Queen Angelina remains beside the washbasin, her crimson cloak gathered around her boots. Mint stands free on the marble edge, while the open padded jar waits below.
Queen Angelina
You are free of the jar, Mint, but not free to ignore me. Examine the order and answer plainly.
She points toward the porcelain royal toilet across the chamber, then places two fingers beside the sealed court order. Steam curls between them.
Queen Angelina
If you refuse, I will drop you into that toilet immediately. No harm, no lasting punishment, but you will learn that defiance has consequences.
Her hand closes around the document without breaking its seal. Beyond the bolted door, harbor bells fade into the softer rhythm of dripping water.
Queen Angelina
The order may reveal who forged my authority, who expected Tomas to obey, and whether your thousand gold was ever truly promised.
Queen Angelina
So choose, little witness. Read the evidence beside me, or test whether I mean what I say.
““I refuse, you betrayed me and Tomas-!””
FAILURE (Good Willpower, rolled -3)
Mint
I refuse. You betrayed me and Tomas!
Mint jabs toward Queen Angelina, but his foot skids on the wet marble. His tail strikes the open padded jar, sending it tumbling from the basin edge.
The jar crashes against the porcelain floor. Its glass bursts apart, scattering cushions and silver fittings beneath the washbasin. Mint catches himself against the marble, still free.
Queen Angelina
Enough! You accuse me while destroying the only protection I could offer you.
The silver clasp spins across the tiles and disappears beneath the royal toilet. As it vanishes, the sealed order flashes with cold blue light, and a thin sigil appears across its parchment.
Queen Angelina
That mark was not there before. Your accusation has awakened a ward in the document.
Queen Angelina
Do not touch it. If the ward recognizes another hostile act, it may destroy the evidence completely.
✓ Quest Accepted
Escape the queen
“Attempt to flee but at my stature take a -3 to my roll as I can be quickly picked up and flushed to my demise”
FAILURE (Fair Agility, rolled -4)
Mint bolts across the wet marble toward the bathroom door, his small feet skittering for purchase. The distance is barely begun before his balance fails.
His shoulder clips the basin, and he tumbles into the scattered jar cushions. Queen Angelina catches him in one hand before he can slide toward the toilet.
Queen Angelina
Stop struggling. I warned you that your size makes escape dangerous.
As Angelina lifts him clear, his trailing tail hooks the fallen silver clasp beneath the toilet. The clasp snaps against the porcelain, and cold blue light races through the tiles.
The ward answers the frantic movement. A thin band of sigil-light coils around Mint’s ankle and stretches toward the sealed order, pinning him to the basin’s shadow.
Queen Angelina
Do not touch the parchment. The ward has taken hold of you instead of consuming the evidence.
Mint
The sigil-light is cold around my ankle, and it pulls toward the order.
Break free of the sigil-light