”The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. Leo Tolstoy.”
Code ~ #088A29
The interviews with those belonging to the kitchen staff were extensive yet went fairly well, at least in Ryder’s opinion. Ivelda sat in and observed, occasionally interjecting with her own queries or comments if it suited her, but for the most part giving him free rein of the interrogations. The Head Chef was the second most nervous, as he was the one who actually hired all of the kitchen staff, so if anyone were to be held directly accountable other than the would-be assassin himself, it would be the Head Chef. He didn’t have much information to give, even when Ryder resorted to not-so-idle threats. The man walked away with one fingernail barely attached as he was quite quick to crumble and divulge what little information he had - which wasn’t much, unfortunately. This led to him not so much walking away as he was more so led to the dungeons for further questioning.
They were roughly over halfway through the kitchen staff when things took a turn, and one of the young men was oddly nervous and uncertain in his answers. When everyone exploded into movement, Ryder had barely enough time to remove his sword before Adrian had already struck him down. The young man’s final words, however, lingered in Ryder’s mind, and he felt his gaze wander over towards his Queen, who was visibly shaken, undoubtedly from the second attempt on her life. Noting the information and reminding himself to ask her later about it, as he did not want to burden her at that moment when she had already been through so much in such little time. Adrian made quick work of leaving with the body, and Ryder himself left the room to call for two servants to clean the bloodied mess that had become the office’s floor.
Due to the scene, the rest of the interrogations were moved to the courtyard. At this point, he had finished his interviews; the man that was deemed suspect had been taken out, and the rest of the kitchen staff cleared by himself as well as the Queen. The rest of them would be carried out by various appointed officials by the Queen, ranging from the Head of Medicine to the Master of Beasts. Instead, Ryder would be at the Queen’s side for a majority of the remainder of the interviews, as was his duty as her advisor, occasionally wandering to check in on the interrogations and see how they were coming along. His eyes moved quickly and constantly, always taking something in, never stopping and always studying as they walked and stood, talked or remained silent in observation.
It wasn’t until the interrogations had completely finished several hours later that Ryder relaxed even slightly, and that was only enough so as to speak to his Queen in a lovely manner. Despite his growling stomach - they had worked through lunch so as to ensure the safety of the palace and their Queen - he was still there to serve her and only her. Besides, if it were not for Ivelda, he would not even be alive right now to feel hunger, so a few hunger pains were tolerable enough in the long run of things. Placing one hand over his heart and the other arm folded behind his back, he bowed forward slightly at the waist before her. ”My Queen, now that the interrogations have concluded and we sent all those deemed to be suspicious to the dungeons for further questioning, what is your command?” he asked, awaiting her response.