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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DispelAkimbo" data-source="post: 952263" data-attributes="member: 1916">Elsewhere in the palace, the Royal Princess is growing restless at being confined to her quarters. Against her protectors wishes and advice she insists on leaving her quarters to see if there is any change in her fathers condition. Jalderin accompanies her but reminds her at every opportunity how foolish she is being. An act that has the unfortunate effect of making her agitation turn into choler.On their way through the Palace, Jalderin spots two guards talking. One of the guards appears to be flustered by the arrival of a Royal Advisor who is investigating the attack on the King. Jalderin, with his curiosity tweaked, heads to the Kings quarters with the Princess to see whom the Advisor is and if he has any news.Upon entering the Kings quarters, Jalderin sees the aforementioned Advisor stood looking out the window. He doesn't recognise him, and considering the situation he decides to play it safe and act cautiously. "Who're you? I've not seen you in the palace before. Show me some proof of who you are before I have you arrested!" Eben slowly turns from the window and ensures that the newcomer can see the badge of office suspended from his neck."My name is Advisor Hakkan." He states, keeping his voice at normal volume level. "I am from one of the noble estates on the edge of the kingdom. In town on business and I felt it my duty to offer my services in investigating what has happened." Eben then tries to divert the conversation slightly while at the same time display good reason for him being investigating the crime. "You I would take it are Jalderin Cormaeril, the Princesses assigned protector and Ranger from....Freehaven I believe?" That was a lucky break; only a couple of days earlier Eben had heard of the King requesting the services of the Princesses Freehaven protector."A badge proves nothing." Jalderin aggressively declares, pointing at Eben's chest. "Guard, arrest this man until his story can be verified!" The guard opens and closes his mouth a couple of times before finding the wits to reply to Jalderin."Sorry Sir, but the Advisor here out ranks myself and you. I cannot arrest him unless I witness him committing a crime of have good reason to suspect him of doing so." Eben manages to conceal his smile of relief and hopes that no beads of sweat have appeared on his forehead yet."Good, now that we have that established and introductions out of the way, perhaps we can continue." says Eben turning towards the sound of approaching footsteps "You must be Sir Marin, who found the King in his incapacitated state?" he asks the approaching guard, who nods his assent. "Please recount for us where, when and how you found the King, in a step by step manner.""Well Sir, I was in my quarters early this morning when I received word that the King had sent for me. I came up here straight away, must have been no more than five or six minutes between him asking for me and my arrival sir. I knocked and tried to enter only the door was jammed Sir." Eben nods for the guard to continue, relief filling him that the Princess and her protector seemed to be happy enough to drop the subject of verifying his credentials."I tried the handle and it just wouldn't open. So I yelled down the corridor for assistance and kicked the door open. The king was laid on his bed there looking deathly pale like." The princesses hand rises to cover her mouth at the sound of her fathers state. Eben frowns and paces a little before pausing and addressing Sir Marin again."Did you hear, see or even smell anything unusual prior to the point where you came to check on the room?" Sir Marin shakes his head."No Sir, it had been a quiet night. I didn't hear or spot anything unusual." Eben nods and examines the doorframe that was jammed. He finds and points out a splintered groove in the frame near the handle. Working on the assumption that something had been jammed in there to keep the door from opening, and that item had flown out when the door was kicked, Eben traces its possible flight trajectory. On his hands and knees, peering under the bed he manages to find a finely crafted throwing dagger."And so, more of the plot is unveiled." Eben states, looking the dagger over and offering it round for examination. Jalderin and Eben offer up a couple of theories each and soon come to the conclusion that it looks most likely that the assassin somehow entered through the window, jammed the door, poisoned the king and left through the window. An impressive feat considering the 1,200 foot climb up smooth walls. Peering out of the window some more, they spot a window higher up in the tower and theorise that an assassin would have found it easiest to descend to this room from the one above."That floor and room are off limits to any but the Royal Family Sirs", Sir Marin offers up.Three sets of eyes come to rest on the Princess. She sighs, puts her hands on her hips and says, "There's only family stuff up there as far as I know, but I can show you how to get up there if you think it will help catch my fathers assailant."***The Princess leads Eben and Jalderin up a floor. They commandeer six more guards on their way up just in case. The Princess walks up to a seemingly plain looking wall, takes a key from a chain around her neck and inserts it into a keyhole in the wall, concealed by a tapestry. A portion of wall slides back and reveals a set of stairs heading up to a dimly lit room."You two, follow me!" exclaims Jalderin pointing at two guards and drawing his sword while ascending the stairs. They slowly and carefully head up and into the room. Jalderin motions for one guard to wait at the top of the stairs and keep watch. The tiny rays of daylight creeping in through the shuttered windows is enough for him to spot a lamp on the room wall, but not enough to see much else. He ignites the wall lamp, and uses that light to find and ignite a second lamp."Can you see anything up there? Anything to report?" Eben calls up to the guard stood at the top of the stairs. The guard, only twenty feet away doesn't respond. "Hey!" Eben exclaims. Still no response. "I don't like this. Your highness, allow me to escort you back to your quarters. Something strange is going on here and I fear for your safety." The princess accepts Ebens suggestion and seems a little worried for the first time.With the princess secured in her quarters and five guards assigned to watch her, Eben returns to the foot of the stairs leading up to the secret room. The guards at the foot of the stairs report that no sound has been heard from up there and the guard at the top of the stairs has moved further into the room and vanished from view.With two lamps now illuminating the room, Jalderin begins to make out more detail. It looks like a rarely used room. Furniture languishes around the place, most of it dusty. Out of the corner of his eye he spots a shadow moving on one of the walls. He can see nothing moving that would cause a shadow though. He shouts a warning to the guards behind him, but no sound comes from his mouth. The adrenalin begins to surge in his blood stream and he concentrates carefully on his surroundings. There is no sound at all, even movement is silent, and tapping his foot makes no noise.Jalderin turns to warn the guards behind him, but finds that they are both laid on the floor with their throats slit! Realising that he is probably in mortal danger, Jalderin acts fast. He side steps to his right and slams a boot into the window shutters causing them to fly open and flood the room with daylight. Without pause he ducks, spins and steps towards the area where the thing casting the shadow should lie, even though that space of floor looks to be completely clear.He circles round the area in a defensive fighting stance, ensuring that his back faces the stairway down. Suddenly an unseen force strikes his long sword and sends it flying across the room. He draws his spare sword, a family heirloom that he is reluctant to use but needs to hold to maintain a reasonable defence. Realising the odds are stacked against him, Jalderin quickly backs away and descends the stairs to where Eben and six guards are waiting.Once down the stairs, the door is closed, locked and a guard posted.***Deeper down in the castle, much deeper, a prisoner is being questioned by the High Justice. "I do detest having to come into the dungeons", he comments brushing dirt from his fine clothes and smoothing his full head of white hair."I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean to get arrested and cause you to come down here." Zander Helmsblade offers by way of an apology. The High Justice looks puzzled for a moment while he tries to fathom the logic behind the prisoners statement."Indeed." He replies before taking a seat and resting his feet on a nearby table. Not the most comfortable seating arrangement, but much more relaxing that the position of the man before him chained to the wall. "Now, why don't you tell me who you are, why you are in Sarivale and why you attacked our dear old library curator. He's ninety three you know, you could easily have killed him through shock alone!""I'm sorry Mr Justice Sir," Zander sniffs as if about to break into tears. "I'm Zander Helmsblade, me and my brother came to the city to see the King. My brother said we owned some land but were robbed of it. He said we should see the king and get him to give it back to us. That old man at the library said we were bad people and that we'd done things wrong. He wouldn't tell me what though, so I tried to take the book he had. I know it were wrong, but he upset me and I din't think." Zander sags visibly as he confesses."And where is your brother now? Perhaps he can collaborate your tale, shed some more light onto it and we can have this whole un-pleasant business over and done with.""He's staying at an inn in the Trades district Sir, please bring him here, he'll explain it all and sort it out, you'll see!" The High Justice despatches some guards to retrieve the other Helmsblade brother and then he sits and very patiently waits. Anyone watching him might notice the corner of his mouth twitch occasionally. Thankfully, no one was watching him.***Within half an hour the guards have returned to the palace dungeons with Rowan Helmsblade clapped in chains and looking dismayed."Rowan!" Zander exclaims happily upon seeing his brother."Zander!" Rowan exclaims with surprise."Silence prisoners!" exclaims the High Justice leaping up from his seat. "You! Stay silent!" he continues, pointing at Zander. "You! Explain why you have come to this city!" he says to Rowan, while slowly getting comfortable again on the wooden seat."Well Sir, myself and my brother are the sole surviving members of House Helmsblade. It was a recognised noble house in this Kingdom nine years ago. We lived peacefully and happily at our manor in the woods east of the city. My father ran the house fairly and treated all employees well, and life was wonderful." Rowan pauses a moment and his face develops a scowl as he continues."Then one day our house was falsely accused of treason and our whole family was murdered before us! We barely escaped with our lives. We've lived on our own for the past nine years and we've now come to Sarivale to petition the king to clear our names and return our lands." The High Justice looks intrigued by the story and watches the brothers carefully for a few moments before replying."And do you know who is responsible for allegedly framing your house?""Yes Sir," replies Rowan, "it was Lord Jahayle Caervelyn of House Caervelyn. He had rivalled with my father for a while and I saw him there when our parents were murdered!" the High Justice raises his eyebrows in surprise."Well," said the High Justice leaning forward into the torchlight "seems as I am Lord Jahayle Caervelyn of House Caervelyn, I take exception to your accusations."Suddenly the world spins for Rowan Helmsblade. He feels nauseous and shivers. Of course! How could he not have recognised him! He had been so full of worry that he hadn't even thought to look carefully at the face of his questioner!Zanders mouth drops open and he looks back and forth between his brother and the person that he now believes to be responsible for his parents murder. The High Justice stands and dusts his clothes down absentmindedly."Well, if that concludes our business I will be going. Seems as you are already technically outlaws for your families treachery then the assault by young Zander here further reinforces my decision to detain you indefinitely. I bid you good evening gentlemen and hope you enjoy your stay here." The High Justice turns and stalks smugly from the palace dungeons. The door closing behind him seems unnaturally loud to the Helmsblade brothers, almost like a single low bell toll.***Across the city Jaider Lightbringer is working his way around all the clothing shops and material merchants in the Trades district. He heads to 'Therendale Seam & Buckles' and speaks to Elise Monet there; a slender, middle-aged, attractive woman in fine clothing. Then he speaks to a slender, well-dressed gentleman called Ebenezer Row in 'Dressed for all occassions'. He even calls in at 'Sarivales Finest Tailors' where Arguss Mallory; a short man with a measuring tape in hand assists him.The various shop owners and shop assistants are all too happy to answer his questions. It seems as though being a knight and wearing the holy symbol of Girion carries a lot of weight within Sarivale. Jaider does have a pensive moment though where he wonders if all the doors that open for him are because people have good heart and intent, or if there is some other reason.After quizzing several local traders he does manage to gauge several opinions of the cloth but is no closer to finding out any more than suggestions."It is a very poor quality cloth." one merchant had told him; "it is very rough cloth" another less-helpful person had said. "It must be from a warmer climate, possibly Khadish or Mhorlands." Was the most helpful comment he had managed to solicit so far. Only one shop left to check now though; 'Refined Clothing'. If there was no luck here then he would have to give up for the evening. He put on his most charming smile and headed in through the shop doorway.</blockquote>

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