Page 87 of The Toymaker
“Because he tried to stop us from leaving, and he tackled me on the basement stairs.”
“Forcing someone to stay is like keeping a prisoner,” said Kit. “Or a real slave. Just because I signed up to be a pleasure slave doesn’t mean he can hold me hostage.”
“I think we need to take them to the city guardhouse,” said the first. “This is a bit complicated.”
“I need to take them home because they’re both mentally ill,” Trig declared from just outside the door. “Kit’s a bit off too, and I’m sorry he ended up out of control. I didn’t know he’d panic-”
“You want to take someone home after they slugged you in the face?” asked the second. “You’ve got blood all over you.”
“He didn’t mean it like that. Kit panicked because Riju was panicking, and I was trying to get him under control.”
“You tripped Riju on the stairs and tried to hold him down!” exclaimed Kit. “I’d kick you in the face all day for that!”
“You don’t even know what you’re talking about. I didn’t grab Riju. I was trying to make him calm down.”
“That’s enough,” said the second. “We’re going to the city guard because we’re not going to stand here and listen to you argue all night. You’re all going to walk ahead. Nobody’s going to run, yell, or start shit.”
“You’re going to get them all riled up again.” Trig gestured at the pair.
“No, we won’t.” The second raised his hands. “We’re all going to stay calm. Can you two walk and stay calm?”
“Yes,” said Riju, and Kit nodded.
“See?” The second guard looked at Trig who glared back. “Let’s go.”
“I’m in my drawers.”
“It’s not my fault you chased after them in your drawers, and we’re not wasting time for you to go put on trousers.”
Since the guards had likely never dealt with a real issue, they’d have to go to the city guard and let someone else handle the issue. Maybe that was better. Riju had planned to spill everything anyway.
Riju held Kit’s hand and kept his distance from Trig as they walked through the city with the guards occasionally telling them to turn down a street. He remembered where the guardhouse was from his constant wanderings around Raven’s Landing as a child. The two guards stayed close.
Thankfully, Trig didn’t try to get close, and he didn’t say anything, not that it comforted Riju. Kit had to be scared too judging by the way he was clutching onto Riju’s hand.
The guardhouse was pretty quiet. A few cells to one side were empty except for a ragged guy who was asleep on a straw mat. He was likely a drunk who’d gotten in trouble and needed to sleep off the booze. They’d kick him out in the morning. The gate guards spoke to the pair behind the desk who appeared surprised to have a real issue to deal with.
“We’ll have to get Nawson,” said one. “Billy will have to go find him, so it might be a bit.”
One of the guards took Riju, Kit, and Trig into the back area of the guardhouse. An office that was probably for the Commanderhad a few chairs against the wall, and the man put three in front of the desk.
“Have a seat. Nawson’s not the Commander of the city guard, but the Co-Commander, and he’s in charge of those on the night shift. If there’s a real issue, he deals with it. If it’s too much, he’ll get the Commander.”
One of the gate guards poked his head in. “Should one of us stay? We witnessed Riju and Kit being chased, and we also recognized them.” He pointed at Riju and Trig. “One of us does need to return since we’re not supposed to leave the gate completely unguarded.”
“Yeah, you’re a witness, so one of you can stay. The other needs to go back.”
Trig picked a chair, and Kit tugged the other two a little farther away.
“Don’t you think that’s unnecessary?” asked Trig.
“No,” Kit said in a nasty tone. “Like we’d want to sit next to you.”
“Still trying to scare Riju.” Trig shook his head. “I hurt my foot because I had to run after you two-”
“That’s enough,” said the guard.
“Can we have water?” asked Riju. “Kit hasn’t had any all day.”
