“Hey! What are you doing here? How are you here?” the princess asked., making the guards glanced over, in shocked surprise. They didn't know Robert was there. “I was told you were dead. How are you still alive?”

“Well, obviously I'm not dead,” Robert stated as he held closed his open cell door. He didn't want it to swing open and reveal that it was unlocked to anyone. So he added. "Where the hell did you get that idea from?"

"From General Paul. He said you were left behind with the extra wagons. Those wagons were cut off from the main group's protection and warmth." said the princess, as she made a scissoring gesture with her fingers. "He also said that even he would not survive in the desert alone. So how did you?”

“Well for one. I got my hands on one of those yellow capes your guards wear. The soldiers here said they were magical?”

“What!?” the princess yelped, as she shot up and grabbed the bars. “You took a royal guard's mimicking cape? How did you get that!? So you were with the men who kill my guards!?”

“What! No, I'm not with anyone! I never killed anyone either. I simply took one from a dead body. He was alright dead, I promise.”

“Robbing from the dead. That's almost as bad.” The princess said as she warped her arms around herself in a self-hug. “You should be ashamed.”

“You're right, But I think I'm alive because of it,” Robert said, looking down at his feet. “I have never stolen anything before, not even from the dead. Your world is turning me into a hypocrite.”

“What do you mean my world?!” the princess barked. “It's your world too!”

“No, it's not!" Robert barked. In his anger, he shifted his door a little. shocked he shifted it back before continuing. " Well, didn't your general tell you, what I said about where I came from? He asked about it. I know he didn't believe me.”

“Paul said you were a liar or crazy, and I still believe him. What proof do you have to claim otherwise?” The princess muttered.

Why does no one believe me? Robert thought, as a bit of anger swelled inside. Is it really that hard to believe? You people have magic for goodness sack. I need something to prove it. Should I show her my cellphone? No, what if the guards saw it? They would take it away like before.

“Remember that seeing-stone I had before?” Robert asked. The princess raised an eyebrow at this. But nodded anyway. “Well, that thing wasn't a seeing-stone.”

“What really? I have seen metal seeing stones before, you're not..” she paused, and suddenly got excited. “Hey wait! So you still have it on you then? Can I see it? Toss it over.”

“What no! They took it away.” Robert yelped, as the guards looked at each other. “I don't have it anymore.”

“Oh, they took it!? Of course, they would. Well, it would have been a nice distraction from all this.” the princess said, as she turned away. But suddenly she turned back excited again. “Say how did you power it? I tried the normal way but got nowhere with it. I couldn't find a way to connect Cinta to it.”

“You did what to my phone?!” Robert shouted. The princess jumped back in shock. “If it's dead because of you. I'll make you pay for that. You phone breaker.”

The princess looked stunned, like a child who had their dreams just crushed. She collapsed into her bench seat. Robert looked down at the floor. Soon he heard faint crying.

“Hey, sorry I didn't mean to yell. That thing just meant a lot to me...and.” Robert said as he looked up. The princess was crying in her hands. “I'm sorry??”

“No, I'm..sorry. I didn't mean to break anything.” the princess said, sobbing into her hands. “I just can't take it anymore. This has been the worst week of my..my life.”

“What are you talking about?” Robert asked, confused.

“Like you would want to know!" the princess whimpered but continued anyway. "Married off to some nice stranger. I only met once years ago. Couldn't even bring my... my maids, with me. That accursed desert and now I'm a prisoner heading for the Podor empire with a crazy man for company, who's mean. And eventually, I get..”

Killed off and dumped somewhere? Robert thought before she finished. He remembered back to the spy's mission. Oh Crap, that might be soon than later.

“I can empathize. You're feeling how I'm feeling.” Robert said, leaning again the door, but still keeping it in place. “At least you still have people and a home to go back to. Unlike me.” The princess looked up shocked.

"What do you mean by that." the princess asked, as she whipped tears from her eyes. A mocking clapping came from up the hallway. It was the inspector.

“What a lovely little play. It almost made me cry. Sadly I'm not here for such a lovely banter. ” the inspector said, clapping some more. He turned to the princess. “The captain can imagine how painful all this is for you. So he wishes that would you dine with him tonight? Of course, his officers would be there too. It happening in a few minutes. What do you say?”

The princess stood up. Her hands tried to remove the dust and tears from her face and dress, before composing herself.

“I say. You can tell him to feed my plate to the night bird for all I care.” the princess said. She turned and pointed at Robert. “I would sooner dine with that crazy man, than with your captain and his officers.”

“I see.” The inspector said as he scanned Robert over. The man smile at Robert, before facing the princess again. “I can arrange that.”

He turned and nodded to the guards as he passed. Once the inspector was gone. The princess turned to Robert.

“I'm sorry. You saw that.” the princess said, seemingly better. “ A princess should never be seen crying.”

“Why? It's only natural. It's like trying to stop people from...” started Robert.

“Stop, Eww!” barked the princess “I forbid you from finishing that sentence.”

Robert was about to say he wasn't going to say anything gross when a group of soldiers entered the hallway. They approached the princess's cell and unlocked it.

“What do you want?” the princess asked, as they pulled her out. “Hey! what is the meaning of this?”

“Hey, Where are you taking her!” Robert shouted as they pulled the princess completely out of her cell.

“Let go of me, you tainted scum.” she barked, as they lead her away. A few soldiers turned to Robert's cell.

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“Back up.” one of the guards said, as he moved in to unlock Robert's cell. “Don't try anything funny.”

Holy Crap. Robert thought as he let go of the door. If they realize the door has been open and unlocked all this time. They'll kill me for sure.

“Good now...” the soldier said, as he put the key in the lock and tried the door, it didn't open. “What the.?”

“Maybe you use the wrong key? “ Robert asked, quickly thinking up a plan. “ They all look the same to me.”

“That because they are the same!" the guard barked.

“The lock could have gotten stuck then.” Robert offered. “Maybe you should try the key again.”

The man used the key inside the lock again. The door opened.

“Hum, must have been stuck?” Muttered the soldier, as he examined the key. He put it away and grabbed Robert. “ Anyway, you're coming with us.”

“Why? Where are we going,” asked Robert? “I hope somewhere with water.”

“Shut up and move.” the soldier ordered, as he lead Robert away.

The group pushed Robert into the main hallway where he spotted the princess. She was being forced up a ladder. Surprisingly there was nobody else in the hallway. The crowds of soldiers from earlier were gone?

Robert was pushed towards the same ladder the princess went up. He guessed, like the wreck, that this ladder went up to the Barrick of the ship. Robert grabbed the ladder and climbed up.

At the top his guess was right and he found the missing soldiers. There were a dozen or more soldiers here. Men and women both. Some set on their beds, while the rest stood. Everyone was watching the princess. As she passed by them and was pushed through a door at the far end. Robert noticed some kind of hexagon playing cards on a nearby bed.

As he was pushed through the room. People ignored him. Some soldiers even resumed their card game.

Robert walked into the door at the end of the room and entered a small dining room. That was mostly filled with a large table and chairs. Around the table was a small crowd of soldiers. Six in all. The captain being the most colorful stood out among the rest. He set again the far wall. The princess was standing by the doorway and was already shouting to the men.

“...paraded around like some trophy!” the princess shouted, as she push her female escort away.

“Please your highness. Would you rather dine like my guest or as a prisoner? Because we can do both if you like? ” asked the captain, smiling. He noticed Robert. “Wait what's he doing here again?”

The inspector leaned into the captain's ear and whispered something.

“Oh. I see. He must be the one you mentioned." the captain said, as he turned inspector and faced the princess. "So princess, he's one of your royal guards perhaps?”

“Yes, he is.” the princess said, unhesitatingly. “Robert come sit.”

She moved to take a seat opposite the captain and opened another seat beside him. Robert was shocked.

What the Hell? Did she really just say that. Does she even know what she's doing? Robert thought. You can't drag me into this.

“Wait I'm not...” He started, but the princess was faster.

“No need for royal niceties here. Robert. We're prisoners of war after all.” The princess said, taking a napkin and covering her lap with it. “Come sit or might I order you?”

Robert got the hint. So he walked over and set down next to the princess. The inspector leaned into the captain again and whispered something. The princess gave Robert a steely glance.

“Oh, I see.” The captain chuckled as if he just heard a great joke. “So this is the legendary royal confidence. To always stay in control even in the face of danger. Sure I'll play along princess.”

What's going on here? Does he know she lying? Robert thought, as he took his own napkin and place it on his lap. Oh, right the inspector knows I'm not with her. So this is a bluffing game? I can play at that too. Bluffing is a part of my job after all.

Robert set up straighter, as he forced a convinced smile spread crossed his face. Surprised the other officers adjusted in their seats leaning a little away from Robert.

They must not be as enlightened about the situation as the captain is. Robert thought as he scanned the small crowd. Most were younger than both the captain and the inspector. But they had a hardness, Robert had only seen in returning war veterans. But if that's the case, why are they so quiet?

“You know you'll never get away with this.” the princess stated, as she rearranged her utensils. “General Paul will come for us soon.”

“That's where I fear you're wrong, princess. I have already gotten away with it.” the captain said. A dumbwaiter hatch opened up in the wall and an officer stood up and removed the tray from inside. The tray had ten small bowls atop it. The man begins delivering the bowls to the officers beside him first. “The food Finally. This meat is....” The captain was cut off by Robert.

“Ahem. Shouldn't princess Samantha be served first?” Robert said, in his most commander-like voice. He added a hint of impudence into what he said next. “She is your guest after all.”

The room fell silent. Everyone looked shunned. After a moment the princess smiled at him.

"Oh, all the..." started the officer who was carrying the tray.

"Tiller remembers your orders." the captain Barked.

"But he has no right to speak, then...." the man started again.

“Tiller! Enough. ” The captain said, as he turned to Robert. His permanent smile faded to a temporary frown. “Of course, by all means, serve her first. It's only proper.”

The officer walked over to the princess and served her a bowl. It was some kind of meat soup. The man served everyone else. Going counter cloak around the table so Robert was last to be served.

“So Robert, as you're a Liba royal guard.” The captain asked, lifting a wooden spoonful of soup to his mouth. “You must know that, They're famous where I come from. For their bravery and victories in battle. Strange, how I'm told you pretty much bagged my men to come aboard.”

Robert realized the man must be trying to tear down the princess's lies.

“I think we should talk about our travel plans captain, not something unimportant.” the princess said, cleaning her spoon on her napkin after every bite.

“Oh, of course, I begged to be let on board,” Robert stated, playing with his food. The princess flashed a little worried glance at him. “It was all according to my plan.”

“What plan?” The captain asked as he put his mouthful of soup back into his bowl. “Was it to find the fastest way to lose your honor as a warrior?”

“Why no,” Robert stated. “I knew the princess would be here eventually, so of course, I needed here as well.”

“So her capture was all predicted by you? That's a very roundabout way to guard someone? If that's the case, then why let your banner cape and Cinta fall into my hands?” The Captain said. “ Every Liba guard we captured before has severed their banners capes and voided its power, but why not yours. Care to explain that?”

“Why, of course, I can," Robert said, finally taking a spoonful of soup. He let the bite last a little longer than needed. "I would need my banner cape and Cinta at a later date. So I let you keep them. Any more questions captain?”

The captain was at the point of popping a blood vessel, but the inspector leaned in and whispered something that calmed him down.

“I have just been informed that you're not from this world, Mr. Guard.” The captain said, with an evil grin. “Do you deny this?”

“Oh, so he fell for it,“ Robert said, starting to sweat. “You should get a new inspector then.”

The mood of the room was changing. The princess was really looking worried now.

“If you say so?” the captain said, as he was gaining momentum. He smiled as he realized something. “Say you heard the language the princess used earlier. Do you think her highness should be calling on the name of the great night bird, so easily? I don't know about Liba, but in the Podor empire, it is normally frowned upon. I'm sure you know why?”

Oh crap. He knows I'm not from here, and he's taking full advantage of my ignorance of the customs. So what do I say? Robert thought as he looked to the princess for answers. She was mouthing something to him. Hell, I can't read lips I didn't take that class. That's a night bird anyway? A monster? The princess didn't look happy when they caught her, So it is some kind of swear word?

“Of course, he wouldn't be pleased with my language.” The princess started, putting a spoonful of soup down. “No one has ever heard me use such language before. You're all the first.”

“The first? What an honor.” The captain said, in a mocking tone. “You know I never met your father King Thomas before, what's he like?”

The princess looked confused by the question. The officers. Who was silently eating during the whole thing? Was now trying to hide wicked grins.

Who's king Thomas? Robert thought as the princess looked over at him. Does the princess seem confused by the question too? Ok, I know he playing with me now. But what could be the trick here? But I'm I supposed to know this king Thomas?

"ah.." Robert started. but the princess cut in.

“I never heard of this king Thomas before.” the princess stated. “Why would any of my guards know him. ”

“ Are you sure?” the captain said. “Let's ask Sir Robert.”

“The princess is right. I never heard or met this King Thomas.” Robert said, taking another bite and finishing his bowl. The captain looked happy at that response. Robert realized it was time to cut and run. “I'm full. I think that's enough games for today.”

“Agreed.” the princess said, putting down her spoon into her half-eaten bowl. Robert and the princess both stood up. “I'm done. Can we return to our cells now captain?”

"What? Are you sure you don't want to stay for the main course? Steak and potatoes?" The captain said. Robert started drooling.

"No, I'm perfectly fine. Come Robert." the princess said, as a Soldier moved to escort her away.

“Alright return them to their cells, they have overstayed their welcome anyway.” the captain said, through gritted teeth. “Oh and Sir Robert.”

Robert turns to face the captain, expecting a rude gesture from the man. But finding a fireball flying towards him.

It barely missed Robert's head and exploded against the back wall. the heat flashing across Robert's face. The Princess jumped and held in a gasp. In the air around the captain, bobbing about were three more small fireballs.

"Don't expect me to miss again?" the captain said, grinning. “Get the message?”

Holy crap!! Robert thought, maintaining a straight face. He could have just killed me there. The message? Yes, I get it very well. I'm expendable here.

“Move.” the soldier said, as he let them out of the room.