FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Guilded Cage

Prologue 1: A Simple Job

Jace had never cared for heights; for as long as he could remember he preferred to have his paws squarely on the ground. For a reason he couldn't figure out, however, the people in charge always seemed to choose the high ground for him and so, as usual, he found himself perched up atop the roof of one of the many two-story buildings of the slums. It wasn't that he didn't want to help; he really did-- but why did they always have to put him up somewhere high?

His brother knew he was distracted. "Focus."

As the youngest of eight, Jace and his eldest brother Dylan were separated by almost fifteen years and ever since he was born Dylan had looked out for him. They'd had a large family, and they'd been well off for Beast-Kin; they'd even managed to have a small town house outside the slums-- a rarity for their kind. Things changed when Jace was eight-- his parents and half of his siblings had died of fever. Dylan took over the task of caring for his remaining siblings, but it wasn't an easy job.

Always devoted, Dylan reminded him again: "Focus, Jace."

Dylan was right, of course; reminiscing would have to wait; they had a job to do. Peering out over the roof tops in the late evening twilight, the Lion searched the streets with his eyes, seeking the small patrol of militia and the 'package' they were delivering to the Lawgivers. Not bothering to glance toward his sibling, Jace spoke his question aloud. "What'd this guy do again that the Lawgivers want him?"

His brother's tone was grave with no attempt to hide his distain. "A Beast-Kin in the Tradesman's District? He was 'disturbing the peace'."

Jace knew just how bad St. Almar could be at times for be for their kind; he'd lived there his whole life. Then again, he'd BEEn to the Tradesman's District. "We've been there plenty of times... why would HE get in trouble for it?"

Dylan's answer was simple. "No piercing."

That made perfect sense, of course. Beast-Kin had to qualify for a travel license to go into different districts and that usually took the form of an ear ring. Then again, he remembered, some Beast-Kin chose alternate piercings-- his brother had introduced him to a Bull with a nose ring and a Fox with an eyebrow stud. It apparently wasn't as big a deal as to WHERE they had their piercing as having it at all. "Then... if he didn't have a piercing, why was he where he wasn't supposed to be?"

A harsh "SSSSSHHHHHH!" echoed up from the alley down below, reminding Jace that his traveling companions had wanted them to be quiet. Silently spacking himself in the face with a paw, the young Lion lived with his shame. Dylan, as usual, didn't care what anyone thought, and spoke anyway. "Doesn't matter. They don't have a right to bring in a free citizen for going out to get food at the general store."

Jace would have pressed the issue; he knew that there were plenty of places to buy supplies in places where Beast-Kin could go without piercings, but he also knew that Dylan had some pretty strong feelings when it came to the way their fellow people were treated in St. Almar. That was one of many reasons that his brother had pushed Jace to join the Assembly. Lowering his voice, the young Lion whispered to his brother "You're sure there won't be any violence?"

Dylan's sigh said it all before he even spoke but, not one to hold his tongue, his brother was more than happy enough to elaborate. "I never said there wouldn't be violence-- I said if there was I'd protect you. I doubt the militia will just hand him over, and you know how incompetent Torque and Billy can be."

The two men in the alley below weren't really named "Torque" and "Billy"-- those were nicknames they used as part of their Assembly activities. Jace had a nickname too but he never really remembered to use it, and Dylan thought they were stupid anyway. Dylan was his hero, so Jace tended to defer in matters such as that. Besides, he was always reminded, Jace wasn't doing anything wrong; he was just there to help out his big brother. Jace enjoyed being able to help, and did so willingly.

There were few people in the world the young Lion looked up to as much as his older brother. Having been raised by him since his parents died, the two of them had been on their own since the fire two years later that had taken their home and the rest of their family except for the two of them; Dylan had only been able to save one person from the fire, and that one person had been Jace. He'd promised often and always to one day repay his brother and he planned to make good on it.

"Didn't I tell you to focus?"

Dylan had, of course, and Jace snapped out of his reverie and glanced toward the main street where four militia-men wearing studded leather and city colors were escorting a struggling Red Panda Beast-Kin between them. The young Lion murmured softly to his sibling "He doesn't really look like a criminal... he looks just like anyone else."

Beside him, he heard Dylan scoff "You'll understand these things when you're older, cub... criminals don't always look like criminals, and as far as most folks in this city are concerned, if you have fur and claws you're guilty of something."

Jace didn't much care for how harsh Dylan's world view was of St. Almar, but he also knew better than to argue. "Well... I guess if you're gonna help him then we--"

Torque called up from below in a harsh whisper. "Hey! Murmur! Shut it, and let us know when they're comin'!"

Murmur, of course, was Jace's nickname. Most of the folks from the Assembly were nice enough but they never really understood why he talked to his brother; it wasn't easy to get them to understand that he was the only one who could hear him. Letting out a long sigh he knelt down by the ledge of the building and whispered back "They're coming. Two blocks away."

From his crouched position, the Lion finally glanced to his brother, extending a paw to gently grasp the sword's hilt as if hugging his sibling. "You ready, Dylan?"

He could almost imagine his brother smiling his response, but he felt the soft vibration of the words from the blade regardless. "I should be asking you, squirt."

Jace nodded, reaching up with his free paw to run his fingers through his close-cropped mane. Although he'd often hoped it would one day grow in thick and regal when he grew up like his brother's, when they moved to the slums they'd both had to shave regularly to avoid lice and fleas. Seeing as Dylan had since given up his physical body that was one less thing his brother had to worry about, but Jace sometimes missed it.

Not bothering to wait for his brother to remind him to focus, the young Lion drew out the sword. He felt his brother's a surreal strength and competence flow through him from whatever powerful magic imbued the weapon, which was a good thing since Jace himself was useless in a fight. Fortunately for him, his brother had once been a pit-fighting champion, so he was not afraid. "Ready when you are, Dylan."

His sword blurted out a 'ha'. "Just wait for the two stooges down there to draw the militia's attention and I'll handle the rest. You been working on your landings?"

Dylan had always focused on making sure Jace was physically fit and capable; fortunately for the young Lion, athletics were much easier for him than combat. Smiling, he ran a paw through his short-sprouts of mane and got into position at the lip of the roof. "Say the word."

It didn't take long for the word to be said.