Day IV

Today, we had lessons again. 

Then riding with Cregan, and sword fighting with Mott. 

When we arrived in the courtyard for the lesson, I asked Mott where the imitation of Jaron's sword was. 

He too noticed it was missing. 

He said he had to go tell Conner about this. 

We followed him into Conner's office. 

Mott talked to him privately, and then called all of us to stand in front of Conner's desk. 

Conner told us that this was no ordinary sword. 

It was an almost exact replica of the sword Jaron had had before going missing. 

He told us that stealing the sword would not help us any when the time came for him to make his choice. 

He told us that whoever took it should confess.

Tobias accused me. 

He said that since I had already handled the sword, it must have been me. 

Mott said it had probably happened while we were in riding lessons yesterday. 

He said that everybody knew where I was at the time.

Conner asked what the others had been doing at this time. 

Tobias hesitated, and then said that he and Roden had gone to the sword arena to wait for Mott. 

After a few minutes of waiting there, a servant came and told them that Mott had gone to look for me, so they left.

Roden said that if either of them had taken it, the other would know. 

Conner asked what they did after returning to the house.

Tobias said he was in the library.

Roden said he went back to our room.

Conner asked them to give proof that they were there.

I smiled and said that, for the first time, I was glad the horse had run off with me. 

We continued the sword fighting lesson, and then had dinner with Conner. 

I was seated farthest away, so I picked up my table setting and moved it to the other end of the table, where I could see Conner face to face.

He told me I was being very rude.

I told him I was being prince-like. Nobody would tell a prince where to sit.

After a moment, he smiled and agreed.

That night, when I went out the window to explore the grounds again, Tobias locked me out of the room, so I was forced to go in through Conner's room. 

While in there, I discovered something I had suspected, but hadn't been able to prove. 

The walls of Conner's home housed secret passageways. 

I made my way into them, and managed to get back in bed while Tobias was still sleeping. 

You should have seen the look on his face when he woke up the next morning!