King's Road

[The Flint]

"Father," Talyn said calmly, "such a pleasant greeting for your prodigal son."

[The Smith]

"Son." Thadeus picked up a glass of wine, "Should I be more sanguine? You still do wish to rip my throat from my body, correct? You just plan on waiting until you have your new wench." He sipped from the wine, "I did not order her face cut. The Straw Man did that of his own accord."

[The Flint]

Talyn eyes darkened, "I was hoping that was just theatrics. But I shouldn't be surprised that one of your monsters can't control where he puts his claws." he said. "And I'm not here to kill you. Yes, I'm here for Kyma, but not for the reason you think. My decision with her has left me with little choice. I'll never be accepted in that camp. Five years now, to figure that out, but better late than never, I suppose."

[The Smith]

Thaddeus smiled slightly, "Then you come seeking to join with me, my son?" His long fingers folded into a steeple.

[The Flint]

"That would fit with the Thatcher family tradition of backing the eventual loser." Talyn said, "How can you honestly expect to see a way out of this? They'll never allow it."

[The Smith]

"I will not survive, I shall die of course. And the remnants of the Cult will to. They will massacre us quite violently. I have died before." Thatcher replied and smiled, "How does Selwyn look? I hear he still carries my gifts."

[The Flint]

Talyn snorted at his father's mystical mumbo-jumbo, "He looks like broiled dog shit on a summer day. But his determination is the same as it always was. Where is the Princess?"

[The Smith]

Thatcher laughed, "Upstairs naked. I thought you might want to have a throw?"

[The Flint]

Talyn set his jaw, "I know you don't have the decency, but I'm going to assume you have the brains not to have let any of these twisted little grumpkins who serve you touch her."

[The Smith]

Thadeus smiled, "I understand her value goes down if she is damaged too much. But she was not a maiden I had them check." He sipped his wine and continued, "Why are you here son?"

[The Flint]

"I'm here because I can't live with them, so I may as well die with you. I'm assuming you aren't going to just lay down and give up. You must have something up your sleeve. And I want to see the Princess safe. She is victim of her maniacal sister, she deserves to live through this."

[The Smith]

Thadeus looked a servant and nodded. An old man is pushed into the room from the basement. He falls to the ground, and looks up stunned and confused. The old man lies across the barrier from Talyn.

Thadeus studied his wine, "Do you know who this is?"

[The Flint]

Talyn examined the man carefully to see if there was any recognition there.

[The Smith]

The Old man was not familiar to Talyn. His clothes are fine but poorly treated.

[The Flint]

"I do not know him," Talyn replied, "Why, should I?"