"What the hell is happening here?!"

Drake turned around to see a well-dressed man pushing people aside with his cane. He was using a tuxedo of sorts, and a big hat. His moustache almost touched his shoulders, as did his beard. However, he was just above a meter and a half tall, and had eyes that shone with a cunning light, which destroyed the respectable look he was trying to give.

He and the Higler exchanged glances before the ranger stepped forward, to try and calm down the man - presumably the owner of the bar.

"Just a friendly discussion, mister."

"Friendly? And you dare to joke after putting three of my men on the ground? Get out before I make you leave or worse!"

As soon as he said that, four or five burly men stepped forward, showing the guns in their belts. Drake's hand instinctively moved towards his own weapons, but Higler held him back, and shook his head. 'Not here', his eyes said.

Drake had to admit that wasn't the best place to start a gunfight. Too many innocents on the way. He had to learn to control his actions. Frainer helped, by laying on his head and calming him down while looking warily at the owner with his three eyes.

"Let's all calm down, please. This man provoked my partner, and he reacted accordingly. You must be Nicholas Cramer, right? Montez told us a lot about you."

Cramer was surprised by Higler's words - lies, most of it - and ordered his guards to wait. He squinted his eyes, trying to see through the smiling black man and his stern companion.

"Who are you? Montez didn't mention you."

"Err... Are you sure you want to talk about this here, mister? Maybe it's better if..."

"You are right. Follow me, please. As for these pieces of trash, wake them up and tell them I want to talk to them later."

Cramer gestured to the three men on the floor, and then walked towards a private room at the back of the bar. Winking at Drake, Higler followed him.

The room had a small table with four chairs, and a deck of cards on it. There was also a freezer, couches, and a bathroom. Everything you needed for a private game and a... Private time.

"Sit down. Let's get straight to the point. How do you know Montez? And how much do you know of our... Operations?"

The ranger smiled, but he didn't sit down. Seeing that, Drake also stood up, which made Cramer frown.

"We had a very brief conversation with Fabio Montez. I believe it was when he and some friends tried to terrorize my friend Daniel Bright, and we stopped him with the bullets of our guns. I will spare you the curses."

His mouth opened in shock, Cramer stared at them for a moment. Then, he slammed his hands on the table.

"You! So you are the ones who messed with our business. Montez talked about six of you."

"We make a lot of noise."

"You got balls, coming here to tell me that. Aren't you afraid that I won't let you leave?"

Higler pulled out his pistol, and toyed with it, which made Cramer shrink. Them, he laughed.

"Nah, don't think so. If you try, the first bullet would be yours."

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"What do you want?"

"That you stop thinking you are all-powerful. If you don't learn to act inside the law, we are going to be forced to act."

The Association member looked at them with hatred burning in his eyes, but said nothing. Snorting, he pointed a finger at the door. Getting the message, Higler dipped his hat at him, and left.

----------------------------

No sooner than Higler and Drake left River's Oasis, Cramer called the three guards that had just received a beating from them.

"Sorry boss, they caught us by surprise..."

"Shut up! I don't want to listen to your excuses. You acted like idiots, and you got what you deserved. But I want these two gone, and you are going to take care of it. Two hundred dollars for each of you if they die before the moon is up in the sky."

Excitedly, the three men accepted. They had an open feud with the two, that they would try to settle anyway. Getting paid to do so was even better.

-----------------------------

"Are you sure they are following us?"

"Yes. Since we left the bar, in fact. Don't! Don't look back."

Fighting the urge, Drake stood straight on his saddle. The thought of somebody aiming a gun at his back wasn't very comforting.

"How do you know?"

"Mostly experience. After some time you gain a sixth sense for those things. But there are signs. A misplaced shadow here and there, a weird noise."

Still nervous, Drake caressed Frainer, and leaned closer to whisper at him.

"Stay close to me, okay? I don't want you to get hurt."

"Tutu?"

"Good boy."

The streets were still full of people when the three men attacked them. Drake, and even Higler, had expected them to wait until they were in a less crowded place, but either they were crazier than they thought, or their backing was strong enough to save them even if they did so.

When they suddenly fired, Drake's Yscalent stumbled and fell down, mortally wounded. Cursing, he was launched from his saddle, which might have saved his life. The bullets that should have hit his back missed.

Thinking that it was better to stay down, he used the body of his mount as cover, and pulled out one pistol. Firing a few shots towards their general direction, he looked at Higler. The ranger had dismounted, and was hiding behind a building.

"The idiots attacked too early. If they had waited a little more, we wouldn't have where to hide."

"Oh, yeah? Why don't you go tell them that?"

Although Drake complained, he didn't stop firing. He could tell the attackers had good aim, but rage and alcohol made them bolder than they should be. One of them showed himself a little too much, and he took the chance.

His first two bullets took off pieces of the lamppost the large man was hiding behind. His third one hit his left arm, and the fourth his chest.

Drake didn't feel nearly as much guilt as when he killed for the first time. He wasn't sure whether this was good or bad.

"Frainer! Attack the one on the left with Nightmare Clouds!"

One thing Drake had long noticed was that few people had Ifere companions. The reason was simple, actually. Spirit Contracts required mutual trust, which took time and effort to build. It wasn't everyone who was lucky enough to have access to newborn Iferes.

Following his order, Frainer flew towards one of the men, and let out a puff of smoke. As soon as the men inhaled it, he started screaming and running around. His partner was so shocked he made a mistake, allowing Higler to take care of him.

After confirming there was no one else targeting them, they left their improvised covers. Frowning, Higler walked with large steps towards the last remaining hooligan, and used his pistol to knock him out.

"Let's go, before the cops arrive."

"Uhm? Why? We only acted in self-defense."

"Yeah, but the fact they dared to attack us in broad daylight means they have support from the authorities."

Drake's face turned even more serious. Higler was right, as always. However, when he turned to his dead mount and the unconscious criminal, he frowned.

"What do we do with him? And we only have one Yscalent. We are never gonna be able to leave the city."

The ranger looked at him, and suddenly laughed. Not explaining anything, he just grabbed the hooligan and threw him on top of his Yscalent under the horrified eyes of the civilians.

"Who said anything about leaving? I know just the right place where we talk to him uninterrupted."