[Cari]



Cari pushed the now-blotted and readied statement away from her, and sat
back in her chair. She looked quite relaxed as she watched Lawrince and
Lucc working on their's - and she had every confidence that both would
stick to the story that they had agreed upon before the teleport. Fillip's
unusual nasal wounds they had agreed came from the overly-zealous
adventurers, who had inflicted the damage before any had a chance to stop
them. Fairly close to the truth - except the part about trying to stop the
wounding. She had made sure to stress that while the adventurers had begun
to question him before Lawrince, Lucc and she had caught up with them that
the cohersion had been stopped - that it was the horror of the Citadel's
ruins that had already broken him. Again close to the truth - he had been
babbling when they came upon him. Of course, this could lead to a question
of his competency to stand trial.

However, Cari wasn't too worried about that - weasel or not, Netit
Venit, had been in the Crown's employee (not to mention the Royal Envoy
being attacked) so Montfort would have to prove that they were able to
bring about justice in such matters. The spotlight was upon them.

She suspected that it would be interesting discussing the matter later
with the envoy - to see how much he was going to push the issue. Though,
she would have to teleport him from his room to a private dining chamber
at the Golden Griffin - so that the envoy could buy dinner for his other
(and more "shy" rescuers). Gentlemen who would not wish to be seen by
any of the Guard.

"Tiring business," Lawrince said, laying aside his statement and picking
up the remains of a sandwich. He looked over at Lucc - noting how
restless the boy appeared - and asked, "How long do you think it will
take for your friend's to bring the poor girl in?"

"Actually, it shouldn't take them long," Lucc said. He got up to
stretch, and to loosen up his cramped fingers - while he could write the
process was still painstakingly slow. "And I'm sure Mr. Gilford is on
the way too....They were going to let him know before they headed out."

[Yals/Serun]

Though Alexandrin had accompanied him to the woods the Legentor had
prefered not to return to the Guard tower, and this Yals understood - the
warrior was still new to his spirit guardian existence. Nor did Yals have
any difficulty in calling Denlira's mutilated body from the soil that held
it. He gently lifted her into his arms - murmuring words of gentleness to
her frightened spirit. Words only slightly younger than the land's
forming. Then he yipped a "thank you" to the foxes who had stood guard
over her - watching as their russet shadows slipped back into the
undergrowth, returning to their dens with the coming of the day.

The red-haired man re-appeared near the Guard tower - a limp body
wrapped in a green cloak, and held gently in his arms. "Gatekeeper,"
Yals called out, "I bring you the murdered Denlira."

[Gatekeeper]

He appeared quick, the Sheriff had told him to expect the body.

"Just a minute Sira. I was told to fetch the Mage when you arrived," he
said as he started to searching inside his shirt for something. "I call
it 'im as soon as I fi... there it is." The gatekeeper brought out a
small rolled up parchment and quickly tore it in half. From somewhere
nearby the sound of a clear bell was heard followed closely by foot
steps.

[Mage Brendan]

He walked at a slow pace, long sleeve hanging below his hands and a deep
cloak concealing his features. He looked at the man who had brought the
body and felt strangely disquieted but shrug it off thinking it was the
task ahead that worried him.

"Greetings to you. I am called Brendan. If I can beg your indulgence for
a few more minutes to carry her to the place I have prepared," he
motioned back toward the direction he had come. "We will need to remove
the traces you have left behind in handling her. The fewer folk that
have contact with her the better."

[Yals]

"The poor child is no great burden," Yals said; his footsteps silent as
he followed the mage. "And the name I'm called is, Yals."

And though the red-haired man's expression was sad he about the grounds
with an air of calm curiosity.

[Mage Brendan]

"My thanks to you, Yals," he said as he led him to a small room. The room
had been magically shielded to preserve and protect anything placed
inside. Inside the room is a long table in the center and a smaller one
to the side. The smaller table held various ingredients for working
magic.

"Put her there on the table if you would."

[Yals]

As if he was handling a living child Yals gently laid the cloak-wrapped
body on the table and stepped back.


[Elektra]

Elektra hurried towards the Guards Tower. Allenel Gilford had sent a
runner for her at her small quarters, and after a hasty conference had
sent her, his apprentice, to act as an official observer for the Council.
With word from Yals and Alexandrin that the envoy was alive, and the
murderer of his secretary (and a Montfort lass), Allenel had found himself
facing the possibility that he would have to act as judge in the trial.
And Brion - since he and the Selkies had discovered the signet ring - were
witnesses. So, it had fallen on her shoulders. The tall, dark-haired girl
found herself breathless with both excitment and nerves.

However, when Elektra reached the gates she made herself take a deep
breath and smooth her skirts. She had been given by the Hunter a tall,
slender body - with fine, aristocratic face, and penetrating brown eyes.
And she was learning to use her straight stature and noble appearance to
good advantage when looking professional.

Ahead of her she saw Yals - and the bundle in his arms. Anger at the
senseless murder flashed in her eyes - then disappeared as she reminded
herself that she needed to keep her composure, and that the memories
that haunted her were of a time when she had seen her own body in such a
state. But without the tender care of an ancient spirit.

Soon she too reached the gates and called for the gatekeeper.

[Gatekeeper]

He responded to her, trying very hard not to give her that once-over
look her beauty would usually bring, "Yes Missy..Miss. How can we help
you?"

[Elektra]

"I'm Mr. Gilford's secretary, Elektra, and here to act as an official
observer of Mr. Menagrem's questioning," she said in a precise, clear
tone.

[To be continued.]