<JETMODE> <Kender> *very frustrated* I'm telling you, I want to see Whisper! Let me talk to her!

<JETMODE> *Cinno is yowling in harmony. XD

<TIAMAT> *Guard, trying to remain patient: I'm sorry, son, but she's in solitary -- no visitors allowed!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod's standing in the background a bit, looking worried and a little embarrassed.

<JETMODE> <Kender> But I'm -- I mean -- that doesn't matter! She didn't -- she couldn't have -- I WANT TO TALK TO HER!

<TIAMAT> *Guard, more sternly: I cannot allow you down there! Look, the only way anyone can see her is with Baron Teal's permission, he's said so himself. Though I can guarantee he won't give it to you. Now I'll ask you one last time to leave, before I have to throw you in a detention cell!

<JETMODE> <Kender> But I -- I --

<TIAMAT> *Jarod walks quickly up behind Kender and grabs his arm. "Come on, getting you thrown in the dungeons isn't going to do us any good. Let's go! *and he drags Kender off and back upstairs to the ground floor.

<JETMODE> *Kender protests, but he permits himself to be dragged off. Cinno settles down and grumbles to himself.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod releases Kender once they're out of the dungeons and sighs. "I suppose you want to try getting permission from Teal."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *softly* There's not much point, is there?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Probably not ...

<JETMODE> <Kender> What can we do? There has to be something!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: You know...that pretty much all the evidence is against her.

<JETMODE> <Kender> ... You .. think she really did it?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Kender...I know you don't want to believe it -- I don't either -- but...she is an assassin, and they found a link to her chain bracelet -- you know that charm one she always wears? And one of the other priests said he'd seen her around their temple the same day...*he tapers off*

<JETMODE> <Kender> But someone could have planted it here! And he could be lying!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: No one knows where she was when it happened. She wasn't with you, she wasn't in her room at the Blue Heron, and she wasn't taking lessons or down in the training grounds. I'm telling you, Kender, Teal needs a suspect and Whisper fits his criteria perfectly.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *almost shouts* But that doesn't mean she did it!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod snaps, "Fine! If you know who did, then, why don't you go tell Teal right now!? *he turns and stalks off.

<JETMODE> <Kender> ... ... *sulk*

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, who had been nearby and happened to hear most of the convo, creeps up next to Kender, looking a little sheepish. "Um...

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh? *attempts to smile* Oh, hi Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Hi Kender. You okay?

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. Yeah. I'm fine.

<JETMODE> *Cinno yowls and attempts to clamber over to Cassie's shoulders.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie grins at the cat and picks him up before he falls, holding him in one arm and petting him with the other. "I saw you come up from the dungeons. Were you trying to see Genoa?

<JETMODE> <Kender> No.. I.. was trying to talk to Whisper.

<JETMODE> *Cinno purrs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: She...she was accused of...of killing Bishop Farrar...wasn't she? *pause* It doesn't matter what Jarod said about her, I believe you! Whisper always seemed so nice...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *weak smile* Th-thanks.. I just wish there was some way to help her.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Can't you go talk to Baron Teal? There must be something he can do..

<JETMODE> <Kender> He wouldn't help.. he's just glad he's caught someone for the crime.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Well...maybe if we go look at...er...the temple, we'd find something they missed! *hopeful grin*

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. *attempts to look hopeful, with fairly miserable results* Maybe..

<TIAMAT> *Cassie is, for once, at a lack for words; she wants to help, but she doesn't know how. After a few moments, a guard approaches the two, coming up to Kender. "Kender Oansdale?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *start* Yes? *puzzled look*

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie looks at the guard nervously, like he's going to drag Kender away too or something. But the guard merely nods. "Baron Teal would like to see you. Please come with me.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *warily* Uh.. okay..

<JETMODE> *Cinno squirms, attempting to leap back into his pack.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie tries to hang on to the kitty, but he eventually worms his way out of her grasp and back over to Kender. She looks up. "Can I come too? *The guard glances down at her. "The Baron has sent for only Mr. Oansdale. *And without another word, he turns and starts back toward the way he came.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *worried look at Cassie* I'll -- I'll meet you at the library, okay?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie looks worried, too. "Oh...okay. Um...be careful, Kender.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. yeah.. *he waves and takes off after the guard*

<TIAMAT> *Okay, so the guard leads Kender back down toward where the dungeons are, but he takes a different staircase to get there, which leads moreso to the, er, guard headquarters or whatever. Down a fairly long, narrow hallway is a solitary room, which the guard tells Kender to wait outside of for a moment, while he knocks and enters.

<TIAMAT> *He's gone for several (long) moments. At least, I imagine they're long to Kender. ^_^

<JETMODE> *Very long. He strokes Cinno nervously while he waits.

<TIAMAT> *Finally, the door opens again and the guard steps out and to the side, holding said door open for Kender. "The Baron will see you now.

<JETMODE> *Kender gives him a nervous look and steps inside. Cinno rumbles and clambers up to his shoulders.

<TIAMAT> *Teal is a big guy -- not big as in heavy, but he's quite tall, and considerably muscular. His shoulder-length black hair is currently held back in a loose ponytail, and he's garbed in some kind of fancy-looking uniform of red and maroon trimmed in gold. He looks up from his desk as Kender enters; his eyes are a cool grey, though now they lack the hard steeliness they had the night he arrested Whisper.

<TIAMAT> *Teal stands, smiling briefly, as Kender approaches (and the door behind him closes with a soft click.) "Kender Oansdale, I presume. Allow me to introduce myself -- Devan Teal. *he offers his hand* Please, have a seat.

<JETMODE> *Kender takes his hand warily, not sure of this guy who arrested Whisper.

<TIAMAT> *The office...hrm, well, it's good-sized with a good-sized desk and several good-sized chairs. The desk appears very orderly, with several neat stacks of papers in the corner and, um, other officey-type items. Whatever. There're a couple of shiny, sparkly swords hanging on the wall behind Teal as well.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs and jumps over to the desk, swishing his tail.

<TIAMAT> *Teal waves toward one of the chairs as he himself sits back down, glancing at the cat, then focusing back on Kender. "I understand that you and Whisper are...friends. Good friends. *he pauses for confirmation*

<JETMODE> *Kender sits down slowly and gives him a funny look. "She's not my girlfriend, if that's what you mean."

<JETMODE> *Cinno sniffs around the desk, pausing at Teal and meowing a question.

<TIAMAT> *Teal leans back in his chair, ignoring Cinno for the most part. "No no, I never said that. But you are close friends, correct?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods.

<JETMODE> *Cinno sits down and starts cleaning his arse. I love cats.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Very good. I apologize for the suddeness of this meeting, but in light of her...current situation, I wanted to speak with you as quickly as possible. *he pauses for a moment, as if contemplating, then leans forward again, resting his arms on the desk* Tell me, how well do you know Whisper?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *sets his jaw* She's my closest friend. She'd never do something like this.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods briefly. "You seem adamant in your decision. You do, however, realize what her current, ah, profession is.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *small scowl* If she says she didn't do it, then she didn't do it.

<JETMODE> *Cinno stretches, then flops on the desk.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs ever so slightly. "Well, then. Do you know where Whisper was the night of Bishop Farrar's murder? *not in a mocking way; he seriously wants to know if, perhaps, she'd even told Kender where she'd been.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks a little dejected and shakes his head. "I was late at the training grounds, so I didn't see her."

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ah. That is unfortunate... *pause* What else can you tell me about your friend? Besides the fact that you believe she is quite innocent.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *deep breath* Colin.. Colin was a friend of ours. And .. and I don't think she could just.. Just because she's training to kill doesn't mean she'll kill indiscriminately! It doesn't mean she doesn't have a consience! *scratches the back of his head, realizing he's not making a terrible lot of sense*

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "I understand your argument here, Kender. However...you heard about the ankh that was stolen out of Bishop Farrar's temple a week before he was killed?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *brow knits* Ankh?

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods again. "It was something of a relic that Bishop Farrar kept in his temple -- a very important, not to mention valuable relic, and it disappeared one week before his death.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Did you ever find it? *clearly doesn't see where this is going*

<TIAMAT> *Teal: As a matter of fact, we did. Two days ago we received information that Whisper had stolen the ankh, and that Bishop Farrar, having found out, was going to turn her in. Last night, we searched Whisper's room, and found the missing relic.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *makes a strange noise*

<JETMODE> *Cinno mews.

<JETMODE> <Kender> That.. that can't be true.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Eh?

<JETMODE> <Kender> And.. and even if it is.. there's got to be some reason. *he's shaking now*

<JETMODE> *Cinno slithers back over to Kender and mrrs.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs a bit. "Perhaps there is, and we have yet to learn of it. *he stands* I'm truly sorry about this, Kender. If there's ever anything you'd like to tell me, you know where to find me.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. *stands up as well* .. Sure. *scoops up Cinno* I can go now?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Yes...yes, unless there's anything else you'd like to say.

<JETMODE> *Kender shakes his head. "I'll just go." And he turns to do so, looking very unhappy-puppy-like.