“Aho, do we now? Saying we’re corrupt, are you?” The captain pressed the nose of his runegun into the Gummer’s jugular.
“N…n…no of course not.”
“Oh, I see. You’re saying the Warden of Strength is corrupt?”
“No!”
“Officers, I think we have a defamation trial on our hands. Fetch the Starting Drum. This one’s going on the rack.”
There was an inhale of breath as the Gummer collapsed to the ground at his sentence.
“The rack? But he didn’t do anything!” someone whispered, someone naive.
Someone stupid.
The captain turned to the voice, but when he couldn’t identify them from the group, he turned back to the Gummer on the floor.
“Someone inform the ripper,” the captain said with a wide smile. The officers’ answering grins were slices of white in the darkness of the Maroon.
They dragged the Gummer out, the officers pushing and kicking anyone who got in their way.
Hassa’s breathing was still shallow long after they had gone.
Hassa?Marigold had retrieved her satchel with their feet, offering Hassa the strap between their sandaled toes. Hassa reached for it and slipped the pack over her head.
At least they didn’t take your wares.
Hassa nodded, her fear thawing.
I have to go back to Maiden Turin’s, but I’ll see you later? To scout the new route?
Hassa’s eyes slipped to the pool of urine the Gummer had left.
Yes, we need to find another way out of this bloodforsaken city.