> "I see....so she must care an awful lot about you?" he grinned some as the
> soldiers took his cue and began moving towards the woman.
> 
> Merybelle made a face.  "What are you trying to say?"
> 
> "Nothing..." Jaewyn's grin broadened.  "Guards...seize her... if we can't go
> to our little escapee....well then...we'll make her come to us..."
> 
> "Shall we take her to a holding cell," Coriwyn asked.
> 
> "No..." Jaewyn shook his head and walked away from the commotion as he
> talked softly.  "Bring her to the castle..  Don't treat her like a
> prisoner...  She's not one...  Just a....forced house guest."
 
Toral watched the guards flank Merry and begin leading her toward the
city.  He stepped over toward Jaewyn.  "What grounds do you have for
arresting her?" he demanded.

"I believes she is obstructing justice and helping the girl hide."

Toral looked over at Merry and then back at Jeawyn.  In a flask his fist
connected with Jae's face causing the smaller man to stumble back
several paces.  Jaewyn recovered, and came up with his fists ready for a
fight, but he found Toral standing with his hands clasped behind his
back.

"I believe assaulting an officer of the guard is a crime," Toral said
calmly, "I think you should arrest me, too."

Jaewyn brought his hand up to his mouth and it came away sticky with
blood.  "Perhaps you're right.  Guards!"

The guards approached, but Toral jogged ahead of them to catch up with
Merry.

"Just what were you thinking?" she scolded.

"I was thinking that I didn't want to let you out of my sight," Toral
replied, "I was worried."

She stopped and threw her arms around his neck, "Sometimes you let your
heart get in the way of your head.  I think that's why I love you."

One of the guards prodded at Toral, "Keep moving."

***
[Later - in the palace]

Toral and Merry sat together on a well cushioned sofa in guest quarters
in the castle.  Morgat stood in front of them and paced back and forth
across the carpeted floor.  He was in the middle of a good rant.

"At this rate I'll end up defending the entire city!  What did they
arrest you for again?" he waggled a finger at Merry.

"Not telling them where Linaya is.  But the truth is that I don't know
where she is.  I got a note from her, but it came by wolf," as she
mentioned Narissa, Merry slumped against Toral.

"And you?" Morgat asked Toral.

"Punching the Prince."

Morgat smiled, "That might not be illegal.  I'll have to do some
digging."

"What did you find?" Toral asked, "Did you search Luther's shop?"

Morgat's eyes brightened a bit, he hurried over to his briefcase, and
pulled out a small cloth bound book, "It appears young Eric kept a
journal.  This describes several instances of Luther beating Margret and
himself."

"Can the journal of a child be used as evidence?" Merry asked.

Morgat shrugged, "I'm going to try.  If I were trying to convict Luther,
I'm not sure how far this would get me.  However, I'm only trying to get
Linaya acquitted, and I think this will help.  If only I could get
Margret to testify to the truth, we'd be in much better shape."

NRPG:
Kris: I was thinking about dinner with the King and Queen.  What do you
think?

Respectfuly Submitted,
Toral Smith of Ralengarde
Alton Reich
-- 
			Alton & Elizabeth Reich
			  alton.reich@snet.net
"Dreams are sometimes catching / Desire goes to my head /
 Love responds to your invitation / Love responds to imagination /
 Respond, Vibrate, Feed Back, Resonate" -- Rush, Chain Lightning