<JETMODE> *Once he's done, Kender stands up and ambles out into the hall. Cinno follows him prissily.

<TIAMAT> *Well, as he walks out he nearly collides head on with -- guess who -- Clyde the guard. He's looking harried. "Oh -- Mr. Oanesdale. Er, I'm sorry to disturb you, but -- you'd better come with me. *and without further explanation, he takes off for the nearest stair case.

<JETMODE> *Kender has been seeing FAR too much of this guy. "What? But -- wait!" He takes off after him. And Cinno too.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde doesn't say anything as the walk all the way back downstairs to the second floor, just telling Kender to follow him. Once they reach the magic floor, Clyde leads Kender to -- Clarra's classroom? Indeed it is, and there seems to be a fair deal of shouting coming from within.

<JETMODE> *Kender halts at the doorway, expression filled with trepidation.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde stands aside, motioning for Kender to enter. If and when he does, he'll see something like this: Clarra and a couple of guards are arguing hotly in the from of her classroom, her students gathered around watching in fasication, with Jarod holding Cassie back in one of the corners.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. wh-what's .. what's going on?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod and Cassie both start slightly, and Cassie bolts over to Kender with a yell. "They're going to arrest her, Kender! They're going to take her away! *Nobody else seems to have noticed him even enter, however, as everyone's attention is focused on the argument up front.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod comes up behind Cassie, face grim. "Someone told the athorities that Clarra had the ankh from Whisper's trial, and they're accusing her of stealing evidence.

<JETMODE> <Kender> That's.. that's not true! *he rushes over to the argument* Stop it! Leave her alone! I'M the one who took it!

<TIAMAT> *Unfortunately, I need Kender out and about, so it's not quite so easy. The guards pause and glance at Kender. "And who are you?

<JETMODE> <Kender> I'm Kender Oanesdale. *angrily* I took the ankh after the trial -- not that it even matters, 'cause it's a fake!

<TIAMAT> *The guards exchange doubtful glances. "You're admitting to taking the ankh? Do you have it now?

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. um .. no .. *unhappy look* I brought it here..

<TIAMAT> *One of the guards sighs and shakes his head. "We received information that the ankh was taken by Miss Clarra, and that if we couldn't find it, we were to take her into custody. And since she won't give it to us, we have no choice."

<TIAMAT> *Clarra hmphs loudly as the guards take her by either arm and lead her out. Cassie looks like she's going to cry, but Clarra reassures her. "It will be all right, sweetie, I'll be back soon!"

<JETMODE> *Kender looks horribly dismayed. "But --"

<TIAMAT> *Clyde sighs as the other two guards lead Clarra out, then he turns to Kender. "I suppose you'll be wanting to see Baron Teal about this now."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *darkly* Yeah.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Cinno, stay with Cassie.

<JETMODE> *The cat yawls.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde slumps slightly. "Come on, then. Not that you need to know the way by now, but... *he leads the way out. As Kender starts toward the door, Cassie darts toward him, blocking his path. "You're gonna help her, right, Kender?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Of course I am. .. I'm sorry I got her in this mess, Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: It's...it's okay, Kender. It's for Whisper, right? And it's gonna save her, right?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nods with more confidence than he feels* We can fix it, Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Okay...

<TIAMAT> *Jarod comes up behind and puts a hand on Cassie's shoulder. "I'll take care of her. You get going."

<JETMODE> *Kender nods and takes off after Clyde.

<TIAMAT> *Who leads him back down the familiar staircase and into the familiar hallway. "You might as well just go on in."

<JETMODE> *Kender does so, rather fiercely.

<TIAMAT> *Teal looks up with a start from where he was reading some papers on his desk. "Oh, Kender, I didn't know you wanted to see me--"

<JETMODE> <Kender> What is this about?! Why did you arrest Cassie's mom!? Who told them she had it?!

<TIAMAT> *Teal looks thoroughly startled. "Kender, calm down--

<JETMODE> <Kender> I took that ankh to her to find out if it was the real thing! This isn't fair!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde, making his way back down the hallway exiting Teal's office, flinches when he hears Kender yelling.

<TIAMAT> *Teal, a bit harshly: Kender, be quiet for a moment and let me try to explain.

<JETMODE> *Kender bites down, sets his jaw, and scowls.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Thank you. Now -- somehow it got back to the Cardinal that the ankh went missing, and that Clarra had it, so he had soldiers sent to retrieve it. This much I knew. He never said anything about arresting her if they couldn't find it, however. Why didn't she give it to them?

<JETMODE> <Kender> I.. I don't know. ... She might not have had it ... *scratches head*

<TIAMAT> *Teal rubs his forehead and sighs.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: If we're going to prove that the one Whisper had in her room was a fake, then we still need the fake, besides the real one. I'll see what I can do about getting Clarra out of the dungeons until then.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Okay.. um.. could I maybe ask her why she didn't hand it over?

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Of course. ... Once I find out where she is. *a clock chimes the hour: noon. "Why don't you get some lunch and meet me back down here in a couple hours, while I figure out what's going on?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sure. I'll see you.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods and waves him off, looking tired.

<JETMODE> *Kender heads for the Rustling Ghost, as per his appointment.

<TIAMAT> *It's pretty packed for lunch, but Jarod and Cassie are already there and saving a seat for Kender at their usual table, Cassie looking fairly miserable.

<JETMODE> *Kender slides in, looking a little bit worn.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie perks up when she spies Kender. She grins a bit. "Hi, Kender!

<JETMODE> <Kender> Hey Cassie. *grins* Er.. *scratches head* Teal said he'd try to get your mom out.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie grins even more. "Yay!

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Did you ever find that Farore girl?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blinks* Oh, yeah, I did. She said she'd help -- I'm going to meet her tomorrow.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Well, I suppose that's something..

<JETMODE> <Kender> *nod* Er, Cassie? Do you know why your mother wouldn't hand over the ankh?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie blinks at him. "Didn't...didn't I give it to you last night?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Well, you brought it with you, but you took it back when you left.. didn't you give it back to your mother?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie, a little panicky: I...I...I'll be right back! *she jumps up and darts out the door.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *puzzled look*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod exchanges said puzzled look with Kender.

<JETMODE> *Cinno stretches lazily and mrrs.

<TIAMAT> *Shall we say their food arrives while she's gone? Nevermind that they never actually ordered it.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Did you find anything useful?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod shakes his head as he starts in on whatever he's eating. "I've been keeping an eye out for Bailey all morning, but there's no sign of him.

<JETMODE> <Kender> I wonder what he's up to. *picks at his food*

<JETMODE> *Cinno helps.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie rushes back in after a few moments, looking worried and stricken. "It's all my fault, Kender, I'm sorry!

<JETMODE> <Kender> Huh?

<JETMODE> *Cinno looks up from Kender's plate and meows.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie flops down in her seat, ignoring Cinno and her food. "I took the ankh last night, but I was so tired I dropped it in my bag when I got home and forgot about it this morning, and now they've got Mom and it's all my fault!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *thinks a moment* After lunch, take that to Teal and tell him that you took it after your mother examined it and forgot to give it back. Or, er, something like that. That.. probably ought to put you both in the clear.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie swallows hard. "You...you think so?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods firmly. "Teal.. he has to follow the rules, but he's on our side. .. I think."

<TIAMAT> *Jarod mutters through a mouthful of salad, "I hope you're right..

<JETMODE> <Kender> *weakly* Well, it sort of depends on it now, doesn't it?

<TIAMAT> *Cassie pauses, then nods, determined. "Okay. I'll go. I'll go now. *her stomach rumbles enormously* Er...maybe I should eat something first...

<JETMODE> *Kender laughs. "Yeah. Er, me too."

<JETMODE> *Cinno rumbles.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. Well, what I have left ...

<TIAMAT> *Jarod chuckles.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie leaps up after finishing her lunch and flies out the door, waving back and calling that she'd meet up with Kender and Jarod later. Kender still has about an hour to kill after that before he's supposed to meet Teal.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod finishes off his drink. "So now what?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *leans back with a whooshing sigh* I dunno..

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Can't Farore get into the Silver Knight sooner?

<JETMODE> <Kender> She.. didn't sound like the kind of person I'd want to push. *shakes head* I didn't ask her.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Well, whatever. Time is running out, though..

<JETMODE> <Kender> I know.. *clenches fist*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod smiles faintly. "So are you finally gonna ask her out after all this is over?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *sits up, completely startled* Wha.. what?

<TIAMAT> *He chuckles a bit. "Don't tell me you're still denying that you like her? Why won't you just admit it?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *embarrassed* It's.. it's not that.. I just don't want to bother her about it.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: What makes you think you'll be bothering her?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh. *uncomfortable look* Well, I.. *shrugs and stares at his plate, assuming they still have their plates*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sighs and shakes his head, though he's still grinning a bit. "Didn't you ever think that maybe she likes you just as much as you like her?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs a little* Oh, I don't think so.. She's just nice.

<JETMODE> *Cinno makes a disgusted noise and steals some more of his food.

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

-- cut to the meeting with Teal (probably needed a better transition here --

<TIAMAT> *For once, Clyde isn't around...hm. Teal glances up as Kender enters and sighs a bit. "Yes, Kender? I saw to it that Clarra was released after her daughter brought us the ankh--"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *deep sigh of relief* Okay. I was just making sure.

<JETMODE> *Cinno makes a point of hopping up on the desk and sitting in his paperwork.

<TIAMAT> *Teal blinks at the cat and sits up, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his eyes. "Yes, something about Cassie taking the ankh and forgetting she had it. Is there anything else I can do for you?"

<JETMODE> *Cinno yawls at him.

<TIAMAT> *Teal pats Cinno absent-mindedly.

<JETMODE> *Cinno likes that. Purr purr.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Um.. I think that's all. *pauses* You'll be here, right, if I get that evidence?

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods tiredly. "Within reason. Do try not to come barging around at midnight; not only will I not be here, but the guards on watch won't appreciate it much."

<JETMODE> *Kender coughs, scratching his head sheepishly. "All right. .. Well, uh.. er, c'mon Cinno, we've got work to do."

<JETMODE> *The cat gives him a long-suffering look.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nudges the cat a bit to get off his papers. :P

<JETMODE> *Cinno turns and swats him smartly, then leaps across to Kender's shoulders, making sure to dig his claws in. Kender yelps, complaining as he walks out the door. "What was THAT for? You haven't even been doing anything!"

<TIAMAT> *Teal rubs his hand as he watches Kender depart and sighs slightly in relief.