Idun sat up as straight as the ropes would allow, and inclined her head to the Emperor. “Noble Emperor of Threeneer, I would like to extend my formalist apologies for attacking you, and harassing your city, The mission my Highness gave me was misguided, and I hope you will not hold my actions against my people and Queen.” She pauses, then sets her jaw. “I will honorably accept whatever judgement is bestowed upon me.”

The Emperor crosses his legs and rests his chin on his hand. “You really are a poor example of a ruthless assassin, aren’t you?” He waves towards the Steward, who walks to kneel behind Idun, cutting loose the hastily tied knots.

She un-loops the other ropes, then helps Idun to her feet, saying “Really, the only reason I’d send someone as straightforward as you for espionage if I expected you to fail.”

“Well, that’s going a little too harsh there, Aurea” the emperor chides his grand-niece. “This fine young knight worked very hard to get all the way here into my palace. Efforts need be acknowledged and all that.”

“She tried to kill a dead man, uncle.”

“Well, I suppose the intel part might’ve been a bit lacking. But overall, lots of hard work put in, great enthusiasm, love to see it. Why, I haven’t seen such an eager assassination attempt since the night I met my first royal advisor.”

The Steward sighs at the Emperor’s reminisce and snaps her fingers impatiently to get his attention again. “Focus, uncle! What do we do with tonight’s problem?” “Right right, still need to solve this crisis.”

He turned back towards Idun. “So, Idun of Gelicost, if I free you now, what will you do?”

“I....I think I need to return to Gelicost and get some answers.” She stands, and moves over to the Emperor. She kneels and bows low. “I am deeply sorry for the trouble I’ve caused your country and people.” she pauses, then adds “and for stabbing you in the chest.”

“Bah, my chest’s fine! Apologize to my tapestry! But if you’re making a trip to your country anyways, I just had a simply marvelous idea of how you could make things right with me.”

He strode over to his desk, and pulled out a sheet of fine vellum. “Hold a moment, let me pen a correspondence to your king - you can bring it back with you to Gelicost for me.”

The Steward sighed as she opened an inkwell for him and set it out. “It’s a queen currently.”

“Really, since when? What happened to their new king, chap with the beard?”

“He died of some sudden illness sixteen years ago, along with most of his family. Really uncle, you need to make more of an effort to keep up with current events.”

The emperor huffed in exasperation. “Well, he must have only been king for, what? Ten years then? That’s barely time at all, you couldn’t expect me to know he would die so quickly. But yes, do take this letter to your new queen.”

Idun takes the missive. She looks at the freshly sealed wax in her hand. “You’re trusting me with your official seal, just like that?”

“Well, why not? I suppose ideally I’d like to send one of our own with you as well, but that’s a long, bothersome round trip. Besides, you seem like an honest woman.”

“I would’ve said too bull-headed and single-minded to pull any schemes on us, but honest works as well”, the Steward added, as she grabbed Idun by the shoulder to push her out the door.

She paused, then made a couple quick attempts to brush the worst of the mortar, rubble, and dust, off. “Off you go now, sooner you leave, sooner this gets sorted out for good.”