Larksong Grotto the bazaar of bad dreams

The children followed. Hiram had no problem with them accompanying him wherever he went. In fact, he enjoyed all the time he spent with them. And gosh, they were just so adorable when they kept their tiny mouths shut. But, kids tended to say the darnedest things -- so, when Laurel opened her mouth to speak, Hiram was completely mortified. His eyes shot wide and his mouth hung agape.

He shook off the shock and bent down to Laurel's level. Calmly, he set out to remedy this behavior with a quick aside. "Laurel," he whispered. "A princess should speak to her subjects with respect and dignity." He smiled. "I promise that respect will be returned. This woman is both beautiful and kind, and I'd like you to apologize to her."  

It was clear that Vuk had been through some trauma, even if he couldn't look her in the eye. Hiram turned his eyes back to the woman as she spoke. Her words gave him yet another shock. Seff was gone. He felt absolutely gutted that the child had disappeared while he had been gone. As the cardinal, it was his job to protect his flock... and in that, he had failed.

And so, he blamed himself.

"When did you see him last? Where?" He asked. The boy was one he cared deeply for, so of course, Hiram would organize a search for him -- but he needed whatever information Vuk had before he could begin.