River's Devastating D's

Watched By the Observers

She cried again, squirming in panic.

River took a step toward her, but a guard moved to block him.

"Hold it, criminal. All evidence is ours to do with as we please. Sorry she's ours now."

The guard smiled smugly as River glared daggers at him.

But the grin didn't last.

Fern cleared his throat.

The guard and River turned to face him. Fern's eyes were closed, his expression calm. The amulet around his neck flared a deep, ominous purple.

River watched in stunned silence as all the color drained from the guard's face.

After a brief moment, Fern opened his eyes again, wearing an unsettling grin.

The guard began to sweat under the weight of that silent stare. Fern didn't speak at first his amulet pulsed softly as if receiving a transmission.

Then Fern spoke again, but this time his voice carried an extra edge, sharper and colder—clearly relaying someone else's words. "Miss Sterling would like to remind you that interference with registered magical property, especially sentient entities such as palismen, is a direct violation of the New Concord Treaty and Council Act 42-B and can not be kept as evidence"

He tilted his head, smile never fading. "She's already flagged the recording for review. Council disciplinary boards tend to be... enthusiastic when it comes to abuses of power."

The smug confidence in the guard's face vanished.

Fern clapped his hands together. "However she noticed that your transportation vehicles are very outdated, she could choose to help with that if you remember your place."

Silence fell as the guards exchanged uneasy glances. Fern simply looked up at them, calm and unblinking.

After a long, tense moment, the rude guard let out a frustrated sigh and gestured for River's palisman to be brought forward.

The small elephant let out a relieved trumpet as she was carried over in the evidence box. Her tiny trunk reached toward River the moment she saw him.

As soon as she was placed in his arms, River clutched her close. She wrapped her trunk gently around his wrist, her ears fluttering against his chest. The guard grunted, sneered once more, then stalked off.

Fern smiled pleasantly, as if none of it had happened, and motioned for River to follow.

River hesitated. The whole situation was strange and more than a little unnerving. But Viviane Sterling had paid an impossible amount to get him released. And right now, he didn't have anywhere else to go. So, still holding his palisman protectively, he followed the boy.

Outside, Fern led him to a magnificent carriage drawn by two majestic griffins, their wings folded neatly at their sides.

The carriage itself looked like something out of a fairy tale. It was forged from smooth black iron etched with elegant silver runes and floral patterns, the wheels edged in gleaming gold. Even River's palisman let out a curious huff as she peeked out from his arms to stare at it.

Fern opened the door with a respectful nod. River climbed in slowly, gently lifting his palisman inside with him.

The interior was lined with violet velvet cushions, and a subtle scent of lavender and aged leather hung in the air. River settled in, keeping his palisman close as the carriage rolled forward through unfamiliar streets.

They hadn't gone far when Fern called out, "We're here."

He opened the carriage door, and River stepped out his palisman perched on his shoulder like a watchful guardian.