After Carvahall left, Antonis moved, coming to an empty chair and taking it to the table, placing it where he had stood. With a wary sigh, he seated himself as though he were finally able to be at ease.

"I'm sorry," he said first, "but I would rather be rude than to allow unwelcome ears to this conversation." Antonis explained with closed eyes before his orange hues opened to look at the map laid out on the table. "I also wish to have the trust I have in you to continue as things become chaotic. Increasingly chaotic..." he added with an upturned brow. "And I wish that you trust in me as well. You know as much as I that we have been made by two entirely different forces, and how strange it is that we've become allies with our background and ideals.

But in everything, I regard you personally as a good friend, and I hope that you do not think lesser of me because I had belonged to a great iniquity."

Antonis finally turned his lowered eyes up, looking at Draco for the first time after he had spoken with a serious gaze.

"With that said, my past position has been granted back to me under strange circumstances. And though I will fight to end tyranny, I need you to understand...that I belong to the Ministry, even after the war. Our alliance will be viewed as treacherous. I will be an enemy to your people, and if they knew that we had worked together, your role as the established General will be flawed..."

Draco listened intently to General Antonis with an upturned brow, his thoughtful gaze soon appearing as Antonis continued and soon became stern when he ended. He remained silent for a long while, shifting his hardened gaze away from Antonis in thought.

As he thought silently to himself, a heavy breath released from his nostrils as a hand lightly rubbed his chin. After a moment, Draco finally returned his gaze back to Antonis; his brow lowered. "With this concerning fact in front of us, what do you plan to do, General Antonis?"

"I plan to end the suffering done by O'luca Viglione and all who follow her. I will personally see to that." he said with a stern voice as in a vow, "It must be done in haste. We cannot spare any more mistakes as Ceres again. Too many lives are at stake. Men seated in high chairs may converse behind closed doors, unseen as the war continues. Who knows? Perhaps even elected officials in Faholgal are scheming behind the King's back for profit. It's been known to happen."

Antonis lowered his brows, turning narrowed eyes towards the exit, "I suggest you send someone we trust back to the city. The meeting we had before...where you met with Mr. Keel. I've noticed he had reported a substantial amount of closed door activity done in Vidalie. It makes me worried on the state of Faholgal."

He paused for a moment in thought until his eyes trailed back to Draco, "Perhaps you could send Carvahall. It would make fine use of his newly acquired position."

Draco leaned an elbow onto the arm of his chair and used his knuckle to rest his chin thoughtfully. But when Antonis suggested someone go back to the city, that person being Carvahall, Draco couldn't help but arch a brow towards Antonis.

Send Viggo to the capital? He has served his time in the military to be able to go back to the castle, but this situation was completely different. If there was foul play within the politics of Faholgal, sending Viggo there may be putting him in harms way... being who he was.

"Though, I do agree that further investigation is needed during these times of war... I can not be the one to decide if Carvahall is sent to the city." Draco's ears folded back. "I gave him the choice to decide where he should best serve. It will be his decision, not mine. But..." A worried gaze slowly appeared on the old dog's face. "I personally don't feel he should be the one to go. He may have the position for it, but I feel he would best serve under my command... here." He attempted to appear stubborn. As much as he trusted Antonis, he still couldn't allow anyone to know what position Viggo truly held... and he couldn't risk putting the prince of Faholgal in that situation.

"I'll find another to take up the responsibility... Thank you for bringing this to my attention. With the battle and putting the city back together, it is hard to think about every detail." The old dog said quietly, his gaze trailing to his right with a stern face.

To the dismissal, Antonis frowned in impatience. "Draco." he said sternly, not letting the discussion be cut off so easily, "How could you not order him back to the capital? You're the high General for God's sakes. Who else can we trust? Mr. Keel had reported that two men who served the Ministry was undercover, trying to get into Vidalie. How can we be sure the same isn't being done over there?!"

Antonis paused, finding that his tone was rising to an offending level. He settled back in his seat, letting out a breath to calm himself.

"I'm sorry..." he said after a pause, placing his head against his fingers as his eyes closed. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."

Draco's chin lowered to allow his mouth to be partially covered by his knuckle, his stern features softening to worry again. Was Carvahall truly the best choice for this task? There needed to be an investigation of the higher powers in Faholgal, but would Viggo's experience be enough to keep him out of further trouble and danger? "No, you're fine, Antonis. You had reason to act as you are, you don't need to apologize to me." Draco said, keeping his gaze to his right.

Viggo would always be in constant danger, especially out in the field within the battles of war. The battle for Ceres was enough he was able to not only defend himself, but keep everything held together to fight back. Maybe returning to the castle would help increase that sense of leadership and logic... or it may worsen it.

"This decision is harder than it appears to be, General. Carvahall may be the best choice now that he has gained the position to do so. And I may regret saying this later and I pray you never share what is being said, but Carvahall is much more important than he seems." He said in a quieter tone, slowly turning his head back towards Antonis. "My fear for sending him to his duty is that our politicians or enemies may use him to their advantage, for being who he is."

He paused for a brief moment, his gaze saddening slightly. "He holds the lineage of the high royal line."

To this discovery, Antonis' features lightened as a surprised gaze was held onto Draco. He was completely still and silent until moments later as his shoulders slouched, letting out a heavy breath.

"These surprises never end, do they?" he sighed, shaking his head somberly, "But it seems to make sense now, all things considered. He demands attention within the crowd...as royalty does." Antonis smirked slightly to that, setting himself back in his seat.

"Then it isn't my place to suggest him. It would have made things simpler..."

Antonis paused as his eyes glanced back to the map, taking note of the colored pieces set on landmarks distinctively.

"...And what does the General of Faholgal plan to do now that Ceres had been saved from the Ministry? With the Boursault General defeated, a reputation to hold and a very advancing enemy nearing the Faholgal borders?" Antonis asked, leaning onto the table with his arms, taking a piece closest to him, examining it leisurely.

"Not to mention a Prince is under your wing and your men view our partnership with scorn. There had been a few arguments between your soldiers and mine, especially on who keeps the prisoners of battle. It's becoming complicated now...So many things to consider and so much could be lost..."

Antonis fell silent to that, his gaze on the piece in his hand becoming saddened in recollection. He had heard from Murdoc that Voltrick had left, Aidan promptly after. What was to become of them? He couldn't do anything now to find them...not with an army watching his every movement. And his movements mattered now more than anything before. Not to mention that he had to think now on his next move...and think hard.

"But who has not lost something in times of war?" he said quietly, setting the piece back onto the map.

Draco raised his brow briefly with a soft grunt; keeping his gaze settled upon the map. “The Selkanites, apparently, in this war... Well, minus the 'threat' from O'luca." His brow rose again; waving off his comment. "Right now, I have to deal with the suspected general who was charged with patrolling these lands." Draco's brow lowered as he rubbed his chin. "Carvahall says to send a party to relieve Paurillion of his duty, but I know I'm going to need to be the one who needs to go. Plus... My gut tells me there's more to this than what is seen."

The old dog's gaze raised up to Antonis. "One of my captains returned after speaking with General Paurillion. He told me he suspected Paurillion of destroying an entire village within Ministry territory without any ministry presence." A heavy breath was released, lowering his brow and gaze. "I can’t afford to leave this area unprotected if I, myself, go to Paurillion. Nor can I leave my army behind."

Antonis knit his brows to the strange circumstances Draco had shared of this other general. The fact that he had invaded a Ministry territory with no soldiers to be found was, if not, disturbing.

"It seems this general of yours is keen on handling matters the Ministry way..." Antonis grumbled off hand as he glanced away, as if to take little interest. He couldn't be concerned with this man, he would let that fall into Draco's hands.

"Though if you leave, then someone you trust must remain here. The civilians and the soldiers are weakened, and though we had won, what stops the Ministry from passing through here again? Ceres is the easiest route to Faholgal, and I feel this battle was merely for demonstration purposes on Viglione's part to threaten our just cause. But get that general under control. There's no room for haunting information like that, not when the war has just begun."