[Mkguild] Life As We Know It X

[Jack Moore]

Life As We Knot It - X

The crowd had at first tried to follow.  When I yelled at them to disperse,
one made a counter argument of grabbing my arm.  I replied with a club to
the head.  You’ll find that sharp sticks and heavy pieces of wood solve
many debates.
“Alright, Mrs. Lacie you enter first,” I instructed as we approached the
Watchhouse.  “Ms. Chamomile, you second, I will enter last.”  One important
thing to remember if you are in security like I am.  Never enter in front
of your prisoners, even if they are restrained.  That is a foolish and
often fatal mistake.
Right now Chamomile was restrained with rope.  I wanted iron cuffs but iron
is in short supply when your home is being rebuilt.

By my observation if Chamomile was a spy, she was a calm spy.  She barely
reacted too the ropes and only readjusted her bound wrists once.
'What are you up to?' Again I Tapped her mind and again I was rewarded with
a wall of relief.
'…I deserve this…I’ll be executed…' Her mind was stuck in a sleep deprived
loop.  Nothing much for me there.
'Who on Earth is relieved to be arrested? Especially when it will probably
end with your death?' I gave Lacie instruction on which door to enter
through while I mulled this over. 'This doesn’t make sense.  If she was
here in the Yule, why would she return right now?  I just don’t…stop it
Janelle.  Stop worrying.'
The Watch House was silent but the pit in my stomach told me this wouldn’t
last.  Before every storm is the calm you know is temporary, and your
nerves are on end as you await the inevitable.  I began muscleing her down
the hall.

I’d have given anything to not have to deal with this right now.  I hate
dealing with cases that hinge on the testimony of a single witness.  It
means the case is flimsy.  Witnesses like Lacie also tend to be loud and at
best unhelpful.

What’s worse though was Andwyn would become involved if Chamomile was a
spy, either directly or indirectly.  Andwyn is a criminal masquerading as
an essential part of Metamor and if I could I would have arrested that
flying rodent years ago.

Sadly you can’t choose the cases you get.

I, Chamomile and Lacie emerged from the halls at Srgt. Tibble’s desk.  My
sergeant looked like he hadn’t moved.  Despite it nearly be noon, Tibble
was half in shadow from a candle hanging beside him. His eyes focused on
his papers and ledgers.  As we approached, Tibble briefly glanced up.
“Which is the witness?” He asked, going back to writing.
“The rat in the front.”  Tibble turned to Lacie.
“Go back down the hall, turn left at the first hall, stop at the second
door you find.  It’s an interrogation room.  Someone will be with you
soon.”  Even in the dim light I could see Lacie’s hand gripping at the hem
of her dress.
“Excuse me but no.” Lacie snapped.  “I brought you this-this spy for
Nasoj.  I have washing that needs to be done!”  Now Tibble looked up, but
at Chamomile.  He turned his gaze to Lacie.
“You are accusing this woman of what now?”  Lacie grit her teeth.
“I am accusing this-this murderer of being with Nasoj’s forces during the
Yule assault!  Of helping to lay siege to the Keep!  She is a murderer and
I want to see her end.”  Chamomile, while all this insanity was going on,
had begun smiling.  Tibble turned to me.
“Corporal these are serious accusations.” Tibble said, completely deadpan.
 “Can you corroborate them?”  I shook my head.  We’ve heard these
accusations many times before, so often Tibble and I were barely phased by
them.
Though they rarely ended with violence and someone asking to be arrested.
“I figured for everyone’s benefit I should bring Ms. Chamomile into the
Watch House for questioning.  At the time I found Chamomile, Ms. Lacie was
being restrained from attacking her and their was a rather noticeable mob
to deal with.”
“You did the right thing corporal.” Tibble said.  He stood up.  “Mrs.
Lacie, I’ve told you where you can wait.  Go.”  Lacie had to visibly
restrain herself from squawking but finally turned and walked off.  Tibble
scratched something rapidly on a sheet of paper before standing up.
“Cell four is empty.” He shuffled his bulk out from behind the desk and
unlocked the door with an iron key ring.  He gestured and I lead Chamomile
into the hallway.
We came to the fourth cell.  I untied the ropes holding Chamomile’s arms
behind her back and escorted her in.
“I’m sorry if the ropes bruised you.” I said.  Chamomile smiled.
“They were okay.  Nothing you’ve done hurt me.  At least, not in a way I
don’t deserve.”  I cocked my head.  Chamomile noticed this because she
asked “Did something I say surprise you?”
“Actually yes it did.  I’ve brought you in for questioning, maybe soon
arresting you.  What Lacie is charging you with is very serious.  Yet
you’re calm.  I don’t understand why.”  Chamomile just smiled.
She kept on smiling as I slammed the cell door shut.  It made my scales
crawl even as I returned to Tibble.  “I don’t know why but everything about
this bothers me.”
“People are strange.” Tibble said.  “Don’t let them bother you.  You need
to go up stares and inform Triche, he’s going to want to be involved in
this case.”

“Yes sir.”  I need to tell Triche the right way. 'I want to show I know how
to handle high risk prisoners.  He’ll want that in a sergeant.' Back at
Tibble’s desk, a new face was waiting for us.  “Uh hello.”

“Hello” The man said.  He was a Banded Linsang, think a squirrel cat with
cream colored fur and brown spots.  His left ear had a brown spot on it,
making it brown while the right was cream.  His whiskers were short and his
eyes shone like he was laughing at his own joke.

The Linsang dressed in a dark red tunic with black pants and a black
cloak.  His arms were clasped behind his back.  His tail curled around his
legs and seemed to cling to him.  His eyes studied mine.

“My name is Sebastian.” He said.  “And I—

“You work for Andwyn.” I said. Sebsatian gave a very controlled smile.

“And I’ve heard you have a prisoner who might have worked for Nasoj and
been involved in the assault last Yule.  I will be taking them immediately.”
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