#fenixtj

Diego is writing on a laptop in a corner office

"Diego." Jess greets him grimly. "Ran into some old friends of yours in patrol. They're downstairs."

"Downstairs? The workshop or the wine seller?"

He's clearly not thinking the prison

"Cells. Mitra and I overheard them planning to attack you. An older satyr, a pooka, an eshu, and... I think one might have gotten away."

Diego's jaw drops

"I'm sorry, Diego." sincerely.

"I.. no, they... they made their views of my... choices... known. " A frown "I did not realize they wante d to take it beyond words"

"Well, they were talking about taking it past words." Jess affirms. "What do you think? What should we do with them?"

A troubled look, then "Let them go"

"Diego...." warning.

"Let them go" he says, turning to her "Jessica... before you came, they fought against a balor tyrant. They fought for liberty, and risked their lives every day by my side. Without them, what you faced, and it was not easy, would have been three times worse. Men like that deserve something for their service"

"You don't deserve to be ... attacked, hunted."

"That... is entirely a matter of opinion, it seems" he shrugs "The point is, I did betray the democratic cause I served, at least in its purest form. I can point out how I never had the power to make it so period, but i knowingly aid a noble in a noble system. Yes, I am trying to help you guide reforms for the commoners good, but ... I can see why they feel strongly. It's my risk, Jessica. Let them go" He says then adds "Please, por favor"

Jess does -not- like this. "Can we put some limits on them? Defang them somehow?"

"You mean use Sovereign bans or make them swear oaths? Gods no! That would be used to prove them right"

"Well, what -would- work?"

"Throw me in a cell with them, leave us be for 20 minutes, and then... send a healer for me. "

He says and seems to be quite serious

Jess shakes her head No. "Non-starter, Diego."

"Then just... let them go. No 'defanging'" he says "If you MUST, assign a body guard of some sort to me, though I think that's a waste of manpower"

"It's not a waste at all. I will do that, if that's all you'll accept."

"It is" He says "And that begrudgingly"

Jess gives him a steady look. "Can't lose you, Diego. You're vital to all this. We need you."

"Thank you, Jessica" A smile, but it is a tired smile, "But I think I'm merely...useful"

She shakes her head. "Diego, seriously? This place, the county, would fall apart without you. -I- would fall apart without you."

At that, his brows go so high they almost go up to his horns "Jessica, can it be you don't know how strong you are?"

"I'm strong because of the support of those around me." she says.

"In part, but then, you have a way to draw others so they want to. When I'm gone, ..ah listen to me. I'm not that old. I'm in my thirties, damn it" A chuckle

"Diego, don't you dare go anywhere." Jess says firmly.

A smile at that "I don't plan to, Jessica. And I'll take a bodyguard for a time just to set your mind at ease"

"Ok." Jess sighs. "I'll let them go." she sounds disappointed.

"Gracias"

At the prison, Mitra is watching "How'd it go with Diego?"

"He wants them to go free."

"He...what?" Nonplused

She nods. "Turn them loose. Let's get them out of there."

"Escort them out of the Freehold. Hell, out of the County if you want."

"That stupid honheaded... " But she nods and obeys "Out of the County it is!"

Jess helps drag them out.

"You can't make us leave the city!" One snaps "We're free men"

"Soveriegn citizens" Says the pooka

"What I can do is stick you in a car with a couple of people who'll get you outside the city limits." Jess promises "After that, whatever you do is on you.... but I strongly advise not coming back or threatening Diego or anyone around him."

"So.. he IS your pet" A sneer from that satyr

Mitra's eyes spark dangerously

"I'm glad to hear you say that." as she marches them out to the car.

Demos ends up helping

" 'cause if you're stupid enough to believe that..." she continues "... we have a huge advantage."

Demos snorts "You can try to get back in the city, but for now?" TEETH bared "The boss wants you out so you're staying in the car until we get you out of city limits"

"We want our weapons back" One protests