<div dir="ltr">Gallus hadn’t gone too far when he reconsidered going after Jerrod. If he was going to do something foolish and get himself imprisoned, Gallus didn’t want to join him there. Besides, he didn’t entirely trust Howell and he wanted to be present when the next guards were chosen. He might disagree with Gwayn on most things, but he agreed that loyalty was key. He was a bit surprised at Gwayn’s ready agreement to change directions. When he asked, Gwayn smiled. “Howell may say there is a good market in the north, but there’s no need to go that way now. A month or so from now the weather will be best for going north, if we still want. Better fast roads south and remain uncursed than slow roads north. No profit in being cursed.” Oison and Achem seemed perfect for the trip to the south. “I’ll bet you boys will be glad to get out before the Curse gets you!” Gwayn said as he finalized the contract. The two men laughed. “Born and raised here in the Keep, sir,” said Oison. “Once was a red-headed lass.” “Aye! Myself was considered a raven-haired beauty till I changed. Odd how that works out, that men’s looks are not nearly so important as a woman’s.” Gallus gulped and Gwayn flushed. Howell didn’t say anything, but looked thoughtful. “If we’re goin’ south we can start this morning at dawn. Best those of us not Cursed hurry out while the getting’s good.” “Hmm, but what about Jerrod?” Gallus hated the idea of leaving anyone behind, even someone like Jerrod. “He’ll catch up, I dare say,” said Gwayn. “We really can’t wait.” Once the dawn rose, the five set out for the south following the old, but still used, Suielman Road that bisected the Valley. By noon they’d reached the town of Laselle where Gwayn began setting up shop. Oison and Achem seemed well-aware of what was needed, making Gallus feel like he was more ornamental than useful. Howell had stayed out of sight, and Gallus couldn’t blame him. Though the town of Laselle was well-ordered and soundly built, the people were nowhere near as friendly as in Metamor Keep. There seemed to be an underlying paranoia about anyone from the north, especially someone like Howell in furs. It certainly explained why the animal forms didn’t want to go too far south. As the day wore on, Gallus kept checking to see if any other strangers came from the north. He couldn’t help but wonder what had happened to Jerrod. *** Euper was not like most towns Jerrod knew. In most towns, this time of night, everyone would be asleep. Here, a number of people had forms that were (to some degree) nocturnal, so there was more hustle and bustle than usual. Still, these types were few enough that they were easy to avert. He hid in the shadows if they came too near, and took a swig from his flask to bolster his courage before following his quarry. The kid and the frog seemed completely oblivious to him. They were in no hurry, chatting away until they reached a nice house. They went in together, shut the door and, after a few minutes, put out the lights. The door was latched, but it wasn’t long before Jerrod figured a way to undo it. He scoffed and went inside the house, careful to latch the door behind him. He was almost adjusted to the dark when suddenly lights went on! “Well now, Lincoln, it looks as if we’ve got an unexpected guest.” Jarrod recognized the voice of the boy. “Indeed Drewbert. A familiar one, though.” Jerrod’s eyes had finally accustomed themselves to the light, which was much brighter than candles. Around the room seemed to be small orbs of bright light that cast out all shadows. They also lit up a woman standing in a corner. She was wearing a Euper Watch outfit. The look on her face was hard to read, almost as if she were trying hard to conceal some strong emotion. Next to her, as if on display, was all of Jerrod’s gear. “I’m not afraid of you thieves! I’ve come for what’s mine!” Jarrod flashed the knife he stole. He expected the woman to faint or, at least, scream. She simply looked annoyed. “You mean what we won fairly?” asked Drewbert. “Cheat! You cheated me! There’s no way I could have lost to a mere child.” Drewbert laughed. “I’m at least as old as you, if not a smidge more. I don’t cheat at cards, especially not against drunks. You’re a good player. You probably could have won if you’d just stayed sober. But we’re willing to give you everything back–and ignore the burglary–if you apologize.” “Well, Drewbert is willing to give it back. I think we ought to keep it. You need a lesson in proper behavior!” said Lincoln. “Apologize?! For what? I’ve done nothing wrong!” He tried to appraise what he was facing. A child claiming to be an adult, a toad-thing, and a woman in a uniform. He dismissed her right away. Women didn’t fight. Children were easy to hurt, and beasts died before real men like himself! “Just about everyone in this part of town would differ, sir,” said the woman. “You’ve been cursing at people, saying slurs, and otherwise been a public nuisance. I’d actually like nothing better than to put you in a cell, but Drewbert persuaded me you deserve a second chance. Gods only know why.” If Jerrod had been sober, he’d have seized the chance. Even if he didn’t mean it, he could have pretended, gotten all his gear back, and been out and gone. But the brew he’d been sipping all evening had dulled his mind. “I need that gear and my gold to get out of this godforsaken place! I’ll never apologize to you freaks! You beast-men! You she-hes! You–you–you pedophiles!” With that last, he lunged towards Drewbert, but what he faced was no longer a child of ten but a teenager who seemed to know well the ins and outs of knife-fighting. Jerrod was disarmed in an instant, detained by the youth and then placed in handcuffs by the woman. “By authority of Duke Thomas Hassan III of Metamor Keep, I am placing you under arrest for burglary and attempted assault with a knife. You will be given a trial at a date to be determined.” Jerrod gave a struggle, but was no match for the woman. “NO! I need to escape! I need to get out of this place before I’m turned into something unnatural!” He kept shouting this all the way through Euper, drawing attention–including cheers and jeers from the residence. In their home, Drewbert sighed. “Well, it was worth a try, though I suppose it wouldn’t have ended differently.” “Not your fault Drew. You followed Eli as far as you could with that fellow. And he wasn’t exactly wrong.” Lincoln shuffled his flippers. “Oh no! You didn’t slip your special into his drink when I played with him did you?” “Maybe a little. I wanted him to learn a lesson in humility. If I’m not mistaken, he put a bit of it in that flask of his too.” Drew sighed. “Well, then he’s getting all this back. You know I don’t like cheating and you know why. Of course, by then, it likely won’t fit, but it could be sold or remade.” Lincoln sighed. His brother was right. “I’ll be sure to help make amends Drew.” *** Jerrod had shouted until his throat was sore. He’d been pelted with rotten fruit and jeered at, but was unharmed if humiliated.The Watch woman led him to one of the larger watchhouses he’d ever seen! The outside had a pair of matching lanterns similar to the one on her tabard. There was a ramp up to a pair of doors, and on the one side there was some large memorial. Inside there was a bird-like figure behind the desk in a similar uniform. It was a sort of gray-brown dappled with white spots, except around its neck, which had a white band. Its eyes were black and there was something off-putting about its beak. “Oh! It’s him! I was wondering if he’d make it here!” The bird sounded deeply satisfied. “Good work Officer Jenna. What’d you get him on?” “Burglary at the Knoll brothers’ place. Drewbert thought he could get this fellow to apologize. I didn’t think he would, nor did his brother Lincoln.” Jenna began rifling Jarrod, but found nothing besides his drinking flask, empty now, and the stolen dagger. “I suspect that dagger belonged to someone else who’ll be wanting it in the morning.” “Very well. No one’s back there right now, so just pick a cell and stuff him in.” “Alright Sir Prent. You don’t want to mete out Low Justice now?” “Let him sleep it off and think about it. I’m considering which of the middens to send him to and for how long. As a Follower, I’m disinclined to be too hasty on this.” “Very well Sir.” She led him into the back and, to his surprise, there were a bunch of neat cells all in rows. There was dim lighting as well, but no bars anywhere. “Number one will do for you. These are all brand new. Latest magic wards, latrine and wash in the one corner, bed you can see.” He was still figuring it out when her push forced him across the threshold. He felt the binding between his manacles break and immediately attempted to rush her. He was stopped by what felt like a wall! She smiled. “Not expecting that, were you? These cells are new, made with powerful warding around them. Those manacles are magic-dampeners and also prevent shape shifting. Well, voluntary anyway. They won’t stop the Curse.” Jerrod was at a loss for words, and so sat down on the bed, which was slightly more comfortable than it looked. “I don’t understand.” It wasn’t just the developing headache from too much ale: criminals simply weren’t treated like this. They were enslaved or maimed or killed or stuffed into a dark hole where they were forgotten. “The Duke’s been talking with some of the Followers who insisted that they had the religious duty to visit those in prison and save their souls, if they could. The Lightbringers also seemed to think that above-ground was more likely to produce redemption. So these rooms were made when we added on to the Watchhouse after the Assault. You won’t starve or be forgotten but you may be browbeaten by a Follower before tomorrow’s over.” She chuckled. It seemed too strange for Jerrod’s addled brain to understand, so he lay down on the bed and slept. He was woken by the sound of voices. “Got ‘em by the ruins! Misha ‘imself will want to punish ‘em!” “We’ve got one back there, two more won’t hurt,” said Sir Prent. “It’s near end shift for me. Confiscate their things and toss them back there.” A pair of Keepers, one human-seeming woman, one huge one that looked like a winged horse. “This’ll learn you not to mess with us!” said the woman. “You did ill deeds based on fear: your punishment will soon be clear. Reflect! Repent! and seek reform! Lest you lose more precious thing than mere human form!” When the two left, Jerrod was able to see who his new fellow-prisoners were. Facing across from him, in separate cells, were Rodrick and Nathan. --[Next Part Below]-- </div>