Snippet #2164306

Marshal saw the look on James' face as he ran up. James had just started in the district and every little thing seemed to excite him, he'd grow out of it eventually, but this was different somehow.
"Sir, sir!" The only worlds the poor out of breath kid could manage.
"Calm down. What is someone dead?"
"No sir." Deep breath in. "It's the prince. General Valnoral is at the Nail."
Marshal let out a loud laugh. "I'm sure."
"No, he is. I saw him myself. He isn't even in regular clothes or anything. He looks like he came straight from the palace or something."
"Bodyguards?"
"I don't think so sir."
A few worried thoughts crept into Marshal's head. "Alright show me." Was this for real? Not district 3, Marshal didn't need this kind of headache.
It was only a few blocks to the Rusty Nail bar and they ran the whole way but it still seemed like an eternity. Worst case scenarios of one of the local gangs getting there first or some magic loyalists attack him for being on the senate or a Dwarven sympathizer taking a pot shot from across the street, any such nightmare was a possibility.
They stopped out front and through the window they could see the king's younger brother. Everyone in the bar keeping their distance.
"See." James pointed out.
"Yeah I see." Marshal took a quick look around, people were talking and staring and the word was getting out quick. Someone undesirable would hear soon enough. "Alright James I want you to find every last cop, member of the militia, and city guard you can find and bring them back here in five minutes. I want a full three block perimeter in all directions. You got me?"
"Yes sir!" James was off like a flash, he was new but he was also eager. Marshal only hoped he'd find a decent group.
"Alright Marshal what's the play?" He gave the area another quick look over. Still no real issues. "Well hell. Let's do this."
He straightened himself up and started to walk towards the door of the bar. He'd been around royal types before, a couple cousins or Jarls or some such crap always came to the policeman's ball every year. Probably just there to feel more important than they were. This however, this was something else, this was Prince Valnoral Kas, King Elrik's brother. Marshal was good at a great many things but tact was something he had always struggled with. It served him well as a sheriff but any time other then talked to his deputies or yelling at a perp generally ended in him saying something he didn't really want to. He knew this about himself.
He approached the table and stood next to the prince. Bowing low, he knew the protocol at least, he spoke. "My prince, I am Marcus Shurloft, Sheriff of District 3. Is there anything that I can do for you, perhaps have my men escort you safely to the gates of District 1?"