The shadows were beginning to lengthen as Private Jereminah Inleay and
Private Hollin Avery rode towards Baylon S. Terron's estate. For the fifth
time Hollin started at a sound and Jereminah snorted in derision. "Avery,"
she said, "Will you _stop_ acting like there's a pack of ogres on our
tails!! Unless you have skills that you ain't showing and an irate
husband's after you."

Private Avery blushed, from the roots of short ginger hair to the top of
his tunic collar. "Its starting to get dark and I've _heard_ about
Montfort woods."

"And no one has been eaten in months," she answered, with a sideways look
at the boy. She barely kept from grinning. "There are worse things that
roam the Montfort streets," she added, though in a more serious tone,
"Keep _that_ in mind, Avery. There are things that chew up and spit out
youngsters like you, particularly when you're marching around, looking
proud of yourself, with a sword and a badge."

"Okay, okay," Avery muttered, with his shoulders hunched against a
lecture.

"Sit yourself up," Jereminah said, "We've gotten to Terron's estate."

[Seron & Baylon]

His fingers flipped through the pages at high speed, releasing dust with
every motion, as if each chapter contained it's very own section of dust
and dirt. The pages stopped and rested. The old boney finger traced it's
way over the text. It was today's date, but there were no expected guests
listed.  ''It does bother me when we recieve unannounced arrivals, there
was a reason that messanger's were recruited''. Slamming the book shut,
the skinny human hurried off along the corridor, leaving a small cloud of
dust that gently floated to the floor below.

The one mirror located on the entire estate was at the door entrance.
Baylon never was one for a smart appearance around his own grounds. He had
put it at the main door, almost as a reminder to smarten up whenever he
was leaving or guests were expected. But these guests were not expected
and were at the moment, unknown. His pale face didn't do well to hide his
many years, the wrinkles lining his brow were almost an advertisment fro
his old age. He had a pointy face, Baylon never revealed to him, why he
never once in his long life, grew facial hair. Baylon had told him to
research this fact for himself, which Seron was still to this day doing,
it could easily take another ten years with all of his master's books
inside the house. Brushing his open hand over the top of his black hair,
he was satisfied with himself for now. He opened the double doors, closing
them behind him, he walked down the steps and onto the garden path,
leading to the two strangers at the gates.

He removed the bronze key from his belt pocket and opened the door bulit
into the right sided-gate. Standing before the two, he announced. '' If you
wish to have seat with the Master then it is required to have it cleared
beforehand, thank you. He is extremily busy, especially of late and unless
it is of vast importance I suggest we arrange another day to meet with the
Master''.

[Privates Inleay and Avery]

"Our pardon," Inleay said, "For arriving so late, but we are on mission
for the Court, and have a summons for Master Terron." She gestured to
Hollin and said, "This is Private Avery, and I'm Private Inleay, of the
Tower Guard."

[Seron]

He held his old glasses against his eyes, balancing on his sharp nose.
Eyeing the two arrivals from head to toe, he made his assumption. '' The
Court. If this is to do with those Taxes again, Master Baylon has settled
that matter in his very own way. But, you may aswell come in, the Master
would not appreciate it if he returns to news that I have not been
'hospitable' to workers of the Court. This way''. He turned his back to the
two and opened the gate. Waiting for the two to enter, he then closed and
locked and left the gate behind as he lead them along the garden path. Onto
the estate grounds, the three walked, with Seron just mumbling his name to
them and not describing the beauty of the grounds.

The path was of stone and felt so soft to walk on, that it seemed like it
were an illusion, inviting all the same. They continued the short walk,
passing greenery of full bushes with exotic coloured berries. Plants of all
type were on show, the most alarming were the green and yellow one's that
stood taller then a normal man, or even a minotaur. The trees were off to
the distance, with finished the estate and also hid the ground walls erected
for privacy. The entire area seemed like another land from the outside, as
if this were how a God would like all his forests. There was no threatening
aura about here, but like the soft path of hard stone, not one part of it
seemed to have been born from natural growth.

Seron walked the steps leading to the double doors. Fumbling for the key for
a few seconds he spoke out with his back still to the two. '' What business
is this for my Master? I suppose this is a need to know deal is it?''

[Inleay and Avery]

"Not really, Sir," Inleay answered, "It is a jury summons."

[Seron]

''A Jury ?''He opened the double doors and invited the two inside. Closing
and locking the tall black-wooded doors, he lead them down the corridor.
They walked on soft red carpet which spread the full length to the far
wall. As they passed room after room, each one had no doors. And each
looked in total contrast to the next. The first, on the guests left seemed
to be a collectors room. It filled with various objects, stacked on
shelves and stools around the floor. But the focal point was the spying
object, centred in the middle of the room. The telescope was still pointed
skyward, but the large window above was covered by a temperary curtain. A
quick glance into the opposite room would reveal blackboards with
numourous scribbles, adorned with text of all languages. The smell of
chalk seemed to be on guard at this room.

Seron directed the way past the rooms and stopped halfway from the end. He
turned, noting the curiousity of the male guest. ''You may wait in here''
Pointing inside to a large clear room. The large windows were wide open and
small particles of dust were slowly escaping. It was a pretty bare room,
with no decorations along the walls, just a large dark-wooden table in the
center with four chairs of the same colour. ''Please, take a seat, is there
anything you would like whilst you wait? Please do not hesitate'' Seron
removed a small notepad, as if waiting to scribble down a huge list of
demands.

[Inleay and Avery]

Jereminah smiled and said, "No thank you, Sir. We're fine."

Hollin seemed about to say something, but saw Inleay's quick glare and
shut his gaping mouth.

[Seron & Baylon]

''Very well, I will try to locate the Master. Although I believe he is still
exploring the surrounding wood. If I were you, I would get comfortable''. He
nodded to the two and left them alone in the room. As he walked the last
distance of the hallway corridor, the two guests could hear him mumbling
about preparing the two spare rooms for the night. Everything pointed to a
long stay at the Estate, except one thing, Baylon.


''Seron!...........Seron!!''

The guests could hear the movement, from the room directly above. It was
Baylon's main study and he were wondering the reason of his disturbance.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he waited for a moment for Seron to show.
He didn't. ''Huumph'' His old grey robes brushed the red carpet as he made
his way to the guest room. He stopped at the entrance and smiled at the
strangers,

''Hello there, I am-''

" Master Baylon! '' Seron had found his master. '' I thought you were still
in the forest? These two guests are from the Court of Montfort. They are
here for the business of- ''

'' I will take over from here, thank you Seron. I actually returned from the
forest time ago. Your thoughts, and your hearing, are obviously passing mine
in the wrong direction''.

The two were standing in the doorway, trading comments as if they were alone
and did this all the time. Eventually, Seron excused himself and Baylon
entered the room. Sitting at the seat inbetween the two he introduced
himself properly and politely questioned their business.

[Inleay and Avery]

After introducing both herself and Avery, Jereminah handed over a sealed
parchment, and said, "This is a summons to jury, Master Terron."

[Baylon]

He looked at the sealed parchment and pushed it aside.
''And when does this trial take place? I will be leaving this land soon''.

[Inleay and Avery]

After giving Master Terron the date and the time to present himself for
jury selection the two Tower Guard privates set out on their dark journey
back to Montfort.