A Fuss at the Gate

Agnes was grateful the military officer was taking the time to pander to the crowd. If he had simply made the swift, decisive choice to maim the girl Agnes wouldn't have had time to devise a plan. “A fatal flaw of these would-be strongmen,” she thought to herself as he continued to preen in front of the mob. But still, she didn't exactly have an easy idea from her limited repitoire that might help here. The same trick with the winds she used in River's Bend might buy a moment, but the anger it would provoke would just make things worse for the young woman he was holding down. She would also need it to “push” in this case which was a lot weaker than when she could “pull” the guard in River's Bend down.

“I'm not gonna stop you, Ms. Agnes” Hektor leaned in to whisper in her ear, “But you might want to make a move sooner rather than later.”

Agnes looked back to Hektor Tumlin and recalled their conversation entering town. That's when it struck her. It should work, though it would be a risk she would rather not take to experiment when the stakes were so high. There was always the backup option of starting a fire she figured, as crass as it may be. With a wry smile to Hektor, Agnes leapt from the wagon and slammed her shepherd's crook on the cobblestones right as the officer struck a triumphant pose raising his cleaver for the cheering crowd.

Hektor watched from his seat in the wagon, remembering how time seemed to slow down when Agnes did the same in the forest. He never thought of himself as someone well-versed in magic, few Tumlins had the inclination for it, but he had seen enough to know these feats were more impressive than his new companion seemed to realize. Most people with the “knack” for it specialize in one of the four elements. They might blend in simple applications of others to make more complex spells but there was a clear difference in affinity shaped by personality and study. Hektor had the chance to see Agnes rapidly switch from fire to water to air in the woods. With this new spell he was left wondering if Agnes even had an inclination in the first place, and if she did he thought it must be earth.

Almost like it happened all at once, Agnes landed and the ground itself began to bubble under the head of her staff. The bubble spread into a low wave that rolled across the plaza in an arc. Growing and picking up speed as it raced towards the crowd. First a few people in the way stumbled, a barrel toppled, then when it hit the crowd? Chaos.

The hooting mob bounced and fell into a tangle of angry, shouting bodies as the wave of lifted earth tore through them, still growing as it traveled. When it hit the stump where the officer and young woman were Hektor could see a bulge in the ground over a foot high. Tossing the two into the air like a small object at the other end of a rug someone had shaken to straighten out. The young woman saw what was coming in time and with a catlike grace landed in stride, darting past the crowd and deeper into town before most could process what had happened. The officer was not so lucky, his awkward posture to both hold the girl and raise his cleaver left him unsteady, thrown back into the city wall with his blade landing a little too close for comfort between his legs.

The plaza was eerily silent before it erupted into a commotion. The officer scrambled to his feet, bellowing “What the HELL was that!?” As he searched the scene. Hektor panicked, feeling it would be quite obvious where the groundswell spell originated but Tyche's blessing yet again shone on Ms. Agnes, who was also sprawled out on the cobblestones.

“Shoulda known better,” she moaned as she fumbled for her shepherd's crook. “Rough landing for me Tumlin, knee gave out.”

Hektor scrambled down from the wagon to help Agnes back to her feet, not realizing a group of soldiers were already pressing in. The officer from the scene before at the head of them. Hektor wavered between thoughts of reaching for his sword or wanting to maintain plausible deniability. His caution was rewarded as the officer patted him on the back before scopping Agnes up and making a show of setting her back down gingerly.

“What a foul turn of events!” He cried out in a hollow tone, casting sidelong glances at the befuddled throng he had previously assembled. “Why, that tremor flung this frail old woman from her cart. I was so troubled by the sight of it the blasted thief got away. But mark my words, fair citizens of Zylpolis, magic or no we will prosecute this criminal!”

One of the other soldiers leaned forward to try and get his officer's attention but was batted away. Agnes thought he looked familiar and tried to get a better look as the officer was ushering her around to face the crowd. By this point, people were starting to piece together parts of what happened. But panicked gaggles are rearely known for their accuracy in retelling events.

“The ground, it rippled!” Shrieked one woman.

“Was it the forest witch we've been hearing about!?” Cried another.

“No! It's some plot from Geppol to bring down our mighty wall!” Bellowed a middle-aged merchant.

The crowd's paranoia boiled over at the last accusation, suggesting to Agnes that these people have been living under a constant fear of attack for some time. She barely had time to think on it before the pompous officer was back to his position of conductor of this symphony. “Now now, good citizens! Rest assured my best men will be on the case getting to the bottom of this! We will hold whoever was responsible accountable.”

The soldier that looked familiar to Agnes tried to get his superior's attention again, giving Agnes a good enough look to recognize one of the men from River's Bend. “Sir,” he pleaded, “If you'll jus--”

“Enough!” The officer snapped at him. “Find that dammed thief girl before I trot you out in front of this bloodthirsty rabble.”

Agnes took advantage of the bustle to slip away from the military men and climb back into the wagon. Hektor didn't need instructions, with a click of the reins the pair were off and finding their way deeper into Zylpolis. Once they were safely tucked away down an empty side street, he heaved a massive sigh.

“Ms. Agnes...” Hektor began, breathing heavily. “I don't know if my heart can take many more stunts like that. You're either the craziest, or luckiest woman I've met.”

Agnes was busy fussing over her knee, taking advantage of their temporary respite to lift her skirt well enough to examine the damage. “We're not out of trouble yet Tumlin. Much as I hate it, we'll probably have to stay here at least one night.”

Hektor looked around to get his bearings, taking a moment to see what concerned Agnes about her leg. In truth, it seemed much worse than she was letting on and he wondered if one day would be enough. He spurred the cart forward, saying “Let me take care of that at least, think I know a place we can post up for the night.”