In the days that followed, Baron Duval's Castle was plunged into unprecedented turmoil.
The Steward's furious shouts, the heavy footsteps of the Guards, and the occasional crack of a whip left the castle with no peace, day or night.
The interrogations began with the servants of the Outer Fortress.
Murphy stood in the line of those waiting to be questioned, calmly observing his surroundings.
He saw a kitchen hand ahead of him get publicly flogged for hiding bread, while another groom was caught red-handed by the Steward for stealing the warhorses' special feed.
"I... I just wanted to give that old horse a little something extra..."
The groom knelt and begged for mercy.
The Steward sneered. "Stealing warhorse feed is a fine of four Silver Coins! If you can't pay, you get twenty lashes! Next, Murphy!"
When it was Murphy's turn, he shuffled timidly into the interrogation room, not daring to look the Steward in the eye.
The Steward sat at a table, flanked by two Guards.
