Phyllon had long understood the value of information, so he was grateful for the packet the Sahora had sent them. But the detail and relevance were almost eerie, given that it had not ben long since he had talked to him about their current issues. The depth spoke of foresight, and he suspected that the Sahora had anticipated that he would need the information and, moreover, ask for it. Information about their destination, about the current situation, and even notes on what the royal council is doing was interspaced in the bundle. His training kicked in, and he automatically started putting out his own feelers to verify the information. There was trouble coming their way, and he knew he had better be prepared.

He was caught by surprise the following day when he bumped into the prince close to the more dangerous part of town. He stopped him and frowned, taking in his pallid, distracted countenance. His emotions were everywhere, and Phyllon had to tone down his Gift as he tried to help him. It took quick thinking to divert him, rambling about inconsequential things in a soothing tone as he steered him back to the safer area where his boarding house was located. It was suspicious, especially given all he had learned from the Sahora and his own sources, and he started to grow suspicious about the events surrounding the prince's sudden appearance at the port.

He was probably a victim of some plot, probably by the secessionists, and Phyllon felt an unexpected surge of concern for the naive younger man. He managed to bring him back to the boarding house and was about to put him under Naail's care when he noticed a scrunched up piece of paper in his hand.

"What is it?" His suspicions made his words sharper than he intended as he paused, gently turning up the hand by the wrist. The prince seemed to have emerged from his daze at this as he stared down, mumbling some words that he could not catch as he offered the paper. Phyllon stared at him, unsure, before opening it at his unspoken insistence. Phyllon read it through before he frowned.

"Is this true?" He asked himself half loud. The prince looked incredulously at him, and he quickly amended himself. "I mean, how did you, who could know..."

"It's true. Just like the rest of the notes." Notes? Phyllon thought sharply as he took in the annoyance and grief tinging the prince's emotions. There was also a bit of something else - self justification? While it was good that the prince was coming to himself, he feared he might act foolishly if he let his emotions get away just then. He decided to keep the issue of notes aside for the time being and focus on the current moment.

"I suppose if someone is sending you this information, you must have reason to believe it is true. But... Do you know who it is? I can verify it for you."

"It is true," the prince insisted. "If not, it soon will be."

Phyllon had to hide his surprise. Prince Karriv seamed unexpectedly confident at that, which was suspicious in itself. It was easy enough to coax the story from the prince, which made him fear how surprisingly easy it was to gain the prince's trust. Was it just because of the prince's good impression, or was it due to his naivete? He wondered how much of it had been due to his former classmate, whom he remembered vaguely as being as emotional as the prince, though more lighthearted. But like Dalren, it appeared the prince could be manipulated, troublingly so.

He realised that he cared that someone was trying to do mischief to or through the prince, cared that they felt that they could get away with it. A hidden resolution grew within him as he bid the prince farewell at the door of his boarding house, a determination to get to the bottom of this through whatever means he could. He carefully slipped the paper in his pocket, his mind whirling with plans as he headed towards a popular eatery by the dockside.

Like he expected, he found Asmir there, catching up with some of his friends who sailed aboard other ships. He looked up as Phyllon entered before he extricated himself from his friends, albeit reluctant.

However, Phyllon could not miss the curiosity and apprehension in his eye as he approached him, stopping to lean next to him against the wall where they both could keep an eye on the passing crowd.

He wordlessly reached into his pocket and casually held up the paper, cupping it in his hand so that Asmir could read it, holding it up only so long as it took him to read the words once. He looked up to catch Asmir's eye and saw that he was just as unsettled as he had been when he had first read it.

"Could you verify this?" Phyllon asked as he carefully replaced it in one of his pockets. Asmir glanced at it, a burst of emotion coming from him as he read the note. He subconsciously clenched his fist as he stared out at the crowd, unseeing as he nodded. He waited for a while before he turned to Phyllon.

"This is bad." As Phyllon looked at him quizzically, he explained. "It is true. I can confirm it. But it is not public knowledge yet. Who gave you this?"

Phyllon eyed him before indicating the crowd. Asmir mused. "It can't be from your visitor earlier as you wouldn't ask me if that was the case, so that leaves your passenger."

"Passenger?" Phyllon looked bemused.

Asmir gave him a look. "Don't try to pretend otherwise. You will take them, eventually."

Phyllon rolled his eyes at that. Asmir grew more serious.

"How did you get it? Asmir listened thoughtfully, but Phyllon felt his worry through his Gift.

"What do you make of that?"

"He's going to react even worse with this," Asmir observed.

"That is not what I mean, and you know it," Phyllon exclaimed. He shook his head. "Sorry, this situation is getting the worst of me."

Asmir gripped his shoulder comfortingly. "Don't worry too much, I understand. But unfortunately I can't help you too much on the source. Still, I can tell you that there are few people who could possibly know of this unless they have access to the same networks I do. Or your kin does." Phyllon felt a sudden burst of earnestness and warning. "That makes however they are well connected and dangerous."

"Hmm." Asmir narrowed his eyes. Phyllon started to feel a bit antsy from what he was feeling from his friend. "Thanks, Asmir. See you later." Phyllon turned to leave.

"And Phyllon..." Phyllon looked up and saw the concern in his face of the older man who had seen him grow. "Don't do anything foolish."

Phyllon was startled before he smiled, a broad and happy smile, and he was gone, leaving Asmir shaking his head when he realised that Phyllon never gave a reply.