As the carriage pulled away from the residence the scribe looked at Baron, "Do all negotiations go this way sir?"

Baron looked at the young man and shook his head, "Usually the petitioner is friendlier, hoping to curry favor. But for some reason they seemed more like they wanted to try and politely bully their way into an advantage. In this case it will seriously harm their case."

The man grew puzzled, "I don't understand. You mean because you will put them in their place?"

Baron smiled as he shook his head. "Lord Walter is indeed a man of law and good, but he has a temper like no other I know. If Andrew can't keep a civil tongue as he demonstrated, Lord Walter will end his claim by ending his life."

The man frowned, "Won't the King's men try to stop him?"

Baron's smile got bigger, "You don't know anything about Paladins do you? Lord Walter will decimate those men much as you or I would kill a fly. So watch your manners, be very respectful to the Lord and Lady. Especially the Lady, the Lord very nearly took vengeance against his own Father when he insulted her. It was only the Lady's actions that stopped him. And I can assure you that she would have no reason to stop him from taking action against you."

The young man swallowed and grew quiet.

The carriage pulled up before the temple of Hera and one of the Clerics stepped up, "Good day Adjudicator. The great Mother sent me to let you know she will be with you shortly. She also requests to take two junior Clerics with her."

Baron smiled, "I would be honored to have their company with us."

The Cleric smiled and bowed her head before returning to the temple. A few minutes later a much older woman stepped out of the temple assisted by two younger women and they slowly made their way to the carriage. Baron exited the carriage along with his scribe and bowed as the great Mother reached the carriage.

He held out his hand and she smiled as she released the hand of one of the Clerics. She reached out and took it as she climbed up into the carriage followed by the attending Clerics and finally Baron and the scribe. Baron pounded on the side of the carriage and the driver slapped the reins against the horses and they took off.

The great Mother looked at one of the Clerics and nodded. She gestured and a bubble of silence surrounded the carriage. The great Mother looked at Baron, "Tell me this is a joke Baron."

Baron shook his head, "I wish I could. But this King Andrew is moving ahead with the proceedings."

She nodded, "Lord Walter would not arbitrarily kill anyone, let alone murder. Athena would have striped him naked and cast him out if he had."

Baron nodded. "Everything he has said and what was said to the Council goes against every report we have received about the situation. Even from our own people in Lancaster. And every report has been identical enough to know the truth. Only this story of King Andrew is different."

She slowly nodded, "How long until we arrive?"

Baron looked out of the window, "About nine days."

Their journey was relaxed and they arrived at the bridge across the stream before the town nine days later.

The guard at the bridge stepped forward, "Identify yourself and state your business."

The driver smiled, "I'm Adam, coachman for Adjudicator Baron from Los Angeles. As for his business you will need to ask him."

Baron stood bent over and looked out the window, "My good man, the Council of Los Angeles has dispatched me to speak with the Lord and Lady to arbitrate a dispute brought against them."

The guard nodded, "May I see and know who else is with you?"

Baron motioned him on over as he opened the door. "I travel with the revered great Mother of Hera and two of her Clerics as well as my scribe. And unless they have already arrived the other party to the proceedings should be arriving sometime in the next few days."

The guard looked inside and nodded, "No outsiders have arrived before you. You are free to proceed to the Keep Adjudicator."

Baron nodded, "I would highly recommend that you pass on to any who relieve you that they do not allow King Andrew or his men to enter without the Lord's direct permission."

The guard nodded and saluted Baron as Baron closed the door, "Adam, take us to the Keep."

The guard walked back and wrote a message and rolled it up. He removed a pigeon from the small cage next to his post and tied the message to its leg and sent it off to the Keep.

As they proceeded into the town they saw many ribbons and decorations of a birthday celebration hung up all over the town streets. The great Mother looked out and smiled, "It seems as if we have arrived in time for a birthday celebration."

Baron nodded, "The council sent along a gift for Master Ralph. He is the son of the Lady Paige and the claimed son of Lord Walter. His birthday is in a couple of days."

The great Mother frowned, "What a horrible way to lead up to one's birthday. A contest wanting to strip you from the only loved ones you've known."

"I would agree," Baron replied sadly.

Raynold sat in his office going over the financials preparing his monthly report for Lord Walter when Elizabeth opened his door. "Raynold, the guard sent a message up to the Keep."

Raynold looked up and held out his hand and Elizabeth dropped it into his palm. He unrolled the piece of paper and read it, "Damn."

He stood as Elizabeth looked at him, "Raynold?"

Raynold pulled his jacket off the coat tree and began putting it on. "Apparently an Adjudicator from Los Angeles is on their way up here. It is about some kind of dispute against our Lord and Lady."

Elizabeth looked shocked but she stepped to the side and Raynold moved out of his office to climb the stairs to the master chambers.

He knocked on the door and waited. A moment later the door opened and Lisa stood there, "Raynold, please come in."

Raynold moved inside, "Is our Lord and Lady available?"

Lisa nodded, "They were just getting up from our Lady's nap."

Lisa moved to the bedroom and entered after knocking. A moment later she stepped out, "They'll be out in just a moment Raynold."

Raynold nodded as he stood waiting.

A short bit later the door opened again and Lord Walter and Lady Paige stepped out. "Raynold, how are you this afternoon?"

Raynold nodded, "I was better before I just learned that an Adjudicator from Los Angeles is on his way up here. Apparently someone has a dispute against both of you they want him to mediate."

Walter frowned. "Odd. I am not aware of anyone who has any complaint against us, my Love?"

Paige shook her head, "I'm just as confused my Love."

Raynold smiled at Paige. "My Lady, the bloom of Motherhood becomes you."

Walter turned and smiled at Paige and she smiled as her hand came up to rest upon her noticeably pregnant stomach. "Thank you Raynold."

Walter reached out for her hand, "We might as well go down and greet this Adjudicator."

Raynold frowned, "May I make a recommendation my Lord?"

Walter looked up, "Of course Raynold."

"Let us not expose our Lady right off the bat until we ascertain that the Adjudicator is official." Raynold said as bravely as he could as he looked at Paige.

Walter nodded, "That might not be a bad idea, my Love?"

Paige sighed, "Fine, this time. Where would you like me to wait?"

Walter smiled, "Just inside the entrance where you can arrive fashionably in time."

Paige laughed as she slapped his hand and they stepped out of their door and walked down to the entrance.

Walter kissed her before he stepped on out into the courtyard with Raynold. They could hear the coach as it drew near and a few minutes after stepping out the horses pulled it through the portcullis.

Adam stopped the carriage a few yards from Lord Walter and Raynold moved forward and opened the door. Baron had stood up as the coach stopped and he stuck his head out. "My Lord Walter, it is indeed good to see you again, you too Raynold."

Lord Walter smiled, "Adjudicator, it has been some time."

Baron stepped down, "You are free to call me Baron my Lord, at least until the other party finally gets here."

He stepped down, "May I introduce."

Lord Walter smiled, "Great Mother of Hera, I am honored to welcome you to my home."

She smiled, "Lord Walter, it has been some time. It is indeed good to see you again."

Baron laughed, "I guess I should have known you knew each other. These are two of her junior Clerics and my scribe."

Walter greeted them before he turned to look into the entrance and extended his arm, "May I introduce my lovely bride, the Lady Paige."

Baron bowed as Paige stepped outside of the Keep.

Paige smiled, "Welcome to our home all of you."

The great Mother stepped forward and smiled at Paige as she raised a hand and touched her cheek, "It is indeed a blessing to meet the woman that wise Athena has selected for the noble Lord." Her hand dropped to touch her stomach and she smiled. "You bear the burden of Motherhood with grace and beauty."

Paige smiled, "Thank you. Shall we journey to the great hall so we make speak about what brings you here?"

The great Mother nodded as she took Paige's hand and one of the junior Cleric's.

Raynold had two guards gather their belongings and take them into the castle before directing the driver to the livery.

Paige and the great Mother took seats before the fireplace as Walter ordered a pitcher of juice to serve. Walter smiled, "Please have a seat Baron you need not wait for me."

Baron nodded and sat down.

Paige smiled, "Is there anything you can tell us about this matter without the other party here?"

Baron nodded, "Of course my Lady. Put simply our Lord has been accused of murder."

Paige gasped and Walter turned around, "Say again?"

Baron held up his hand, "But the other party isn't pressing against you for the murder. He merely wishes for me to negotiate a peaceful resolution whereby you will relinquish the minor Ralph."

Paige's hand came up to her throat, "Our son? Some knave seeks to try and extort my husband and I into giving up our son?"

Walter's face turned dark red, "Ralph is my son and I will not give him up as long as I draw breath. Who is this person?"

Baron nodded, "As was much my feeling on the matter my Lord. But I am duty bound by the Council to proceed with this. The petition was brought to the Council by the new King of Krammer, Andrew."

Paige's face went white, "Drew? Drew has slithered out from under some rock to assume the throne of Krammer and has come forward to try and claim our son?"

Baron nodded, "Much is my thought my Lady. I don't wish to be indelicate but as I understand it, Andrew did father the child is that correct?"

Paige looked up at Walter and he smiled as he nodded his head placing his hand on her shoulder. "Yes, Andrew led me to believe he loved me. We ran away from my Mother in Hesperia to San Francisco. Three years later Ralph was born. But the wise Lady has sealed Ralph to my Lord. He is Ralph's Father."

The great Mother smiled, "I understand my Lady and I completely agree with you. Unfortunately mysticism isn't always accepted especially by the Council of Los Angeles. They operate on rule of law. While they do sometimes rely on religious edicts especially personally they have to have some physical evidence to back things up."

Baron nodded, "I've done a preliminary questioning of Andrew and his Father's former advisor concerning his death. And I wanted to make it all available to you so you can formulate any questions concerning it."

Raynold stepped up, "May I? While I am sure my Lord and Lady can handle this and formulate other questions I do have a law background and would prefer to examine it first."

Baron looked at Walter and Walter nodded, "Raynold has my trust."

Baron handed a copy of his notes to Raynold and Raynold moved over to Walter's desk and sat down before he began pouring over the pages.

Paige was holding Walter's hand on her shoulder, "Baron, what are the likely outcomes concerning this?"

Baron smiled, "Well I can't say for any certainty before completing the examinations. But if the outcome is that I find some merit to Andrew's claim then I try to negotiate some kind of partial custodianship between the both of you and Andrew. Equally possible is ruling in your favor and dismissing any claim Andrew has as far as Los Angeles is concerned. Highly unlikely would be negotiating for you to turn Ralph over to Andrew on a permanent basis."

Walter shook his head, "Neither the first or last option will work. Ralph is also my squire and is on the path to becoming a Paladin. His studies can not be interrupted in such a manner as it could do far greater harm."

Baron looked up sharply, "He already demonstrates abilities of a Paladin? Isn't he only nine years old?"

Walter and Paige both nodded.

Baron looked at them both, "Forgive me." He looked at the great Mother and she nodded her head. "Not that I didn't believe you, but I did invite the great Mother here to verify all testimony. Please forgive me."

Walter waved it off, "As soon as I saw the great Mother I figured it was for such a purpose. But correct me if I am wrong, her determinations won't be allowed as part of the official documents."

Baron nodded, "That is correct. While the Council can't use them I can and will. To be perfectly honest I found every answer Andrew gave me to be a complete lie. While I had no reason to doubt he was Ralph's Father everything else was like listening to a snake oil salesman. I felt like I needed a bath after talking with him."

Walter laughed.

Paige looked up at Walter and back to Baron, "What if I just declare that Drew is not Ralph's Father? If you can't use the great Mother's determination of truthfulness then it is just his word against mine."

Walter shook his head, "No my Love. I can not support such an action. While Andrew is free to lie all he wants if I was to allow such testimony from you to stand it would disgrace me in the wise Lady's eyes."

Paige shook her head, "That's hardly fair that he can just lie and get what he wants when he set all this in motion to save his own life from his Father."

Greetings! Hope this fines everyone well, we're doing okay.

To the Adventure! -Tim