"No!" Struggling to my feet I lean a forearm on the rail for support, "Kryst, stop it." A shift lets me test a bit of weight on my foot. It sends a throb through my leg but I can stand.

"Yes. Listen to Brian." Cinnamon places a hand on my shoulder then addresses both Kryst and the blonde guard, "Please. I really think this has all just been a big mistake. We only arrived yesterday and we haven't done anything wrong. I'm sure if we all sat down and discussed this amicably everything will be cleared up in no time."

"Yeah." I nod my affirmation, glad that Cinnamons soft voice is there to help calm the tense situation. I nearly reach over to pat her hand but catch myself at the last second. The miracle cream may have relieved the pain in my hands for the moment, but I don't want to test it.

"We may be new to the city but we're did not come here to cause any sort of trouble." I say.

"Doesn't look that way to me." The lead guard says. Worry lines pull at the corner of eyes set into otherwise young face and, I see now, that there are more than a few grey hairs running throughout his wavy blonde hair..

Behind him most of the guards have put away their batons and instead now have firm grips on the hilts of their swords. The blades drawn a few inches.

I hold up my hands in surrender. To a man, the guards flinch when they get a good look. The ruined appearance of my palms made all the more disgusting by the shiny layer of cream.

"We are not resisting." I clear my throat toward the fairy who hasn't moved a muscle. I hear her give a growl of annoyance followed by a suck of her teeth.

"Isn't it that right, Kryst?" I poke her a bit with my injured foot.

Kryst huffs then straightens up, crossing her arms, practically pouting like a child.

"Whatever." She says.

"Then, down on the ground." The larger guard finally stands. His legs and voice seem a bit shaky. "Hands behind your backs!" He yells the command looking to draw strength from the aggressive volume.

"That's enough, Henrick." The lead guard states, silencing the larger man. "Your actions have already escalated this more than it needed to be. Now unless you received a promotion that I have not been informed of you will stand there with your eyes open and mouth shut. Are we clear?"

"But, they--"

"I said, are we clear?" The edge to the lead guards voice is all business.

"Yes, sir." Getting slapped down by Kryst and then berated by his superior seems to suck the last bit of bluster from the big man. He gives a sheepish nod and steps to the side. A few of the guards share silent, snickering grins behind his back.

The blonde man takes a long breath, clearly annoyed at having to discipline a subordinate in front of us. He turns back to us when a familiar voice rings out.

"What's this now?" Plogz voice drifts over the assembly. "Seems the sniffs need new sets of spectacles."

The blonde guard lets out a sigh and I swear he ages ten years before my very eyes.

"Seeing as that be the case I will get special order arranged with the crafters and a billing invoice sent to the constabulary, post haste." Plogz continues.

One by one the guards part like the red sea. The small goblin waddles through the lot toward the front of the line. Captain Reigns following a few steps behind.

With an air of authority Plogz stops in front of the blonde guard and looks up to address him.

"Marshal Tomas." Both hands placed on top of his cane Plogz nods a greeting.

"Unless my peepers deceive that is a G.U signet upon his personage." Plogz lifts the end of his cane to point at my shredded hands. "Or am I confundled?"

"You are making a jest right, Mr. Plogz." The guard's face takes on the appearance of someone who has just sucked on a slice of vinegar soaked lemon. Tomas then leans over a bit and squints at my hand. Taking the cue, I turn it so the back is to him and he can get a better look at the blood stained ring on my finger.

"Unbelievable." Tomas raises a hand to pinch at the bridge of his nose. "This is absolute piss-water."

"Stamp certified the Darklander myself. Ink may be tacky and the seals still warm, but, legitimacy is assured. Shall I make assertations that you do not wish to bring MY position within G.U. to inquiry?"

"Goblin Union or not. Either way it doesn't change the fact that they are to be detained. A pair of Cityguard were attacked this morning by a perpetrators matching the description of these three."

Plogz stiffens and he glances over toward us. His eyes narrow in a disapproving glare and his lips tighten into a hard line.

"Were they killed?" Plogz asks, the concern in his voice clear.

A long drawn out pause follows the question before Marshal Tomas finally replies.

"No."

"Did they sustain any injuries? What happened, Tomas?"

Again a pause follows. Eventually the guard shakes his head.

"From what I've gathered, no. They were both simply knocked unconscious and their bodies hidden in an alley."

The tension in Plogz face softens. "Good." Releasing a held breath in relief the goblin, gives me the barest hint of a nod. The goblin rubs at his stubbly chin for a moment as if contemplating something then glances back to meet the guards eye."And there were, of course, witnesses to this assault."

"They attacked members of the Cityguard."

"Allegedly." Plogz shrugs.

"Mr. Plogz, I'm only trying to do my job here." Tomas says.

"Then you should do it better, Tomas. You are attempting to make an arrest in Cragcliff yet I have received no notifications of such."

"Alright. This is a official notification then."

"Very well." Plogz nods his head then turns his attention back toward me. "Brian. Do you have your peers selected?"

Tomas blinks down at the goblin in a state of complete shock. The other guards glance to each other a few of them shrugging. I look to Cinnamon and Kryst, but judging by their blank expressions they don't know what is going on either.

"Seriously?" Tomas asks the goblin.

"Once a Redtree signed and notarized G.U. member has been made aware of detainment, and they has acknowledged and/or sworn willingness to co-operate with authoratives, then said G.U. member must be accompanied by a number of peers as to maintain cognitive cohesion during the stages of processing, prosecutioning and sentences as to guarantee full understanding and the ramifications of potential charges and punishments."

Cognative Cohesion? I boggle. Isn't that what Kryst and Cinnamon were telling me about before? That weird hive mind thing that goblins share?

"This is ridiculous." Marshal Tomas says angirly. "First of all that was passed when the Union was in its infancy here in Redtree. You know as well as I that there are more than enough goblins in the city to maintain the connection well outside city limits. On last account it extended almost to the town of--"

"That is not either there nor here." Eyes closed, Plogz shakes his head from side to side, "Until council voted and addendumied passed --"

"And second!" Tomas interrupts Plogz indicating me with one outstretched hand, "He. Isn't. A goblin!"

"Really, Tomas? I'm surprised at you. According to the letter written there be no stipulications that the G.U. member in question need be of any specificified racial or--"

"You know what?!" Tomas throws up both hands, his eyes all but rolling to the back of his head in irritation. "I'm not doing this dance with you today, Mr. Plogz. Because, as much as you love to be a thorn in my ass, today this particular bothersome prick is one I can pass on up the chain of command."

"You. What's your name? Brian something?" Marshal Tomas points at me sharply.

I nod. "Brian Brantley."

"Brian Brantley, you will be taken into custody for questioning by the Redtree Cityguard. You must take three and up to five," he shakes his head in disbelief and holds out hands with fingers outstretched to give a visual of the numbers, "of your peers to accompany you so that you may be in full comprehension of the proceedings. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. Sure I suppose." I glance to Plogz who nods. I attempt to sound as official as possible, "I chose Cinnamon Butter, Kryst Thunderfist and... umm, Mr. Plogz? Would you mind?"

"Of course not, Darkson. I insist."

"Stupidest thing I've ever been privy too in my life." Tomas shakes his head talking low but loud enough for all to hear. He reaches back to a pouch on his belt and pulls out a leather case about the same size and dimensions as a iphone or perhaps a small reading tablet. In much the same way he flips the leather cover open to reveal a dark grey nearly black slate. Taking a pencil length sharpened stick from a holder on the inside of the case he starts to etch into the slate angrily, the letters glowing white.

"Three out of four of them are wanted for taking part in the altercation anyway." Tomas continues his muttering complaints.

"Alleged altercation." Plogz corrects.

Tomas jaw tightens but he bites back a retort. Instead he merely waggles his pencil like stick toward the goblin while shooting him a dirty look.

"Mr. Brantley? I would also ask if I too may join you, 'ey?" Captain Reigns nods her head, that spicy attitude tinting her voice, "There are words that I wish to have with authorities concerning the acquisition of my fairies."

"And Captain uhh.. Isabella Ravena Reigns too." I add.

"Sure. Why not." Tomas gives another roll of his eyes before returning to his writing.