The Chronicle:

After her little conversation with Sarina, Constanza let Lucas, Ferdinand, and Sebastiano in on the truth.  The three men were in favour of despatching the adventuress, but Constanza, as usual, pleaded against hasty actions.  In the end, they decided to continue the masquerade while keeping the woman under close scrutiny.  There was hardly any chance to sleep since it was now so late into the night and everyone had to start at the crack of dawn to dress up for the dreaded breakfast with the Empereur.  Beggar John, of course, put on his best burlap.

The heroes made their way to the Château du Soleil in a coach and six, noting as they passed the crowds of paupers trooped at the palace gates, waiting expectantly, and the squads of musketeers and Lightning Guard patrolling.  Once inside, they were taken to a regally appointed dining room, of proportions far vaster than necessary for an intimate breakfast. Lucas and Constanza were treated with ceremonious courtesy, Sebastiano with perfectunctory acknowldegement, and Sarina with open contempt, while Beggar John was ignored as a servant.

At first, only Lucas and Constanza were invited to sit.  Other guests arrived: General François Etalon du Toille, Baron Rémy de Montaigne, Captain Jean-Marie Rois et Reines de Rogné, Impératrice Morella de Montaigne, and at last after a suitable delay, l'Empereur himself.  When Baron Rémy and General du Toille made a show of ignoring Sarina, Constanza pointed out that this was the lady the General had wronged and promised to apologize to.  Sarina was then offered a place at the table.

The dining room overlooked a vast courtyard where a crowd was gathered beneath scaffolds.  These scaffolds supported a wooden contraption fitted with a sharp gleaming blade, which Rémy de Montaigne was only to happy to explain was called the "barber", and was a new method of exectution, more humane than hanging or quartering.  One after the other, condemned prisoners were brought out and publically beheaded, to the crowds cries of derision.  Meanwhile, course after course was brought to the Empereur's table, so that all one could do was take a nibble and let the plates be taken away.  The leftovers were taken by servants and thrown to the crowd as they had been in Paix, while the Empereur and Rémy de Montaigne laughed at the peasants scrambling for a bite.

The conversation was subtly unnerving throughout breakfast.  The Empereur made sure to inform Lucas that he had no intention whatsoever of renouncing the Dauphin's rights.  He declared that in his eyes, young Pascal was the only legitimate heir to the throne of Castille.
 

Then in the courtyard, one last prisoner was brought out for execution, and a hush fell over the crowd.  The Empereur watched his guests' reaction with amusement.  They recognized the prisoner as Jérôme!  Sarina gasped in outrage.  But in the courtyard, the mood had changed.  The crowd was no longer amused; the story of Jérôme, the war hero, and how he had avenged his love from the cruelty of Yannick Bisset du Verre, was already known widely through Charouse.  The populace started booing the executioners and the guards.  Fists shook in the air, angry cries sounded, paving stones were thrown and suddenly the courtyard was in full riot.

Captain Jean-Marie Rois et Reines de Rogné excused himself and rushed to try to restore order.  A few moments later, the heroes were able to observe him in the courtyard below, addressing the angry crowds, though they could not hear his words.  The Captain was was liked by the people, and they listened to him, though with clear discontent.  His words had their effect, however, and the crowds quieted enough to let the musketeers regain some control of the situation.  They dispersed the crowds, and Sarina noticed gleefully that Jérôme had somehow disappeared in the tumult.

The Captain returned to the Empereur's side to make his report.  The sovereign seemed less than pleased, however.

"You should have shot them," Rémy de Montaigne commented contemptuously.

Captain de Rogné ignored him, but explained to the Empereur: "I thought it would best serve Montaigne if I could solve the problem without harming your subjects, Sire."

"Who do you serve?" the Empereur asked coldly.  "Is there any difference between serving me and serving Montaigne?"

The Captain remained silent, mouth slightly opened, as if he had just been struck by a realisation.

The Empereur's eyes narrowed dangerously.  "I see."  He turned to his cousin.  "Rémy, get rid of him."

With obvious enjoyment, the Empereur's Champion drew his sword and with quick, precise strikes, sliced away the Captain's decorations and honours.  De Rogné endured this with silent disbelief, then turned away and stalked out.  Baron Rémy followed him to see him off the grounds.

During this scene, the heroes had remained stunned into silence, as had the Impératrice.  When the Empereur turned to her and demanded that she use her Sorté powers to control the rebellious populace, she shook her head, murmuring that she could not help.  The Empereur, furious, walked out and the heroes were escorted back to their carriage.
 

As they were walking through the palace grounds to leave, the heroes were accosted by one of their old friends, Jacques Lévesque d'Aur.  He taunted Lucas, the two exchanged words, and d'Aur indicated that he would be meet Lucas late that evening to settle the score once and for all.  He did not seem troubled at all that the Swordsmen Guild had refused them authorization for a duel to the death, and Lucas was just as happy to get this over with.  Neither mentioned the words "to the death", but both clearly thought them.  The heroes took their leave of the Palais du Soleil.

Through the streets of Charouse, the Castillans saw more angry mobs rampaging and looting.  The innkeeper of La Pescada was very frightened, though the presence of his well-armed and well-escorted guests somewhat reassured him.  They had only been back for a short while when a message came for Ferdinand: he was being summoned to the chapterhouse of the Rose and Cross.  "Beggar John" immediately complied, and found himself drafted, along with other novices of the Order, into manning the kitchens and cooking soup while all the Knights were mobilised to contain and pacify the angry crowds of Charouse.

After a day of back-breaking labour, "Beggar John" came back to the inn.  After a very short time, however, another messenger from the Order arrived.  Ferdinand braced himself for more kitchen duties, but instead it was Constanza who was summoned, and asked to bring "Beggar John".  They found the chapterhouse nearly empty, as Knights were dispatched throughout the city.  Master Knight Faith d'Arrent questioned Constanza on "Beggar John"'s previous monster-hunting exploits, then questioned the novice directly. She finally revealed that something was lurking in the catacombs under the chapterhouse, and attacked knights every new moon.  This evening would be a new moon... and Beggar John was asked to guard the chapterhouse from the beast.

Meanwhile at the inn, nearly on the Rose and Cross messenger's heels came another one.  A lady, dressed well and in Vodacci style, came accompanied by two bodyguards.  She was bringing Lucas a request to meet with the Impératrice that evening.  Lucas was surprised, but could not refuse such an invitation.  He made his way to the Palace as requested, under her maid's escort.  He found the Impératrice alone and looking very sad. She questioned him on his intents regarding the Dauphin.  Apparently reassured that Lucas was a man of honour, she begged him to protect the boy's safety, as she loved Pascal as if he had been her own grandson.  Lucas gave his word that he would do his best to keep the child safe.

Then from the shadows, Baron Rémy stepped out with his customary sneer.  He accused Morella of plotting against the Empereur, and with the swiftness of a striking snake, plunged his rapier into her breast before Lucas could even react.  Then the Empereur's Champion turned to Lucas and advised him to leave before it was too late.  Lucas immediately realised that he was no match for the man believed to be the best swordsman in Théah, and was likely intended to be the fall guy for this murder whether he ran or stayed to die.  He reluctantly left.
 

Lucas made his way back to the inn despite the restless crowds roaming the streets of Charouse.  Sebastiano was still there, keeping Sarina under watch and questioning her about Melisandre's fate, while Constanza and Ferdinand were still missing.  Lucas sent the staff to pack the group's luggage, warning Sebastiano to be ready to leave within a few hours, then set himself to wait for Jacques Lévesque d'Aur's promised visit.

Meanwhile, at the chapterhouse of the Rose and Cross, Ferdinand and Constanza were left practically alone except for one crippled old Poor Knight left in charge of the house.  The heroes settled in the cellars to wait for the beast, but were soon visited by the inevitable Comte de Sinjin, bringing a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses.  The comte declared that a fight against a monster should be entertaining, and as he got little enough entertainment, he would await there with the heroes.  "Beggar John" and Constanza were less than enthusiastic, but saw no way of evicting the Comte, who poured wine for himself and Constanza.

Shortly before midnight, they heard a noise in the quiet cellar.  A shadow passed, and a creature of nightmare finally emerged, all tentacles, claws, fangs, and writhing shapes.  Ferdinand, deprived of the use of a sword in his "Beggar John" state, faced the creature as best he could, defending himself with makeshift weapons from the jumble of discarded items found in the cellar.  Constanza, horrified, drew her pistols and took careful aim, as the beast cruelly raked "Beggar John".  But as she was about to fire, the comte calmly poured the content of his wine glass onto Constanza's pistols, wetting the powder and fuses.  Furious, Constanza tried to pistol-whip him but he avoided her nimbly, thoroughly amused.  All this time, Ferdinand was fighting for his life against the beast.

Back at the inn, Lucas finally received the visit he had been anxious for: Jacques Lévesque d'Aur arrived, grinning widely.  The two swordsmen promptly engaged in a fierce, earnest duel while the innkeeper cowered.  They exchanged a flurry of attacks, counterattacks, thrusts, feints and parries.  D'Aur seemed to have gained a slight advantage, though he crowed as if he had Lucas against a wall, no doubt trying to irritate the Castillan into over-committing himself.  Somewhere in the city, a clock rang the hour; and on the twelfth stroke of midnight, Jacques Lévesque d'Aur suddenly screamed in agony, clutching his head.  His sword fell on the floor, ringing on the flagstones, as Lucas stared in bemusement.  D'Aur made a gesture, visibly trying to open a Porté hole, but without success, and seemed incapable of comprehending this failure.

Then Lucas was at the Montaigne's throat and promptly made sure he was truly disabled.  He considered killing off d'Aur, but instead cut off the fingers of the man's right hand.  He turned to the terrified innkeeper and demanded a cask of wine, in which he dropped the severed fingers.  While d'Aur moaned in pain, Lucas roughly warned him to remain away from he and his family, or the next time d'Aur would not live.

Meanwhile, at the chapterhouse of the Rose and Cross, Beggar John was struggling to survive the assault of the beast in the cellar, as Constanza watched in horror and the Comte de Sinjin in amusement.  Then on the last stroke of midnight, the beast departed as suddenly as it had arrived, leaving Ferdinand bleeding from great gashes in his torso.  The Comte declared the evening's entertainment over, and sauntered away.  Constanza and the injured Beggar John decided to return to the inn so Sarina, though not as skilled as Melisandre, could bandage the wounds.
 

They arrived at the inn in the aftermath of the duel, just as a bleeding d'Aur limped away, and traded explanations with Lucas and Sebastiano.  Everyone made ready to leave immediately, but there was another knock on the door.  The innkeeper warily checked on the caller and announced that a musketeer was asking for Constanza and Lucas on behalf of Captain Jean-Marie Rois et Reines de Rogné.  After a moment of hesitation, the heroes followed the messenger to the manor of Captain de Rogné. 

They found the Captain looking pale and harried, and Princess Anne with reddened eyes, holding young Pascal close.  Captain de Rogné announced that they had decided not to press the Dauphin's claim to the throne of Castille for the moment.  Although they would not renounce it on his behalf, they would sign a document pledging that they would press no such claim, though when he came of age Pascal could still attempt to assert his rights.  They believed, the Captain said, that the Dauphin was the rightful heir and therefore they asked that the heroes bring him back to Castille, keep him safe, and see that he was raised knowing the land, its customs and its language. 

Constanza answered that she knew of at least two candidates whom she thought had a better claim to the throne, but swore to do everything in her power to keep Pascal safe, not because of any blood rights, but because he was an innocent child.  The Dauphin tearfully embraced his mother one last time, then was whisked away with his scant luggage to accompany the heroes to Castille. 

Without waiting for dawn, the heroes left Charouse in the dark of night, while groups of rebels skulked through the streets half-fearful and half-crowing.  They made their way through Montaigne with the greatest possible speed and discretion, mere hours ahead of the news of the rebellion in the capital.  As they were reaching the Great Trade River, they heard wild and contradictory rumours, including one that the Empereur had been slain in the rebellion, but nothing could be confirmed.  It appeared that Porté was not working at all, markedly slowing communications.