To a suddenly popular lawyer...

[Jirai]

Once Helstone returned from his meeting with Ariane, he would find another letter awaiting him.

Mister Helsone,

I wish to speak with you at your earliest convenience, on a rather urgent matter.

Jirai

The letter went on to detail directions to a house where either letters might be delivered or she might be found.

It was a simple note, but Helstone was a smart man. She did not doubt that he could figure out exactly what she was talking about.

[channe]

Jirai’s letter, which he'd read upon returning to his office is the last he considers for the afternoon; the pile has been reduced from 'enormous' to 'manageable', and it’s almost just enough to apply pen to paper once more to send a summons to Jirai on the courier-boy’s afternoon rounds. But he's far too curious, this one. Far too curious.

He chews his bottom lip and takes a swig of tea -- unmannered behavior he'd never countenance in public -- and rises from his seat, gathering up his coat and satchel.

"Anne," he calls. On a scrap of nearby paper, he draws a map and indicates Jirai's address with an 'x'. "I will be *here* for a little while. You'll remain until I return, and have dinner prepared, and I'll give you a bonus for today."

---

When he reaches the address provided, he'll knock sharply.

[Jirai]

The door would be opened by an extraordinarily non-descript man, the sort of person whose appearance fades from memory moments after leaving his presence. He would quietly and politely direct the lawyer to a room in the back of the house, then dissapear.

The inside of the room, with the windows firmly shuttered, would be rather dark, with barely enough light to allow her visitor to recognize that the woman pacing restlessly across the room was, indeed, the one he sought. She turned to face him as he entered, though her gloved hands continued the restless movements that her feet had so recently ceased.

"Mister Helstone." She would give a polite nod to the man before leaping into the conversation. "I wish to obtain your services on behalf of my employer, who, as of yet, has no idea of the current situation here. You do know what this is about, yes?" Blunt, as she had so recently characterized another, but there were times when it was neccessary, even when playing the games that she certainly was playing.

[channe]

"Good afternoon, Miss Jirai," is the lawyer's response -- foundering without the drow's last name, to be sure, but he justifies it by thinking that there probably isn't much that she cares -- so, to business.

"I assume we're speaking of Mr. Roschen, who, as of late, has been under some -- pressure -- from the Order of Straka," he says, carefully. "Am I correct?"

[Jirai]

A last name was something that just about everyone would fumble with - it was not something that she deemed neccessary for people to know, with some reason.

"Yes, Councillor Roschen." She folded her arms across her chest. "Who is, as I said, still unaware that any charges have been issued, as I have not been able to contact him. I suspect, though, that once he returns, your services might be of some use. You will, of course, be well compensated for your time."

One hand slid beneath her cloak and drew out a pouch that would clink enticingly as she tossed it to the table that stood between the pair.

[channe]

Helstone's eyes drift to the pouch; and, then, snap back up to Jirai. He does not, however, take the money quite yet, although that look *was* rather appreciative.

"I imagine you'd have me represent Mr. Roschen in a court of law in answer to the charges brought against him by the Order? Do you know what they are? Are you convinced of his innocence? If not, what *are* you convinced of, Miss Jirai?"

The tone questions simply; gently. There is no underlying accusation or suspicion.

[Jirai]

"The Order of the Straka has not publicized the charges, nor did Captain Daniels deign to release that information to me." She shifted slightly, rocking her weight from one foot to the other.

"So, obviously, I can be certain about nothing, in this case. I suspect that the Order has trumped up some charges in order to remove Suede from the Council. I believe that the Captain also threatened similar action against Altias, only a few days past."

[channe]

The lawyer listens to Jirai tell much the same tale as Ariane told in the Rememdium this very morning. He nods, and his eyes go again to the bag of coins on the table. He's thinking -- and he's remembering, of course, the other conversation he's just arrived from having, a conversation that was about this very subject. The activities of the slippery Mr. Roschen as put forth to Coriolanus Helstone just hours before...? They would require a further accounting from Suede's guard to push forward towards the truth.

"Madam, I hope you do not mind if I ask you some further questions regarding this matter: what is Mr. Roschen capable of? Your words will go no further than this room, be heard by none more than I."

[Jirai]

"In what way do you mean?"

She tilted her cowled head slightly to one side. There was, perhaps, a flicker of confusion crossing her scarred face - the question seemed to be very vague to her, but then, even though her grasp of the language was far better than Ariane's, she did occassionally have some trouble with it.

[channe]

Helstone smiles, and spreads his hands beseechingly. He chooses his words carefully.

"Madam, madam -- any number of things, really, things that would prompt the Order of Straka to detain him so. You are not a fainting housemaid; you know what they may be. You are worried, because on a smaller matter, judgment would have already been passed, and Mr. Roschen snug in his tailor's shop hemming pants or whatever it is he does to pass the time."

He pauses again.

"So tell me, Miss Jirai -- what do you fear, and what would you have me do, if I were to pick up this sum you've offered me?"

[Jirai]

At that, the diminuative woman laughed, folding her arms just above her swollen belly.

"Perhaps I have heard some rumors, then, Mister Helstone." Only rumors, of course. Of course. "Rumors that Straka believes that they can link Suede to the black market. Rumors of the death of a guardsman, which certainly Straka must accuse someone of. But, as I said, these are merely rumors, and you know as well as I the Order's record for wrongful accusations."

She uncurled a hand, gloved fingers flicking gracefully to the money pouch that still lay between them.

"For that, I would see these charges dismissed, Mister Helstone. I would see Roschen remain on the Council."

[channe]

And once again, Helstone's mind flies back to the conversations of the day -- to Ariane's words, which so greatly echo Jirai's, and to Captain Daniels' as well, which inform his answer in quite a different fashion. That one case continues to haunt him, he realizes; that one night has so completely formed his reputation as to make him a legal demigod in the eyes of the populace.

He's almost entertained by the entire concept, really.

"I must confess, madam, that I believe this situation to be much beyond the lawyering that would get you all of what you want. Please recall that only the Council, not Straka, may decommission a member, which they most certainly will do if Mr. Roschen is found guilty of murder, participation in the black market, or any number of other charges Straka may be ready to slap him with," he explains. "I cannot keep him on or off the council myself. That is well beyond my abilities. And if Straka can link Mr. Roschen, beyond a doubt, to any of the crimes, the best I can do is less than what you'd like. If Daniels cannot -- if the evidence is circumstantial, less than full, or otherwise faulty -- there is a much greater chance of getting the charges rescinded. I'm rather good at that, mind, which is why you've called me here, no doubt."

His eyes go to the money-bag again, but there's something different about his behavior this time. Some doubt; something whispering in the back of his brain, perhaps.

Perhaps the words of his old mentor, back a few years -- there are more ways to the truth than always taking the high road, Cory.

And then he fixes her with a look.

"I am here for the truth, madam; the truth as it is, not the truth as you or I or Captain Daniels sees it. At the same time, I am loath to see any man destroyed or put to death. If you can affirm -- on what honor you hold, under the strictest penalty of perjury -- that you have no knowledge of any wrongdoing on the Councilor's part, then I will agree to represent Mr. Roschen in this matter -- conditionally. I will need to speak with him before giving my full consent."

A much different response than he gave to Ariane this morning; but, then, this is a much different case.

[Jirai]

Honor, perjury... Were she minded differently, perhaps she would remind Helstone with whom he was talking, for it seemed to her that he'd completely forgotten - a drow, for whom "honor" was more or less a curse word, and "perjury" unknown.

"I wish you only to try."

She answered his initial qualifications about his abilities. And then, she was advancing to the table, scooping up the money pouch - but only to toss it to the well-dressed lawyer.

"In that case, you have my word. Take this, and I will endeavour to arrange a meeting between yourself and Suede."

The truth. Was there any such thing as "the truth as it is"? Truth was, by nature subjective, and Jirai's truths more subjective than most. Nevertheless, her words were true, in this instance.

[channe]

He unties the bag, and reaches in; the amount he takes out is small, compared to what's in there. He'll toss the bag casually back to the drow.

"This is for a retainer's fee," he said. "Keep the rest, for now; it will be paid upon the cessation of my conversation with Mr. Roschen. Is this agreeable?"

[Jirai]

She simply nodded, scooping the remainder up and sliding it beneath her cloak.

"Very well. I shall be in touch with you. Good day, Mister Helstone."