There is a line up to the main desk. Come on, dreamy brain, kick in. Think about how much Pela looked at your junk, or how you owned those two thugs at the Anvil and Musket. Second thought, maybe not.

Calm down, you are fidgeting. Is that Watch looking at me? Or are they staring at me because I am staring at them? Stop staring at him. I am just looking at him harder now! Do something! Make him look away! Wink at him. And now he seems interested. He raises an eyebrow, and now he is walking over here.

When I look back at the queue, no one has moved. Some stupid, dumb, ugly woman is still talking about how much her useless life has more meaning than something important.

I feel a tap on the shoulder. That Watchman asks in a very feminine voice, “Can I help you, sir? You have been staring at me for the last five minutes.”

Hang on a second. This is not a guy, it is a girl! I bit of a handsome sort of woman, with a shaven head of short blonde hair and broad shoulders; flat-chested but cute butt!

“Excuse me, my face is up here, not down there!”

She is getting a bit angry. I have heard this a few too many times from women over the years.

“Now look here, sir ...”

Everyone is staring at me. Oh, Holy Saints, the Watch Sergeant and that rambling woman have both stopped to watch this spectacle.

“I am sorry, I did not mean to offend, ma'am. It was just—” One second. If I said, I was bored and staring at this Watchwoman relieved me of my boredom, that might not go down well. “Ahem, excuse me. As I was saying, I am here to see the Commander to accept the job offered at the Hall!”

Proud of that recovery. Is it just me or did fifty eyes just start to bore through my brain?

With a scowl on her face, she whispers, “Get over here, you idiot!” She grabs my arm and pulls me into the barracks. Those eyes just follow me, doesn't matter where I move. “What are you thinking? Don’t you know anything?”

Of course not.

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“The Old Watch is not too fond of the Commander’s actions with this upcoming inspection.”

“Like how? I have not been told any of this.” Royce, you son of a motherless goat! “I was informed to come down here and talk to the Commander. Now you say that there is hostility with this. Not my fault—this is my first job from the Hall.”

She smiles a lovely smile. “Okay, so you are a fledgling Adventurer.” A little insulting. Just remember: need the money. “Where is the rest of your Charter?”

Charming as always. “Just me, sweetheart—Lone Solo.”

Arches an eyebrow. “Lone Solo?” Could feel the inner laughter. “Well, Lone, come this way.”

We walk down the hallway before she turns to me. “Sit here, Lone. When the Commander is free, you’re the next one in.”

Well, here I am, twiddling my thumbs. “Hey, what is your name?”

She turns and looks at me. “Officer Stillwater. You can call me Officer Stillwater.”

Made another friend. I do make so many. Hopefully, this finishes quickly as I do not want to hang around here long. Well, aside from getting daggers from some of the Watch, not a bad place. Never seen it from the other side of the bars. Everyone is so friendly and helpful.

Just before I could dream that this is a perfect day, there is Zlata. And she is walking this way. Look disinterested. Oh, look at my shoe, it needs ... Hang on, there is blood on my boots! I did not check my bloody shoes—literally. Nothing I can do about that. Just look casual and hope she will pass me by.

She stops, turns, and looks at me with that cute, upturned nose. “Don’t I know you?” she hunches down. “You work for Malik, don’t you? I’ve seen you around him a lot.”

What to say, what to say. “Sort of … I, well, you see—” Screw it, honesty or balderdash. “Yeah, I did a few jobs here and there for him.” Twaddle wins by a nose. People do not want to hear the truth, they want a good story that follows their own. In the end, no one questions your motives if you play along.

“Quiet down!” she growls at me. She turns and looks at the clock. “Come with me, now!”

She takes me into an interrogation room. “Sit there! Are you here about my end of the deal?”

Nod if you think your life depends on this.

“You can tell Malik that I will meet obligations and he will go through with his end! And if he wants to make a problem out of this, I will show him my not-so-sweet side!”

She has a sweet side? Never really noticed it. Guessing that she really did not need it with me. Too busy laying in the boot.

“Sorry, Sergeant Zlata, I am also here for the Watch job as well.”

Here is a tough row to hoe. By the look on her face, she does not really understand why I am here.

“Here for the Watch job?” That is a creepy smile. “A good cover. I’m glad I stopped you then… How long have we been talking?”

“Don't know, about a couple of minutes. Why do you ask?”

“Wait here. Soon I will be the acting commander, and you will answer to me. I will tell you where to go and what to do. Do you hear me?”

This just got weirder! “Sure thing.”

She walks out the room. Crazy, weird half-breed. What have I got myself into this time? Hang on, what does shemean ‘about to be acting commander’?