For a change of pace after so long on the road (even with all the cushions that long a trip made them wonder if their hind quarters had gained a supernumerary crack,) it was decided that rather than sleeping in the carriage tonight they would find a nice secure inn and nap there, though the locals did make that somewhat challenging once they came to the realisation that the group were travelling with an infernal cat about on scale with the average citizen and an owl Chimera. (who would ever have guessed those two would make the rodentia of remarkable proportions uncomfortable? Such a shocker.)

Eventually they were settled down in a nice place called “the bolt hole” though in order to prevent owl-bear related complications they had to rent out the entire floor, come in via the back staircase, and the duo (and by extension the sqwoomphette who had taken up pretty much permanent residence alternating between Rascal’s and Alba’s head as their perch of choice,) had to sleep in the reception room by the door.

A kind young Dook named Slinky in a mob cap (the Dook as a rule avoided most clothing as they considered their mobility to be their most cherished trait, so caps and necklaces were about the limit of their apparel,) Lead everybody to their rooms, then informed them food would be served downstairs in about an hour, and in the meantime Errol and Sir Leeroy went about the entire floor tinkering with the windows.

“What are you two up to?” Mibbet asked.

“Oh setting anti prank measures.” Errol replied

“I’m a Princess Errol I doubt anybody is going to be running any practical jokes on me.”

Errol simply looked at her, a perfect mix of aghast and horrified. “Always expect pranks Princess, ALWAYS otherwise you’ll be going about minding your own business one day and WHAM itching powder in your under-armour.”

Mibbet and Rosalind took turns to give a dubious look (he totally earned two.) “Ever think that maybe you’re projecting a little bit Errol? Your sisters are miles away, they can’t get you here, you’re in the clear.”

“Oh no no no no no, not safe, never safe, can’t let guard down. That’s when they get you, they’re out there waiting. Must stay on guard.”

“OK............ that answers that, but Sir Leeroy what the hell are you doing?”

“Beefing up the pranks.”

“Why the hell would you do that?”

“Because Princess whether Errol is aware of what he’s doing or not what he’s doing is being more jumpy than a security agent on too much coffee. Errol will literally not leave a single gap in security. Were you aware once over his little sister made a three day journey in order to prank him at basic training? Apparently she had gotten bored. He took an air horn to the face at 3 o clock in the morning. Which caused him to step into the tray of shaving foam, that made him skid into the pie, and it all went downhill from there.”

“Eeeeesh no wonder he’s jumpy.”

“Yet that jumpiness seriously beefs up our security, so what I do is I follow him around on the sweep of the building and upgrade every trick to the best I can. It really makes the escort mission so much more secure.”

“So Errol’s insecurity is the best tool for our security.”

“Pretty much, did you think we kept him round for his looks?”

Mibbet’s deadpan stare answered that question, looking at Errol it was safe to say he was not the type to successfully sleep his way to the top. He had a very.... unique look, which is to say that nobody would ever wish to replicate it. With a breastplate up to his nose, and a pair of ears that would definitely hold greater affinity for a ratkin than a human, and legs that had to be somewhere under the greaves.”

“Fair enough, should we go down and eat now?”

“Sounds like a plan Princess, though we will need to bring food up for the beasts, because otherwise we’ll cause a citywide panic.”

As they made their way downstairs Errol carefully set up another trap by the stairway door.

************************************************************************

Rattanian was disillusioned and annoyed, they had come to this district all the way from the warrens in order to become a guard, they really had not been prepared for the level of corruption that was prevalent though. If anybody committed a crime all it took was a few greased paws and it all went away, theft, no problem, murder, easy peasy, even corruption of the council was easily dismissed. Usually the guard all went to the same place for drinks, but Rattanian hated the place. The entire establishment reeked of corruption, and he was sick of it.

He preferred the comfortable atmosphere of The Bolt any day of the week, it was a really nicely set up little hole in the wall type of place, and the food was spectacular.

Today though he was determined to drown all his sorrows. He’d tried getting the bosses to look into a Grey’s front, but as far as the others were concerned The Grey Twins were a myth. Nobody could establish that much if a foothold in the city and not be noticeable according to them. But it was fairly obvious to Rattanian that something stank. Were they using the old tunnels? Or taken it a step further and settled into the tower itself. The thought of such an unspeakable taboo made him shudder, but that was the thing about criminals, they only followed the rules when it suited them. Or when they could be weaponised on some poor sap trying to put a stop to their dirty dealings. Maybe he’d have a bit of a sniff round on his own time.

Word on the street was they were up to something (of course said word was very quiet so as not to attract their attention. Nobody would be unwise enough to draw The Grey’s attention, at least not for long as it may be detrimental to ones health.) Rattanian wasn’t sure what but he would find out.