The air was full of screams and shouts as hooves pounded in all directions for a brief moment before zeroing in and surrounding their target with the intent to kick the hell out of it. Hooves flew as the screaming got even louder and as they fought with each other one met its mark sending the object spiraling out of control and whizzing down the impromptu soccer field whereupon it smacked into a hut, bounced back and smacked a foal in the head splaying them out on the ground before rolling to a brief halt. In less than a second the pack of howling foals descended on the ball but not before the one who was hit rolled over and still laying on their back kicked it away. Scampering after it the throng continued to chase it back and forth trying to beat it towards their opponents end of the alley with varying degrees of success as many other eyes watched quietly.

Heads ducked quickly as the ball went flying again only this time it arched over the fence where the onlookers were forced to hide as it soared over the fence. A shout declared the ball was out and as it was passed back to the impromptu referee as he climbed back inside the danger zone, Verik held it up and waited as the foals stared before backing off and into their separate groups.

"Kaj... Whatever your name is, you kicked it out so the other team gets it. No. Argue again and they gain a point, I saw you kick it out of the fenced area." Watching them back down a little Verik sighed again. "Thankfully no one knows the rules not that I do either, at least they are buying it."

Grumbling to themselves while the other team grinned like piranhas at their good fortune Verik passed the ball to them and quickly climbed out before yelling "go." Hardly a second passed before the madness erupted again and the ball was slowly beaten to death as it moved slowly back and forth in the field. Looking at the gathering of parents and onlookers for a moment Verik looked curiously as a stallion covered from his hips down in a black substance looked over the fence for a moment before walking off. Staring at him as he left Verik looked back at the players and satisfied they were not going to kill each other just yet he stared at Sefu and gestured at the retreating stallion.

"What happened to that guy?"

Taking a quick glance Sefu shook his head. "Slip and fall in tar pit."

"You have tar pits around here?"

"Yes."

"What do you use it for?"

"Some use to keep water from leaking through roof, make hut smell bad but keep water out. Dangerous though, burn very, very good but water not get in for long time."

"So where is this tar pit?"

"Pits. That way, down road and west. Small path, mostly Zuberi use it to do Zuberi things. Also help keep raft village has from rotting, many uses." Sefu stared at Verik a moment before looking at the foals again for a moment. "Most we use is when one get what is called mange. Why you want to know?"

"I thought everyone just used clay."

"Yes, but wear out quickly and not as good, easy to get, no risk falling in tar pit but tar much better. Not many want to risk falling in and not come out. Why you want to know about tar pit? You already fix roof."

"Just wanted to see it, never seen a tar pit before." Verik shrugged. "Also tar mixed with some of the grass around here, stuffed in a jar, one small rag wick and it would make a darn good distraction if we have to flee Iuny after grabbing Shahid's sister, but you dont need to know that. Setting the docks on fire is not exactly something you tell others is part of the plan until you have to cross that bridge while running for your life...."

"Hmm..." Sefu narrowed his eyes at Verik before looking away. "No fall in pit, take Asha with you. Take many with you and rope. Only one fall in and die for many years but it was very bad death. Drown in tar not pleasant, some places not suck you in but others pull under very quick. Very, very hard to pull out and that one was very much lucky."

"I know, ancient tar pits are a great place to find fossils, many a giant has been felled in them."

"Fossil?"

"Preserved dead things in stone. Very interesting when you see the bigger critters that died and were preserved to some degree."

"Ahh... Seen some like that, little things though. Leaf inside stone but not leaf, like leaf was pressed inside stone then removed."

"The leaf became the stone."

"How?" Sefu stared at him strangely. "Leaf not become stone."

"Ohhh give it a few hundred million years and a bog or sandy riverbed..."

Sefu continued to stare at him before shaking his head not believing it and focused on the foals again before pointing lazily with a finger as he leaned gently on the fence. "Fight."

Verik looked in quickly and watched the pile of kicking fur. "Here we go again."

Inside the field he grabbed the first on top and yanked them off with one hand before grabbing another and doing the same. Pulling them off and gently tossing them aside he dug his way down to the bottom two who were hanging onto each others legs biting.

"Enough! Let go!" Verik grabbed one by the head and began prying his jaw open before giving up and grabbed both, lifted and pulled them apart with sheer force till they were hanging in the air grasping at each other. "I said enough! Either you stop or you with both be thrown from the field!"

"He start it!"

"Did not!"

"Kick leg!"

"No mean to!"

"QUIET!" The two hung quietly in the air staring death at each other as Verik walked back to Sefu with them before putting them both down and well within the giants reach as he kept his eye on one of them. "Alright Tsuda, where did he kick you?"

Tsuda held his leg up and pointed. "There."

Feeling his cannon gently Verik could feel where he had been kicked. "Can you walk? Walk over there and back again." Watching the foal walk back and forth without much effort he looked at Sefu who shrugged.

"Seen worse today."

"True. Alright, go sit over there for a few minutes, as for you... Watch what your kicking at and go sit on the other side till I say otherwise."

"I not mean to kick-"

"Well you did. So, as long as he is out and so are you."

"He still kick me!"

"Yes he did but you bit the hell out of his leg so your even. Go to your corners and sit or you both wont get to play again all day."

The two stared at each other before walking off to their different ends to stare at the mob which was waiting, despite the fact the ball was still sitting there none touched it as they waited for Verik to collect it and once he had it was placed in the middle of the field. Walking to safety he waved for them to start and they did so with a violent fury.

"Awe unhappy with how many injured." Sefu nodded at Tsuda as he rubbed his leg while glaring across the field at his opponent.

"Well she only has two locked up inside, one sprain and the other exhaustion so... I would not really worry about it. After how things started I figured it might be a whole lot worse but it appears that foals are quite resilient. Or this lot is just lucky with their poorly aimed kicks."

"Maybe both, get older not get up so fast."

"True. But the parents should be quite grateful tonight, they will probably all pass out before we have a chance to send them home. Also there seems to be more of them than before."

"Yes, more send foal here now to spend time "alone" at hut. Mean more for us."

"Sending more of your own here or just your son?"

"More than one son but yes, Awe still not allow hers to come here. You very bad influence."

"I thought he was Awe's..."

"No but cared for by Awe, mother work fields most time."

"So how many of yours are..." Verik motioned to the throng.

"Six. Rest home."

"Rest?"

"Yes?"

"Exactly how many do you have?"

"Nine."

"Wow... Okay." Verik stopped and stared at Sefu again. "Wait, with the number of wives you have I figured you would have a lot more than that."

"Did once..."

"Ah... Right, starvation and other issues." Verik motioned to the hoard of adults who were clustered around the fence. "Well they seem to be rather into the game, good thing your brother had the families who live here "donate" their back yards to this little task."

"They agree, no need threaten. Brother know they have foal of own and this also serve them so they not fight so much. One grumble but still agree, that one there is their foal."

Verik watched the striped menace as it fought back into the cluster to attack the ball before catching some movement from the corner of his eye. "Sefu?"

"Hm."

"Are they betting on the game?"

Sefu shifted his head and stared at the line of stallions and mares before nodding. "Yes."

"What in the hell could they possibly be betting with?"

"Little things." Sefu motioned quickly. "That one betting bracelet. Not much but..."

"They must really be into this game of ankle biting."

"Very rare we have time off, rarer we have ways to entertain selves. Enjoy while last."

"Even if it means losing what little they have?"

"Not all betting, very few, but if it make them happy."

"Until they lose and then we might have a riot."

"If riot then I take stick and make them not riot."

"I do not doubt that for a second." Verik pondered what it would look like to have Sefu wade into a mob to resolve a dispute with nothing more than a large stick before almost laughing and turning his thoughts to a different matter. "If I can get enough pots we can all go down to the tar pits and load up... No, maybe one or two of those massive empty ones, haul them back and then mix up a good mushy batch of chopped up dry grass... That would work, stuff the mix into smaller jars. Wait, where will we get the smaller jars? If we ask for them others will get curious, cant steal them... I have a few coins left so maybe I can purchase some old ones, Raswan and Jelani would know who would be best to approach."

Verik hummed to himself as everyone continued to watch the foals beat the ball to death as it moved back and forth on the field before a filly got loose from the pack with it, and delivering a violent kick sent it whizzing down the field where it smacked into the goal which was nothing more than a marked off part of a huts wall. The furry masses broke out in cheering or disappointed grumbling and slews of accusations as they argued over who's fault it was.

Raising his hand up Verik called it. "Score! Two to one now. Bring it here."

Tossing it up into the air and watching them mob it again he observed a few grumbling adults exchanging things between themselves as the betting began all over again. "Well, we will think of something. A few tar pots will come in handy if we get caught. Nothing like setting the docks on fire to divert the guards attention, but..." He looked around and finally up at the sky. "Dont know who is listening but however many or few of you there are, I hope to all of you it doesn't come to that. We dont need to kick a hornets nest any more than we are about to."

Nawra nervously paced around Fareed's gardens as she reflected on what Ismat had said, justice had not come swiftly but instead been set to a very slow simmer as she was left to wait and wonder as to the fate of the young thief. At first she had thought it would be resolved within the day as it was favorable to her in rushing the matter through but instead Fareed had played his hand well despite her questions and held off on making an immediate decision let alone allowing her to even see him. She had instead been left to wait and ponder, a situation which now favored him by virtue of the appearance of "thinking the matter over" though she knew it was a farce. Or perhaps he truly was busy with other matters? Which was it? A ploy on his part of a genuine need to handle stately affairs first? Both? Neither?

Stopping in her tracks she breathed out hard and considered things once more. Fareed was truly in no hurry, he probably could care less and had it been anyone else challenging would have allowed it to slide to some degree. Unfortunately, she had challenged. Cursing herself quietly at the days spent brooding over the matter Nawra stared up at the sky for a moment.

"Such matters are so far beneath him they probably never merit his attention and this is probably the first time he has been asked to get involved... He must appear civilized as there are other guests and the last thing he needs is a rumor spreading that all of his lofty titles are less than what they seem. The appearance of absolute power must be retained but neither can he permit it to pass as a foreigner has called upon tradition to be upheld. What will he do? It is common knowledge that his standing order is to just butcher anyone who gets in the way so... What will he do?"

Nawra stopped as she remembered the horrified look on the colts face as it flooded her vision again. "Perhaps I should try to see him... No, he is a commoner and that it is undignified for me to do so but I do worry for the colt. Maybe an inquiry to his state of well being to make certain he has not already been dealt with or." She took another breath. "Tortured. He may be just a peasant but their treatment of prisoners is too harsh, especially for one of so young of age. He needs to be punished and put to a meaningful task that will keep him from trouble. Still, if I were to even ask it might catch Fareed's interest and it would be best to appear un-phased by this by remaining quiet for now." A terrible thought crossed her mind and it made her ears flatten a little. "What if they just seal the thief into the dungeon and leave him to rot?"

Wandering around in another large loop while her retinue followed quietly at a respectable distance Nawra continued to brood over the matter. Time was running out quickly for her stay but not near fast enough. There was still far too many torturous days to go but right now was the worst it had ever been, all the little back and forth jabs Fareed had been making were brushed aside but now there was a wall to be climbed and he might just pull up the ladder to spite her, one more dead peasant meant nothing in the grand scheme of things and she knew it.

Rounding a bend in the shrubbery she froze as two familiar faces came into view, she knew not their names but they were advisors and often wandered through the gardens this time of day but more than that, that they did not appear to see eye to eye with their sovereign. It was a risk but one less likely to cause push-back from Fareed as if they breathed of it they would probably be flogged or ignored considering how lowly they were treated.

"But maybe I can ask without asking..."

Closing the distance quickly and calming herself she approached them and when they realized she was there the two froze and bowed quickly.

"Honored guest."

"I just realized I never learned your names..."

They looked at each other a moment before their concern dissipated. "My name is Alim, advisor to Fareed."

"Zahir, advisor to Fareed. How can we help you princess?"

"As advisors I thought you might be able to help me with a few matters in advance. You may not be aware but I have yet to meet with Fareed and settle the trade disputes between my kingdom and his, knowing a few more details could be advantageous to both sides, namely in regards to your laws. What constitutes a fair deal and what is considered theft..."

The two looked at each other confused a moment before Zahir spoke. "I am afraid you have lost us... Fareed handles these matters privately and with his trade advisor, we are not you see so our knowledge is limited princess."

"I simply wish to understand your kingdom better so a proper agreement can be reached on certain matters that have taken place..."

Alim's eye suddenly twitched and shifting himself forward ever so slightly causing Zahir to remain quiet he smiled. "Our great kingdoms laws are tricky but your concern is most flattering and would be greatly "appeasing" to his majesty... However, access to the archives is restricted and we would have to bother his majesty in order to allow your person to be granted access. We are certain you are most well equipped as you are to handle such trifling matters without "disturbing" him."

"Quite, but one would be remiss not to understand as much as possible before something were to happen?"

Zahir nudged Alim and glared. "Just tell her you damn fool so we can be on our way! Quit playing damn games less we get into trouble again!"

Alim held his breath a moment and glanced around quickly. "Princess Nawra, I shall be brief. He will probably not hang though that would be for the best. He is still alive and in holding."

Nawra twitched, their words were irksome and all too common a response here. "It may be true but a good ruler knows when to show mercy."

Looking a little nervous the two opened their mouths before Zahir held Alim back. "Princess, we know much of your kingdom but understand that here, death is often a mercy."

"Amusing, a city so clean and polite yet lacking in basic virtues in how it treats it commoners."

Alim grasped Zahir's arm and hissed into his ear. "She is trying to get us lynched! Just bow and lets be off!"

"One moment Zahir. Princess, how can I put this... It depends on how you were to examine the situation. Then again it must also be nice to live in a city without issues..."

"Labrad is not without its crime but we resolve our issues in a civilized manner."

"Of course not." Zahir smiled and bowed. "But here, we have so little "crime" because when one breaks a deal they are swiftly dealt with in a very open manner that makes them an example to the rest. There are many ways to handle agreements between parties but sometimes the most... Colorful? Gets the point across to those who would dare think otherwise."

Nawra seethed behind her calm and complacent exterior. "I despite you both and may you one day know the horrors that have been visited upon this city! You both do nothing and hide under his robes for protection! May you both-" Nawra smiled. "I hope you teach the law to even the most young of your city so they know not to breach such agreements. A city so great and glamorous has few excuses for not having its populace know how things should be run."

Alim held back bile that was working its way up and threatened to force its way out. "Just what the hell do you expect us to do!? The last advisor to speak too openly was disappeared by days end! It must be nice to live in a city where you are free to coddle the peasants or whip them like you would a colt when they get out of line. We do what we can and it almost gets us killed! Do you not think we would do something better if we could!? We risk enough doing what we do!" Putting his hand on Zahir's shoulder as his friend closed his eyes and sighed Alim held back his ire and smiled. "In order to maintain such a great kingdom, great sacrifice is required. But we also know that when one wishes to be taken seriously one makes an appropriate offering, the gift must match the request..."

Her hatred towards the two advisors evaporated as his last words sunk in, they both bowed quickly and retreated from her sight as dread flowed over her. "My families offering was two fold but I offered only one part of it, now I am asking something so simple but they make it sound like a mountain. Is he truly so egotistical as to refuse on such a petty basis? His laws are fists of iron but even so this maniac can not honestly consider such a petty matter to be so serious! A colt tried to steal something, a mere colt! What threat is a colt against a kingdom? Are things that fragile or his it his ego? Which!?"

As she fumed and continued to wander the gardens having gotten nowhere with the advisors Nawra did not hear her name being called at first until J'Lail blocked her path in order to gain her attention.

"Princess? It is time to go."

"Where? The matter of the trade agreement is not set till the day after tomorrow."

"We are to go to the palace barracks, the prisoner in question...?"

Nawra perked up and nodding at J'Lail she motioned. "Lead the way."

Following the palace guard they wove their way out and to a large building which was a part of the palace walls, giving the heavy stone building a cursory glance she did not hesitate to enter the courtyard where the palace soldiers normally drilled but her eagerness waned quickly. All the guards were gone save six who stood ready while two held a very firmly bound up colt who was kneeling on the ground near a stained stone slab, there was another addition though: a stump. One of the guards stood to the side with a heavy sabre and leaning on it he continued to stare at the colt who kept his head hung down but the colts frantic and pained breathing assured her that at least for the moment, he was still alive. Slight swelling could be seen on his body where he had been beaten but someone had placed very strict limits as to how much had been permitted.

Staring at them as they averted their gaze from her own as they should from those above their station Nawra waited with worry clawing its way up her back. Their wait was not long though as Fareed arrived quickly and without any fanfare, striding into the barracks courtyard rapidly with a somewhat perturbed look on his face the sultan stood a short distance from Nawra and after giving a spiteful glance at the colt stood upright.

"I am much too tired for this..." Taking a breath he glared at the thief. "You, colt." The colt began to lift his head slowly but a guard leaned on him causing him to look away from Fareed as he slowly and nervously raised his head somewhat without making eye contact. "Your crime is quite simple so there is no need to make this long. Theft. From royalty no less and not only that..." Fareed glared down and hissed as Nawra stared in disbelief. "You stole from one of my guests."

Nawra's mouth almost fell open. "Is THAT what angers him? Not the crime but that he targeted me?! When he has been doing so from the moment I arrived?"

"Punishment for stealing is to hang, your petty crime is beneath my attention and would have been carried out swiftly as you are aware. However, as you stole from royalty that merits special attention but be aware... You would already be dead had princess Nawra of Labrad not spoken for you and challenged the law."

For the first time the colt actually made eye contact with Nawra at the mention of "royalty" and "princess" but the horrified look in his eyes made Nawra's stomach knot up. "He had no idea who he was really stealing from... This colt was doing it for his own reasons but he knew about the diplomats and that is why he targeted me. Had he known...What kind of special laws exist here?"

Fareed looked on bored. "You must still be punished for your crime. Princess Nawra, you challenged his hanging. Do you wish to make a plea?"

"Yes, seeing as what he attempted to steal was returned immediately and without incident I ask to purchase him as a slave."

"Your request is denied, under normal circumstances I would permit the purchasing of the thief for their use in other manners but this is a unique case and an example must be made."

"Then I beg you for clemency regarding this matter, he is but a colt." Nawra gestured to the thief. "Starving as we can clearly see, he was desperate and made a poor decision. His lack of proper judgement should be taken into consideration including that he was delirious from hunger." Taking a quick look at the colt she saw a spark of confusion in his eyes. "You did know didnt you? Was just to spite him? Or hunger?"

"You ask for mercy..." Fareed finally stared down at the colt examining him for a brief moment and sighed again. "The laws here are absolute and carried out swiftly, to ask for mercy leaves few options as thieves normally hang but his is an especially heinous crime. To simply sell him or beat him would set a bad example as other would be thieves might see it as a sign they can target royalty and get away with only a slap on the wrist. I am certain you understand the difficulty of this situation?"

"Perhaps to punish him so severely by hanging or... Beheading." Nawra nodded at the executioner. "Would set an even worse example? That in a city so grand, with a sultan who is so just, that even a colt can not find a degree of mercy-"

"Do not presume that your station warrants the omission of this crime."

"Of course not. But one so great-"

Fareed let out an annoyed groan and held his hand up before staring directly into Nawra's eyes causing her to go quiet and as he approached her, the cold look in his eyes caused her mind scream at her to step away and flee.

"Do you understand why I am great?" His gaze pierced into her as his expression remained blank. "I am the sultan of Alzamard, great, powerful and it is because I can bend other nations. I rule this river, not you, not Samati, I rule it. Caravans come here and ask for my permission to cross because to go elsewhere would be problematic as the bandits roam unchecked. But I am also the most gracious host in all of the lands, not one nation can boast they treat their guests better than I. That I do not truly treat them in a civilized manner. My army marches freely and smashes the plans of other kingdoms at will including your own. There is chaos all around us. But I bend that chaos to my will. And for it they pay homage to me as do you for the truth is blatantly clear to almost all but a few."

Nawra felt tiny as Fareed stared at her before he walked away again and continued. "I am most gracious... But, my patience only goes so far. Unto you I have provided three of the finest slaves ever trained in this city to date, willing and able to do anything for you. My other guests would kill each other to have slaves such as they. And yet... My thanks is a paltry gift that is not much better than what was given to me by a certain other... "Noble," I command. Others come with silks, spices, slaves, gold, silver, gems and show great appreciation for my effort and yet you..." Fareed stared at her again. "You scoff at the laws which were laid down by my family generations ago, you presume to tell me who and what I am and that I should just permit a crime to pass because it is a colt? I know your own father would have this colt killed if this had occurred in Labrad just for thinking of stealing from you, do not pretend otherwise "princess." You challenge the law, as is your right..." Fareed nodded slowly to her in acknowledgement. "But again you scoff at the very laws which have kept chaos away, have provided order to my kingdom, power, wealth, prestige and glory. There is a stiff price for peace however."

"I apologize if I have offended you..." Nawra bowed her head quickly as her heart raced. "My only request is that the colt's life be spared."

"Indeed you have offended me, not so much your gift... To be honest I did not expect a great deal from the kingdom which I nearly conquered. But it is your attitude that I find offensive. Your own kingdom is known to hang thieves and yet you dare to come to my home and question my laws and dare so insinuate they are unfair? No, your kingdom does not have as many problems I imagine, you are small by comparison to the glory that is my kingdom. But this kingdom is maintained by the rule of law and the iron fisted discipline needed to maintain order through the will of its ruler."

"Is he serious or trying to deceive me?" Nawra was somewhat confused but also knew that he was right in some regards, thieves were indeed hung in Labrad but it was also somewhat rare. "Your majesty, I ask that he be spared from death as he is but a colt..."

"Princess Nawra... Of Labrad." Her heart fell out of her as she caught his intent. "As royalty you have a right to challenge... But only because I permit it, do you honestly think that you could do so otherwise? You are not a princess of Madinat Alzamard. You, are a guest. Protected under my laws but with limits as to how much power you may rightly yield and this was not one of them. Yet I permit it, because I am a civilized stallion. You do not rule here Nawra. I rule." He shook his head. "But let it never be said that when a rude guest made a request that I was without mercy. He shall not hang nor be beheaded. Untie him."

Nawra was not relieved, her gut told her something would be done, something horrible. Were they going to whip him? She did not see a whip anywhere. Die in the dungeon? That was possible and a most cruel end. Staring at the colt she could see relief and hope flooding his features, but her own visage remained crestfallen as the blocks fell into place the more she studied the compound.

"Figured it out have you little girl?" The sultan regarded Nawra quietly. This was entirely unplanned and he had been quite busy with other matters but punishment was in order, a heinous crime had been committed and the guilty party taught a lesson but it was double edged. Things had gotten rather boring in his little game with Nawra until now, she had willingly put herself at his mercy and not only did he get to savor the moment but also vent some of his frustration on her. Every bit of it was true, she was much too sheltered from the world and what it really was. Turning his attention to the captain at his side he nodded and removing two gold coins the captain held them up and got the colts attention. Staring on wide eyed the colt followed the two coins and giving one a toss high and the other straight at the colt they all watched as his right hand shot out and snatched one and then lastly caught the other as it fell.

No one smiled.

"To the block with him, take your positions."

The captain motioned to the soldiers who grabbed the colt by the arms and drug him to the stone as he thrashed and kicked violently in their grasp. Nawra's heart was beating so fast it threatened to batter its way out of her throat and taking a quick glance at the colt she turned to Fareed quickly.

"I beg you to show mercy, whip him, beat him, but not this-"

"No, he stole from one of my guests and this was the minimal punishment I am willing to afford him. You may not understand this now but I am doing this for you princess Nawra, your family would be outraged if I did not punish him severely. Your father would probably do far worse to him than what must happen here, I am granting your wish as this is beneath my station to even take notice of normally. He will live, but he must be punished in accordance not with just my laws, but the laws that have long been accepted by ALL the civilized kingdoms including your own. This must be done and you very well know it, anything less would offend your father." Fareed stared at her blankly before nodding to the captain. "And also for me, one part to make you snap, one part to uphold the law and also because it must be done. Had it been some petty noble he would simply be flogged and turned over to them if asked but this requires a special touch, not that I ever expect you to understand that. Also I want your father placated as my plans do not involve Labrad."

"Please! Wait-"

"Carry on captain."

Jaji's arm was held down by a guard as another held his body tightly so he could not squirm free. "Calm down or he might miss his mark! Quit your squirming, you want to lose your arm too?!"

Still thrashing against the soldiers Jaji stared as the sabre wielding soldier took his position while the other two leaned back to avoid getting hit, looking at the executioner for a moment they waited as he nodded and suddenly leaning hard against the colt they pinned him firmly in place as the blade was hefted and swiftly fell.

A dull thwack filled the air for what felt like centuries as a small hand flopped free and was replaced only by screaming and blood as it flowed freely from the stump while the severed hand laid on the ground. Nawra almost vomited but put a hand over her mouth and turned away as tears threatened to force their way out, the colt was a peasant but she knew her father would never condone such a barbaric act. Would he? But why did she want to cry for a thief? He would have probably died anyway so what made him special? Peasants died all the time. Another soldier came running out of the barracks with a red hot iron as the screaming started and slapping it against the wound, the air immediately filled with a sizzling, hissing and crackling sound while Jaji screamed harder than in all of his life in agony.

Fareed watched for a brief moment before turning and walked away.

"Bandage the stump so the thief does not die." Walking a few more paces he stopped. "He is also free to go."

Asha, Awe, Sefu and Verik stood near the public "shitting hole" as Verik called it and waited, the foals were taking turns using it and the heat only made the smell worse. Thankfully it was always down wind and down river so there was no contamination but some of the younger ones had to use a special pot which was then dumped over the side as they were too small to reach and use the sitting beam. They watched as a limping figure approached from the training grounds with a pink ball attached to its leg and raising an eyebrow Verik nodded at Altayih.

"Still hanging onto her daddy?"

"That is not funny captain, it is not easy having a... It is like having a very long tick digging into your leg all day and night."

"I wouldn't know as what hangs onto me is softer."

Altayih twitched. "Very funny captain. Now you, off, I dont want any more "accidents" hm?"

Manna dug in a little harder making Altayih wince before gingerly letting go and approaching the pit but continued to look back to make certain he was not going to disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Accidents? What did she do?"

"She peed on my leg."

Asha burst out laughing as did Awe but the other two just stared at Altayih who looked quite perturbed by their sudden outburst. The laughing stopped when a yelp filled the air and they all looked at the pit quickly before Sefu and Verik looked at each other quickly and shook their heads.

"No-not it." They spoke in unison but Awe looked over the side and pointed.

"Both get."

Cringing slightly they walked to the pit and looked inside before retching quietly, reaching in they hauled out the foal who had fallen in and stood them up before backing away as Awe waved them off.

"Go wash, all of you. Get soap and wash, go."

Altayih smiled at them and snickered. "Well, your predicament is not as bad as my own last night but now you know how I felt hm?"

"No die from this, just need wash good." Sefu let out a snort.

"It is the thought that counts, yes captain?"

"Speak for yourself, you are not the one who has to make certain this little ball of fur and shit has to wash himself right."

Altayih let out a small groan as a familiar pressure returned to his leg. "Yes... Well... We all have our burdens to bear and now that my extra appendage has reattached itself I shall be returning to the field."

"Well, its not like anything "bad" happened today."

Sefu and Altayih nodded. "True."

Author's Notes:

Bit of trouble with this one as Fareed has two standards: the law and also his cloak and dagger. Tried to portray both here, on the one hand there is the absolute law but also that which is not law: his toying with Nawra.