[Admin: Set the evening after the statements were taken at the Tower
Guard.]

Lawrince Ournel, the King's Envoy to Montfort, was grateful for the two
hour nap he had managed late in the afternoon, it had taken some of the
edge off the fatigue he was feeling from the strenuous night, filling out
statements, and reassuring the local Council. And despite his tale of an
early night (which allowed him to safely send his two Guard
representatives away from his presence) he knew that he had one last
promise to fullfill. Fortunately he had decided to keep his rooms at the
Dragon's Inn, and with its wardings his two attendents had felt reassured
about leaving him.

He had a late dinner engagement to keep - and hoped that Miss Dyer was as
good as her word about spiriting him away - discreetly.

Nor did he trust the young woman - ex-Refuser or not she had a chill,
predatory edge to her; wrapped in a much nicer package, and maybe even
better controlled, but just as dangerous as Mr. Hood.

The Envoy shook his head tiredly, and wished that he was back in Bleckner
- with his wife of thirty years, Abegail. She simply _wouldn't_ believe
the predictament he had landed himself into!! "I've got to send her a
letter...." he reminded himself, "Some of the story may wander up to
Bleckner and she'll worry..."

A glimmer of light made him look up - and before him stood Miss Dyer; not
looking tired at all and dressed in a demur, but costly, evening gown of
blue velvet. She smiled and sent, ::If you're ready, Sir, I have booked a
private room at the Golden Griffin.::

"I'm ready...," he said, hesitantly, since he hadn't gotten used to her
mind speech, and stepped over to join her.

Before he had time to register the jolt to his stomach he found himself
standing in a frond-filled private dining room at the Griffin.

Once they were in the room Batista stepped away and made a leisurely
patrol of the area. She made no comment about what she was seeking (though
she had done a scan of the room to make sure it had not been tampered with
in her brief absence) and shortly seemed satisfied.

::Fortunately, discretion is one of the Griffin's trademarks,:: she sent,
gesturing the envoy to the table, which was hidden behind the fronds.
::The servers will only have to come once,:: she added, ::Just long
enough to wheel the food in. I took the liberty of ordering a small
"buffet" so that we won't have servers in and out.:: She didn't add that
the servers would be seeing a vastly different individual than her current
appearance.

"What about our two acquiantances....?"

::I had recommended that they ask for Mr. Ale's party,:: she sent with a
light mental laugh.

[Lovvorn]

Lovvorn appeared in his usual subdued way... one moment the street
outside the Golden Griffon was deserted, and the next the night was
graced with the presence of a short, wide, purple-and-green clad mage.

He looked around nervously and then staggered through the door.

"May I help you, sir?"  said a passing server.

"Yesh... ahh... is there a party here?  With ale?   Lots of ale?"

"Right this way, sir."    The young woman led him up the stairs, and to a
private dining room. There, to meet him at the door, was Batista Dyer, who
sent the server away and closed the door once the mage had entered.

"Ahhh, my good lady,"  Lovvorn bowed to Batista.   "And I see Mr. Envoy
is a man of his word!  How refreshing!   Where's the ale?"

[Batista/Lawrince]

::On the sideboard,:: Batista sent, pointing to several large flagons that
the servers had just delivered. ::Its a pleasure to see you again, Mr.
Lovvorn.::

"Welcome," Lawrince said, stepping from behind the fronds that hid the
table from any servers that might enter. He was obviously reluctant to say
more.

Batista smiled and sent so both could hear, ::I've warded against any
eavesdropping - no matter how unlikely - so we can speak with no fear.::

The envoy visibly relaxed and said, "I'm glad you could make it, Mr.
Lovvorn. I did want to at least offer a dinner as a token of my
gratitude."

[Lovvorn]

"Oh, and I do so LOVE tokens of gratitude!    And what good is
a party without Lovvorn the Magnificent!"

Lovvorn shuffled over to the sideboard and grabbed as many
ales as he could carry... which turned out to be quite a few.
He plopped down next to Batista and began performing
his favorite magic trick... making large volumes of ale
disappear.

"So,"  he said  between gulps.  "What ever happened to
our little fugitive?   Gave us quite a chase, didn't he!   Tower
Guard string him up yet?"

[Batista/Lawrince]

Batista shook her head and sent, ::Now the legal chase has begun...it
seems that they are waiting to hear if anyone will finance his defense. A
rider left this afternoon.::

Lawrince had gotten himself a slice of beef and was slowly cutting it. He
added, "While the case has some interest to Bleckner it isn't a important
enough case to have moved - and I think there is some interest in how the
citizens of Montfort handle the issue."

[Lovvorn]

"Well, the citizens of Montfort would've handled things JUST FINE if it
weren't for the... ahhh... finer points of the law.   Why, I could have...
I mean... I KNOW someone who could have disposed of that unpleasant
chap without leaving so much as a body to be buried."

Lovvorn gulped down another ale.

"But nooooo.... now we have to have a  trial with judges and a
jury.   And witnesses!   Ack!"

[Batista/Lawrince]

After a couple of bits of roast (though she could see what Smith meant
about the Dragon's Inn - their beef, with a side order of dragon pods to
lend spice, was much more flavorful) Batista smiled and sent, ::It does
cause a certain inconvience, but in this case it is better not to leave
noticeable loose ends....::

"Particularly not with Montfort being so much in the limelight at the
moment," Lawrince said.

::Better than explosions,:: Batista added dourly. She turned her attention
to Lovvorn and added, ::If it wasn't for your skill, Mr. Lovvorn, we would
never have caught this murderer.::

She liked using the truth as bait - as always she was on a fishing
expedition and not one to waste an opportunity. Nor was she inclined to
forget to learn more about Mr. Ournel - information that could also be
useful to their people in Bleckner.

[Lovvorn]

"Why, there's NOTHING better than a good explosion, my dear,"  said
Lovvorn.  "Except, perhaps a BAD one!    And of COURSE you would
have caught your man without my humble assistance... it just would
have taken you a few years, that's all."

Lovvorn made yet another ale disappear.

[Lawrince/Batista]

Lawrince raised his glass of wine and said, "Then I offer a toast to what
was a speedy capture....."

Batista raised her in a salute, though she only tasted a sip of the
liquor.

The envoy continued, "It certainly made my life somewhat easier - at least
I know Netit's murder wasn't political."

::Nor does he sound like a man much mourned,:: Batista sent.

"He wasn't," Lawrince answered, "His wife should be dancing a jig that he
will be bringing home no more pox."

::How did he come to such a worthy post if he was so ill thought of -
family?:: she asked conversationally.

"Both his and his wife's," the envoy said, "But they'll be grateful that
he's gone - that way the scandal of his thievery will be buried with him.
And he can be 'mourned' of a victim of fate..." Lawrince turned his
attention to getting a bite of sauteed onion and pondered Netit's villany
and his current dining companions. He knew that neither were saints, but
he had to say that Lovvorn's jovial personality made him a fascinating
soul, and Miss Dyer was a charming dinner companion.

::In some ways, Menagrem could be said to have done everyone a favor...,::
Batista sent, then realized she sounded a little heartless - at least to
the envoy. She added, ::Of course, if it wasn't for the girl he
murdered.::

"Poor child," Lawrince said, "That is my only regret. A little sooner and
we might have been able to help her."

::I have my doubts of that,:: Batista calmly sent.

She turned in her chair and commented to Lovvorn, ::You mentioned
explosions earlier ...from that display at the Citadel I would guess that
you specialize in them?::

Nor was her interest feigned. Though her talents were in the realm of
destructive psionics she was always interested in the range of magics that
were prevelant in Montfort; either so one could ward against it or at
least recognize it for what it was. And it also helped to know the local
experts in the different fields.

[Lovvorn]

"Why, my dear, I have MANY specialties!    Which is rather odd,
considering I never actually graduated from the mage's academy.
You see, I had a run-in with one of teacher's wives... well...
actully with SEVERAL teachers' wives....ahh... and a few daughters, too.
And a sister.   Anyway, those old codgers weren't very  understanding
about that sort of thing, so they kicked me out before I even managed
to pick up the more destructive bits.  Had to learn the rest on my own.

But, being the kind-hearted soul that I am, I hold no ill-will whatsoever
towards them.   Mostly because they're all dead now.   Terrible things,
those accidents..."

[Batista]

::That does tend to cut down on hostility,:: Batista sent, though only
Lovvorn could "hear" her comment.

[Lovvorn]

Lovvorn took a few bites of food and washed them down with... more
ale.

"But to answer your question, my OFFICIAL specialty is security...
Anti-theft wards, Counter-intrusion spells, Surveillance and
counter-surveillance, and counter-counter-surveillance.
That sort of thing.   But, oh how I DO love a good explosion...
there's just something about taking a large, unwieldy object
and turning it into a pile of ash and smouldering rubble.  Really
gets the blood flowing!   Speaking of which..."

[Batista]

The young agent could think of one or two acquaintances who would agree
with Lovvorn on the topic of explosions.

[Lovvorn]

Lovvorn leaned in close to Batista

"...I have ALSO perfected a certain 'endurance' spell that yields
some rather... ahh... prolonged... results."

The mage winked and smiled.