<TIAMAT> *Teal is currently resting. Sleeping, rather. He's been doing a lot of that lately.

<JETMODE> *The door to the room they've put Teal in creaks open, then shut again, as if someone opened it by mistake.

<TIAMAT> *Teal stirs a bit, but doesn't quite wake.

<JETMODE> *A slim, golden-brown person with whiskers and a tail leaps up onto his bed, ears twitching. He ambles over and paws at Teal, then sits down and gives his usual, ear-splitting yowl.

<TIAMAT> *Teal shakes his head a bit as the cat paws his face, then starts into wakefulness when he yowls, glancing around in confusion. He spots the cat and stares for a moment, then sighs as if in relief. He's probably been kinda jumpy ever since he got back, too.

<JETMODE> *Cinno scratches behind one ear, making a crabby rumbling noise.

<TIAMAT> *Teal: ... Well. *he props himself up a bit on one elbow, grimacing slightly. "Cinno, as I recall. What are you doing here? *he reaches out with his free hand toward the cat.

<JETMODE> *Cinno promptly bounces to his feet to be petted. He purrs cheerfully. The little attention-hog's been getting more than his fair share since he started staying in the infirmary.

<TIAMAT> *Teal smiles faintly as he pets the cat, scritching under his chin.

<JETMODE> *Cinno mrrs pleasantly, then swivels his head, ears flicking, when a voice from somewhere up the hall calls out, "Cinno? Cinno, where'd you go?"

<TIAMAT> *Teal glances up toward the door and starts to call something out in reply, but he goes into a slight coughing fit instead.

<JETMODE> *The voice gets a little closer, and Cinno ignores it regally, demanding more petting from Teal.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *now just outside the door* Oh, come on, Cinno!

<TIAMAT> *Teal clears his throat hard, still hacking a bit. "In...in here, Kender!"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Eh? *pushes the door open and pokes his head in* Baron Teal? *he looks surprised*

<JETMODE> *He steps inside, shutting the door behind him. He's still a little beat up, but he's moving around fine now. A few cuts and some bruises visible.

<JETMODE> *Cinno hisses at him conversationally.

<TIAMAT> *Teal clears his throat again and nods. "So I'm not completely unrecognizable yet, eh? *he smiles a bit grimly and pulls himself up into a sitting position, wincing sharply.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er -- don't strain yourself. *he scratches the back of his head and grins* I didn't know you were in here. Last I'd heard you were still missin'.

<TIAMAT> *Teal settles his back against the pillow, catching his breath a bit. "It's all right -- and I'm not surprised. Peggy insisted on me having a room to myself. The peace and quiet is rather nice, but I don't get many visitors. *he pauses, eyeing Kender closely* What happened to you, lad?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs a little weakly, directing his gaze to the floor* I, eh.. I had an accident, that's all.

<JETMODE> *Cinno makes a disgruntled sound, tail lashing.

<TIAMAT> *Teal raises an eyebrow. "Some accident, by the looks of it. Are you all right?"

<JETMODE> *Kender nods immediately. "I'm just fine! It -- it looks worse than it is."

<TIAMAT> *Teal gives him a curious look. "Well, if you insist ... how've you been?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *relieved at the subject change* I've been all right. I should actually be getting out soon.. tomorrow, probably. *tilts head* What about you?

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ah... *he glances away* Much as I'd like to get back to my duties -- Clyde did the best he could, but there were ... several complications -- I don't think Peggy's going to let me out any time soon. Though I don't object to a little extra rest.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *scratches head* I suppose. ... *a little concerned* I.. I don't mean to pry or anything.. but Whisper's been worried.. it wasn't Genoa, was it? Who did that to you?

<TIAMAT> *Teal looks back at Kender quickly, a little surprised. A bit sharply: "No! *pause* *calmer* No, Genoa did not do this to me. Not at all. In fact ... *he pauses again* If it weren't for her, I'm fairly certain I wouldn't be here right now."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *blinks in puzzlement, but sounds relieved* That's good. I mean.. that she didn't.. you know. *scratches head* It's just the guards and all. *shrugs*

<TIAMAT> *Teal frowns. "The guards...do not know what happened yet. One of the reasons why I am anxious to return.."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *curious look* What did happen? Nobody knows at all. Just you disappeared, and then you came back.

<JETMODE> *Cinno has settled against Teal's leg and is snoozing.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs heavily. "It is...a rather long story."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *lifts his hands hurriedly* You -- you don't have to tell me if you don't want.

<TIAMAT> *Teal shakes his head, smiling a bit. "It's quite all right. I just didn't want to burden you. To be as brief as possible ... Jajara managed to take control of the undead the night they attacked in order to create a diversion so he could get Genoa out without anyone noticing. *wan grin* I just happened to go along for the ride, I suppose."

<TIAMAT> *Teal: We ended up in the ruins of a city beneath the Arena -- or so we suspected -- and Jajara and I ... had a little talk. *he winces a bit* A rather pointed talk.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little weakly* You.. you fought that big dragon?

<TIAMAT> *Teal chuckles. "Not quite -- he appeared to us as a human ... more or less. But, to answer your question, yes, I did fight him."

<JETMODE> <Kender> ... Oh. *laughs* Geez. .. but -- how did you.. I mean.. how'd you get away?

<TIAMAT> *Teal thinks about that for a moment. "To be honest with you, I really don't know. I ... lost the duel with Jajara ... to say the least. The next thing I remember was waking up here, when Clyde came to ... take Genoa away.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh.. *shakes head* That.. wow.

<TIAMAT> *Teal looks thoughtful for a moment. "The only other thing I recall...was Genoa attacking Jajara after I...fell...and then he vanished. I don't know what she did to him, but, as I said, if it weren't for her, I suspect I wouldn't be here now. *he pauses and sighs a bit.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *faint grin* Well, I figured she wasn't all bad, anyway. *hesitates* You.. you might want to let your guards know, though.

<TIAMAT> *Teal glances up at him sharply. "What...have they done to her?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *startled* I.. I dunno. They're makin' plenty of noise, though.

<TIAMAT> *Teal sighs again, nodding a little tiredly. "I'll have words with Clyde, then. Thank you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> Sure.. *looks a little guilty; he didn't want to get anyone in trouble* Well, er, I better let you rest, huh?

<TIAMAT> *Teal smiles a bit. "It's quite all right. As I said, I don't get many visitors back here."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *grin* I'll stop by again if I can. *he chirps at the cat* C'mon, Cinno.

<TIAMAT> *Teal nods. "Take care of yourself, lad."

<JETMODE> *Cinno grumbles, ears flattening, but he unwinds himself slowly and leaps off the bed to coil around Kender's shoulders. Kender nods. "You too, er, Baron!" Then, with an awkward grin, he trots out the door.

<TIAMAT> *Teal watches him depart, then settles back down, drifting back to sleep almost immediately.