The captain was now quite clearly smirking, and hadn't moved an inch.
"As his counsel you say? I thought you were a Seeker, not a lawman."

He tapped a little bell on his desk, which let out a very light *ting*.

"I'd hate to go all cliché on you but the City Guard IS the law. Justice limits us, and it is a good thing, but what we do on the moment is without limits. You did indeed not break the law by beating Alfson and Dingleby into a pulp. But you did break their honour, and you may find yourself on the wrong end of their blades."

He sat down in his wooden chair, and continued, "That said, they do have friends who won't take to you very well."

And that was when the two dazed guards got to their feet and four more entered the room.

"If I let them beat you into a pulp, I am not breaking any law: they are simply following honour codes."

The captain stood up and bowed, opening the second door behind him. "See you in the clinic, freelancer."

Now DHarem was alone with six brutes.
The desk and chair stood in the centre of the room, the two doors now shut, and the six men now circling the Seeker.

DHarem raised an eyebrow at the tack that the Guard Captain was taking; open assault upon a citizen. He watched at the Captain left, leaving his guards to attack him, and the men starting to circle him.

He moved slowly over to the desk and stepped behind it; his movements slow and deliberate. He laid his staff across the desk and stood as if he was going to sit in the chair but he did not sit.

“Gentlemen,” he said turning his head slowly to keep all of the guards in his peripheral vision, “I am sorry about what happened, but you did assault me first. Further assault will only result in further harm, which I would like to avoid for all of us.”

“I advise you,” he said still turning his head slowly to look at each of them, “not to go down this path.”

He didn’t sound afraid, his voice was slightly pitiful that it had come to these events. He appeared at ease yet he was ready for any way this encounter was going.

In a traditional brute manner, the guards looked at each other once more, and, remaining silent, all lunged at the same time.

-------------

Elsewhere, outside, Bon and Karrain stood discussing further action, when they noticed the guard captain striding out from the guard post where DHarem had just followed him...

"'Afternoon, Captain." Karrain looks up, eyes cold and blank, haven't mistaken DHarem for another murdering fugitive, have you?"
The Mage takes a menacing step forwards, face still expressionless, "After all, it would be such a pity if you imprisoned the wrong man...again."

A sigh would have escaped his lips if he hadn’t been sucking in a breath in preparation for the coming battle. As the guards rushed all at once he mentally shook his head; typical warrior fashion to attack mindlessly. They would only get in each other’s way as it was impossible for 6 people to safely attack one person.

As they moved so did the Seeker; his right hand grabbed the staff where it lay atop the desk and flung it ahead of him across the desk towards the faces of two of the guards rushing from that direction. His left hand set down on the desk top and he lifted up and jumped over the desk, his right foot kicked backwards as he did so sending the chair behind him flying at one of the guards attacking from behind.

Landing on the other side of the desk, using it as a shield to the guards behind him knowing they would have to go around the desk to attack him. He struck out at the guards at whom he had flung the staff counting on either having stuck them in the face or at the very least making them flinch and have to deflect the staff. He didn’t aim to hurt them, instead he struck out with nerve strikes to immobilize the two of them aiming at a point that would numb their legs.

The chair struck the guard square in the jaw, throwing him to the ground where he landed with a *crash*, leaving him immobilised.

The nerve strikes were quick and effective, with the two victims giving muffled gasps as their bodies went numb.

The three remaining suddenly became more wary at a foe who, without the element of surprise, could incapacitate them instantly.
The two on the right performed that sort of mental communication that is possible between people who spend much time working together. A mere glance at each other, eye movements, and they separated, preparing to flank DHarem around the table.

The third guard spat on the floor and simply picked up a longsword from the corner of the room, drew it, and charged at DHarem, effortlessly throwing the desk towards him at high velocity.

--------------

The captain smirked at Karrain's remark, "Oh, he'll be out in a moment. He's just checking on your friend."
He spun on his heels and set off, "If you'll excuse me I have a rogue mage to track."

Before either Bon or Karrain could get a word in edgeways, the captain was surrounded by guards and he was giving orders to search the area.

Bon frowned, "I hate that guy."

"Indeed." Karrain crosses his arms before striding towards the guardhouse. "I'd like a word or two with Thomas myself or to at least see the condition he's in. I'm no healer but pumping enough mana into a wound generally makes it get better."
"Care to join me or watch our good friend coreograph his men in another dance of futility?"

"Meh," Bon shrugged, "I'm going to stick around out here. We're down two men, and I think we need to keep our eyes open. I'll keep you aware of any new happenings."

Bon sat down on the edge of the stage and looked around.
"Say hi from me," he said with a slight smile.

DHarem took no pleasure in taking down the first 3 guardsmen; he regretted his own actions and in his not seeing the stubbornness of the Guard Captain. He would remedy that later but for now he had to survive this encounter.

He whirled towards the three remaining and saw how the two moved to around the desk to the sides; he raised an eyebrow as the one drew a sword and then hurled the desk at him. Instead of moving away from the flying desk he moved towards it; two quick steps and then he went to his knees sliding. He slid under the desk bending backwards till his back hit his heels; the desk went over his head just barely.

He came sliding upon the sword wielding guard who looked surprised to see him; he slide by the clumsy swing of the guard and came to his feet behind the guard. He whirled and grabbed the guard’s sword are and applied an arm lock on his sword arm causing great pain. It was enough pain that he should have dropped the sword; he held the arm bar in place. He grabbed the man’s collar with the other hand holding him in a ‘come-along’ hold.

He held the man before him between himself and the remaining guards and without a smile or smirk of any kind he said, “Gentlemen, need we continue this or can you walk away with a little dignity?”

The two remaining guards did another of those telepathic conversations, and the one to the right nodded.

He tossed DHarem a set of keys, saying, "Well actually that's a good proposition. When you're done with the keys, slip them into locker 22."

The other said, "If you'll excuse us, we have some things to do far away. Very far away. That ok with you?"

The third guard, headlocked, growled, "Abandoning your posts? I'll get the captain on you."

"We have the stories of five guards, and one bystander who happened to be beating us all up. If needed, we even have some injuries," the lefthand guard said, bashing himself on the head with the chair.

"You owe us one," the righthand guard added, "I'm Aaron and this is Leonard. Buy us a drink sometime."

The other friendly guard soon followed his companion in unconsciousness.

DHarem nodded to the guards and then smiled slightly at the mention of a drink; once those two were safely out of the way he turned to the one he still held and shook his head, “You could learn from your friends.. but I doubt you will.” He let go of his collar and then struck him lightly at the base of the skull, a blow designed to render him unconscious and with a side effect of sometimes causing temporary memory loss. If lucky the guard wouldn’t remember what happened and would probably think that he was knocked out just like the others around him.

As the guard hit the floor he reached down and lifted the ring of keys the guard had tossed to him; he turned and looked at the door leading back into the guard post. No doubt the cells were back there; he walked over and grabbed his staff and then headed back to the cells to find Thomas.

Opening the first door he looked through first before proceeding. If he seen cells and no more guards, he would proceed to the cells and peer inside looking for Thomas; if no guards were evident he would call out for Thomas.

If he found Thomas he would unlock the cell and go to him; if he was conscious and able to walk then DHarem thought he might as well remove the innocent man from the unreasonable clutches of a Guard Captain.

If Thomas was unconscious and injured still; he would slip his sack from his shoulder and remove a healing potion and administer it. Once Thomas was able to move, then he would help him to leave this place.

Yes he thought that removing a man in custody was technically illegal; but it was obvious the man would not receive a fair trial here. He would present his case to the Councillors themselves and let them be the judge(s); besides the Councillor that hired them would surely stick up for them.

Helping Thomas leave the cells he took him back towards the main entrance; he paused at the door before entering to check on the state of the guards he had left there.

(Pausing here to see if Karrain comes in to assist; it would be a very comedic moment to see him standing in the front room with all the incapacitated guards on the floor. )

Nodding to Bon, Karrain strides into the guardhouse before apprising the scene before him with a glance.
"I see you haven't had a drink for a while. Remind me to get Varis to tell you all the bad news."
"I assume that the captain did not let you see master Thomas and did his best to ensure we would not see you again either. In which case I suggest we remove our friend from this place, a man who believes that murder can solve his problems is unlikley to be a good gaoler to an injured foe of his."

Thomas drooled, unconscious, as a reply. But he appeared perfectly stable, in fact, stable enough to be carried. Without his armour, sword and money, he was much lighter to carry. However DHarem's robe would probably need a wash due to fragments of charred blue tunic and cloak.

But as Karrain greeted the Seeker, footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway that the guard captain had left through. They would have to leave through the front door, it seemed, and they needed to drop the keys off anyway.

((I'll leave it up to you two to describe of the guard post ))

DHarem saw only Karrain standing in the guard room surveying the injured and unconscious guards. He stepped in hauling Thomas along with him and shrugged at Karrain’s words.

“The Captain was a bit stubborn at times,” he said in a matter of fact tone, “I was obliged to free Thomas into my custody. Now help me with him and…”

He paused hearing heavy footsteps coming from the door where the Captain had left; he was no doubt returning and would not be happy with what he saw here. Turning he headed to another passage which lead towards the front of the guardhouse, he hoped.

“Come we must find another way,” he told Karrain as they helped Thomas
Hauling Thomas between them they entered a passage headed towards the front of the building; it was currently empty. The passage had a dooway to the left and right and a closed door straight ahead. Moving towards the door at the end, they passed the other doorways and saw a barracks to the left and a locker room to the right. Inside the locker room a lone guard was getting dressed and looked up at the trio with surprise.

Leaving Thomas with Karrain for a moment, the Seeker stepped into the Locker room and addressed the guard. It was best to seem one was where they were supposed to be rather than try and sneak about.

“Good day sir,” he said with a friendly smile, “my friend here has been released from custody, totally innocent it seems, but his gear is missing. Might you know where it was taken?”

The confused guard only pointed at a set of lockers near the door; DHarem thanked him and stepped over to the lockers. Opening one he found it contained a large sack; inside it he found his armor and weapons. Lifting out the sack he looked around for a second and walked over to another locker; one that was marked as ‘22’. Taking the keys out of his tunic, he slipped them inside the locker, shut it and then walked out thanking the guard once more.

Helping Karrain with Thomas they continued up to the closed door; opening it they found the main entrance. Stepping in they helped Thomas and continued towards the front door as if they were only going about their business. At a table to the side sat four guardsmen who looked up as confused as the other guard had been.

“The Captain has released my friend here, seems he was innocent as we all thought, so if you will excuse us.” DHarem said as they continued quickly through the room and out the door. Turning he made for the first street and turned the corner and stopped for a moment.

“We must get to the Councillors,” he told Karrain, “An-Jantar will side with us and help clear up this whole mess. Come.”

(Edit: replaced original post)

As DHarem leaves Karrain turns from Thomas' unconscious form, striding back down the way they had come. He had endured too long in the Mana Prison to be trapped in another cage of politics and unfortunatley for the Tithuanians he was exceptionally good and breaking out of prisons.
Flinging the door open the Sacrelarch strides back to the main room, a dozen Anathemum incantations on his lips.
"Well, Captain, I almost forgot that you'd mentioned a duel. Now that you seem to ahve been relieved of your responsibility of guarding the 'assassin' perhaps we could expand upon that theme?"