"So little thief what did you steal?"

The Commander had a slight curious spark in his grey eyes.

"The Royal Jewels..."

There was complete deafening silence for a few minutes. I felt like I was drowning.

Please speak. Just say something. I urged in my head.

He tilted his head slightly to the side, grey eyes analysing me until finally he spoke.

"And how my dear did you manage that?" his voice sounded like he didn't quite believe me.

"With inside help but that bastard betrayed me." I looked away for a second slightly still annoyed at Lord Patrick. I truly hate that man with the very essence of my being.

"Oh do tell whom might this fellow be?"

"Lord Patrick." As soon as his name passed my lips the Commander's grey eyes filled with fury and anger. I felt terrified.

"How dare you accuse my Lord of such a lowly act?!"

Yip I had officially pissed the Commander off. I am definitely going to be executed before the hour is up.

"But it is true. That bastard tricked me! I had no idea what I was sent there to steal. I just knew that I had no choice in the matter and when I did see what it was that I held in my hands I knew that I could not let him have it so I got him back and before he figured it out he had called the guards on me! I was forced to flee the capital." I was upset. My little outburst expressed that clearly.

"If that is true then where are the Jewels now?" His sharp grey eyes watched me still unconvinced of my story.

"I returned them to Prince Edward himself but that didn't end so well..."

"Really and how might you of all people done that?"

"The ball. I had found a way to get in under a false identity and stolen invite. I returned them when I got the chance to dance with his royal highness and as you can expect I had no choice but to run as he set the royal guard on me. Cut a long story short I was caught and trialed and sentenced to death..."

"But you managed to escape under a stolen prison guards uniform and joined the army under false pretences." he finished my story for me.

"Pretty much."

He continued to watch me. Analysing me. I know he could tell that I was leaving something out. Something important. It was how I managed to escape the prison on my own. Who had helped me...

Ivor

"Is this the reason why there was such a hold up in the capital?" It was a rhetorical question but I answered anyway.

"Yes."

"I don't know whether I should believe you or not little thief. But I do have one question, why were you sentenced to death, did no one know who you were?"

Dam that struck me. The Commander knew my relation to Gerard Black immediately from just hearing my full name. Why didn't Prince Edward or the others know? Why didn't they make the link?

"I don't really know. Perhaps there was so much going on at the time that it just slipped their minds. Or perhaps the story of my father was forgotten. But my question is how did you know?" That seemed the most logical and believe option and I had a strong feeling it was true.

"About that... Gerard of the Iron Soul was my idol. I always loved hearing about him through stories as a little child. I wanted to be a great warrior just like him. I made it my mission to learn everything about him so that is how I knew immediately." He looked a little embarrassed at his confession but it left as soon as it came.

I just stared at him for a minute processing what he had told me.

"So what now?" I finally spoke, "Do you believe me?"

"Yes and no."

"What do you mean yes and no?" I was confused. What kind of an answer was that?

"I believe who you say you and what you did but not the part with Lord Patrick."

"But it's true, I swear on my life. I know right now it's pretty worthless but you have to believe me! He is out to get the throne." I pleaded hoping I could get him to understand.

"That is a pretty strong accusation. Saying something like that could get you decapitated and if it was so true then why at your trial didn't you mention this?"

"I did believe me but that bastard got away for there was no proof!" I harshly blew air out of my nose.

"Okay but even if there was, why would he want the Jewels?"

"You know what can happen if they are ever lost. The one to find them gets the throne." I said it while looking at the Commander as it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Why would he want the throne? He is apart of the royal family already you know. He already has all the luxury he could ever want."

"Why wouldn't he want the throne? He would have the power to control the kingdom and conquer others. Man are very power hungry creatures, it is in their nature."

The Commander just sighed loudly. I knew he was coming to terms with my logic but was still fighting the truth behind my words.

"I get where you are coming from but still, I know my lord Patrick personally. He might not be the nicest man in nature but I don't ever seen him going against the royal family."

"Then I am afraid you don't know him at all. He is a serpent hiding behind a false facade waiting to strike his prey. He has many masks that he wears and I unfortunately got to see his true face."

"No perhaps you don't know him. Perhaps even if he did hire you to steal the Jewels he had good intent." The Commander tried to defend him but I could hear that he didn't really believe his owns words fully.

"I doubt that Commander and so do you. Stop defending him. You say you know him personally and with your observation skills what is he really like, did he ever seem like he was hiding something behind those eyes?"

The Commander was deep in thought. I could see the wheels turning in his head. He was thinking, perhaps trying to find a way to prove my words wrong. I could see the denial in his stormy grey eyes.

"Yes.."

That was all it took. I knew that he knew that I spoke the truth.

"So what now Commander? Will you still have me killed?" I needed to know now that I had gotten through to him.

"No not for the time being. You will stay near my tent from now on and speak of this to no one do you understand? If you do I will not hesitate to have you killed before you can even say a word." he threatened.

I nodded my head relieved that I wasn't going to die.

"Right now I have other matters to attend to do please go get cleaned up and return to your duties and training."

I quickly stood up and bowed my head slightly before turning and picking up my bindings and armour. I turned my back to him and lifted my shirt slightly so that I could rewrap my chest but I was experiencing some difficulty because I did not want to lift my shirt fully and expose myself and I couldn't go anywhere else out of the tent to do it or else someone would notice.

I gasped in fright as I felt the Commander behind me. He lifted my shirt right up and grabbed the material from me. I felt his hands once again on my back as he helped me retie it.

My cheeks were scarlet red but I was extremely grateful my back was to him so he couldn't look. When he was done he pulled my shirt back down and moved away.

"Th-Thanks." I stuttered still embarrassed. Well to be fair it was his fault that the bindings were off anyways. My cheeks were still warm along with the tips of my ears.

Not wanting to stay longer I quickly put my leather armour back on and moved to the opening of the tent. Before I stepped out I turned back to ask him something.

"Commander, I don't believe that I know your name and I think that it's only fair that since you know mine, I get to know yours. Get what I am saying?" I looked at him expectantly waiting for an answer.

He turned to face me.

"It's Tyron, third eldest son of Lord Patrick."