He felt the man swing, and he automatically cringed… but there was no impact. He slowly opened one eye, then looked up in surprise.

“Nakoa?!” he cried.

The old Simian had grabbed the large man by the wrist, preventing him from hitting Xan, and he had a furious look on his face.

“Now, now, there’s no need for that. Put the boy down,” Nakoa said.

Rufus, the large man, struggled against Nakoa’s powerful grip. Then, realizing that he couldn’t break free, he slowly put Xan down. But as soon as he released his grip on Xan’s coat, he swung wide, aiming for Nakoa’s head. His fist met air as Nakoa dodged out of the way.

Grabbing Rufus by his arms, Nakoa kneed him in the gut, knocking the wind out of him. As the large man doubled over, Nakoa grabbed him by the back of his shirt and his belt. Then he heaved, tossing Rufus away into some nearby dustbins. There was a loud clattering, followed by a quiet groan of pain as Rufus fell unconscious.

“Hmph,” Nakoa said as he dusted his hands off. Then he turned back to Xan, and his furious look quickly turned into a concerned one.

“You alright, Xan?” he asked.

“I’m—I’m fine. Thanks,” Xan said. He looked back down at the unconscious Rufus. “Remind me to never get on your bad side.”

Nakoa chuckled in reply.

Having seen their enforcer get taken out so easily, the young man and young woman both became terrified. They slowly started to back away, only to be stopped by the sound of a bow being drawn.

“Don’t even think about it,” Taika said, leveling her arrow at the back of the young man’s head. The young man swallowed nervously and put his hands up in a gesture of surrender.

Nakoa and Xan looked over just then. Xan was genuinely surprised to see her there. Then he noticed her weapon.

“Since when have you had a bow?” he asked her.

“Since always,” Taika replied, not looking away from the young man.

“P-please,” the young man whimpered. “Please, just let us go. We don’t want any trouble.”

“What was that sound?” “It came from over here!” Voices started shouting. Two lanterns started bobbing down the street towards them. Four guards approached, two coming from one direction and two from the other. The guards holding the lanterns had their hands on the hilts of their swords, while the other two carried spears. They leveled their spears at the group as they approached.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Oh, thank goodness,” the young man sighed. Then he started yelling: “Guards! Help! These cretins are attacking us!”

“Keep that up, and I’ll put this arrow through your eye,” Taika threatened, pressing the tip of her arrow into the young man’s skull just shy of drawing blood.

“Hands in the air, the lot of you!” ordered one of the spearmen.

The young man and young woman raised their hands higher to show that they were complying. Nakoa started to put his hands up, then elbowed Xan to get him to follow. Xan put his hands up too.

“You there! Put down your weapon!” the other spearman said, leveling his weapon at Taika.

Taika’s jaw clenched. Her eyes darted from the spearman to Nakoa. Nakoa gestured for her to comply too. With a frustrated sigh, she relaxed her bow, then slowly put it on the ground before raising her hands, too.

“Alright, now what’s going on here – Nakoa? Nakoa, is that you?” said the lantern-carrying guard who was behind Nakoa and Xan. Nakoa looked over his shoulder at the guard and gestured in a mock salute.

“Evenin’, Stan. Got the late watch again, did ya?” he asked nonchalantly.

Xan glanced over his shoulder at the guard, too. It was Stan, the guard who had taken their toll for the Steps during their first visit to Vaimea. Those bushy eyebrows and well-groomed mustache were unmistakable.

Stan moved around from behind Nakoa and held up the lantern so he could see them all better.

“Couldn’t be helped, Jonah came down with something and they needed someone to cover at the last minute,” Stan replied. Then, suddenly seeming self-conscious, he shook his head and made a dismissive gesture. “But never mind that! What are you doing out so late? Shouldn’t you be back at the inn?”

“Well, you see, I was out looking for my friend, here,” Nakoa said, gesturing to Xan.

Stan held the lantern up, peering at Xan. Then recognition dawned across his face.

“Say, I know you! You’re one of the young’uns that was with Miss Stell!”

“That’s right,” Xan said.

“Does that mean…” Stan turned the lantern and looked over at Taika. She gave him a cheeky smile and a wave.

“Um, hello?” the young man interrupted, “Aren’t you going to arrest them? These three attacked us!”

Stan frowned at the young man. Then he turned back to Nakoa, holding the lantern up high.

“Is that true?” he asked.

“Not exactly,” Nakoa said. “Like I said, I was looking for my friend, here. And wouldn’t you know it, when I found him he was about to get roughed up by the big guy over there—” he gestured to the unconscious man, “so I came over to diffuse the situation. And when the big guy swung at me, I defended myself.”

“And the Verdan?” Stan asked.

“She was helping me look for him,” Nakoa said.

Stan pursed his lips. He looked back over at the young man suspiciously. The young man’s bravado faltered, sweat breaking out on his forehead.

“Sir?” one of the guards asked Stan uncertainly. Stan looked at all of them. He scratched his forehead with the knuckle of his thumb.

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to take you all in,” Stan said.

“What?!” the young man cried out in disbelief.

“You can all give your statements at the barracks,” Stan said, gesturing to his fellow guards. Two of them hauled Rufus out from under the trash bins, while the other started pressing the group forward with the haft of his spear.

“This is outrageous!” the young man complained loudly. “How dare you treat me like this! I demand to speak to your commanding officer!”

“Way ahead of you, pretty boy,” said the guard with the spear. “And I’m warning you, you best stay on your best behavior – he gets pretty cranky this late at night.”