Wait, why were they still kidnapped like that if like half the kingdom knew of the scheme?
I thought the guards would have at least informed the two mages that their kidnapping was part of the plan and they should play their roles as hapless victims...
They are looking for proof of that rotten kingdom involvement, so they can't move too soon, but knowing the normal attitude of the kids, maybe ask them to not provoke them too much and risk unneeded injuries?
Well, I guess the proof just appeared near the end of the chapter... next chapter will probably be the rescue of the kids and imprisonment of that guard.