Mul the Silent hesitated at the door, then stepped aside and gestured Aflia Cencin through. "I'll wait out here. You two need to talk to each other, and you don't need me underfoot while you do it."

Aflia drew in a deep breath, then knocked on Aris' door.

"Enter!"

Aflia opened the door, stepped into the office, and shut it behind her. "Aris, do you like me?"

Aris' eyebrows rose, but he sent Moxxy away with a thought. "of course I do Aflia. What brought this up?"

"Then why are you sending me away to Sapphire? Mul wants to go, and I can tell her exactly what volume she needs, and you can give her the letter you were going to give me. Why are you abandoning me like this?"

Aris rubbed his face, "because I do like you, and I'd rather you not have you walk blind into a relationship that could hurt you again. I know only a little about your father, but I knew men like him. I know you need the love that he could never give you. But I'm not sure I can give you then live without cutting you on the broken parts of me."

Aflia scrubbed her eyes, trying to stop the tears, "broken? You are probably the only man who looks past my skin, horns, hooves, and tail to see the person beneath. How could you be broken?"

Aris shook his head, "I have scars in my past. Ones that I live right up to the edge of, and perhaps a little beyond, but they still bleed from time to time. I'd rather they not bleed on you unaware. I had thought to have you go to Sapphire to meet Lady SiDabolo, to walk in the places I have walked, and perhaps learn about the scars in my past without me there to get in the way."

Aflia gave up trying to stop the tears, "this is what I feared most; that you would be so reasonable about all of this. That you would have me in mind, not your own interests."

Aris walked around the desk and held his arms open, "I'm here if you need a shoulder to cry on."

Aflia crushed herself against Aris, "I think I do need a shoulder to cry on, and perhaps a bit more."

Aris stroked Aflia's hair gently, "we'll talk about that something more when you get back. If nothing else, I want you to do three things that I think will show you more about me while you are near Sapphire."

Aflia clenched her arms tighter, "only if I can ask you to do the same while I am gone."

Aris gave a gentle snort, "it would be ungentlemanly, unfair, and rude of me to refuse. Name them."

Aflia drew a shuddering breath, "I want you to talk to the servants of Hokfiin Faalyol and learn about the kind of man my 'father' really was. I want you to visit my mother's grave and read the inscription there. And I want you to visit the basement rooms in the Mage Towers where I slept for twelve of my nineteen years."

Aris hugged Aflia a little tighter, "I will do that. Will you speak to Mul about what the Westmarch War was really like? Will you speak to Lady SiDabolo about fishing on the bay? And Will you walk the shores of Armageddon Reef?"

Aflia drew back and held Aris at arms length, ignoring the tear stains on his shirt, "I will. Thank you, Aris, for understanding."

Aris let her go, "how could I not? Go get ready, I'll have that letter re-drafted by this afternoon. And thank you."

A commotion from outside the door ended the moment. Aris snatched up his morningstar from a corner and wrenched the door open. The scene that greeted him was more then a bit chaotic. Mul had her battleaxe out, blocking Faena Greenleaf from coming any closer to Lady Ussi. Talae Telena had Ena Sumia in a bear hug, holding her feet off the ground. And to top it all off Elfyr had just walked in the door.

"son of a... PLANT YOUR FEET!" Aris' barked command had everyone balking for a moment, but it was long enough for the tension to begin to abate. "Nobody leaves this room until I say different. Now, I'm going to ask some questions as to why this happened, and I'm going to ask them politely. Weapons away, all of you. Talae, set the druid down so she can breathe. Mr. Elfyr, you are here to deliver Lord Wavethunder's report on the Old Temple, correct?"

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Elfyr nodded formally, "that is correct Lord Trebor, but it can wait if you need it to."

Aris shook his head, "It will not need to wait long, I'll be ready to read it as soon as this is dealt with. Lady Ussi, you are here because...?"

Lady Ussi flicked her tongue, "I am here to request permission to host the Fire Dance at the midsummer festival, as the old traditions would have it done."

Faena hisses and started to speak, but a glance from Aris cut her off. "Your reasons, Lady Ussi? I am not aware of any prohibition against the Fire Dance in the realm of Altheim."

Lady Ussi bowed, "that is correct Lord Trebor, but it was banned under the Overlords. The people of Colubrinus would feel more at ease with official sanction to have the dances again."

"You have not only my sanction, but my blessing. The dances would be held in a week at the midsummer solstice, if I recall correctly, which doesn't leave much time to prepare. Please wait in the hall so we can begin to make arrangements."

Lady Ussi bowed deeply and stepped past Elfyr into the hallway. Aris turned to Talae, "Acolyte Telena, you are here on behalf of Cleric Little Bird?"

Talae shook her head, "no Lord Trebor, I came here to warn you of these two; Druid Faena Greenleaf and her apprentice Ena Sumia. I see now that such a warning was particularly prudent."

Aris nodded, and hung his morningstar from his belt, "very well Acolyte Telena. Please wait with Lady Ussi, so that you can represent Cleric Little Bird in the initial preparations."

Talae dropped a neat curtsy and vanished into the hall.

Aris turned his gaze to Faena, "Druid Greenleaf, you have threatened the people of my province and nearly got yourself killed in the doing. Explain yourself."

Faena drew herself up to her full height, "you have an unbound Paladin in your lands, Lord Trebor. I came here to Bind her to the land, as is my right as a Druid of the Circle of the Lands, before she can do more damage. Power can never be allowed to go unchecked, and a Paladin running amok is a power indeed."

Aris' eyes hardened. "Apprentice Sumia, do you share the sentiments of your mentor in this matter? Would you seek to forcibly Bind someone against their will without even knowing if they are a danger to themselves or others?"

Ena gulped audibly, "No I do not Lord Trebor. A Druid is tasked to preserve the land and the balance, not to interfere without just cause."

Faena all but spat on the floor. Aris' gaze pinned her mouth shut before she could do so. "Druid Greenleaf, I know exactly which Paladin you seek. I also know that you seek to do that Paladin harm, to the detriment of the Paladin, their Oaths, and the Light they serve. In doing so, you would also cause harm to Trebor, both the land and the people. I will give you one chance to explain yourself, fully and truthfully, before I render judgement."

Faena did spit at Aris' statement, "I will not waste words upon a blind human who consorts with tieflings, drow, half-orcs, and silithids. You are obviously beyond all redemption."

Aris ignored her for a moment. "Apprentice Sumia, do the other Druids of the Circle of the Lands know and approve of Druid Greenleaf's self-proclaimed mission?"

Ena stood tall and unafraid of her mentor, "Lord Trebor, they do not know or approve of Druid Greenleaf's presence in Trebor, much less her mission."

Aris nodded, "mr. Elfyr, you would know the answer to this better than I, form your work with Lord Wavethunder. Do the Druids of Altheim handle disciplinary matters internally?"

Elfyr bowed formally, "They do, in so far as such matters are not at odds with the Laws of Althiem. Where they are, they pass their own judgement before passing the matter onto the Lawmasters of Altheim, if such action is required."

Aris drew in a deep breath and let it out through his nose, "I know all about power unrestricted, and the abuse and corruption the comes with it. I grew up in the bowls of Sapphire, and served as a common soldier in the Westmarch War. I, Lord Trebor, do hereby command that Druid Greenleaf be confined until she can face a trial of her fellow Druids, on the charges of recklessly endangering the land and people of Trebor by attempting to make a Paladin of the Light into a Blackguard against her will. Should Faena Greanleaf survive such judgement, I hereby banish her from Trebor on pain of death."

Airs looked away from the condemned woman, "Apprentice Sumia, will you summon the other Druids of the Circle of the Lands, or will I need to send another messenger?"

Ena bowed formally to Aris, completely ignoring her former mentor, "No Lord Cretu, another messenger will not be needed. I will notify the Circle of the Lands of this matter."

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Status Report:

Treasury: 540

Income: +105 gold per day

Amount & Source

+5 Semi-retired Agent of Altheim

+100 Food sold from Ikin

Equipment: In good condition.

Estates:

* Ikin: Village: Fishing Docks, Farms Under Construction

* Trebor Convent: Under Construction

* Colubrinus: Village: Under Construction

* Three Empty Holdings (may be improved later)

* One Old Temple (occupied by undead, traps, and animated statues)

The Ring: obsidian band with one carbuncle gem and two empty settings

Total Deaths: 1