Xiomara jerked slightly surprised to hear a knock at the entryway. She hated that although she had been keeping her eyes peeled for Asher that he still had managed to startle her. She ignored his formality and made a few comments even though Sir Tucker had been speaking to her just moments before. "You're back. I called for breakfast. I hope they bring enough. I just realized I forgot to specify food for more people than me. They might only bring enough for one person."

While she wouldn't have been able to give the most exact details from this distance, it was easily apparent that he was more disheveled than he had been yesterday. There was a dirty rumpled look about him. "Where has the investigation taken you? It looks like your clothes need to take a trip to the laundry and the menders. Did you sleep at all last night?” How much sleep could this guy subsist on? Was his name even Asher?

She bridled her tongue when he began to report to Sir Tucker (as he should). Yes, the dark hours had offered her more honesty. The slight sleep deprivation had unlocked what she had observed without consciously putting it together. Wait. She was relying on being sleepy to figure out things. Was she the crazy one?

"A handkerchief? That's awfully suspicious. Get a servant to go find it or if it's so important get more than just yourself to find it," she found herself commenting with a bit of indignant heat. "What royal crest from a friend?" She was the royalty. Her family was the royalty. Who in her family was passing out handkerchiefs? Or was he getting handkerchiefs with the royal crest from other kingdoms with different royal crests?

"Did the farrier feel like he had agreed to the bribe or did he just take it and ignore the unspoken agreement? I believe the sweep could have approached more unseen without a horse." She agreed with Asher. This story was less suspicious. Buying a horse like that did not have to do something with the castle. The handkerchief had been lost here somewhere. "How did you find the traveling farrier? How far did he get?"

Her gaze had been fixed on the map with the notes. She struggled to read Asher's notes over his shoulder, which was tall enough to impede her sight. Her gaze darted to his when he made a dry...could it be described as a joke. She barely missed a beat, even though she was on edge. "Yes," she found herself agreeing not sure what comeback was about to come out, "It's like a good executioner. One is successful and causes a lot less suffering. It's understandable to want someone dead, but it's not okay to play with someone's feelings and terrorize them in the meantime. Besides, I am sure you want a challenge. You've been eager to prove yourself and make yourself work hard. You need to find someone who will stretch your abilities."

She ignored Sir Tucker's slight confusion and let the conversation continue on its way. "I still don't understand why a local noble would have this much information. I suppose they could get access to it, but are Langley or Fabrizius really that calculated and prepared? I don't think even if they had blackmailed a servant that they would know what information is needed to successfully carry out an assassination. Someone has to be the mastermind. Someone also has to be paying. Could it be them working together? Clearly Fabrizius has money if he's just not buying three horses with three horses worth of gold."

"I think...hmmm. I was going to say that I think it is better if Sir Tucker looked into the noble houses because they would expect that, but perhaps we don't want them preparing for an investigation. However, Sir Tucker would be more used to dealing with them, and he would probably be less skilled at tracking down servants. Would you mind if I tagged along? I'm sure you can find me a disguise. Perhaps the best place for me to be is where they don't expect me."

His questions had felt oddly pointed. Why was he consulting her on his investigation? He was the expert; that was why Sir Tucker had wanted his help. Or perhaps this was how an assassin got when he was focused on a job. Or perhaps it was something else. "Sir Tucker, what do you think?"

"Princess, you really shouldn't be traipsing after one of your guards. You are supposed to have four at one time. While I know you trust Sir Regess particularly for some reason, he will do better work if he is not worried about protecting you," he gave instructions, "Sir Regess, I would like to see how you handle the nobles. I have been here longer. I think the servants wouldn't be surprised to see me, and they trust me more. I shall try to shadow the corridors. We may have to switch."