"Cristy, Kibble. Kibble, Cristy." SJ said, introducing them to each other before continuing. "Jay. Who is this stranger you have brought back to Killic?"
"Ha. I didn't recognise her myself when she turned up at the stables. She has grown a little, hasn't she?" Jay reached out and ruffled Cristy's fur on her head. Being a large, burly orc, he still towered over others.
"Oi. I am no longer a little gnoll," she growled defensively.
"You will always be little Cristy to me," Jay shrugged.
"Erm. SJ. I think you should identify Cristy," Dave said.
'Why?' SJ thought.
"Well, I could tell you, but it may spoil the surprise."
SJ frowned, looking at Cristy. "Can I identify you?" SJ doubted Cristy would even be aware if she had identified her, but she was her family and asked to be polite.
Cristy beamed at her. "Of course."
SJ triggered her skill, her face changing from one of intrigue to absolute shock as she did.
Cristy Machmu
Level: 16
Class: Beast Warden
Hit points: 64 of 64
Mana points: 68 of 68
Armour Class: 26
Attacks: Bow
Special: Bonding, Taming
Weaknesses: Nil
SJ had never identified Cristy before, and she was shocked to see her level and status. She was also surprised at her surname, never having asked her it before.
"How?" is all SJ could say in response to the details.
Cristy just shrugged. "Giants."
"What level are you now? You never told me," Jay asked.
"Sixteen."
"Sixteen already. That is a nice increase in a couple of months. I was similar when I started because of fighting ogres so often."
A horn blared at the edge of town.
All three of them turned in surprise. The last time a horn had been blown was when the wyvern had last visited.
"What now?" SJ said, turning to head to the edge of town. Just as she was about to shrink and take off, she heard cries and shouts. Then they appeared. Bounding around the corner of the stables, startling the horses that were settled in the stalls, came a pack of wolves. Not just Patch but the whole family had come to visit, including the not-so-small pups, which had now grown to almost full size.
"Patch," Cristy shouted in glee as he jumped at her, taking her down, and the pair of them rolled around on the ground as he frantically licked her.
SJ took her motherly approach and turned to look at them all. "You know, you just broke the rules. You shouldn't be in the town," she said sternly.
Patch turned and looked at her, with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth as though he were grinning.
Four of the town guards came flying around the corner after the wolves, swords drawn.
"It's okay," SJ said on seeing them. "I think they were a little excited to see Cristy again. There is no need to be worried. They mean no harm."
The guards came to a halt. The nearest guard was a tall human SJ knew as George. He was new to the town, having recently moved from one of the surrounding villages. He stepped forward.
"They shouldn't be in town. I don't even know why we allow those beasts to live in the woods. They are feral," he said.
That was not the most appropriate comment to make, not just to SJ but also within Cristy's earshot. George had arrived since Cristy's departure and knew nothing about her or SJ, apart from her being a councillor.
Cristy stood from where she had been with Patch. "What did you just say?" her voice was menacing and low.
"You heard me," George snapped.
From behind, the three other guards stared at George with wide eyes, two lifting their hands placatingly. They knew he had just got himself in serious trouble, and none of the others were willing to get involved.
"I suggest you apologise to Patch and my family," Cristy snarled.
"Apologise to a stupid beast. You can't be serious," George scoffed.
Patch growled menacingly, and Cristy took a step forward. SJ put her arm across in front of her, stopping her.
"George. I understand you are new to the town, but you need to learn that certain behaviours will not be accepted. This wolf pack you are so rude about has helped this town out on more than one occasion, and you are in no position to say anything against them. If you have a problem with wolves, then I suggest you seriously think about your position as a guard in Killic. They were here before you arrived, and they will always be welcome in the Killic area. I agree they shouldn't have come into town, but they haven't seen Cristy in nearly three months, and they are Cristy's family. As am I," SJ said.
"And you are just a fae who is a plaything for the council," George spat back angrily.
"What did you just say?" SJ was shocked, not having heard any form of remark against the fae in Killic for months. After everything that Fran did at the academy, training the town's mages to what she had done for the town, not one of the regular town members had a bad word to say about the fae.
George's words made the other guards step back even further. SJ knew them all, and they had been present at the fight with Bordon.
"You heard what I..." the next sound leaving George's mouth was that of air leaving his lungs as his diaphragm forced all the air out of his body from the fist that had struck him in his stomach. No one had even seen him move. He was so fast.
Jay stepped back casually. "Now, the next words out of your mouth will be two apologies. One to the wolves and Cristy and the other to SJ."
"How dare you strike a member of the town guard," George said through gritted teeth, struggling to breathe.
"I don't mean to sound funny, but if you are what is classed as a town guard. I used to fight stronger when I was still wiping my rear with leaves," Jay said.
George pulled himself to his full height, grimacing as he did. He stood over six feet tall but still significantly shorter than Jay.
"Now, this could be fun," Dave said.
"Jay. Please, I could have handled the situation," SJ said.
"Ha. I saw the look in your eye, and the last time I saw that minotaurs regretted the day they were born," Jay chuckled.
"Minotaurs?" a member of the guard said.
Jay smiled. "She ran rings around two of them in Asterfal. Was so funny to watch."
The comment amazed the guard, who nodded his head respectfully.
George still held his sword in his hand, and SJ could see him considering his options. The town charter stated it was against the town's rules to strike a member of the guard, so Jay was in the wrong.
"You're under arrest," George said, pointing his blade at Jay. "For striking a member of the town guard."
"Sure," Jay shrugged and held his hands out. "You got any manacles?"
George stared at Jay in amazement, expecting him to resist and was ready to lunge with his sword.
"Sorry, councillor, but George is right. We do need to take him in," another guard said.
Before SJ could interject, Jay spoke. "It's fine. It's not my first visit to a cell," he said, grinning at SJ. "So, where's the jail, then?"
A guard behind George gave him directions as they began to move off towards the barracks and jail, keeping their distance from the very muscular orc.
"I can't believe this," SJ said to Cristy. “Can you sort Patch and the pack out and get them to leave town again, please? While you do that, I will try to get this sorted."
Cristy just smiled back at SJ. "It's never dull when you're involved."
The comment took SJ aback. It was such a grown-up statement. "When did I miss you growing up so quickly? Once they are out, come and meet me at the barracks." SJ said before she turned and started towards the barracks. She needed to see Ballentine or Lorna.
Captain Ballentine sat in his office, mulling over the latest guard reports. There had been an increase recently in strange activity around the town. In the past few months, there had been a steady influx of beings taking up residence. The old area of the town was reaching a breaking point from the latest report, and several fights had to be broken up. The Wandering Ogre had also been causing him a headache. Many of the new arrivals were single beings looking to make their fortune in the growing town and frequented the bar often before staggering back to town in drunken states. Kerys always monitored and controlled the Hogling Arms, although lively, with an iron fist. It never caused him any concern.
He was beginning to write his latest findings and recommendations for the mayor when SJ knocked on his open door.
"Councillor," Ballentine said, looking up.
"Call me SJ. You know better than to call me a councillor," SJ said.
Ballentine half smiled. "SJ. What can I do for you?"
"First, I need to ask what the problem is. I haven't seen you look like that since the scout attack on the town."
"Ah. The town's growth is causing problems for the guard. There has been an increase in the number of fights or similar over the past few weeks."
"I didn't realise there had been a problem."
"It's nothing we can't handle. It is just a concern. All these new arrivals trying to find their place in the town."
"Is there anything I can help with?"
"Not unless you know a way to stop drunken louts fighting."
"Fight Club," Dave said suddenly.
'What?' SJ thought.
"Fight club. Set up your own fight club in Killic."
'That's borderline to approving fights.'
"Not really. It's a controlled environment. Without shark bait, of course. It would give the new beings a place to prove their fighting prowess without worrying about it being fuelled by ale."
'Umm. Maybe. I will have to discuss it with Zigferd.'
"I will think about it and see if I can come up with anything," SJ said.
"So, what do you need?" Ballentine asked.
"I feel bad now as I am bringing a problem to you relating to the guard."
"Oh. What problem?"
"You remember Jay, who returned with us from Asterfal when we returned after the inauguration?"
"Yes. I remember him. He can handle his ale." Ballentine had spent one of his rare evenings off in the Hogling Arms and had joined Jay, Gary and Setu playing cards.
"He is currently on his way to one of the cells."
"What?"
"He just drove the Asterfal wagon here bringing Cristy back, and the pack were so excited that Cristy had returned that they ran into town to see her."
"And why does that involve Jay?"
"Well, that doesn't. It was what happened when the guard patrol arrived," SJ said and then explained what had happened with Jay stepping in and hitting George.
Ballentine rubbed his forehead as though he had a headache. "It would be nice for just once there to be a peaceful night in Killic," he sighed. "George is a loose bolt. There have been several complaints since he joined the guard. He is a very experienced fighter, and his skills are better than many. He sharpened his blade, fighting against a feral gnoll tribe that lives near the village he is from."
"That may explain his reaction towards Cristy and the pack, but not what he said to me."
"I agree. That was out of order. After what you have done for Killic. So, what would you like me to do about it?"
"George doesn't know me. I have had no dealings with him, and he just sees me as a councillor and, in particular, a fae. Many in the villages will still hold historic grudges against my kind, unfortunately. I don't want to get him in any unnecessary trouble, and Jay knows that he was in the wrong. He went with the guard without causing any problems. I think there may be a better way to get something from Jay, though, rather than him spending a night in the cells."
"And what would that be?"
"I don't know if you are aware he is an exceptional cage fighter, and his brawling skills are some of the finest I have ever seen. Could I suggest as punishment for his crime of striking a guard member that he must spend time training the guard force?"
"That is an interesting proposition. Lorna is flat out currently with everything going on and hasn't been able to perform her usual training routine. With the issues around Greb," Ballentine winced at recalling the name to SJ. "He was the only other really with the skills to train the guard in fighting techniques."
"What is the usual punishment for striking a member of the guard?"
"Recently, it has been to support the mining efforts as a labourer for two days. Over the past few weeks, we have had several beings perform that task. With the increase in issues with the new members in the town, it became a necessity to get them out of the cells. We never know how many to expect on a nightly basis now."
"I propose then that as punishment, we get Jay to perform training for the guard in brawling techniques. It especially sounds beneficial with the current issues you are facing."
Ballentine thought over the suggestion for several moments before responding. "Doesn't he have to return to Asterfal on the coach?"
"That is where this may come in handy. I have been trying to find a way for him to remain in Killic and if, and I mean if, only if it works out. Could we offer him a long-term position as a trainer?"
"Are you sure you hadn't thought this through before he struck George?" Ballentine asked suspiciously.
"No. But from what you have just been saying, it could benefit all sides."
"Do you know his level?" Ballentine asked, knowing that SJ had an identification skill.
"I do. He is level thirty-two."
"Thirty-two," Ballentine said, surprised to hear he was at such a high level. "Why would he even consider staying here to help, then?"
"You know we will continue to grow, as I do. The level of expansion and the garrison town status that will come in the near future will mean that we need to accommodate high-level beings, anyway."
"Yes. We need to consider continual growth. How do you know you can trust him?" Ballentine asked.
"I will put my reputation on the line that he is trustworthy," SJ said, and as she did, her display triggered.
Quest - Reputation
You have placed your reputation on the line that Jayzerab Songa will hold to his word and support your ideas. Failure to perform his punishment successfully will result in loss of standing with Killic.
"Damn," Dave said. "That's unusual. I haven't seen a loss quest in a long time."
'I wasn't expecting that,' SJ thought.
"Nope. Nor me. I don't think it will be an issue, though. I am sure Jay will support your idea."
'I hope so.'
"SJ," Cristy called from outside the office. "Hi, Ballentine."
"You've grown," Ballentine said, staring at the adult gnoll.
Cristy smiled. "A little."
"Right, let's go sort this out," Ballentine said, standing.
They quickly spoke to the jailhouse guard and brought Jay back from his cell. Ballentine spoke to him and offered him two days' training as punishment for striking a member of the town guard.
"Two days. Sure, it's less than I would have got in Asterfal," Jay shrugged.
"So tomorrow morning, you will be at the training ground for 0800 hrs. The guard lieutenant will be there to ensure you are aware of the expectations and monitor your routine."
"No problem," Jay said.
"Does he need to go back in the cell tonight?" SJ asked.
"No. As long as he sticks to his side of the deal. Failure will mean his punishment will increase, though."
"Excellent. I am glad we managed to resolve this. Right then, we all have somewhere to be," SJ said.
"Where?" Cristy asked.
"The Hogling Arms. Don't you want to see Kerys and Phyliss?"
"Yes," Cristy said excitedly, her previous child-like persona coming through.
Kibbles decided at that moment to jump from SJ's shoulder and land on Cristy's.
"Hello," she said, petting him on his small head. Kibbles nuzzled into her, wrapping his tail around her neck.
"It looks like you have a new friend," SJ smiled. "Maybe you can get him to behave a little better than he does? Ballentine, are you joining us?"
"I will in a while. I need to go finish my report, but I am sure I can fit a brandy in later."
The group left the jail and headed to the Hogling Arms. SJ couldn't help but feel excited about what was in store for Cristy, and she only hoped that everyone was there. Jay was chatting with Cristy, but she wasn't paying attention as SJ opened the doors and walked in. Cristy's friends were sitting at the table that had been laid out to celebrate her return. A cheer erupted as she entered, and music began from the stage, where SJ saw Nexis sitting with a grin on his face.
"What?" Cristy said, stopping and looking at them all shocked.
"Welcome home," SJ said.
