[color=A0A0A0][h2]Fleuri Jodeau[/h2][/color]

"That would explain her silence," Fleuri observed when the assassin's scarf was removed.  Someone had ripped out her voice box, depriving her of the ability to speak, and had somehow done so without killing her.  But why would anybody perform such a gruesome procedure, and what kind of person would choose to undergo such life-changing butchery?  Despite all the gruesome things he had seen done do a human body, often by his own hand, Fleuri felt a twinge of discomfort at the sight of the scars on the Nem's throat.

Fleuri wasn't surprised that an assassin would undergo something like this- it wasn't unheard of for those attempting high-profile assassinations to resort to extremely drastic measures if they're committed to a cause beyond simply collecting payment.  With that in mind, it was more surprising to him that the Nem hadn't burned up in a sudden burst of magic or begun seizing up from an unseen self-administered poison.

[i]If she's not willing to die, perhaps it's not entirely impossible to coax some information out of her.[/i]

Tyaethe asked the assassin if she could write, to which she affirmatively nodded.  Fleuri was a little apprehensive about giving the assassin a sharp writing implement, but to his relief she didn't try anything.  Her message simply said, "YOU KILLED HER".

[i]That explains her gripe with us, if we killed someone close to her.  At least I think that's what she's saying.  The context of her answer is rather ambiguous.[/i]

Fleuri knelt down next to the assassin.  "If it is not too painful for you, my lady, could you elaborate on the meaning and context of your message?  I'm afraid it is a bit unclear to us what your reply means."

The knight shifted his mantle to cover his neck and tightened his grip on the Nem's blade as he questioned her.  His intention was to be as diplomatic and nonthreatening as possible, but it never hurt to be a little cautious.