Y 0: Day 158: THe Boar's Head
That evening while the Seekers are enjoying their meal at the Boar's Head, the captain of the guard and his lieutenant both enter the tavern. The Seekers are in their usual place and it so happens that Clavo is seated at a table on the the floor by himself. When the captain enters, Clavo sets down his mug of Pine Vine Mellow and stands.
"Well, Captain Marstoni. I would think you would be a Commander by now. Who did you anger to be remanded to baby sitting duty."
Marstoni responds, "Clavo, in the flesh I thought you had died."
Clavo gives a phony laugh. "That is a lie, and I know it. Let me tell you what else I know. Those caravaners are not the least bit criminal, yet they are collared like some condemned murderers. Sit down. Have a drink. Tell me another lie."
Captain Marstoni and his lieutenant both move over to Clavo's table. The lieutenant sits. Marstoni looks over toward where the Seekers are sitting and asks loudly enough to be heard, "Those young people seated over in such a place of prominence, they came out to meet the caravan as we were approaching. They seem quite young to be throwing such weight. Who are they?"
Clavo gives the man a flat look and a straight answer. "Those are the Southroad Seekers."
The Captain puts his hand on his sword and states loudly, "By the authority of the Ansylin Magistry, I am to arrest the Southroad Seekers and return them to Asylim."
The entire tavern goes completely silent.
Clavo laughs loudly and slams his mug back down. "Sit down Marstoni! I will crack your skull with this chair before your sword clears that scabbard. Even if Asylim had any authority here, you take a good look at those young people over there. You look at their gear. You look at their poise. What do you think you are looking at, some rich twits out of Boga City buying their way south? Better think again. They earned that armor. They earned their reputation.
And since you have decided to show yourself like some pompous donkey, I will add a few more questions. You and your 10 marshals may be expert swordsmen. I saw you surveying the town. There are enough archers here that you and your men would be slaughtered. I know you have realized this. Do you know all your men? Can you vouch for all of them?"
Marstoni takes his hand from his sword and nods.
Clavo continues, "So one of your so called criminal caravaners is the real thing. One of them is an assassin. Mark my words. I will bet you your year's wage he suffers the same fate as the last one, and the Southroad Seekers were not even her when the last one was killed."
Marstoni sits, finding nothing to say.