Turning to Durham, he said.  “Like it or not, this new System has given me the right to claim this place, and I have done so.  This is no longer your home, by your own choosing.  Now, I’m done talking to you.  Leave on your own, or I will have you escorted out and dropped in the woods ten miles from town where you can’t bother anyone.”

Durham’s face was now a splotchy scarlet shade.  He clearly wasn’t used to being told ‘no’.  Looking around the room, he saw only hostile faces looking back.

“Screw each and every one of you!” he shouted.  He shouldered his way past Bjurstrom, headed for the door.  Just as he was passing Allistor and Andrea began detailing an escort for him, Durham spun and drove a steak knife into Allistor’s back.  Leaving the knife, he turned to dash for the door.

Fuzzy beat him to it, the small bear rearing up on his hind legs in the doorway and giving his best roar, teeth bared and claws extended.   Durham plowed right into him, unable to break his momentum.   The two tumbled to the floor as Fuzzy latched hold of the man’s throat with his jaws and dug into his back with both sets of foreclaws.

Durham screamed, but it was cut off when Fuzzy jerked his head and ripped out a significant portion of the man’s throat.

Allistor, now on his knees and trying to remove the knife from his back, cast a Mind Spike on Durham, partly to protect his cub, and partly because he wanted the man to die in as much pain as possible.

Bjurstrom dropped to a knee next to Allistor as several of the others jumped on Durham, pulling him off the bear cub.   Blood sprayed from his savaged throat, and it was only seconds before the light left his eyes.

Allistor gritted his teeth and nodded to Bjurstrom, who yanked the blade from his back.  Allistor grunted in pain, going down on all fours for a moment and breathing raggedly.  The knife had penetrated one of his lungs.   He cast a heal on himself, and the pain lessened as his breathing became a bit easier.   A moment later he cast another heal.  Several hands reached out to help him up to his feet.

“Damn.  That hurt.” He grinned and rubbed his back near where the wound was healing over.  A few people chuckled nervously.   Andrea began to apologize, but he stopped her.  “This was not anybody’s fault but his.  And he paid the price.”  He looked around at everyone gathered there.  “Let this be a lesson to all of you.  Breaking your oath, or breaking the laws by murdering, stealing, and so forth will have harsh consequences.”  He let that sink in, watching people nod to him, then smiled at them.