She wanted to ask Warchief, what kind of help he had in mind but didn’t get the chance as he was already following the innkeeper. Pulling on her hood, she quickly caught up to them as they continued their way through the Northern slumps. With each passing street, more people seemed to join their parade until they could finally hear a commotion ahead. Slowing her pace, she failed to see what was happening due to the crowd that had gathered. This didn’t stop Roland, however, who barreled straight through. The wall of people hurriedly parted as they noticed his approach to prevent being trampled. As the circle closed again, Warchief gestured her to follow, and they found a spot within the crowd to observe the happenings without being noticed themselves.

A group of around twenty guards faced off with the crowd that had surrounded them. In their midst was a teen girl who twisted and screamed in a desperate attempt to be released. The animosity between the guards and the residents was tangible in the air and Lidea was taken aback by how brazen the citizens treated the city guards.

Seems like Morto lost all control in the slumps.

It explained why Warchief had not been too worried about being discovered.

“What is happening here!?”

Roland had reached the center and his booming voice caused several of the guards to straighten up and grab for their weapons. Based on their reaction, she guessed this hadn’t been their first meeting with the innkeeper. One of the guards, an older man whose uniform bore a star indicating him to be a captain, answered him in an exasperated tone.

“Tell them to stand down Roland, she has broken the law.”

The innkeeper snorted as he widened his stance and shook his head.

“You know better Yirthu. I thought we had an agreement. You keep out of my streets, and your goons don’t end up hurt anymore when they enter the North Quarter.”

Glancing over at Warchief, she understood why he operated so carefree within this neighborhood if their spokesman was this openly hostile towards them. She wouldn’t be surprised if most guards avoided this area when they could.

Roland’s taunts had an effect as the captain’s face reddened.

“We will leave you alone if your people stop breaking the law.”

“And what law is it this time? Another one of those that you people forgot to tell us?”

The crowd started to shift in agitation and Lidea could only guess at what previous altercations had caused the whole area to be in open rebellion against their king. Even Warchief seemed affected, his laid-back attitude having been replaced by an angry grimace.

If they didn’t de-escalate the situation fast, then those guards wouldn’t leave without causing bloodshed, and this would only further incense the citizens. On the other hand, if the girl had broken the law, then letting her go, would bolster the lawlessness of the area. Based on how bold they acted, she strongly suspected that the guards had been going soft on them for a while now.

The captain seemed to be aware of his precarious situation, as he chose to try and gain their sympathy.

“The girl is accused of heresy. We are just doing our job, you know this.”

“I know, and as good citizens, it is our job to let you know when you are mistaken. She is a very pious girl, is in the church at every free moment, and even volunteers to help the sick in our dear Lord’s name.”

“That is true! Just yesterday she visited my sick boy, she did!”

“Sunday she helped us clean the church! How could she be a heretic?”

“Not our dear Shanayra, this must be a mistake. She is more pious than any of us!”

As if on cue, voices from the crowd started ringing out. Professing her innocence and loyalty to the plebeieren faith. She didn’t doubt none of it was true, but if the guards had no evidence, then these witnesses were enough to stop them in their tracks.

Irritation made the captain’s eyes twitch but he almost managed to smile pleasantly as he answered.

“I wasn’t aware of these facts. However, we have proof on the contrary, so it will be in our best interest to remove the girl while we investigate the case thoroughly.”

“Lies! I didn’t do nothing!”

The girl’s shrill voice screeched, causing both men to turn toward her with surprising calmness.

“As I stated, we found your heretic books and magic brews. Your guilt is not in question.”

Although the captain didn’t smile, Lidea could hear the smugness in his voice. His attitude angered her, as he didn’t look like one of those brainwashed idiots, meaning he knew as well as any of them how bogus the church’s claims of heresy were. Every day the list of acts condemned by god seemed to grow, based on nothing but air as far as Lidea was concerned.

“Are you sure of what you saw captain?”

Roland sounded peeved, which finally made the guard break into a grin.

“Very sure. I can show them to you later, but for now, I want you to step aside. Before I have to arrest everyone here for obstructing our duties.”

A hush fell over the onlookers as the two men stared each other down until Roland stepped aside. The captain smiled triumphantly as he made his way out, the ring of people creating an opening for them.

“No! Release me! I didn’t do anything wrong!”

The girl yelled in desperation as she was dragged, making Lidea’s heart tremble. Quickly she considered their options. They could try and free her from whatever prison they would bring her to, or maybe it would be easier to act while on the way there. They had to wait if they didn’t want to draw suspicion on the people of the North Quarter.

Before she got to make a decision, Warchief rushed towards them suddenly with two long curved blades.

Crystal's warning about him running right into danger echoed through her mind as he hit the guard’s arm with the flat side of one of his blades. It happened so fast that the guard stood no chance of defending himself and he yelped in pain as he collapsed onto the ground, cradling his arm.

Freed from her captor, the teen scuddled away just enough for the fright to catch up to her, and make her freeze.

“Everything all right?”

Warchief send his roguish smile at the girl while lowering his two blades in a defensive position. Cheering rose from the crowd as the girl nodded shyly, almost causing Lidea to roll her eyes.

Looking over at the guards, they seem to have recovered from their initial shock and started pulling out their weapons. Any suspense that they might have been able to solve the situation discreetly, was thrown firmly out the window.

Reckless bastard couldn’t stop to think for a moment.

With brisk steps, the captain returned to face this new threat with anger written all over his face. Lidea would have been pissed as well, they would have made it out with no injuries if it wasn’t for Warchief’s interference.

“Step back, you are interfering with the duties of the city guard!”

Instead of being pushed off kilter, Warchief just smiled and answered him calmly.

“My apologies sir guard, but if you insist on bothering a young girl then I will have to intervene.”

Lidea felt like strangling him for being so thoughtless, if a fight were to break out, it wasn’t just him but also the bystanders who would get involved. She couldn’t allow that.

Her fingers curled around the hilt of Crystal's dagger, finding solace in its presence but missing the familiar weight of her old weapon.

I really need a new sword.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward to stand beside Warchief. Hoping that none of these guards would recognize her through her scars.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

"Captain, there seems to have been a misunderstanding. Collin here was only trying to protect the girl from getting harmed. Can’t we resolve this peacefully?”

Warchief grinned, probably amused by the name she had given him on the spot. In contrast, the captain didn’t seem convinced by her plea. His eyes narrowed on her face as he tightened the grip on his sword.

“Your friend here doesn’t seem to think it was a misunderstanding. But I am a reasonable man. Make him apologize and we will leave here with the girl, and without a fight.”

His smug demeanor made Lidea rebel even before she considered his proposition. Side-eying the still grinning Warchief, she could see him patiently waiting for her reply. As if he wanted to see what she would do. Even without asking, she knew that he wouldn’t apologize and if she was honest, she didn’t want him to either.

Looking at the arrogant guard before her, she couldn’t help but be reminded of how different her father’s arrest had been. They had been so respectful, remorsefully pointing out that if it wasn’t for the permission notice, they wouldn’t have come. This girl, however, was just a peasant and not a noble, and as such she didn’t deserve the same treatment it seems. At least according to them, but not according to the law.

An epiphany hit her. The chance was small, but maybe she found a way out of this mess.

“Apologize? You were threatening an innocent girl. Collin might have acted hasty, but he was in the right.”

The captain whipped around to see who had dared to speak out, frowning in disgust as his eyes fell on her face. Warchief instead grinned, probably amused by the made up name she had called him by.

“She is a criminal!”

“Yes, so you tell us. Conveniently, you didn’t show us any evidence but your own testimony. Why did you not show the permission that was granted to you?”

The tribune of faith had been established before her birth. Officially the pleberien church said that only god was objective and trustworthy enough to decide one's guilt. In reality, it was just another way in which the religion had dug its claws into this country. Anyone protected by the church was essentially granted immunity.

As this was a case of heresy, the city guard would have been granted permission without question. It was just a bit of paper-pushing and probably felt like a waste of time. Especially if the victim is a person living in the slums, who isn’t aware of legal intricacies. Why would a busy captain waste his time with such nonsense?

The panic that flickered through his eyes told Lidea that her suspicion had been right. The discovery made her feel giddy and she played up the dramatics as she pointed out his blunder.

“Oh my, did you not show your proof to the tribune of faith? How do you know her to be guilty then? Or do you propose to know better than god?”

Even if the girl had broken a law, without permission, he was as guilty of heresy as her.

He started to turn red and some of the bystanders seem to recognize that whatever she was speaking of, was their ticket out of the situation. Hushed whispers questioning his arrogance started to gain momentum and Lidea kept looking at him innocently.

“Of course not! I didn’t bring the permission but you can ask the tribunal directly if you don’t believe me!”

Clever man.

The tribunal wouldn’t deny his claim. After all, it was in their interest to have a captain indebted to them, but she wasn’t about to let him get away with that.

“Why can’t you just go and get it? We will wait here with the rest of your guard. Or is there a reason you can’t get it? Did you maybe lose it? The dear words of god?”

He stared at her, his fear replaced by anger and Lidea had a hard time not laughing. That was until his eyes narrowed right before he relaxed. His sudden calmness unnerved her. What had she missed?

“I can’t do that, aren’t you aware? You know the law so well, better than most people in these quarters. Although growing up as a noble would help with that, wouldn’t it?”

Her mistake started to dawn on her as he stared right at her face and especially her eyes. Nobody in the slums would have known about the permissions.

“By law, I’m not allowed to leave a criminal unsupervised, isn’t that so Lidea? Arrest her!”

The tension burst and the guards started to run their way. She paled but grabbed her dagger, as she turned towards the crowd. Most had started to scatter, but some stayed, those too eager for a fight.

“Go, all of you!”

She shouted as loudly as she could. Hoping it would drive some sense into them.

Nobody can die.

Not waiting for their reaction, she instead turned to the girl.

“Stay between me and Warchief.”

Her big eyes looked frightened but she nodded in understanding. Lidea could only hope that she would listen.

“Forward!”

The captain's voice hurled from the back of the circle and the guards stepped forward, their swords drawn. Keeping the girl between them, she turned to stand with her back to Warchief’s.

“Any special abilities to get us out of here?”

Instead of getting an answer, she heard the hissing of his blades as he deflected the first attack. Before she could help him, two men stepped up to her.

Concentrate. Surprise them and you will have the advantage.

Her father’s words echoed through her as the first man started his attack. She knew that he was trying to draw her in. Away from Warchief and the teen, where they could surround her.

Yet even if she knew, she couldn’t afford to ignore him. Dodging and parrying what she could, she tried to keep her position but it was nearly impossible due to the dagger’s short reach.

Blood splattered all over her from the side, and the girl behind her screamed. She wanted to look, to make sure that neither she nor Warchief were hurt, but she had no time.

In that moment of distraction, the second man heaved his sword and attempted to strike her from above. Knowing that blocking would open her up to the first guard’s attack, she instead stepped forward and pushed the dagger into his stomach. The man groaned in pain, and she used the hilt of the dagger to hit his head as hard as she could before jumping away. Her opponent fell soundlessly, and the sword of the second knight slashed right where she had just stood.

Breathing heavily, she took advantage of his momentum, to run up to him. Only to be stopped as another grabbed hold of her braid and pulled her back.

Dammit, there are just too many!

Blood splattered again and the man holding her braid started screaming as he held the stump of his arm. Warchief didn’t pause, blocking off an assailant with one of his curved swords, while slicing through another with expert precision.

“Grab the girl and get out of here! I will keep them off your back.”

She wanted to angrily ask him how he thought to do so, but as he cut another man down, she became painfully aware that their skills were not comparable. Swallowing her pride, she turned back just in time to block a strike aimed at her head.

“I will, give me a moment.”

While parrying attacks left and right, she looked around frantically. She didn’t know this part of town well enough to lose the guards if they followed her. So the only way would be to find a way back to the catacombs. Were there any entrances nearby? She only knew the famous ones but she knew that there were many more inconspicuous.

A sword almost cut diagonally through her but she dropped to the ground and rolled away. Covering herself in the gore that Warchief had left on the street. Scrambling onto her feet, she used two hands to block a downward blow. Shifting the dagger, she deflected the strike and sidestepped the following attack. As she did so her eyes fell on the roofs. One was lower than the others, and she bet that they could climb on it with some effort. She doubted that the guards could follow them easily, as they were all wearing their heavy plate armor. The alleyway next to it would create a good choke point for Warchief to hold them off while they did so.

Through her pondering, she dodged a moment too late. Instead of striking her, the flat part of the blade hit her hard in the side. Knocking the air out of her and making her groan. Knowing her life depended on it, Lidea counterattacked even before she recovered her breath. Slicing her opponent at his waist. The man yelped but she knew that the wound wasn’t deep enough to stop him. Until it was. Black foam covered his lips as he gurgled horrifyingly. Finally, he fell to the ground and Lidea didn’t immediately comprehend what had happened before she noticed the dagger.

Crystal.

She could kiss the healer, though she wished that there had been a warning. What if she had thought to use the dagger to eat with?!

As she wanted to parry another sword, Warchief intervened again and she didn’t waste a second to grab the girl. She was pale and trembling, staring forward at the bloodshed with unseeing eyes.

“Stay with me.”

She knew it didn’t matter and grabbed hold of the girl's hand to drag her toward the alleyway she had seen. As if he knew what she was planning, Warchief followed. Keeping anyone at bay at the beginning of the alleyway. She hoped he was alright.

“I’m going to help you, but you have to grab the ledge and pull yourself up.”

The girl stared at her as if she had lost all ability to comprehend language. Lidea knew it was due to shock, but also that they had no time to waste. Grabbing her by her foot, she started to heave her up.

Startled the girl grabbed onto her.

“Grab the wall, NOW!”

Growling the word loudly, seemed to do the trick as the girl grabbed the edge of the roof. Pushing her up as high as she could, Lidea was relieved when the girl hung with her upper body over the edge. Setting a couple of steps back, she sprinted and jumped. Grabbing the ledge next to the girl and pulling herself up with effort.

The girl was now crying, half hysteric, and Lidea helped pull her completely onto the roof. Taking a moment to gasp for air, she looked down and saw Warchief twist, block, and strike. His two swords never stopped, as if he was involved in a dance. A deadly dance.

Another man screamed and she could see that the guards had turned cautious. Hesitant to approach such a dangerous opponent. She needed to distract them for a moment, so Warchief could follow but looking around, she couldn’t find anything. The only thing she had, was the dagger.

Without thinking, she threw it toward the guard he was currently fighting. It hit him in the back of the knee and he cursed loudly before the sound stopped abruptly as Warchief sliced through his neck.

“Leave it Warchief! Let’s just get out!”

The moment of distraction had already passed and she worried as the guards' attention focused back on him. Her worries were for nothing as a moment later, a wall of fire erupted in the alleyway, causing the girl to scream out in terror.

Lidea on the other hand looked over the edge. Trying to find Warchief. Only for him to scare the life out of her as he suddenly jumped on the ledge with ease. As soon as he did, the flames died down. To her surprise, most of the guards were still alive, though injured.

“You damn mage!”

The captain was still alive and well, at least.

She ignored him and looked over Warchief. Making sure that he had no serious injuries. Outside of his singed clothes, however, he seemed to be in a better state than her. He had also managed to grab Crystal’s dagger, which he gave back to her.

“Thank you for that, you were my hero.”

A normal person would have been put off by a person covered in blood, smiling and winking at them.

Yet Lidea couldn’t help but grin at the absurdity as she accepted the dagger.

“As if you didn’t save my but out there more times than I could count. You have been holding out on me. It is high time for us to have a sparring match.”

His charming smile turned slightly sad though it didn’t disappear as he replied flippantly.

“I just had a lot of practice.”

She wondered about that and wished to ask him about his past, but one look at the guards below and the traumatized girl sitting by them convinced her that now was not the moment.

“I hope you know any entrance to the catacomb nearby?”

His roguish grin returned as he nodded.

“Of course I do. Though I hope you girls don’t mind any spiders.”