Dust danced around Jostice's boot as he gazed up at the large, multicolumn, white capital building. He spat, tugged on his bill then slid his hand into his coat pocket, rubbing slippery gold and the sharp ruby with a thumb, the other hand on revolver. Looks like the mayor and I need to dance… He thought, headed up the steps.
It was a cloudless day yet the wind yanked his hat and pulled at his coat, telling him not to go. He ignored the element and stopped at the doors. Two men dressed in black hat, trousers, and coat eyed him like a fish out of water.
"Claim your business," the one on the left said.
Jostice didn't flinch when they reached for their guns, calmly, and without notice to the untrained eye. "I'm here to see the Mayor."
The one on the right barked, "And whose you?"
"An old friend … he's expecting me so it best you let me pass." Jostice took a step and guns were drawn, barrel flipped at his chest. He froze. "You're making a mistake."
"Are we?" asked the Legionnaire on his left. "Seems you're one step from finding yourself on the floor."
Jostice hands closed, forming brick-hardened fists. Two Legionnaires are going to be a problem… He thought, knowing men holding such titles were not feeble outlaws are young deputies, but Generals from the Pioneer army and Marshalls from all over Texionya.
Jostice smirked, "Then you'd be shooting down the new Sheriff of Sundown City."
"New Sheriff…" The men exchanged odd looks then looked him over twice. "We didn't hear nothin about a new Sheriff."
"And why would you? Y'all are Legionnaires afterall … too busy to be worrying about what we do on the street. Ain't that right, boys?"
The men stood like statue. "Until we've heard from the Mayor you'll have to leave—"
"Talk to him now," Jostice spoke harshly, "he'll tell you as I've to you—"
Their hammer cocked. "We says leave, Mister … or there will be trouble."
Jostice brows furrowed, eyes shifting between the men while the wind whispered a haunting song in his ear.
Suddenly the door swung open, and a tall, broad-shouldered man with small eyes and a wide chin appeared. He wore the same black trousers, black coat, and black brimmed hat the others wore, with a badge of two silver guns pinned to his chest.
The man glared, "what's the meaning of this?"
"Jack … Sir … this man said he was the new Sheriff—"
"And!" Jacks voice boomed. He placed his hands on his hips, waving his coat to the side where colors of blues, yellows, oranges, purples, and reds glass bullets shined on his belt "Why hasn't he been escorted to the Mayors quarters?"
"We weren't sure—"
"Damn you!" He slammed a fist into the door frame. "This man is one of our own … let him pass or I'll have your hats."
The men stepped aside and Jostice popped his collar, smirked, then walked inside. He shut the door behind him, "Thanks for the help—"
"How is she?" Jack eyes shrank, trembling with worry. "Is she alright?"
Jostice was taken back by the softness in the mans voice. "Why don't you ask her yourself?"
"I can't … not after what I did." The man shook his head, lip trembling. For being known as the quickest draw in the south, Jack was slow to hide his pain.
"And what'd you do?"
"Nothing … not a damn thing." He swore beneath his breath then smacked the wall. The noise bounced around the foyer, getting lost in the vaulted ceiling above. He shook his hand, waving the pain away. "I allowed the Mayor have his way with her … what kind of man am I." He glanced at Jostice. "Not like you ... I've heard what you did to the Mayor … is it true?"
Jostice curled his lip. "How'd you hear?"
"The Mayor talks in his sleep … or should I say screams … you did it for her, didn't you."
The questions made his stomach turn. "I did it to teach the Mayor a lesson … seems the only one who got a lesson was me."
The men stood and allowed a silence to take the room. Once they collected themselves Jack waved his head, "come on, I'll take you to him."
They walked across the large room to a grand wooden staircase that was as wide as half the room. They ascended up the steps then walked through a labyrinth of wide hallways, passing room after room, coming to the end where a set of double doors stood gaurded by two more black-coated men.
They stopped and Jack placed a heavy hand on the mans shoulder. "I appreciate you coming to reclaim her badge … she's nothing without it—"
"I ain't here to reclaim her badge … not for her, no how." He spoke coldly. "As I've said, I'm the next Sheriff." He turned and pushed through the doors, passing into a room riddled with bookshelfs.
"Jostice!" The mayor announced, waving his hands above his head. He sat behind a desk, smirking as flamboyantly as the bust resting on top. "What do I owe the pleasure."
A soft, sweet fragrance burned his nostrils as he approached the desk. Locked on the Mayors black pebbled eyes. "I'm here to take the place of Leslie Turnbuckle as the Sheriff."
His lips pursed, "are you now?" He placed a hand on his chest, picking at his black button shirt. "And what makes you think I need you?"
Jack stood by the doorway while Boris stood behind the Mayor sweating like a roasted pig.
"Because I'm the only one can bring Rynan in…"
Jack froze, skin pale. Boris smirked and rubbed his hands. And the Mayor sat strangely annoyed. "Leave us!" He ordered the..
Boris and Jack exchanged humbled looks before proceeding outside the room.
The Mayor sighed loudly. "What a mess this has become … Do you take me as a fool, Jostice?"
With each spoken word, Jostice felt the urge to strangle the man. "I've never taken you for anything but a rat … "
"Funny." The Mayor chuckled. "Rats are more clever than one gives them credit for."
"They smell better, I'll give you that?" Jostice waved a hand past his nose. "What is that stench anyway?"
"Lavender…" The Mayor squirmed. "And I use it to hide the rot of this City."
"You sure it's not to hide the smell of yourself…"
The Mayor placed his hand on the desk, leaning over and glaring at the man. There was darkness in his eyes … the kind only found in a man drowning of hate.
"You lied, Mr. Beatpost. Why?"
"And what lie was that?"
"To bring back the boy…"
Jostice laughed loudly, "you caught me—"
The Mayor slammed a hand on the table and spoke sharply, "I know why you've come Jostice … why you need the help of the deputies … it's to save your father from the Yurks. Am I correct?"
Jostice slumped, unable to find his tongue to speak.
"Just as I thought." The Mayor said, picking up the Sheriffs badge and holding it between two fingers. It gleamed silver; two guns; one pointed east, the other west. He examined then threw it at the mans feet. "It's yours … Take it!"
Jostice looked down at the ground expecting some form of trickery. "Why?" he mumbled.
The Mayor stood tall, ironing his button shirt with his palms. "You and I have a common enemy … Those Yurks!"
Jostice bared his teeth. "The ones you sent to attack my Kin—"
"Wrong, Mr. Beatpost! That's where you're wrong…" The Mayor was a man of deceit, but Jostice heard the truth in his words., "you know I am a man of murderous spectacles … not a mindless butcher." The Mayor chuckled nervously. "What would be my gain in executing parties I've aligned my whole campaigns on? The Cyoakons ... the Pompies … the Yurks …" He rubbed his forehead in a fit of anger, "All casualties by somebody who wishes to see me fall."
"If this is true," Jostice smirked, "then I'd like to meet that somebody."
The Mayor glared and slowly fell back into his seat. "I'm certain its one we've both met … an enemy that hates us both." The Mayor sighed once more. "Find the Yurk, Jostice … bring them back to be hung and recover your father."
"And then we'll be done?"
The Mayor itched beneath his round. "Not until the tournament has concluded … only then will our chapters come to an end … For tournament I've made for you."
Jostice hands whitened as he squeezed. "I didn't ask for any of this…" He fought back his violent urge, turned on his heel, and reached for the door.
"Jostice!" The mayor yelled, catching the mans attention. "One last thing…"
"What's that?"
"I have seemed to have misplaced a ring of great importance to me — a ruby ring — one given to me by my mother."
Jostice reached into his pocket and touched the slippery gold and sharp-edged gem.
"If you happened to find it, it may be worth your wild — a ring of ruby for a head of red — then we'd both win."
Jostice turned the hand, "I'll keep that in mind…" Then slammed the door behind him