Mayor Skandro’s place was a large stone building that was part of the mayor’s appointment to his position. The bottom level was the jail, which was rarely used and even then typically to house the drunk of the night until they sobered up. The jail was sunk most of the way into the ground, access to its heavy, iron bound, wooden door at the end of a stone ramp cut into the stone at the side of the building while the front entrance to the mayor’s house was at the top of the stairs around the other side.
Ocran reached forward to rap on the door. “Ocran” he said after a few moments. The slat covering the small, bar covered window slid to the side. The door clicked and swung silently outward, forcing us to take a step back. We stepped into a small stone room, barred windows presented a view into the room on either side of them. Nikki, one of the mayor's elite guards was visible through the right window, looking at us.
Both of the elites had a gift. Nikki is an empath. She had two little, gray spirits that had attached themselves to her. She could read surface thoughts or tell truth from a lie. This alone made her a valuable asset. On top of this she was one wicked fighter. She could use her thought reading skill to counter her opponents moves as they made them. Nikki is good and difficult to best.
This was no small compliment from me. I’ve trained much of my life with my mother, in Kodef battle arts, starting as most Kodef do. As soon as they can stand. I can say, with humility, that I’m good by my peoples standards. My trainer is exceptional and my natural talents allow me to pick up things quickly and practice relentlessly.
Nikki’s ability also meant that I had to be very careful with my thoughts around her to hide my abilities. My mother had mercilessly drilled this caution into me. When I struck out on my own part of my little rebellion had been to confide my abilities in a friend. He died trying to take my life almost immediately after. Belief and superstition… its power is insane. As we stepped in I schooled my thoughts toward the recent events, running the battle through my head.
Once the outside door closed she came around and opened the door ahead of us, letting us into the entry area of the jail. It was a good-sized room with little in the way of furnishings. The surrounding walls had a stone outcropping at the base that could be used as a bench. This base went all the way around the room, interrupted only by the three other doors that led from this room. Each door was another heavy wood, metal bound door, similar to the outside door. A sickly, pale light shed by magic globes held in small metal cages suspended from the ceiling. I know it was to protect the expensive globes from those that may be brought into the room, but it always struck me that here even the light was imprisoned. The light shed wasn’t bright, but it was enough for our group to make out the room and each other in, well, for a human anyway. Being Elven I could see as though the room were lit by daylight, though I shuffled along just like Ocran, who was human. It was reflexive anymore to act as though I were similarly affected by things like those around me. The door we headed to lie straight ahead. I had been led through these doors before. I was probably the most recent person held here on criminal charges. In this case we were putting someone in jail to keep them safe from the people outside rather than the other way around which struck me as odd.
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Evan quietly walked through the doorway and into the cell that was opened for him. These rooms had the same sparse décor as the outer room. A stone bench jut from the wall. The floor sloped slightly to a small drain in the center of the room. The door to Evans cell closed with a rattle, followed by a clank as Nikki turned the key in the lock. Evan walked over and settled himself on the bench, never raising his head to look at anyone. I followed Mowris through the doorway to the jail, Ocran and Nikki following me. The silence was notable. Nikki rarely spoke, actually neither of the elites spoke much, but usually Mowris was fairly chatty.
“Thanks for showing up so quickly” I said jolting Mowris and Ocran out of their personal reveries. Ocran, nodded. Mowris smiled. “You’re welcome. I saw you head toward the Silversmith’s place. You are even quicker than I gave you credit for.” She said smiling.
“I’m glad I was.” I said. “Evan was facing down a mob and almost got stoned trying to protect his house.” The image of Jorn’s nervousness facing Evan came back to me. I glanced at Ocran “I’ve never seen your dad shy away from” I trailed off as I realized I had not thought through what I was saying and wasn’t keen on offending Ocran talking about his dad. I might not be a fan of Ocran’s dad, but Ocran was a good guy in my books. “Violence? Using his muscle to ‘solve’ things?” Ocran offered. I shrugged and nodded feeling a bit uncomfortable.
Mowris jumped in “It was a kid.” Behind her Ocran pulled a sour face. He turned his head and muttered “Never stopped him before.” So softly my elven hearing barely picked it up. My mind reeled. Everyone saw Ocran the giant but for a moment my mind saw a little boy growing up with a man that expressed everything physically.
Mowris plowed on oblivious to Ocrans comment. “It was also Grim.” she said nodding toward Evan. “He’s cursed. Everything erk!” She choked off, spinning around to glare at Ocran who had patted her on the back hard enough to shove her forward. Ocran smoothly jumped into the spot of silence as Mowris drew a breath “He’s had a rough spot growing up and people can be superstitious.” Ocran said. Mowris rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry at him. Her counterpoint dying on her lips as he added “He probably could use a bit of quiet now.” and nudged her toward the door. “Hmph.” was her response as she spun on her heel fast enough for her hair to fly out before strutting toward the door. I glanced between the two of them wondering what wasn’t being said here. Sounds like the kid had a rough life and people decided to go and make it harder on him by hanging some superstition around his neck.
Nikki crossed by me, glancing at me and took a left, disappearing through one of the other doors. As it opened, I caught sight of a bare foot hanging limply off the edge of a table. Glancing away I suppressed a shudder and followed Ocran and Mowris though the door.
As good as my eyesight is in even those dim confines, I was quite glad to be out in the sunlight, breeze on my skin reminding me I’m alive. “Come on, Baz.” Ocran called to me. “The rest of the team has been called up to the mayor’s. Looks like we’re gonna draw active pay while this gets straight.”
The Watch was a group selected through active competition from the town. We draw a stipend to carry a small horn around our necks and blow on it when we see some wrongdoing. The competition for positions is high because most see the stipend as free money with little risk. There’s not too much action in this little town. The watch acts when it’s necessary and get called into active duty as needed. When on active duty we draw a more substantial pay. While the money is good, the reason for the money never is.