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7. Out in the open

It was hard to describe her appearance. She slightly resembled a horse, but had scales, horns, a mane of fire, claws like a hound, two heads and a tail as long as the rest of her body adorned with razor sharp spikes.
The air around her shimmered with heat and it didn't even take a second for the metal bars to simply melt away.
As soon as she realized her fast approaching freedom she sprung forward and stretched her wings.

Wait......... Iskari did not have wings!
Kasiem seemed to have forgotten to inform him that this particular specimen was a mutant.
Fharan silently cursed. It would be impossible to get close to the creature without getting burned now that it had fully awakened and if he startled it it could easily decide to take off into the sky. That was something he had to avoid under any circumstances. There were simply too many people to use large scale magic and Kasiem would not appreciate it if he simply killed his prized treasure.
His thoughts were racing to find an alternate solution while people around him started to flee for their life's.
The beast didn't pay much attention to the panicking humans and instead made its way up the stage. Every step she took on the wooden form let the construct groan in protest.
Fharan kept a safe distance away and waited for an opportunity to act without bringing anymore people into danger.
On his way up the stage he grabbed one of the keepers iron poles. It wouldn't do much damage, but would at least buy him a few seconds.

The creature reached the front of the stage and came into everyone's view. Iskaris weren't normally known for their good temper, but this female seemed more curious than anything else.
The bells of a nearby stall attracted her attention and she slowly drew closer, igniting a new round of panic and flames. But the space gradually started to clear out and Fharan received more and more room to finally proceed with his plan.
He threw his pole before the monster could reach her new object of interest. It hit her in the side and immediately started to melt. She instantly looked for the source of the disturbance and sensed his presence at last. But something seemed to confuse her. Instead of approaching him she paused and tried to find the inconsistency. He was only another human, obviously.
She was just about to draw closer to him when the city guards arrived. Some of them were rather eager and started to throw their spears at her.
The Iskari immediately turn to the newly appeared threat. Fharan had no other choice. He had to take action before she would be able to burn the guards to a crisp.
An escaped beast was one thing, casualties another.

He took off into a sprint to minimize the distance.
The creature felt his approach and turned around once again. Greatly annoyed, she try to bite him, but he avoided it rather easily and place his hand on the ground instead.
Ice shot out from under her and entangled her legs as well as her neck and heads.
It did not matter how much she tried, she seemed to be unable to break free.
He let out a long breath and combed his hair out of his face while standing up again.
Only then did he realize that his hood had slipped back. He hurriedly pulled it back up, but it was already too late. Half the remaining people had seen him using his magic as well as his exposed hair.
He wouldn't be able to go unnoticed for much longer.

Kasiem, although shocked, was quite happy about this outcome and swiftly took care of the matter. Truth be told, it was not the first time one of his beasts had escaped, but everything had been resolved without any casualties so he once again got away with a promise of compensation for the damage caused by the flames.
He also managed to keep Fharan out of most of the trouble. He had just done what he had been paid for after all and Kasiem send him home as soon as the Iskari had been put back to sleep, but not without congratulating him and asking if he would consider to stay permanently.
He declined politely and returned to the inn as inconspicuously as possible.

Afrit toppled over laughing as soon as he heard the story.
Splendidly done, he said. I'm sure our quiet days are over for good. And he would soon be proven right.
It did not take long before the news spread through the city. It had been over two centuries since Sirayin had granted his blessing to anyone, so it was not surprising that the story caused quite a stir.
Invitations started to pour in soon after which he all politely declined. Nonetheless, the especially eager ones kept coming personally or send their aids to invite him for dinners, outings or new jobs.
He changed inns twice before things started to calm down a little. Meanwhile Afrit enjoyed himself splendidly.
Three days after the incident, the arrangement with Kasiem was nearly at its end, an invitation arrived, which he would not be able to decline so easily.
The news had also reached the royal palace and they used the opportunity to invite him under the pretence of thanking him for protecting the safety of Rish'ka.
The audience was set for the following day at noon.

Afrit seemed even more displeased of this progress as he himself. His good mood that had accompanied him throughout the last few days disappeared completely and he appeared to have fallen into contemplation.
It wasn't until late in the evening that he spoke again.
I will accompany you to the palace, he announced. I don't see any other way. When things should go wrong, it would be much more efficient. And we should make a proper show out of it shouldn't we?
Fharan stayed quiet for a moment before he replied: "I suppose it's not the worst idea you have had. It would be safer to stay in your beast form though. And promise to not destroy the whole place."
Yes, yes!, Afrit assured halfheartedly. It will be much more boring though.

The next day

He and Afrit were just done with their preparations when the royal knights arrived to pick them up. It needed a bit of convincing until they ceased their objection about a cat accompanying them but they eventually gave in.
The same argument arose at the outer palace gates as well as at the main building itself, but since he refused to take just one step further without his companion and their delay threatened to grow exponentially by the minute he was ultimately allowed to continue his journey.
It was only in front of the throne room that the barrier seemed to become insuperable. It was impossible for just any stray animal to be allowed into the vicinity of the royal couple.
Just when he was about announce that he would be taking his leave the doors opened and the emperor's secretary came out to find the cause of all the commotion.