After visiting the Dandelion's alchemist shop, and stopping by a blacksmith. Fritz and his companions reunited to make plans for dinner. The ruler of the city, Javert, had invited them to a magnificent feast. His entire retinue of warriors would be there, but most importantly Fritz would have the opportunity to speak to the beastkin in charge.

A magnificent spread, of meats, pies and dark ale was arrayed on an expansively long table. Javert sat at the head of the table, with Fritz on his right as his guest of honor. Across from Fritz, Gaspard sat. The captain of the guards leaned forward resting his chin on his fist. His bored demeanor seemed at odds with the rowdy warriors surrounding Hueryss's elector prince. To Fritz's right, his companions sat in a eclectic order.

The prince wore a fur coat with no shirt alongside arachnean silk pants. Javert's orange fox ears twitched as one of his warriors yelled expletives at another down the table. Throwing his feet up onto the table, he relaxed back into his high backed throne. Picking up a tankard of ale, the elector prince drank the dark foamy ale with gusto.

It wasn't long before the food went flying as a fight broke out. Javert seemed entirely unperturbed as a pair of his warriors slammed each other into the strong oaken tables sending dishes and ale clattering to the floor. The elector prince leaned forward in his chair to shout at his warriors.

"Gerard! Use your shoulders! Use your shoulders you bloody idiot!" He screamed from the head of the table, before throwing a leg of mutton at the fighters. "It isn't a good fight. Gerard, never learns. At this rate he will never best his rival." Javert said with a click of his tongue. "Do you fight often champion?"

"Not often, no." Fritz replied. Sparing a glance down the table, he watched the shouting warriors crowd around the grappling beastkin atop the wooden table.

"A pity. There is nothing better in life."

"Will they be alright?" Fritz asked.

"Of course! Champion! Pray tell, what has the goddess blessed you with? How shall you destroy the goddesses' enemies?"

"They haven't told you?" Fritz asked.

"No. Of course not. I wanted to see it myself. It is always better to see in person."

Fritz held his hand up himself, as he conjured a vial of holy water. He tossed it lightly over towards the prince. A stab of pain shot through his head as he did. Fritz was exhausted, yet he needed to keep going. Time was running out. The more he pushed the safer the city would be.

"Water? Is that it?"

"Holy water." Fritz corrected. "I can conjure anything magical or mundane, and it doesn't disappear."

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"Hmmm.... I've never heard of any champion having an ability like that. You are truly strange." Javert moved the vial about watching the liquid slosh within.

"May I?" Javert asked.

"Do whatever with it, it's yours." The prince smiled to himself at Fritz's words.

"It will surely come handy in the coming battle!"

"About that. What are your preparations for the city's defense? I am quite interested to hear your strategy." Fritz started.

"My preparations? What strategy do I need? I have the strongest warriors sworn to me. We will take the field and fight. We shall crush our enemies sword in hand. I shall be the stuff of legends when I take the vampire's head."

"Brother." Gaspard said.

"Don't 'brother' me. I am a faithful servant of the goddess. I will not run. Nor will I hide behind walls. I will destroy her enemies. That is all. I have the strongest warriors in the land. They've competed in countless trials. We have nothing to fear."

"You aren't going to stay on the walls?" Fritz asked incredulously.

"Of course not! Why would I? What glory is there to be had? Why would anyone sing about a warrior who hid high up upon a wall?"

"Because the walls are the safest place? Because you will have an advantage." Fritz provided. Javert laughed.

"My brother is particularly fearless. Let it be said, he relishes in battle." Gaspard said.

"I should thank you champion. Now, I will have something truly glorious for the bards and poets to write about! Ruling this city had gotten a bit boring. Not even running the UFL could entertain me forever.

"You run the UFL?" Fritz asked.

"Of course." Javert smiled a wicked grin. "Ladies and weaklings!" He shouted perfectly imitating the referee in the grounds before breaking out into a chuckle. "Now there is some excitement! But it isn't enough! Honor and blood awaits me! They will tell tales about this battle for generations throughout my city! I can hardly wait to meet the enemy in battle! My warriors and I will destroy the goddess's enemy and become heroes!"

"Lord Javert, are you serious?" Fritz asked.

"Of course. I never joke." He replied frowning as he looked over the proceeding feast.

"I don't think he knows what one is." Gaspard said wearily.

"Defending the walls is the best option. You have an obligation to stay there, your people are depending on you."

"Absolutely not!" Javert roared. He removed his feet from the table, sitting up straight. "It is cowardly! It is unthinkable! The enemy will die by my hand and that is that!"

"You're a fool." Fritz said.

"Nothing I haven't heard before." Javert replied. "Isn't that right brother?"

"You are a fool." Gaspard responded.

"I will be on the walls." Fritz said.

"To watch me no doubt."

"To defend the city should you fail in your suicidal battle." Fritz retorted.

"So long as you do not interfere, I could care less. This fight is mine. This city is mine. I shall kill their leader. Whomever they may be. I believe the goddess has brought you here to witness my triumph. She has finally listened to my prayers and brought me a worthy foe. And now her champion is here to witness it."

Fritz blinked slowly, as he tried to follow Javert's train of thought.

"Told you." Neva whispered from two seats over.

"Fuck me." Fritz whispered under his breath. Fritz felt hands wrap around his back, as Brenn teleported behind him.

"Your wish is my command."

"Not like that." He groaned. "I've got so much work ahead of me."

The dueling warriors finally stopped as Gerard finally tapped. Javert jumped up from his chair, shouting at Gerard for his failures. It wasn't long before another series of fights started to keep the night's entertainment going. Rubbing his temples, Fritz tried to fight the pounding headache in his mind.