*Night before the trial-Day 5*

<Someone's here, Soms,> Ravindra warned, letting her rider see the late
night visitor.

A sharp astringent odor suddenly filled the room and Someyn stared down at
the crushed herbs in her hand with susprise.  Damn.  She would have to
start over and considering who her caller was, it didn't look like she
would be able to anytime soon.  Sighing, she got to her feet and threw the
ruined ingredients away, wiping the residue on her work apron.  It still
smelled, but it couldn't be helped, not when he was knocking on her door.

For a moment Someyn contemplated making him wait while she changed into a
dress; she felt vaguely indecent in her stained work slacks and shirt.
The escalation from polite rapping to banging decided her, and, with a
deep, fortifying breath, she went to answer the door.

In the dim light, he look possitively sinister.  Though, in all fairness,
he looked that way to her all the time, despite several testimonies to the
contrary.

He falshed his teeth in a predatory smile before bowing mockingly at at
her haloed sillouette blocking the door way.  "Good evening, my fair Lady
Naiad."  He sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose at the strong herbal
odors coming off her.  "Or perhaps I should say Witch Naiad?"

"What do you want?" Someyn asked hoarsely, her throat suddenly dry.

"Now is that anyway to treat your brother?" he asked, his playful tone
slightly edged.  "But since you're so eager to know, why don't you invite
me in and find out.  It is rather rude leaving a visitor on the
threshold."

He, as always, was being careful; until he was behind closed door, he
would be as nice and charming a lord as anyone could wish.  Her gut tied
itself in knots as his eyes met hers, letting her know quite clearly that
she would seriously regret not letting him in.

"All right, Syntor," Someyn said with resignation, "you can come in."
Hating herself for it, knowing she would regret it, she held the door open
wide and let a demon in.
***************

The warren was a lonely place at night, but Someyn was in no hurry to
cross it.  Her steps were as slow and measured as a convicted man walking
to his own hanging; she certainly felt like she was.  Guilt served well
enough as her rope, but hopefully neccesity would keep that trap door from
opening.  There were worse ways to go, as Syntor had made abundantly
clear.

With that thought firmly in mind, she composed herself, walked up to the
Warrenlady's door and knocked firmly.  After a few moments, it opened.

[snip]
"Someyn?" she frowned when she had opened the door and saw the younger
girl standing there. 

"I know it's late Jayleigh, but I wonder if I might have a moment of your
time. It's important."

"Certainly," Leigh told her and moved back so the younger woman could
enter the apartment.

"From dragon gossip, I've come to understand that you haven't appointed a
prosecutor for Tair'n," Someyn explained calmly.  "I would like to
volunteer.  As a Lord's daughter I am well educated in law.  Also I don't
really know Tair'n that well, especially his past which, if I understand
the rumors correctly, might bias some to be unfair."

"Well it was thought that Gerald would defend him," Leigh told her as the
two of them took a seat. "But with him leaving Daere after the message he
received this morning about his father being hurt... It's going to fall on
Sharees and M'naten to prove Tai..." she stopped and looked at Someyn.
"Guess I should be giving away the defenses defense huh? So tell me... why
do you think you are more qualified to act as the prosecutor then some
other rider who's been here longer?"
[end snip]

Someyn blinked at the woman and wondered if sleep had addled her brains or
if wax was plugging her ears.  She had already given her reasons, which
had been totally ignored in favor of an unnecessary tangent, and now the
warrenlady was asking for them?  If Jayleigh dealt with administrative
matters like this all the time, it was a wonder they hadn't all starved to
death.

Someynara took a deep breath, firmly resolved not to say 'as I said
before' in any way shape or form, and repeated her reasons with slightly
different wording.  This time, the warrenlady paid attention, and after
asking a few common sense questions, gave Someyn the job, and bid her a
good night.

"And so the noose is tied," Someyn whispered quietly to herself as she
walked back across the green.  They say that there is no sleep for the
wicked, and tonight she would be among them.  There wasn't much time til
morning and she had a case to prepare.
**************

Bridget
aka
Someyn and Ravindra