The Festival Court is at the far end of the fair, near Bogenhafen's postern gate. Heinrich leaves the packed area around the merchant stalls and passes through a more open - but still bustling - space. On his left, he sees a roped-off area that looks like a wrestling ring. A garishly-dressed showman is trying to encourage people to fight the champion - a mountain of a man who is drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, as though near exhaustion.
"Step this way and make five whole crowns! Just last three minutes in the ring with the champion. Only five shillings to try your strength - turn that into five gold crowns! Or even ten if you win the fight! You can't lose! How about you sir? No? You'll kick yourself later you missed this chance. How about you? Show the lady what a man you are!"
A small group of drunken nobles has gathered by the ring, and one of them accepts the challenge. He strips off his silk shirt and leaps into the ring - he looks like a child compared to the enormous champion. Heinrich chuckles to himself - he's seen this stunt many times before. The champion is only pretending to be tired, and will beat the young noble easily. Serve him right too.
Heinrich continues walking. A large crowd is gathering on his right, near a group of covered wagons. There's a brightly painted sign on one of them that he can't read, but another outlandishly dressed showman is standing on a box and addressing the onlookers.
"In just one hour, Doctor Malthusius's world famous Zoocopeia will be open for your education and astonishment! One shilling buys you entry to the wonder of the age! See creatures from your darkest nightmares and your wildest dreams! Don't miss the chance of a lifetime! The show begins in one hour!"
Passing the freakshow, Heinrich at lasts arrives at the Festival Court. The court (held in a large tent with the town's arms on the side) has been established to handle disputes and crimes taking place at the Schaffenfest, to avoid overloading the town courts. A single magistrate enacts summary judgements - usually fines, but the alternative for those who cannot pay can be seen outside the court. On a wooden platform are two sets of stocks and a whipping post. One set of stocks is currently occupied by a filthy, pathetic-looking dwarf. His face is bruised, and a giggling pack of children are throwing horse dung at him.
Two watchmen armed with halberds guard the entrance to the court. They allow Heinrich inside when he tells them he is a bounty hunter looking for work.
Two more guards are inside the tent, flanking a ratty-looking boy of about seventeen. A grey-haired, stern faced man who can only be the magistrate is seated behind a heavy desk. "Hans Stiller, you have been found guilty of theft to the value of five crowns, fourteen shillings and two pence. You are hereby fined the sum of ten crowns."
"I can't pay that, your worship. I ain't got no money - that's why I stole what I did."
The magistrate bangs his staff of office on the desk. "If you cannot pay, you are sentenced in the alternative to two dozen lashes at the whipping post. Take him away."
The boy is dragged outside, begging pitifully for mercy. The magistrate looks at Heinrich, and says, "You are a bounty hunter, I presume? Speak to the clerk."
Heinrich is approached by a small man with beady eyes and ink-stained fingers. "Most of the bounties are handled by the town court" he says, his voice high-pitched and condescending," but we have one job on the books. This morning, one Jan Buchner of Carroburg was arrested under suspicion of attempted murder. He assaulted Viscount Philippe de Savoie of Paravon at the jousting lists, and left the Viscount bady beaten. He protested his innocence, naturally," the clerk pulls a face, as if the concept of innocence disgusts him, "but he broke away from the guards before his trial could be completed, and escaped into the town. You may be able to find him in the docks, since he arrived in town by boat."
The clerk looks through some papers. "Here is a description - ah, you cannot read, I suppose. Allow me: Jan Buchner, aged about twenty-seven. Medium build, height approximately five foot eight inches. Brown hair, short. Clean-shaven. Brown eyes. Pox scars on face. Strong Middenlander accent. Wearing an unbleached shirt and brown hose. He is a fugitive from justice, and so may be returned dead or alive. The bounty is 40 crowns. It's important that this job is completed quickly. The honour of the town is at stake."