D.E.M.O.N.S: GETTING SUMMONED WEEKLY ISN'T SO BAD

— Kat —

The guard station was making use of one of those umbrella enchantments. It was just a small stall really but the small section of road that it looked over was completely dry. Made it easier for the guard’s certainly, and better for the merchants when they had to stop inside the area. The rain pouring across the invisible wall produced an interesting effect. Kat was a fan.

The booth was manned by one main guard that collected paperwork, with two more standing outside of the hut though within the dry area. There were a further two that were behind the main guard though they seemed to be on break. Both were sitting down drinking what might have been ale? Hard to tell from this angle. Everything was calm as they walked up to the booth.

Nobody was expecting any issues when Nixilei handed over her adventurer information. Twenty seconds later Kress had straightened up and moved his hand down towards his weapon. Another twenty seconds and the guard asked, “Any other documentation? This isn’t enough to get you into the city at the moment,”

Nixilei’s eyes narrowed and Gareth lightly pinched Green’s exposed shoulder. She remained still, pretending to be asleep but the slight shift in her breathing pattern gave away the change to anyone paying attention. Nixilei handed over the writ of passage then acquired when moving into the elven lands and the guard started to inspect it.

He compared it to some other files that he had in an expanded bag for thirty seconds, clearly comparing the two items closely. Kat didn’t think of it as an issue yet. Everyone in front of them had taken a lot longer… and had entire caravans filled with goods. “I’m afraid this still won’t give you permission to enter the city without some concessions. Is there any other identification you want to offer at the moment?”

Kat really noticed the change in atmosphere at the moment. Gareth summoned his shield behind his back and leant on it, trying not to take aggressive action but obviously much more ready for combat. Kress had turned his body to hide the fact he was holding a dagger by the hilt and ready to draw. Nixilei remained calm on the surface, completely normal looking to all outside observers and Kat herself stood up a bit straighter.

Lily was carefully shifted to be inside of her kimono in case someone needed to take action. Her girlfriend was recovering from heavy manage usage for their run and deserved to remain asleep… though Kat did consider waking her up anyway. Another thing to note was that hidden between Gareth and his shield was Green’s bow. Strung up and with a quiver hidden as well.

Nixilei handed over the documents signalling their participation in the tournament. The guard looked them over closely, examining them for some time. This stretched onwards, one minute. Two, three. Nixilei was tapping her foot now and she was glaring hard at the guard even if her real emotions still seemed hidden to Kat’s eyes.

“Sorry, but I’m afraid that you don’t have permission to enter the city with a demon in your party,” announced the guard after a full ten minutes of stalling.

“Excuse me?” asked Nixilei. “Are you denying Tournament participants entry to the trial grounds?”

The guard shrugged, “I’m afraid I don’t make the rules Ma’am. Without the proper documentation for summoning a demon within the city you can’t summon one or bring a demon in from the outside,”

“Even though the demon you seem so concerned about IS part of the tournament and a participant herself? Is that not against the accords?” Nixilei queried.

The guard slipped up here, his face briefly flashing into a smug sneer as he looked down at Nixilei from his six foot five height. “I’m afraid those agreements only apply to citizens of the signatories. As your demon is not a member of any kingdom that is part of the agreement there is no reason for me to allow her entry,”

“You really think you can get away with this?” asked Gareth carefully. “Refusing entry to two noble participants of the largest and most important tournament in our kingdom’s history? A tradition stretching back CENTURIES?”

The guard shrugged, “You four are entirely welcome within our city and I will make know moves to stop you… only the demon needs to remain behind,”

Nixilei turned to face Kat with a raised eyebrow and Kat nodded back. She had plenty of ways to sneak over the bridge, and without worrying about the others she’d be fine. Nixilei turned back to the guard in question and spat, “Fine. We will go our separate ways here. We need to make it to the city,”

The guard grinned wide, not even bothering to hide it this time, “Please onwards,” said the guard. Nixilei and everyone else did so. Visibly fiddling with their weapons as they headed out into the rain. Kat turned to head in the other direction until she was out of sight glanced behind her.

The world slowed down as the guard on the side of the hut nearest to her pulled out a set of handcuffs and was trying to click it around Kat’s arms. Kat’s eyes widened and she definitely could’ve dodged… but none of her instincts made the manacles feel dangerous and she was pretty sure they could be broken without issue. So she did nothing as one end clicked around her wrist.

“Excuse me?” asked Kat.

“I’m afraid we’ll need to detain you for a time. You’re being suspected of attempting to pass into our glorious city illegally. You will remain in our care for a day or two at most. If there are no problems then you’re free to go,” said the heard guard rather then the one holding the manacles.

*Do I just run now? No… no sense in causing issues just yet. I’m faster then the others and I can catch up easily.* Just as Kat was thinking this, Nixilei had glanced back with a horrified look on her face. None of the guards were looking in the fae so Kat just raised an eyebrow in confusion.

Nixilei summed a spell sigil for a split second before letting it break into pieces before miming at the cuffs around her hand. *Wait… are these meant to be anti-mana cuffs? Really? They really thought that would work?* Kat just smiled back, making it seem like she was trying to scare the guards a bit. Nixilei seemed to get the message because she turned around and kept walking across the bridge.

*Alright. Now I just need to break out without pissing off the local government! Or at least some small section of it.* “So is there anyway I can just leave?” Kat asked. “Technically it wasn’t an illegal attempt at crossing into the city because we didn’t know it was a problem. I’ve not attempted to enter since being informed of that and I’m currently co-operating,”

The man holding the handcuffs shrugged as he walked around and slapped the other half of them around Kat’s wrist. Kat rolled her eyes at the action. “No funny business,” grumbled the head guard as he stepped out from behind the counter. “I’m taking this one to the outpost for holding. I’ll be back shortly,”

Kat was then ‘lightly’ ushered off down one of the side paths, one guard on either side. *Do I want to try and prompt them into revealing their grand plan? Or should I wait a bit.* Kat considered her options… but eventually decided that waiting might get her more info. Besides, the outpost really was close by.

Not even ten minutes later Kat was pushed through the only building in the place, through the bar and into the back where there was a holding cell. Kat still didn’t let herself be bothered and they’d apparently forgotten about Lily completely. Didn’t even make a comment about her as she was chained to the wall. As soon as the door locked Kat felt a slight something wash over her…

And the guard started bragging. “HA! Easiest money I ever made! I told them I would be more than capable of restraining the demon. Just slap some anti-mana cuffs on her and it was easy!”

“Of course sir,” agreed the other guard not looking at all certain. “Just a question though… um… sir, why are you announcing it now?”

“What you don’t want to brag a bit lad? That’s a genuine Rank 3 demon we’ve got locked up there. Those tricky shits can be bound by contracts and I’d bet a lot of money that one of the stipulations put into the one she’s under is to obey the law! It comes standard at any demon summoning these days. Now that she’s trapped, she isn’t getting out!”

“Um… but was it even legal for you to detain her?” asked the guard.

Idiot head guard wavered his hand. “Sort of? The law is on the books but those passes probably deserved an exemption… but that’s not part of the law. So we’re all good,”

Kat nodded along at this, “So quick question, how long are you keeping me here for?”

The idiot shrugged, “I was paid to delay you for two days. I may not like demons but I ain’t sticking my neck out too far. If you’re extra fast you might even make it to the tournament gathering area on time… assuming you know where that is,”

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