On the streets of Paris everyone was busy with preparations for festival, shopping, deciding about costumes and masks. Through one of city doors came a stranger with short dark brown hair, freckles and brown eyes. He wore yellow armor and blue cloak. Beside him stood a Frisian with white spot on his head and black mane. They were Brian, the new captain of the guards and Black beauty, his friend and companion. Brian looked at the map, looked around and sighed. He bunched the map in ball and tossed it away. He said as he turned to his horse: ,, Huh. You leave town for a couple of decades and they change everything. ,,
Brian asked two guards, passing by: ,, Excuse me, gentlemen. I'm looking for the Palace of Justice. Would you... ,,
But they passed him without noticing stranger. Brian frowned and said as he looked away: ,, Hmmm...I guess not. ,,
He and his horse moved on. There was a sound music coming from one of streets. There were two gypsies and a purple goat with purple eyes performing in the street. One of gypsies was a young man with dark skin, short black hair, goat beard and purple eyes. He was dressed in white shirt, black pants, boots and had red sash tied around his waist. His name was Juandissimo and was playing guitar. A beautiful gipsy girl with fair skin, long and wavy chestnut hair and blue eyes was dancing with tambourine. She wore white blouse with round sleeves, a green bodice with yellow stripes, and purple flowing skirt. Dark purple sash with coins was tied loosely around her waist and a pink sash was tied in her hair. Her name was Timantha and also wore golden hoop earring, some golden bracelets and an anklet on her left ankle. A purple goat, named Poof leaped at the sound of music. A woman with little girl walked by. As they walked, girl saw the goat and wanted to pet him. But her mother pulled her away and warned: ,, Stay away child, they're gypsies! They'll steal us blind. ,,
Brian and Black beauty stopped in front of gypsies and watched the performance. Brian threw three golden coins and purple hat, earning smile from Poof and wink from Juandissimo. He looked at dancer and she smiled. Brian blushed and smiled in return. Suddenly a small gipsy whistled a warning .Timantha stopped dancing and gasped. In haste Poof grab the hat, splitting coins on the ground. He bleated to running Timantha and she came back, while Juandissimo ran away. As Timantha was picking the earned coins, when two guards came to her. One of them was tall with black mustache, while other one was short and had short hair. The taller one sneered as he grabbed the hat: ,,All right, gypsy. Where'd ya get the money?,,
Girl snarled fiercely, snatching back the hat : ,, For your information, I earned it. ,,
Guard didn`t believe her as he said: ,, Gypsies don't earn money! ,,
The second guard grabbed Timantha`s shoulders and demanded: ,, You steal it? ,,
Brian watched the girl a she shouted: ,, You'd know a lot about stealing! ,,
The tall guard grabbed the hat and asked, before getting kicked in his jaw: ,, Troublemaker, huh? ,,
The other guard suggested as they grabbed each of girl`s arms: ,, Maybe a day in the stocks will cool you down. ,,
Poof got angry; head butted the first guard and kicked other in stomach. They let go of girl and she ran away, Poof right behind her. Both guards got on their feet and tall one called after girl: ,, Come here, gipsy! ,,
Thinking fast, Brian led his horse forward, blocking the guards `s way. Both of them hit in horse and as short one landed on his backside, the other fell face first in mud puddle. Brian ordered his horse: ,,Beauty, sit! ,,
Black beauty sat on top of unfortunate guard. Guard said as he tried to stand up, but in vain: ,, Hey- Whoa! ,, Some people that were in the street laughed at guard. Brian said with faked apology, grinning: ,, Oh, dear, I'm sorry! ,,
He turned to his horse and wagged a finger in a mock scolding gesture as he said: ,, Naughty horse! Naughty! ,, Then he leaned on his horse as he said: ,, He's just impossible. Really, I can't take him anywhere. ,,
Not far away, from a corner of a street, Timantha and Poof smiled to kind stranger. Then they went on. Guard jelled as he tried to sit up: ,, Get this thing off me! ,,
His companion got on his feet. He approached stranger and sneered as he took a dagger: ,, I'll teach you a lesson, peasant! ,,
Brian drew out his sword and said as he pointed it at guard: ,, You were saying…...Lieutenant AntiBinky ?,, Realizing the rank of the man addressing him, he said nervously: ,, Oh, uh- uh. C- c- Captain! ,,
In his haste to salute, he hit his helmet with dagger and dropped it . AntiBinky held his head, but said as he saluted: ,, Ow! At your service, sir. ,,
Brian turned to first guard and with one smooth motion brought down his sword, cutting half of guard`s mustache. The guard barely dared to move his eyes to look at his superior officer. Captain knelt down and said, looking at the guard: ,, I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but the Palace of Justice?,,
After Black beauty stood and other guard got on his feet, they were ready to go. Both guards cleared path for their captain. Brian stopped as he saw four coins lying on the ground .He bent down and picked them up. As he looked up, he saw a hooded, hunched beggar crouched against a building. As Brian passed him, beggar bowed his head and saw coins being dropped in the hat. Brian and his horse went on and beggar lowered the hood. They were Timantha and Poof, who was holding a pipe in his mouth. They looked at Brian following two guards. He said to his horse: ,, Come on boy. Beauty, heel! ,,
At the end of the street, on a big square stood a magnificent, yet scary looking building. It was Palace of Justice, home of judge AntiCosmo and prison for criminals. Briana came in and followed the corridors until he could hear a sound of whipping. It was coming from door to torture chamber .Briana opened the door and whipping stopped. A woman dressed in black, cold pink eyes and red hair, tied in ponytail came to judge. She was holding a whip as she asked: ,,Sir? ,,
Judge said as Brian entered: ,, Ease up. Wait between lashes. Otherwise the older sting will dull him to the new. ,,
Woman smiled wickedly and bowed, before she went back to her work. Judge said as he saw Brian and came to him: ,, Ah, so this is the gallant Captain Brian, home from the wars. ,,
Brian stood tall as he said: ,, Reporting for duty as ordered, sir. ,,
AntiCosmo said as he walked around Brian: ,, Your service record precedes you, Brian .I expect nothing but the best from a war hero of your calibre. ,,
Brian said to judge: ,, And you shall have it, sir. I guarantee it. ,,
AntiCosmo said with disappointment: ,, Yes. You know, my last captain of the guard was, um... a bit of disappointment to me. ,,
A sound of crack was heard, followed by scream of pain. Brian became a bit uneasy, but AntiCosmo didn`t notice it. Instead he said: ,, Well, no matter. I'm sure you'll whip my men into shape. ,,
Brian replied as he followed judge out of room: ,, Uh, thank you, sir. It is grea- uh, tre- uh, tremendous honor, sir. ,,
They came to balcony of palace of justice; it had good view on city. As they walked down the balcony, AntiCosmo said: ,, You come to Paris in her darkest hour, Captain. It will take a firm hand to save the weak-minded from being so easily misled. ,,
Brian asked, confused by judge`s words: ,, Misled, sir? ,,
judge stopped and said as he pointed to one of streets below them: ,, Look, Captain. Gypsies. The gypsies live outside the normal order. Their heathen ways inflame the peoples' lowest instincts. ,,
Two gypsies and a goat from before performed in the street. A small group of people watched their performance. Judge looked away and said with hatred in his voice: ,, And they must be stopped. ,,
Brian was confused and asked in disbelief: ,, I was summoned from the wars to capture fortune tellers and palm readers?,,
AntiCosmo replied, before looking at Notre dame: ,, ,, Eh, the real war, Captain, is what you see before you. For 20 years, I have been taking care of the gypsies, one...by...one. ,,
He looked at stone tile, where three ants were waking and were smashed one by one. Judge as he lifted the stone tile, revealing a colony of ants: ,, And yet, for all of my success, they have thrived. I believe they have a safe haven, within the walls of this very city. A - A nest, if you will. They call it the Court of Miracles. ,,
Brian asked as he looked from an ant colony to AntiCosmo: ,, What are we going to do about it, sir? ,,
Judge smiled and put the tile back in its place, before turning it left and right. All insects were killed. Brian said as he looked at judge: ,, You make your point quite clearly, sir. ,,
AntiCosmo smiled and said as he beckoned captain to follow: ,, You know, I like you, Captain. Shall we? ,,
But he stopped as trumpet played, followed by cheering of people. Judge groaned and asked as he looked at captain of guards: ,, Oh, duty calls. Have you ever attended a peasant festival, Captain? ,,
Brian said, looking at judge: ,, Not recently, sir. ,,
AntiCosmo said, before he left: ,, Then this should be quite an education for you. Come along. ,,
They went to front door and went to square, where everyone was ready to start the festival.