A tall, solidly-built woman, with short-cropped sandy brown hair, made her
way to Sergeant Mercer's office door and knocked. Then waited.

Private Jereminah Inleay studied the opposite wall and reviewed the news
she carried. It seemed that they might be able to re-open an angle on the
Netit Vanit case.

[Sgt. Mercer]

The door opened to reveal Sgt. Mercer. He ran a long fingered hand through
his salt and pepper hair and looked out at her. "Yes Private Inleay?" he
said in his quiet gravelly voice, "Can I help you with something?"

[Inleay]

After a sharp and quick salute Private Inleay said, "I have some
information on the Vanit case to report, Sir."

[Mercer]

"Come in," he said.  Once the door was closed behind them he turned to
face her.  "What have you learned?" he asked.

[Inleay]

"I've been contacted by Emmon Filgers, a local investigator," Jereminah
said, "He has been hired by the prosecution to pursue further
investigations into the Menagrem case. However, in the process of doing so
he met with Mr. Bryce Amberghylles, and also had the opportunity to
observe the mage's "pet." The cat fits the description given by the
waitresses at the Red Dragon Inn of the animal that Netit Vanit was seen
feeding. What made Mr. Filgers even more interested in this bit of
information is the fact that the cat can speak in Common....quite
fluidly."

[Sgt. Mercer]

"A familiar by the sound of it," he said evenly, "But it does lead one to
wonder why Mr. Amberghylles' talking cat was meeting with Mr. Vanit on the
night of his murder.  And why he didn't bother to come forward with this
information on his own."  He paused for a second then looked at Inleay.
"Guard procedure is not to question suspects alone, care to accompany me to
the Coliseum, private?"

[Inleay]

"I'd love to, Sir," Jereminah said, with a quick grin. "Sir, should we
have a couple more for back up? After all, this is a mage we're
questioning and on his home ground."

[Mercer]

He shook his head, "No.  We're just going to go ask a few questions.  I'm
sure Mr. Amberghylles is smart enough to answer them in a civilized
manner.  I am going to send word to North Tower to have a mage here when
we return to check for any signs of magic use on us."

[Inleay]

"Yes, Sir," Private Inleay said, waiting at attention.

[Mercer]

The older guardsman dispatched a runner to the North Tower, then led Inleay
out through the courtyard and onto the streets of Montfort.  In the
distance the Coliseum could be seen rising above the skyline.

"So," he asked casually, "What is your impression of Monfort's Coliseum
and it's owner?"

[Private Inleay]

Jereminah thought for a moment, but finally she said, "Now mostly a
recluse - even before the wedding. So, I haven't heard much about him on
the streets...Outside of commentary about his streetsweepers. People don't
like them, but its not something they're going to do much about."

She shrugged, and added, "The impression I have is of a man who has
tremendous wealth and used the aftermath of the False Dawn to make himself
indispensable to the town. And, if I'm understanding the sequence of
events correctly, he was going to use the wedding as the grand opening for
his Colisium....but of course, _that_ won't work now."

[Mercer]

"A very accurate description I would say," he answered as they walked along
the crowded streets.  "His exact motivations are a mystery.  I'm quite
curious to find out what his connection to the secretary is."

They stopped as the Coliseum's white marble walls loomed above them.  The
main brass doors stood open while the smaller oak door to Bryce's office
was closed and guarded by the barbarian woman Shiva.

[Jereminah]

The Private waited at attention at Mercer's right side, though she was
noting the initial layout, and the massive female guard at Amberghylle's
door.

[Mercer]

He stepped up to the woman.  "We are here to see Bryce Amberghylles.  We
need him to answer some questions concerning an official guard
investigation."

[Shiva]

"Master Amberghylles is," she paused for a moment, "occupied at the moment."

[Mercer]

"We must insist," Mercer said, "We need to see him."

[Shiva]

She sighed.  "Very well.  Follow me."  She turned and opened the oak door,
then led them to an ornately decorated office.  The room was covered in a
wide ranged of reds and golds.  Shiva pointed to a pair of expensive
chairs.  "Wait here.  I'll go and inform the Master that you are in his
office."

[Inleay]

After a circuit of the room Private Inleay said, "From the looks of those
pretty chairs I doubt they'd hold up to much sitting." She knew that in a
mage's office one had to be careful what one said.

[Mercer]

"True," he answered as he also surveyed the room, "But Mr. Amberghylles
has the means to replace them."

Just then, a decidedly lion-like roar came from the direction Shiva had
departed.

[Jereminah]

Inleay's hand instinctively went to her sword, but she made no move
towards the door. "Well, Sir," she said, "I hope that wasn't Amberghylle's
reacting to the news of our arrival."

[Bryce Amberghylles]

"No.  But my companion is less than happy with your timing," the
necromancer said as he emerged from the curtained doorway.  He was tying
the sash of his scarlet robe.  His hair hung loosely, and slightly
disheveled.

[Mercer]

"We have come to ask you a few questions concerning the late Mr. Vanit.
We have reason to believe that you may have information of pertaining to
the investigation."

[Bryce]

He sighed, and then sat behind the large desk.  "I don't see a point in
this, but never let it be said that I was unwilling to aid the Tower Guard
in their valiant mission to protect Montfort."

[Inleay]

Though Private Inleay had stepped into the background and was simply
standing at attention she was listening and watching. Such observations
could be of later use.

[Mercer/Bryce]

"First of all, I understand that a white cat lives here?" Mercer asked.

"Azriel," the mage answered, "Yes, what of her."

"Is it true that Azriel speaks Common?"

"Quite fluently.  You can see for yourself if you'd like."

"Private Inleay," Mercer said, "Why don't you speak with the cat while I
continue my talk with Mr. Amberghylles."

"Azriel is in my chambers," the necromancer said pointing towards the door
he had just exited.

[Jereminah]

"Yes Sir," Inleay told her sergeant, and suppressed a laugh; it would be
the first time she had ever interviewed a cat.

She headed past the two men and stepped through the doorway indicated.

[Azriel]

The doorway opened into a sitting room that was even more decadent than
the office.  Two felines turned to observe her.  One was a housecat with
long snowy white fur and a golden collar, set with a huge ruby.  The other
was a lioness, except that a very well tanned human torso rose from her
shoulders in the same manner as a centaur.  Her tawny hair cascaded down
her back until it merged with her lower body fur.  Her tail twitched back
and forth as she twisted to face the Guardswoman without rising from the
pillows she was resting in. A low growl started to rumble in her throat.

"Hush," said the white cat, "That's no way to treat a guest.  I am Azriel.
May I be of assistance to you?"

[Jereminah Inleay]

While her years in the Bleckner Watch had not prepared her for such a
variety of non-humans Inleay's months on the Montfort Guard had. Hells,
one of their own was a Minotaur!! So her face betrayed little surprise at
the sight, though her thoughts determinedly skirted the meaning of the
woman/lioness's earlier roar.

"I am Private Inleay of the Tower Guard," Jereminah said, "And I need to
ask you some questions, Azriel."

[Azriel]

She rose and stretched.  Then lifted her paw and made a shooing motion
towards the other.  "Go on my dear," she said soothingly, "Bryce and I
will see to you after we finish talking to the Guard."  The lioness rose
and turned. Then, with a look of disappointment, she strode through one of
the room's other curtained doorways.

"The young ones are always so moody," she said with a shake of her head,
"But she'll learn her manners.  Now, ask away."

[Inleay]

Jereminah was grateful that Private Avery was not along; the boy would
have fainted dead away. Or been tripping over his lower jaw.

"Do you often frequent the Red Dragon's Inn?" she started.

[Azriel]

"Yes I do," the cat replied, "As does Icarus, from the Bard's Hall.  I
believe we're the only two cats among the regulars.  Though there's more
likely than not a traveling familiar or stray on any given day."

[Inleay]

The Private noted that the cat's reaction was to immediately leap to the
fact that a range of magical animals could be in the Red Dragon's Inn at
any given time. An answer that might hint of something to hide. Or it
could simply be that Azriel had made the correct assumption.

"It does draw quite an interesting crowd," Jereminah said, with a little
smile, "And I have to admit, I am grateful for the Inn's wardings..such a
diverse group usually leads to trouble, but with the Inn they have to
stick to conversation. Get to meet a lot of different people. And with you
being a regular I hope you can tell me a little about some of what you've
seen in there. Particularly anything you can remember about the night
Mr. Vanit was there."

The Guardswoman pulled out a drawing of what Ournel's secretary had looked
like in life; the Royal Envoy had helped the Guard's mages create one from
his memories. She laid the paper out on the floor and said, "This is
what he looked like before he got eaten by the fish."

She laughed mirthlessly and said, "There are some pretty fishy parts to
Menagrem's story and we're hoping to fill them in."

[Azriel]

"I know what Netit looked like," Azriel said quietly, "He and I were
acquaintances.  If I knew anything about what that worthless coward did to
him I'd gladly tell you, just to see Menagrem swing from a gallows that
much sooner."

[Inleay]

"How long did you know Mister Vanit?" Inleay asked.

[Azriel]

"About three years now," she answered, "I go to Bleckner every couple of
months or so to handle Master Amberghylles' business affairs.  Netit and I
met through his office.  We had similar interests and so began to
socialize together on my visits.  So naturally when he came here to
Montfort, we met for dinner."  She shrugged, an odd sight for a cat.

"I don't know where he went after our meal, he said he had some old
business to attend to.  Told me he'd get in touch tomorrow, but he never
did contact me.  I know now that was because he was dead."

[Inleay]

Despite trying to picture a cat doing business in Bleckner Jereminah
Inleay said, "You say that you met through business at his office....What
type of business did you have to do with the Royal Treasury? And during
that time did you have any meetings with Master Ournel?"

The Royal Envoy, Lawrince Ournel, had claimed that there had been
suspicions that his secretary, Netit Vanit, had been involved in dirty
dealings. And further, quiet, inquiries by the Tower Guard had been able
to confirm that there had been such suspicions. It seemed that few,
including the widow, had held any love for the deceased.

[Azriel]

"Master Amberghylles owns part or all of quite a number of businesses in
this kingdom.  I was called to the Treasury to deliver taxes and file tax
papers.  I don't believe met with Mr. Ournel except in passing.  His seal
was required on some of the documents, but Netit always filled them out
beforehand so it was never more than a few minutes of the Envoy's time."

[Inleay]

Jereminah nodded and jotted down more notes. They would question Mister
Ournel on whether he had ever seen the cat or not in his office. Nor would
she be surprised if with this information the Royal Treasury didn't begin
its own investigation of Mister Amberghylles.

"What did you and Mr. Vanit speak of the night you met him for dinner in
Montfort?"

[Azriel]

"Catching up," she said slowly, "Mostly personal things..." she trailed
off.  "Nothing I imagine a wholesome girl like you would want to hear
about."

[Inleay]

"Try me," Inleay said with a dry chuckle, "Nothing much is sacred in a
murder investigation ...particularly of a royal employee. And I've had
five years on the Bleckner Watch and months on the Montfort Guard to wipe
away alot of 'wholesome.'"

[Azriel]

"Well then," she purred, "He and I shared a mutual interest in pretty
girls, especially those who whimper and beg.  I was checking up on a few of
our playthings from Bleckner and discussing when he and I might indulge
ourselves while he was here."

[Jereminah Inleay]

Inleay managed not to blink in surprise, though her thoughts went from the
problem of a cat handling taxes to a cat handling other....matters. And
she thanked the gods that Private Avery was no where near - he'd have
keeled over by now.

Instead, the Private managed to (relatively) calmly say, "That fits with
reports of Mr. Vanit's interests."

She studied her notes, mostly to buy time and compose her thoughts, but
finally looked up and asked, "Did Mr. Vanit give even the faintest of
hints of what his 'old business' was?"

While she waited she pondered whether to ask about Azriel's interest in
"playthings." The private's interest wasn't idle curiousity, there was
obviously _much_ more to the cat than met the eye and such questioning
might give such suspicions away.

[Azriel]

"I'm afraid he didn't," she answered, "But I can't imagine it would have
anything to do with that murderer Menagrem.  The man most likely did it
for whatever money Netit was carrying."

[Private Inleay]

While there were other questions that could be asked about Vanit, Private
Inleay knew that she didn't dare waste the opportunity to learn more (even
if it was a little bit) about Azriel.

"More than likely," she said with a shrug, and for a moment only the
scritch of her pencil was heard. When she looked up she gave a
self-conscious chuckle, and said, "This isn't in the line of duty, but I
have to ask...What would a cat be doing with such playthings? Besides
tickle them with your fine fur?"

[Azriel]

"Well..." the cat said with a wicked grin, "I could always show you."
She paused and then flexed her forepaw, extending her claws from the small
fingertips.  "I'm quite well-equipped to play both nicely and cruelly with
them.  Plus I do enjoy watching, which is why I usually don't indulge in
these games alone."

[Jereminah]

~Well that's a new one ...even for Montfort...propositioned by a cat,~
Private Inleay inwardedly commented, and she had run into some bizarre
suggestions - while on duty and off.

She chuckled, adding in a hint of the self-conscious, and said, "I don't
think that such 'fraternizing' is allowed with the witnesses."

[Azriel]

The white cat yawned, showing her small fangs, then began to stretch as
she answered.  "It was only a suggestion," she said, "Do you have any
other questions for me?"

[Private Inleay]

As she closed her notebook Jereminah said, "Not at this time. I thank you
for time and cooperation."

She wondered how Sgt Mercer was getting on Mr. Amberghylles. In her
opinion the Emmon Filger's tip had proved more than useful - they now knew
that Azriel was a _very capable_ creature.

[Azriel]

She nodded and said, "I always seek to provide assistance to the Tower
Guard.  It's my duty as a citizen of this community.  I do hope you have a
good day."

[Jereminah]

"You do the same," the Guardswoman said, and went back out to join her
Sergeant.
[To Be Continued]