I should have told Rikilda what I feel about her. Braden stomped his way in the archway. The hate towards the man who had injured him did not last in Braden's head for long and sadness replaced contempt. He no longer could keep thinking about how much he despised Saer as he grew jealous of the prince. He declared it jealousy until he felt broken. With the last resort gone, he told himself she would not have accepted his proposal since she was already committed to Prince Tudor.

But she looked conflicted. Maybe she loved me. Braden stopped as sorrow travelled down to his feet. His face crunched and he started shedding tears in no time.

Trove whimpered, jumping at Braden. It was not wagging its tail anymore. Trove barked in low tone like it was consolidating Braden. But Braden did not want a dog's sympathy. He only wanted to get rid of it.

He removed Trov's paws from his shoulders and pulled him towards the room. Braden took out the rusting key which appeared to not have been made for the keyhole. He still lodged it in, twisted it levorotary and got inside Calajhan's house.

He had his own plans on what he was going to do after putting the dog in its room. Braden knew where sleep pollen was kept. He preferred sleeping rather than letting depressive thoughts eat him.

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Trov barked. Braden ignored.

He doubted whether he was its master or not when Trov allowed his own feet to decide where he had to go. Braden stood on his heels and lurched backwards to stop the stubborn dog. In the end Braden clutched the rope as Trove dragged him.

"Nortze is not there." Trov said, "It is just his smell."

Braden hauled the rope hard but he had to surrender against the well fed dog's strength. In matter of seconds, Trov took him inside Nortze's room.

Trov would have done the same with Nortze or Gisella and none of them would have got upset about his disobedience. His curiosity had a reason after all. His snout sniffed a moving thing under the blanket on Nortze's bed. Braden presumed it was a rat so he tapped the lump from his knuckles.

Solid.

Braden looked at Trov and caught side of the blanket by his two fingers. Then he unveiled the vessel which hopped on cushioned bed without anything to compress it from above.

Braden caught it when it had come too close to edge. With it in his hands, he saw two ropes tied from lid to base.

"Looks like a new toy for you." Braden said to the pet.