Archtaryx had had a long day already. It was hard enough being a double agent for both the Connlaothian government and the underground. He sighed, letting himself into the jail complex and signing in to the guardhouse, adjusting his belt which held his dual pistols, before picking up his set of keys and heading to his assigned sector for the day.
Oh great.
The political dissident section.
Wonderful.
Most everyone in this sector were either jailed for political dissent or the Connlaothian government simply didn't have a better reason.
Most of the unfortunate souls fell into the latter category.
But this sector was the prime spot for much needed political insight.
The jailer that he had come to relieve looked positively pissed.
He had smoked a pipe and was on his second, a scowl settled on his face.
"What's the matter with you, got a stick up your ass?"
Archtaryx teased, bending down to the desk and signing off for the other jailer.
"No, just a certain bird," the jailer muttered, pointing in the general direction of Jackdaw's cell.
Archtaryx grew solemn as he scrutinized the book.
The charges were serious.
Assault and battery against a Mordecai, along with vandalism of Connlaothian property.
The prisoner's name was Jack Daw. Interesting.
"Well, you can go home now," Archtaryx said, motioning for the other jailer to get up out of what was now Archtaryx's seat.
The other jailer just nodded and left, not even bothering to sign the book. Archtaryx settled in the chair.
Any minute now, Olwyn should show up.
Any minute was what should have been happening, except Olwyn had been busy. She had heard about the man that had brazenly fought a Mordecai then had the guts to throw his pistol down the sewer, no less.
She wanted to visit this guy at least. No one deserved to be locked up for that long just because of that, and knowing the Connlaothian government...he'd probably literally rot away in there.
Well.
Not if she could help it.
She honestly had no idea how she's gotten so many people out of prison and not been caught. Probably because no one wanted to accuse her of something because of her family name. She was practically untouchable, which made going in the jail system pretty easy.
"Excuse me," she asked as she got to the prison,
"Is Archtaryx here today? I was supposed to bring him this," and she held up a basket full of food.
"If you need to search it you can. I know the drill," she said, putting the brown wicker basket on the desk.
The captain merely raised an eyebrow at her, and pushed the basket towards Olwyn.
"Archtaryx seems to have a new girlfriend every week. Man sure gets around."
Olwyn merely laughed, suppressing the sudden urge to vomit, and took the basket back.
"If you would just point me in the right direction I'm sure I could find it."
"Lower level, the political dissident block."
"Oh, the fun one," Olwyn said, and then headed down to the lower level.
She knocked on the door with a brisk knock.
"Visiting hours are over," Archtaryx yelled through the door.
"Come back never, thanks."
Olwyn kicked the door.
"Open this damn door or so help me I will kick it down and throw you in prison myself."
The sound of Archtaryx's chair grating against the floor could be heard as he lazily pushed it back and got up, opening the door for Archtaryx and shutting it behind her.
"I brought food. Homemade bread and some cheese. And a few...other things," she left it ambiguous, not knowing much about the prisoner and now wanting to risk anything yet.
Her eyes fell on the prisoner inside his cell.
"What are you actually in for?" She asked, leaning against the wall with her arms folded.
Archtaryx snorted, digging through the basket.
"Socializing with the prisoner already?"
Olwyn rolled her eyes.
"There isn't a law against it, is there? Well maybe there's a law against socializing with you."
"Olwyn Jyrn, I swear I will put you in a cell."
Olwyn looked insulted.
"I will take back this food. Or you know what, maybe I'll just give it to the prisoner-"
Archtaryx interrupted.
"His name is Jack Daw."
"Jack Daw," Olwyn corrected.
"I bet he'd actually eat it."