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Events as they occurred on the 22nd of Granite
The door was ajar.
Bomrek's heart pounded. It appears as though the time had come to choose between duty and honor.
She felt like she needed more time to think, but there was none.
She knocked tentatively on the door, before entering.
"Ah, Bomrek, please come in." said the Captain.
She entered and took a moment to look at him.
She'd served under a few mayors, having moved often prior to her assignment in Nist Akath, but this was the first one to whom she felt a true connection of kinship.
The others had been penpushers, would-be nobles without any real regard for their citizens well-being.
This mud, blood and vomit encrusted specimen, however, was legend beyond the fortress walls. When it came to pens, he was more likely to try and stab a foul beast to death with it than put it to paper.
As for how filthy he was, apparently he had recently attempted to have a bath, and the filth had plainly won.
Her old clothes were stained in such a manner as well, so she could hardly complain.
Silently, she nodded, and took a seat.
Her meal already sat before her.
A hearty meaty stew.
Her mouth watered. Meat was rare, but not unheard of, though it was still common to go a week or so without any.
The Captain must have noticed her appetite, because he bade her to eat, before discussing matters of office.
And so the meal commenced, an awkward silence hanging in the air. It was always like this when they were alone, never knowing what to say, unless it pertained to the city. Inwardly, each sighed sadly at this fact.
Once they had finished, matters of office again took precedence.
"Bomrek, Adalore has been... made a pawn, in the rivalry between Baron Dirty and myself." said the Captain, sadly.
"Yes, I heard. A pity. Is that what you asked me here about?" replied Bomrek, softly.
"Indeed. I cannot think of any legitimate means to free him from this effective death sentence. I was hoping you may be able to help?"
"Captain, I cannot betray my oath to serve the King. I can't simply defy the law, and free Adalore."
"Adalore has saved the inhabitants of this fortress from more of the Antlered menace than I can bother to count! Does that mean nothing?" asked the Captain, sternly.
Bomrek gave a sad smile before answering. "To me, yes. To the law, no."
"These damnable laws!" cried the Captain, in frustration.
Bomrek let a quiet moment pass as she searched her mind for a solution. She had always found a path between Duty and Honor before. This time should be no different!
At last she had it.
"Captain, listen carefully. I can only abide by the law, and the law is dependent upon the situation."
The Captain raised a querulous eyebrow. "Go on."
"And the situation is that the prison is badly in need of a total reconstruction."
"Wait, what?!" shouted the Captain, then paused to consider a moment. "That task would take some time. Maybe months."
"Yes, Captain. It is currently not in use however." said Bomrek, smiling.
"I see. And there's nowhere else suitable for a prison?"
"No, Captain."
"And I know that Hammerings must, by law, be performed in the prison itself, but surely it would be dangerous to let somebody go in there, with all the crumbling old masonry, yes?"
"Somebody might be killed, Captain!" said Bomrek, in mock horror.
"Well that does it, Bomrek! I'm shutting down the prison! The law will just have to deal with that!"
"Yes, Captain. I'll get right on it." said Bomrek, and moved to leave.
"Oh and Bomrek." said the Captain, leaning forward on the table, with his fingers arched.
"Yes, Captain?"
"Thank you." he said, meaningfully.
Bomrek nodded quietly, and left, a tear of happiness quietly rolling down her cheek.