Edwin slips past the guard without further trouble using the ring of camouflage. As he walks up the stairs he becomes increasingly fatigued by the enchantment on the ring, but pushes on nonetheless. He nearly runs into a guard, narrowly avoiding a full on collision, that is running down stairs. As he reaches the second floor landing - exhausted by this point from physical exertion while wearing the ring - he sees two guards with a stretcher in between them carrying Dan to the Barracks. Edwin starts to follow, but here's the Captain of the guard's booming voice behind them. "What do you mean,
ripped out?"
"It isn't there," the other guard's voice echoed. They were nearing Edwin. He pushed himself to the side to let them pass him, still undetected. "Someone cut him open and ripped it out!"
"Just like the others..." the Captain murmurs, his voice disappearing into the third floor. Edwin follows behind them to the third floor and slumps into a corner. He looks at the scene. A guard covers up a gruesome cut in Iam's chest with a bed sheet, and an empty vial roles away from them.
"We'll need to discretely remove the corpse, there are still guests downstairs."
"We could take the Castleedge exit -"
"No, this does not call for that. We will leave him here, covered, until the party dies down. I expect it will shortly," The Captain stated. "We have many unanswered questions for tonight -"
"Such as what do they want, why were they here, and who are they?" Estaphon said. He had approached so quietly you and the guards did not hear him. Only one of them made for their weapon, but thought better of it. "Captain, I think it prudent that you dismiss your men. I have asked a servant to bring up a bottle of wine, and the court steward will be with us shortly." The Captain nodded to his men, who were off. They walk a great distance away from the body, and Edwin, residing in some plush chairs by a window that looked out into the late night. The steward, followed by the servant, walked in presently, awkwardly trying to avoid the corpse before them.
"What is this? What is the meaning of this?" Stanley yelled.
"If questions are to be asked it should be of you," The Captain boomed. The Steward withdrew a little at his voice, but remained firm.
"You were entrusted with one task, protect the royal family," the Steward said, pointing an accusing finger.
"You will find that the family is fine, and that the body before you is in no way royalty." The Captain said, tiring of the conversation. The servant served the wine and walked back towards the stairwell. "If we may get on with it then..." The Captain said quietly, but Edwin are too far away to hear much else.