“Is she alright?” She demanded as soon as the guard opened the door.

“Yes, Your Majesty. She was shaken up quite a bit though. She’s retired to her chamber.”

She smiled, “Has the culprit been found?”

“If you are referring to Dabrose, Your Majesty-”

“Of course I’m referring to that scoundrel! He is a revolutionary bent on inciting anarchy. Stealing the Key and now trying to take my youngest daughter’s life! He must be caught!”

“The Guard is spread so thin these days across Qerradith, that to devote additional manpower to apprehending the criminal may be unwise.”

The Queen thought for a moment. What was the tidiest solution to her problems?

“Send out a notice to the Nobles of Qerradith. The one to find and return the Bender’s Key will get five hundreds pounds in gold. The one to find Dabrose and brings me his corpse, will have Princess Phaedra as their bride.”

She smiled as the guard left. She was always fond of killing two birds with one stone.