Apparently, Apaman, the loser you're apprenticed to, has gotten it into his head that the Hestron (one of the jewels in the Sceptre of Charlten, a symbol of the power of the Prince of Urf) is one of the keys to unlocking the secrets.
He was kind enough to drag you to the Prince's castle, push you into the coal chute, and tell you not to bother coming out without the Hestron in your possession.