116  "By what right," asked The Voice, "do you deny free passage to a citizen of the land?"
    117  "By my authority as City Warlock!" the man told him, "And, by order of The City Speaker, who has the right to turn away any he considers a hazard to the public safety. Now, I told you, be gone!"
    118  One of The Voice's guards put his hand on the hilt of his sword, but The Voice shook his head. "I can appeal your order," he said, "and you can be assured I will!  You can be sure of that, and, you can also be sure of where you will be spending eternity!"
    119  "I don't worry about eternity," snapped the Warlock, "I only worry about here and now.  Religious legends and fables are only for the feeble minded.  Now, be gone before I lose my patience and throw you in prison. I do not discuss The Law with radical fanatics, only with those who obey it!  It might be interesting to search your ox cart, but since you are not entering the city, I have no need. Now, move!"
    120  A fighting man pushed one of The Voice's guards.  "You heard the man!" he ordered.
    121  The guard turned to face him, and when he blocked the other's view the fighting man slipped something in his pocket.  The guard backed off.
    122  They turned the cart, and headed back down the road.  When they were out of sight of the gate, the guard took the small piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed it to The Voice. It read, "You're being followed, and are in danger. Take The West Road. Someone will contact you."  "The West Road it is!" said The Voice.
    123  They journeyed on for some time, and an ox cart pulled in behind them from a side road.  A beautiful young woman sat on the seat, encouraging her beast on with gentle taps of her steering ropes. She kept smiling at one of The Voice's guards and he finally slipped back and began to speak with her.
    124  They made small talk for several minutes, then quite casually, the girl said, "Go tell The Voice to take the next turn.  But do not be in any hurry about it.  Walk casually, as if you are merely going back to join your friends."
   125  The startled guard smiled, waved to her, walked back to the others, and relayed the message.  They took the next turn off, and the girl followed them. In a small wood the girl stopped her animal. "Hey, you people," she cried, "ahead of me!  My wheel's coming off. Can you lend a hand?"
    126   The Voice and his party stopped. "Undo the jack," the girl ordered, "and prop up the wagon, like we're actually working on the wheel.
    127  I'm Sweet Blossom Fox. I work with Great Bear, The Temple Speaker.  I've been watching the gate waiting for you."
    128  For some minutes they hammered and turned the wheel, until suddenly another man emerged from the brush.  "Well, brother," asked Sweet Blossom, "does the one that followed sleep?"
    129  "He's taking a nice nap," the young man answered, "and won't be leading his friends to our campsite!  Get that cart down, and let's get out of here before we have visitors!"
    130  Over well-traveled roads that hid their tracks the travelers made twists and turns, and finally turned off the road entering a hidden campsite.  The others were not seen, but The Voice knew they were there.  Sweet Blossom gave a signal and about twenty well-armed men appeared.
    131  "There's ten more still out there," she announced, "but they won't leave their posts until they're relieved.  Get your gear down. Make camp... we'll talk later."
    132  She went off with her brother and one of the men.  The Voice made himself comfortable, and one of the other men stayed by them, seeing to their needs.  The Voice took the opportunity to ask some questions.  "Are you Secret Service?"
    133  The man laughed. "The Secret Service around here," he explained, "works for The City Speaker, and City Warlock. We're a Guardian Group, led by Sweet Blossom, and followers of Great Bear.  We're considered outlaws, criminals, but we're the only real Law in the city. The City Speaker says him and The City Warlock have destroyed The Hood organization in the city, they raided a few houses of pleasure, and had freed some captive women, but we know other houses are still operating.
    134  We've raided those ourselves.  We've tried reporting some of our finds, but by the time The City Warlock's men get there, those we have accused disappeared, and we get a lecture from The City Warlock about interfering in his affairs.
    135  Some drug dealers have been arrested, tried, and executed, but others walk the street without fear.
    136  The City Speaker says it costs too much to protect the city from The Hoods, so he asks a special donation from all the merchants of the city.

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