There were angry voices coming from his receiving room when Cavin left his office with the intent to return to his apartments and enjoy dinner with his wife.

Cavin had finished for the day, which was something he was making an effort at ensuring he did. When the day was done, nothing short of disaster would tear away his decision to stop working, having made a promise to Amiya that he wouldn't over-stress himself again.

And, despite his initial trepidation, he was finding that there would always be work greeting him in the morning but it did wait till morning on most occasions. It was endlessly demanding his kingdom didn't fall apart when he enjoyed an evening not thinking about the variety of things demanding his attention.

One of his servants murmured an explanation when he requested it, and Cavin made a face as he glanced at the clock on the wall.

He didn't look at paperwork, he didn't receive official visits, or listen to complaints from Lords, ambassadors, or the half dead son's of ambassadors that shouldn't be standing out of bed. But it sounded like the Irlen were in his receiving room, arguing stubbornly with Shelby about the need to speak with the King and no one else.

He wanted to make the man wait till morning and he almost turned away, down the hall through the private corridors, when he found himself facing his wife, who motioned to the door, where the voices were coming from. "You need to go answer that, love."

Cavin paused for only a moment, before he nodded and turned back to the receiving room, taking in a deep breath and walking through the door, frowning at the sight of Shelby standing easily, prepared to fight as he faced down Nicklus, who had a stubborn, angry look on his face.

The man had washed and dressed but his shirt was undone, allowing Cavin to see the bandages still covering his skin. There was an angry bruise starting from the cut on his temple and covering nearly half his face, but the younger Nick's eyes were steady, his feet firmly planted on the ground. His father stood behind him, watching worriedly. The man gave Cavin a look of half-apology, however cryptic it was and nodded to his son. It was Nicklus who wanted to speak to him, it would seem.

"Lord Nicklus, you must understand that Lord Shelby is completely within his rights to deny you audience. All messages for me can be passed through him. But I'm here now, whatever you have to say, say it." Cavin didn't sit on his throne, merely stood at the base of it, watching the man turn from Shelby and attempt a bow, hindered by his injury, one would assume.

"Lady Veranandein is in danger." The man spoke roughly in heavily accented Clairvalan and after a moment of waiting for clarification, it was Shelby who growled.

"Explain."

The large man towered over even Shelby and glanced at him with a look that held barely restrained violence, before turning to look at Cavin once more. "I don't know specifics. But I do know that Wulfshen did not intend to leave Clairval without a very important prize for his father. And I do know that he intended to be moving quickly after everything happened and he secured war. If he was ready to attack my ship, he was ready to leave. Which means he had a plan in place, which will most likely move independently of whatever he was going to be doing."

"Benchan." Shelby said, looking at his master at arms.

The man bowed and sprinted from the room, drawing Nicklus to watch him leave, before looking back at Cavin. They stood watching each other for a long few moments, Cavin trying to take a measure of the injured man in front of him. Irlen. Enemy. What motivation did he have to help them?

"Why are you telling us this?" Cavin asked finally, "Why do you care what happens to the Feyshan ambassador."

Nicklus winced, glancing at Shelby once more, before looking to him. "The honour of my ancestors, myself and my future children rests on the fact that I owe her my life. I am bound to serve her, until I satisfy that requirement."

Shelby let out a slow breath, nodding. "She saved your life. So you will save hers."

"No." Nicklus snapped, growling himself. "It is not as simple as a life for a life. She saved my life, saved the lives of all my men. The gods could have had us, and she stopped that from happening. Our time on earth now, is dedicated to keeping her safe, serving her with our own lives, until we pay that debt, with interest. Me telling you this, and letting you save her does nothing, it doesn't even begin to count. But it is the act of a sworn servant, honouring his Blood Oath"

Shelby arched a brow, taking that in, before nodding again. "Alright. But Wulfshen is arrested, in his cell, with no ability to do anything. He is no threat."

Nicklus went pale as he thought over Shelby's words, before shaking his head once more, looking to Cavin. "He very rarely allows himself to be involved in his schemes. If he planned it, he set it in motion to happen, probably with a plan of action if he was unable to maintain contact. If he hired someone, he would have promised payment on delivery to his father. Please tell me that your man was going to act on this information."

Cavin nodded to Shelby's questioning look and his friend answered their unlikely ally. "He went to warn the Feysha, no human will get into the Wild to harm Veranandein. And she will be kept in place until we get to the bottom of it."

Nicklas nodded, letting out an unsteady breath and swaying slightly on his feet as the relief ebbed the adrenaline that must have kept the half-dead man standing. His father stepped forward and steadied him, glancing between the two of them. "My son does not speak for anyone but him and his guardsmen, his shield brothers. He does not speak for the Irlen, but I do. I am not opposed to extending the good will of my people to assist, in any way we can, until we get answers."

Cavin nodded carefully, but truly, there was nothing to be done. Verana was in the Wild, safe away from any human schemes. Oliver's contacts and Benchan's men would root out the threat and they would have it sorted.

So he inclined his head carefully. "Thank you, ambassador."

Dismissed, Nicklas supported his son as he led him out of the room and Cavin stood there, silently looking at Shelby for a long moment, before he shook himself. "Where's Oliver? Find him, and he better have more answers, for all he talks about having contacts and information, I need it to be useful. We find what and who, and we stop them, immediately."

Shelby nodded and offered a silent bow, sprinting from the room without further delay. Cavin forced himself to breathe, nodding to his Guardsman's suggestion to put the Palace on high alert and increase the guard. He kept trying to tell himself that the warnings had come in time, that Verana hadn't been back to the city in the week since the incident.

She was still safe and recovering in the Wild, with her fierce protectors keeping her safe. They would find any threat if it existed and eliminate it before she was well enough to return.

It was that simple.

Cavin felt a burning anxiety in his chest, glancing at the doors across the room, impatiently awaiting any confirmation of this.