Private The Docks Much ado about dead beasts, or the importance of being Anithias

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

The siren was blown closer and closer to the coast. She took her time, it was as calm as the sea and wind. It was a small pretty ship, painted yellow and green, with "Agus-Freitier siren" written in gold letters over a black board on its side. What little crew it had was all on board, clustered in little groups that talked softly among each other.

"I have never visited Vulpinsula", a mouse girl said in Alkamarian to two smartly dressed beasts, a red fox with strange looking ears which seemed to wiggle every once in a while, and a lynx who always had a grin on his snout and was slowly drinking from his mug.

"Oh, you will love it, I went here two times before. What about you monsieur?"

"I was on Vulpinsula before", the red fox said, which seemed to satisfy his two interlocutors.

"I want to see Big Val, and the harbor square", the mouse continued.

"Big Val is a clocktower", the fox noted, with something vaguely disapproving in his voice. The mademoiselle rolled her eyes.

"It's not a clock tower, it's the clock tower, it was named after a beautiful vixen".

Archibald Rightsbeast didn't feel like responding, and the lynx was more than happy to take his place. The fox instead looked over at the approaching coastline. The rows of buildings were getting bigger. They were going a little faster perhaps. The docks didn't seem to have changed much after 10 years.

"Oh, Valora Ryalor, what a tragedy", the lynx continued the discussion. Archibald wasn't listening. He asked for another mug of orange juice when the bartender past their table, and kept his stare focused on the approaching Bully harbor. Ten years, how much can a place change in ten years?

About 15 or so minutes later, the ship stopped, and the red fox stepped off the ship and onto hard stone ground. "Au revoir monsieur, au revoir belle madame", he heard the lynx say. He went straight for the port authority. He thought that his turn would come quickly, but an otter was having some difficulties. Or maybe it was the ferret's fault.

"I just want them to be done with"

The argument about the port of origin continued.

"Do they have to keep me waiting? On today of all days?"

They were now discussing prices. They wanted to test Archibald's patience. He looked around, curiously examining other beasts. More woodlanders, he noticed that right away. What were they doing here? Not something he needed to find out now. His attention shifted from the raccoon talking with another fox, to yet another vulpine stepping off a ship and going straight towards him. There was something familiar about his golden fur, he saw it before and had to memorize it. but why would he have to memorize him? He couldn't have been one of his targets, he would have been dead. Everybody important he knows is in Alkamar. He couldn't remember any golden foxes when he trained in the stoatorian guard. And then he remembered it. The whiny voice of his history professor: "Anithias Freedom, captain of the golden hide from...".
He remembered the painting he was pointing to. He had to memorize it for a test probably. he still remembered it. This fox just happened to look like him. He turned around just in time to see the otter join the raccoon and the ferret smiling warmly at him, clearly eager to be working with somebeast else.

"Port of origin: Cote blanche, beautiful place!",
Archibald was getting tired of useless comments like that.
"What's your name?"

"Anithias Reedom", he said. It was going to do. No use thinking hard about a name he was going to use for, what, a few days at most?

(Private thread between @Archibald Rightsbeast and @Aramaeus Lemon, for any comments send in direct messages or on discord)

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus had just finished yet another tedious ship inspection and was on his way down to turn in his clipboard when a name pricked his ear. Immediately he stopped mid-stride, then flailed and nearly face-planted on the dock as he tried to catch himself. He stared at the todd who'd mentioned the name, hardly able to believe his luck. Was there someone else out there who was a fan of his greatest historical idol? Even if there was a slim chance that there was another admirer of Bully Harbor's most misunderstood mayor, he had to know. "Pardon me," he stated as he approached, eagerness in his eyes, "but by chance were you discussing the late, great Mayor Anithias Freedom, once-captain of The Golden Hide, author of The Beginner's through The Advanced's (Yes, YOU!) Guide to the Imperium and the beast responsible for the popularization of Ye Imperium Navee Handbooke?" He seemed to positively be vibrating with excitement.

 

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

"We will just need your signature here", the ferret handed the form and a pen to Archibald. He had made the two diagonal strokes of an "A" when an unfamiliar voice began speaking.

"Pardon me," he stated as he approached, eagerness in his eyes, "but by chance were you discussing the late, great Mayor Anithias Freedom, once-captain of The Golden Hide, author of The Beginner's through The Advanced's (Yes, YOU!) Guide to the Imperium and the beast responsible for the popularization of Ye Imperium Navee Handbooke?"

"No", was Archibald's quick and decisive reply. He only realized what must have inspired this outburst once his paw glided up to be on the same level as the top of the A. Anithias Freedom and Anithias Reedom were very similar names. Only one letter difference. He didn't think about the confusion it could possibly cause. He'd wish he did.

"Oh, you have misheard, he said his name is Anithias Reedom"

A rough downward stroke, and then a stroke straight leftward, overshooting the left egg of the A by half a claw at least. The ferret clurk, he thought this was funny, instead of annoying. He glared down at his ugly signature, before shaking his head and letting the clurk take it.

"This is meant to be AR, right?"

"Yes, that's how I sign my signatures when I'm distracted"

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus's face fell. "Oh. Well, Mr. Reedom, may I at least congratulate you on your parents' fortune in their surname and their excellent choice of given name for their kit? Truly, your fortune in your namesake is to be envied. I myself considered taking up the Freedom name, but I was told in no uncertain terms by the clerk that to do so would be career suicide. I commend you for your bravery in maintaining this good name in the face of all the revisionist pressure to erase it."

Aramaeus smacked his forehead dramatically before offering his paw. "How rude of me! Aramaeus Lamont, no relation." He pronounced the name in the Alkamarian fashion, itself sounding to the Vulpinsulan ear remarkably like the name of the fruit.

 

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

Archibald Rightsbeast turned around to face the voice he already grew to despise. Upon seeing the golden fox who gave him the inspiration for his name, the whole encounter got an explanation. This was a relative or just a look alike of that Anithias Freedom, who grew to adore whoever that Anithias Freedom was and when he heard him introduce himself at the port authority he couldn't help but confront him. It was in a way similar to his family's reverence for the first Rightsbeast, except that, needless to say, they were far more sensible about it and nobody would take their stories of the great Rightsbeast seriously, where as this...this polished golden whelp kit of fortune herself, could harass strangers in the name of Anithias Freedom and others would just chuckle and pass by, probably believing in every single false bit about that old navy manual and being a mayor and what not. In fact, Archibald Rightsbeast began to doubt Aramaeus' words so much that he was sure that Aramaeus got the name wrong, like some accounts of the first great Rightsbeast would often get a detail or two or three wrong, except that Aramaeus got everything wrong.

"Pleasure to meet you Aramaeus La Mont."

The voice was bright. Not cheerful, just positive and courteous. This wasn't the first time he had to tell a complete and utter lie like that.

"This is the first time I hear there's trouble in my name, I will certainly keep both my ears pirked and my snout twitching. And you should think a little about your own safety too"

He shook Aramaeus' paw, and quickly dropped it. He continued down the docks, and turned onto a road that lead straight into the slups. The layout of Bully didn't seem to change much, but its beasts did get quite a bit crazier, if the first 5 minutes were anything to go by.

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus beamed as the fox got the pronunciation of his last name correct. For some reason everyone started calling him 'Lemon', no matter what he did. As the beast turned away, walking toward the Slups, Aramaeus hastened to keep up. "Oh, I certainly do sir," he assured the presumed Mr. Reedom. "If I may, sir, may I treat you to a drink to congratulate you on your return to the city?"

 

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

Archibald turned back around once again, staring down the fellow fox. Why was he following him? Was it all because of the name he chose for himself? Was he tasked to keep an eye on him, and doing a very bad job of fitting in? The intelligence agents of Alkamar assured him that the ministry of misanthropy didn't know about his journey to Vulpinsula, or indeed anything about him and his doings. The last part was clearly absurd, since "Le Segure" was a household name, especially if your household specialized in killing beasts and not getting caught. But he took his own precautions, he made all travel arrangements on his own, made sure most of his associates didn't know about the trip or got the wrong information. Not everyone will be pleased by his sudden and unexplained disappearance, but to Archibald, Archibald and his safety came first.

"Unfortunately I am busy, I have a meeting to attend. I thank you for the offer however, have a nice day"

He turned around again and continued down the street. He didn't really have anywhere to rush, but he liked getting things done earlier rather than later. And he liked not getting followed. And not being pestered by fanatics of historical figures.

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus frowned as the fox started off down the street. He was beginning to get the faintest suspicion that this Anithias Reedom might not be in a mood for company. Still, best to smooth things over now. "I apologize for my forwardness, Mr. Reedom," he called after the todd as he hurried to catch up. "Perhaps I can help escort you to your meeting? Having a lawbeast at your side can be a deterrent to the criminal element of the city, after all, and the harborside districts are regrettably not the safest."

 

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

Archibald had to stop once again, right at the entrance of an alley watched over by a bent and rusted pipe descending from the roof. It didn't look like it, but it was only one of many entrances to a whole system of alleys, going between buildings and houses and courtyards to nearly every part of the slups. At least, that's what it was last time he was here.

A path in the system would lead him straight onto the street where he grew up. Straight towards his home. "The disarray of houses where equally disarrayed families and beasts live.", as he remembered someone describing it. It was all made up, all the houses were perfectly arranged, it wasn't a square grid, or a circle, or any of those shapes that the lucky beasts could admire. It was a shape onto its own, and that was good enough. Maybe most beasts there lived in disarray, but not the Rightsbeasts. They always stuck together, when it's good and when it's ill.

Aramaeus La Mont couldn't follow him any further. Just knowing about a shortcut like this would be noticed, it would have become clear that, despite all the appearances, he was a beast from here. If Aramaeus found out where his destination was, it would narrow him down even further. That was way too much risk. Only reason he remained at large for 10 years was the fact nobody really knew him in Alkamar, they couldn't predict a single thing he was going to do. Here on the other hand. Everyone who knew him was someone who could betray him, predict him, read him like a book. That's why Aramaeus needed to be stopped. To be scared away.

"Oh, are you an attorney? It would be good to know one of those here, just in case the worst comes. Where can I usually find you? Maybe an address, where we can discuss matters privately if need be?"

He wrote down everything Aramaeus said in his head, then smiled down at the fox.

"I'll say, since ya were very kind and such a good citizen, Mister La Mont, I'll give ya some adva'ace. I heard of this scurge in Alkamar, they call 'im Le Segure, the safe one. If yur dealing with him it's safe to say y'll die, ha ha ha! he's the nastiest killer I ever read 'bout, it's the stuff fogey novels are made of. The police there, they can't catch a scent of him, he's just too good. They got a stack of files upon files on dead beasts he did in. It 'bout 'z tall 'z Aay am. I heard of a few of them inspecteurs goin' mad and spendin' the rest of their lives in a white room over him, over some dead beasts! Mister la mont, thinking about dead beasts ain't good for the health of the head, and that Anithias Freedom, he been resting down under for a good few year now. Give him some peace, and some peace to yourself too, and go on with your day and your life"

Archibald paused, and then added.

"Oh, speaking of that, best if you don't think much about me either, life is so much easier that way!"

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus stared, aghast, at the other fox. "Why, this Segere fellow seems an awful fright! If he turns up in Bully Harbor, I'll be certain to keep my eye out for him - why, a collar like that could really make my career. You said he's about your height, yes? Do you have any other identifying features for him you can describe? Perhaps, with your help, I can bring this killer to justice. All confidentially, of course; I'll note you down as 'a clandestine informant'." He pulled a notebook from his jacket pocket, readying a pencil to jot down any information.

 

[Archibald Rightsbeast]

Now it was Archibald's turn to be aghast. His words not only had the opposite effect to what he wanted, but then made the things worse. He would have collapsed into a laughing fit if this happened to truly anybody else, but this nightmarish scenario was happening to him, and at just the worst time. A beast of patience would have tried to smoothe things over, play along a little, excuse himself out of the awkward situation and go on. But Archibald had by now lost all faith in persuasive words and went for the approach that always stopped beasts in their tracks. He stepped back to get a better distance, and then gripped the handle of his baton, speaking as he pulled it out.

"I warned you Mister La Mont"

That was all the explanation Aramaeus Lemon got as the blunt instrument hit him over the back left side of his head. The lawbeast collapsed snout-first into the ground, his shoulder scraping against Archibald's leg. This was by no means pleasant for Aramaeus, but, my dear reader, spare a thought for Archibald Fedour Rightsbeast, otherwise known as Anton Francois Riviera Le Segure, and most recently and least fortunately as Anithias Reedom. See, while Aramaeus could be right now unconscious or seeing stars, there wasn't much he could do about it but take a rest and enjoy the view. Archibald, however, had to make sure that Aramaeus was unconscious, and that if he ever came back to consciousness he would either not remember a thing or be so confused about the events today that he couldn't be in any possible danger of being discovered. That was not hard, it would only take another well placed hit on the head, two just to make sure. But his ears picked up on sounds coming from a house right next to him and the fallen fox. A very annoyed jill yelling at the top of her lungs.

"When is yah torture gonna end, yoo hellbeast? When are ya gonna let my keets have a single day of peace!"

I'm gonna get some help", Archibald said to the collapsed fox, just in case he could hear, and then ran into the alley. To his chagrin it was going to take a while until he got to a bend in the alley he was interested in, and the way Aramaeus fell into the Alley meant that whoever was going out to investigate would inevitably look inside and see him. However he managed to get to a bend and turn onto it right as the pine marteness came onto the seen, letting her only see his back and tail for a split second before vanishing.

"Ey! Red thing! Comere!"

 

[Aramaeus Lemon]

Aramaeus, for his part, was far too fixated on visions of the glory he would be showered in when he brought an international serial killer to justice to even realize what was happening to him. He was still smiling when the truncheon struck him, and he collapsed immediately, falling into a deep, dreamless slumber as his assailant disappeared into the Harbor. He'd awake in Pyrostoat Memorial with a raging headache and probably short the contents of his wallet, but for now, he was blissfully unaware of how close he'd come to the greatest criminal of his career.