The flowers of war are at their most beautiful when they blossom in spectacular disarray.

- Unknown.

I stood tall, drawing myself up to my full height, straightening my shoulders. As I did so, I couldn't help but to remember, ‘He who shouts first, shouts loudest’. It was an old adage, half-remembered and probably incorrect, from a different time and a different place. With a deep breath, I mustered as much confidence as I could, "Please, allow me to explain…"

The City Guard officer narrowed his eyes and stepped closer towards me. With a mere flick of his hand, he set his men into motion. On his silent command, he had ten guards encircle the Beastkin who held Zariyah hostage, their polearms poised to strike. Meanwhile, a crowd had gathered, obstructing the flow of traffic.

"Move along! Move along," the officer commanded sharply, a hand on the jeweled sword at his hip, his order cutting through the buzz of the crowd. His men started to shepherd the city's busy inhabitants around the scene, gently but firmly pushing away the onlookers.

With thinly veiled annoyance he shouted, “You there, Beastkin! Stinking savages, the lot of you!” He almost spat, his face twisting in disgust. “Go on, I dare you. Kill her, see if I care. It’s what your kind love doing. But the moment you finish having your little bit of fun, I’ll have you all strung up from the gates,” he warned, with all the authority of his office.

The wolf Beastkin looked around him and, seeing no new avenue of escape, released Zariyah with a defeated look. Some of the City Guards stepped aside to allow her through but kept the points of their weapons at Beastkin’s neck. The girl hurriedly pushed the guards to stand by my side.

With the immediate situation more or less diffused, he turned his attention back to me. The officer's expression was one of sharp inquiry. "What is going on here? And who might you be?" he demanded sharply of Zariyah, prodding at her chest in a manner that was both rude and dismissive.

Her reply was, of course, nothing but a prolonged silence, her expression set in defiance. Frustrated by her apparent reluctance to speak, he lifted his armored hand in a threatening gesture. A sneer crossed his face when he noticed her flinch.

“Thank the Goddess you are here! These horrid beasts attacked us!” I blurted out to divert his attention. “I am just a simple adventurer, still new to this great city. I was drawn here by the promise of wealth and renown. I was making my way to the Grand Bazaar with my companion…” I paused, nodding to Zariyah who had her eyes closed, expecting the worst.

“When suddenly these animals…” I started, only to be silenced by the officer.

“Attacked you, you say? But even Beastkin would not be so stupid as to start violence within the walls without provocation…” the officer stated, removing his white-plumed helm.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“The man-thing threw scorn at us! You all here saw! Yes!? Yes!?” explained a half-recovered Hashmal, spluttering. A murmur ran through the members of the building crowd.

“That would indeed be a provocation for your kind. Still…” drawled the officer, as if he was enjoying the proceedings. Enjoying the petty power he held over us.

“I saw that savage animal start it, I did! Swiped at the man with those long sharp claws of his for no reason, he did. ‘Haps they got the crazy disease, their brains go to jelly before they go even more beast-like…” came an oddly familiar voice from the crowd. It was a voice that I could not quite place.

Hashmal gave out another roar but was silenced by one of the City Guards, who whacked him across the face with a heavy truncheon, smashing out a long white canine.

“I will have to add disturbing the peace to your crimes, animal,” the officer commented, nodding to the subordinate who had disciplined the lion Beastkin. One of his men who had been shepherding the crowd approached and saluted him. After a brief glance around, he leaned in to whisper something into the officer's ear.

Damnation, the last thing I needed was to be in trouble with the law. I had best play things safe. Even without using an Identify spell, I could tell that these men were a cut above the usual rabble.

“As I said before, I was just walking down to the Bazaar when these animals accosted me. They threatened us. You know how violent these things can get. Animals, aren’t they?,” I offered in explanation.

“There is more, no?” the officer added lazily.

“Yes,” I stated with a nod. I needed to lay this on thick. Silently I thanked the voice in the crowd who had spoken out in my defense, before continuing, “We were just on our way when these things threatened and accosted us for no good reason. They grabbed my companion and I defended myself to the best of my ability, but there were four of them… and then you blessedly arrived before they could continue…”

He looked at me thoughtfully as he sifted through my words, searching for lies, but found none. As always the truth was on my side.

“I think I’ve seen and heard enough. The simplest of explanations are almost always correct. The Beastkin wanted a little fun with your lady friend, and of course, being the chivalrous and generous gentlemen you are, you stepped in and defended her honor,” the officer declared, causing the wolf Beastkin to give out another whine in protest. “But what I can’t understand is how you pummelled three of them, by the looks of things at least, all by yourself?”

I looked him evenly in the eye, “I had a just cause on my side.”

“How I see it, using nothing more than your fists, at that. Perhaps the next Festival will be interesting. That nothing more than a decoration?” he observed, noticing the dagger at my side.

I looked at him quizzically for a moment.

He mused aloud as if to no one in particular, “Still, both parties have disrupted the city's peace... I wonder what the penalty for that would be?”

“Perhaps, I can make some amends for taking up the precious time of the City Guard on such a trivial matter,” I suggested in a soft voice without batting an eyelid.

I smirked inside. He had barely given the Beastkin a chance to defend themselves and had all but given me a shakedown. The upholders of law and order were as corrupt in this world as they were in mine. It was best that I stay on the right side of those who held some power over you.

“Yes, perhaps you can,” the officer replied with a superior smirk.