It did not take a great genius to understand the meaning behind the play. The implication it made did annoy her as much as it worried her but she not let Naamathite see that. "I do not know, Your Grace." She replied coolly as she turned to meet his gaze. "Perhaps it was poorly written."

She rise to her feet and waits for him. "Does that conclude the entertainment for the evening, Lord Naamathite? I find I am suddenly very tired and I would very much like to retire soon." Really she wanted to find Naramis and get his opinion on this recent turn of events. She didn't want to believe that she sister might have had some involvement with her current imprisonment but there was just enough doubt there to disturb her. It was surely a Urikian ploy to foster distrust between the royal siblings but still, she wanted to hear Naramis' thoughts on the matter.

Why that play of all plays? He saw her confusion in her eyes, how she questioned mattes. How it paralleled her own situation to a point. Though as she rose so did he, though he could not help but grin a little. Whether it had been at her implied words or the doubt she now had was another matter for the Urkian officer.

Oh, yes, Victoria, there is something else ...

Naamathite was getting excited at that prospect though. “No, I will escort you to your quarters.” Yes, he thought, the real entertainment for the evening was about to begin.

Victoria did not wish to spend anymore time with the Duke. She felt certain he would trying to discuss the play and confuse her further but she could say nothing to prevent him from accompanying her. She sighed wearily and nodded, "If you insist, Lord Naamathite."

She followed him in pensive silence, determined not to be the first to speak. She just wanted to be alone in her chamber so she could think. She hoped Naamathite did not intend to lock her in her room. She was hoping to be able to sneak out at some point and find Naramis.

He walked with her in silence but her will had held out. There were a few guards in this wing of the estate though none had been too close. They of course remained in shouting distance though. Being a royal afforded one far better conditions when captured then a commoner could ever hope for. In most cases it was expected that prisoners remained but and while the Duke never spelled it out that she was a prisoner she could not deny the fact that she was here against her will.

“A most interesting play ...” Naamathite commented as he got out a key from his breast pocket unlocking the door. She could only hoped that he would not lock it afterward as he stepped into the darkened chamber turning one of the oil lamps on and illuminating the chamber.

He had been in the process of explaining the cord that hung suspended in the middle of the room. “When pulled this creates a gong in the servants area and they will be by to see to your needs. I have shown you all the basics. Do you wish for a bath to be drawn perhaps or are you looking to just sleep at this stage, it has been a rather trying day.”

Victoria had intended to simply pretend to go to sleep before attempting to sneak out but then the Duke had mentioned a bath. She had had a long and trying day. She had spent most of it on a ship under the hot sun and her hair still smelled of salt water. "A bath would be heavenly." She admitted, her exhaustion showing in her voice. She would relax and bath first, it would give her time to gather her thoughts and it would also mean servants would be in and out of the room for a while thus preventing the door from being locked. Plus one of them might know where Naramis was. "Thank you, Your Grace."

He nodded, a grin appearing on his features as he moved toward her. “You're going to need one by the time I'm through with you.” And he was clutching at her hips to hold her still, his lips forcing themselves against her own ...

Her eyes went wide with alarm when the Duke suddenly kissed her. She pulled away immediately and attempted to slap him for his impertinence. "How dare you!"

She tries to pull away but his hold is firm so she is unable to draw more than a step away but with his hands so positioned she hauls off and slaps him hard enough to leave the sin tender and red. His head turns with the impact of that blow but he returns the favor as he releases her, even harder than he own.

“Don’t you get it, Victoria? No one is going to save you. No one knows that you are even here save for me and those loyal to me. Oh and your sister,” he snorts.

“Resist me again and I kill a man for each moment you delay. Now be a good little wanna be Queen and get to the bed. Tonight your Majesty I make you my whore.”

Pain exploded across her cheek were he struck her and her saw stars for a moment. She had never been struck before so it came as something of a shock. She tried to hide it though, recovering quickly and straightening to glare at the Duke. "Your lying!" She rubbed her tender cheek and took a step back in case he decided to hit her again. "If you are trying to demoralize me then I suggest you try harder, Your Grace." She shot back, her words dripping with disdain. "At the very least you could come up with a more convincing lie than that my sister orchestrated this little abduction to seize power from me."

He smirked at her challenge. “Who benefits the most from your disappearance? Why was it that you were allowed to get to Taavar unmolested but apprehended on the way back? Your sister needs the regalia to become Queen too.

“She wished for me to acquire it for her. Who do you think turned me on to that play you just watched? Nay, no one knows you are here save for my minions and your sister who said that I may do what I wish with you as long as I got her there regalia. See, once she is Queen she will marry me and I will become King.”

"If that were true then she would be a damned fool." She cut, still not wanting to believe her sister had betrayed her but unable to shake the logic of what he was telling her. "Why have me captured when she could simply have me killed. She could make it look like an accident, instructing whoever she paid to murder me to let a few men escape with the regalia. They would return it to her and she would be the rightful Queen with no one suspecting she had a hand in my demise. This plan will surely make her betrayal obvious, especially if she marries you. She will incite her own people against her as well as your king when he discovers that you have made a pact with his enemies. You will have war coming to you from every side."

“Oh but there will be a sole survivor. A Urikian thief will make it back with the regalia. Well, not Urikian by birth but he lived here long enough to get an honory title. Yet he is from your nation, a patriot through and through.

“Believe me, your sister would prefer you dead but I prefer insurance to make sure I am King. It is no worry if war comes, see, why be King when you can be Emperor? I already have both Sirocco and Gladriel aligned with me. Once I marry your sister I shall have Brindel too which only leaves Urik and Taavar and I have made plans to strike them both. The only nation that is neutral, Gaist well my plans are far reaching.

“Of course you can never be free nor your men though whether they live or die is totally up to you. Now get to the bedroom your Majesty.”

He was mocking her with the title of course as he flicked his gaze towards the room off of this one to indicate which room he had meant.

Victoria's gaze flicks to the room he gestured to and she laughs bitterly. "I'm afraid I will have to decline, your grace. My men would not thank me for making myself a whore to ensure they have a long life of degradation and bondage. If you want me in that room you shall have to drag me for I shall not going willingly."

“Oh, that can be easily arranged.” He drew his dagger, twirling it in his hand with great skill as he stepped forward. So she preferred this the hard way, it really didn't matter to him. No one was going to come help her after all so he stepped forward shifting one way then the other as he moved to cut her off from trying to slip around he.

She either had to come straight at him or back up towards that room. He was smirking as he pressed in on the Princess, evidentally this did not look good for her.

She watched the knife in his hand warily. She would have attempted to rush him if not for the blade. She retreated a step and began looking around for something to defend herself with but saw nothing within ease reach. She backed up to the door and reached back to find the door handle. "I shall not make it easy for you, my Lord. Do not underestimate me because I am unarmed."