The constable came around again, and Asher pulled in a breath, turning to make his way towards the uniform instead. He’d suddenly lost any sense of direction on what he planned to do. He hadn’t had a plan for coming out here, but now he felt even more so directionless.

Asher shook himself. This was an investigation. He was a professional. Why this was such a difficult thing for him to start on was as much a mystery as the rest of it. He didn’t want to believe that he was so out of sorts that he couldn’t even string two thoughts together. No, he could do this. He needed a report. All he had to do was walk up to the constable and see if there was anything to report. From there, he would stop acting and thinking like an absolute moron.

The constable noticed him and Asher waved the woman over, then realised with a start that it wasn’t a constable at all, but a man out of uniform. A volunteer? He had to assume that the menial work was being done by people who could be trusted well enough, but something in him protested at the sight of a civilian - one with a rifle slung over his back - patrolling around like the member of some militia. The man gave a half-hearted salute, his hand thumping into his chest and dropping before Asher could even register it.

‘I didn’t realise you were back,’ he said. Then, as an afterthought. ‘Sir.’

‘Oh,’ Asher said. Something felt wrong. Off. A civilian patrolling around the square. The only one patrolling around the square. ‘Who are you?’

‘One of the volunteers,’ the man said. ‘Since all the others are busy with the clean up.’

‘The Lieutenant has civilians on patrol?’ Asher asked. ‘I didn’t realise we were that short.’

The man’s brow creased. ‘Lieutenant?’ he echoed.

Asher gripped his cane hard. Something’s wrong. A stick of wood wasn’t going to win in a fight against a rifle, but the surveyors tent wasn’t that far away. If he yelled loud enough, he could wake the entire square. Yet, if he did that, he would cause the very panic he had been trying to avoid. ‘What’s going on?’ he demanded.

‘The Captain pulled us out,’ the man said. ‘Because we served in Telkesi Gap. She figured we were close enough to the real thing that it would work.’ He shifted. ‘Oh, you weren’t here for that. Captain Delana came up from Fanmaryh. Apparently one of the Royal Captains got snatched away too.’

‘Yeah, he did,’ Asher mumbled. It still hurt as much as the first time. He shook it away. ‘I thought Delana was in the middle of inheriting the province?’

‘Nah, that’s her sister,’ the man said. ‘Though with how bad this is getting, she might turn up too.’

Asher grunted in agreement. ‘Is there anything you need to report? While I’m here.’

The man shrugged. ‘Not really. Captain was sure we’d have to worry about thieves or other trouble, but nothing brings the people together and all that. I think Captain Delana is up at the manor, so if something comes up I’ll tell you first.’

‘I’d appreciate that,’ Asher said. The man made to turn away, but a shout pulled him to a stop. A tight feeling clamped down on Asher’s chest, and he was reminded of the same prickling sensation he had felt in the moments before the monsters attacked. Everything had felt a little bit off then too. It had turned to madness with a shout then too.

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Asher turned and followed the man as he followed the shout, hurrying to keep up despite the protests of his leg. He was lucky that he didn’t need to come far before two more men burst from the alley, dragging Penn between them. Penn was in a state of fury, struggling and spitting as he tried to pry himself free. The two civilians held strong.

‘What do you think you’re doing?’ Asher demanded.

Both men paused, but didn’t let go of Penn. ‘He was hanging around the square,’ one of them said. ‘Playing around with the ring. We were told to watch out for suspicious characters.’

‘Watch for them,’ Asher echoed. ‘You don’t have any rank or permission to be rounding them up like vigilantes. Let him go.’

None of the men moved.

‘Now,’ Asher growled. ‘Before I have all of you thrown in a holding cell instead. Let him go.’

They finally obeyed, slowly prying their hands away from Penn’s arms. Penn shrugged them off, but when he tried to duck away, one of them knocked his leg with his gun, holding him in place. Anger burned through Asher’s chest, a kind of anger he’d never felt before. It sizzled hot, and took effort to hold back.

‘This man has been helping me,’ Asher said. ‘I can vouch for him. None of you have any kind of permission to be doing this, and you’re not getting permission. In fact, if I ever see you patrolling around here, I will have you arrested.’

‘Mr... I mean, sir, Lieutenant--’

‘No,’ Asher growled. ‘This... This is not okay. You’ve burned through any goodwill you had. Leave. Leave the volunteers alone, and show respect for your commanding officers.’

The leader stepped forward. ‘Sir, we’re authorised. We fought in Telkesi, we have rank--’

‘Stop.’ The anger was bubbling up now, and it escaped in his voice. ‘I know Telkesi Gap. This is not how things are done. Leave. Now. That’s an order.’

The two men with Penn glanced at each other, and Asher wondered for a horrible second if he was about to see the start of a mini-coup. Thankfully, they shifted away from Penn, and the two of them pushed past and sauntered further into the square. Penn fixed his cloak further onto his shoulder. His gaze fell on Asher, less rage-filled than before.

‘Thanks,’ he mumbled.

Asher glanced back at the two idiots. So it was clear he wasn’t the only one with secrets, but he didn’t like the idea of anyone abusing authoritative power ever, especially not now when everyone was so on edge. Was this why they needed him? Were the volunteers letting the power go to their heads? No, that was something else. He would have to check in with Fanmaryh’s Captain later.

Asher turned back to Penn. ‘Look…’

‘No.’

‘Just listen,’ Asher pressed. ‘I know I don’t know anything about magic, but I know how to work with people. I can stop people from bothering you. I just want to know what you know.’

‘No.’

Asher pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘Please don’t make me beg.’

Penn stared at him.

‘We’re on the same side, aren’t we?’ Asher asked. ‘We both want this to stop happening.’

‘Keep the Gate closed,’ Penn said.

‘Right.’ The memory came back in a blink. ‘The demons—’

‘Fienta.’

‘Right. Those. They called you a Gatekeeper. So that’s what you do? You keep the Gate closed?’

Penn’s brow twitched in a flash of anger. ‘I am a Nakati.’

‘I don’t know what that means.’

‘It’s what I am.’

Asher blinked. He had a sneaking suspicion he had just made this more difficult for himself. He ran his hands through his hair, then glanced around at the rest of the square, taking note of who else was around. No-one by the looks of it. He could probably convince the others that Penn was a volunteer easy, moreso if he gave the man some shoes and clean clothes. He could also be honest and say Penn was helping him as a way to get the others off the stranger’s back.

‘I, um… I’m going to be heading back up to the Manor tomorrow I think,’ he said. When Penn gave a confused look, he added, ‘the big house outside of town.’

‘The one with lots of people in it?’ Penn asked. ‘I will wait outside.’

‘I can probably get you in,’ Asher said, though he doubted it even as he said it.

Penn, thankfully, shook his head. ‘I don’t like houses.’

That didn’t surprise him at all. ‘Come on,’ Asher said. ‘I’ll find you something to blend in a bit better.’