Water's Reflection or Hero's Guilt

Chapter Thirty-Nine

          That morning, it seemed to be life as usual in the city of Bigwaters. The people went about their day as usual, blissfully unaware of what had happened the day before. Only very few knew of the horrors, and they kept to themselves, hiding. An odd observer may have noticed the guards were quite few in number today, but if so, they would not think anything of it. After all, the guards have been doing all sorts of strange stunts the past couple of days.

          As the day progressed, the city markets grew: more stalls were added, more merchandise. Despite the city's blockade, merchants of all around still used this town to unload their wagons of everything worth coin. They said that one could fulfill any need in Bigwaters, if you'd just have enough time to look at every ware.

          In the main square though, around noon, some commotion started when a man started yelling at a soldier.

          “What do you mean, closed off?!” he shouted angrily, not concerned by the bystanders who watched him in surprise. The guard in front of him did not answer, but remained in his path, blocking off the exit. Two other guards stood next to him and claimed the same thing.

          “Orders are to close off the exits. You can't leave right now.”

          The man looked from one guard to another, then to the people gathering around him. They all watched the scene with concern. “This is an outrage!” the man yelled. “We are supposed to stay here?! I am a free man—I have the right to leave this square.” He walked up to the guard, who hesitated to stop him. Before the soldier had to act though, a bulky knight appeared from the street. The large mace in his hand immediately revealed who he was for those who did not recognize his face.

          “Is something the matter?” he asked. “I told you guys to close it off, remember?”

          “Yes sir, but we--”

          “You!” With his weapon, he pointed at the man making a scene. The man instantly froze, afraid of the big knight that walked up to him. “You wanted to leave this square?”

          “Y-Yes sir! I want to get home to my wife,” he quickly said.

          But Sir Toughmace did not care. He gave a slight shrug, then muttered, “Well you can't. If you got a problem with that, you can take it up with my mace.” He raised the weapon above his head, ready to strike. “You got a problem with that?”

          “I-I... eh...” the man stuttered, frightened.

          “Stand down, Toughmace,” a woman's voice suddenly called and the knight lowered his weapon with a sigh. He turned around to see June Bailey. The girl looked none like herself though; her face had grown beyond human, a fine snout like that of a predator sat in the middle of it. Her nose and mouth had deformed. Her cheeks hollowed. A soft layer of orange fur covered it.

          She appeared a fox walking on two legs; only her long waving hair, her cold eyes and her beautifully colored cloak told of who she had been before. It startled those who had been watching the commotion, and they backed away to make room for her as she entered the square. Frightened whispers passed through the crowd.