Stepping over the Ranger who was still rubbing his face in the dirt, Braun pulled his tunic up as if to remove it entirely. Both Kre and Lowil averted their eyes, not wanting to see more of Braun than they needed to, especially after his self-admitted issues with his bowels.
“Rest assured, I have no intention of disrobing, especially in front of a young lady.” It was odd to hear such manners from such a weasel of a man, but there it was. True to his word, he stopped with his shirt pulled halfway up his chest to reveal a belt pouch strapped to his midsection.
“A belly bag,” he said with a smirk. “All the rage in the elite circles of the city’s top administrators. You can keep your most important documents safe from pickpockets and helps keep the gut looking fit.”
The laughter at the Ranger’s misfortune died instantly and even the young prisoner looked up at the Magistrate, her eyebrow raised in incredulity. Upon seeing her move, Kre spared her a glance and thought he caught sight of a glint of gold flecking in her dark green eyes, if only for a moment. Not wanting to be caught staring, he turned back towards Braun who was slowly unfolding the lip of his belly bag.
“This one is made from the finest doe skin, oiled on the outside and sealed with paraffin wax on the inside. Completely waterproof and soft as silk on the skin. The oil even helps keep my abdomen looking sleek and…”
“Well, that’s just enough there, ain’t it.” The older Ranger snapped, shaking his head. “If that damn thing don’ beat all… and here I thought we weren’t lettin’ no sword swallowers out here in the frontier.”
Lowil’s eyes narrowed and his lips grew tight. Kre recalled his temper regarding those who would demonstrate any sort of prejudice against those with certain orientations that others deemed abnormal. No one was certain if he himself shared those same inclinations, but woe be to those that expressed their personal views with hateful speech.
Braun must have sensed the same thing that Kre had as the Magistrate stepped forward quickly to cut in front of the professor. “There’s no need for that kind of language,” he said with a shake of his head. “Rangers are above that, or so I’ve been told. Regardless, the possession of a belly bag is a practical and sensible choice and I have no doubt that someday Rangers will be issued one to keep their warrants and notes safe from both the weather and from prying eyes.
“Ah, here we go,” he said, pulling a sheaf of folded papers from his bag. “Let me just smooth it out a bit…” He made a great show of sliding his hands up and down the pages, front and back, trying to remove the creases.
After a few seconds, he held them out triumphantly. “Here you are good sirs, the legal documents pertaining to Mister Nevynar’s suspended trial and the documents related to the Covenants of Justice that bind him until he reappears to face the justice at the Citadel.”
The one Ranger seated on the ground shuffled backward awkwardly, trying to avoid the papers that had so recently been molested by Braun’s tainted hands. The other Ranger narrowed his eyes and tried to peek at the writing without actually taking hold of the documents, but Braun’s arm moved from side to side just enough to make it difficult to read. “…Kre Nevynar… double murder…” he read haltingly before shaking his head and waving the papers away.
“Looks in order,” he grudgingly admitted. He then turned his eyes skyward and shrugged. “May as well bunk here with you guys tonight. I believe I heard something about tea being ready?”