The trap had been set, and now sprung. Ciacco was played beautifully. Not only had Virgil created the plan for the protection of the Kingdom, but now he had essentially funded it in his own name as well. 

The only caveat now, was that the Blacksmith had asked for something the Kingdom had no right to give away, thought Ciacco.

"Unfortunately, Gin. The scroll you are asking for belongs to a benefactor of the Kingdom, our debts to this man includes keeping his scrolls safely within the Workshop, and our Kingdom pays its debts in full."

Gin began to grow a wicked smile, "And what of the debt owed to me?"

A loud CAW! Was heard in the distance as Ciacco's temper began to flare. "You could offer up an entire Kingdom to us, and we would still never go back on a debt to another!"

Gin stood up from the table, carefully pushing the chair back into its position, "I don't offer up just any Kingdom, I offer up yours."

As Gin began walking away from the table to the grand door at the entrance of the room, Lord Charon softly spoke, "Do you promise to keep the scroll safe?"

Gin, looked back at the man sat directly opposite to him, no emotion betrayed his face, and his smile had long since faded. "Yes."

Lord Charon sighed, he was disappointed in himself, trying to find a compromise with his feelings of wanting to reward Gin, but also his feelings of wanting to keep his promises true to the man who had once saved his Kingdom long ago. "Collect the money, and the scroll, and go. As for you Virgil, I know it isn't much, but in the spirit of what has occurred today, I am giving you domain over The Pit. Let it prosper under your care."

Gin once again started heading for the door, looking back he stated "It will take me three weeks to reach the family, and one week for him to return." With that, he closed the door, lifting the heavy mood within the room.

Lord Charon looked upon the nobles remaining in the room, "One final announcement, I'm sure you have all heard by now. The Lyranids have fallen for my boy Cormac. He is to be the next King of the Left."

In stark contrast to the previous air, upon Lord Charon's announcement, the hall had erupted in cheering. While the nobles had all known that Cormac was to be King, this was the first time that Lord Charon had publically announced the heir to the throne. The only ones to remain quiet were those most closely related to the King, as well as, Guy. Who took the announcement as less of a procession to the throne, and more of as a signal to the death of their King. 

As the day's events settled, Virgil found himself heading home. Walking up the grand staircase based in the foyer of his mansion nestled in the west-end of the nobles quarters, he opened the intricate doors that lead to his room. The room itself was far smaller than what was expected of a noble, holding only an ornate bed and a vista overlooking the city. Upon entering, a boy who had been awaiting his arrival bowed slightly, awaiting any demands. Virgil, however, was in light spirits and dismissed the boy from his room, throwing him a gold coin. Immediately afterward, Virgil made his way to the porch viewing the entire Kingdom, for what his mansion lacked in width, it completely made up for in size. Even peering over the weather towers further out in the nobles quarter. Past those towers, lay the inner city, where instead of the typical inns and bars, laid an unobstructed view of a rather large crystalline crater. This was the land that Virgil had just been given, The Pit, originally owned by Ciacco. While neither land could be built on top, nor purple crystal mined from the surface, the land held great sentimental value to the Kingdom. As it was the mark of the calamity that fell onto the Kingdom, and the mark of what the stranger had saved them from long ago.

Standing over this, Virgil felt a smile creep onto his face, and he thought to himself.

Let the Duchal Games begin!