it closed. His father gave a nod and then continued, motioning to the woman next to him. "Tousa, I would like you to meet someone, if you could introduce yourself my dear."

Prince Tousa of Darinest & King Zalar of Darinest

Tousa sucked in a small breath. He knew this was happening, that did not mean he liked it. Though he could use this to his advantage possibly to ensure Anja's safety. "It is a pleasure to meet you Princess Tamara." He gave a small bow back and then stepped towards her, taking a hand, lifting it and kissing her knuckles.

"I am sure you've heard nothing but ugly stories of me from your brother as we don't exactly see eye to eye." He leaned slightly to try and catch her gaze. "Though I hope none were to nasty, as it will be difficult to help dispel them other than with time I am sure."

His gaze flicked to his father. His father knew very well what he had requested and was now had that request set aside for his own gains. He moved to gently lower Tamara's hand. "Before you speak father, I wish to do so first. I will accept on one condition, and one condition only."

Zalar's gaze narrowed but he nodded. "Very well, what is your request my son? I'll do my best to see it through if it is within my power." Zalar's gut told him he already knew, but he wanted Tousa to say it in front of this woman so she knew everything that was going on and why they had been delayed in meeting with each other.

"Anja. She must be released and you must allow me to escort her back to her people. She came here on good faith and while she certainly did not respect you that does not mean she deserves to rot in our dungeons. If I can, I can possibly twist the truth around them to our advantage and get them to join our cause without having to have her become our informant." Tousa stated. "It's a small hope, but if I can, it will only strengthen our cause."

Tousa's gaze then moved back to Tamara. "Forgive me for dealing with a political strife in front of you and one where it is between my father and myself. Tell me, is there anything you particularly enjoy doing my lady?"

Prince Tousa of Darinest & King Zalar of Darinest

That was an interesting skill that she knew. Not many members of royalty knew how to cook. He gave a small smile and a nod before looking back to his father and raised an eyebrow. It held a silent question as to whether or not he would agree with Tousa's demands. The frown etched in his features showed his displeasure at the request.

"Very well, your wish will be granted son, the prisoner will be released into your custody once again and you will see her to her home. We could use all the assets we can get in this war. However you will be taking Tamara with you as well as someone of my choosing." Zalar stated. Tousa already knew who it was going to be.

"As you wish father." He then focused back on Tamara. "Shall we go find you a canvas and paints to work on my lady? As well as a scene you might enjoy. One of your choosing. As for pie, perhaps if it is not to much trouble for you, we can have a pie tomorrow with a smaller meal made to help accentuate it's flavor. Does that all sound like a decent plan?" Tousa was already motioning for Tamara to lead the way to wherever she wished.

"I want my friend escorted to where Tamara and I will be father, and we will be given proper beds and meals before our journey. I want for us to leave tomorrow." He didn't even pause to hear the reply. This was going to go his way and make his father pay for his reckless and desperate actions to win this war.

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa turned to look at Tamara as she said she had not been out of her room. "Then perhaps we should go to the garden. It's not much for a landscape painting, but I think it will be a calm environment nonetheless, and a place you can find easily since it is a large place." He gave her that same small smile he had before.

She then asked a seemingly innocent question and one that anyone would have given how he acted about Anja only for her to drop to her knees and beg for forgiveness. He knelt in front of her, moving to take one of Tamara's hands into his own. "Please my lady, raise your head and do not cower in such a manner. I am not going to harm you..."

He looked around and gave a nod, noting the lack of presence around them. "As someone I am bound to marry, I will not lie to you. Anja holds a special place in my heart, yes. She has saved my life several times already and has shown me a great many things that show this kingdom is flawed. Now please, stand, it is good that you ask questions. The more questions the better, that way you can learn who I am and in the same way I can learn who you are."

Prince Tousa of Darinest

Tousa shook his head. "Do not apologize, there is no need to apologize. Here, with me at the very least you may ask whatever you wish and do whatever you wish as long as it is within a legal precedence." He just walked by her side, going at the pace she wanted to go at. Tousa did pause a servant. "Excuse me, once you're done getting your current task done, might I ask you to either find someone or to deliver a canvas, paints and an easel to the garden? There's no rush." The servant gave a quick bow. "Of course Prince Tousa, right away."

"Thank you." Tousa stated and then gave a small nod of his head back to the servant as they scurried away to do as he requested. He then focused back on Tamara. "Well... That's the strange thing about her, I think once you meet her you will understand more of what I mean but she... She has a tendency to be very reckless and say what is on her mind a lot. As for a kingdom... I suppose you could say she hails from Darinest, at least, I think she does. She was a bandit when we first met, trying to steal from a supply line that I was escorting to a fort."

He then paused at her question of what he liked to do. He actually had to think for a bit. "Well, I often practice my techniques with my spear but that is more for the sake of being able to defend my country than necessarily any enjoyment. Let's see." He rubbed his chin. "I suppose you could say I enjoy philosophy, learning, exploring when I get the chance. I guess I've learned to like the idea of causing mischief as well." He let out a small chuckle and then motioned with an arm towards a door, opening it to the outside, therein lay the garden they were to arrive in. "Here we are... If you do not mind waiting a bit, your art needs will be brought to us."