It started with a clash between Orc dockworkers and a group of sailors. The sailors got their fill of insults, and the Orcs got their fill of punches.
Francois reported that the Orcs weren't to blame. The sailors had mocked them for doing menial work.
"I remember the Free City Code has a law against insults?"
"Yes, but Gar threw punches right in front of the Guards."
Annan sighed. "Where are they?"
"Both sides are in the Dungeon."
"Let's go."
Annan went to the Prison with Francois and found both sides of the brawl: the Orcs and their fellow workers, and the sailors with their bruised, swollen faces.
Yes. When the Orcs and sailors started fighting, some of the other workers had rushed in too.
"Who do you work for?"
Annan addressed the sailors' leader first, a brown-bearded man with a captain's hat tucked under his arm. He hunched over as soon as Annan appeared and said ingratiatingly, "Lord Annan, this was entirely our fault..."
"This is Free City. Please allow me to punish them under the Free City Code." Annan cut him off, gentle but firm.
"Of course." The brown-bearded captain stepped back without protest.
"You insulted the dockworkers." Annan first turned to the sailors, who had taken quite a beating.
"My lord..."
None of them showed a trace of the arrogance they'd displayed at the Port.
Annan then looked at the indignant workers. "You insisted on fighting even after the Guards arrived."
"Grumble, grumble..."
The humans kept quiet, while Gar muttered something in Orcish.
"I understand how you feel. You all think you did nothing wrong, don't you?" Annan's gaze swept over the sailors' and workers' faces. "You thought you'd only said a few harsh words... And you thought being insulted gave you the right to hit back..."