Cerah's eyes squinted " In what cause are you to impede due process of law, Master Metlivon?"

The warmarshall was then joined by another ranked militiaman of even greater stature " When the safety of western Zegithir is threatened, we take precedense over all standard rules of protocol, your honor."

Cerah deferred to her baliffs for a short time before replying " Very well. You must sign over the government bonds to me and you may have your day of interrogations. YOU will replace them if they shall come to harm or if they flee the custody of the army. Understood?"

Metlivon and his partner, Warmarshall Kalavant, readily agreed and Judge Cerah Quinn banged her gavel allowing the pair to be unrestrained and follow the militiamen to an adjoining room. Four other guards awaited them and they were sat at a table bearing a pitcher of water and three glasses.

Metlivon pursed a smile " You two have made it safely back to our city, I see. This homicide matter you got yourselves into was really unnecessary. The mission you set out to accomplish was successful, nonetheless, and we are preparing for battle." He leaned over the table across from them and said in a softer, but firmer tone " In order to get you out of this charge of murder, you must be willing to offer us all details about the band you represent trekking out of Bethlun. Before you think to lie or protest, realize the gamble you will take in the courtrooms if you deny us this pertinent information. I ask as a friend and not as a disrupter to your cause. Look around you." he pointed to the four blank walls " You have very little leeway here and I can put you back on the road to your journey without delay; a full pardon. Do not hold back for there may be lives on the line far greater than you can imagine."

Aramil looked Warmarshall Metlivon in the eyes " I believe Telfar and I would agree I hope." Glancing over at the ranger, he saw him sitting awkwardly in his chair. " We could discuss this, but I, for one, would like to get comfortable and have my gear with me."

Metlivon smiled seriously " Your gear will be restored when I am sure you are getting out here."

Teflar stood up and paced towards the wall " The question is, can you be trusted with the information we are to give you? If you were my enemy, then you would probably already know my mission. With the amount of troubles we have run into, I think the enemy knows more about our mission than we do!"

Kalvant responded " That could be true, so the faster we can get this out in the open, the more power we have to thwart this injustice."

Readjusting his ponytail, Teflar leaned against the wall. " You think the orcs descending upon your city is a problem? They are nothing compared to what you will be facing soon." Pushing himself away from the white plaster, Teflar looked hard at the four authority figures " I'm here to stop the WitchKing."

Metlivon looked puzzled as he crossed his arms and lay his hand in support of his jaw and nose.

Aramil interposed " Now Telfar, your obsession was first with the orcs and we followed you through the woods to hunt them down. Now you have this new obsession with the Witchking? That is NOT our mission and you know it. Our mission is a seek- and-recovery that was lain out to us in plain Bethlutian." The mage turned and leaned into the Warmarshall; his words barely audible under the confining silence. " We are seeking a starpoint for our kingdom. Tragedy has befallen us for they have been stolen. All the shards in fact, from the five regions of Talvenara, are not in the overseer's possession. This is all being kept secret, but you have forced my hand. This is the truth and I hope you will keep this to yourself as well."

Kalavant replied " And you both were on the trail to recover them until the orcs hampered you. Is that right?"

The ranger answered despondently " We have been chasing a cold trail now for a while. I think our best lead may actually be the situation we are in now. The person that accuses me of being a mercenary may be involved in delaying us. Could you send some people to secure this person? Keep them from fleeing and keep him...or her... alive?"

Metlivon replied " Do not concern yourself in that matter now. The more you tell of these starpoints, the less you'll be involved in the chaotic nature of our politics."

Aramil looked to Telfar " I see no evidence that point to the witchking, unless you have something that says otherwise."

Teflar raged just under an all-out shout " You have no evidence to point to the Witchking?! What purpose can the shards be used for by orcs? What evidence do we have? A cold trail! And what can be the cause of this except something beyond our comprehension. I, for one, believe that there is something bigger behind all this than just a group of heathen orcs...evidence or no evidence."

Aramil stirred in his seat " Bigger, yes, than orcs most likely. However, the historical extreme of the Witchking is not a guarantee. There are thousands of evils lurking in the dark that are not known. It is a matter of where we go and what the truth is and not what we believe. We must find the trail first, and we have yet to reach the scene of the crime."

Metlivon's brow creased " And where do you suppose that would be?"