Hard Hand (Incidental Inquisitors Book 4) by Aaron D. Schneider & Michael Anderle

Author:Aaron D. Schneider & Michael Anderle [Schneider, Aaron D. & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2023-02-21T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Doughas

Getting into the arena to stop the fights had come with its own set of problems. Now, Doughas and Vor were back in the Street Behemoth and trapped behind a slog of cars also trying to leave. They had good reason to want to vacate the area. Not only because the event was over, but because small-scale riots raged through the Hollows as the most aggressive members of each clan fought hand-to-hand.

The once-empty city was bursting with foot traffic. A pair of dwarves rushed into an alley between two leaning clay structures only to have four dwarves of the opposing faction chase them out. It wasn’t even clear who was fighting. Doughas wondered how many dwarves would end the day with their nose broken by their third cousin or their shins kicked in by a great-uncle on their mother’s side.

Wardens rushed to the scene and brought the one-way street to a standstill for well over an hour. Doughas was past the point of anger and disbelief at Olwynor’s petty decision. He had no doubt who was responsible for every broken bone in the Hollows. A patriarch who was more jewelry cabinet than dwarf.

Finally, the violence began to ebb as the rioters lost steam and perhaps realized they could not tell the difference between Olwynor and Nebluv simply by looking. A collection of offenders lined the sidewalks with their handcuffs on proud display to the line of advancing cars. Families on both sides had to pass their captive relatives. Some pulled over to argue with the Wardens.

“Think we should help?” Vor asked, not for the first time. He stared out at the marred city, the defaced monuments and shattered homes that had stood empty and eerie a few hours ago. “I guess it’s too late for most of it…”

Doughas wanted to sigh and collapse into his seat for a nap. Maybe he would have, but the column inched forward then. He threw the Behemoth across the empty space, only to stop after a few short feet. “It’s no use, Esselliar. We did the best we could. Damn Olwynor, and damn their patriarch.”

“Damn Nebluv’s too,” Vor almost shouted. His fury at the Nebluv elder surprised Doughas, but its source soon became clear. “He could have stopped it before the final fight. He knew he would win and try to force Olwynor to make the concession. He’s a coward. They both are. Now, you, me, and the rest of the dwarves…shit, the rest of the city! We’re the ones paying for their corruption.”

“No, hold on,” Doughas stated, trying to calm his partner down. “That’s hardly corruption. That’s…that’s just…” He stopped before he said the word.

Vor finished for him. “Politics. That’s what it is. No one wants to give up power, to be the better dwarf. I’m surprised you can stand it, Doughas. They’re arrogant.”

“Your own people call you the same, don’t they?” Doughas responded. “Are you corrupt?”

Vor was not pleased with this line of questioning. “I bend the rules every so often, but I’m not in this to become a great leader or make a mountain of money.

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