<Trial day 2, assuming it goes this far>

	Jason sat at the back of the room, arms folded. He wasn't really
paying much attention to the actual trial, but instead was casting a
practised eye over those who were in attendance. It was obvious that
something was going on here, he just hadn't figured out what it was yet.
But he intended to, soon.

	In an attempt to get the junior queenrider off his mind, which
was hard since she was sitting not twenty paces from him, Jason had
resumed his surveillance of the Naiad entourage. After quietly circling
through the small group of people he had keeping an eye on them, Jason
had come up with some very interesting information. Firstly that Someyn
had actually offered to take the prosecution's case for this trial,
secondly that she had done so after her brother, the Lord Naiad, had
payed her a visit. 

	From a factual point of view, that admittedly wasn't much to go
on. But add the facts that the Naiads were certainly up to something
while they were here and that Someyn seemed to be trying her hardest to
break Tair'n in this trial...to make an analogy, Jason thought, this
smelled.

	And if that wasn't enough to get him suspicious, there was
always the fact that a little to his right in the room, the Lord Naiad
sat with what could only be a satisfied smile on his face.

	The trial broke up for lunch and those inside began to file out.
Jason didn't think it would keep going for much longer: final arguments
would begin that afternoon. Jason deliberately didn't notice Marialla's
pained look out of the corner of his eye. Why look at him like that?
Yes, she was seeing the mind healer, but it would be a while before
Jason would once again feel comfortable around her, if he ever had felt
comfortable with her in the first place. If she wanted to treat it like
he was purposely hurting her, so be it. He was very close to not caring
any more.

	He was trying to decide whom to follow in the hope of picking up
something when the decision was made for him. As Someyn walked out of
the room and headed out towards the green, Jason caught out of the
corner of his eye the Lord Naiad stalking his sister from a distance, a
predatory glint in his eye. In that instance, Jason felt a little sorry
for her.

	"Can't choose your family, I suppose," Jason muttered, slipping
after them.

****

	"What do you want, Syntor?" Someyn stopped short of her
apartment and turned around, again being warned by Ravindra of her
impending visitor and determined not to let him inside her apartment
again. Syntor spread his hands in compliance.
	
	"I was hoping we could..." Someyn shook her head.

	"No," she said tiredly. "Say your piece then leave me alone."
	
	"Such manners, I expected more from you, sister. But, if you
insist, so be it."

	Once he left, Someyn wanted nothing more but to get inside and
collapse on her bed, suddenly fatigued by the weight of the current
situation. She had tried to think of a way out of this, but it was
becoming increasingly apparent that there was none. Thankfully, for good
or for worse, the trial would be over soon.

	"Well, that was certainly an interesting conversation." Someyn
spun around and noticed Jason observing her from an outcropping further
up. Her eyes narrowed.

	"Just what do you think you're doing?" Jason jumped down.

	"Trying to work out what the Lord Naiad has to do with the
possible conviction of a possibly innocent man for something he may not
have done." Jason regarded Someyn closely for a second. "And how come he
has his hands around your pretty little neck so tightly."

	"You're getting into something that's none of your business,"
Someyn said tightly. "Why don't you just leave it alone?"

	"As I said before," Jason replied, stepping a little closer to
her, "when it means a possibly innocent man could get convicted, then it
becomes my business. Now either you can tell me what's going on, or I go
to Jayleigh with what I do know. It's not much, but it will probably
force a mistrial. Do you particularly want that?"

<Tag Bridget :)>

****

<Later>

	"Knock knock."

	"Oh, hi," Aislyn said with a grin as she opened the door. "I had
thought you would be coming around earlier, but when you didn't I
decided to start installing myself into the apartment. It's taking me
longer than I originally thought."

	"I had some business to take care of this morning," Jason said
offhandedly. "Do you want a hand with the furniture?"

	"Thanks," Aislyn said gratefully. "I'd really appreciate it."

	It took a couple of hours, but they eventually moved all of
Aislyn's belongings into a suitable arrangement. They chatted while they
worked, Jason learning a little more about the warren's most recent
arrival. Inevitably, he found himself comparing her to the junior
queenrider. While Aislyn seemed inherently more stable than Mari was,
he didn't feel as though he could pick between the two. Why he would
want to anyway was debatable, but the thought was still there.

	"So, after being conscripted into labouring for me, do you still
feel up to talking?" Aislyn asked him with a sly grin, which Jason
returned.

	"Sure. No time like the present I suppose." Aislyn nodded.

	"You're right. Take a seat," she waved towards one of the
chairs, "and we'll get started." They did so and Jason found himself
fascinated by the visible change in her from friendly and easy going to
totally professional. "So, where to start?"

	"Where indeed," Jason replied, settling into his chair.

	"Perhaps at the start?" Aislyn smirked. "That sounded a little
silly, I know, but telling things from the beginning saves a lot of
questions later."

	"I agree totally," Jason replied, leaning back. "Perhaps it will
let me work out how I ended up in this mess In the first place."

	"You see it that way?" Aislyn replied, her eyebrows arched in
question. Jason shrugged.

	"Lately, it's beginning to seem that way. I know you've probably
heard Mari's version of events when you spoke to her." Aislyn nodded in
confirmation. "Then perhaps I should give you mine. For clarification,
if nothing else."

****
NRPG: Yes, it's a little short, but I wanted to set a few things in
motion before someone else posted.
	
Coz: jp?


Submitted by,
		Jason and Starfire,
		Daere Warren

aka

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