Tundra already knew that her idiot son was lying about something. Probably all of it, but she also knew that this would be an opportunity to get onto Captain Raccoon for jailing her son so often. The boy was stupid and useless, but having him in trouble all the time made her look bad, and that was something she couldn't abide.

"Right this way," the City Guardsman said as he opened the familiar door to Captain Raccoon's office.

The massive man sat at his desk, going over paperwork. When she entered, he removed his reading glasses and set them aside. He looked just as pleased to see her as she was to see him.

"He was pissing in the well," Raccoon said flatly. "That's a health hazard we can't ignore."

"I'm here about the mudrat that stole his money."

"He didn't have any money to steal," Raccoon immediately stated.

"You're covering for that mudrat. Why?"

"I'm keeping the peace in Lockton. Rimmer didn't have any money and you know it. Unless he stole it from someone else."

"This mudrat was posing as a Western Barracks knight."

"Squire," Raccoon corrected. "And not posing. Matron Tundra, you truly are a racist bitch. Unfit for your position."

Tundra, fully expecting insults, didn't flinch. Instead, she smiled. "Then I'll take my complaint to the Palace Guard. This mudrat must pay." Tundra turned to leave Raccoon's office.

"For what? Existing?" Raccoon demanded, slamming his hand on the table. "It's not enough that you steal from them every chance you get, but now you're going to get this kid tortured?"

"He's dared to rise above his station." Tundra looked over her shoulder and smirked.

"For fuck's sake. You vile woman. I hope Nyltia strikes you down soon."

"Your blasphemous tongue will have you struck down faster," Tundra retorted. Leaving Raccoon's office, she swept out of the building and to the street where her private carriage waited. "To the palace," she ordered her driver as she got in. She didn't have much of a rapport with Knight Commander Kelvin, but she suspected he would hear and take her complaint seriously, even if it was fully fabricated.

The ride to the palace wasn't very long, but Tundra hadn't gotten the opportunity to head out until later in the day. It was nearly sunset now. Stepping out, she headed inside the palace, walking past the guards who stood at the palace entrance. They were both to one side, looking at something between them, trying to shield whatever was in their hands from people passing by.

Disgraceful behavior, but Tundra couldn't ask for anything better from the sons of high nobles. They were beyond her station. Heading inside, she paused in the foyer. She didn't know where to go from here. Perhaps she might disrupt the two guards at the door.

Thankfully, someone else came to her aid before she had to resort to such measures.

"Matron, how may I help you?" The man, tall with a bald head and bushy white beard, looked to be a high noble. Tundra immediately bowed to him.

"I am in search of the Knight Commander's office," she explained. "I have a complaint about one of the squires in the Western Barracks."

The man's brows lifted. "Is that so..." He offered his arm to her. "If that is the case, I'll escort you there. I am Chancellor Floritan."

"Matron Tundra of the City Temple," she said, glad that he had introduced himself and she wasn't going to be left wondering. Dealing with high nobles was always tricky. They normally didn't go to the City Temple. If they went at all, they attended the one built on Palace grounds. It was newer and nicer. Tundra could only dream of becoming Matron there, but Matron Meadow was unlikely to die anytime soon, and Tundra wasn't even lower nobility. That this man was treating her well at all was a miracle.

Stuffing down her anger, she focused instead on taking it out on this mudrat who dared to think he could become a knight.

Floritan led her to the right, then into the hall that branched north off it. They passed a few doors before Floritan entered one. It appeared to be waiting room of some kind. A desk was stationed near the next door further into the room, though no one sat at it. Knocking on the door, Floritan waited a moment before opening it. "Kelvin. Matron Tundra is here to see you about a Western Barracks squire."

Whatever the Knight Commander answered, Tundra didn't hear it. Instead, Floritan grinned and gestured for her to enter.

Stepping in with as much dignity as she could muster, Tundra bowed to the Knight Commander. He was a man in his late thirties with black hair and a handsome face.

"A western Barracks squire? What has he done?" Sir Kelvin asked, hands folded on his desk.

"He attacked and stole money from my son while in town," Tundra said.

"Is that so?" Kelvin sounded far too pleased by this. "Is there a description you could give?"

"Yes. He's a hannish boy," Tundra said.

Kelvin's eyes lit. His grin grew wider. "Well. I couldn't have expected better from that mudrat. I'll have him whipped within an inch of his life first thing tomorrow."

Tundra smiled. "Good. Thank you."

"How much money did he steal?"

"It doesn't matter," Tundra dismissed, getting the impression that even if she gave a number, they would steal what little the boy had just for the accusation. That was enough for her. "Thank you for hearing my complaint. I will be off, then."

"Of course, Matron. If you should have any more trouble with the boy, just let me know," Kelvin said.

Floritan opened the door for Tundra, letting her back into the sitting room. "Matron, if you could take that door there," he pointed just down the hall, "It will let you into the courtyard."

"Yes, thank you, Chancellor. I will never forget your kindness." Tundra bowed again.

***

"We'd better bring enough money to pay for drinks next time. That guy isn't going to let us drink for free ever again." Timmons glanced over at Reed. He was drumming a beat against his chest as he skip-stepped to his own rhythm.

Reed broke into song. Lily could only assume he was singing in Hannish since she didn't recognize the language.

Avery snorted. "Yeah. M'boyo is never going to give us free drinks again."

It was well past midnight, and the streets of Lockton had generally gone quiet. Most sane people were in bed by now. Those that weren't were either drunk and heading home or up to no good.

Reed had consumed two and a half bottles of whisky by himself. It was the barkeeper's fault. He kept pouring. Reed probably would have stopped if it had been his own shang he was spending. But everyone else started drinking, too, and his stories got wilder.

Grabbing Lily's hand, Reed spun her to face him. "It's no fun dancing by myself," he said in Ingvanic, hand on her hip. Her dance lessons kicked in to keep her moving with him, but she didn't know this dance. Helplessly, she followed his lead as he swung her through several steps, their hips closer than polite company allowed.

"So stiff!" he complained in Durrish. "Loosen up, señorita." Both hands on her hips this time, he made her sway them as they went side to side. "Yeah, like that." He took her hand again and pushed her hip to send her into a turn, then pulled her back.

"Reed, that's not appropriate contact in public," Avery said.

"Aie, y'all are prudes," Reed retorted in Ingvanic and spun Lily back to face him, dancing a few more steps.

A scream cut the air, breaking the moment. Reed's feet stopped. They all immediately turned to look in that direction.

Further up the street, the sounds of a desperate fight were coming from an alley. Reed let go of Lily and sprinted toward the noise. Before any of the three could move, he'd arrived at the mouth of the alley, slid to a stop, and strode in with a purposeful gait that clearly meant trouble for whoever was within.

"Hey, friend, I don't think the lady is having much fun there," Reed drawled.

Lilly reached the mouth of the alley a second later, Avery and Timmons coming up beside her.

In the shadows, a Durrish man had a Hannish woman by the hair. She sobbed, gripping his wrist.

"I don't really care if she's having fun. I am," the man said.

"I think you'd have more fun with me," Reed said, sounding dangerously cheerful.

The man threw his captive to the ground and turned to face Reed. "I think you're right." He cracked his knuckles, grinning. Breaking into a sprint, he closed the distance to Reed and swung his fist.

Much like his dance moves, Reed's feet took him back a step, then to the side.

Lily recognized this move as one of the ones he'd been teaching her, but this time, he didn't have a sword. Instead, he grabbed the man's extended arm and stepped in with three quick punches to the ribs.

Something snapped audibly.

"Ayy, this is fun!" Reed sneered. He pushed the man's head down, slamming it into his knee. With a snap, blood exploded across Reed's pants.

The man staggered back, fell on his butt, and collapsed to the ground. Reed swayed, sniffed, and stepped forward to straddle the guy. "Lemme look at yer face," he grabbed the guy's chin. "So I remember it for next time I'm bored." He slapped the groggy man's cheek, then stood.

"Nyltia's Light!" Avery objected, hurrying over. "You can't just assault people."

"What?" Reed swayed as he turned to look at Avery. "An I'm supposed to stand around while he beats a woman?" He tripped on the man's arm as he stepped over him. "Fuck that. Lil' bitch needs to be shown somthin sharp."

Lily knelt next to the Hannish woman, where she crouched on the ground. "Are you okay?"

Avery dragged Reed out of the alley.

The woman wiped tears off her dirty face. She was clearly a street lady, but this hadn't been the service the man was paying for. If he'd paid at all. Helping her up, Lily guided her out of the alley.

"We can't just leave him..." Timmons said.

"Why not?" Reed retorted.

"He'll go to the City Guard and get you arrested."

"And I'll tell Raccoon what he was doin and that'd be that," Reed dismissed, back to half-dancing as he started toward the palace again.

Lily closed her eyes with a sigh. "Miss, do you know that man?" she asked gently.

The street lady nodded. "Rimmer," she said in a small voice. "Never pays. He can't go to Guard either. He's always in trouble. Thank you." She gently pushed Lily's hands off and made a gesture like she was tugging her bangs at Reed's back. "Gr'achia, Amro," she whispered and hurried down the street toward the riverbank.

With little choice, the trio of squires gathered around Reed.

"You're nothing but trouble, you know that?" Timmons accused.

Reed laughed, his voice echoing off the quiet buildings. "Aie, I've been told that a time or two!"