Question the ladies

"Arethousa, the truth of this matter must be discovered as quickly as possible," you say as her attendant hurries off to speak to Captain Navarre. "I know you have private chambers which are available to certain clients. I would ask that I be permitted to use one of these rooms so that these women may be detained for a moment. The crown will compensate you doubly for the use of the room. The alternative is to immediately bring them back to the castle under guard, and this would not be in anyone's best interests."

"All my private chambers are in use, save my personal rooms," Arethousa says.

"It is asking a lot," you acknowledge, "but under the circumstances, it is necessary that I DO ask this of you."

Arethousa hesitates. She has never refused a request from you before... but you have never asked so much. "If you were any other man, I would say no," she says at last. "If you were any other King, I would say no - but any other King would not ask. Because you are a King who asks, Sire, I will say yes... but only this once."

You bow your head to her. "I am in your debt, Arethousa. You may collect at will." Then, you turn to Yuri and the others. "And now, I must ask each of you to accompany me without resistance. These pools are a place of serenity and peace, which has been disturbed enough this day. I have no wish to defile this place further with armed guards. Will you come with me?"

For a moment, Elainne looks like she is getting ready to scream - but then Yuri speaks up. "We will, Your Majesty," she says firmly. "All of us will."

You lead the way from the pool, followed by Yuri and her companions, and Arethousa in the rear. Captain Navarre meets you at the gate, and you note that he has come alone. Although the rumors and tales will fly from this place regarding what happened, you are glad that, for the moment, no one else need know of it. The attendant hands robes to all of you, and you gratefully put yours on; nudity was definitely beginning to feel awkward.

Arethousa's private rooms are up a set of stairs. Once you are all in her small parlor, Captain Navarre bolts the door. Arethousa goes and shuts the two large doors which lead out onto her balcony that overlooks the pools.

"Are we your prisoners, now?" Isabeau blurts out. "Is this how the King of Elyssia treats women after he has made love to them?"

"No one regrets this more than I," you say to her. "I hope to settle the matter quickly and without further disturbance. First, Elainne, I ask you directly: what was your intention with the cloth that was found in your hands?"

"It was as I said!" she insists. "I meant only to blindfold you, as a jest! Even if I meant harm, how could I hold down such a strong man as you with a simple piece of cloth?"

"It may be that your companions would play a role in that," you point out.

"What have we done to warrant such accusations?" Brigitte nearly shouts. "We are visitors from afar, come to see the paradise kingdom! We heard tell of a King who was just and kind and good, and were overjoyed to meet him - or so we thought, because the man who stands before us now could not possibly be this King!"

You turn to face Yuri, who looks quiet and thoughtful. "Yuri, your companions have all denied wrongdoing. Answer me truthfully: Did you, or any of your companions, harbor any ill toward me or my kingdom?"

Yuri is silent for a moment, then speaks. "Elainne tells it true," she finally says. "The blindfold is part of a game we have played before. She meant no more than that."