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Message: <blockquote data-quote="DispelAkimbo" data-source="post: 976736" data-attributes="member: 1916">After spending an hour circumnavigating the palace grounds and paying particular attention to the courtyard entrance to the dungeons, Zander Helmsblade is growing bored and frustrated yet again. She stamps her foot and then pauses when she realises that she never used to stamp her foot when angry. This gender switching and disguise was most confusing. Although it did seem to have a couple of advantages; she'd received more than a couple nods and smiles from city guards, where before she would have been told not to loiter.With no chance of freeing her brother from the palace dungeons, Zander tried to think of another plan. Perhaps, finding out a little more about the enemy would help, she reasoned. Using her newfound charm and a little luck, she should be able to make her way into the High Justice's house and find out something.One quick question was all it took her to find out the location of the Caervelyn estate. She headed over there and formulated her plan on the way; feigning illness should get her inside, once there she might be able to look around, or ask an innocent question or two. Yes, this should work out quite nicely.Concealed in a doorway across the street she spends a few moments watching the guards patrolling the Caervelyn estate. She soon spots the routine of their patrol, and when none were in sight she runs across the street and lays down where they would find her moments later.Sure enough, the guard patrol rounded the corner and saw her laid on the street, looking unconscious."Milady! Are you okay?" cried a guard rushing over to the slumped form. "Hey Sarge! You might want to take a look at this!". Another guard came running over."Bleedin' heck! The Lord will have a fit if he sees her in this condition. Quick, help me get her inside!" And so the two guards carry Zander, feigning unconsciousness, into the Caervelyn house.Once inside, Zander feels herself being carried up a staircase, into a room and laid down on a bed. This was better than she could have hoped for! Time to wake up, ask a few questions and maybe try to get a look around."Where am I? What happened?" Zander asks, pretending to slowly wake up and be confused."We don't know what happened milady. Don't worry though, Lord Caervelyn will be here soon, we sent for him as soon as we found you." A slight moment of panic rose in Zanders throat as she realised she would be being questioned by the High Justice again. She managed to calm herself though when she realised that she would be able to hide behind the anonymity of her disguise, and act confused.***Jalderin, Jaider, Eben and Margarian return to the palace, concerned discussion quietly taking place all along the way there."Surely it can't be the High Justice's own daughter behind the assassination attempt?" Eben asked."Behind it? Sounds more like she planned, and executed it to me." Margarian pointed out."It does seem contrived." Jalderin added thoughtfully."Regardless, we must tread carefully," Eben pointed out, "it is a political tightrope that we are walking along, and I would hate to see anyone get hurt." All murmed words of agreement. Jaider nodded thoughtfully before replying."I suggest we take the path of authority. We inform the princess of the situation and ask her for a writ declaring that we have permission to question, and if necessary arrest the High Justice's daughter." Jalderin, Eben and Margarian all nodded.The princess is shocked by the news, but does reveal that she has always had a low opinion of the High Justice's daughter. She soon writes the writ though and allows them to take five of the royal guards to ensure everything looks as official as possible.***It is with a good degree of nervousness that Jaider, Jalderin, Eben, Margarian and the five guards arrive at the Caervelyn estate and ask to see the High Justice and his daughter. They are shown in and the High Justice comes through to see them within a few moments. A frown appears on his face as he sees the royal guards present."Sirs, what can I help you with? Any leads in your search for the kings attacker?" He asks, gesturing for them to take seats should they wish to. There is a slight pause before anyone replies; obviously no one wants to be the one that breaks the news to Lord Caervelyn. Before the pause grows too awkward, Jalderin speaks up."Yes, we have had some success in tracking down the kings attacker. We have uncovered a number of clues, and I'm afraid that they all point to your daughter. Sir." There is a slightly longer pause this time before the High Justice replies."Preposterous suggestion! How dare you suggest such a thing! This is an outrage!" The high justice loses his normally calm composure and seems furious by the accusation. "Unless you have proof to back up this accusation, then heads will roll!" Calming words are spoken by the group, and assurances are made that there is evidence, everything is above board and will be done with a fair and even hand. The High Justice calms down a little and reads through the princesses writ that is presented to him."Very well." He finally agrees, "let us go and see my daughter, to see what light she can shed on the subject. I must warn you though that I have been informed that she was taken ill earlier today. So please do not put her under any undue pressure." The High Justice leads them all up a flight of stairs, along a very well decorated corridor and into a luxurious bedroom.The group and guards all file into the bedroom and there before them they see a bed. On the bed lays a young woman, wearing a camel hair tunic with a finely crafted throwing dagger tucked into her belt. Eyebrows are raised and people momentarily relax as it appears that proving her guilt might be a lot easier than first thought."Daughter, how are you feeling? I hear you were not well?" Lord Caervelyn asks, approaching the young woman laid on the bed.Zander Helmsblades' head spun. Daughter? Why was the High Justice calling her 'daughter'? Why did he have the men with him who were investigating the kings assassination attempt? Acting confused came easy to Zander as she spoke."Wha....who....where am I?...What's going on?...erm...father.""You've been ill my dear, you passed out, some of our guards found you. You're okay now though." The High Justice spent a moment stroking the young womans head and telling her to lay back and relax. Zander felt sick. What was going on?"Now dear," the High Justice continued, "these men are here to ask you a few questions. Please answer them honestly and I'm sure everything will be fine." Zander was sure that the High Justice was fighting to hide a wry smile as he spoke. Which was when Zander realised, she was being set up!Confusion was being replaced with understanding within Zanders head, and she didn't like it one bit. "I...a...er...um...I", grasping on to the first plan to come to mind, she changed her tactics. "Okay, I guess the game's up. I'm not taking the blame for you this time though father!"Absolute surprise and shock covered the High Justices' face. He turned speechless towards the party from the royal palace. He looked grieved for a moment with a single tear rolling down his cheek, before speaking."As High Justice of this City, I feel it my duty....to stand aside in this investigation. The conflict of interests is too strong, and...in the interest of fairness, I cannot be involved. Please take my daughter to the palace for questioning; I will not stand in your way. Although I will accompany you to see that she is treated fairly."Zander had been set up again. The man that had been the bane of her fathers life and had brought it to an abrupt end and taken everything from him, would now do the same again to the next generation of Helmsblades. Curse him!"Could I make use of your facilities?" Jalderin enquired, breaking the tension that had built up. The High Justice nods and Jalderin follows a guard out of the room. The rest of the royal party have a quick search of the room for more evidence while Jalderin is gone.***"So, what are relations like between the high justice and his daughter?" Jalderin casually asks the guard as they walk along the corridor."They're somewhat distant. The High Justice wants the best for her, but she's strong minded and doesn't always listen." Jalderin nodded, allowing the guard to continue. "He doesn't approve of some of the miscreants that she mixes with in the city, she doesn't care." Jalderin manages to pry no more from the guard, and returns to the bedroom after his trip to the toilet.***"Aha!" exclaims Margarian just as Jalderin re-enters the room. "A secret cabinet hidden in the bed head, and containing a bottle of poison!"Zander felt like breaking into tears. How could she have been set up so well? She thought she had been acting of her own accord, but really she had been walking deeper and deeper into a very well laid trap. A definite sinking feeling began to descend upon her heart. There was no way she would be able to talk her way out of this, nothing short of a miracle would save her now.Zander is arrested and marched back to the palace dungeon. The High Justice insists on accompanying her to the dungeon, but agrees to let her be questioned in private once he sees that she is okay.***Having had half an hour to think over her story and decide what to tell her captors, Zander Helmsblade still has no idea what to say or how to get herself out of this trouble. So with a deep sigh, she turns to Jalderin, Jaider, Eben and Margarian and she resorts to telling the truth."You're not going to believe me when I say this, but you have already questioned me over the attack on the king. You see, I...am Zander Helmsblade." She looked round to each of her captors in turn. None of them even batted an eyelid at such a wild claim. Did they believe her, or simply assume she was telling a wild story? Regardless, she could think of nothing else to do but continue with the truth.She explained how she was questioned, what was asked, what answers she gave, how she was rescued from the prison, where she found the dress and knife, and how she ended up in the Caervelyn Estate. She was met with more silence."Well, check with my brother, he's still in the prison here somewhere. Ask him something only he and I would know. I broke my arm falling out of a tree when I was five. Only he would know about that, ask him!" Reluctantly, they agree to check that fact with Rowan Helmsblade."I'm sorry sirs, but you can't see Rowan Helmsblade, protocol and that." Was the response from the guard in charge of Rowan Helmsblade. "You'll have to get permission again to speak with him."Eben spends a few moments trying to persuade the guard to let them talk with Rowan. Eben points out how they technically already have permission and that it was all in the name of saving the king. However the guard is adamant that he they cannot speak to the prisoner without another writ from the High Justice.Margarian feels his temper reaching boiling point at all the red tape they are having to proceed through. He threatens the guard with violence if he doesn't let us speak with Rowan Helmsblade. The guard flees crying "My boss will hear about this!"Finally, with only a door blocking his way, Margarian shouts down the passageway to the cell where Rowan is being held, and asks him for details about whether his brother had even broken any bones.Curiously, Rowan does indeed verify the broken bone story, leaving even more confusion in the pool of investigation.</blockquote>

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