On the morning following the murder at the Blue Mermaid, Ekan was already busy organizing the kitchen. With his two women servants they were actually doing some good work. His two companions already had a sound practice of cooking with their families and should not experience too much trouble with their new responsibilities. The Black Dragon was already planning to ask Turgas to assign them permanently to the kitchen and recruit more staff for the inn. He had cut the logs himself, lit the fire before waking up Mareeva. While sharing their morning meal with the rest of the house he formally asked Claudius if he would accept to look after his daughter and begin teaching her his craft. The old man’s beaming face and Mareeva’s cry of joy had been enough to understand hat his choice had been right.
The bread was slowly baking in the oven when the three of them were taking a rest before tackling the preparation of the customers’ lunch. Turgas had agreed that the earlier they re-opened and got busy, the easier it would become to put their worries aside. 
There were still a couple of hours left before they would open the tavern when Ekan’s sharp hearing detected three men entering the bar room where the innkeeper was cleaning the counter. 
The untimely intrusion filled him with foreboding.
Without hesitation he asked one of his female helpers to go and fetch the Constabulary and told the other one to look after the oven while he went out. Instead of going directly through to the bar room, he walked around the whole building so as to penetrate the tavern by the same entrance the intruders had used. He paused outside and listened.
He heard the apparent leader address Turgas while his two henchmen stood behind him.
-“Hail Master Turgas!”
-“Spare me Dravan, will you? Your greetings bear no meaning here! Come to the point: To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
-“Aren’t we touchy this morning? Mind you, I would not like to be in your place! Turgas, the Green Anchor and the Blue Mermaid have always been good neighbours. I’ve heard of your troubles yesterday, so I was just inquiring if you needed my help. You certainly cannot fault me for that, can you?
Ekan did not have to use his dragon’s senses to realize the man was lying. His malevolent tone was enough to convince him that these ruffians had come for no good. Nevertheless, he wanted to know how far they would go until he would have to intervene.
Turgas did not bother to answer his visitor. The Dragon understood the man had more mettle to him that would meet the eye. 
Dravan, having not received the reaction he expected, continued:
-“Turgas, don’t you think the untimely death of your cooks is bad for business in general in the whole street? Do you realize our neighbours are less than happy to learn that our street might lose customers because of growing insecurity?”
The Green Anchor owner’s voice turned cold:
-“Especially with people like you around, Dravan! But pray tell me: how much did you promise that boy before you had his throat cut and his body dumped in the harbour?”
-“Turgas, you are accusing me of something you don’t have the faintest idea about! You should know better! What do you think the Judge will say when I tell him you accused me of your own dastardly deeds?”
-“Knowing the Judge’s fairness, he’ll probably have a good look in your business and find some interesting details. In fact you’re tempting me in making an official complaint!”
-“And where will that lead you, Turgas? What about our neighbours? Do you suppose they will let you make false statements against me?”
-“Do you think that paying or frightening the whole street into your pocket will move me, Dravan? For all the time we have lived in the same city, you know me very little!”
Ekan, judging the time had come, silently penetrated into the bar room and stopped a few paces behind Dravan’s men.
The Green Anchor owner had started losing his patience and menacingly went on:
-“Turgas, if this is war you want, war you will get! Why don’t we begin with a small bashing to put some good sense into your thick skull?”
The innkeeper showed a nasty grin as an answer. Dravan completely lost his composure.
-“Turgas, are you stupid or what? Well, I fairly warned you!”
Without looking behind his back he ordered his henchmen:
-“You two, you know your job! Take care of that bum!”
-“Why don’t you start with my friend behind you?” snorted the innkeeper.
-“And he thinks this old kid’s trick’s going to fool us!” Dravan laughed turning to his cohorts. His laugh suddenly froze on his face when he saw the enormous black man standing arms akimbo with a fierce look on his mien. 
Dravan recovered from his surprise.
-“As if a country lummox was going to impress me! Alright, one at a time, then! You two give a lesson to that bum for rudely interfering with our private affairs while I teach some manners to Turgas!”
The three of them were armed with stout short batons they took off their belts. They were about to charge when three men crashed into the room. Constable Petren and his two Guards once again had been swift. Ekan had a hunch the latter were expecting that kind of confrontation. 
-“What’s going on here?” roared Petren, “ Dravan, what are the three of you doing with these batons?”
Once again the wily Dravan was quickly recovering his wits:
-“Constable Petren! Thanks to the Gods! We were about to defend ourselves!”
-“Dravan, shut up! And leave the Gods alone! If they existed, you’d surely end up on the right of Hell Guardian! You’re not going to have me believe that the three of you are being aggressed by only two! In any case I confiscate those batons!”
Ekan intervened:
-“Constable Petren, this is just a misunderstanding. We probably used the wrong language. I suggest we all repair to the kitchen where we can discuss our differences over a jug of beer!” The last was said with a wink for Petren’s eyes only.
”Fairly spoken, good man Jonas! Turgas, would you be kind enough to lead us to the kitchen. We certainly don’t want unwanted ears, do we?”
Turgas and Ekan preceded the group while Petren and his Guards closed the procession efficiently forcing the Green Anchor gang to follow suit.
Turgas asked them to sit at the large table after having asked the woman servants to leave the place. Petren and his Guards declined for duty reasons but stood behind Dravan and his ruffians while the latter could do nothing but to comply. Turgas sat opposite them and asked Ekan to bring them beer. The Black Dragon fetched five jugs to bring and filled them from the only cask in the kitchen.
As he put the beers one by one in front of their unwilling guests, the innkeeper and himself, Dravan started to sweat profusely. His henchmen did not look much better.
Turgas lifted his jug.
-”Dravan, before we start talking, let me offer a toast to your health!” Turgas raised his jug and waited.
The Green Anchor owner sat rigid on his bench unmoving. Petren encouraged him:
-“Dravan, come on! Have a drink! You certainly can’t refuse a peace gesture!”
The three villains sill did not move. Petren drew his sword and gestured the Guards to do the same. He put his blade flat on Dravan’s shoulder while his soldiers imitated their Constable. Petren ordered in a cold voice:
-“If you do not drink immediately, we shall force you, even if I have to cut your ears and nose in the process!”
One of the ruffians finally broke down:
-“We can’! It will be our death!”
-“Shut up! You don’t know what you’re saying, imbecile!” shouted Dravan.
-“Easy for you to say, but I’m not going to die for something I didn’t do, Dravan! This is of your own making!
-“And what about that boy both of you killed last night…” Dravan slipped, realizing his mistake too late. 
-”You ordered us to do it!” screamed the other thug.
Petren had heard enough. He ordered his Guards to tie the three criminals with ropes they had always ready for that purpose. They roughly herded them out of the kitchen.
Petren looked back just before passing through the door.
-“Master Turgas, Jonas, do not forget to come to the Court tomorrow morning. You still have to appear as witnesses at their trial! Shall I send you a Guard?”
Turgas replied:
-“No, we shall be fine, Constable Petren! We shall be there!”
Once they had left, Jonas asked:
-“Master Turgas, what will happen to them?”
-“If found guilty by the Judge, it shall be the gallows. Justice is fair in Dunlago, but rough and unforgiving, especially for child murderers!”
-----
     A strange sight made a lot of passersby stop and look again in the streets of Dunlago: a tall man dressed in a long flowing grey robe and sturdy boots and carrying a shoulder bag was ambling along followed by a large grey wolf. True to say, citizens of the capital did not yet know what kind of animal this was as wolves were not to be found in these dry hot parts. But even dogs of that size were unknown. Most people prudently gave way to the strange duo. A couple of times some rough members of the citizenry did not move away quickly enough, but a low growl from the beast was enough to make them hurry out of their path.
-“Wise One, do you have to frighten the citizens of Dunlago in such a manner? You seem to forget we might have to stay there for quite a while yet!”
The Wolf replied in the same mind speech:
-“Ancient One, my legs are tired, my tongue feels like dry grass, my stomach is empty and I feel dirty!”
-“Do not tell me you want a bath! Wolves never bathe! Unless you have picked up some of those strange human habits! Moreover, you look extraordinarily clean for a member of your species! Do not worry, we are headed for a place where you will get all the food and rest you could wish for!”
They were nearing the harbour where a light breeze welcomed them. Glamrun retied his long white hair into a tail with a leather thong. His short white beard gave him a rakish appearance, although a more careful onlooker would have noticed that his tall strong body belied his seemingly old age and somewhat negligent manners.
They reached the Blue mermaid early in the afternoon when most customers had left after lunch.
-“Not a bad place, as human dens come!” commented the Wolf, “plenty of space and air and a good smell, too!”
-“See, I told you, Wise One! We are coming to a good place!” my son lives there, too! When are you going to believe me?”
-How can you believe males of any kind? Always boasting, always showing off,…”
-“Peace, Wise One! We shall have plenty of time to discuss your long-suffering life some other time!” cut in Glamrun. “Why don’t you shake off all that dust off your pelt before we enter?”
The Old Dragon entered the tavern and walked in a large lounge relatively cooler than the terrace and conveniently away from the sun. He found the place empty, so he chose a table and seat by the wall where he could have a good view. Soon enough a lady servant appeared from what obviously looked like the kitchen.
-“Good day to you, Sir! Sorry, but Master Turgas and the cook are away at the Court. May I help you?”
-Good day, lady! Could you bring me a jug of your best ale and a bowl of fresh water for my companion? From the well, mind you!”
-“Sure, Sir! Immediately, Sir!”
Well, this human did not flinch or made any comments about our dear friend. Either she is too busy to notice, or this place must see a lot of different customers, Glamrun thought.
The woman quickly returned with a jug full of foaming beer, a water jug and a bowl. She put the beer on the table in front of the old man, filled the bowl herself and put it on the ground by the Wolf who was lying beside the Dragon. She even patted the Wolf’s flanks.
-“What a big nice dog you have here, Sir!”
-“Well, she is a wolf, actually.” Seeing the change in her face, “but don’t worry, she is very tame!”
The Wolf snorted in her mind speech.
-“Speak for yourself! I can see you are using me to impress that female human!”
-“Well, well, would you believe it? Our dear friend is getting jealous! You are greatly surprising me!”
Going back to more mundane matters, he asked the servant:
-“Do you have anything left from lunch? I’m simply starving!”
-“We have some meat and vegetables stew. I can also bring smoked ham, bread and cheese.”
-“Quite perfect! Bring them all and make it double portions. My Wolf is hungry, too!”
Wise One had to intervene again:
-“My Wolf! Since when do you owe me, Ancient One!”
-“Pardon my indiscretion. This is the way humans speak! Anyway why don’t we enjoy ourselves until Ekan comes back? I’m sure the food’s great here! It just smells too good!”
-----
     Master Turgas and Ekan had hurried to the Court as soon as they could make sure all the customers had been served. They had more or less run till the building where most of the administration of the city were assigned their quarters. Petren was actually waiting for them at the door.
-“Sorry for the delay, Constable Petren! I hope we are not late!” stuttered a winded innkeeper.
Petren welcomed them.
-“No worries! The Judge agreed to start the case only once you would be here! In any case he had plenty of work to occupy himself until then! Please follow me!”
Ekan felt curious at entering such a place. Judgement was a strange custom for his dragon’s way of thinking. Dragons were radical in their behaviour: what is bad you destroy at once, what is good you cherish all your life. Why did you still have to talk about it when everything was crystal clear? Mind you, he thought he did pretty well as a human these days, particularly after what he did on that slavers’ ship. In any case, I might learn more by listening to these creatures’ notion of justice, he pondered.
They entered the court room. The walls were covered with marble slabs and panes and the ceiling was whitewashed stone. The floor was tiled. Behind a long table sat three men of uncertain age dressed in white togas. The one on the left was consulting tablets and scrolls while the one on the right had parchment, ink and quills placed in front of him. Ekan knew he was right to surmise that the human sitting in the middle was the Judge as Petren addressed him:
-“Good afternoon, Judge! Here are Master Turgas, owner of the Blue Mermaid and good man Jonas, his servant!”
-“Good afternoon, Gentlemen! I have read Constable Petren’s report and it seems to me as a clear-cut case. Pretty nasty, actually. Do you have anything to add before I call the culprits in?”
Turgas’ answer was terse:
-“No, Judge!”
-“And does your servant here has anything to say?”
Ekan replied in his own stolid way:
-“No, Judge. I trust Constable Petren’s authority!”
The judge momentarily observed Ekan with sharp eyes. The Dragon closed his mind just as a precaution. This human was radiating intelligence and competence. He had been aptly chosen for his work.
-“Fine with me, then! Could you ask the two chosen citizens in!”
Petren went through a side door to come back accompanied by two men, one evidently from the gentry of the city and the other one probably a shop owner as his garb tended to indicate.
The Judge continued:
-“Thank you, gentlemen! Could the four of you sit down?” he said, indicating four folding chairs aligned on the right of his desk for that purpose. “Now, as this is the first and I hope the last time you come to this Court, I shall explain how justice is conducted in Dunlago. As you know, I am the Judge and the final decisions are my responsibility. This gentleman on my left is the Prosecutor. He shall read the case. This gentleman on my right is the Recorder. He shall write down all that will be told here and his scrolls will be kept in the Government Archives Building for reference and perusal if needed. The two Gentlemen here are the Court Witnesses. They have been chosen at random among respected citizens of our town. Their role is to witness the court proceedings and insure that the people of Dunlago are informed of the fairness of the trial. Shall we proceed, then? Constable Petren, bring in the accused!”
The Constable walked to another door on which he knocked. It opened to let in the three villains, each accompanied by a Guard. All bonds had been taken off their bodies as they had not been officially sentenced yet. As soon as they were made to stand in front of the Court, the Judge signed the Prosecutor to begin.
The Court official started reading the case:
-“ Davran, owner of the Green Anchor, Argleb and Tagir, employees at the same establishment, you stand accused of planning and killing three employees at the Blue Mermaid with sinwort poison, abetting a child to commit murder, and planning and killing a child. What do you have to say?”
Dravan exploded:
-“Judge, this is framing! We never committed such heinous crimes!”
-“What makes you say you have been framed?”
-“Everybody know that Turgas and Constable Petren are on friendly terms. They had us come to the kitchen at the Blue Mermaid and tried to force us to drink poisoned beer!”
-“How did you know the beer was poisoned, then?”
-“Well, everyone knew what happened the day before, didn’t they?”
The Prosecutor turned to the Constable:
-“Constable Petren, could other people have known of the reason for the death of the Blue Mermaid’s cooks?”
-“I suppose so, as all the servants were present when we came to ascertain the facts. Some of them might have spoken before we came back again yesterday.”
-“I see. Now, Dravan, we have checked the murdered boy and found a pouch with traces of sinwort inside. Even the fact he was found floating in the harbour could not totally erase the contents of the said pouch. Moreover, upon checking the Green Anchor, we found sinwort in a jar in your private quarters. May I add that the investigation was not conducted by Constable Petren or any of his Guards, but by this Court’s agents. You cannot speak of collusion here!”
-“That does not prove anything! Every tavern or inn uses sinwort to kill rats and other vermin!”
-“That is in dirty places like your own Tavern! Our own research showed that no sinwort was found or used at the Blue Mermaid!”
-“Anybody can buy it at any apothecary!”
-“I see. Now, why did your companions mentioned you ordered them to kill the boy?”
-“We never said that!” cried the two other thugs in unison.
The three villains apparently had time to work out a plan during the night and it was working.
-“Constable Petren, what do you have to say about that?”
A grim Petren replied:
-“Prosecutor, I’m afraid this is my word against theirs!”
Ekan suddenly realized they were going nowhere. In fact he and Turgas could very well end up themselves accused of crimes they had not committed.
The Dragon felt a wave of fury about to overwhelm him. 
He barely kept a grip on his person. I must think, or I shall have to reveal my true identity, he furiously thought, and we do not want that yet! It is just too early! I must think!
Ekan rose his hand.
-“Yes, Jonas? Do you have anything to add that we do not know yet?” the Judge inquired.
-“With all due respect, Judge, there is a small detail, a very small one that may prove vital, that I would like to bring your attention on!”
-“Please do, I just hope this Court is not losing its precious time!”
-“It will not, Judge! May I ask: these two men Argleb and Tagir mainly work as guards at the entrance of the Green Anchor as some of their customers are a rowdy kind, are they not?”
-“Is that true, Dravan?”
-“Yes, Judge! Because this man Jonas has the nice habit to redirect all their unwanted customers to our esteemed establishment, we need two reliable men to fend them off!”
-“Well, Jonas?” asked the Judge.
-“What time did the Green Anchor close on the night of the boy was murdered?”
-“Dravan, answer!”
-“Well, Judge, we have a lot of work! I remember well that we closed the place just before dawn! We were absolutely exhausted!”
The Judge pensively looked at Dravan and Ekan. The dragon’s eyes seemed to contain a message. The Judge had not earned his position without good reasons. His quick mind caught the drift of Ekan’s question.
He asked Dravan innocently:
-“Hard work, indeed. So your employees had to guard the entrance all the time?”
-“Of course, Judge! We do not want any unwelcome visitors in our good tavern! Especially with the Constabulary busy as it is!” Dravan added with a mocking look at Petren. He suddenly felt cocky again.
The Judge continued in the same calm voice:
-“Master Turgas, when did your kitchen boy leave?”
-“At around one hour before midnight city bell!”
-“Constable Petren, when was the body discovered?”
-“One hour after midnight city bell!”
The Judge had a long silent look at the three villains assembled in front of him.
-“Dravan, since the Green Anchor was open and busy until dawn, I shall be able to find a lot of witnesses who will confirm that Argleb and Tagir, your two henchmen, were guarding the entrance in full sight. Now, if I discover that during the time between the boy’s departure from the Blue Mermaid and the discovery of his body your two employees were not seen at the door, I will hold you for perjury and shall not give credence to whatever you have said to this Court until now! What do you have to answer to that?”
The Judge shifted his eyes to Davran’s thugs:
-“And that includes the two of you!”
A heavy silence reigned in the Court.
Sweat beads formed on Davran’s forehead. Ekan concluded that sweat did not always meant heat with humans. Since it was the second time he witnessed the phenomenon on the same person for similar reasons. I shall have to observe those creatures a bit more closely from now on, he reflected.
Like in the kitchen the previous day, Tagir was the first to break down. The thug collapsed on his knees crying like a baby.
-“He made us do it, Judge!” he babbled, “he said he knew enough on us to make our life a misery if we did not obey him!”
Dravan who had stayed very quiet till that moment suddenly tried to make off for the door. Unfortunately for him, the attentive Guard at his back collared him and threw him back roughly onto the tiled floor in front of the Judge.
The latter addressed them with an icy voice. The man had difficulty to contain his disgust.
-“Dravan, you did not commit murder with you own hands, but I find you guilty of murder through proxy on four accounts. Argleb and Tagir, you are guilty of murdering a child and you deserve no forgiveness for your crime whatever the circumstances! Therefore, according to the laws of the land, I condemn you all to death by hanging. You shall be executed tomorrow at noon in public on Main Square! Guards, take them away!”
Petren and his Guards swiftly took away a screaming Dravan, a crying Tagir and a shocked Argleb out of the court room. After the door had closed behind them, the Judge addressed Turgas:
-“Master Turgas! By the laws of the land, all Dravan and his employees’ properties are forfeited and become yours as reparations to settle any grievances towards your person and business!”
A somber innkeeper replied:
-“Judge, I do not want to sully my hands with that lot’s properties, neither do I want to be accused of taking advantage of somebody’s misfortune!”
Ekan put his hand on the man’s shoulder.
-“Master Turgas, accept the Judge’s offer. You have to look after your deceased cooks’ families. When it comes to your reputation, why don’t you hold a meeting with all the business owners in our street to clarify the situation?”
A rare light appeared on the Judge’s placid face.
-“Master Turgas, I envy you. Not only it seems you have discovered a precious employee in good man Jonas, but also a protector and counsel of the greatest wealth. Jonas, either you are a very lucky individual or an extremely intelligent person. If my hunch is correct, you will become an influence of importance in this city sooner than later. Master Turgas, if you do not prize that gentleman enough, I shall be happy to steal him from you, but you shall not be able to accuse me of theft!” A genuine smile came with his last words.
A visibly embarrassed innkeeper managed to mutter:
-“Thank you, Judge, I shall follow your advice!”

(Chapter 12: Meetings))