~ PASSAGE 86 ~
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT

Aramil looked at the circle of 14 militiamen and raised his staff in a slight defensive posture.
" If you continue to interfere, I will have murder charges brought upon each of you. His death on your hands and not mine." The mage glanced at broken pottery fragments scattered along the marble steps. " It is clear neither of us were near the man when he was slain. We were blown down by the extent of the smoke display and the force of the blast." Aramil held his left hand with palm facing out " Move closer and there will be results. Back off and aid us."

The lead guard responded firmly " Any more damage or harm will seal your fate in this city. Do the wise thing and accept your arrest."

Teflar stood immediately " You will find my sword free of blood. You may check my other weapons also." He turned toward the wizard with a reassuring pat on the shoulder " Aramil, stand down. There has been enough bloodshed today." He spoke to the head guardsman " In the face of my innocence and the fact that I am surrounded, I surrender. Please take me to your magistrate." Aramil spoke as the police grabbed for him " Take us to Metlivon! He will straighten the whole matter out!"
The pair were hand-tied and led away along the avenue to a paddywagon as the crowd dispersed. A few rowdies were still defiant, but in all, they were eventually tamped down into a semblance or order. Five men were arrested that afternoon along with the Raven pair and taken to a holding cell to await charges. The last sight through the iron bars was Hosh's body being lifted onto a stretcher by a few of his affiliates.

2 PM: The jailhouse was located within a walled fort on the eastern side of the city. Laurel trees were neatly spaced around the compound and heady spring scent flavored the air. All seven of the accused were stripped of their equipment and escorted to an underground holding cell.
Teflar and Aramil sat on the hard, stone floor of the lockup in complete mental disarray. With a center of depression between them, they stretched their feet into the bowl occasionally keeping tabs on the other undesirables pacing around them. There was much muttering about the end of the civilized world and the talk of war soon to come. Aramil watched Telfar hold a clenched fist over the tattoo hidden beneath his clothing. Distress lines creased the ranger's face. The wizard spoke with derision " So this speeds up the process of moving on by giving in? For all we know, the magistrate may have taken an extended leave."

Teflar looked at Aramil incredulously and stood up from his kneeling position. "Can you count? There were over a dozen men with swords surrounding us! We left Leah back there to fend for herself against less orcs than that. I apologize; I didn't know you were so great a mage that you could have handled them all yourself." His face colored red with anger as he kicked at the floor. " If I'd have known that, I'd have fallen on my sword to protect you from their heathen, simpleton hands!" The ranger turned and walked away to the end of the walled cell while the other felons turned to watch the arguement. Teflar slapped the wall with agitation and then rested his head upon the cool stone.

Aramil got up and followed the woodsman " Well fine, Telfar, I do not blame you. Our dwarven friend, who has been missing, has been the driving force for being here. It was not my idea to stay in this city, but to resupply and move along. Oktavianus and you insisted on informing the warmarshall on the impending plight. Since that moment, we have been roped into a situation beyond our control. We have some friends missing and, until I see they are dead, I will believe they are alive and wish to find them so they can aid us further on our mission."

Turning around to face Aramil, Teflar held his hands out in supplication "I believe in what I have been asked to do. I believe that this is something that needs...needs to be done or all may be lost. Why are we here in this town and held within this jail? We should be out there...searching what we were sent to find. Delays; too many delays and lost lives."

Now the pair were getting avid attention and the accused moved in closer to see if a fight was going to break out. Aramil dropped the subject and faced the five men " Please forgive my ignorance of this issue, but what war has developed in the day that I have been gone from this fine place?"
A dirty fellow pushed to the fore " A war known as BeastBastion; the orcs are inhabiting our lands in sheer numbers!!"
Suddenly, a clinking was heard and all eyes shifted to the cell door. The entrance was being unlocked from the other side. A large man with cropped hair walked into the cell with two crossmen by his side. He wore breastplate armor that stood out under his salt and pepper full beard. He barked to the group " I am Captain Nobenza. You are all suspects! Accomplices to murder receive the same punishment as those who commit it. In two day's time, I'll see you all swinging from the gallows. I don't care what your reasons are, I will not tolerate murder or rioting in my streets." He looked to the Raven pair " I can have an Advocate sworn in to defend anyone and you may convince him of your innocence, but I doubt that your lies will fly here. A warmarshall will not be summoned unless you are proven innocent." The captain then retreated back into the hallway leaving the motley gang to muttering and curses.