Another visitor?" Senior Brother Ameo sighed.

Brothr Po nodded, obviously nervous. "Yes, I've escorted him to the garden. He is waiting for you by the pond."

"Very well, lets go." Ameo led the way to the garden, Po in tow, wondering what had unsettled the man so much. As he rounded the corner he came to a stuttering halt. Standing before him, hands clasped casually behind his back stood the tall, lean form of an elf. His long black hair fell freely down his back, and he regarded Ameo with a stern stare. "J-justice Ironbriar!" Ameo tried to cover his initial shock. "What an unexpected pleasure. What brings you to our humble temple today?"

"Spare me the pleasentries, Brother," the last word said with a sneer, "You have dispatched members of you temple into my jurisdiction without my permission. Why?"

Magnimar's legal system was run by the powerful Court of Justices. Each councilman appointed to oversee and enforce the law within a certain district of the city. While not nearly as totalitarian as its rival city state Korvosa, each Justice did have signifigant authority withinn his own district. When Lord Mayor Grobaras pledged to clean up Underbridge several years ago, it was the uncompromosing Ironbriar who was handed the actual task. The stories of the man's... directness, were often chilling.

Ameo gulped. "I assure you sir we have no intention of..."

"Do not waste my time." Ironbriar cut in. "One of your - what should I call her - operatives - has been asking questions about St Casperian's Mission and the local players in that area. And I assure you sir, that we are aware of the situation and do not need any unsactioned vigilantism in Underbridge. You will recall her immediately. I do not need a dead Iroran priest in my district."

Ameo gulped again and glanced quickly around the garden. The only other person in earshot was Li Kao. Thankfully, he was passed out by the pond, as usual, wine gourd cradled in his arms. "Uh, that could be a problem sir," Ameo ventured, coming to a decision and steeling his nerve. "You see, sister Xerlina is very headstrong and tenacious. We certainly did not send her to Underbridge. But once she catches scent of an injustice she rarely lets it go. I doubt we could recall her even if we tried."

Ironbriar peered down, scrutinizing Ameo. "So you insist that this is the case of one of your monks operating on her own? Without your authority? "You do not intend to send any more representives into Underbridge? I cannot take responsibility for the saftey of this sister Xerlina you understand- It will not end well for her."

"No sir. Her loss would certainly be a great tragedy to the temple, but I cannot condone sending more of my students into harm's way to correct an action that we did not even sanction in the first place."

Ironbriar stepped back, apparently satisfied. "I am glad we understand each other, Brother." Good day." And with that the imposing Justice turned and strode out of the garden.

* * *

Li Kao opened one eye to check that he was again alone. He sat up too fast and rolled onto his side as the garden spun wildly. After a momment he sat up again, more slowly this time. Xer wasn't the only one who couldn't tolerate injustice. It was a trait had passed on to his favorite student, and he knew he couldn't sit by and let the temple sell her out, even if she was frightfully dim at times.

He levered himself into a standing position and stretched casually. No, he had been hiding here too long anyway. It was time for change. He gathered his things into his sack and shook his gourd appraisingly. It made an almost empty sloshing. Well, he'd have to fix that before he got very far. He slung his sack over his shoulder, walked into the courtyard and out th edoors of the sheltering temple into the teeming streets of the city.