'Aspen!'

Aaspaelwin had barely opened the door before he ran headfirst into something large. He stiffened for a second as strong, furry arms embraced him into a crushing hug and his feet left the floor. With a groan, he focused on Sekafi, a smile worming its way onto his lips. She pressed her forehead against his and rubbed against him. He wheezed out a laugh and drew breath to speak when she licked him across his face, just like a happy dog.

He sputtered. 'Hey! Stop that, you animal.'

Her high-pitched laugh reminded him of the dangers he'd escaped. The smile became a grimace.

'What's up? Something happened?' She let him back down and studied him critically. 'You look a wreck. Also, you kinda smell.' She wrinkled her nose. 'What happened?'

'Wait, hold your horses.' Aspen wiped his face on the hem of his cape. 'What are you doing back already? I didn't think you'd be back until tomorrow.'

She grinned and flopped down on his bed. 'I didn't have to go with the trader the entire way so I could return faster. Great huh?'

'But... what about the money?' He almost didn't dare ask, afraid she might get offended or hurt. She'd done it only to keep their economy afloat after all.

'He paid me in full.'

'Really? That was nice of...' Her mischievous grin told him all he needed to know. 'Ah. I guess you had a hand in his generosity?'

She raised her eyebrows and indicated herself, batting her eyes innocently. 'Me? I merely pointed out that I had saved him from trouble with some footpads already and that I'd been willing to travel all the way for him and that such loyalty must surely be worth the full payment, even though he decided to break the contract early.'

'Mhm... I'm sure you used such kind words too, and with the most mild-mannered behaviour, right?'

'But of course, elfling. What else would you expect from me?'

'Oh, nothing much.' He smirked.

'So, what happened to you? Why were you out this late? I told you not to get into trouble.'

'I didn't get into trouble,' Aspen began but his traitorous face heated, giving him away. He smiled guiltily as she crossed her arms.

'Uhu.'

Aaspaelwin peeked out the door, then locked it firmly, walked over to the window and looked out through the shutters, making sure nobody watched them. As he returned his attention to Sekafi, she sat with her head cocked to the side, watching him curiously.

'Something serious happened, huh?'

He nodded and sat down beside her on the bed. 'I think... I mean. Hapow, and the monster, I saw it! I got this note and...' He pulled the crumpled parchment out of his pocket and started unfolding it when her big hand covered his. Calm down. He looked up into her warm, yellow eyes, concern filling them to the brim.

'Aspen, slow down. One thing at a time.'

'Right, sorry.' He told her everything from the beginning. Once done, he asked, 'Do you think... it was real?' He wanted her to say it was just his imagination, that nothing would happen. But of course she didn't.

'I know you're crazy, Aspen, but you're not delirious. If you saw it, it was because it was there.' She silenced and for a while stared blankly ahead, only her round ears moving. Then she gave him a long look. 'But why didn't it attack you? Why are you not dead?'

He shrugged, having wondered about that himself. 'Maybe it was scared?' He snorted at his own suggestion. The monster, scared of him? A little weakling? No, it hadn't backed away even when they'd cut off one of its legs and blinded several eyes. It wouldn't stay away from him from fear. But something had kept it from attacking. 'It tried to hit me with its tongue,' he mumbled.

'But it didn't persist in attacking you. It left. So what's up with that?'

'It is strange,' he agreed. 'Maybe we should try to find out more about it? Why's it here? And who brought it?' He had his suspicions but would like them confirmed.

'Who's controlling it,' Sekafi muttered.

'What?' Someone controlling it hadn't even crossed his mind. He'd been too busy wondering why it was here at all. 'Must be someone who can use magic, right?'

Their eyes met in silence. They both thought the same thing.

'Let's see if we can get a hold of someone at the Council. We need someone to talk, someone who has more information.'

'Right. Perhaps Hapow can arrange a meeting with someone?'

'Probably. He may be a guard, but he's from a rich family, after all. Let's contact him tomorrow. '

Aspen nodded. 'He's gonna hate us,' he commented with a grin.

She laughed, loud and whiny, but familiar. Safe. 'Yeah. But let's harass him tomorrow, yeah?'

Having Sekafi back with him calmed Aspen's nerves, and having a plan gave him some purpose. Though unease still simmered in his stomach as they went to bed and rendered him unable to sleep.

The following morning, Aaspaelwin and Sekafi walked to the Red Manticore and left a message with the barkeep. She promised to contact Sir Hapow as soon as possible. Then they could only wait.

They spent the day walking around in the city, noting with growing unease the way people looked sideways at them and anyone else who weren't pure human. Many would even go as far as to shirk over to the other side of the street if they met them.

Sekafi growled deep in her throat as it happened for the third time. Aspen put a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

'This is getting stupid,' she snapped.

He nodded. 'I know. People have gone from mild dislike to actual fear.'

'Fear? You mean disgust,' she muttered.

'Well, I think most people are more prone to fear. Fear of the unknown and all that.'

'It's the stupid Council, scaremongering about outsiders. It's putting people on edge.'

They entered a market and stopped. Lots of people milled about the open centre, some strolling about to look at merchandise in colourful stalls, others simply stood around, as if waiting for something.

'Have we missed something?' Aspen asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.

'Possibly. You miss a lot of things.'

Aspen glanced up, but her face betrayed nothing. He snorted. 'If you say so.'

The corner of her mouth twitched.

'Someone's approaching. Looks like an important person. Should we get closer to hear?' Without waiting for a reply, Aspen pushed through the crowd gathered in the centre of the square. Sekafi followed, his loyal shadow, keeping people on better thoughts than to harass the small half-elf.

A black-haired man in a rich red embroidered tunic, black breeches, and high heeled polished shoes with gem-infested buckles stepped up on a podium. Aspen hadn't seen him before, but assumed he was from the Council. The man looked to be in his twenties. Perhaps some young noble, given an important role simply because of his high birth?

The crowd jostled and pushed forward. Everyone wanted to hear what the man had to say. There had been many announcements in the past weeks, but Aspen hadn't paid too much attention, being occupied with his own worries. He looked around, trying to gage the mood of the assembled people. Many shuffled their feet nervously or held hands while others stood confidently, arms crossed and heads held high. Odd. But at least they didn't seem angry or unruly. He glanced up. The sun blazed in a clear sky, baking everything beneath as usual. But at the edge of the visible sky, something dark approached. Clouds? He sent a quick prayer to the god of weather, Sarek, asking for rain. The dry lands needed it.

The man at the podium raised his arms for silence. The guards below him glared suspiciously at anyone coming too close.

'Greetings, people of Toin Caas.' The young man looked around, as if unsure how to continue. He cooled himself with a fan before saying, 'Some of you might have heard about the changing rules. The first one is...'

His voice drowned in the raised voices shouting questions. Aspen frowned. Why couldn't people just listen? This would only take longer if they interrupted the man. After a few moments of shouting from the guards surrounding the podium, the people quieted down again.

The young noble cleared his throat, his dark eyes blazing with irritation. 'As I said, the first new rule is regarding the Council. There have been some rumours going around, spread by people who'd like to see this city burn, its people ruined. Do not listen to such nonsense. Spreading rumours and lies about the Council will not be tolerated. If anyone is found guilty of spreading such falsehoods, they will be executed at worst, and at best, be banished from the city. Understood?' He shouted the last words.

Aspen gaped, staring at the young man who had worked himself up into some rage. 'Rumors? Punishable by death?' He turned to Sekafi.

She crossed her arms, the fur at the nape of her neck standing up. 'I have a feeling it's about a certain monster,' she whispered in Aspen's ear.

He nodded, a heavy lump forming in his stomach. 'Maybe the strangers who make people sick as well?'

'I'd bet on it.'

The noble shouted for silence over the murmuring crowd and they slowly settled down again.

'The second rule. Everyone in the city has to go to assigned places, I'll tell you where in a moment, to become registered as citizens. If you are visiting merchants or similar, you have to acquire a visitation pass.' He paused as the assembled people raised their voices, shouting questions or plain yelling in outrage.

'This is all to ensure our citizen's safety,' the noble shouted over the noise. 'Registration will make it easier to track down people who do not belong, and it will make it easier to help those in need.'

'Help them out of the city, for sure,' Sekafi muttered under her breath.

Aspen nodded, still keeping his eyes on the speaker.

'To be eligible for citizen registration you must have accommodation, you must have an income, and you have to have lived here for at least three months. If you lack any of those conditions but have family in the city that can vouch for you, you might still be able to get registered. But you'd have a time limit to acquire the necessary requirements.'

'What!' Aspen clapped a hand over his mouth and threw a glance at Sekafi. She didn't have family here, technically she didn't have a home either. And being a mercenary by trade, she didn't have a permanent job. But maybe that didn't matter? She did work with him all the time. But then... he didn't have a job anymore either. But he was part of a guild and mostly worked for the Council. He cursed, drawing a surprised look from Sekafi. Her composed neutral face said everything he needed to know about her thoughts. This wasn't going to end well.

Eventually, the unruly crowds settled down enough for the noble to speak again. Aspen didn't listen, his thoughts too loud and tumultuous. What were they going to do? They had to speak to someone as soon as possible. And that all hinged on Sir Hapow. Aspen pulled the hood down over his head some more, shading his face from the merciless sun.

'...at Harper's Corner. Visiting merchants by the Goodwater Tavern...' The peacock by the podium blabbered on, listing places to get registered. They should probably at least try. But they'd have a month to do it. He felt lost and helpless. In just a few weeks his life had been turned upside-down. Monsters, magic, goblins, lost work, Lady Hennaja dead, rules changed. So many things had happened.

Sekafi grabbed him by the arm and steered him away from the crowd. No point in lingering.

The pair wandered around in the city for most of the afternoon, trying to keep busy while waiting for Sir Hapow. They noted the many houses with painted doors and groups of humans staring at them with unfriendly eyes. As if they had caused the sickness. They wandered back to the Red Manticore towards the evening in hope of getting word from Sir Hapow. To their surprise, the innkeeper waved them over as soon as she saw them enter.

'You think the rat answered already?' Sekafi muttered.

Aspen snorted, but didn't seem too amused by her insult to the man. She supposed it was a bit unfair. He was an ass, but he was helping them.

'Evening,' the innkeeper said as they approached. 'Come with me.' She beckoned and left the bar counter in the hands of a young man.

He eyed them suspiciously. Sekafi bared her teeth as they passed by, and he recoiled, suddenly very interested in polishing the counter with a rag. She giggled, and Aspen patted her on the arm.

'Don't overdo it. We don't want to make enemies here,' he whispered.

'He seemed to think us enemies already though.'

'Maybe, but you don't have to confirm it, you know. You're scary enough already.' He winked and she laughed.

They followed the barkeep to a room behind the kitchen and she closed the door behind them.

'Well?' Aaspaelwin asked, fidgeting nervously. Though Sekafi doubted anyone who didn't know him would notice.

'Sir Hapow left a message to you as he couldn't meet you in person. But he didn't dare write it down, so listen carefully.'

Sekafi pricked up her ears, paying close attention. Aspen nodded and pushed down his hood.