“Yes, I see,” said Vincent after hearing the story in our living room.
April’s situation was only getting worse. There was only so much Arwin and I could do to protect her. Arwin had the much greater calling to conquer the dungeon, and I was a useless lug in the shadows and at night. Not only were there too many enemies to handle, but there was no telling when they might attack. There was no solace, no moment to rest, and the stress would only build over time. On the other hand, we couldn’t just hide indoors indefinitely.
“When is the old man being released?”
“It’s not under my jurisdiction, so I don’t know the details. But it doesn’t sound like it’s going to be anytime soon,” Vincent said. April hung her head.
“Do the bosses want mutual downfall or something?” I asked.
“Guild leadership wants Gregory to be found guilty, but there are many voices in opposition. There are complex competing interests and personal stakes involved, and it’s not clear who’s friend or foe. But doing nothing about the situation will create the appearance of corruption.”
“The appearance of, or just actual corruption?”
Even the lord of this area was caught between his obligations, his greed, and his personal interests. Having the old man arrested was simply a way to show the public that the lord was doing his job.
“I’ve heard about the bounty, too. I can put out an edict outlawing it, but that’s not likely to put a stop to the practice,” Vincent said.
The people funding the bounties were criminal enterprises already; they didn’t care about the law. Even the Paladins, who enjoyed the patronage of the royal family, were limited in what they could do.
I stood up from the chair, knelt on the ground, and pressed my forehead to the floor.
“Please take April into your custody. Please.”
“Stop that!” protested April, but it was to no avail. I’d beg hundreds of times if that was what it took. The Paladins’ base was a literal fortress that was well guarded and patrolled. Your garden-variety thugs weren’t breaking in there. It would buy us enough time for all the interested parties to figure out who should pay what.
April’s safety was much more important than some mysterious hidden treasure. I knew Vincent was responsible enough to do the right thing. He would be much better at this than unreliable Matthew, who turned into a wimp when the sun wasn’t out.
“Before long, one of those people is going to figure out where in the town this hidden fortune is. At that point, they’ll no longer have any reason to go after the squirt. She won’t need protection after that.”
Vincent considered this in silence for some time. Then he said gravely, “I cannot do that.”
I felt like I’d been slapped across the face. “Why not? Isn’t it your duty to protect the populace?”
Vincent was bold and had political power. Not long ago, he had allowed the children to come into the Paladins’ base so they could safely see the festival, after all.
“Thanks to these bastards and their stupid rumors, an innocent child is being exposed to great danger,” I added.
“I have no intention of engaging in war with the Devil’s Alliance.”
“Fuck you!” I screamed at Vincent. “That’s what you’re hiding behind, after all your pompous declarations? I’m not telling you to raid their hideout. All you have to do is take one innocent girl under your protection.”
“Say what you will. I cannot do the impossible.”
“So the great and mighty captain has succumbed to the foul ways of this town, has he? How much are you getting paid?”
“It’s for the girl’s sake,” he said weakly. “It’s not only the criminal element that have shown interest in this buried treasure.”
So some rich and mighty misers want to get in on the hunt, too?
“I’ve already been asked about this in private. If I take her in, that only gives them an excuse to move ahead.”
“Speaking of private, you can’t just keep her presence under wraps?”
“The Paladins are…a large organization.”
After their heroics in the stampede, they’d earned more power, which brought more duties and obligations. They’d bolstered their ranks, but training and testing hadn’t been able to keep up, so the disparity in quality within the group had put them right back where they’d started. Vincent had put a lot of work into disciplining the ranks and turning them into an elite force, but they were backsliding. They had to take in new, less capable members, too, because of the losses they’d suffered in the stampede. Those holes had to be filled, one way or another.
“If she’s being kept here, the word will get out sooner or later.”
“…So April’s in danger if she stays here.”