[As One River to Another] Big Shadows in Little Garaia

[Pig Boy]

35th of Saun 722

They were indeed expecting arrivals at the Rharne Prison this day. It was part of their irregular re-supply schedule, a process that was kept carefully secret from even most of the guards at the prison, as such information could facilitate a breakout the likes of which had happened only cycles ago. For whatever reason, however, rumors of points of interest and jobs available at the Rharne prison had reached ears as far as Rharne and beyond, as people found out one way or another about these resupply caravans, or else traveled with prisoner trains.

The reason for the Head Guard’s presence at the entrance to the Rharne Prison was to greet these arrivals. He almost looked surprised when the first to arrive at the prison was a naer, disembarking from the head of the supply train, having hitched a ride along with it.

His eyes narrowed at her, as he consulted a list of names on his ledger. Sure enough, mysteriously, Rozkia’s name and general description came up there. “Rozkia. Naer. Female.”

“No, don’t be alarmed.” The woman with the short hair said to Rozkia. “We’re expectin’ you.” She snickered, laying a hand on the hilt of his arming sword, as she waited for the Head Guard to pronounce the sentence.

“Rozkia, guilty for the crime of aggravated assault, wanted for questioning by the Lightning Knights. I hereby place you under arrest.”

Too fast, the woman with short hair drew her sword. Rozkia almost didn’t notice it was out until the tip found its way beneath her chin, just centimeters from the skin. “No fightin’ today. We got a job for ye.”

“Careful, Valerie,” The Head Guard said, “This one is a fighter.”

Valerie smiled and shook her head at Rozkia. “I think she’ll fit in right well with Little Garaia, then.” Valerie quirked an eyebrow as she stared down Rozkia, “Ye said you wanted work. We’ve got work for you. But first you’ll need to cooperate. Might even knock off that thirty day sentence of hard labor, dependin’ on how successful you are.”

“Valerie, you could try enjoying this less, project some professionalism.”

Valerie didn’t take her eyes from Rozkia as she responded to Ricard, “You’ve got me all wrong, Ricard. This prison is right up my lane. Now, let’s get this naer to fall in line.”

Off Topic

Okay Rozkia, immediately you’re in a situation that could turn deadly and dangerous depending on how you react.

[Rozkia]

She was already knee deep in trouble before she even had a chance to argue her position. Rozkia faltered when the guardsman said her name - she thought to take a step back. Perhaps it was all over her expression but the immediate don’t be alarmed had more warning to it that she could catch. Expecting her, that she didn’t like the sound of. He listed her sentence and then it was too late to get away as the woman had her sword pointed inches from her throat before she could blink.

She remembered her transgressions all too late - yes, the lightning knights were after. Yes, she knew. No, she didn’t think that the news and her description would be enough to arrest her. After all, she had no claims to her title! She grit her teeth as she considered her options. She couldn’t run, this ‘Valerie’ would have her head for the attempt. She couldn’t fight in this position. And even if she managed to get away from Valerie, Ricard was still an obstacle.

This is why turning herself in would’ve been a better move! She had panicked when she saw them and just said the first thing to mind and now she was trapped. She hesitated, waited for them to finish talking before she spoke through gritted teeth.

“We will not resist. We could not even if we wished to.” The naer noted bitterly, raising her hands in a show of surrender slowly. She looked Valerie in the eye and then Ricard. She’d been in this place before. Knowing the prison wasn’t the same as knowing the cell - no matter what she’d be in trouble if she didn’t play along. She squinted suspiciously - how could the prison have work for her? And what was little Garaia?

“We have a right to know what hard labor you have in mind, do we not?” Yes, she would start small. If she asked too many questions it probably wouldn’t end well. Not to mention this was intended to be about gathering information on some sort of gem, if they led her in as a prisoner she had no need to sneak around. Despite trying her best to project outward calm, Rozkia was panicking. If she was lucky she’d be able to commute her sentence and leave without too much trouble. If she wasn’t she had no doubt her life was one the line.

She couldn’t fight, it would end very badly. She couldn’t run, there was nowhere to hide. The only path was forward, and that was more dangerous. She couldn’t give up and die though, she had things to accomplish! She glared at nothing as she considered her position and waited for the, to escort her to where she’d likely be put in another cell. Lasvika had told her to turn herself in - that had been the plan… Well she got her way, Rozkia was arrested regardless.