Interlude - Gaston / Lesser Demon Access (Patreon)

Surprise release today! No Google Doc update, sorry! Will be one with Chap 44!

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Interlude - Gaston

Lieutenant Gaston watched as Captain Harrik sighed and leaned back at his desk, turning his attention toward the folder in his hands, leafing through the thing folio for show rather than reading anything.

“Lieutenant, can you explain to me just why you let an unrecorded and unbound demon walk right through your Checkpoint as if it owned the place?”

“Captain, the demon in question isn’t unrecorded, I submitted the initial classification, observations, and it is all on file. Wait... unbound?”

Captain Harrik tossed the report across the desk, and it almost slid off the other side, except Gaston managed to catch and recover it.

“Oh I know, I looked at it. Everything in order. Except for the small tidbit that she's apparently unbound and not contracted to anyone and running about as she pleases.”

“Sir, when she came through the checkpoint, she was clearly under contract to someone.”

A small wooden case on the desk held a treasure trove of the Captain’s favorite rolled cigars. He retrieved one and pulled out a gilded cutter. Gaston frowned and braced himself. It wasn’t the first time he’d been called to answer to his Captain, and he knew about the unpleasant cloud of smoke that was about to envelop the room. Smoking wasn’t a typical luxury found in the city. Tobacco and other smokeables weren’t strictly illegal in the city, but they were above-ground. At least in the countries surrounding the smaller city-state.

Why the Captain just had to break one out to smoke while he was there, Gaston didn’t know.

Captain Harrik let out another puff of smoke that seemed to fill the room with the unpleasant smell of smoke before waving his hand dismissing the protest.

“You know what time of year it is. There’s word that Magister Astolf has come to an understanding with Magister Relain. The fact that the Mercenary Guild and Syndicate haven’t had any flareups lately seems to prove the point. Can you imagine if the Council swings into Magister Relain’s hands? Do you think it would be funny if we were running on half the budget and the criminals in the Outer districts were getting what we lost?”

“Sir, I agree that would be a disaster, but how does any of that relate to the demon. There are hundreds of demons in the city.”

“All of which are neatly bound to someone who is responsible for their actions, whether it’s to the service of a Magister or some gutter scum. Who is responsible for this one? We are. You are, Lieutenant.”

“Sir, I don’t think she will be causing any problems. I don’t see how she could have any bearing on the Magister’s dealings anyway.”

“You don’t do you?”

The Captain raised two single pieces of paper and slid them over to Gaston before lighting his cigar.

“Already two incidents regarding her. One where a woman was nearly beaten to death and more concerning – she bothered an entire row of shopkeepers in the Artisan district enough that they sent a formal complaint.”

Of course, the Captain would consider the complaints from the Artisans a greater worry. They catered to the nobles who could complain to the Magisters. Gaston didn’t reply immediately, but eyed over the report about the woman, then shuffled the other in front to read it.

“Nothing to say, eh? She’s been in the city a single day and already caused trouble. I want you to deal with her, Lieutenant.”

“Sir. I don’t think she’s that much of a threat, from what the reports said she didn’t actually cause the first incident and the complaint by the Artisans – she didn’t cause any trouble other than show up and try and...”

“Dammit man! I don’t care what you think. I’m ordering you to deal with her. If that means hiring a Conclave hitman to take her out, the budget can afford it. If that means you tricking her into following you out of the city then dropping her down a deep hole she never climbs out of, that’s fine as well. Hells, if you want to force her into a contract to serve the fucking Guard or whatever, do that, too. All the others are collecting up these little pet demons like they are mascots, why not the Guard as well?”

“Maybe before we act on any of those options we enlist some surveillance on her? Just to, uhh... determine her value or threat. Sir.”

“Fine. Fine. But you are responsible for what happens Lieutenant. We don’t need any fuck-ups right now. I’m not just threatening you to be an ass, but the entire Guard is at stake this cycle. We’ll all be out in the gutter if things go sideways and Magister Relain becomes Magus-elect. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”