[Lawrince]

"That would be appreciated, Sheriff," the envoy said. What little dinner
he had had seemed long ago, and he knew that the bureaucratic wheels
turned slowly - so breakfast and sleep would be long in coming.

[Sheriff Armand]

"Then so shall it be. I do not know what the Council has done to address
a Court or holding a trial. I think this might very well establish the
standard for the future. I am afraid that just getting the day to day
concerns of housing and food has taken up much of their time. They have
done well to get many folks back into homes and out of the tent city.
The buildings for the Council Hall and Court house are done or very
nearly so," the Sheriff spoke softly just so those nearby could hear.

It was only a short walk to the Tower Guard's offices and training area.
New recruits stood in the open court yard hard at work learning the use
of their weapons. "This is our training ground, we work on training the
Guard to disarm an opponant if possible and not to kill unless its
absolutely the only way."

"This way to my office," he said and led the way to his door, opening it
for them to enter. The office was very plain, neat in appearence. A very
well marked map of the city hung on the wall, with many small neat notes
on it detailing new construction and recent completions. Before he
closed the door behind them he signaled to a Guardsman and made a
request for food to be bought.

"Please make yourself comfortable," he said pointing to the chairs
arrange around the room, "Please tell me how you came to find the
murderer?"

[Lawrince/Cari/Lucc]

After the three had taken seats Lawrince began with his statement, "As you
know, I was supposed to arrive, officially, in Montfort several days ago,
but unofficially I had planned on arriving sooner - in order to learn what
my secretary, Netit Venit, was about. I had suspected for a while that he
had been involved with some underhanded dealings and had hoped to learn
more by following him myself. Unfortunately I lost him in town - not being
a very ept spy - and the next day learned that a body had been fished from
your canal."

The envoy took a sip from the water cup he had carried in with him, and
continued, "You must forgive me, Sheriff, if I had known of the Guards'
fine reputation I would have come to you sooner, but as Miss Dyer has
pointed out, few other towns boast such honest representatives of the
King's law. And I didn't know the _why_ of Netit's murder. So I began to
investigate on my own."

He gestured to his torn clothes, and said, "And last night the murderer
tried to do me in. If it hadn't been for Miss Dyer's timely arrival, along
with some other concerned bystanders I would have been dead."

Cari could tell that the envoy was at a loss for how to explain about
those "concerned bystanders" so she picked up the tale. ::A couple of
adventurers - in for the festival - also heard the ruckus and came to
help. One had enough magical skill to help track the magical residue,
which led us on quite a chase last night. We first discovered that our
murderer had set fire to his shack and then we followed the trail into
the woods, where we met up with Lucc.::

Lucc had looked up when his name was mentioned. There was the hint of a
wary look in his blue eyes - for though he could tell himself he was safe
his mind kept dredging up memories from his fatal visit to a Republica
jail. But he answered calmly enough, "My father and I have a sense when
the woods are disturbed and I was led to the spot where a body had been
buried. It turns out to be the body of his lady, Denlira."

Again Cari took up the tale and sent, ::We were able to corner him in the
ruins of the Citadel. His name is Fillip Menagrem, and it turns out that
originally this Denlira had knocked Netit Venit, an old beau, unconcious
after he had accosted her. Menagrem finished the job and dumped the body,
but later killed the woman.:: He mental tone was clear and precise.

The envoy continued, "The reason for all the secrecy is that Netit did
have a meeting on the night before he was murdered - with a mage's cat."

::Who sounds very much like Amberghylles' pet, Azriel,:: Cari added,
::Who, I know for a fact, is quite intelligent.::

[Sheriff Armand]

He listened to the tale carefully, making short notes on a tablet in
front of him. The mention of Azriel was not surprising, Bryce
Amberghylles was an unknown power still but Jonathan had long suspected
a sinister under tone to all of his dealings.

"Envoy, I am glad that you survived the ordeal. On behalf of the Council
I welcome you to Montfort. Your death would have been a great blow to
our current state. I do not blame you for not trusting the Guards
especially in lue of the stories that have benn circulated about us and
the night of the False Dawn."

He stood, "The Tower Guard is at your service. If you wish I will
provide escort for you during the remainder of your stay in Montfort. I
am sure that Sergeant Smithe will meet with your approval, he has dealt
with the formality of such visits before."

He turn toward Miss Batista, "I am sure that the Council will wish to
speak with you for your part in this."

"And you as well," he said turning to Lucc.

"Now my only problem is that we have no clear evidence that this Fillip
actually murdered the Envoy's secretary. I fear that the mage will have
covered his trace to this far too well to attach his name to the crime
as well. But I will not let the young girls death pass by so easily. You
said the the body will be brought here, Lucc?"

[Lucc/Cari/Lawrince]

"Yes," Lucc answered, "She should be brought along shortly."

Lawrince spoke up and said, "Your arrangements will be appreciated,
Sheriff. And as to connecting this man to Netit's murder we all heard him
confess to both crimes."

Cari nodded, and added, ::Which I will be willing to swear to.:: She
didn't doubt that soon someone would notice the murderer's rather unusual
nasal wounds, and realize that his confession had originally not been
quick in coming. Though, perhaps, Fillip might be willing to speak without
cohersion.

[Sheriff Armand]

"I mean no offense by this but anything he has told you cannot be taken
as truth. I cannot accept your word that he has done the crime, unless
you were there to have witnessed the murder while it happened. If he is
willing to confess his crime of Netit's murder to a Council appointed
representative that would be a different matter. The body of the girl
will be far more damaging to him."

He sat back down with a sigh, "Everything about Netit's murder has had a
foul taste from the very start. There a force's in Montfort that ride
along and revel in the chaos that has been left since the Church's
demise."

[Lawrince]

At that Lawrince Ournel snorted, a rather uncharastic sound, and said,
"The only thing in this case that's foul is Netit - and that proud pup we
brought in."

He looked up at the Sheriff and added, "While I don't doubt the forces of
chaos that you mention, Netit was petty, nasty individual and I'm not
surprised he met a similiar end."

[Sheriff Armand]

"Envoy, Miss Batista, Lucc, you must excuse me for a moment while I see
to the arrangements. The food will arrive shortly. While I am gone if I
could ask each of you to write out what has occured in your own
thoughts and words I will submit them to the Allenel when he arrives.
There is parchment and pens on the small table in the corner. I will
return within fifteen minutes or so."

He bowed to them and then walked back into the practice yard, his voice
could be heard echoing across the open area, "Sergeant Smithe!"

[To be continued.]