Stuck in the Middle With You

[Bjorn]

Bjorn blinks at Alec.  "Thank you... Alec?  Do you know where they are at the moment?"

As he speaks, though, Bjorn is pushing out through the Nathan and Philip smudges, linking them all together.  What? he snaps irritably.

[Brian]

"Lord Bloom's tent is behind the keep," Alec says.  "I can lead you there, if you want."

[Dracos]

~Ah.  We're staying out of the picture while you're handling that so not to draw more distrust over there, but discovered some new things about how this 'dream' works and what can be done in it.  Might help if you have to sneak Huitz out.  Additionally, I'd like your help in arranging to question Mattias more directly.~

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Fine, Bjorn replies.

Out loud, but letting his words be echoed over the mindboard, Bjorn says to Alec, "Thank you, but could you instead ask Lord Bloom and Sir Shuker to meet me at the cells?  I would appreciate their aid in questioning Mattias, given their knowledge of him."

[Brian]

"Um ... okay," Alec says, just before he takes off at a sprint and vanishes from sight.

[Bjorn]

Come to think of it... Bjorn thinks to himself, and turns to return to the cells, keeping an eye out for a free guard as he does so.

The first he sees, he stops.  "Find Loremaster Radagast and Gatemaster Eske," he instructs briskly, "and ask them to come to the cells as soon as is convenient for them.  Understood?"

[Brian]

"Understood!" he barks, trotting off to do your bidding.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn watches the man run off, and then makes his way back to the cells silently.

[Brian]

As you reach the cells, Phil and Nathan round the corner, turning up just behind you.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn nods at them.  "If you'll follow me?"

Without waiting for a response, Bjorn enters into the cell area.  Looking coolly at the guards there, he says, "Gentlemen.  How have things gone with Mattias?"

[Dracos]

"Certainly, Bjorn."  Dracos answered, sending a different greeting mentally.

~I'd like to mentally scan Mattias...and thinking of it, though I don't really want to, I think I should try Eske as well.~

Dracos

[Brian]

The guards (and executioner) look up as you enter -- the door guards just glance at you as you walk past them.

"Oh," one says, setting down a handful of cards.  "Gatemaster Eske said not very well.  Loremaster Radagast planned on questioning him again later.  Unless you were planning on trying?"

The executioner just looks at all of the newcomers (and Alec especially) curiously.

[Bjorn]

"Yes," Bjorn says grimly, "I plan to.  We'll do it in his cell, if you'll open it."

Eske? A moment of silence, and then, Yes.  That would be a good idea.  I send a guard to fetch him down here to help in this interrogation.  You can do it then.

[Dracos]

~Anything you want me to hunt for, just pass along down the mind board.~

Dracos

[Brian]

All of the guards stand up uncomfortably, two of them drawing their weapons as they approach a door on the wall to the right of the entrance.  The other two play rock-paper-scissors (or some varient of that) that leaves the loser to take a key from his belt and unlock the door.  Speaking of which, that's one huge and simple key.

The lock complains loudly, but when the door is unlatched and hauled open, you see Mattias.  He's restrained, unable to do much more than wiggle his shoulders and glare (which he does).

He's currently tied to a chair with thick lengths of rope.  His wrists are still bound by the link of stone that Devin put there.  Someone saw fit to knock a hole in his chair and stick a chamber pot under it, but the end result is still pretty sorry, even for an enemy.  On the other hand, Radagast says that as long as he can make a marking or draw, he can use his abilities, and that's trouble you don't need.