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"Are we almost at the top?"

"I don't know," Luke panted, looking over his shoulder. "Can't be too far off though."

Azee shifted her pack, trying to get comfortable as she trudged up the steep path. The plateau where they had spent the night had been left far behind. Beneath them, the valley was hidden by a thick layer of fog.

It was a strange feeling for Azee, walking in an actual cloud. The swamps of Flinton Valley were infamous for their near impenetrable fog, so dense one could take but a few steps off the path, and find themselves utterly and lethally lost. When Azee had worked in the fields the hot sun playing off the dampness clinging to her fur from the morning mists would often make it look as if she and her fellow slaves were steaming, sometimes well into the afternoon. But that had just felt like oppressive humidity, a haze of muggy heat, never felt like a real cloud. This was different, cleaner perhaps, cooler, and less oppressive.

It did, however, share a notable similarity, in that after a mere few minutes within the mist, Azee, Luke and Eloise were all utterly soaked.

"Are you sure this is the right way to go, witch?" Luke called out as a handful of rocks, disturbed by the trio's passing, bounced down the mountainside."And are you sure this is even safe?"

"It's fine," Eloise called back. "Just stay on the path. And yes, we are almost there."

"How can you be so sure?"

"This isn't my first time up this path."

"Then how do you figure they are safe?"

"The Halcyon Army uses these trails, or at least they did." Eloise shrugged to herself. "Then again, that was a long time ago. I'm just hoping that the Order isn't aware of them, or more to the point, our friends from last night."

At the mention of Jace and Dallet, Azee shivered to herself, unconsciously reaching up to touch her collar.

After a restless night, filled with frightening dreams, Azee had dreaded the thought of seeing her attackers again. She'd pushed Eloise and Luke to get up and break camp quickly, hoping that the Agents would still be asleep when they went past. Of course, Azee didn't know where their camp would be, just that they were closer to the road.

She had been bracing herself to run into the two men, but instead, Azee, Luke and Eloise had found only a doused campfire and a few patches of flattened earth, and a pair of gnawed hound bones.

"They must have gotten an early start," Luke had muttered, prodding the remains of the campfire.

At those words, Azee had felt Eloise stiffen beside her. It had been at Eloise's insistence that the trio leave the main road and make their way up the valley side via an alternate path.

"At least it will be faster," Eloise had said, shrugging at an incredulous Luke and Azee as she began the ascent up the narrow, steep trail. "We should be out of the valley by noon."

Whether Eloise was right or not was impossible to tell, as the fog had closed in on them after less than an hour of hiking. It was so thick it was even impossible to tell where the sun was in the sky. Despite the absence of the sun, Azee was quite certain that noon had come and gone, and there was still no sign of the top.

Lost in her own thoughts, Azee didn't notice a crack in the rock and stumbled. She yelped as her knee slammed against the ground.

"You alright?" Luke asked, glancing over his shoulder.

"Fine." Azee replied, gingerly getting back to her feet.

"Well be more careful, can't imagine having to try and carry someone up this ridiculous path."

Azee frowned, her nose turning a little pink. "I know how to walk myself, thank you."

"Sure you do."

Azee's ears flattened against her head at the sharpness in Luke's tone.

"If you fall and get lost we'll never find you." Luke added, turning back towards the path.

'Although I suppose the witch probably wouldn't have any problems,' Luke thought bitterly.

"I said I am fine."

Luke rolled his eyes. "Uh huh."

It had been a very long time since Luke had talked to Azee with such frustration and indignation. Despite her best efforts, Azee's feelings were hurt.

"Are you alright?" Azee asked after a few moments, jogging up beside Luke and tilting her head.

"Never better."

"But-"

"I said I'm fine."

Swallowing the urge to snap back, Azee took a deep breath. "Luke... I know you're trying to help but-"

"Trying to help," Luke scoffed, refusing to meet Azee's gaze. "That's done wonders for me so far, hasn't it?"

"-But you don't need to treat me like I am an infant." Azee snapped, her shoulders tensing at Luke's tone.

Up ahead, Eloise heard the argument brewing behind her.

'Just let them work it out," She sighed, shaking her head. 'Hopefully they don't end up throwing one another down the bloody mountain.'

"What is your problem?" Azee demanded, ears pressing against her head again as she stepped in front of Luke and glared at him. "Ever since this morning you've been grouchy."

"What is my problem? Are you serious?" Luke gestured around. "Look at where we are Azee! Halfway up a bloody mountain, soaked to the bone, because YOU decided to go to the witch with your problems, rather than trusting me, your friend!"

"My master you mean." Azee shot back. "Like you said back at the house, some things will never change! Well guess what, now I am the master and you get to be the slave! See how you like it!"

"Sure, let's see how I like it!" Luke roared back, dropping his pack to the ground. "See how I like having my food, my bed, my grooming, all seen to by someone else! I'll have every one of my needs catered to with someone else's money. Oh, and when I get into trouble, I'll just wait for YOU to come and save ME for once!"

"Shut up!" Azee's tail thrashed back and forth as she took a step towards Luke. "Just shut up! You have no idea, do you?!"

"You know what Azee, yes, I do." Luke also took a step forwards, glaring down at her. "You want to complain and moan about your life, you go right ahead! But don't for a second pretend like I ever did anything but try and protect you!"

"Protect me?! You put a collar on me!"

"To save your life!"

"I never asked you to save my life! And I certainly didn't ask for a collar around my neck!"

"Oh yeah, brilliant, brilliant thought Azee. Let's just see here, why didn't I just ask you if you wanted the collar? Could it possibly be because you were out of your damned mind at the time?"

"Sh-shut up!"

"You killed Hawk!"

Azee shook, as much with rage as with fear. "D-don't you d-dare!"

"You weren't sleeping, you weren't eating, you would have chosen to die!" The words echoed across the mountainside.

"You would have chosen to die." Luke repeated, his voice calm and cold as he glared into Azee's wide eyes. "Tell me I'm wrong. Go on, tell me!"

Azee's lips twitched, her fingers clenching and unclenching, but she was frozen to the ground, unable to speak.

"I have always tried to keep you safe! But fine, let's grant you your point, here you are!" Luke threw up an arm and gestured down the cliff. "Go ahead, toss yourself off this cliff, hell I won't even stop you! If your life is so terrible, go right ahead, and hey, as a bonus, you'll take me with you!"

"I... You..."

"Hell, maybe we should go and find those Order Agents, let them finish the job they started!"

Azee's mind was a white hot jumble, and her tongue didn't seem to want to obey her commands.

"And on that note," Luke took one more step forwards, his jacket just barely brushing against Azee's fur as he glared down at her, "before you get all sanctimonious about how I treat you versus the others, let me ask you this: why didn't you ever bring it up? And if you were such a principled 'humanitarian', why didn't you just go back and join them if you were oh so offended?"

In a flash, Azee reached up and slapped Luke hard.

"You... bastard," she growled, angry tears rolling down her cheeks. "I was... I was scared of you! Of w-what you would say or do if I d-dared speak out of my 'station'."

"That's not it, and you know it," Luke snarled back, a red mark the size and shape of Azee's hand appearing on his cheek. "You were just protecting the cosy spot that I gave you, the same way everyone else on this bloody plane does. Complain all you want, but you and I both know that you didn't care one bit until it was you, or your damned sister. You weren't scared, you just didn't care!"

With a howl of rage, Azee leapt up and jumped on Luke, swinging her fists wildly. Luke tried to swat her away, but a wild swing from the left caught him in the ear and sent him tumbling to the ground.

"I hate you!" Azee roared, raining blows down on Luke, instinctually raking her claws across his face, hands and arms as she knelt on his chest. "You absolute bastard! I hate you! You-"

Azee's words were cut off as Luke took a swing of his own, his fist crashing into her muzzle and sending her toppling off of him. She yelped as she landed painfully hard on her back upon the dusty rocks, her legs madly pedalling in the air.

This time it was Luke who leapt on top, pinning Azee with his weight and grabbing hold of the ruff of fur around her neck as if it were a shirt.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous you are to me?" He roared, glaring down at her. "The Order would hang me right up beside you if they knew half the things I've done for you! And I have tried my hardest to protect you, and it still isn't enough!"

Azee reared up, slamming her forehead into Luke's nose, a low thud echoing across the mountainside. Dazed and bleeding, Luke let go of her for just long enough for Azee to work a leg free. With a cry of rage, Azee drove her foot into Luke's groin as hard as she could.

Luke howled as he fell off of Azee and curled up on the ground, moaning in agony.

Panting hard, Azee climbed to her knees and picked up the heaviest rock she could find nearby. With an infuriated snarl, her lips curled back from her teeth and she heaved the jagged rock over her head.

"You... wanted me... to thank you?" She panted. "You thought.... that making my decisions.... that taking everything from me... was 'enough'?"

"Go ahead." Luke groaned, glaring up at Azee. "We both know you're going to do it eventually, so just get it over with."

Azee stared down at Luke, the rock quivering in her grip. Finally, with a howl of frustration, she hurled the boulder aside, watching as it tumbled over the edge of the path and plunged into the fathomless depths of the fog. Fighting for breath, she dropped down to her knees beside Luke.

"How... can you not understand?" Azee panted, shaking her head. "How could you... think that... putting a collar on me... that making my choices for me was... 'enough'?"

"What... what in damnation do you mean?"

"You said you tried to... protect me, but it still.... wasn't enough, like I owe you."

"I didn't mean that."

"Then what?"

"I meant that I failed to protect you!"

Azee looked over sharply as Luke managed to sit up, still cupping his groin.

"I meant... that what I did... never seemed to be enough to keep you safe." He groaned, breathing hard as he leaned back against a nearby boulder. "I nearly lost you last night... again! The sight of you... with a rope around your neck... Azee it was something out of my nightmares."

"You mean... when you would wake up... sweating and panting...?"

"I was trying to get to you! Trying to stop them from hurting you."

A shudder ran up Azee's back. She did recall more than a few times when Luke would wake her during the night, groaning and thrashing about. Usually she would wake him, and after taking a moment to catch his breath, he would hold her tight, stroking her hair and whispering to her. But he would never tell her what he was dreaming about.

After Luke had put the collar on her, Azee had simply let him dream, sitting up and watching as he fought some invisible enemy. A dark part of her, a part she was ashamed of, had enjoyed the discomfort and anguish on his face. Luke's admission sent a deeply uncomfortable flash of guilt through her.

"Do you have any idea how many times... I've nearly lost you? I did... everything I could, when we were kids... but Comb still hit you. When you... bared your teeth at that overseer... they wanted to hang you, but I said I would... run away if they did, and didn't eat for two days."

Azee blinked in surprise. "W-what?"

"And then, when father died, mother sold you to the Gallaway's and you ended up getting whipped and beaten. I tried giving you... as much freedom as I could, and I let everyone know you were off limits, and Hawk still raped you."

Luke rolled his head to look at Azee, "Don't you get it? Nothing I did... seemed to keep you safe. I want you to be able to make your own choices... but one wrong move... and you'll die, and I won't be able to stop it."

"I never asked you to do that! Luke... you're angry at me for being in danger when you put me there! You never asked if I wanted to be your... friend."

"Would you have said no?"

"I... that's not the point."

"Isn't it? Tell me the truth, do you regret that I care about you?"

"No... no I don't. But... but if you didn't care, a lot of bad things wouldn't have happened to me! Don't you understand?"

Azee's words cut Luke deep. "I know..."

Luke swallowed hard, shaking his head. "I know... I... I know I put you there. But I couldn't just... sit there and watch you work yourself to death!"

"But you were quite happy to do that for your other slaves! Why? Why me and not them, why not both?"

Luke had no answer.

Azee shook her head, clenching a handful of hair. "Dammit all Luke... Why didn't you just tell me all of this?! "

"I... I didn't think that you would... be hurt by my trying to keep you safe."

"You wanted to keep me safe because you want to use me!"

With a heavy sigh, Luke shook his head. "No Azee, no. I don't want you to be safe so I can use you, or treat you like property, or have sex with you. I want to protect you because we are friends."

"I can protect myself! I made Hawk pay for what he did to me, remember?!"

"And it nearly got you culled." Luke gestured at the mountainside. "This place... this country... it's dangerous to you Azee. I made decisions for you because that is my job, and it is the only way I know for sure to keep you safe."

"And I don't want to be kept safe that way!"

"And now I know that." Luke shakily raised his hand and put it on top of Azee's. "And I'm sorry. Really... Azee... I am sorry."

The adrenaline faded as both Luke and Azee panted for breath. Sweat rolled down Luke's face and matted Azee's fur as they stared at one another. For a moment, both felt as if they were back on the ranch, in years long past, recuperating from a game of tag, or a long session of wrestling. On some unseen cue, they both flopped onto their backs, side by side.

"I wasn't going to kill you." Azee muttered softly after a few minutes, turning her head slightly to look at Luke.

"I know. And I'm sorry I... I accused you of being selfish."

"It... it's okay. But you know, your job isn't to protect me."

"Azee-"

"No, I mean it. I know it's dangerous, but I won't be a slave anymore. I won't allow it, and I don't care how dangerous it is. I will NOT go back to that. I would rather die."

"But-"

"No buts!" Azee's voice was still gentle, but with a hardened edge that surprised Luke. "I am telling you, now, so you understand, I would rather die than be a slave again."

"Okay... Okay... I understand. I won't make you a slave again... I promise. But Azee, I swear to you, I have never, in my life, meant to make you feel like a slave."

"And what about Chara?"

Luke froze mid breath. "Chara... she... Azee, she..."

"Hey!" Eloise's voice echoed down the mountain path. "What in damnation are you two doing down there! Hurry up, the summit is just ahead. If it's all the same to you, I'd like to get out of this bloody valley already."

With a groaning sigh, Luke got to his feet, brushing off his trousers. "Are you alright?" he asked, glancing over at Azee as he wiped a trail of blood from under his nose.

"Yeah," Azee nodded, rubbing her chin. "You?"

"Well considering the fact you destroyed everything in my safe, it seems only fitting you would go after the family jewels as well."

"I destroyed it? You didn't warn us about that damned fire rune! You wouldn't even be here if we'd just gotten Chara's bill of sale!"

"I know, I know." Luke gestured for Azee to calm down. "I honestly, honestly, forgot about that rune. Besides, I never expected you to be able to get in!"

Azee scowled as the link confirmed what Luke was saying. "Didn't remember... What kind of rich person are you?"

"A lot less rich after the safe incident, thanks again for that." Luke grumbled, managing to smile at Azee. And for the first time in days, Azee smiled back.

"At least they didn't manage to kill each other... this time." Eloise muttered to herself, watching from just up the path as Luke and Azee pulled their packs back on and resumed their climb. " As long as they can avoid murdering each other, maybe this will still turn out to be interesting..."

===

For several more hours, Luke, Azee and Eloise continued their climb up the winding path. From time to time the path was blocked by fallen rocks, or washed away by flooding, requiring a great deal of care to safely navigate. Progress felt agonisingly slow, the air itself so thick and wet that it seemed to push against them.

But finally, at long last, the cloud began to thin and the sun once again became visible.

And then, as if stepping out of the rain and onto a porch, they were out of the fog and standing atop the cliff overlooking Flinton Valley. The land below was a patchwork of blurred greens and shimmering ponds and rivers. Thick, puffy white clouds ringed the cliff, stretching far into the distance.

"By the Tyrant..." Azee breathed, looking around. "It's beautiful..."

"It's quite a thing, isn't it." Eloise said softly. "Looking down at everything you've ever known, your entire world, and realising just how small it is."

For Azee, no words seemed sufficient. She simply stood and stared. No matter how hard she tried, she could barely comprehend it all, all the hustle and bustle, the lives of thousands of people, free and enslaved, laid out before her. Somewhere down there, ditches were being dug, crops harvested, meals prepared and served, and lives beginning and ending. All the things that seemed so important day to day were still happening, but were invisible to her now, obscured by a seemingly endless ocean of green.

Despite the stinging of the scratches she had given him, Luke felt a warm feeling rise in his chest as he observed Azee. The look of wonder on her face, the gentle wagging of her tail, the way her ears twitched to follow each small sound as the wind rustled her fur like waves of wheat.

As he looked at her, Luke realised just how long it had been since he had seen that look on Azee's face.

"I shouldn't be in here." Azee whined, glancing around nervously. "This is the Master's office..."

Just in front of her Luke stood on the tips of his toes. No matter how much he strained, his fingers only just brushed the spine of a leather bound book, high up on a shelf above his head.

"Chara said if I ever went into the house, I'd be whipped." Azee whispered, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "I don't want to be whipped..."

"No one is going to whip you, they know you're my friend. Besides, you're with me, so it's fine." Abandoning his attempts to grab the book, Luke pointed over at a small stool. "Grab that for me, would you?"

"But... but I'm not allowed to read!"

"It's not that kind of book. Come on, before my father finishes talking with Mr. Cawthorne!"

Whining softly to herself, Azee grabbed the stool and put it in front of Luke.

Climbing up onto the stool, Luke was able to take hold of the book and pull it down off the shelf. Brushing off the worn leather cover, he gestured to Azee.

"Come on, follow me."

"Where are we going?"

"Well we can't read it in here, can we? Come on, I know a place."

With Azee following along behind, Luke crept out of his father's study, down the hall, and down the back stairs of the manor. After making certain that none of the overseers or staff could see him, Luke led Azee across the lawn towards one of the great willow trees. The vast trunk of the willow was surrounded by a giant flowering hibiscus bush.

Pushing through the dense outer layer of shrubbery, Luke led the way into the bush, Azee following at his heels. The two arrived in a small hollow at the base of the willow tree, completely hidden from the outside by the thick curtain of green leaves and bright red blossoms.

Dropping the heavy book on a bed of dry leaves, Luke lay down in front of it and gestured for Azee to join him. With a careful glance around, Azee dropped down beside Luke, propping her chin up on her hands.

Luke cracked open the old tome and Azee immediately sneezed, her nose wrinkling at the musty smell rising from the yellowed paper.

Laughing to himself, Luke smoothed out the pages. "Take a look."

Azee tilted her head, looking down at the page, the mix of coloured lines and letters making little sense.

"What is it?"

"It's called an atlas. It's a book of maps."

"Atlas? Why's it called that?"

Luke shrugged. "I dunno, it's just what they are called." He pointed at a large red nation near the bottom of the page. "This is Halcyon."

Again Azee tilted her head. "It's so small."

"It only looks that way. Look," Luke pointed at a pair of small jagged lines in the southern half of the country. "See these?"

"Mhmm."

"Those are the mountains that surround Flinton valley."

"That's the valley?"

"Yep."

"The whole valley?"

"Mhmm."

Azee's eyes went wide. "But... but it's tiny!"

After glancing at the index number, Luke flipped several pages. "Here it is, Flinton valley; and this," Taking Azee's hand he guided her finger over to a small dot in the middle of the valley. "Is Lillyvale."

"It's so small... and there's so many other towns." Azee shook her head slowly. "I never imagined the world could be so big."

Luke smiled as Azee stared down at the lines in complete shock. But as she looked at the rest of the page, a smile crept across her face.

"Show me more!" She said, looking over at Luke, eyes wide and tail wagging.

"Alright! Wanna see where the gate is?"

"Yes!"

And he had shown her more. Every chance they had gotten, Luke had pulled Azee away from the fields, grabbed one of his fathers books, and taken her to their hiding place. Atlases, books about battles, or wildlife, she had been fascinated by all of them, listening to Luke as he read and pointed at the pictures. If Luke's father had ever caught them, there would have been a painful punishment in store for both of them, though of course it would be far worse for Azee. But Luke had always been careful, and they'd gotten away with it, even after Luke had accidentally forgotten one of the books outside and it had rained, causing his father's tome on foriegn trees to swell up to three times its normal size. Thankfully his father hadn't noticed when Luke took the spine off the ruined book and glued it to a piece of wood and stuck it back on the shelf. In fact, thinking about it, it was still there.

But each time they would hide and read, Azee would get the same look in her eye that she had now, standing atop the cliff, looking down upon Flinton valley.

"Who would have thought the world was so big." Luke said, stepping up beside Azee.

Azee simply stood and stared.

A pair of huge azure drakes took to the air from a cliff face below, spiralling up into the sky upon the currents of warm air rising up from inside the valley. Their high pitched shrieks echoed across the rocks, the sound washing over Azee like rain.

As Luke stood beside Azee, for the first time since leaving the Ranch, he felt a sense of calm, even happiness. Moving slowly so Azee wouldn't notice, Luke shifted one of his hands towards one of hers.

But just as their fingers were about to touch, Eloise called out from just up the path. "Come on! It's going to take us a lot longer than I thought to get out of the valley at this pace. Trust me when I say we don't want to camp on the side of the mountain."

"So where do you suggest?" Luke asked, hurridley pulling his hand back and looking over his shoulder.

"We should hit stepstone pass by nightfall, but only if we keep moving. So, shall we get to it?"

"Right." Azee turned, shifting her pack and nodding at Luke. "Come on."

Luke nodded, but as Azee jogged up the path to find Eloise, Luke took one last look out at the valley.

"I'll be back," he muttered to himself, looking down at his hand. "And I'll put everything right."

===

"So this is Lillyvale?" Dallet asked, glancing around. "How very... provincial..."

"Not exactly New Burleigh is it?" Jace agreed, waving away a large fly buzzing about his face.

Side by side the two men rode down Lillyvale's main street. At the sight of their red vests, many of the citizens moved off the road, whispering to one another as the Order agents rode by. Dallet paused every once in a while to smile and tip his hat at a lady, while Jace paid no attention.

"Have you been this way before?" Dallet asked, smiling to himself as one of the young ladies returned his courtesy with a shy smile and wave.

"Not fer a long while. Came through 'ere a few times while I was with the river patrol."

Dallet scoffed as he looked around at the worn old buildings. "Can't imagine what kind of washup you'd have to be to get sent to a place like this. Speaking of, where is the Order station for this miserable place?"

Instead of answering, Jace called out to a nearby slave. "Oi, you, where is the Order station around here?"

The slave looked up, his face freezing in terror. "I... I uh...uh...sir I.... uh"

"Uh uh uh," Dallet mocked. "Hurry up will you, does it look as if we have all day?"

"W-Well sir... I uh..."

Rolling his eyes, Dallet reached down to his belt and drew his pistol. "Three seconds," he said, activating the spark rune. "Order station, now."

"D-down th-the street, w-west side, s-small b-building with r-red f-flowers out front."

"Thank you." Dallet nodded, lowering his pistol. He turned to Jace with a smile. "Incredible isn't it, just how much easier things get with a little encouragement."

"Indeed." Jace muttered, kicking his hound back into motion.

The few carts and wagons that rolled through Lillyvale quickly pulled to the side and stopped as the agents continued on their way. As they rode, a small crowd of curious onlookers began to follow along behind them, whispering to one another. What, after all, could two agents of the Illuminant Chain, be doing in their run-down little town.

After another few minutes of picking their way down the muddy, pot-hole ridden road, Dallet and Jace arrived in front of a small wooden building near the centre of town. The Order station looked to be a converted saloon, with a few boxes of wilting red flowers out front. The whole building leaned slightly to the side, and the bright red pain had long ago faded and was peeling off in great sheets. Even the orden sigil hung at an odd angle above the half open front door.

Dallet shook his head in disbelief. "What in damnation is this? The whole place looks like it is ready to fall apart! They can't even keep the bloody flowers watered! It's a disgrace to the Lord's name!"

"Again, not exactly New Burleigh, is it?"

"This is a human settlement, not a pelt slum! They should have some damned pride! "

"Have you seen this place?" Jace patted his hound's neck before dropping down to the street. "Pride is about the last thing on their minds."

As he dropped down from his hound, Dallet noticed a boy walking barefoot down the street. "Hey lad, you want to earn some money?"

Immediately the boy's face brightened and he nodded, jogging forward excitedly. "Yes sir."

Dallet pulled a coin out of his pocket and tossed it to the boy. "Here, tie up our hounds and see to it that they get some water. Also, go down to the butcher's shop and get two bones. Whatever change you get is yours to keep."

"Yes sir! Thank you sir!"

Noting Jace's disapproving glance, Dallet raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Stop throwing money around. We're order agents, not carpetbaggers."

"Well send me to the third layer of damnation then, I was just trying to brighten the lad's day."

"Mhmm."

Dallet laughed as together the two men made their way towards the entrance of the Order station and stepped through the half-open door.

Three men sat inside of the front entrance of the station, two playing cards on a flimsy table in one corner, while the other sat behind a desk, his hat pulled over his face as he loudly snored. All three wore red vests, but all were in various states of filth and disrepair. Long black stains ran up the wall from the lamps, so covered with soot that they barely glowed at all. The whole place smelled strongly of old beer, unwashed bodies, and stale smoke.

As Dallet and Jace entered, a fourth man, a youth of no more than twenty years, stepped out from the back, drawn by the sound of newcomers. Unlike his comrades, the youth's vest was crisp and well cared for, while the rest of his clothes seemed to be in passable order. His bright red hair was slicked back, and he even appeared relatively well washed.

Upon recognizing the golden insignia upon Jace and Dallet's chest, the young man's eyes widened and he snapped into a salute, his right hand placed over his heart, his right raised high in the air. "Captains!"

One of the card playing men looked up in annoyance, "What are you on about now you-" Upon noticing Dallet and Jace, the man leapt to his feet, sending the rickety table crashing to the floor, cards flying in all directions.

"What are you doing?" the other man demanded, before he too leapt to his feet. "Holy- Sirs, w-we weren't expecting-"

"No, apparently not." Jace grumbled, stepping over and slapping the sleeping man across the back of his head.

The sleeping man swore as he nearly fell off his chair, but the moment he caught sight of Jace's insignia, he too leapt to his feet and saluted, hurriedly brushing crumbs off his shirt.

"You, boy, what is your name," Dallet demanded, walking towards the young man.

"I-inquisitor second class, Edmund Duke, sir!"

"And where, Mr. Duke, is the chief judge?"

"In his office, captain! End of the hall, right hand side"

"Good." Dallet strode past.

"S-Sir, the chief said he wasn't to be disturbed!" One of the card playing men called out. Dallet paid him no mind.

Marching down the hall, Dallet stopped in front of a door with a heavily tarnished brass plaque with the word 'Chief Judge' nailed in at an angle. The scowl on Dallet's face faded, replaced by a thin smile as he stepped back and raised his leg. With a single, powerful kick, Dallet sent the door crashing open.

The chief judge, a narrow man with a frankly ridiculous comb-over covering his balding head, stood facing away from the door, bent over his desk. His trousers and belt were around his ankles, and his vest tossed upon a nearby chair. In his hands he gripped the long hair of a canine pelt slave, also bent over his desk. The pelt grimaced and winced with each of the chief's grunting thrusts, her claws carving furrows into the top of the chief judge's desk.

As the door swung open, hanging by a single hinge, the chief spun around, his face instantly turning bright red with anger. "Who in the-"

"Well this is embarrassing, isn't it," Dallet purred, stepping into the office.

"What are you doing you fu-" the chief froze as Dallet pushed his thumbs into his belt, puffing out his chest so that the golden pin shone in the dim light.

"W-Wh-what are agents of the Illuminant chain doing here?" The chief spluttered, shoving the pelt to the floor and hurriedly reaching for his trousers.

"A good question sir, but I have one first." Dallet gestured at the pelt, now laying sprawled on the floor, shaking in fear. "Is that yours?"

"Wh-what?"

"Is it yours?" Dallet asked again, stepping forwards and drawing himself up in front of the chief, just as the man succeeded in pulling up his trousers.

The chief nodded, fumbling with his belt. "W-Well yes, and-"

"Good." In a flash Dallet reached out, grabbed the chief's pistol from its holster, and flipped it around his hand. Before either the chief could move, Dallet fired four times in rapid succession. Each shot tore into the chief's chest at close range. The chief staggered backwards, crashing into his desk and collapsing to the floor with a wheezing gurgle, a dark red pool swiftly growing around him.

For a moment the pelt stared in silent horror, before letting out a high pitched shriek. Her claws skittered on the floor as she scrambled to her feet and sprinted for the door.

With a smooth, almost casual, motion, Dallet tossed the chief's pistol aside, drew his own weapon and fired. His shot tore into the slaves shoulder as she reached the doorway, her blood spraying the hallway wall.

"Stop her!" he called out, having to work hard to keep his excitement from registering in his voice.

Howling in agony the slave kept running for the entrance. The young inquisitor, Edmund Duke, drawn to the sound of gunfire and Dallet, tried to get in her way, his pistol already in his hand. The slave plowed into him, knocking Edmund off his feet as she shoved past.

As he tumbled to the floor, Edmund managed to raise his gun and fired three times. Two of his shots went wide, but the third tore into the back of the slave's left thigh. She howled again, falling through the door and tumbling to the dusty street.

"What's goin' on?" Jace demanded as Dallet strode out of the hallway, marching towards the front entrance.

"One moment, boss, got something to deal with first."

The slave was trying to get back to her feet as Dallet stepped out of the door. In a quick motion he fired, this time hitting the pelt's other leg and sending her crashing to the dirt, whimpering and crying.

The gunfire from within the station had sent the small crowd that had followed Jace and Dallet through the town scurrying for cover. Emerging from their hiding places, they watched anxiously as Dallet stepped down from the station's front stoop, and strode into the street as the slave frantically tried to escape by clawing her way through the mud.

Keeping his pistol trained on the pelt, Dallet stepped up to the slave and kicked her over onto her back. Her desperate pleas were cut off as Dallet placed the heel of his boot on her throat.

In as loud a voice as he could muster, Dallet called out. "Citizens of Lillyvale, hear me! Moments ago, while we were inspecting this station on the authority of High Marshal Dale, and the Illuminant chain, this pelt stole your chief judge's gun and was able to kill him! The Lord's own servant, murdered by this creature!"

A deathly silence fell over the crowd, interrupted only by the occasional gasp, or cry of grief.

"Your representatives, and the Lord's order itself, have failed you," Dallet continued, spreading his arms wide. "They allowed themselves to become weak and complacent, to forget that the non-human is, and shall always be, our enemy! This beast shares but a small part of the blame, it is a mere animal, and acted as such! It is for your safety that they are kept in chains! And it is by our strength and merciless determination that they are commanded!"

The slave gasped for breath, squirming desperatly and clutching at Dallet's boot as he pressed down on her throat.

"We must never forget the Lord's wisdom! Especially now, on the precipice of war, we must never fail to execute Her judgement and justice, as it is written."

Raising his pistol, Dallet took aim at the slave's head. "Here me now, children of mine, and be witness to the eternal wisdom, that vigilance and dutiful obedience are the price of peace, and through peace alone are we rendered safe. Chapter one, verse one."

"Please..." the slave managed to croak, "I won't say anything, I-"

A shot rang out and the slave fell silent, red blood staining the dirt of the road as her arms fell limply from Dallet's leg.

Returning his pistol to its holster, Dallet gestured at the crowd. "Get this pelt strung up. And round up another dozen pelts for execution later tonight. Let the patriots in this crowd show their devotion to sending a message to the non-humans! We cannot allow this act of barbarism to go unanswered!"

As the crowd roared, surging forward to do his bidding, Dallet stepped back towards the Order station. Jace was waiting for him, arms crossed and a scowl on his face.

"You do realise what you have done, yes?" Jace demanded as Dallet watched the crowd seize the slaves body.

"Done? I've made certain that the people here know, in no uncertain terms, that the Order is here, and it will defend them."

"Defend them? You've started a mob! What happens when they start lynching pelts?"

"It will send a very clear message."

"That is not what I mean. You do realise that there will be complaints over this."

"Those that keep their pelts on a short leash should have nothing to worry about." Dallet's smile widened as he watched the crowd literally begin to rip the slave's body apart. "Besides, if the Order is so lax here, I can't imagine what kind of stupidity the rabble will get up to. It will be good to remind them that sometimes, it is not just the fool's house that burns down when he does not tend his fire properly."

"Hardly by the book, don't you think."

"I suppose I am taking my inspiration from you, commander. Speaking of-" Dallet looked over his shoulder and called into the station, "Mr, Duke, front and centre."

Moments later the young man appeared, snapping into a salute again. "Sir!"

"You said you were an Inquisitor, second class?"

"Y-yes sir."

"And you believe in the Lord's Canon, truly believe?"

"I do, sir."

"Good, you are now Inquisitor Prima. You are hereby promoted to Chief Judge of Lillyvale."

Edmund's eyes widened and his mouth fell open. "C-Captain?"

"I would like you to see to this evenings executions personally, while my partner and I-" Dallet nodded to Jace, "-try to figure out what other potential breaches of canon are putting the citizens of this fair town in danger."

A bright spark appeared in Edmund's eyes as he nodded, straightening his back. "Yes sir, I will sir."

"Excellent."

"Sir, a question."

"Yes?"

"What of my... comrades." Edmund glanced at the three grubby men still standing at the window of the station, his nose crinkling in disgust.

"Keep them, fire them, they are your inquisitors, your instruments." Dallet smiled again. "Use them as you see fit."

"By your command captain!"

As Edmund marched off, chest puffed out proudly, Dallet turned to Jace. "It's like you said commander, the new Marshal wants to send a message."

"So, the slave shot the... previous... chief judge?"

"Yes. He was... distracted, and the moment I stepped into the room, she grabbed his gun and shot him."

"And she didn't shoot you?"

Dallet's cheek twitched ever so slightly. "I knocked the gun out of her hand. After that, she made a run for it, tried to grab my gun as she went past."

"Hmmm." Jace's eyes narrowed a little.

"You know commander, I'm actually rather glad we took this detour." Dallet clapped Jace on the shoulder as he strode back into the station. "I think we have a golden opportunity to rekindle the Lord's light in these people's hearts."