"Yes. Now that we're actually here, I understand why." Kevin pauses at the very edge of the street, refusing to turn down it just yet. He gestures vaguely at the way they've just come from. "That road we passed some while ago that was shut down for the floodwaters -- that road and this one are two of the only roads in the slums from which the side streets can be accessed. With the other one closed, for most of the residents here, this one is unavoidable. Add to this that Enforcer patrols here are always strained at times like these, and it makes a grand hunting ground."
"You'd think that the additional traffic would make it a worse place to assault people," mutters Hayden, one of the native Enforcers along for the ride today. "More witnesses."
"You'd think," agrees Kevin. "Which means they've got to be thugs. Probably thugs who do this sort of thing in a professional capacity, right down to having a knack for avoiding patrols, and possibly a penchant for getting revenge on anyone who may snitch on them." With a little huff, he draws everyone in closer. Time to huddle. "Then, we can't be a patrol. Someone will have to go serve as mugger bait. It can't be me; they recognize me around here. It could be the princess, but she is obviously an Otherworlder, and if they're smart enough to avoid the Enforcers they're likely smart enough not to target one of us. I vote for Mister Allensworth. If you go around strutting the way you used to they'll spot you as a spoiled rich brat right away, sword or no."
"Thanks, Regnard," Hayden says wryly, while the third Enforcer snickers. He does not seem to be taking it as an insult. One of the first batch of Enforcers Kevin personally trained, he's long accustomed to Kevin and his Kevinness, and his previous arrogance issue has mellowed nicely over the past year. He has a patrol group of his own, but he's working overtime to accompany Kevin today -- which is absolutely a favor to his old instructor, and has nothing to do with the beautiful, strong, regal princess he's acquired. Or with hoping to see her in action again. Nope, nope, nope.
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"You'd think that the additional traffic would make it a worse place to assault people," mutters Hayden, one of the native Enforcers along for the ride today. "More witnesses."
"You'd think," agrees Kevin. "Which means they've got to be thugs. Probably thugs who do this sort of thing in a professional capacity, right down to having a knack for avoiding patrols, and possibly a penchant for getting revenge on anyone who may snitch on them." With a little huff, he draws everyone in closer. Time to huddle. "Then, we can't be a patrol. Someone will have to go serve as mugger bait. It can't be me; they recognize me around here. It could be the princess, but she is obviously an Otherworlder, and if they're smart enough to avoid the Enforcers they're likely smart enough not to target one of us. I vote for Mister Allensworth. If you go around strutting the way you used to they'll spot you as a spoiled rich brat right away, sword or no."
"Thanks, Regnard," Hayden says wryly, while the third Enforcer snickers. He does not seem to be taking it as an insult. One of the first batch of Enforcers Kevin personally trained, he's long accustomed to Kevin and his Kevinness, and his previous arrogance issue has mellowed nicely over the past year. He has a patrol group of his own, but he's working overtime to accompany Kevin today -- which is absolutely a favor to his old instructor, and has nothing to do with the beautiful, strong, regal princess he's acquired. Or with hoping to see her in action again. Nope, nope, nope.