Fritz leaned onto the stone railing of the balcony. From Hueryss's central castle he looked down into the warm orange glow of the city. Breathing in the warm spring air he filled his lungs with the strange smell of the fantastical city. His gaze wandered to the castle's gates, just outside of the inner moat, he watched the milling warriors looking inside. The beastkin kept peeking inside hoping to catch a glimpse of the warrior's feasting inside.

"All by your lonesome?" Fritz's stomach sunk, at the sudden voice. Turning around he was greeted by someone strange.

"You're not who I was expecting. Way too tall. Not like the five foot tall sex-freak." Gaspard, the chief of police, looked down at his long legs. Swishing his orange fox tail, he let a smug smile warp his lips, as he held two tankards of dark ale.

"Are you sure? I could be in a really good disguise. I could be on a pair of stilts. You'd never know, until it was too late."

"Some stilts. A new entirely new face. A new voice. No. It'd have to be magic if you really were Brenn."

"Have a drink. It's dwarven brewed. Good stuff. We spared no expense for you. Today was supposed to be a day for celebration, to honor your coming." Gaspard said, pressing the tankard into Fritz's chest.

"What is there to celebrate?" Fritz griped. "I've come to a strange land full of idiots on a suicidal mission for vainglorious knightly valor. Everyone is hoping that the all powerful goddess will look upon their death for even a brief second."

"Well at least you shouldn't be too bored." Gaspard jested. Fritz laughed like an idiot. Abandoning himself fully into mirth that he had almost forgotten.

"True. True. There's no paperwork here at least."

"We can always get you some. I hear you humans love the stuff." Raising his tankard into a toast, Fritz and Gaspard drank deeply from the strong ale.

"You do remember I can just conjure this stuff? You haven't forgotten, have you?"

"No. I am well aware of what you can do, but I think it's the thought that counts." Gaspard countered.

"Well, if we ever run out I'll make more." Fritz replied.

"I'll hold you to it. So...." Gaspard trailed off as he studied Fritz's face.

"What am I doing out here?" Fritz asked.

"Yeah. The feast is in your honor. All of Javert's favorite warriors are pummeling themselves into an early grave for your honor. Did you not wish to watch? I hear Gaston has a particularly special finishing move planned in your honor. He has been practicing all alone at night hoping to demonstrate it in front of you."

"It's not that. It's...." Fritz trailed off thinking of the elector prince, as he looked out towards the city.

"Javert."

"Yeah.... Why? Why? Why won't he see reason? He has the advantage upon the walls. He could turn a superior force with ease with ease if he stays upon the walls. To give up such an advantage.... It's moronically suicidal. I don't get it. How can one person be so blind? So willing to throw away not only his own life but endanger all of the city." Finishing his rant, Fritz drank trying to ease his throbbing head with alcohol.

"Drinking more will certainly get you closer to my brother's level." Gaspard said with a smirk.

"Hard to believe you were chasing me into the sewer system just a week ago."

"Strange times. Strange times." Gaspard responded before moving the ale towards his lips. Moving closer to the railing he joined Fritz as the two looked out over the city.

"So, why is he doing it? Help me understand. Why does it matter that he fights on the field?"

"Prestige. His power and influence is determined by his skill as a warrior. He rules the city because he is the strongest, not because he is the smartest. He rules because he is the best warrior we have. He rules because others flock to his banner."

"Such a stupid system." Fritz muttered as he looked out over the city. "Can't he gather prestige like a normal noble?" Fritz asked. Punctuating with a dramatic sigh he ran his hand over his face. "Can't he schmooze and rub elbows with the powerful. Maybe marry an important lady in a bigger city?"

"Hah. You humans acquire power in the strangest manners. No wonder you are so weak."

"It sure beats running off into battle and meeting certain death."

"If he wins, Goddess above I hope he does, he will become a legend. His retinue will grow. He could claim more cities, and if he was lucky maybe even become Beast Lord of our conclaves in time." Fritz was silent for a time, before turning towards Gaspard, studying the orange-haired foxkin's face deeply for truth. "Our political system is based on strength. The strong rule. The weak serve. But more than that, strength is about posturing. Javert has a chance to strike his name in the annals of legends, he will not give up the chance."

"Haha. It's almost too noble. Like a children's interpretation of a knight. Reminds me of someone."

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"Oh.... Do tell."

"I'm not sure they're gonna like it, but fuck it.... They've been pissing me off."

"They deserve it." Gaspard said with a laugh. The two brought their tankards together with a clink. The dwarven ale sloshed violently spilling onto the ground, as they toasted on another.

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Ada and Marcelle peeped out into the wide balcony. From their shadowy hiding place they could easily observe Fritz and the captain of the guards. Deep within the castle, the sound of drunken brawling concealed their conspiratorial whispers.

"It's her stupid insistence on being some kind of hero that pisses me off the most! It's silly! She's clearly an adult but she acts like a child! She kept whining on and on about enchanted swords for like half of our trip! Like she was gonna find the Lady of the Lake one day!" Fritz shouted as he leaned over the balcony. Eight tankards of ale sat by their feet as they stared off into the city together. From the shadowy doorway Marcelle sniggered towards Ada. The blonde wolfkin seethed as her gray eyes narrowed on Fritz.

"I don't 'act' like a kid! I'm a warrior! I'm a warrior! And who wouldn't want enchanted steel? Is he stupid?" Ada hissed to herself before being shushed by the purple tailed lamia. A smile crept across her lips as she reveled in the blonde wolfkin's suffering.

"Don't I know it." Gaspard scoffed. "Javert was the same kind of idiot. Always running off to the trouble face first, leaving me to pick up the pieces afterwards. It's a miracle he still has teeth! A miracle he is even alive to this day!"

"And her snoring! Jesus, lord above, her snoring! It's killing me! I sleep only by the grace of alcohol! I just wish I had the heart to kick her out at night!" Ada's anger was rising. Her body lurched forward from her hiding spot before a hand slammed down on her shoulder stopping her.

"Don't!" Marcelle hissed.

"Wait you and her-" Gaspard asked before Fritz waved the question away as he took a drink.

"No, no. It's the weirdest thing ever. She wants to sleep on top of me like an animal. Nothing more. To be fair, at least she's better than the psychopath that came with her." Fritz griped.

"Which one?"

"Well the other three to be fair! But I was talking about the snake! I swear! Who hisses at children? Who does that? Who? She's clearly the most unstable! She keeps threatening everyone over the most minor things! It's like she hasn't had a single friend in her entire life." Gaspard broke out into laughter as he threw an arm around Fritz's shoulder. The smug smile drained from Marcelle's face as murderous fantasies brewed within her.

"Do you know how I met her? I saw her dragged out like a petulant child and thrown into my party like a sad sack of potatoes." Ada looked up towards the lamia. Dark promises of pain warped her expression as she stared at Fritz. "And the other two! Don't get me started on the other two! Brenn is incorrigible. I swear I'm about to give her a Tower of Power and tell her to leave."

"What in the seven hells is a Tower of Power?" Gaspard asked. Fritz looked behind him in secrecy as he scanned for potential eavesdroppers. Withdrawing deeper into the shadows Marcelle and Ada hid from Fritz's sweeping gaze. Pulling Gaspard into a conspiratorial whisper he began to explain one of modernity's most depraved inventions. Fritz's arms swung wide as he approximated the length. Extending his fingers he approximated the girth to a shocked Gaspard.

"What the hell is this 'Tower of Power'?" Ada asked indignantly. "Could it be some powerful artifact from his homeland? Why would he give it to Brenn?"

"Clearly it is valuable. It is something worthy of ridding us of Brenn's presence. We are far more deserving. He should give us the artifacts first. Not her! Never her! As recompense for these insults at the very least." Marcelle whispered.

"Agreed, but what was that? Why was he whispering it? Is it another enchanted sword? A mace? A wand? It looked pretty big."

"Perhaps, not a wand. But with Fritz who knows. It could be anything. A weapon for levelling cities. Perhaps a movable wizard tower. The possibilities are limitless.... It should be ours. The others are not deserving. And! We are owed for his defamation!" Ada frowned as she peeked out onto the balcony. Her eyes watched him with annoyed attention.

"Why would he say such things? I'm a warrior." Ada whispered. "And the sleeping thing is completely normal. Skinship is important. It's not weird. I'm not weird."

"He will pay." Marcelle seethed underneath her breath. "How dare he call me friendless? I have no need of useless friends! I can make plenty! More than him!"

"You can't be serious!" Gaspard guffawed. "Really? You'd give her something like that? Hahaha. You're nothing like how I'd imagined Freyes' champion would be."

"What? What should I be? Some blithering idiot with enough head injuries to barely form a proper sentence? Is that what her champion should be?"

"I know several that fit the description." Gaspard smiled.

"I don't like this." Ada whispered. "He's getting along with him too well. Why's he insulting us? Does he not like us anymore?"

"Agreed." Marcelle responded. Drawing herself over Ada she peeked at Fritz and the captain of the guard. "The more isolated he is, the easier he will be to control. His power is ours. Not to be shared with the undeserving rabble."

"That's not what I meant." Ada responded. He's the champion. He should help the people." Ada said. "I just don't want him corrupted or turned against us. What if he decides he no longer needs us?"

"Afraid your spot will be taken? Afraid he'll find someone else to guard him?" Marcelle goaded Ada.

"Shut up. If he gets the entire backing of the guard...."

"He might throw us away?" Marcelle asked.

"He wouldn't.... But.... The more people around him.... The less important we become, the less adventure we'll have...." Ada trailed off. Anxiety and annoyance permeated her silence, saturating the conversation.

"Look! Either way! I have something planned for tomorrow." Fritz replied loudly. "Something that will surely entertain. I just need to use your guardhouse."

"For what?"

"I'll be testing another weapon. Something that I know you'll love. So long as the damn blacksmith keeps his end of the bargain."

"Oh? Some sword?"

"Better! The very weapon that marked the end of medieval warfare from my time!" Fritz shouted with a wide smile. Shifting his weight, he let a wave of ale slosh onto the balcony floor. Gaspard quirked an eyebrow in confusion.

"Huh? What is it?"

"It shoots an iron ball fast enough to bisect a man." Fritz admitted. "Brutal. Simple. Perfect for now."

"Is it a wand?" Gaspard asked.

"A wand." The words felt completely wrong on Fritz's tongue as he considered them. He frowned "It's a bit big for a wand."

"Bigger is better! Small wands look unmanly! What warrior wants to whip out a wimpy little wand?! The bigger the better! The bigger the wand, the cooler!" Gaspard pressed closer to Fritz.

"Ada.... We must find out what this 'Tower of Power' is.... We deserve it. After all, haven't we risked our life multiple times for the ungrateful human?" Marcelle whispered to Ada.

"Agreed. But, no isolating him. That's not what warriors do."

"It's a deal, then." Marcelle hissed confidently to herself. "We must secure our position. Then the rewards of his power will be ours. Correcting his behavior will be a bonus. I cannot wait to make him suffer for his transgressions."

"Do you listen to yourself?" Ada asked. "You sound like a villain."

"Quiet! I must plot."