Stuck in the Middle With You

[Brian]

Eske comes into sight, exiting the keep as Parthipan looks for him.  He spots Radagast and heads over towards the group.

"This is something that requires meditation and council," Radagast declares, as Eske enters earshot.  "I suggest we all adjourn and rest ... some of my lorekeepers are injured," he adds, looking at Lammermore sharply.  "We can meet after we've had a chance to calm ourselves from the battle and discuss things more rationally then."

Kevin looks skeptical, but nods.  "As you say," he allows, glancing at Lammermore.

Lammermore grudgingly nods.  "The moon is yet low in the sky," he grumbles, looking away.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at Radagast.  "As you say," he agrees.  Turning to the guards around Durant and Lindsey, he commands, "Take them to the cells.  Handle them gently."

With a final nod at Kevin and Lammermore -- unless they interrupt him -- Bjorn falls in behind the prisoners and their escort.  As he does so, he reaches to the mindboard, and through it to both Durant and Lindsey.  All right, he writes in a sharp, crisp script, start talking.

[Brian]

The guards escort both of the prsioners towards the keep.  Kevin watches you (and them) head off.

Oh, hey! Durant sends, the words literally dripping with sarcasm.  Guess who's Fletcher?

Dorian stabbed Durant and left him for dead in that alcove, Lindsey clarifies.  I was able to heal him, and then we chased after Dorian as the siege began.

When we saw him shooting at the lorekeepers, we jumped him, Durant adds sullenly, but more calmly.

[Bjorn]

Why didn't you contact me through the mindboard? Bjorn snaps at Durant.  I sent you to check on the coin, not... Whatever.  Done is done.  No witnesses, I suppose, or evidence?

[Brian]

I did try the mindboard, Durant snaps back.  I'm going to guess you either forgot, or were busy, because when I said, "Holy shit!  I've been stabbed!  I'm bleeding to death!" I got nothing but real comforting silence.

We're the only witnesses, Lindsey adds.  And with me healing him, there's not even a scar to show that it happened.

You pass beneath the archway of the keep's main doors, and the guards start leading you into the depths of the keep again.

Ginrai now moves to Blue Rain.

[Bjorn]

The mindboard was up, Bjorn 'writes' in grim, precise characters.  Which leaves the possibility that Dorian -- or somebody else -- can not only detect it, but block it.

Quickly, then.  You're sure he was Fletcher?

[Brian]

Yes, Durant sends somewhat sullenly.  I said, "Are you Fletcher?" and he said, "Of course.  Did you hit your head?" and then there was some discussion about me failing to complete a duty or something, and the client reporting that I didn't do the job right, and then he stabbed me and I was bleeding.

[Bjorn]

Details, Bjorn scrawls in a fast, angry hand.  Describe everything, as best as you can remember.  Give me something to work with.

[Brian]

Fuck you, professor Adrian Christianson -- this isn't a game -- I'm being hauled into prison for doing what you said, and these people are going to royaly fuck me over for it.  They want to kill me.  I already almost died.  I don't want your fucking sanctimonious attitude anymore.  And then with control you didn't think he had, Durant closes the mindboard connection.  "Asshole," he mutters aloud, prompting one of the guards to crack him over the head with a fist.

The guards open the door to the execution chamber again, Durant not struggling, but certainly not happy about his situation, and Lindsey much more resolved to deal with it.

They're both marched across the room and into cells.

Once the doors are slammed shut and bolted in place, Lindsey sends, Durant went to the alcove.  He looked into the hollow, and then Dorian came down the hall -- I was invisible, and he didn't see me.  He walked straight to the alcove.  Durant didn't see it, but Dorian's hand was on a knife the entire time.

[Bjorn]

Did he give any details about the job that Durant failed?

[Brian]

Nothing, except that I gathered it had something to do with the time he spent in the wastes, Lindsey sends.  Dorian said, "You've had plenty of time to accomplish your task to the north, but you failed."

[Bjorn]

All right, Bjorn writes.  Hold tight.  I'll do what I can.  Don't suppose you have any abilities to make this easier?

As he sends this, he's surveying the area, studying the precautions and cell layout.

[Brian]

I could escape, I'm sure, but I don't think that would help, she replies, somewhat dourly.

The room is the same as before -- large, square shaped, with doors lining three of the walls.  There's a table in the corner to the left of the door with four guards around it, as well as the executioner.

The door to this room is watched by another pair of guards.  Durant and Lindsey have adjacent cells in the wall opposite the main entrance, furthest to the left.

[Bjorn]

No, it wouldn't, Bjorn replies.  All right.  Let's go find out how indiscreet Dorian was.

With a nod at the guards, Bjorn stalks off back to the Keep proper, pausing along the way only to ask where Dorian's quarters were.

[Brian]

Before you can ask a servant, a Storm-rider (you recognize Alec; he's still carrying that Dreadmarch dwarven axe on his back) approaches and says, "Sir Nathan and Lord Bloom are looking for you."