The Kingdom's Capital

"I see two men." Stu says plainly.

"Two rich men, that it is wise to be on the side of. He just sent a bird to his father to give us all a platinum piece for helping him escape the torture camp."

"It is wise to be on the side that is going to win." Stu states.

"But there is no conflict here."

"None that you can see. The Behrans and Imperials are at war. The Imperials want to strip us of all our rights and make us live mundane lives. They even want to banish all religion and worshiping of the gods." Vedrick says. "The Imperials are cruel people that need to be wiped from this earth."

Stu takes a few moments to ponder what has been said.

"Perhaps." He states after some time.

"Can you believe they deny all existence of any of the gods?" Vedrick sips his wine and keeps pouring his energy into his crystal.

Again, Stu pauses. "You are either misinformed or they are incredibly dense." Stu says with a level of scorn.

He turns, "I do not know which."

"Go find any Imperial guard and ask them what they think about the gods. They will all tell you the same thing. If they have it their way, all those who worship the gods and admit it will be killed." Vedrick finishes his wine and pushes the cup away.

"And I wish I was joking."

"Should it be true, then victory for them is impossible." Stu pauses.

"Unless they mean to slay the beings who existence they deny. A self defeating cause."

Vedrick gets closer to Stu, "They are actually working on a way to do that very deed.." He moves away again, his face serious.

"Stupid people, they will never do it."

Again, a smile cracks its away across Stu's face. "It's possible."

"But all of them? It makes you wonder what they have that is so strong it can destroy every form of a god." Vedrick ponders the thought them returns, "I think they are just messing with us though. Just making up lies to scare us."

"If they seek to kill the gods, it shows they believe in them." Stu pauses.

"Their cause will not succeed."

"All I know is that they are all better off dead." Vedrick says.

"Perhaps." Stu states once more.

"So why were you in that Imperial torture camp, Stu?" Vedrick asks him while pouring his energy into his crystal.

Stu takes a few moments to gather his words.

"Me and a" He hesitates "friend caused some trouble." He smiles.

"Oh, trouble."

"You must get into a lot of trouble." Vedrick chuckles.

"I used to." He says reflectively.

"But then that friend made me stop." He sighs.

"A century of trouble is enough."

"That does seem like a lot of trouble for one person to go through. But you can never get rid of trouble."

"I still get in trouble" He says with a smile.

"It's just... petty in comparison."

"Well, if you ever need a hand, I'm here for ya. Its the least I can do since you helped save the prince." Vedrick smiles then continues to work on this dorje.

Stu chuckles.

"Perhaps, perhaps."

"Getting you to talk is like pulling teeth, you know that Stu?" Vedrick asks as he looks Stu's way.

"Perhaps getting you to speak is too simple of an affair?" Stu retorts with an undertone of smugness.