Arjun walked all the way back to Bistmore with me in silence. I could tell he had a lot on his mind, but it wasn’t that sort of awkward silence where you just wished the other person would say something. I was glad for the human companionship.

  He immediately went up to his room in the Guild to log off as soon as we got back to Bistmore. I was exhausted, mentally as much as physically and wanted nothing more than to go grab a bite to eat and call it an early night, but then I thought of the NPC, no the man, who had died. I couldn't go to bed tonight like nothing happened.

  I had to go tell the people at the Court house of their Justicar’s death. I didn’t want to do this, but it felt dishonest to let people think he was alive and well when really was rotting under a pile of rocks. If he had family they should be notified. And while I hadn't seen much in the way of NPC religion, if it was important for people to recover the body they could do it before it got too disgusting.

  The court was closed for the day by the time I got there, but I could see that there will still people in there finishing up for the day.

  “Excuse me!” I called between the wooden bars of the closed teller window in side door.

  “Come back tomorrow,” a voice from an unseen person called back. The people inside didn’t even look up from their paper and scrolls.

  “Excuse me,” I tried again, frustrated. I didn’t just want to yell out that the Honourable Edmund Bartlett-Craven was dead, but if I had to I would.

  “We open again at third bell.” The voice patiently, yet firmly, replied.

  “I know but this shouldn’t wait.” I continued.

  Briefly a man's face filled the little window, he gave me a quick glance and then slammed the small wooden door in my face.

  I know it was end of day and everyone hates customers who try to say 'it's important' or 'I will only be a moment.' But for fuck's sake this was important. “Its about the Justicar that went out today. I am one of the adventurers he left with.”

  The little wooden door opened up and the man face returned and he pressed right up against the wooden bars eyeing me suspiciously. “Why are you back?”

  “Um, we were… he was..” I faltered, disconcerted at the intense gaze leveled my way. Had they been friends? Workplace enemies? “He was met by unfortune on the road.”

  The door opened and the man ushered us in. He looked askance at my dog but her bow was still affixed around her neck, filthy though it was, and so, like all the other NPCs he said nothing.

  We were taken to a back room and a scribe was fetched. This, I was told, had to be meticulously recorded as it technically had been a death in the service of his duties. I told the tale of what happened numerous times. I was questioned, not with the intent to find out if we had neglected our duties, more to make sure everything was as accurate as possible.

  After more than two hours of going over every single bit of minutia of the tragedy I was let out of the courthouse and out into the dusk of twilight. Dekka had been restless, and she bolted off towards her favourite meat skewer seller, only to stop and stare at me impatiently as I paused.

  “I'm sorry, but can you tell me if he had a family?”

  “He really kept to himself,” the man, who I had learnt was the Court House head Clerk. “The only family he listed was a brother up north. He never talked about him though, so I doubt they were close. I am going to have to dig through the records and see if he left an address.” The Clerk sighed and turned back into the Court House closing the door behind him. I stood there listening to the locks click as the man moved on with his day. I couldn’t tell if he was sad or not.

  My stomach growled and I followed Dekka to the food district to go find dinner. The staff at the courthouse had been solemn but almost fatalistic. I had been told that if we were interested that they would have another Justicar who would need escorting. There was no blame on us adventurers. The roads were dangerous. People died. It was just how it went.

  Why did it have to be this way? Was it because of the game? Or was this just the way things had been in generic medieval times? Not that they would have had roving packs of six eyed boar.

  Likely it was this fucking game.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  We bummed around the city for a few days waiting for the party to return. The locals were getting to know us. Dekka had charmed some of the children and had convinced a few to play fetch. There were a couple of young kids who were converts to this exciting pastime. Particularly when they could throw the ball places that would annoy the adults. I tried to discourage this but I was only moderately successful. Much to Dekka’s delight. I think it was in her terrier nature to find pleasure in causing mischief. Having accomplices only made it better.

  On the fourth day the party returned. It was late in the day so we all went to bed so we could start fresh.

  This time we got a younger man. I got the impression he volunteered for this. He had this smug way about him that immediately annoyed me. Dekka had taken an instant dislike to him, and her opinion carried a lot of weight.

  She always seemed to know immediately if a person was trust worthy or not. Though she was temporarily bribable. My one ex boyfriend always showed up with toys or treats for her. Which I had found endearing and she had found acceptable payment for her forbearance. When his true colours started showing was also the same time he stopped bringing her gifts. He was so mad that ‘That dog’ wouldn’t acknowledge him if he wasn’t holding food or a ball. Really, it was because those were the only things that had given him value. That and he had had a really nice stereo in his car.

  Copperbeard was trying to warn our new Justicar of the dangers that we might face. “..So yer gotta stay close. And when things pop off, and they will, you stay back and out of our way.”

  “I am sure I will be fine.” The man, Cyril Mountbatton, said dismissively and waved a hand vaguely in the direction we needed to be headed. “Shall we get going?”

  And so we did.

  Unlike his predecessor he was quiet. But what he did say was full of superiority and condescension.

  We walked in formation with Dekka and I taking point, Copperbeard and Darkraven flanking the Justicar with Ayerelia right behind and Arjun guarding the rear.

  “Isn’t this all a bit much?” Laughed the right Honourable Mr Mountbatton. “I mean really we are what, maybe two miles outside of the town lands?”

  “We want to make sure you get there in one piece.” Copperbeard told him.

  To which he made a harrumph sound which managed to indicate we were all being silly, there was obviously no danger, and he knew better than us mere adventurers.

  I really wish I could see Ayerelia’s face. Here was someone even more supercilious than she was.

  He had complained bitterly until we let him stop for an early lunch. The other players didn’t eat and stood around watchfully. I ate an apple and gave Dekka some dried meat.

  Mr Mountbatton sat and fastidiously ate a sort of open faced fish sandwich of sorts. Even the stinky fish smell wasn’t enough to get Dekka to go over and try to win him over with her adorable wiles. She knew when it was a lost cause, not only would he not share on purpose he wasn't the sort to let food drop out of carelessness.

  Ayerelia took to pacing and complaining. Which the Justicar ignored. Sipping his drink and also eating an apple, which he had shined and inspected before cutting it up with a small knife he had unpacked just for that purpose.

  Only when he was finished with his meal did he deign to notice us again.

  “Well lets get going we don’t have all day,” He said abruptly as he got up and looked at us like we had all been lollygagging.

  I was very surprised no one, including myself, hit the man.

  It wasn’t long before he was making little sniping comments again.

  “You will find I am much faster than the old man.” He said. Which was true we were making better time. But he objected each time I had us pause when Dekka alerted to a noise. I had taken to walking even further ahead so I didn’t have to listen to those snide little comments.

  We had gone a few more miles, stopping and making sure it wasn’t a threat each time we heard twigs snapping in the undergrowth or a rustling that wasn’t the wind.

  “I say, there is caution and then there is cowardice,” he said as he pushed past me as I was waiting to see if what Dekka was sniffing in the air was something we should be concerned about.

  Unfortunately for poor old Cyril this time there was something we should be concerned about.

  A ton of muscle and dark brown fur hurtled out of the bushes with a blood curdling roar.

  One moment he was berating us for cowards as we walked along thick brush. The next moment there was a bear on top of him snapping his neck with its powerful jaws.

  Dekka was the only one of us that didn’t act surprised. I wondered if the bear had been tracking us and she had known. It made sense if the beast had followed us waiting for the weakest and easiest prey to break off from the group. And when it did, the bear pounced.

  I noticed Dekka also didn’t launch into hellhound form to take on the bear. She just calmly watched as it got a better grip on it’s meal and started to wander off growling quietly at us as it went.

  There was nothing we could do. He was dead before any of us could react.

  “Isn’t that just fucking perfect.” Swore Ayerelia as we watched the bear start to drag the body away.

  That was my line. But I let her have it. I was starting to understand the loathing of escort quests. Though I was less sad this time. Was that callous of me?

  We watched as the bear disappeared from view along with the limp and bleeding body of our charge.

  “Should we go get the body?” Asked Darkraven uncertainly.

  “Good riddance,” Ayerelia said and turned to head back to Bistmore.

  “We would have to fight that bear for it. And that was a very large bear,” Copperbeard reasoned.

  “That’s true,” the other elf said, and they turned to go back.

  “Arjun?” I asked. If he wanted to go after the bear for the man’s body I would help him. I didn’t think the Justicar was worth it, but Arjun’s peace of mind was.

  Arjun looked over his shoulder at the other three retreating forms. Somewhere a little brook burbled along its banks. The birds took up their chatter and song again. I slapped at a fly that bit my neck. But I did not hurry my friend.

  “No. It is ok, let the bear have him,” He eventually said. But Arjun’s face didn’t match his words. It was not at all ok with him that the bear had taken the man.