Hunting the Thief|Skyheort, Talen'sul

[Kender Bard]

Liana took his left hand, gently, and looked at his wrist closer. "You do match the description," she said grimly. "I think I'm going to need to ask you to come with me to the guardhouse."

[Darastrix]

"Wh-what?" he said, his expression falling with dismay. "Description for what?" Mind racing, he tried to think of who might be hunting him, but came up short on names. He was usually so good at what he did, he didn't need to worry. Who the hell was she?

"I've been here for weeks, haven't I, Nathan?"

"He has," Nathan confirmed, looking at Liana uneasily. "This is probably just a misunderstanding...."

[Kender Bard]

"Maybe so," Liana said neutrally, though she doubted very much that was the case. "If it's all the same, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Please, come with me. If you are innocent, then this shouldn't take much time at all."

[Darastrix]

"Do I even get to know what I'm being accused of, or do I have to try to guess?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest. He couldn't run; he'd look guilty if he tried and Talen'sul was probably the worst place to try to outrun someone. Especially since he wasn't a Wind.

[Kender Bard]

"Theft from the holy temple," the Reaper replied. "I have been charged by an angel of Taed to find the man and bring him back to the temple for justice. However, I have no desire to drag a man across the land and then find out I was wrong. So I would rather bring you to the guardhouse. I've spoken with them on the matter already."

[Darastrix]

"This is ridiculous," he huffed, the very picture of affront.

"Maybe you should just go and get this all straightened out," Nathan murmured, looking between the pair.

"Oh, I'll go," he muttered. "Though fat lot of good I can see it doing me as far as proving my innocence goes. The guards here don't know me, she doesn't know me, and this is all on the word of an angel?"

Really, that would be a nice setup for a con, if you needed to get someone out of a city.

[Kender Bard]

"Amongst other things," Liana replied, keeping her calm. "I place higher priority on the spiritual messenger of Taed than mortals. Now, come on." She turned slightly but did not leave her back to him and instead gestured for him to walk in front or to the side of her.

[Darastrix]

Amann rolled his eyes and moved to walk to the side. "I'm not armed," he told her. And since she clearly was, he had no intention of leaving his back to her, either. "Take care, Nathan," he said over his shoulder. "I suppose we'll have to eat together tomorrow instead."

Damnation, how was he going to weasel his way out of this? And how had they even gotten a clue?

[Kender Bard]

"I'm sorry to cause this disruption," she said by way of parting to Nathan before heading for the guardhouse.

Curses. She forgot to get the name of the guard who helped her last. "I'm looking for the redheaded guard that works here," she opted to say instead.

[Darastrix]

"You must be talking about Aaron," one of the guards said. "He said something about heading out; lemme see if he's still around."

A few moments later, Aaron came into the main room of the guard house, a cross expression on his face. "I've hardly had time to start getting the word out," he began, then stopped when he noticed the man with her. "Found him already?"

Damn, that was fast. He's not one of ours that I know of, Aaron thought, subtly flashing the thieves' sign.

"She thinks she did," Amann said.

[Kender Bard]

"Yes, I think I did," Liana. "In fact, I'm growing more certain the more I consider it. But I brought him here because I wanted your assistance. I'm not entirely certain of the laws on criminal extraction for Caelium. I'm only roughly aware of my rights to do so in Naurorod and the Beastlands. I would hate to have the people of Talen'sul grow angry with Athrug because of my actions."

[Darastrix]

"I hadn't given that much thought," Aaron admitted, noting that Amann didn't give any hint of recognition of the sign. Just my luck, it would've come down on my head if things were done wrong, too. "And just few years ago, some Ilyamite guards and mercs grabbed a Caelium citizen on some trumped-up charges and dragged him down south. Considering he was in a noble family, that didn't go over well."

He eyed Amann again. "I don't suppose you'd go willingly and save everyone the trouble."

"Right. Go all the way across the bloody continent to a place I've never even been because I've apparently got some sort of thieving doppelganger in the world. No, thank you."

So much for that thought. "Then he's got to be tried here first," he said to Liana. "If he's found guilty, you can take him back to Athrug."

[Kender Bard]

"I will remain for that, then," Liana replied. "Until then, I will release him into your custody. Do I need to contact anyone or is that the duty of the guards as well?"

[Darastrix]

"I don't really know," Aaron said. "I--"

"Oh, this is wonderful," Amann muttered. "My life is in the hands of Talen'sul law, and he 'doesn't really know.'"

Aaron cut his eyes at the other man. "I'm a simple guard. Generally speaking, things like that aren't my business to know. I bring people in; I don't decide what's to be done with them. As I was saying," he went on as he turned back to Liana, "I can find that out after he's in a cell."

[Kender Bard]

"I appreciate your going above and beyond your normal duties to assist me," Liana told Aaron, gesturing that he could take Amann away. "Taed bless you for your service. Shall I remain here or would you prefer to send for me at the temple?"