Bound and Beaten

JP with Winteroak, Alexis, Islana and Gonyaul:

Gonyaul was covered in drying mud from head to toes. The blood had dried on his face and down his front that came from his nose. Whatever he was wearing was messed up and slightly coming off his shoulders. He was trying to keep it from falling off because didn’t want his tattooing to show. It was a chore when your hands are bound. So he was literally holding his upper garment on. His chest scratch was minor, the many layers of fabric having protected decent against the smaller blade.

His muscles ached around the points where he struggled to hold at bay the larger and heavier opponent. He had burns from the friction points between their clothing fabric. And he had a noticeable bruise on his forehead.

He was trying to be respectful, yet everyone was ignoring him.

“Big mistake. I not be in here.”

He was shivering, which made his accented words more broken sounded then usual. The drying mud and cold air was probably part of it, the rest was he was shaken up inside from the fight.

Alexis rushed over to the group with a look of bewilderment and relief.

She took a moment to compose herself and addressed the guard.

“Pardon, but I know him. What happened?”

"Pretty eyes here was fighting down in Lowood. Looks like a troublemaker." someone replied.

Gonyaul’s eyes were watering up a little bit. That was his first ever real fight. And it was started to hit him post adrenaline how close he had come to death. Even with all his training, which was extensive and saved his life, he would have technically lost if it was an officiated match.

“No trouble make.” He objected to the lie.

"You keep them pretty lips closed, boy." the man told him raising his baton.

Gonyaul didn’t flinch. His back foot did go into a defensive stance though just in case. He immediate shut his mouth and grew silent.

Alexis grabbed the baton right away.

“Hold your horses there.”

she said sharply.

She looked to Gonyaul with concern.

“Did they hurt you?”

The man looked at her with murder in his eyes. "If you wanna grab unto something I have something else for you." he said pulling his baton away but stepped back.

It was Alexis! He was saved right? He ignored the crass guard and looked to her with pleading eyes.

“No. Like this before them come.”

“Can’t shake the feeling your baton is more solid by far.”
she retorted coldly to the taunt.

She was however glad Gonyaul had come out largely unscathed.

“… he has been helping in an investigation. And I’d wager that is what got him in trouble. Is there any way we can get him out of this binds?”

She continued, now in a more austere tone.

Gonyaul extended his bound hands to the guard. Thinking this now meant he was going to be unbound.

The other guards laughed at Alexis reply. "Only Carver can let him go. this is City guard business, lass." one of the other guards said.

He didn’t really understand what they were jeering back and forth about at all. But he understood get him out.

“Very well. I’ll talk to her, then.”

…… Alexis talks with Carver ……

Islana figured the best thing she could do was stay out of the interaction regarding Gonyaul rather than possibly make matters worse.

Once Gonyaul was freed and she was able to speak with him she asked, "Are you alright?"

Gonyaul massaged his wrists where the chains had been. They didn’t feel good on the bruises underneath the wrappings he had incurred during the fight. He was so very grateful the two of them were here and it showed on his face. He bowed to both.

To her question, he tried to keep a brave face but he was struggling to do so. He was honest and shook his head no, no he was not ok. He had gone from feeling like he was getting his life back on track to almost dying to imprisonment. And his only Arihs Ikeburer was messed up.

Islana looked over the man, she gently sincerely said, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gotten you involved with this."

Really, it wasn't like Islana had coerced anyone into this but she still felt bad.

Maybe, it would be best to move to the next task, "Zane? Should we find him?" The question directed at Alexis.

Alexis gave Gonyaul a gentle squeeze on the shoulder.

“I’m sorry, too.”

To Islana’s question she answered.

“Yeah, if they let us. He called for the Friar the moment he heard about the cult. He’s probably still here.”

Gonyaul nodded to them both. Having them here was the only familiar thing to anchor to and it was helping him start to calm down inside. He began to focus on relaxing his breath as they decided what to do.

Islana then commented, "I suppose we should go and find out."

She assumed that Alexis would be really the one doing the asking as she was the one with any standing.