Reunion at Sea

Secret

"My dad is going to be out all day, he's out surveying the Kingdom right now, so it's the perfect time to meet with the people." Rapunzel said as they all sat or stood around Quirin's kitchen, where they'd been served drinks.

"If you want to organize the people, I'd turn to Xavier." Floyd suggested. "He is, at least when I was still in the Kingdom, one of the most respected people in the Capital City and he knows everyone."

"By the adults, maybe." Clyde remarked, nudging Varian.

"His impromptu stories can go on a while." Varian nodded.

"Yes, well, it's the adults that will mostly be dealing with the King." Quirin said with amusement at their shared disdain for the man's habit.

"Lance is talking to everyone at the Snuggly Duckling, and Lady Caine is handling the other criminals in town. So, it's up to us to get the citizens onboard. Quirin, there's a Saporian airship hidden in the woods that Varian can hide in if a guard decides to get curious. Speaking of which, Varian," she passed him his chameleon dust, "we...saw the room."

He accepted the vial silently and put it in his backpack. Clyde gently squeezed his hand comfortingly and murmured something Rapunzel couldn't hear.

To say that she was surprised to know Varian had a friend in town was an understatement - well, Varian had insisted they were "not friends, but not enemies, either" but the way they behaved around each other was very familiar and almost familial. He was more relaxed around him than she'd ever seen him, and she felt a tad jealous. Even Andrew didn't put him at such ease, and she supposed it was because Clyde wasn't at all connected to his time in prison.

"Varian, Clyde, why don't you two go on back to translating?" Rapunzel suggested. "You seemed to be enjoying that more than this meeting. We'll tell you everything we talked about here."

"You got it, Princess." Clyde did a finger-gun, stood up and scooped Varian into his arms as he protested the whole time, carrying him back to the lab with Adira and Ruddiger at their heels.

"Can you put me down?!" Varian protested.

"And let you trip on your magnificent cape? Perish the thought." Clyde teased.

Eugene and Cassandra chuckled as the door closed behind them. "Okay, so, back to the topic of revolution." Eugene turned to them.

"I doubt all of the Royal Guard is onboard with what went on down there." Rapunzel said grimly. "I didn't see the Captain anywhere, so he must be with my father."

"We'll worry about the Royal Guard later." Quirin assured her. "Let's focus on the people. Xavier has a secret basement that he once showed me, we can organize a town meeting in there and tell everyone what we found out about the King. If it's coming from you, Princess Rapunzel, they will believe it."

"I know it might seem cruel," Cassandra said carefully, "but, maybe we should wait for Varian to finish his translations so he can show them his back. It's the biggest proof we have, words won't be enough even from the Princess."

"I suppose him ignoring the black rocks problem isn't enough proof of his cruelty." Floyd frowned.

Hector looked at Quirin, who pursed his lips tightly, then looked back at Cassandra. "It's a sound idea, daughter, but definitely one we should ask him if he's alright with doing."

"Either way, he should be at the town meeting to give his testimony." Quirin said grimly. "Lady Caine, as well. They're both citizens of Corona, after all."

"We can't wait for Varian to finish his translating." Rapunzel shook his head. "If they need proof, I...I have my journal. I drew a...a picture." She clutched at the strap of her satchel. "I can show them it, show them...what he told me."