What really happened to Jade???

(He nodded to Artimus' question about wanting to leave. After a moment he spoke)

"I hope that you can all move past this. If you wish to speak to me further, you know where to find me."

(Bowing his head slightly, he left the house, making his way back to the keep)

~He let go of her and removed Artimus's belt, handing it to the man, then he turned and watched the Duke leave.~

"It's nearly time for me to meet my squad." ~he said, curious as to what they've discovered given that he had solved this case all on his own. He looked back to Jade~

"We'll be staying the night in the city. Once I've debriefed them I'll be finished for the day."

Artimus nodded to the Duke as he departed, feeling torn.His sense of duty was calling him, that old streak inside of him that told him to stand up and defend the island and the crown. But te other part was telling him he had too much to lose now.

He took the pendant from Jade, then the sword belt from Tiberious and moved to the door, not wanting to make Jade chose between the two men in her life. It was easier for him to leave than to face rejection.

I'll see you back home he said to her, not looking at the pair.

~ml to her father~ "Dad I love you.. i just need sometime with him...I hope you understand."


~She nodded to tib~

"I am staying here with you. So I will meet you after your done with the debriefing."

He walked out of the house, strapping his sword belt on, and headed towards the town gate. It was going to be a long walk, and he needed it to try and clear his head.

~she was inside his mind~ So war is coming. This is going to get messy. People are going to get divided and choose sides. And this time I can't do anything to help....unless I help you or jade. But we will have to becareful.


~she flickers into his view once he is out the city and walks next to him~

Artimus smiled as Indis appeared, knowing he wasn't as alone as he thought he was. The weight of the pendant around his neck was a familier feeling he had missed.

I'm torn. I still feel loyalty to The Queen and should help defend the island. But I can't risk having Jade all alone once again. She deserves better. But can I just sit back and let the place rip itself apart? Tiberious is right, the Paladin are formidable fighters, and possibly outnumber the Aegis Army.

He shook his head as he continued to walk.

This is going to get very ugly, unless something can be done diplomatically to settle the tension.

~she nods~

"Well...maybe if she goes with you. I am not sure what to do. Just try to stay alive for her. I failed at that. I left her all alone. I am the one that caused all her problems." ~she sighs as they walk she grabs his hand and holds it as they walk and leans her head against him.~

Artimus shook his head.

No, you didn't fail. I failed us by leaving. I'm just glad she's back to her old self. Literally.

"well it gave you a look into what you missed." ~she smiled.~

"Lets call it even. We both had something to do with it." ~she squeezed his hand~

~He watched Artimus leave, then turned to Jade.~

"You go back to where I found you. I need to debrief and have a word with the duke."

~he turned back towards his younger brother and Erika~

"I don't know what the hell you were pulling here, but remember what he told you. No one is above the law here."

~he turned and started to leave~

~she nodded to him and head for the door as he turned to louis and erika. She wanted to get out of there before they tried something again. She headed to the tavern and walked up to the bar and paid for a bottle of whiskey and two glasses. She entered the room and walked over to where all her painting were from when she was here before. she picked up the room and pictures and placed them into her bag on the table. She then made adjustment to the room she grinned as she picked out a piece of the strawberry candy and put it in her mouth as she went over to the fireplace and started a fire and poked at it. She knelt on the floor and watched the fire sucking on her candy. As she gets lost in thought.~

~she watched Tiberious. Then looked over to louis. Knowing that they had gotten away with it to a point at least they are still at home and not in a jail cell..She waited for Tiberious to leave as she moved over and stood next to louis.~

"I am glad we get to stay home."

~He walked briskly through the streets, also heading towards the Keep which is where he told his squad of trainees to meet him. He entered the courtyard and waited patiently for them to return.~

~Eventually they did, and he began the debrief. He was curious to find out what they had learnt, given that he now knew the truth. It seemed they had initally arranged themselves into pairs - apart from one group which was a trio - and began seperate lines of enquiries. They had then met up and exchanged notes before continuing to investigate together. They admitted they had failed, and it seemed no one knew anything; or at least weren't prepared to talk. Tiberious stood with his arms folded across his chest as the report was given to him, his face one more large emotionless zone. He could tell they were upset and frustrated at not having found anything, and a little scared that they hadn't. Once they had reported all they had done, detailing the lengths they went to to find information, he spoke and congratulated them on their work. He noted the surprise on their faces - they had clearly been prepared for punishment for failing to learn anything. He explained in more words than he usually used, that sometimes an investigation is unsolvable, but the way theywent about it was well thought out. They had worked as a team, which was exactly what he had been trying to get into them for the past few weeks of training. He also congratulated them on not fabricating a story just t please him, and was happy that they told the truth about their failure.~

~He then surprised them more by telling them they were free for the rest of the day and night. They could use the Keeps barracks to bunk down for the night, and until mid-day tomorrow they were free to do whatever they wished in the city. He gave them some advice about the best Taverns to visit, and a few other places which may be of interest to young men who clearly needed to get something out of their system. Although he did tell them of one particular tavern which was off limits to them.~

~One of his trainees admitted he had failed to pack any money, thinking it more important to make other items a priority first. Tiberious almost smiled, but gave him a small stash of money, telling the man to repay him once they returned to Grorr. He dismissed them, and warned them that tomorrows ride back would be harder than the ride into the city, so make sure any headaches they were planning on getting tonight would be gone by tomorrow afternoon, then he waited as they dispersed, talking excitedly to themselves as they walked through to the barracks. He himself then turned and walked out of the Keep, nodding to the guard on duty there.~

~He watched all the comings and goings in the room, finally glad when the last person left. he looked at Erika.~

"That bastard Duke. We would have had him if not for that meddling....."

~He tried to calm down; Louis had the Farstrider temper just as much as his brothers had. And usually there was only two ways to cure it.~

"Yes, at least we didn't get roped into fighting his war for him. The navy isn't much use against a land based invasion. Now, what was it the Duke said? Morningstar is safe within the city walls.... Guess we'll just have to try some place else. But not yet. Let some time pass. Morningstar will get sloppy and start thinking he's safe. I think... the best thing we can do is to ignore him for the time being."

~she grinned liking his plan and she then knelt down as he sat in the chair and kissed him long and hard.~

"Oh yes my love we can take the time to plan something that no one will be able to stop." ~she then sat across his lap on the chair and kissed him again.~


~After sitting a little there kissing him she grinned and stood up and pulled louis up and started to pull him to the upstairs... they both were upset about all this and knew one way they could work it all out.~