Tristan: Are you out of your mind!?

Hilda; I have to.

Tristan: Those men are dangerous. You cant go down there to the dungeon all by yourself!

Hilda: I need to see if theres something were missing. I'm willing to risk it.

Tristan: You couldnt handle a dead body in the woods the other day. What makes you think you can handle blood inside the cell of a recently dead corpse?

Hilda: That was different. This is now.

Tristan: I make the rules and I say no. You may not go down there to investigate.

Knight: Sire, maybe shes getting at something. I really do think Ms. Hilda should.

Tristan: Don't take sides. I am your superior. Spare me your reasons, they are irrelevant.

Knight: Apologies, M'lord.

Hilda: We're not going to get anywhere without some solid proof. Maybe I can find the person behind the murder.

Tristan: I already told you. What part of that do you not get?

Hilda: Fine. But just know its compromising the mission at hand. And if we don't get this done, that murderer could be out there somewhere. He could do the exact same to other people. You want that to happen?

Tristan: listen to me for once, Hilda. I'm doing this for your own good.

Hilda: You should know me by now, majesty. I'm too stubborn to listen.

Tristan: Either way, if you go down there, you're getting sent to the dungeon with the rest of those blokes.

Hilda: You can't do that.

Tristan: Don't you order me around! Who do you think you are?

Knight: Now is not the time to argue. We need to focus on the situation at hand. I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm taking sides, prince. But I agree that Ms. Hilda should do some investigating down there. I can go down with her to ensure they won't hurt her if it's what you wish.

Tristan: I'm not sure. I dont trust those men. You saw how they accused me of murder.

Knight: It'll be okay. I'll be up here if she screams for help.

(Tristan thinks about it for a second and shakes his head and finally relents he points towards the exit)

Tristan: Go. Both of you. If you're not back within half an hour, you're both spending the night down there is that clear?

Knight: Sire.

Hilda: Whatever. Let's go.

(Hilda goes down to the dungeon to look for potential clues of what happened to the men's brother)

Man: what the bloody hell are you doing here?

Man 2: Go away. We have nothing to say to you.

(Hilda sees them and ignores them she goes over to Gertrude who is about to mop up the dead man's blood because she was evidently ordered to)

Hilda: Gertrude! No! Stop! Don't clean yet!

Gertrude: Why not?

Hilda: just trust me. Don't do anything yet.

Gertrude: I'm the head servant. You don't tell me what to do.

Hilda: I'm telling you. Don't clean yet if you dont mind. Give me a minute. I have to find something.

(Gertrude purposely drops the mop)

Gertrude: Fine. You clean it then.

(She goes back up from the dungeon meanwhile in the upstairs of the dungeon in the halls)

Tristan: She sure is spending a lot of time in there.

Knight: Give her some time liege.

Tristan: Don't go down there for a while. Let her sort it out. Unless she begins to scream. (He says protecting her secret)

Knight: As you wish M'lord.

(They continue waiting, Hilda goes into the unopened cell full of blood. She steps back a few feet as her eagle vision begins to turn on. When she turns her back to look, she sees a shadow of a man holding what looks like a knife. Perhaps a dagger? He goes into the cell starts beating the man to a pulp and sees the man struggling to fight back. The murderer then begins plunging it inside the man over and over again until the life is drained out of him leaving his body there to bleed out with him, dying with his eyes open. She then sees him running out of the dungeon. She follows the shadowy figure outside of the small balcony and Tristan comes on over to her)

Tristan: Did you find anything?

Hilda: After he was done with the job, he climbed on top of the balcony to the highest tower. And then jumped. Leaving nothing without a trace.

Tristan: Then how did he get the dungeon and bypass the cellar? No one is allowed to open the gates unless given permission.

Hilda: Who is the dungeon keeper?

Tristan: Deo.

Hilda: Maybe the murderer pickpocketed Deo. Either that or Deo aided him.

Tristan: Deo has been our trusted dungeon warden for over twenty years. He would never do something like that.

Hilda: Tristan, even if someone has been your partner for over two decades, they could still be doing something you're not aware of. I say let's go ask him.

Tristan: You are not going to talk to him.

Hilda: Oh, yes the fuck we will. Tristan, I know you want to see the good in people, but sometimes you have to open your eyes that some people may be more than they seem. Whether you like it or not, were confronting him.

(Cue to the Warden's office he appears to be forty five years old with a slim figure brown eyes and dark black hair, he appears to be busy with paperwork)

Tristan: Deo.

Deo: Tristan, Hilda. Please sit. What brings you to my chambers?

Tristan: We just came to ask you about what happened in the dungeon?

Deo: Oh yes. It's very tragic in there indeed. Can't believe that man is dead. He suffered a tragic demise.

(Hilda sees the keys back on the key holder in back of him)

Hilda: I see you got the keys back.

Deo: Yeah. What can I say? I guess I Ieft them in the dungeon room. Good thing I grabbed them immediately who knows what those men could have done.

Tristan: Did you by any chance accidently give the keys to someone?

Deo: Is this why you stumbled into my office? To talk to me about the dungeon keys?

Hilda: The cell was unopened. Did you know that?

Deo: No. I cannot say I did.

Tristan: Did someone take the keys when you weren't looking?

Deo: None that I can gather.

Hilda: Did you accidently leave the cell unopened?

Deo: I would never do that I always check carefully. I never forget. I'm not following you. Why all these ludicrous questions?

Tristan: Are you working for the enemy, Deo? The man who murdered the man in that cell?

Deo: Prince. You've known me for how long? Why would I do why something like that?

Hilda: you tell us.

(Deo thinks about it for a second)

Deo: I came into the room to make sure that all the dungeons were secure and locked. I walked out back to my office then...wait a second. Now that I think about it...yes... of course.

Tristan: What?

Deo: I bumped into someone. He had apologised to me for bumping into him and we went our seperate ways. At first I thought nothing of it. And then I realized when I came into my office, the keys were gone. Which is odd because I am if not always careful about leaving the keys on me. Then I go back into the dungeon room and there they were by the cell desk. I never left it there. I know I took it with me.

Tristan: (he nods) So you were pickpocketed. See? I was right. (Talking to Hilda)

Hilda: But wait. How do we know you're telling the truth and you're not fibbing?

Deo: because that's exactly how it happened. If I wanted to betray you, I would've done it discreetly and make sure I cover my footsteps.

Tristan: Do you know who the knight was?

Deo: Can't say. He was wearing one of the helmets. He sounded quiet. Didn't really get a good look, and his voice was indistinct.

Tristan: Alright. Thanks anyways Deo. Apologies.

Deo: Accepted. Now do you mind? I have paperwork I have to get done.

Tristan: Of course. We'll be on our way.

(Tristan goes to wait on the other side of the dungeon and Hilda goes back into the other dungeon)

Man: Did you find out who did it?

Hilda: No.

Man 2: What about the face? You could have known something.

Hilda: My ability doesn't work that way.

Man: Well bring it back. You can use it to get the face of the man right?

Hilda: my ability doesn't let me do that.

(She says looking at the man. The man grabs Hilda by the collar as if wanting to bring her inside with him. She stands there frozen)

Man: You're a lying little bitch, you know that?

*Tristan comes into the room and takes out his baton from his left side and hits the man on his left hand causing him to let go of Hilda and hold his hand in pain having Man 2 touch his shoulders*

Tristan: (angry voice) Don't you ever put your hands on her again! You understand me!? You could be mad at me all you want, but you leave her out of this!

Hilda: Tristan! Stop. Don't hurt him.

Man: That little bitch knows who the murderer is!

Tristan: Say that again, and there goes your right hand!

Man 2: You both are hiding something.

Tristan: We're not hiding anything.

Man 2: You better hope and pray he gets found, because you'll be next.

Tristan: Is that a threat?

Man: We make promises. No threats.

Man 2: Your knights won't protect you.

Tristan: That's fine. I have everything I need to take you down. Just you wait.

(He puts an arm over Hilda and guides her out of the dungeon chambers. Letting go of her, And putting two hands on both her shoulders)

Tristan: You okay?

Hilda: Yeah. It just happened so fast.

Tristan: I knew I shouldn't have sent you down there.

Hilda: No. I'm glad you did. Now we know what happened after it was over.

Tristan: But we still don't know the face.

Hilda: We will. Were getting closer. I can feel it.

(She walks away from Tristan and he grabs her forearm and says to her in a low voice:) Tristan: Keep your ability to yourself Hilda. Don't tell anyone about it. I'm afraid someone could use it against you.

(Hilda sees him grip her forearm then looks at him) Hilda: The three men know. Or the last one knew because he said it. They won't tell.

Tristan: You don't know that. If they tell, I could have them punished.

Hilda: They won't. They're bad men yes but I doubt they would tell anyone.

Tristan: Even so. I don't trust them.

Hilda: I know. Me neither.

Transition into dinner time. Hilda grabs a tray so she could get something to eat. She notices Harper isn't at his usual work station
Hilda goes up to one of the captain knights at the long rectangle table)

Hilda: Wheres Harper?

Knight; Hes on a messenger quest. Don't worry he'll be back in a few days. Why? Did you wanna speak to him?

Hilda: No. I just haven't seen him in a while cause I've been busy. And why didn't anyone tell me he was leaving? I didn't get to say goodbye to him.

Knight: You've been busy with his majesty. And I wouldn't worry about it. It's not like he won't survive and he won't come back...actually I don't guarantee. Back then when we had one of our servants do a messenger quest, not trying to scare you, but they ended up in a body bag. So...yeah...awkward...(he looks at her still drinking his cup of fizzy pop) I'll stop talking now.

(Hilda leaves the knight table and goes over to the small square table eating her dinner by herself. But she liked it that way. It gives her time to think)