Page 31 of Torgash

Mrs. Bauer makes a small, distressed sound. "But that's not what we signed," she whispers to her husband, loud enough for the courtroom to hear.

Ash reaches into his briefcase, his movements unhurried despite the tension in the room."Your Honor, I'd like to submit the defendant's original copy of the loan application."

The change in the room is immediate. Opposing counsel goes rigid. Judge Hendricks takes the document, comparing it to what he'd been reviewing.

"The terms are substantially different," the judge says slowly. "Interest rate, payment schedule, late fee provisions, none of this matches."

"It appears someone created fraudulent documentation to facilitate an illegal foreclosure," Ash says, his voice carrying the weight of absolute certainty.

When Judge Hendricks finally bangs his gavel, dismissing the case with prejudice, Mrs. Bauer bursts into tears. Her husband's hands shake as he grips the back of the pew in front of him.

Royce's lawyers pack their briefcases with sharp, angry movements. One of them mutters something under his breath that makes his colleague elbow him hard in the ribs. They're pissed, but more than that—they're rattled. They didn't expect to lose.

And I've just witnessed something that cracks the careful walls I've built around my assessment of Ash Thornshade.

Outside the courthouse, I catch up with him as he's loading files into his bike's saddlebags. The Bauers have already left, both of them smiling thanks to the orc who just saved their home.

"That was good work in there," I tell him, keeping my voice neutral despite the strange flutter in my chest. "Hell of a save with that original loan application."

Ash glances up, something almost like surprise crossing his face. "Just doing my job."

"Job or not, it was impressive." I watch his face, noting the way he deflects the compliment. "If you had that document, why didn't the Bauers use it earlier? Before it got to a hearing?"

There's a slight pause before he answers. "They lost their copy years ago. When they asked the bank for a replacement to verify their terms, guess what they got?"

My cop brain processes this. "The forged version." I study his profile. "So how did you get the real one?"

That dangerous smile spreads across his face. "Mr. Archer at Shadow Ridge Loan and Trust keeps very thorough records. Never throws anything away."

“And he just handed it over to you, knowing Royce will pay him back for this once he finds out?’

"Archer's under our protection now." His voice is flat. "Besides, his kid had some legal troubles that needed fixing."

The implication hits me immediately. "You blackmailed him."

"I solved his son's problems." Ash grins. "Kid was looking at serious jail time for some stupid shit. Now he's not."

I process the timeline. Kid in trouble, dad with access to evidence, convenient legal help. "You leveraged the son to pressure the father."

"I beat Royce at his own game."

"That's still against the law, Ash."

His voice goes cold, distant. "That's against your law. Not mine."

The certainty in his voice unsettles me more than the admission itself, like he's thought about this distinction before. Like he's had to choose between legal and right more than once.

"You can't just pick and choose which laws apply to you," I say, though my voice lacks the conviction it should carry.

"Can't I?" He turns to face me fully. "Your legal system puts orc children in cages for sport. Carved scars into faces for entertainment. You think I owe that system my obedience?"

My eyes go to the scar bisecting his eyebrow. "Wait. Your scar, is that how you got it?"

His expression shuts down completely. "Drop it."

"Ash—"

"I said drop it."

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