<JETMODE> *Kender is up at the break of day and making himself some breakfast again. ^_^ Cinno is wandering around his feet and yowling.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod rolls over with a groan, muttering something about cats being too loud. "Do you have to get up this early, Kender?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *over his shoulder* Sorry.. I'm nervous. Can't sleep.

<JETMODE> *Breakfast smells good, anyway.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sits up with a yawn and rubs his eyes. "Well, at least you've got the breakfast thing down. What's on the menu?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Bacon and flapjacks. We don't have any syrup, though, so you'll just have to use sugar or jam or whatever.

<JETMODE> *Cinno howls. Kender winces and drops him a piece of bacon so he'll shut up.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod, who was getting dressed, pulls his robes over his clothes. "Fine by me. *he digs out some plates and glasses and whatever, and shoots Kender a sideways glance. "You okay?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Uh-huh. *flips one of said flapjacks into the air and catches it neatly* I'll be better once this is all over.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod nods. "Well, this is it.

<JETMODE> *There's already a small pile of them off to one side -- these are size-large, and thick too. Eat your fill!

<JETMODE> <Kender> I wonder where we're supposed to wait.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod helps himself to cakes, spooning peach jam on generously. "Dunno. Clarra might, though.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Wonder if she's up yet. *finishes the last one and turns off the stove, helping himself to a couple*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod: If she's crazy like you, she might be. *he grins a bit, though.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *worriedly, taking a bite* Should we try?

<TIAMAT> *Jarod shrugs. "Sure, if you want to.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *grin* Of course I do. *and he tucks in*

<JETMODE> *As they make their way to Clarra's, Kender is looking upbeat but wobbly. Cinno, perched on his shoulder, is cleaning bacon grease from his whiskers.

<TIAMAT> *Hrm...I think they live right on the magic floor, maybe behind her classroom or something. There're a few mages milling about in the hallways, but most of the daily lessons haven't started yet. Cassie's sitting outside Clarra's classroom, back against the door, reading a magic book. She doesn't see them approach.

<JETMODE> *Cinno leaps down and jumps on top of her book, butting his head against her face. He likes Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *Heh! Cassie squawks in suprise, then smiles and strokes Cinno. "What're you doing here? *she glances up and spies Kender, grinning and waving.

<JETMODE> *Kender waves back and trots over. "Oh, we were just wondering .. well, what we're supposed to do.."

<TIAMAT> *Cassie continues petting Cinno, scratching behind his ears and under his neck. "Mom figured you'd be around early, so she suggested I stay out here and wait for you...she's still waking up, I think. *grins*

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh, okay. Hey, I should have brought some breakfast. I think we have some left over.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie: Oh, that's okay, I had something to eat. *pause* So...so the Cardinal's gonna get back on time, right? They said...they said the execution's at noon...but he'll be here by then, won't he?

<JETMODE> *Kender shrugs. "He should be.. he's got no reason not to be.."

<TIAMAT> *Well, after a while, Clarra comes out, looking a bit worn but nonetheless pleasant. "Oh, Kender, Jarod...I thought maybe you'd stop by early. Sorry I'm late. *she turns and shuts the door, locking it behind her. "I cancelled all my classes for the day..

<JETMODE> <Kender> It's all right. *tilts head* Where are we going to wait?

<TIAMAT> *Clarra adjusts a shawl she has draped around her shoulders. "He said to meet him in the conference room down by his office. He'll have a message sent to the Cardinal to join us as soon as he arrives.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Okay. *stretches* .. maybe I should have brought something to do..

<TIAMAT> *Clarra: It could be a wait. Shall we?

<JETMODE> *Kender nods. He glances at Cinno, but the cat seems perfectly happy with Cassie.

<TIAMAT> *She gathers her book up and tucks it under an arm, balancing Cinno on her shoulder, and they're off! Jarod's tagging along at the back, yawning every five seconds.

<TIAMAT> *Teal is down around the conference room when they get there, ordering guards about and trying to get things under control. Jasmine is already in the conference room, looking politely bored.

<JETMODE> *Kender waves to her as he enters, smiling brightly.

<TIAMAT> *Jasmine smiles (a bit forced) back. "Ah, hello, my dear sirs and madams. A good morning for you all, I hope?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Pretty good. *mentally makes a note to buy something really expensive from her when he can*

<JETMODE> *Cinno burbles something and hops to the floor, sniffing around.

<TIAMAT> *Jasmine motions to all the empty chairs sitting around a fairly large, circular table. "Might as well take a seat, friends. Baron Teal said the Cardinal wouldn't be here until 11 or so.

<JETMODE> *Kender sighs, REALLY wishing he'd brought something to do, and Cinno springs to the table and ambles over to say hello to Jasmine.

<JETMODE> *Kender, in the meantime, flops in a chair and looks at the ceiling.

<TIAMAT> *Jasmine smiles at Cinno a bit and pats him on the head once or twice.

<TIAMAT> *And everyone else sits down too, woo!

<TIAMAT> *Oh, the ankh and the charm are in the middle of the table, too.

<JETMODE> *Cinno, after meowing at Jasmine, trots to the middle of the table and swats idly at the ankh, tail switching.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Cinno, quit that.

<JETMODE> *Cinno hisses at Kender and flops very deliberately down on the evidence. Kender rolls his eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie clucks. "Cinno! Here kitty!

<JETMODE> *Cinno rolls over on his back, exposing his belly, and mrrs at her upside-down.

<TIAMAT> *Teal comes in after a while to make sure everything's in order, then disappears again for a bit, then reappears, looking tired and harried but satisfied. "The Cardinal will be here shortly now. *he takes a seat next to Kender.

<JETMODE> *Kender grins. Cinno snorts.

<TIAMAT> *Cassie and Clarra exchange happy looks and Jarod, who had been leaning back in his chair sleeping, snrks awake and falls over backwards.

<JETMODE> *Cinno is also still sitting on the evidence. :P

<JETMODE> <Kender> *peers at Jarod* Um.. need a hand?

<TIAMAT> *Teal gives the cat a little nudge.

<JETMODE> *Cinno growls at Teal, rolling over to bat at him irritably.

<TIAMAT> *Jarod sits up, muttering, then pulls himself to his feet, dragging the chair up with him. "I'm fine, I'm fine...

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs. "Kender, your cat..

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er, right. *hops to his feet and scoops the cat up* Come on, Cinno, don't be a pain.

<JETMODE> *Cinno bites Kender and jumps to the floor, curling up under the chairs and grumbling to himself.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Ow! *looks hurt and sucks on his hand where Cinno bit him*

<TIAMAT> *Jarod rolls his eyes.

<TIAMAT> *Well, after another half hour or so (it's a little after 11), there's a knock at the door, then Clyde enters, stepping aside to admit the Cardinal.

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal David Pacheco looks like he has the medieval version of jetlag, and he's fairly cranky. "What's this about, Teal?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal stands when he enters, nodding in respect. "Good morning, Cardinal, I apologize for inconveniencing you after you've just arrived back--

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> Skip the pleasantries, please. *grimaces* I have a pounding headache.

<JETMODE> *"Good," thinks Kender.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ahh, of course. *clears his throat* Your Honor, these people here have gathered evidence that Whisper is NOT guilty of assassinating Bishop Farrar.

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> Yes, very good -- eh? *he gives Teal a long, hard look*

<TIAMAT> *Teal pushes on quickly. "The ankh that was found in Whisper's room -- it was a decoy. A fake. The real ankh was found in Stephan Bailey's posession at the Silver Knight inn. And the charm that was found near Bishop Farrar's body -- also a fake, that was purchased by Bailey.

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal takes all this in and pauses, rolling his eyes heavenward and taking in a deep breath for strength. "And ... you've verified all this, I take it."

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Yes, sir, we have. Clarra identified the ankh that was found in Bailey's room as the real on, and Lady Jasmine verified that the charm found was purchased by him as well.

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal looks murderous. "And the girl, has she established an alibi?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal swallows but doesn't quail under his look. "Yes, sir. She was ... delivering a package for Bailey, who threatened her and her friends if she told us at the trial.

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal looks utterly disgusted, making a mental note never to use an incompetent like Bailey ever again. "Very well, then," he says stiffly, grinding his teeth. "I will see Bailey myself."

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Very good, sir. *long, tense pause, Teal's about to say something else, but Kender can interject if you want.

<JETMODE> *Kender leaps to his feet and slams his hands on the table, thoroughly frustrated with the Cardinal's behavior. "But what about WHISPER?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal, slightly alarmed: Kender, please calm down--

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal whirls on Kender, face turning an unbecoming shade of red. "Young man, I will thank you to SIT DOWN and BE QUIET." He turns back to Teal and snarls. "Release the girl. Get them ALL out of my sight!"

<JETMODE> *Kender sits down with a squeak.

<JETMODE> *The Cardinal is in a foul mood.

<TIAMAT> *Teal gives a slight bow. "Thank you, Cardinal. *he gestures for everyone to leave -- and quickly, waitint until everyone else is out to start out himself. Did the Cardinal have anything else to say?

<JETMODE> <Pacheco> *a little darkly* Thank you for your work, Baron Teal.

<TIAMAT> *Teal pauses on his way out and nods. "Of course, Cardinal. *pauses, then leaves.

<TIAMAT> *They're all shooed out and upstairs into the training ground before the Cardinal can do any serious damage. ^_^ Cassie blinks and looks around. "Well ... now what?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *anxiously* But.. they haven't let Whisper out yet..

<TIAMAT> *Haha, okay. As they're all standing about wondering what's next, there's a sudden shrill scream from a nearby stairway -- the stairway that leads to solitary. A couple of guards are dragging a rather violent Whisper up the stairs -- she clearly doesn't know she's being released and not executed, because she's shrieking protests.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. eh? .. HEY!

<JETMODE> *He charges toward the stairway. "Let her go! Let her go NOW!"

<TIAMAT> *Cassie's hot on his heels, leaving Clarra and Jarod blinking in their wake -- Jasmine left as soon as they were dismissed. The guards, one of them being Clyde, quickly scatter to either side of Whisper, who's left blinking in puzzlement. Clyde eyes Kender warily. "We just got the order from Baron Teal -- she's free to go.

<JETMODE> <Kender> ... Well, why didn't you tell HER that? *he has an arm around Whisper, trying to comfort her*

<TIAMAT> *Clyde: Whatever. *he and his pal quickly retreat back down the stairs.

<JETMODE> *Kender mutters. "Jerks."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Whisper, are you okay?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper watches the two guards disappear down the stairs, then turns to Kender, grinning slowly. "I .. am now, I think. You did it!

<JETMODE> *Kender nods happily. "I was worried for a second, though."

<TIAMAT> *Clarra and Jarod came up from behind while Kender was yelling at the guards. Clarra's smiling warmly. "Well, now, this calls for a celebration, I think! Would you all like to come back for something to eat? Or...perhaps you two want some time alone... *I think she thinks that they're together.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *goes red* Uh.. I mean.. *mumbles* Party'sokay.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper grins. "And I'm famished -- the food they give you down there is horrible! I feel sorry for Genoa...

<JETMODE> *Kender nods in agreement, but he's not paying any particular attention to what she's saying. :P

<TIAMAT> *Clarra claps her hands together. "Wonderful! Come on, Cassie, we have to make something special for lunch! *the two foxes trot off, with Jarod following quickly and calling for them to wait up.

<TIAMAT> *Well, as Kender starts off after them, as I assume he will, Whisper grabs his hand gently to stop him. "Kender..

<JETMODE> <Kender> *turns back* Uh?

<TIAMAT> *Whisper's -- blushing? Well, just a little. "Uh...I... ... thank you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. *scratches the back of his head* Of.. of course. You're welcome.

<TIAMAT> *There's a moment of awkward silence, and then she smiles again. "Well, come on, before Jarod eats everything for himself!

<JETMODE> *Kender, after a tormented moment, leans over and kisses her on the cheek -- then promptly bolts up the hallway after the others. Blushing furiously, of course.

<TIAMAT> *Whisper looks startled but pleased and chases after him, yelling for him to wait up. ^_^