~ PASSAGE 88 ~
DEFENSIVE POSTURE

Aramil stepped forward clenching the bars with his fists " We come back to report our findings and we are imprisoned for being at the wrong place at the wrong time!? Perhaps you should take a chance and ask Metlivon yourself if he sent a small band of adventurers with scouts to investigate some orcs nearby. As far as rioting, that came from the result of the cancelled festival. Look a bit more objectively in place of this black-and-white view!"

The captain replied impatiently " Murdering a radical has nothing to do with a warmarshall appointing you a designed mission." Nobenza turned to walk away when Teflar yelled " I'll not have an advocate defend me. I'll defend myself of my innocence. I'm not sure I trust someone appointed by a person...that would be 'you'...who seems to want to see me swing from a rope."

" So be it." answered the captain as he continued walking firmly down the cement hallway; his boot echoes being drowned by the shouting inmates. Teflar turned to Aramil and whispered " Use your wizard spells and get us out of here. I'm done with this place."

Aramil released the bars and replied " I am a young wizard. I lack greater spells which would alleviate this problem. We must use our minds to get out on our own. Besides, you're the one that said 'come peacefully'."

Teflar sputtered " Arrghh!! Are we back to that again?! Escaping from this situation is a lot easier when a person is still alive."
Pacing around the cell, a disgruntled Teflar rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and callosed forefinger. " Okay, so we use our brains. Just a suggestion, but when pulled out of here to protest our jailing and to profess our innocence, don't insult the judge. Angering him will only make it easier for anyone to close their eyes and ears to the truth."

Aramil frowned and watched as the rowdy gang bounced stones off the far wall in some sort of street game. A restless night was spent in the gloomy holding cell. Insects and chittering were heard from the lone barred window. Harsh stares were thrown at the pair, but no bad incidents occurred that would threaten their safety...not yet anyway.

MYCRAN 10 ~ 9 AM: The confinement doors were thrown open and ten guards loudly banged down the hallway shouting for everyone to 'get up'. It was soon explained that they were now attending an evidence hearing. If there was enough to support the murder case against anyone, bail would be denied unless a flight risk was disproved. There was also the minor matter of inciting a riot. The seven accused were shackled and led up six flights of stairs until they came to a small debateroom. Here, assembled, the plea hearing was to begin. All the attendants rose before the judge as the baliff verbally introduced her. The seven accused were lined up in front of Cerah Quinn while she ruled at her desk in front of a shelving of libary texts. She was adorned in a rich, jade robe and studied a tome resting across her lap. She looked at each arrested person asking for their plea. The first five men protested their innocence to rioting, but only one was vindicated. The rest had to stand trial and were allowed a 10,000 GP bailment. Next was Aramil and he was asked for his answer.
The wizard said humbly " I accept to have a local advocate at my side for I do not know the laws of these lands and feel it is wise to have one trusted by this city." The mage paused as a ranked noble stepped by his side. " I plead innocent to the murder for I was not within arms' reach of the victim. I plead innocent to the riot for that was started by the cancellation of the festival."

Cerah Quinn stared back into the vacuous tome before raising her eyes to the magician's witness. " Advocate?" she directed.

The lawyer responded " My client has been against any radical nature from the start and was viciously attacked by the violet blast that left three other common men briefly blinded as they enjoyed an assembly. He was an innocent bystander and must be released."

Judge Quinn nodded " Since there is insufficient evidence, I will grant his release." Aramil's eyes lit up upon hearing this wonderful news. But she continued " You attempted to resist arrest, however; an impedement to our due process of law. You will be detained until a 500 GP fee is delivered." Before Aramil could respond, she pointed to Teflar.

The ranger bowed " Your Honor, I stand before you an innocent man. I knelt beside the body of with my healer's kit. My weapons were free of blood. I did not know the man who lay before me, but attempted to save him anyway. There is no evidence to call me guilty of this crime. Without rambling any further your honor, I am innocent of murder."

Cerah read a doctrine laid before her and then, after heavy minutes of study, replied " Your sword is indeed stained with blood, young man. I do not entertain the thought that you are tied to this murder of Radias Hosh directly, but we have, in our accounts, a witness that has tied you as a rebel mercenary involved with the underbelly of a revolting mass." She banged her gavel " You are denied bail and must stand trial in three days!"
A murmer ran through the crowd as the ranger stood shocked. Just then, a tall man stood up from the back. " Allow these man bailment of 100, 000 gold and I will cover the cost!"