<TIAMAT> *Well, let's see. It's some time after Whisper was first arrested...a week or two, tops, probably. The courtroom is a large, circular chamber with raised seats all around it -- sort of like a mini-arena, with the judge's desk and a chair for the defendant and current witness in the middle.

<TIAMAT> *Teal's probably hanging around. Whisper and the judge, I assume, won't come in till after the crowd settles. And boy, is there a crowd. The seats are packed, and there're a few groups hanging around outside the doors, craning around each other to try and see inside.

<JETMODE> *The judge looks a little bit grouchy at the crowd that's gathered. He doesn't seem to like making a spectacle of himself or his trials. Probably wouldn't be a bad guy if he wasn't totally corrupt.

<JETMODE> *Judge David Pacheco is his name, then, and he raps his gavel half-heartedly once or twice in an attempt to restore order.

<TIAMAT> *Teal is...well...I said he's sorta around because I imagine he's sorta trying to direct traffic as well. :P Or at least get his soldiers to direct traffic.

<JETMODE> *The Judge gives him a dirty look and raps again.

<TIAMAT> *He's looking a bit harried, poor guy.

<JETMODE> *Kender is close as he can be, watching with barely restrained panic. :D

<TIAMAT> *I imagine Jarod and Cassie are either side of him, ready to hold him back if he bursts. ^_^

<TIAMAT> *Teal probably managed to get him some front-row seats, too.

<JETMODE> *Genoa is piling little pebbles on top of each other in her cell, because she's all alone now and very bored. XD

<TIAMAT> *Think she's remotely worried about Whisper? ^_^

<JETMODE> *Oh, probably. Not that she'd ever admit it. ^_^ She sort of thinks the trumped up charges are just going to go away. ^^;

<TIAMAT> *It takes Teal and his soldiers quite some time to get everything under control and all the people seated as best they can. They even leave a couple of the doors open for those who're stuck outside to be able to listen. A hush falls over the chamber as the back door, which has been barred and locked the whole time, opens with a sharp click, and Whisper is marched in between two soldiers, hands shackled behind her back.

<JETMODE> *Kender tenses, but the judge watches her lazily, as if he's already bored with the proceedings.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's current condition is ... notsogood. She looks ragged and exhausted, like she hasn't eaten or slept much in the past few days, and her hair and clothes are unkempt. She also lost her cloak somewhere -- it was probably taken when they threw her in jail, in case she had any weapons or whatever -- and if you look closely, you can see those scars I mentioned in her bio.

<JETMODE> *Kender himself is looking like he hasn't caught much sleep the past couple of days. He also looks like he wants to call out, but he's restraining himself.

<TIAMAT> *Well, I want jeering and name-calling, dammit, so there's going to be jeering and name-calling. The first one is a bellowing "MURDERER!" which starts a tidal-wave of hissing and dark looks.

<JETMODE> *Someone snuck past the guards with overripe fruit, and something flies out of a corner to strike Whisper in the shoulder, and splatter across her back.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper pitches forward slightly, glancing up only slightly in the general direction the projectile came from while Teal yells for the whoeveritwas to be removed from the room.

<JETMODE> *The identify of the flinger of vegetation is likely to remain a mystery. Kender almost lunged forward at that, though.

<JETMODE> *The judge, on the other hand, is hiding a smile behind his hand.

<TIAMAT> *Well, after a few more minutes, Teal manages to calm the crowd down yet again while Whisper takes her seat, rotten fruit still dripping down her back and hands still shackled.

<TIAMAT> *He clears his throat loudly. "For the murder of Bishop Colin Farrar...the Assassin, Whisper."

<JETMODE> *The judge eyes Whisper with a certain amount of distaste. "Would the prisoner like to confess her crimes or does she continue to insist she's innocent?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal glances at the judge in mild surprise as Whisper looks up, a steely glint suddenly in her eye. She grinds her teeth slightly. "Not guilty.

<JETMODE> <Judge> As expected. *waves a hand* Let's get on with it, shall we?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Of course. For our first witness, the court calls Miss Adora Maxwell. *he nods toward some guards, who open a door opposite the one Whisper came in the admit the witness.

<JETMODE> *A very soft voice from the back whispers, "Does that mean it's my turn?"

<JETMODE> *The priestess trots in cautiously, doe-like eyes wide. She stumbles a bit as she makes her way to the front, tittering nervously.

<TIAMAT> *Teal smiles reassuringly at her as she takes her places. "Please state your name for the court, ma'am.

<JETMODE> <Adora> Oh! I'm Adora Maxwell, your Honorable sirs. *she smiles winningly*

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Very good, Miss Maxwell. Can you tell us how you knew Colin Farrar?

<JETMODE> <Adora> He was High Priest of my temple, sirs. *she sniffles a little* I .. I don't know what we're going to do without him..

<TIAMAT> *The audience gets are teary-eyed.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper sighs under her breath.

<TIAMAT> *Teal pats Adora gently. "I know it's hard, my dear, but try to answer a few more questions for us, there's a love. Now, have you ever seen this woman? *he gestures toward Whisper, who's staring at her lap.

<JETMODE> *Adora looks toward Whisper, and her brow knits into a frown. "Yes, I have." Her eyes flash vindictively. "I saw her snooping around the temple all hours the couple of weeks before Bishop Farrar died.

<JETMODE> *Now before you get all angry at her, she really does think Whisper did it, and despite her play-acting, she thinks she's doing right.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Had you ever seen her prior to when she appeared shortly before the Bishop's death? Did she ever attend your temple for service or in need of aid?

<JETMODE> <Adora> *a little huffily* No, sirs, she did not.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "I see. *to the judge* I would like to present the first piece of evidence, Your Honor. *he goes over to a table that has, oh, pieces of evidence and whatnot laid out on it, and picks out a small bundle wrapped in white cloth.

<JETMODE> <Judge> *waves a hand* Present away.

<TIAMAT> *He heads back to the middle of the court, unwrapping the bundle. "Thank you, Your Honor. *he holds up a golden ankh for all to see. "An ankh from Bishop Farrar's collection, a valuable relic that was stolen a week before his death.

<TIAMAT> *He brings the ankh down and holds it out for Adora. "Is this, indeed, a relic from Bishop Farrar's collection?

<JETMODE> *She peers at it, hesitates, then nods firmly. "That's the ankh."

<TIAMAT> *Teal: And was it stolen from your temple shortly before his death?

<JETMODE> *She nods again. "Yes, it was."

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Did the Bishop ever say anything about it after it was stolen? Like, perhaps, who he thought the thief might have been?

<JETMODE> <Adora> *gives a nervous titter* Oh, no sir.. why would his Grace discuss something like that with a lowly acolyte like me?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ah...yes, indeed. Well. Thank you, Miss Maxwell, I believe that will be all, for now.

<JETMODE> *Adora blinks, slow to realize she's been dismissed, then starts and hurries out of the courtroom.

<TIAMAT> *Teal waits until she's gone before announcing his next witness. "The court calls Luoch Boade.

<JETMODE> *The soldier steps up to his place, smartly military, and salutes. The judge restrains an eyeroll.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods to him. "Please state your name and rank, sir.

<JETMODE> <Luoch> Lieutenant Luoch Boade, sir!

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Very good, sir. Tell me, Lieutenant Boade, have you ever seen this artifact? *he shows the ankh to Boade.

<JETMODE> <Luoch> Yes sir, I do. I was the one who found it, sir.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Found it, you say. Where did you find it, Lieutenant?

<JETMODE> <Luoch> In that Whisper girl's room, sir. *gives Whisper a sidelong glance*

<TIAMAT> *The crowd begins murmuring amongst themselves.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper glances up sharply, glaring at Luoch.

<JETMODE> *The judge smirks ever so slightly but waves for the proceedings to continue.

<TIAMAT> *Teal waits a moment for the crowd to die down. "You found it in Whisper's room, you say. When?

<JETMODE> <Luoch> Ah, that was four days ago, sir.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: That will be all, I think. Thank you, Lieutenant.

<JETMODE> <Luoch> Sir! *salutes again and marches out*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper snorts quietly.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: The court calls Mr. Stephan Bailey!

<JETMODE> *A rather portly man ambles into the courtroom, looking at the milling crowd with something like disdain. He makes his way up to the front and nods to the judge, who returns the greeting.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Please state your name for the court, sir.

<JETMODE> <Bailey> Stephan Bailey.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Mr. Bailey, you were the person who came to me only days after Whisper's arrest to inform me that she had this ankh hidden in her room, were you not?

<JETMODE> <Bailey> Yes, I was. *smile* And as you saw, I was correct.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Indeed you were, sir. Could you tell the court what else you told me that day?

<JETMODE> <Bailey> *draws himself up pompously* Well. I had seen the girl hanging about the temple several times, and I knew she wasn't a parishioner, so I mentioned her to the late Bishop Farrar in connection to his missing ankh. That is to say, the bishop knew she'd stolen it and was likely to turn her in.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Is that so, Mr. Bailey? Did the bishop tell you he was going to turn her in?

<JETMODE> <Bailey> *hesitates for a split second, then nods* We discussed it when I spoke to him.

<TIAMAT> *Teal notes the hesitation, but doesn't say anything on it. "And when was it that you spoke to him?

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods toughtfully. "So, let me get this straight...

<TIAMAT> *Teal: About three weeks ago, this ankh was discovered missing from Bishop Farrar's temple. A few days later, the bishop told you that he was going to turn Whisper in under suspicion of stealing the ankh. And that very same evening, the bishop was found, murdered, in his own temple.

<JETMODE> *Bailey is nodding in agreement. The judge gives him an irritable look and he stops abruptly.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods to Bailey. "Thank you, Mr. Bailey, I believe that will be all.

<JETMODE> <Bailey> *smiles agreeably and ambles out*

<JETMODE> *The judge sits up slowly, clearly thinking this is all over, and gets ready to speak.

<TIAMAT> *Teal had his back to the judge and doesn't notice him about to say something, effectively cutting him off. "The court calls...Kender Oanesdale!

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks up sharply in surprise.

<JETMODE> *Kender freezes. The judge drops his gavel. XD

<TIAMAT> *Jarod and Cassie turn to Kender, giving him a questioning look.

<JETMODE> *Kender shakes his head. "I.. I dunno.."

<TIAMAT> *Teal's looking at him expectantly. Jarod gives him a little nudge. "Go on.

<TIAMAT> *Everyone is looking at him, or at least for him, too, as another murmur passes through the crowd. ^_^

<JETMODE> <Kender> *very weakly* R-right..

<JETMODE> *He looks for a good way to get over there, but he can only see one, and that's to vault the railing. Which he does, awkwardly.

<TIAMAT> *That'll do, though I expect the judge doesn't much like it, but that's his problem. Teal nods to Kender as he passes and takes his seat. "Please state your name for the court.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *rather nervously* Kender Oanesdale.

<JETMODE> *The judge is looking testy, but he doesn't say anything.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Mr. Oanesdale, could you tell us how you know the defendant? *he motions to Whisper, who's staring at Kender, still a little surprised.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks over at Whisper and scratches the back of his head* Um.. she's a friend of mine.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Just a friend? *He's not looking for Kender to say that they're an item or anything, but Kender did say that Whisper was his closest friend when they talked earlier.

<JETMODE> <Kender> I .. *frowns* She's my closest friend in this whole place.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Very good. Could you tell the court what you told me yesterday?

<JETMODE> *Kender has to think about that, but then he sets his jaw. "Colin was a good friend of ours. He wouldn't just turn her in without talking to her, and she wouldn't just kill him!"

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Perhaps you could tell us how well you knew Bishop Farrar, then.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blinks* Oh.. Colin was a good friend of my father's. He visited my family sometimes.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: So you've known him for sometime.

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "He was sorta like an uncle, in a weird way."

<TIAMAT> *Teal: And how long have you known Whisper?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *colors a little* Six months.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: And yet you feel certain that she isn't guilty of murder? *not in a harsh tone. just a question*

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nods* I know it wasn't her.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods, contemplating for a few moments. "Very well, Mr. Oanesdale, that will be all, unless you have anything else to add.

<JETMODE> *Kender hesitates, then shakes his head. "I just.. I know it wasn't her." He slumps a little, poor puppy.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks around, then decides to head back the way he came, though it means an awkward clamber over the wall.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper watched him the whole time, looking, um, some kind of mixture of sadness and gratitude, I suppose. ^_^

<JETMODE> *The judge is looking tense, BTW. ;D

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs a bit, then straightens up and looks at Whisper, who's looking expectant. "The court calls...Whisper!

<TIAMAT> *A murmur runs through the crowd again, this one more hostile-sounding than the last, as Whisper stands up and takes her place.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Please state your full name for the court.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Whisper is my full name, legally.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Very well. What are you studying here at the Arena, Whisper?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper hesitates. "I'm learning the ways of a sharpshooter.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: And part of becoming a sharpshooter is to be experienced as an assassin, is it not?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper avoids his eye when she answers. "That's right.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods and goes over to the table where he got the ankh from -- and which he put back there after he was done with it, I just forgot to mention that. :P He picks up a smaller bundle of cloth, unwrapping it as he walks back toward Whisper.

<TIAMAT> *Teal holds up a small, silver charm. "Do you recognize this, Whisper?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks at it, slightly surprised; aparently nobody told her it was found near Colin's body. "Yes, it's a charm from one of my bracelets.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Did you ever notice it missing?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper hesitates again, answering warily. "I...yes...a few weeks ago, I guess. I thought it'd fallen off while I was training.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Then perhaps it may surprise you to learn that this charm was found not five feet from Bishop Farrar's body after he was slain.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks shocked, and the crowd murmurs nastily again.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks a little wild.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod glances at him sideways, ready to hold him back if he tries to jump up or something. :P

<TIAMAT> *Teal returns the charm to the table, waiting for the crowd to settle down again. "Now, just one more question, Whisper. Could you tell us where you were the night of Bishop Farrar's death?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper tenses visibly and remains silent.

<JETMODE> *The judge clears his throat, staring darkly down at her as if *daring* her to give herself an alibi. "Answer the question."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper stares down at her lap and answeres very quietly. "I can't."

<JETMODE> <Judge> .. *a bit darkly* Why is that?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper, still looking down. "Because I can't."

<TIAMAT> *Teal closes his eyes for a moment, then looks at her. "Very well, Whisper. That will be all."

<TIAMAT> *So, then, unless the judge has anything else to add, she's going to shuffle back to her seat, looking rather defeated.

<JETMODE> *Well, the judge hasn't much to say, but he looks considerably smug.

<TIAMAT> *I bet Kender's a little shocked that she didn't tell anyone where she was. I mean, he didn't know, but I bet he was expecting her to at least give herself an alibi. ^_^

<JETMODE> *Well, he's a wee bit confused all right.

<JETMODE> *If Whisper would care to look up, she would notice an odd figure sitting in the row across from her, watching her intently. It's a young, short woman with silver hair and very oddly colored eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Well, Whisper notices her, and she might even notice the weird eyes, but she probably doesn't think too much of her. Just someone else who came to mock and hate her. ^_^

<JETMODE> *When Whisper catches her glance, she smiles.

<JETMODE> *Then she lifts her hand in a small, mocking salute.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper gives her a strange, hard look.

<JETMODE> *The smile widens -- and she vanishes.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks and takes her seat as Teal gives a closing statement. Something along the lines of, The defendent has no alabi, yet she was seen lurking around the temple before Farrar's death, she had the ankh stashed in her room and Farrar was going to turn her in, giving her the perfect motive.

<TIAMAT> *Everyone is waiting with bated breath at the judge's decision.

<JETMODE> *The judge waits a moment, glaring at Teal to be sure he isn't going to pull another surprise witness on him, then clears his throat. "It is the finding of this court that the assassin Whisper is guilty of the murder of Bishop Colin Farrar, and here by sentences her to death by guillotine three days hence."

<JETMODE> *He slams down the gavel.

<JETMODE> *Kender leaps to his feet with a cry of protest.

<TIAMAT> *The crowds go WILD. Many are clapping and yelling something about justice being served. Whisper is looking completely blank. Teal looks at the judge in mild surprise.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod grabs Kender's arm, holding him back. "Easy, Kender!

<JETMODE> <Judge> *lazy wave of his hand* Take her away, if you please.

<TIAMAT> *Teal swallows once and nods, and the guards approach, grabbing her by either arm, and march her off. As they approach the door, she casts a single glance over her shoulder toward Kender, and can you believe it, but she looks scared. Terrified, even.

<JETMODE> *Kender lunges, reaching out for her, but I imagine Cassie and Jarod restrain him.

<TIAMAT> *Yup, they do, Jarod growling for him to get a hold of himself.

<TIAMAT> *The crowd, in the meanwhile, has settled down and is slowly filtering out.

<JETMODE> *Kender is not listening to him, but he doesn't strain any harder.

<JETMODE> *The judge rises, yawns expressively, and takes his leave of the courtroom.

<TIAMAT> *Teal waits until he's gone, by which time most of the crowd is as well. As he passes Kender, making his way toward the door, he murmurs a soft "I'm sorry, son," before leaving.

<JETMODE> *Kender trembles, still staring after Whisper, who is by now long gone. All of the sudden the wind goes out of him and he slumps heavily to the floor.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie utters a thin scream as Jarod half-catches Kender, easing him down to the floor. Is he out cold?

<JETMODE> *Nah, not out. He's sort of staring off into space.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod shakes him slightly. "Kender! Snap out of it!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *shudders, brings a hand up to his forehead* They're.. they're really going to kill her. I can't let them..

<TIAMAT> *Everyone else is gone, BTW, sans a lone figure sitting in the shadows opposite Kender, Jarod and Cassie, though I doubt they've seen said figure yet, which is fine.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Kender, I'm...I'm sorry... *and he really, truly looks it, too* Cassie looks like she's about to cry.

<JETMODE> *Kender pushes himself to his feet, breathing raggedly. "There has to be something we can do."

<TIAMAT> *voice from across the room: You could start by telling everyone that that cross they've got is a fake.

<JETMODE> *Kender looks up sharply. "What?"

<TIAMAT> *A tall, slim figure stands up and moves into the light. She's got lone, pale pale green hair, ivory skin and bright purple eyes. "The ankh that Teal and his soldiers found in your friend's room. It isn't the one that was stolen.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. It.. it wasn't?

<TIAMAT> *Farore shakes her head. "The one they found has no magical properties whatsoever, quite unlike the one that Bishop Farrar kept, which was highly mystical.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. how can you tell? *puzzled look*

<TIAMAT> *Farore: I have my ways. If you don't believe me, why don't you take it to another priest for identification? *she points to the table, which, voila! still has the ankh (and Whisper's charm) sitting on it.

<JETMODE> *Kender, suddenly energetic, leaps over the railing and snatches up the ankh, pocketing the charm at the same time.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod tries to stop Kender but falls short. Instead, he calls across to him, "Are you sure that's a good idea, just taking those..?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *shoots him a look* They don't need them anymore.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs. "If you say so.

<TIAMAT> *Farore is looking at Kender expectantly.

<JETMODE> *He gives an uncertain look. "Um.. thanks, but.. why are you helping us?"

<TIAMAT> *She walks down toward the center of the room and shrugs. "Because I don't think your friend is guilty.

<JETMODE> *Kender gives her a funny look, but he can't think of anything to say.

<TIAMAT> *There's a long silence, then Cassie speaks, sounding a little hesitant. "Um...Kender..?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *glances over at her* What is it, Cassie?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Um...my mom might be able to tell if that ankh is magic or not...she's a mage, and she uses a lot of enchanted items...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *smiles* You think so?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie suddenly looks hopefully. "Yeah, I bet she could! Come on, let's go find her! *she bounches on the spot, then darts toward the door.

<JETMODE> *Kender nods, darting after her, then pauses. "You want to come, Jarod?"

<TIAMAT> *Jarod is trying to retain his balance, as Cassie just bolted past him and nearly knocked him over. "Hrm? Er, no, I, ah, have some other stuff to do..

<JETMODE> *Kender gives him a long look and shrugs, then takes off after Cassie.