Victoria was impressed by the man's spirits in this situation. Glancing around the room made it obvious that his short stay here had not been a pleasure one but he still had the energy for glibness. She smiled snidely at him and pulled up a nearby chair. "I heard we had a master thief staying in our dungeon and I curious to see what one looked like." She sat down primly and folded her hands in her lap. "Are you enjoying your stay here Mr Spade?"

He watched her draw the stool over and sit. Appraising her, she was a beauty of course and he smile at her as she asked her question.

“The guards are quiet hospitable. Even so I don't intend to stay and only have because I haven't had to opportunity to escape yet. It's been some time, over a month but I am rather confident of my chances. It may take me longer than expected but I have nothing but time on my hands.” He chuckled a little.

“But you being her tells me that you need something that my expertise can help you with your Highness. Something that goes beyond idle curiosity of me I think.

“I have been here long enough where if it were just curiosity that you would have already come to see me. My guess is that there is another thief running a mock that you need help with.” He flicked his eyes back to Naramis by the door watching the two or rather watching him intently.

Jack smiled a little at the Princess. “Am I close? But a pretty cell is still a cell your Highness. I do not wish to sound ungrateful but I will escape eventually, it's just a matter of time really.”

"Oh?" She gives him a look a feign disappointment. "Is that so? Well, I suppose if you will not be staying here much longer then you won't not be interested in a Royal Pardon and your weight in gold then either." She stands and turns to leave. "I am sorry a wasted your time then. I suppose I shall have to settle for the serves of the second best thief in our custody. Good day to you, Mr Spade."

Jack quickly stands grabbing her wrist to stop her. Narmis perks up, his hand falling to the hilt of his sword until the thief releases his hold upon her. He dared to touch a royal but seeing that the Princess gives no order to act upon this, and reading into the situation that Victoria was goading a reaction out of the thief he relaxes soon enough though he keeps his hand on the hilt of his sword as a constant reminder to Jack not to over step his boundaries again.

“Let us not be so hasty. Already I've been here for a month and there's no way to know when I will have a chance in escaping. I am more than a little curious as to way you would seek me out. Beautiful women usually don't flock up to me if not for the vast riches I possess and in your case I know that not to be true given that you have the wealth of a kingdom that makes mine a mere pittance by comparison.

You have captured my interests though. I am curious as to what you'd request of me. And my dea-” he was getting a little too friendly giving his look to the larger man. “My Highness I assure you that there is no need for second rate hacks.”

Victoria stops and smiles to herself, pleased that her ploy worked. She turns back to the cell and regards the thief for a moment. "It's very simple really. I need you to sail to Taavar with me. There is someone of mine there that needs retrieving. I have been told that if I go there in person the official who possess it will hand it over to me without issue but in case I have been miss informed I have been advised to take a thief with me. You will have your pardon and your gold regardless of whether I need your services or not but in case I do..."

“Most wise.” Jack thinks about the religious fanatics in Taavar. He wonders what it is that she seeks to achieve there though he did not raise that matter. If he needed to know then she would tell him and he would indeed get it.

“Then I am your man. If it comes to It I will steal it. I am the best after all.” He smiles and holds up a jeweled ring that had been on her finger though she did not even recall his touching her fingers, only her wrist and even then the contact was extremely brief.

A demonstration to ensure that she wasn't choosing poorly. To get his freedom was nice, his weight in gold an added perk. Now there was only one other question of importance. No, he was not going to hit on her. She's a Princess and as such well out of his league even if she weren't an extraordinary beauty.

“My weight in gold … now is that before the trip or after? I'm afraid incarceration has caused me to shed a few pounds which I hope to gain back.”

Victoria considers the thief's malnourished physique. He still looked remarkably handsome even given his current condition but he had clearly lost weight during his imprisonment. He had probably always been lean, as it was a requirement of his chosen profession, but his muscles had lost some of the well-toned definition and his features looked hollowed. She smiled again when she answered, "I'll do you one better, Jack. I'll pay you twice what you weight now. Surely that is more than you could hope to regain of the course of our brief journey." She moved closer to him, stopping just short of actually touching him and whispered the next part to him so the guard could not hear her. "Of course, if I am paying this much for your services then I expect nothing less than complete and unquestioning loyalty and candor. This mission is of the utmost delicacy. If you give either me or my guards any reason to suspect you are about to do something treacherous then your very life will be forfeit. Is that clear?"

Double his weight? That was far more than he could hope to put on in a short time and it seemed more than fair. This target had to be well protected he though. Well, that had been obvious seeing that she came here seeking the best.

She whispered to him though he had not had to consider the weight of those words as she uttered them. [color=#FFBF00]“I am a thief for certain but I am still loyal to the crown and thus to you. How could I so blantlyy betray one that is putting such trust in me.

“The deal sounds pretty sweet. Freedom and gold for what I do best and I may not have to do the heist at all. If it were permitted I would kiss you.” [/color]He was that excited at the prospect, his eyes darting to Naramis as they whispered now. He did not bring up the obvious that the guard would move to stop them, or rather him from him doing just that.

Naramis gave the order to have him transferred to the ship after the Princess finished her question and answers with him. Naramis did his best in short order to stock the ship with trust worthy soldiers though he could only replace the marines and few of them had any nautical skills at their command. It was the short notice and the fact that he tended to run in different circles so he made it clear to the Princess as to the situation.

With more time he was certain to load the ship but if they were going to do this quickly it seemed that the mariners were at Natalie's discretion. “Shall we wait a few days? There is no guarantee that I can find anyone better in the nautical era. I can spend a few more days doing so or we can just head out with that thief on our travels.”

Victoria considered this for a long moment and then shook her head. "No, we cannot afford to lose anymore time. The coronation is fast approaching. We must get my regalia back before someone has the chance to steal it again." She said in a low whisper, thinking of her uncle. He surely knew Taavar had intercepted the regalia by now. It would be a race to see who could get to it first. "Besides, you are right. There is no guarantee that delaying our departure will yield a better crew than you have already recruited. I say we set sail as soon as possible."

“Agreed.” Naramis nods as he goes to see that things are done to her specifications. He waits until she is clear from the prisoner first then goes to do a little of this and that. Time was of the essence though swapping out some of the marines was an easy enough task. The crew could not be replaced in a timely fashion.

Soon enough they were sailing to Taavar passing the island nation of Urik. It was not long before they were sailing in the waters of Taavar. One of their holy cities greeted them as they sailed into a straight with colossi statues depicting their deity on either side of the passage walls. The ship docked and it was Naramis and Victoria that would go.

“Princess … your Highness, it would be prudent if I go and at least get a look over any security devices that I might have to acquaint myself with at a future date.

Victoria exchanges a glance with Naramis before replying to Jack. She personally didn't not see the harm in letting the thief tag along but she gauged her body guards reaction none the less. Regardless of what she saw there she decided to go ahead and allow it. "I'm sure I don't have to tell you that discretion is key to this part of the mission. You may come with us so long as you behave yourself and keep a low profile."

“Of course,” Jack responds with a nod of his head.

Naramis does not look too pleased about it but nor does he question the mind of the Princess. He was her guard after all and she wasn't doing anything too dangerous where he would have objected about this.

So the three of them go to the Bishop’s place. Here at Taavar the police seem militant as they sweep the streets. The crime rate is lower her but so are the freedoms of the people too. She and the two men take a carriage to the church. Their they meet the Bishop, Bishop Polarik who invites them into a wing of the church that is his actual home. He asks them if they would like any tea as he sets out a pot on a stove-like device. A gift from a friend now in Urik where the magical wonders were divine. He speaks of his acquisition unless the Princess cuts him off and gets straight to business of course.

Victoria accepts the offered tea and listens to the Bishop speak for a time out of politeness but she does not let him carry on for too terribly long before she interrupts. "Bishop Polarik, I truly appreciate the hospitality you have shown my men and I but I fear I must bring us back around to the reason for our visit. I do not wish to appear ungracious but I am eager to return home. Every second I am away gives my enemies more time to discover I am gone and take advantage of it. I must retrieve my regalia quickly so I may return to my country and prepare for my coronation."

“Of course, your Majesty.” The religious leader dips his head and excuses himself from the three. Naramis is guarded, looking for trouble now that they are not on their native soil. He is always vigilant in his service of the Princess, even when she orders him to relax he remains vigilant and proves his worth with always being ready at a moments notice. His loyalty cannot be questioned. He was her father's chosen, a dedicated captain of the guard in his own right. He was hand picked by her father to serve as her protector and bodyguard when she was out performing diplomatic missions.

Jack, however, was more relaxed. His eyes darting about the room now that the Bishop was gone as if he were making an assessment of the place. In short order the Bishop returns with a case showing that the recovered regalia had been in it.

“I kept it safe. Good journey and I shall pray for your safe return your Majesty.”

Victoria smiled and stood up to thank the Bishop, relieved at how easy it had been. "Thank you, your Excellency. I shall not soon forget your kindness." She took the offered box and gestured for her men to rise as well. "Please tell if there is some way I might repay you."

(Sorry if there was any confusion a moment ago when I first posted. I hit send accidentally and my post was not complete.)