((Just a nudge...
Do with it what you will...will Diana's troops help or hinder? Somehow I got it in my head that there are more than just ONE spy in her court...but we can make it just the one if y'all want...))BEfore Kryschenn has a chance to relay Cassandra's message, there is a commotion in the hallway. The gang is soon surrounded by guards with drawn swords who order them to surrender.
Zak hastily tries to persuade her companions not to fight them. "We didn't do anything wrong, and we have the doppleganger's body, so don't make this a big deal, please..." She herself doesn't have a weapon to drop and tries to look as benign as possible.
Once they are surrounded, the guards part in order to make way for Diana, who looks sleepy-eyed and weary. "What is the meaning of this?" she asks in a tired, annoyed voice. "You come here as guests of the visiting Young Ones, who vouched for your good behavior, and yet you've ruined the Masquerade, destroyed part of the ballroom, stolen our most sacred artifact, and accuse me and my most trusted advisor of treason against my own people!!" She blinks, not seeing the one who had actually made the accusations present. "I ought to have you all hanged, or..."
"Your highness," Zak interrupts, pointing to the body of the doppleganger, still lying grotesquely on the floor. "Venger's servant has tricked you. I don't know what has become of your true advisor, but Cassandra's intentions were good- THIS one WAS a traitor. Venger already has the orb. And--"
"This is preposterous!" exclaimed one of the guards. "If he had it, why'd he have a spy drug our future Queen? WHy not just attack and be done with it?"
Zak blinked benignly at him. "How did you know she was drugged, sir...?"
The Princess looked between them, an expression of befuddlement on her fair face. "Drugged...? I never..."
Zak turned her gaze back to her. "Think on it NOW, Princess....do you REALLY want to turn over the city to Venger?"
Diana's eyes blazed. "Never! How on earth could I have even considered it??"
Zak glared at the guard. "Perhaps YOU should answer that question, seeing as how you know so much about it. _I_ think he just didn't want to waste the manpower of an attack, if he could force a peaceful surrender by placing spies in the Princess's court, but THAT'S just MY opinion...Now Cassandra's awoken a false guardian, care to tell us about THAT as well...? Speaking of which.....where IS Cassandra....? We've got to help her UN-summon the false guardian!"
((I'm assuming Cassandra's lying unconscious nearby or something as she tries to get her body back.....))
