Will and Lawrence were thrown into a damp, dirty, moldy, dimly lit cage. The jail cell was small only about two meters by two meters long and wide. The back of the cell was stone and iron bars covered three walls. In the cell next to them sat Holo by herself. A hurt Lawrence crawled to the iron bars separating the two cells. Lawrence and Holo held hands.

"Listen to me Will, do not speak at the proceedings! Beastmen look down on humans, addressing the audience will only hurt your chances of getting released," she said tearfully. "I will speak for you and Lawrence. I will try to gather my clan's support. As long as one of the clans supports our case we are like to prevail," she said.

There was no sunlight, only heavily candelabras hung outside the iron-barred doorway. Will noticed a large cast-iron lock, kept them inside. The key hung on the wall by the stairs.

Five large Bearmen soldiers escorted them inside the capital's gate entrance and into an adjacent barrack's basement prison. The soldiers were strong and rough. The grip they held Will by, left impressions on his wrist and soldiers.

"The bars are enchanted with anti-magic," said Lawrence. "Every state on the continent uses it in their prisons," he said. Lawrence said that right before Will was about to cast [rock armor].

They left the barony in the morning, and it was dusk when they arrived. The plan was to have a nice meal in an inn's restaurant. Now Will sat hungry on a stone floor. Neither on Earth nor Terra had Will ever slept on the ground. Now he was forced to sleep on a stone floor for the night. Lucky for him straw was sprinkled on the ground. Will slowly pulled the straw close to his body to make a pillow.

The entire night, Will barely slept. His body was stiff and cold from laying on the floor. For entertainment he watches the candles extinguish one by one until the jail was in complete darkness.

Will considered trying to break out, but that be counterintuitive to his plans. Instead, he decided to relish this moment for a while. Back on Earth, some businessmen considered going to prison a badge of honor. Prison meant you were bold effort to take risks. Will certainly had taken a risk with Lawrence, planning the operation. Will knew they would get caught eventually; no scheme successfully operates forever. However, Will wished his scheme had lasted longer than five months.

Besides, the businessmen who were arrested on Earth went to Club Fed. Club Fed was the nickname for businessmen who did prison time in a minimum-security federal penitentiary that resembled a winter mountain resort. No matter the sentence both businessmen served 10% of the sentence. The saying went, you walk in Club Fed with a smile and leave with a tan.

But this prison was as far from Club Feb as possible. There was no gym, luxurious meals, movie room, etc. There was only darkness and in darkness Will finally fell asleep.

"Wakey-wakey," shouted a guard, rudely banging iron on iron to create a cacophony.

"Here's your meal and water dish. At the 9th bell, I'll take you to be tried by the Tribunal Council. Put these collars around your neck," he said, sliding four bowls inside and two collars.

Lawrence and Will were given two bowls of cold watery oatmeal and another two bowls of water. Holo received a warm bowl of oatmeal, water, but no collar. The shame of wearing a collar was something Will didn't know if he lives down. However, he knew someone would pay for this. Will was normally centered, but this was the second time in two days his emotions were riled.

Will refused to eat or drink, Lawrence and Holo both finished their meals, drank, and washed up. Will and Lawrence but on their collars when they saw the given Bearmen patrol coming to receive them.

When they were shoved outside, the sunlight blinded Will. After spending hours in a dark cage, the sunrays were like daggers to his eyes. It took his eyes a minute to adjust. Regretfully, he missed seeing the city as he was continuously pushed.

Regaining his sight, Will saw they were escorted to an octagonal building. The building looked like an enclosed amphitheater. The guards brought down a walkway to knell the stage.

The tallest, strongest, Bearman wore a purple robe, with gold lace. He was old, regal, and sat on a backless chair rubbing his temples clearly in distress. "Read the charges," he said frowning.

An old skinny Bearman, with a long grey beard in a red robe, yelled out to the audience, "Kraft Lawrence, Holo Yoitsu, and William vont Ballard smuggled crops out Beast Country, using a network of traders. This illegal operation operated outside the authority of the Tribal Council. They are hereby charged with racketeering, smuggling, and tax evasion!"

Gasp whispered across the amphitheater.

"Guilty," called out a Naga woman, pointing at the trio on stage. She had a phlegmatic voice, serpentine eyes, and a forked tongue.

"How do you plead?" Ask the old asked steadily himself on his cane.

"Not guilty," said Holo standing. We did what was best for the people. The people suffer, while Tribunal Council stays deadlocked. We merely helped farmers sell their crops and feed the suffering beastmen in Guidon. It should not be a crime to help people in need," she stood resolute, her voice confident, unwavering.

Immediately, a Wolfman stood wearing a purple robe, with gold lace. "What Holo the wise wolf says is true. You can see the suffering of people outside; the suffering grows daily. They merely gave farmers a chance to sell their grain. The Wolf Clan votes innocent," he said smiling at Holo.

"Thank you, elder," she said bowing deep to show her respect. The Elder Wolfman smiled at her and wave her off the platitude.

"Regardless, whether it was morally right or wrong is inconsequential, it was illegal," said a Naga man wearing purple robes with gold lace.

Will realized the men in purple, must be the great clan leaders. These are men, that would decide his fate.

"They are innocent," shouted a familiar soft feline voice. Elder Li rose, the Cat Clan is thankful for their aid. More and more refugees fill this city daily. The money is drying up as the great houses horde gold, weapons, and armor. The Cat Clan's territory is north of this Rijilir, everyday more and more people beg for food, for our grain, for our assistance. We must put our squabbles aside and focus on citizens," she said passionately.

After her rousing speech, everyone turned to the Tiger Clan leader. Since the Cat Clan were their vassals, everyone naturally wanted to know their opinion. Additionally, the Wolf Clan, their ally was also in favor of releasing perpetrators. The Tiger Clan raised his hand asking for a moment to huddle with his advisers after a brief minute of conversation, the Tiger man spoke.

"The Tiger Clan is willing to dismiss the charges on Holo the wise wolf, but no the humans," He spoke uncaringly.

"Wait shouted Edler Li. I, Eleanor Jasmine Li, will accept the prince's matting contract on condition he let the humans go as well," she said firmly.

Now, there was a commotion among the Tiger Clan. They were curious who these humans, were to be of such importance to her.

Without consulting the rest of his tribe the Tiger Clan leader, "We accepted Fairy Li's condition, we vote innocent."

Then a tall Orca man, with white and black skin spots over each eye yelled out, "guilty!" Shouting erupted as both sides fought a proxy war over something as banal as a trial.

Clearly, he voted that way in solidarity with Snake Clan. Once again the Tribal Council was split, the Bear Clan casting the deciding vote. The Bearman on the backless seat rubbed his temple harder. It was clear he was fed up with this constant bickering, turning the simplest of sentences into a proxy war. He was tired, that was evident to about everyone.

Behind the Bearman, sat a box of bears deliberating their response. Will knew how political correctness and subtlety were important in a democratic forum. Back on Earth congresses and parliaments, and senates are deadlocked from time to time. Every legislature had to find uncomfortable ways to break a tie.

Even on Earth, wars were fought of resources and water was one of the most important resources in the medieval periods. As the Bearman spoke animatedly, shaking arms, shouting, the entire amphitheater was shouting, but Will, Lawrence, and Holo sat kneeling on the ground.

At this point, Will's shins began to numb. He could feel his thighs hurting from standing in that pose for too long. This was summer, and the hot sun rose overhead. The heat beat down on Will who was sweating profusely. Will looked like a potato backing in the hot sun.

"Enough!" roared the purple-robed beastmen. "I have made my decision!"

"But my lord, we have not yet decided on the correct course," said another elderly Bearman sitting behind the purple bear lord.

"Quiet, here's follows the Bear Clan decision and punishment!" she said.

At the word punishment, the Snake, Orca Clans clapped, and the Tiger, Wolf Clan snarled.

"Kraft Lawrence, Holo Yoitsu, and William vont Ballard on the charges of racketeering, smuggling, and tax evasion you are found guilty! Your punishment is as follows: on the charges of racketeering you each must pay 1000 silvers, on the charges of smuggling you must each pay 200 silvers, on the charges of tax evasion you must each pay 1,000 silvers. Mr. William vont Ballard, I've heard you have deep pockets. I hope you can afford these fines; otherwise, you will stay in jail until you three have sufficient funds."

He finished, "Mr. vont Ballard, I will allow you to address the Tribal Council this once, speak your piece."

Will using all his diplomacy said, "Thank you honorable lord for this privilege to speak in front of so many esteemed lords and ladies. I want to apologize for my crimes, please not I regret my choices, but I made my choice sincerely for the suffering of people. Those of you who've heard of me know my devotion to the Goddess Gaia. I believe we are equals in the eyes of the gods. Please accept my humble apology this will not happen again," Will said bowing.

The amphitheater was quiet, the beastmen were stunned. They were used to dealing with arrogant humans, but Will greeted them with etiquette and apologized respectfully. Will had earned a place in their hearts. Many people thought he would deny the charges, yet he embraced his faults.

However, Will's response was practiced through years of marketing. Every chief executive knows that after a scandal, you respectfully address the crowd, sincerely apologize, mention your god or goddess, and promise to do better. It was standard marketing tradecraft, in a couple of months, people would forget this whole thing ever happened.

"Guards, uncollar Mr. Lawrence and Mr. vont Ballard. Please escort them to the administrative office to pay their fines. Also, Mr. vont Ballard if you wish to do business in this city, the merchant guild and land office are both in that building. As City Lord, you have my seal of approval. I will pass that along to the guild and land office, they'll be expanding you," he said, rubbing his temples again.

"Thank you, Sir City Lord," Will respond. Today taught Will his nobility in the Rijilir did not exist. He also learned he had to pay 51 gold for their freedom, which sounded too inexpensive, but to everyone else it was costly.

Then Will remembered from his readings in the Beast Tribal Lands, gold did not exist in the currency. Here 30 bronze credits (or coins) equaled copper, 30 coppers credits equaled silver. Silver was the highest currency traded on the market. Then it hit him, with the amount of gold in his coin purse, he would be considered a millionaire here.