“Ser? Ser? What should I do? Did I mess up? U-using an incorrect form? Sir???" The young cadet cracked, his voice faltering as the “apparition” accosted him and the “demon” moved forward with suspicious joy.
The rest of Soren’s squad, following standard procedure, fanned out, attempting to encircle the group so that they might be able to be caught if they tried to bolt. Soren, meanwhile, took a closer look at the group as they responded to young Cadet Henry. He recognized the red “demon”, instantly, how could he not? The “pan-dah” from earlier. He had hoped that Sara had directed her to the Ministry of Commerce, who would have hopefully directed her to a safer area, but no. His keen eyes caught the 100 gilder coin, marked with the face of the Empress, going into Henry’s paw. Well, at least they had done the absolute bare minimum and given her proper Imperium currency, if in extremely high denominations, not reducing the chance that even with her size someone would try to mug her, but at least hopefully not inciting an entire area-wide riot like what would have happened if she still had her ingots. He decided he would deal with her first.
Henry glanced over at him, still nervous and unsure of what to do with the 100g coin, worth an entire week’s salary for a cadet.
“Ser…?”
Soren sighed.
“Give it back to her, Henry, and step back away from the apparition. That one seems the most dangerous."
“Bu-”
“Henry!”
“Yes, ser!”
The cadet offered the coin back to Pomodu, as Soren watched her take the job application. Well, she probably would not actually fill it out, but if she did, given the beast’s huge size and her knowledge of the language of her species and a few others, he might actually consider hiring her. Although the Fogeys were not exactly known for following the methods of “proper policing” that the various academics from Length constantly wanted them to adopt, a big beast like her, versed in foreign languages, could help deescalate situations where a truncheon was unable to do the job. And, at least, she was reading the new, updated versions of the books he had given her, which should, in theory, prevent her from being killed at least.
He gave her a curt nod and a slight smile.
“Miss Modokunomulo, I am glad you are enjoying your stay here in the Imperium so far. If you would, could you stand over there to the side?” He asked, pointing to the right and gesturing for the group to let her pass.
Now that the demon was out of the way, he glanced at the remaining two in the party, one a “ghostly” fox and a normal fox, who seemed to have dealt with Fogeys before as he had both his arms up and paws open to show he was no threat to them. He decided to get the normal one out of the way first, although he did not recognize him, and remove his cadet from what appeared to be the most dangerous of the group with his cutlass drawn.
“Henry, go over to our ‘normal’ fox over there, and get his information would you?”
“Yes ser!” The eager cadet replied, going over to Ruffano, pulling out a stylus and a wax tablet, the contents of which would be copied by a scribe unto paper later.
“Name, age, and profession?” Henry asked.
Finally, he turned to get a closer look at the spectre, paws on his truncheon and keeping enough of a distance away that he could draw his truncheon if he needed to. He glanced down at the left paw, then back up to his face, something was familiar about the beast. He and his friends had played with the various trading cards going around in his kithood, usually of the Ministers and the Captains of the Hide as part of the MinoNice’s “educational” programs at the time, and he swore he had seen a beast like him before. Falun Ryalor? No, he was a fox, but he still had his paws. Marquo Senderjay? He wasn’t dressed nearly as properly. No, this one was…
Jeshal the Ironclaw? Captain of the Hide and later Minister of Commerce? But he was dead! He had read the reports as a young cadet. Alkamarian saboteurs, or, perhaps faulty maintenance. Blown to bits, such that the bodies could never be found. Was he an actual ghost? Or had the crafty fox actually managed to cover up his death?
“Could that be you, spirit? Jeshal the Ironclaw?” Soren asked, voice surprised, but firm and polite.
“The Ironclaw? The one whose wife cut off his paw and rumors say sliced pieces off his bum and replaced them with iron because he defied her?” A younger female cadet gasped, shaking her head, and looking at the old fox with pity. “Poor soul, no wonder he is restless. These days, we would have hauled her in for domestic violence. Oh spirit, we humbly apologize, if you had been born today, you would have kept your paw and your bum! Why, if I could give you a hug for all you have been through, I would. You poor thing, being married to such an abusive monster!”
Another male cadet nodded. “Aye, I heard he was forced into the marriage too, at the point of a blade. Slavery, in my book. The poor tortured todd!”
“A right hero he was, in my book, kept the cake tradition alive when that crazy old Emperor outlawed them. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have had my birthdays for years! He should've been an awarded a medal by the MinoNice, aye, I would've given him one. A badge of honor!” Another exclaimed.
Soren thought carefully. It could legitimately be a ghost, but, it could actually be him. He did not know of any laws under the current Empress that Jeshal, if he were alive, had actually broken, other than perhaps an unlicensed street performance if he were indeed alive and this was some kind of act. On the other paw, entry posters had been given out from that Ryalor Duke that they were to be “invited” to his castle, if they were to show up, which, he had always felt strange, thinking about it, if they had died. He had thought it maybe an administrative quirk, but that the Duke of Westisle know more? That Jeshal’s spirit would one day return?
Holding both paws up peacefully, and giving him a slight bow, he gave the “spirit” a nod.
“Oh spirit of the “Ironclaw”, may I ask that you sheathe your cutlass, and that I may approach you? I just need to confirm one thing, and, perhaps talk a little more in private about the grievances that brought you back to this world.”