[Remember Jeanne? We haven't seen her since LOG FOUR. In case you need a refresher.]

<TIAMAT> *We can assume Kender and Whisper had a very nice dinner or whatever they were going to, and the next day dawns over-cast and windy. Kender is down by the stables.

<TIAMAT> *All is fairly calm and quiet until about mid-morning, when a loud squawk near the guards' quarters breaks through the air, followed a familiar voice, desperate and irritable. "Miss, please, DO control that ... creature!"

<TIAMAT> *Another voice -- feminine this time, and possibly also familiar -- can be heard scowling loudly. "Don' yeh be callin' Sir William no creature in that tone, laddie! I demand ter see the Baron or wotever 'e calls himself, this instant!"

<TIAMAT> *First voice, more desperate: I'm sorry, miss, but the Baron is ... pre-occupied at the moment! If there's anything I can do--

<TIAMAT> *The second voice hmphs loudly. "Nay, laddie, I dearly do wish yeh'd take me to yer commander, but if'n y'won't, Ah suppose Ah'll just have to come back later! *she turns and starts marching in Kender's direction, nose stuck in the air and bird whistling and calling names back to Clyde, who's staring after her, rather dumb-founded.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *stares at her for a moment, nearly dropping a bucket of horse feed* .. Jeanne?

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne comes to a rather startled hault and glances around. She spots Kender and does a slight double-take, peering at him curiously as she takes a few steps toward him. ".. Kender lad, be that you?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *chuckles* Yeah -- yeah, it is. Where've you been? It's been ages!

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne's sour mood seems to evaporate immediately and she grins broadly, taking Kender's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Why, so it 'as, 'asn't it? Ah've been busy, donchya know. Only jus' got back this mornin', actually, fer all the good that did. *she hmphs a little, giving her head a shake and tossing her black curls over her shoulder.

<JETMODE> *Kender chuckles again, attempting to pull his hand free. "Things have been .. kinda crazy around here. But they're starting to settle down.."

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne grins again. "Och, well, 'tis always good t'hear! How've yeh been? *she releases his hand, blinks, and takes it again, peering at his wrist. "Wot's this, lad, get in a scuffle with some 'o yore animals?

<JETMODE> *Kender glances down, blinking at the scars that ring his wrist from when he hung from Gulzak's chains. "Ah -- something like that --" He grins sheepishly, pulling his hand away and shoving it in his pocket. "So, er, how have things been going for you?"

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne waves a hand dismissively and sighs. "Och, well, y'know, Willy 'n I're still 'ere, so Ah s'ppose 'tis something, nay, Willy?"

<TIAMAT> *The bird whistles. "Still here!"

<TIAMAT> *He flaps his wings a few times, then launches himself into Kender's shoulder.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *patting carefully at the bird* Did you.. ever find who you were looking for?

<TIAMAT> *Willy takes Kender's finger in his beak. Jeanne shifts a little, almost uncomfortably. "Nay, not yet, Ah'm afeared. Ah heard 'e wasn't 'ere, so Ah went searchin' again, an' now 'ere Ah am agin. Heard 'e was 'ere, mebbe, so Ah thought 'twas worth a chance, seein' as Ah had nowhere else t'go."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh.. *scratches head* Well.. if you wanted, I could help ya look. I haven't got a whole lot to do, really.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne: Och, well, 'tis right kind 'o yeh, Kender lad, but I don' want ter be a burden--

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs* It's all right -- helping a friend out is never any kind of burden.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne grins broadly. "Methinks the world could use more folks like yerself, Kender. My thanks to yeh! Ah...unfortunately, Ah don' really 'ave much infermation t'work with..."

<JETMODE> <Kender> *thinks* Well.. I guess I know a couple people we can ask ...

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne: Ah was meanin' ter ask yore Baron if 'e'd, ah, been through 'ere recently, but yon guard didn't seem keen on lettin' me in. *she tosses her head again.

<JETMODE> *Kender chuckles. "That's 'cause he doesn't know where he is."

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne peers at Kender. "Wot d'ya mean?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *grins* Well, I guess it isn't all that funny, but.. it's not like Clyde would tell you he's shacked up with his girlfriend -- I mean, he's not -- not exactly, but.. *scratches head* Uh.. let me start over ...

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne gives him a funny look.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *coughs* Someone tried to assassinate him.. and I don't know what kinds of wires crossed in his head, but he wound up at Genoa's apartment, and she's been taking care of him there -- I just know 'cause Whisper's her roommate.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne blinks. "O-oh. *slightly dizzy look, grins* Whisper, that pretty lass yeh were eyein' up last time we met?

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er -- *goes a little red* Yeah.. yeah, that's her.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne chuckles. "Och, lookit you, shy as ever, eh? An' her roommate's the Baron's girlfriend?

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs weakly* Yeah.. it's.. it's kind of weird.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne: Ah should say! Ah don' want ter bother 'im, though, 'specially if 'e's 'urt..

<JETMODE> <Kender> *a little drily* I think they've both just been putting off the inevitable the past couple of days ... he's a lot better. So it's all right, we can go see them. I don't know how much he can help, though..

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne: Och, if ye say so, laddie. Lead on! Er, 'less ye've still got work t'do 'erebouts... *glances at the stables*

<JETMODE> <Kender> Oh -- it's no problem. *calls out* Hey, Xylo! Can you finish the rounds for me? I've gotta cut out early!

<TIAMAT> *Xylo pokes his head around the corner of one of the barns. "Yar, no problem, Kend. Where ya off to, gotta 'nother date with the lady?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Nah, just gonna help out a friend of mine. *grins* I owe ya one.

<TIAMAT> *Xylo chuckles. "I'll hold it to ya. Get outta here!

<JETMODE> <Kender> *laughs* Right, see ya! *waves and starts toward the building* "C'mon, I'll take you there."

<TIAMAT> *Willy flaps a few times. "Take you there, take you there!"

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne trots after, whistling to the bird.

<JETMODE> *Kender leads her rapidly up the stairs, humming cheerfully. "I guess I can't complain too much about it, since his being in the apartment means Whisper visits me a lot more, but I think Jarod's getting grouchy."

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne laughs a little. "Mayhaps ye should switch roommates, nay?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er.. that.. I mean.. *goes red*

<TIAMAT> *Willy whistles. "Switch roommates, switch roomates, woo!"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *plaintively* Shh, Willy -- oh, here it is.

<JETMODE> *He pauses, then raps on the door.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *rather crossly* She's not here right now, Kender -- you ought to know her schedule by now.

<TIAMAT> *Willy whistles loudly. Jeanne chuckles.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *rolls eyes* I'm not here to see Whisper!

<JETMODE> *There's a slight thump, then the door jerks open, revealing a semi-irritable Genoa. "Then WHAT -- who are they?"

<JETMODE> <Kender> *folds his arms* They need to talk to Teal -- I mean, unless you two were really busy or something.

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne smiles at Genoa, curtsying a bit. "Och, Ah do 'ope we're not intrudin', lass."

<JETMODE> *Genoa, about to say something positively vicious to Kender, pauses and takes Jeanne in with an arched eyebrow. "Of course not." She turns and walks back inside, leaving the door ajar. "Come inside -- don't forget to shut it."

<JETMODE> *Kender sighs. "Don't mind her.. she's not all that bad.."

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne simply grins to him as she trots inside just as Teal appears from in the kitchen ... wiping dishes. "Someone say my name? *he pauses when he sees Jeanne, glancing at Genoa questioningly.

<JETMODE> <Genoa> Kender says she needed to speak to you.

<JETMODE> <Kender> *closing the door behind him* Well, she DOES ...

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Ah, Kender -- of course --

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne takes his free hand the instant he shifts to hold both bowl and towel in one hand, shaking vigorously. "Och, so this be Baron Teal? 'tis a pleasure t'meet yeh, sir."

<TIAMAT> *Teal, a little startled, returns the handshake, blinking at Jeanne in bemusement. "Aha, yes, of course -- er, how can I help you?"

<JETMODE> *Genoa, with a faint sigh, takes the bowl and towel away from him and goes back to the kitchen. "Go sit down at the table. Kender can help me finish." She gives Kender a dark look, and the beastmaster-in-training sighs.

<JETMODE> <Kender> All right, all right ...

<TIAMAT> *Teal: Er, right -- thank you -- *he leads Jeanne over to the table, where they sit and Jeanne relates her tale of woe to the Baron. Seems her boyfriend, Pierre Beaulieu, was a merchant who got in a spot of trouble with the wrong folks and had to leave the city where he and Jeanne lived quick-like about a year ago, and she's been searching for him ever since.

<JETMODE> *Kender and Genoa are undoubtedly listening, whilst finishing up the dishes. Though Kender does pause once and say "You know, you ought to come down and see Fever more often -- he gets lonesome."

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *sighs* I've been busy. I'll try to come down this afternoon.

<JETMODE> <Kender> All right, then. *cheery grin*

<JETMODE> <Genoa> *mutter* Nag.

<JETMODE> <Kender> I'll tell him you called him that.

<JETMODE> *Genoa hits him with a ladle.

<TIAMAT> *Teal watches this little exchange in amusement before shaking his head slightly and turning back to Jeanne. "Well, I am sorry about your friend, but I'm afraid I haven't heard of him or the people who are after him..."

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne sighs a little, then grins a bit. "Och, well, 'tis no fault 'o yores, sir, Ah just though mayhaps 'twas worth a shot. Ah thankee kindly fer yore time. *she stands and curtsies again.

<TIAMAT> *Teal smiles faintly as he gets to his feet as well. "Of course, I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

<JETMODE> <Kender> Er -- you going?

<TIAMAT> *Jeanne's about to respond to Teal when Kender interjects. She turns to him with a brief nod. "S'ppose 'tis not much else t'do 'ere, nay? *she curtsies to Genoa and bids her and Teal farewell before making for the door.

<JETMODE> <Kender> .. Er. *hands Genoa the dish he was drying* Hang on, Jeanne --

<TIAMAT> *Teal watches them depart, smiling a little, then takes the dish Kender gave Genoa and finishes drying it. "Fever?"

<JETMODE> *She arches an eyebrow at him. "My horse."

<TIAMAT> *Teal blinks at her and chuckles. "Ah, I might have known."