<TIAMAT> *Salamander Gold is quite dead at 9 am; Farore is, in fact, the only one, besides the bartender, in the whole place. She's even sitting at the same table she was the day before.

<JETMODE> *Kender rushes in, looking harried. He also forgot his cat, who was moving for nothing and nobody that morning. He sits down with a whump, scrubbing at his eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Farore raises an eyebrow. "Long night?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Long week.

<TIAMAT> *Farore: Indeed, it has been. Well, I've got good news and bad news for you, so don't go to sleep yet.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *looks up* Good news and bad news?

<TIAMAT> *Farore nods. "The good news is, we found the ankh. Bailey had it, just like you said. Teal is interrogating him about it now."

<JETMODE> *Kender nearly jumps to his feet. "Really? That's great news!"

<TIAMAT> *Farore: Yes, it is, but perhaps not as great as you'd like it to be. The bad news is, it won't be enough to get Whisper off -- not enough, even, to postpone her execution. We need an alibi.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *slumps down* Oh.

<TIAMAT> *Farore: She trusts you more than anyone. If anyone can get her to tell us where she was that night, it's you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little worried* But.. will Teal let me in to talk to her?

<TIAMAT> *Farore frowns a bit herself. "I think so. The only way to know is to ask him.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. *scratches head* Well yeah.. um.. I think he's getting kind of sick of me, though..

<TIAMAT> *Farore: Well, today's the last day -- one way or another.

<JETMODE> *Kender nods, then grins. "He's just going to have to be sick of me a little longer."

<TIAMAT> *Farore nods. "You'd better go find him -- time's rapidly running out, and the Cardinal isn't going to change his mind easily. If we don't present the evidence to him soon, it may be too late.

<JETMODE> *Kender gets to his feet quickly. "Then I'll go."

<TIAMAT> *Farore: Good luck.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *grins* Thank you for everything. *with that, he bolts toward the door*

<JETMODE> *Kender skitters to Teal's office, first, looking a little lost when nobody's in there.

<TIAMAT> *Voice from behind Kender: Are you looking for the Baron again, Mr. Oanesdale?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh? Oh, hi Clyde. Yeah. Where is he?

<JETMODE> *He doesn't look angry this time. That's a good thing.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde sighs. "Come on, I'll take you to him. *and he leads the way through a series of offices where other officers work and to a side room tucked in a corner somewhere. Just as the two approach, the door opens and Teal comes out, rubbing his forehead and looking exhausted.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *slightly guilty look*

<TIAMAT> *Teal hasn't seen him yet. :D

<JETMODE> <Kender> Um..

<TIAMAT> *Teal starts slightly and looks up. "Kender?"

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "Uh.. I don't want to bother you or anything.. but .. can I talk to Whisper?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal: .. Now? Kender, I'm kind of busy...we found the ankh last night--

<JETMODE> <Kender> I know, I know! Farore told me -- but she said you need an alibi for Whisper. I.. I wanted to see if I could convince her to tell us where she was. *he's looking a bit desperate*

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ah...so you know Lady Korwind as well. *he pauses, thinking* All right. It's true that without an alibi, it will be next to impossible to free Whisper. Clyde, take him to see her.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde looks worried and tries to protest. "But sir--"

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Just do it, Clyde, I don't have time to argue.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *brightens immediately* Thank you!

<TIAMAT> *Clyde salutes. Teal nods to Kender. "I'm sure I'll see you later on today. If you'll excuse me. *and he goes back into the room.

<JETMODE> *Kender glances at Clyde. "Well?"

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: Yeah, come on. *and off they go!

<TIAMAT> *As they approach the stairs leading down to solitary, Clyde suddenly speaks up. "Now, no funny business here, trying to get her out or anything.."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a bit cross* Don't be stupid. We're getting her out the RIGHT way.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde harumphs loudly as they descend. The guard on duty gives them an odd look, but Clyde just shrugs. "Baron's orders. He's to see the murderer. *The guard blinks and steps aside. "If you say so.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *glares at him and grits his teeth, then pushes ahead to Whisper's cell*

<TIAMAT> *She is...trying to carve something into the wall with a small chip of stone. She glances up when she hears footsteps.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Whisper? Are you awake?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: Kender? *she drops the stone and pulls herself up and over to the window in the door, looking kinda hopeful.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *happily* They found the real ankh and they caught the guy who had it! But.. er..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper frowns. "But..?

<JETMODE> <Kender> They say it's not enough.. they need an alibi for you. *unhappy look* Can't you tell them?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks increasingly worried. "I...no, I can't, Kender! I'm sorry--"

<JETMODE> <Kender> But why not? Can't you at least tell ME?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shakes her head. "Bailey...he said he'd go after you if I told anyone. He said we'd never see you again. I'm sorry, Kender..

<JETMODE> <Kender> *gives her a sincerely puzzled look* But.. er.. Bailey's the one they caught. Teal's questioning him right now.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper blinks. "They...caught Bailey? They've got him in custody?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper thinks on this for a minute, then takes a deep breath. "Bailey wanted me to do one last assignment for him that night. It was just a simple one -- I had to deliver a package to the Silver Knight. He said after that he wouldn't need me for anything else, but I wasn't supposed to tell anyone that the package had been delivered or that I was the one who'd delivered it."

<JETMODE> <Kender> So.. while you were delivering it..

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: He must have sent me to deliver it specifically at that time so I wouldn't have an alibi during...*trails off*

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "Please, Whisper, you've got to tell them. He can't hurt anybody now."

<TIAMAT> *Whisper: But he still might have agents working for him. You've got to be careful, Kender..

<JETMODE> <Kender> It'll be okay. Really! But first you have to get out.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods. "All right. I'll talk to Teal. ... if he'll see me..

<JETMODE> <Kender> Of course he will. *nods* He let me come down to talk to you into telling him where you were that night. *grins*

<TIAMAT> *Whisper nods. "Okay. Oh...what day is it? There're no windows down here, so it's awfully hard to tell the time..

<JETMODE> <Kender> It's.. er.. it's the day before your execution. It's really important now, see.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper goes rather pale. "Oh...er...yeah...

<JETMODE> <Kender> *encouraging smile* Don't worry. It'll be okay now. Everything'll work out right.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper swallows and nods. "You...you better go find Teal, then, huh?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. "I'll .. I'll see you soon!"

<JETMODE> *He turns to run back up the hall.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper shouts back after him. "Feel free to hurry back!"

<JETMODE> *Kender laughs. "I will!"

<TIAMAT> *Clyde frowns slightly as Kender approaches. "Done, are you?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Yes. I need to see Teal now. *a little sheepish* It won't take long.

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: I knew you were going to say that. Well, I'm not sure if he's still talking to Bailey or not, but we might as well check there first. *he waves to the other guard and starts up the steps.

<JETMODE> *Kender trails after him, looking worn but happy. His world is finally coming back together again, even if Teal's is coming apart at the seams.

<TIAMAT> *Teal was done interrogating Bailey, so after checking that room, Clyde leads Kender back down to Teal's office.

<JETMODE> *Kender's legs are tired.

<TIAMAT> *I bet. ^_^ And, surprise! Teal isn't the only one in his office -- there's a regular party going on in there. Jarod and Cassie, along with Clarra and Jasmine (to identify that charm Kender still has for Teal) are all sitting about, all looking slightly tense. Jarod and Cassie jump up when Kender enters. Jarod: You're late.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *gives him a cross look* I was busy!

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Did you get an alibi from Whisper?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Yes, I did. *frowns* She says Bailey threatened her to keep her quiet.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Bailey is in no position to be threatening anyone now. You still have the charm, I hope?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods and pulls it out of his pocket.

<TIAMAT> *Teal takes it and holds it up for Jasmine. "This is the one?

<TIAMAT> *Jasmine studies it for a moment, then nods. "It is indeed, my good sir, the very one that Mr. Bailey himself ordered.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *sidles over to Jarod and murmurs* Why's everybody here?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: Teal asked me to get Lady Jasmine to identify that charm of yours. And he called on Clarra to identify the ankh they found last night -- she says it's the real one. Cassie just came along to see you, I guess.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sets the charm down on his desk next to the ankh. "Then everything's in order, once I get Whisper's alibi myself. However..

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. Oh. *waves at Cassie*

<TIAMAT> *Cassie grins. "It's gonna work, isn't it Kender? We're gonna get Whisper out, aren't we?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods happily.

<TIAMAT> *Teal and Clarra are talking in hushed tones. Jasmine's half listening to their conversation.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *glances over at them curiously* What're you guys talking about?

<TIAMAT> *Teal and Clarra stop talking abruptly, Clarra turning toward Kender, looking worried. Teal frowns. "We have enough evidence to get Whisper cleared, I think -- it's about as much as we're going to get now before the execusion. But...there's still a problem.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *upset look* What do you mean?

<TIAMAT> *Teal takes a deep breath. "The Cardinal is the only one who can reverse Whisper's sentence, but he's...he's away from the Arena for business. He should be back by tomorrow morning, but if he isn't...there's no way for us to even postpone the sentence without him.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie looks stricken. Jarod looks at his feet.

<JETMODE> *Kender pales. "But.. .."

<TIAMAT> *Teal shakes his head. "All we can do now is wait.

<JETMODE> *Kender now looks like he's about to be sick.

<TIAMAT> *Clarra wraps her arm around Kender's shoulder and tries to lead him out of Teal's office. "Come on, Kender lad, why don't we all go back to our place for some lunch? What do you say, hmm?

<JETMODE> <Kender> O..okay..