Mattias turned to look at Katrine after his comment about Orhan ‘Oh by the way, thank you so much!’

‘Not a problem, angel of death!’ said Katrine ‘I didn’t like this whole thing either, and I knew you were going to have problems with it even before I said it to you’ Viola’s arms were crossed, she was pouting at him.

‘Hey, why have you had such a problem with this?’ he asked, looking at Viola. She then looked at Kyros.

‘Can we go somewhere private?’

‘Of course you may. The briefing room is free’

‘OK, thanks’ Viola lead Mattias over to the briefing room. She looked like she was about to break down in tears. ‘Mattias?’

‘Yeah?’

‘This whole thing… it was my idea’

‘What?!’

‘Last night, when I was at the tavern, I was talking to Orhan and his girls. I kind of joked that Patricia should be your next target, he told me he thought it was a great idea, and that he would get all done’

‘What the…?’

‘Katlamina wasn’t around when I was talking to him. I don’t know what she was doing, maybe she was going to the shitter or something’

‘Right…’

‘I know if she were around she would have stopped it immediately. And I’ll tell you this, too: when she’s not around he is an absolute bastard. It’s like his whole “nice guy” thing is just a total act’

‘Yep, I would have guessed’ 

‘You know those other girls he was with last night? When Katlamina was gone he treated them like absolute shit. He wasn’t especially nice to me, either’ she then took a deep breath.

‘Right’

‘OK, I want to get this off my chest, Mattias’ she took another deep breath ‘I… well, I have a really big crush on you. Don’t even ask. Ever since you came along I can’t stop thinking about you. I don’t even know what it is, though… you are really nice and Katlamina seems to think you’re wonderful, so maybe that’s it’ Mattias sighed upon hearing that.

‘I’m sorry, Viola’

‘It’s OK, Mattias, you probably figured it out already’ she then broke down in tears ‘Look, can you do me a favour?’

‘Yeah?’

‘I want you to be with Katlamina. Just to spite Orhan the bastard. I hate him. With a burning passion’ she kept on crying - her eyes were completely red at this point. She was trying to catch her breath. She then looked at him and smiled. ‘You deserve her, Mattias’

‘She’s… really pretty’

‘Awwww! Go tell her that, next time you see her! It’ll really piss Orhan off, mind you!’

‘Yeah, it would’

‘By the way’ she took yet another deep breath ‘I think Orhan wants you gone. I bet Katlamina has feelings for you, Mattias. I have a feeling he’s already jealous of you’ Mattias chuckled.

‘Pretty rich from someone who calls himself “The Great”’

‘I know. He’s pretty insecure’ Viola stood up. ‘That’s all I wanted to say, shall we go back’

‘Yeah’ Mattias let out a deep sigh ‘Hold on, if he wants me gone then why did he stick up for me earlier?’

‘Because Katlamina was around. I can guarantee he wouldn’t have done that if she wasn’t there’

‘Yeah, of course. What a bastard’ he got out of his seat as well

‘OK then! Time to go back!’ the two walked back over the Kyros’s lair. Kyros himself and Katrine both smiled when they saw them.

‘I told him, Katrine’ said Viola.

‘Oh? Did you?’

‘He’s OK with it’

‘Mattias!’ Kyros began ‘I know this is sudden, but I have an assignment for you’ Mattias rolled his eyes upon hearing that ‘Don’t worry! It’s not an assassination this time’

‘Right…’

‘King Gottlieb of Borschland is going to arriving at your castle this evening, I want to make sure you are present when he arrives’

‘OK…’

‘There’s not much in particular you need to do. You basically just need to turn up and… be yourself’ he paused for a moment ‘I might as well tell you this: Lord Katlamina is the one who commissioned this assignment’

‘Oh? Really?!’

‘Yes. I… don’t quite know where she’s going with this, but you I’m certain that she has your best interests at heart’ Mattias was stunned into silence.

‘Now’s your chance to impress her, Mattias!’ said Viola. Mattias didn’t say anything. The whole lair was silent.

‘I guess I better get going, then’

‘Back to the dungeon?’ said Katrine.

‘Yep… oh god!’

‘What?!’

‘I remember Patricia saying that they were searching for me the whole time! What I am supposed to say to them?’

‘In matters like these Mattias the best thing to do is to say nothing’ stated Kyros.

‘I was going to say the same thing’ added Katrine.

‘Well, all right then’

‘That and you don’t owe them an explanation. I mean, what are they going to do, kill you?’

‘Yeah, I get it. Back to the dungeon then, I guess’

‘Indeed’ Kyros cast a spell on him. Mattias was back in the dungeon.