Tale of Two Times

"I'm sorry. You're doing all of this for me, and I just keep screwing up..." Armani said, looking up at Tempora.

"I'll have to be more careful about that." Armani said, nodding.

"Sir Malko...I don't know how to stop him from getting in with an army, and even by himself I haven't found anything in the castle that even slows him down. Trying to fight him at all just led to me almost getting killed immediately."

"He hears about the king's death, at which point most of the knights except Claudia, Casey, and Olivia agree to support him in killing the princess and putting himself on the throne..."

Armani sighed.

"This plan has to have been in the making for a while, but he kept it so well concealed. Is there really something a knight he didn't bother bringing in on the plan can do in one day to alter his plans? Even barricading the door didn't do anything besides lose him a few minutes, but if I try to warn anyone about him they'll think I'm crazy."

"I think you're right." Armani sighed.

"I can't go to the Princess, not after what happened last time, but maybe if I could convince someone else...if Elixis or Olivia believed me, maybe we'd be able to think of something."

"Sitting around feeling sorry for myself probably isn't going to be much help, so I guess so." Armani said, smiling weakly.

Armani nodded, accepting the pocketwatch seriously.

"Lady Tempora...thank you so much for helping me out like this."