[Cari/Lawrince]

::That will probably be what gets him strung up,:: Cari commented, ::Most
people in Montfort are skittish about fires.::

The envoy ignored Miss Dyer's comment and said, "Since Montfort has so
many odd happenings - how do we know that our murderer set that fire?::

[Eric/Lovvorn]

"Who cares,"  said Lovvorn.  "It's a fire... let's go and watch!"

"The tracks were headed that direction before they stopped,"  added Eric.
"...and I don't believe in coincidence."

As they walked, Eric retrieved his dagger and began toying with it again.
Clearly, he was itching to stab something.

[Cari/Lawrince]

::On that you have my agreement,:: Cari sent.

At her comment Lawrince turned from eyeing Eric's deft turn of a blade,
and said, "Tell me, Miss Dyer, what brings you along on this sordid
business? Not that I don't appreciate your timely arrival, but this hardly
the type of thing a young lady should be out and about on." Though he had
seen some of the young ladies of His Highnesses court carry themselves in
a similiar manner - and rumor (a very quiet rumor) said that there was a
very active secret police operating in Bleckner.

Cari looked up at the envoy and after a couple of studied moments said,
::I'd prefer not to see the King's wrath fall on Montfort. Too many have
paid - even with their souls - to see this city rise again.::

She turned from Lawrince and sent, ::Nice tracking, Mr. Lovvorn.::

[Eric/Lovvorn]

"It's nothing really... anything to help his envoyness.  And of course a
city full of royalty would be an extraordinary pain.  Why, it takes almost
FOUR TIMES as much gold to bribe a royal guardsman than it does for...
uhh...never mind.  My, what a nice fire we're having tonight..."

Indeed, no sooner than Lovvorn had planted his foot firmly into his mouth,
the party arrived at the source of the fire.

[Lawrince/Cari]

The envoy chuckled. While his rescuers, or at least two of them, were of a
very dangerous variety - he had to admit that they were interesting
companions. "Unfortunately, they never list it as taxable income," he
added.

Ahead of them was a scraggly bucket brigade of men and women, who were
endeavoring to dowse the remains of a flaming shanty; most of two walls -
and the roof - had collapsed. Luckily for the neighbors the firey shack
set off by itself, which had allowed some bright soul to have scraped away
dry grass - to form a rough dirt perimeter.

Other inhabitants were holding soaked blankets ready to beat out any
sparks that might pop loose.

For a few minutes Cari seemed to be completely fascinated by the fire, but
she finally sent, ::No one here is masking guilt for the act - for many
other things, but not for setting the fire. With this many, though, it
would be easier to ask a few questions about the event. And who lived
here.::

[Eric/Lovvorn]

Eric snatched the nearest firefighter by his grimy neck.  He yanked the
surprised man up onto his toes... Eric's blade was to his neck even before
he knew what was going on.

"Who lived here?"  said Eric.  His voice was calm and sedate, as if he
were having an ordinary conversation over dinner.

"Wh-Wh-Wh-I...I..."

"You got trouble tallkin'?  How 'bout I slice you a whole new mouth right
here-"  Eric pressed the blade into the man's thoat, stopping just short
of drawing blood.

"F-F-Fillip!"

"Was he a mage?"

"Uh ... mage?  I dunno."

"How 'bout this fire...  Did he start it?"

"I din see nothin!   I swear!"

Eric turned to Cari and Lawrince

"Any other questions?  Maybe we should ask 'im the meaning of life, eh?
Be interesting to see what he comes up with..."

[Lawrince/Cari/Crowd]

"We might get his in its entirety - as it goes flashing by," the envoy
said, sounding more than a little surprised at turn of events.

A toothless creature, whose age and sex where hard to determine, spit onto
the ground and said, "Uppupity bey. En' his chit too. She be pretty enough
to earn a coin e' two."

::When it started might be a good question,:: Cari sent as she studied the
burning building.

[Gwit]

        "Nasty nasty," Gwit murmured, twisting a length of dirty scarf
between his fingers as he watched the buckets being passed back and forth.
He didn't like the fire, didn't like the way it licked over the hut, as if
it wanted to eat up all the shanties.  And he didn't like the way these
four strangers had appeared, and how one had grabbed poor Gard -- as if he
deserved to have a knife held to his neck just for being poor.  But
Frannie was here, somewhere, with dampened blankets in her hands, working
with the other women.  And there'd be no hot porridge 'til she was done.
And, he reminded himself, Frannie wouldna like to have him just stand
around and watch while one of their own got roughed.

        Gwit shuffled over, alternately ducking his head and looking away,
and then finally managed to glare at the toothless beast who had spoken.
"Ne need to be nasty," he huffed, voice a rough growl.

        "No need at all," another soft voice cut in, accompanied by a hand
settling carefully on Gwit's crooked shoulder.  The old fisherman jerked,
and blinked at the blonde man.  The face was familiar -- the fellow had
been helping with the buckets, and his plain brown clothes and cloak held
the unmistakeable smell of smoke -- but he couldn't really put a name to
it. For a moment, the green eyes answered his stare before moving on to
the group of strangers, studying each of them, lingering longest on the
silent woman.  "Looking to entertain yourselves by rousting a few
beggars?" he asked evenly.  He seemed completely unconcerned about being
out-numbered.

[Eric/Lovvorn]

"Yes, actually."  said Eric.  "Not that it's any of your concern.  But if
you know somethin' about the owner of that shack, then maybe you'd better
speak up...  might save THIS gentleman a few pints of blood."

[Cari/Lawrince/Yals]

~There wouldn't have been enough to resurrect..~ Cari thought, but she
still had the uneasy feeling she had seen this man before - burning on a
Church pyre. Actually one of the first victims. She met his gaze and still
wondered.

"Go and seek within the tombs of the forgotten," a voice said; so near the
envoy that he quickly turned to see the speaker.

Behind him stood a slender man in soot-covered homespun, whose face was
neither young nor old, though his own green eyes were ancient. And his
long ponytail of red hair distinctive. He casually leaned against an oaken
staff.

::There are a lot of those,:: Cari sent, so they all could "hear." ::Do
you mind being a little more specific?::

"You act as if you have no concern for this place or its people," he said,
calmly studying her, "But like most who fought - be they dead or alive -
your blood has mingled with this land and its roots will either strengthen
your heart or shatter it."

There was a heartbeat's hesitation before Cari said anything, but when she
did her sending was as cool as always. ::We're seeking a murderer, I don't
think it is time for a philosophical debate.:: To herself she added, ~I
get enough of that with Semarath and the other Templars.~ All of whom had
a knack for finding where her conscious hid.

"None are debating," the red haired newcomer answered, "And I don't think
that one murder excuses another...."

Lawrince had noticed that their situation was drawing the crowd towards
them - and away from the fire. He looked over at Lovvorn and said, "Maybe
it would help if you checked around for any magic having been used."

"Perhaps you could use some aid in the tracking?" asked the red-haired
man. "For as you said, there are many forgotten graves."

Cari tried to scan either the blond or red-haired newcomers, and instantly
pulled her probe back - both pulsed with energy. Old energy. Restless
energy.

[Eric/Lovvorn]

As more people gathered around, Eric released his prisoner and
directed his attention to the new arrivals.   He didn't like them, and
the speed with which his dagger twirled around and between his
nimble fingers telegraphed that fact to all who cared to look.

"Oh well,"  said Lovvorn.  "Show's over."     He made an off-hand
gesture towards the still-burning remains of the shack... the flames
extinguished themselves, releasing billowing clouds of smoke and
ash.

Lovvorn approached the ruins and walked around as if inspecting
them.   He looked up at Eric.

"He teleported away.   I suppose you want me to follow..."

"Yes,"  said Eric.  He never took his eyes off of the two strangers.

"Okay.  On one condition... somebody please tell me just who the
HELL THESE PEOPLE ARE!   Thank you."