Will looked up at the Marshall’s office, taking note of the official seal of the Heartland Federation over the doorway. It looked like what he’d expected a police station to look like. Not an ultra modern one of course but with a style that screamed official that he knew well. Even with Earth’s dense population many places that could still afford the space built buildings like that or used carefully maintained ones that were hundreds of years old. And that wasn’t counting the far more spacious colonies. It gave him a sense of home.

He’d seen it the night before but the officer on duty had told him if he wanted to speak with a Marshall or THE Marshall, he had to come back the following morning. So he set out to find something to eat and a hotel where he took some time to write out his own official statement on the events in Silverstead and Vicksby with the idea that it’d speed up the process. He also took a moment in the morning to clean himself up and shave before putting on new clothes for the first time since being brought to Cradus.

He didn’t have a uniform anymore and it didn’t feel right doing something official like that without it, so he did his best. He actually thought he looked pretty good in a dark green western style vest with his boots cleaned up the best he could get them. Not exactly as sharp as his dress uniform but up there somewhere.

He strode up the steps and entered the building and was greeted with a far busier sight than the night before with the building fully staffed. He was a little more prepared too after asking someone at the hotel what the different terms for the lawmen of Fairpoint were called. It turned out to be rather simple with each district of the city sporting a Marshall that acted like the district's sheriff or police captain. Below them were the Deputy Marshalls that acted as shift leaders, Inspectors that were detectives, and the Constables that worked the city streets as the rank and file of the department. Above them, all was a Federation Marshall that acted as the national government’s official law enforcement representative for the region as well as Fairpoint’s chief of police. It was him that Will was suppose to talk to or at a minimum his Deputy Marshall.

“What can I do ya for?” the receptionist said as he approached her window. He held up his three documents.

“I’ve got an emergency dispatch from Sheriff Theodore Holland of Silverstead for the Marshall requesting reinforcements. Law enforcement has been fired on and he’s worried the violence isn’t over. Also my official statement of the events where we were fired upon and my official statement regarding what happened at Vicksby,” will rattled off what he needed to. He didn’t say anything about the Marshall’s men, Kate had Victor’s letter and Will hadn’t seen her yet. She had a much more generous budget and had stayed in a different hotel. But he did mention that in his statement.

“And you would be? A Deputy?”

“Ah, No... William Tempest, [Bounty Hunter],” Will said.

“I see... please wait here,” The receptionist instructed before getting up and going into a back office. Will automatically went to parade rest but continued to look around the building while he waited. And he didn’t have to wait long. The receptionist returned with a constable in tow.

“He’ll show you to Deputy Federation Marshall Perrington’s office. Marshall Young is in a meeting at the moment,” she told him. Will quickly thanked her and followed the constable up two flights of stairs and past a series of offices before entering a waiting room of sorts.

“One to see Marshall Perrington,” the constable informed the receptionist.

“Concerning?”

“Another report from Vicksby to go with the first,” the constable said and Will wondered if that meant Kate or someone else that had made the ride the day before.

The receptionist stood and made his way to the door and gave a polite knock before sticking his head in and having a quiet conversation with the room's occupant. After he opened the door forward and gestured for Will to enter.

“He’ll see you now,” the man said before retaking position at his desk.

Will entered the very nice and professional looking office and with a gesture from a well dressed man took a seat on the guest side of the desk.

“So you’re here about Vicksby? We just received word this morning, I take it you were there too?”

“Yes sir but I’m also carrying a letter from Sheriff Theodore Holland-”

“Of Silverstead… If it’s about the dungeon, we know. I just sent two of my best Junior Marshalls with his deputy and received word this morning that they didn’t survive the shootout with the Wilhups.”

“It’s not about the dungeon,”

“Well let me have it then,” Perrington snapped his fingers at Will who handed over all three letters. He looked at the one addressed to the Marshall’s office from the sheriff but spared a moment to glance at the other two, nodding for a moment as he realized what they were, “I’ll get to that in a moment.”

He sat back and read the sheriff’s letter before setting it aside and picking up Will’s retelling of the events after finding Lemar Ranch torched. He could recognize it due to a quarter sized ink blotch from the fountain pen he’d used to write it… they were a lot more temperamental than a standard pen. When he finished that one Perrington nodded and collected the papers before standing up.

“Follow me… I’ll read your statement on Vicksby with Marshall Young,” Perrington said.

“Oh, I thought he was in a meeting,” Will was wondering if that was a normal thing to filter unwanted visitors but was immediately proven wrong.

“Oh, he is but he’s speaking with someone else from Silverstead, I believe I saw Kate Landry’s name a few times in the opening paragraph of your report just by glancing and she mentioned you more than once when she was sitting in that chair,” Perrington said and led him out of his office and down the hall to a second waiting area. He ignored the secretary there and strode to the door, giving it a polite knock before waiting a couple of seconds before opening it and walking in.

“Marshall, got another one. The [Bounty Hunter] Miss Landry mentioned. He’s got his entire experience on both issues neatly written out for us along with another letter from Holland,” Perrington announced and pointed to a seat next to Kate for Will to sit down in. He handed the papers to the Federation Marshall behind a much larger and even nicer desk. The man was well dressed in a three piece suit with a bolo tie, shaved face, and dark slicked back hair graying at the temples. He gave the appearance of a businessman if not for the open jacket and visible shoulder holster underneath.

“Mister Tempest,” Kate greeted him.

“Kate,” Will answered back. His familiarity drew a glance from both Marshalls in the office but they both went back to his statements. With Perrington going over the report from Vicksby.

When Marshall Young was done he slid Will’s statement over to Kate. She glanced between them for a moment and picked it up to quickly read it while the Marshall moved on to the Vicksby report. Will recognized the moment as being all business, so he just sat back and waited.

“That explain the circumstances compared to what your people found Miss Landry?” Young asked when she placed the statement back on the table.

“It does,” she said after a moment.

“Do you still wish to pursue an investigation?”

Kate looked over at Will for a moment but nodded.

“I don’t have much reason to distrust Mister Tempest, gods know he’s helped out in tracking down the ones that killed Lemar and that’s not even mentionin’ Vicksby but…” she explained and Will knew from the moment she mentioned trust that there would be a ‘but’, not that he could blame her, “I’ve only known Mister Tempest for a week or so. My family is still requestin’ an investigation. And besides Marshall, not sure if one can really trust the words of monsters. How can you believe goblins to tell the-”

“Now hold on right there Miss Landry, gonna have ta stop you on that. If you’re requesting the investigation continue then I’ll oblige but when it comes to goblins I have to correct that matter... Not saying that I necessarily believe their word like a would an actual person but in accordance with Federation Law, Goblins are Indigenous Sub-Human Entities. They’re backward savages but you can't just call them monsters anymore. The Federation recognizes them as more than just animals but not quite proper folk,” Young stated

“Indigenous Sub-human Entities?” William asked, he had a strange sense of deja vu? Something from Earth’s history.

“Yes Mister Tempest, Sub-human Entities. Don’t worry, no one can legally place an eradication bounty at the Adventurer’s Union without a reason but there’s still no law against killin’ them at least yet. There’s a few that are protected if you ever make your way up north, the Federation has a program up there. A group of scientists and bleeding hearts trying to civilize the savages, see if they can integrate them into society. Teach them to wear clothes, worship proper gods, and the like,” Marshall young explained but he glanced over at the look on Kate's face and quickly added, “For purely scientific purposes Miss Landry, I assure you. I’m not sure how successful the program is but you’re more likely to be seated at a cafe with a Kitsune at the table next to you than a goblin... Regardless, we’ll evaluate their testimony and decide if it should carry any weight.”

Marshall young nodded to the two of them to end the matter. Then passed her Will’s Vicksby Statement. He slid a paper to Will as well. Will took it but didn’t read it. He was feeling a little sick that he’d killed them, it was obvious now that goblins were an oppressed people… He at least knew that he tried to challenge them first and only killed the ones that had taken up arms against him but it still didn’t sit right with him. He had the advantage of being from a far more advanced society, one that had made the same decisions about other peoples across the world throughout history but grew to the point they could recognize their actions as atrocities. Even with it being a matter of species rather than Earth’s actions which were done to other races of humans, it didn’t matter to him…

He looked at the paper in his hand again. It only took him a glance to realize it was Kate’s recollection of events from the bandit attack. He put the matter of goblins aside and started to read. She wasn’t as succinct in her reporting and she obviously had entirely different-

Kate started giggling next to him. Will looked and saw she was blushing and couldn’t meet his eyes. Will didn’t think there was anything that entertaining in his report.

“I believe Miss Landry just reached the part of your statement concerning a Miss Kitty,” Marshall young said dryly but there was still a small hint of a grin on his face. Will looked over at Kate again and felt his face grow red. He had no reason to believe anyone else besides law enforcement would read the report so he’d been thorough and described the entire situation in depth. Mainly due to the fact that Miss Kitty had actually met and spoken with the Wilhup brothers. It seemed important to not leave out anything that she said or did.

He tried to distract himself by reading the rest of her statement about the events after reaching the barricade, he hadn’t seen her all night after splitting up but he read about her getting treatment for her gunshot wound and taking a position on the barricade on the western side of the street, the number of times the bandits attacked, the people that had gotten hit. It was informing in its own right but it read a bit more like a personal letter describing her experience than what he’d give to his superiors. A narration to a story compared to his mater of fact report.

“Either of you have any reason to contradict the other on your statements?” Marshall Young asked when they were both done. Kate and Will both shook their heads, “Good… So here’s what I’m going to do… Perrington here will be returning with you along with four Junior Marshalls and an Inspector. I think we’ve got a Junior Marshall that’s fluent in that gutter speech the goblins call a language... He’ll stop in Vicksby to speak with Miss Kitty, I’m sure Mister Tempest here can point her out if need be. After he’ll continue on to deal with what’s going on in Silverstead while leaving two of the Junior Marshalls in Vicksby. Now I must ask you both that when it comes to the investigation you both steer clear of it. You’re both involved parties in the investigation by bringing this matter up, we call them complainants. If anyone brings the matter up with you or tries to press you for information, refer them to Perrington. Does that satisfy everyone’s interests?”

Will wasn’t sure if a Deputy Marshall, two Junior Marshalls, and an Inspector would be enough if a fight broke out between lawmen and the entire Landry family but he guessed that it was their authority that mattered. He nodded along with Kate after a moment with the only one seeming to object to the idea being Marshall Perrington but the man didn’t say a word.

“Good… I’ll also warn you, the deputy and the two young men you sent before were less than discrete about the matter with the dungeon. Words already spreading through the city and my sources have confirmed that a notice is up in the Adventurer’s Union hall. A group’s already gathered to head to Silverstead but they’re waiting on the Cherryblossom… the riverboat you both report as being lost outside of Vicksby. I won't be informing them that it’s not coming but it’ll only be a matter of a day or two before they hear what’s happened and set out by road. Don’t care if you’re with the Landrys or the Sheriff on this dispute, both of you be ready for their arrival,” Young informed them. It was good to know… Will should probably get some more time in at the dungeon before it was swarmed by newcomers. Build up a stockpile of things to sell. “Anything to add Perrington?”

“I have matters I need to attend to before we go and must gather my men. I’ll have to find one that speaks goblin. We’ll meet you both on the steps out front at noon. Understood?” Will nodded but his eyes widened when he realized the implication that they’d be leaving for Silverstead in a few hours. He still had shopping to do.

“I believe Mister Tempest had some errands to run before he can depart but I’m sure I’m familiar enough to help him get what he needs before we depart. Perhaps even a short brunch,” Kate smiled and stood up with her hand extending, “Marshall Young, Deputy Marshall Perrington. It has been a pleasure and on behalf of myself and my family I thank you both kindly.”

Both men took her hand in a very classy way to shake a woman’s hand and then shook Will’s.

“Ah, yeah. Thank you, Marshall,” he wasn’t as courteous but they didn’t seem to care. He followed Kate out of the office and headed down and outside before she turned to speak.

“So… [Artificer], what does one need for that?” She asked.