The Scarecrow (Master of Malice Book 1) (28 page)

Withen opened and closed his mouth like a stranded fish, unable to speak. Elias gestured to Denny. “Show him the other item.”

Denny brought out the wrapped bundle and opened it, holding the awful knife before Withen’s eyes. The master mason gaped in horror, but Denny couldn’t see guilt in his frightened eyes. They flicked to the King’s grim face before roving desperately around the other faces surrounding him.

He raised calloused hands in supplication. “I have no knowledge of these things, your Majesty! I didn’t bring them here! You can’t suspect me of murdering the Arch Patrio? What motive could I possibly have? I’ve just won a valuable commission from him. Why would I jeopardize that?”

Elias’s face was closed and hard. “Yes, but didn’t you say His Immanence had the best of the deal? Didn’t you just tell me you had to bargain hard to get a fair price? Maybe his intractability angered you. Maybe you decided you could gain more gold by robbing him than you could by completing your commission.”

Withen gasped in distress. “I would never do that! I value my business and my reputation. How many clients do you think I’d have if I went around murdering those who struck good bargains? I’d never get away with it, anyway!”

His face, pale and strained, took on a serious look. He gazed at Elias in frank appeal. “I’ve always admired and respected Lord Neremiah. You can ask anyone who knows me. I attend Church services regularly, and a goodly amount of the gold that finds its way into that coffer comes from my business. I love our Minster. I’ve long wished to add my own contribution to the glory of its stone, the magnificence of its aura. I would never jeopardize my chance to do that. I am innocent of this foul murder. I swear it by all that’s holy.”

Elias considered the mason standing firm before him—still pale, still frightened, but steadfast in his declaration. Denny saw the King glance briefly at Vassa, and caught the Colonel’s answering, equally brief, nod.

Elias sighed. “Very well, Master, I will accept your word for now. But the question as to how these items came to be on your premises remains. It’s my belief that someone here is involved in this horrific crime. If you aren’t the murderer, we must suspect one of your workforce. They would have known of your appointment this morning and could have taken the opportunity to steal from His Immanence’s rooms. They will all be taken to the garrison for questioning. Major, if you please.”

Denny gave swift orders and soon had Withen’s five men secured. Protesting their innocence, through tears in the case of the young apprentice, they were led away to the horses waiting outside.

Withen tried his best for them. “Your Majesty, I will personally vouch for each and every one of my employees. They’ve all been with me for some years, even young Kerris, and I’ll swear for their characters before any court.”

The King nodded curtly. “Your words are noted, Master Withen. I hope you don’t have cause to regret them.”

He strode away, followed by Vassa, leaving an unhappy master mason alone in his empty workshop.

+ + + + +

S
ullyan was with General Blaine and Robin when the contact from Taran arrived. Blaine meshed psyches with his two officers and they all heard the Adept’s report of the murder and the findings of the initial enquiry. Blaine broke the contact and turned to face his two officers.

He pursed his lips when he saw Sullyan’s concerned expression. “This doesn’t necessarily have any connection to the Baron’s supposed suicide,” he said. She just stared at him.

“But if it did,” mused Robin, “wouldn’t it mean the Baron’s back in Port Loxton? Or at least in the immediate area. Do we still want to make the trip to Bordenn?”

Sullyan remained silent and the General stared right back at her. “Well?”

She had the grace to drop her eyes. “You already know what I think, Mathias.”

“Dammit,” he snapped, “what are we to do, then? Vassa can send out parties to scour the city, but if Reen is behind this he’ll be long gone by now. I can’t believe he’d risk entering the city, anyway. He’s too well known. Who’d risk sheltering him from Elias’s retribution? Who did he have in the city with enough power to stand up to the King’s will and the might of the King’s Guard?”

Sullyan shook her head. “No one. I agree the Baron would not risk himself. If he is behind Neremiah’s murder, he is using an agent. Maybe more than one.”

“So is it still worth going all the way to Bordenn?” persisted Robin. “What could we find out if Reen isn’t actually there?”

Sullyan glanced at her life mate. “I believe it would be worth gauging Lerric’s loyalty to Elias. I would be interested to learn of his reactions to the news of Reen’s purported death, and also Sofira’s to questions on the subject of correspondence with her former confidante. If we accept, for the moment, that Reen is alive, then someone provided the means for him to escape death by drowning, and that will not be coincidence. Someone is aiding him now—someone with wealth and power. Reen would not risk attracting our suspicions and attention if he did not believe himself secure.”

Blaine shifted irritably. “Of course, this murder could be the work of some conscienceless thief. Murders do happen, especially in a city like Loxton, and Neremiah wasn’t universally popular. He’d spoken out on a number of topics, and never scrupled to berate those he considered less than godly. I think we should be very careful of attributing every strange occurrence to Reen’s disappearance.”

“Never mind the fact that Reen would hate Neremiah vehemently for failing him at the trial and would be avid for his death.” Sullyan’s voice was soft in the room.

Blaine glared at her and she shook her head. “Very well, Mathias, I am rebuked. I will keep an open mind on the subject. If you will, once you arrive in Port Loxton, please allow Robin to question the mason’s men. He should be able to tell if any of them lie. If he uncovers falsehood, well and good; he will apprehend a murderer and I will bow to your judgment. If not, we will know to look elsewhere and you can instruct Jerrim Vassa accordingly. But I still believe the visit to Lerric is necessary.”

Mathias Blaine regarded her with some exasperation before waving a dismissive hand. He knew very well this murder had only increased the strength of her convictions over Reen’s supposed suicide. She suspected his own irritation stemmed from the fact that, deep down, he agreed with her.

“We’ll depart this afternoon,” he said curtly. “Will you be so good as to inform those selected to accompany us? The major and I still have some arrangements to discuss.”

Summarily dismissed, Sullyan rose. “Of course, General.”

She smiled at her life mate and heard Blaine’s heavy sigh as she closed the office door.

Walking slowly down the grand, sweeping staircase to the ground floor, her thoughts were chaotic. She was nowhere near as calm over this trip to Bordenn as her outward demeanor suggested, and Taran’s appalling news only increased her disquiet. She was worried Blaine wasn’t taking her concerns and convictions as seriously as he ought, and the fact Robin was accompanying him—albeit at her instigation—gave her no ease. Despite the vast levels of power the two men controlled, their safety wasn’t guaranteed. How often had she, two full levels above them both, been stripped of her power and rendered helpless? It took only a small amount of spellsilver to incapacitate the strongest Artesan, as the Baron knew well, which was why she had insisted they all experiment with the ore to find a way of overcoming its negating effects. Their lack of success was galling.

She left the Manor building and made her way to the barracks. Voices came from within; Captain Dexter giving his usual last-minute briefing to the swordsmen under his command during the trip. She heard his exhortations to vigilance even as she pushed open the door to the common room.

The barracks common room was similar to the one in the Manor, only slightly larger. The main difference was that the barracks lacked the delicious smells wafting from Goran’s kitchen day and night. The barracks commons wasn’t used for meals. Fellan and tea were continually available, but the small kitchen was only used for preparing meals in unusual circumstances, such as those surrounding Elias’s ill-advised invasion of Andaryon. But the smell of fellan was pleasant and Sullyan moved toward the pot as the assembled men came to attention and saluted her as one.

“Any news from the General?” Dexter asked as he stood the men down and approached her. They all crowded round, eager for news, for tea, or for fellan, depending on their taste.

“I am to tell you to be ready to move out by midafternoon. There has been a development, gentlemen, and I wish to make you aware of it.”

“Listen up, lads,” called Dexter, and the men fell silent. Sullyan moved to one of the wooden tables and sat upon the edge, cradling her mug of fellan.

“We have just heard from Adept Elijah at Port Loxton,” she said, and told them of the Arch Patrio’s death. The more pious among them made the sign of the Wheel. “You all know the reason behind this trip to Lerric’s province and that it is not merely a courtesy call on the part of the High King. Lerric was one of those instrumental in the civil war sixteen years ago, and it is just possible that either he or his daughter have been aiding Baron Reen. Now it just might be that the murder of Lord Neremiah is completely unconnected, but I cannot dismiss it until we have firm evidence as to who is responsible. Therefore I ask you to keep your eyes and ears open during this trip, both in Port Loxton and in Daret. The General and the Major will spend the majority of their time with Lerric and his daughter, but you will have just as important a part to play. Mingle with Lerric’s men and get them talking. Join any card games, watch them, listen to their gossip. Be alert to any hint of disapproval or fear over what their lords might be doing. Be sympathetic to their grievances. You will hear much that Robin and Mathias will not. Use your position to our advantage. Do not hesitate to bring any suspicious piece of gossip or news to their attention. And, gentlemen, there is one other thing I would ask of you.”

“What, Colonel?” asked Dexter.

She heard the concern in his voice and gazed at him. “Look after him, Dex. Look after both of them.”

Her heart was in her voice and the men responded. Coming to their feet as one, they saluted her once again.

“With every breath in our bodies and every skill we possess,” declared Dexter, the men crying “Aye!” behind him. Their loyalty and love brought tears to her eyes and she smiled in grateful thanks.

“I have every confidence in you. You ease my heart.”

By midafternoon, they were ready to leave. Dexter had the men drawn up before the Manor gates, and was himself holding the bridle of Charger, General Blaine’s warhorse. Sullyan stood close by, watching Robin attach his pack to the harness rings of Tobias’s saddle. She held Morgan in her arms, and he was watching his father intently.

Sullyan tried hard to keep the worry from her thoughts. Her son could pick them up too easily, and the last thing she wanted was to alarm the boy. He was growing in knowledge and control all the time, thanks to a variety of good teachers, but wasn’t yet skilled in disguising his emotions. He was too young to understand the need for such deception. So she smiled at him and made comments about what was happening, directing his thoughts to other topics than the imminent departure of his beloved father.

General Blaine strode down the steps from the Manor’s grand entrance and took Charger’s reins from Dexter. He turned to regard Sullyan before vaulting into his saddle, but uttered not a word. They had already said all that needed saying. She merely acknowledged his tacit acceptance of her concern and afforded him a respectful salute. She turned to Robin as the General gave the order to move the company out.

Sullyan appreciated her superior officer giving them this moment of privacy. Not that she would have cared had the entire world been watching. She gave Morgan over to Robin for a final hug, then fell into his arms herself once he’d set the boy down.

Like the General, Robin said nothing, but his soul merged with hers and shared her feelings. Words were unnecessary between them after all this time together. True life mates, they were joined in spirit as well as body—what one felt, the other did too.

After a short moment, they broke apart. Sullyan felt a hand on her shoulder and turned her head to see Bull behind her. He grinned at Robin. “Don’t be too long, lad, or you may find your place taken when you return.”

“Ha!” Robin leapt lightly onto Tobias’s back. “You wouldn’t dare, you old rogue. Morgan, watch this man while I’m gone. You guard your Mama’s honor for me, do you hear?”

The boy whipped out the toy sword that never left his side. He stood in front of Sullyan and brandished it menacingly. “Yes, Papa!”

Bull laughed and Robin grinned. “You wouldn’t dare touch her now!”

The young Major nudged his mount and waved to his life mate. Then he was gone, leaving only the sound of hoof beats as he raced to catch the others.

Bull threw an arm about Sullyan’s shoulders and turned her back to the Manor. “Come on, Colonel, I need to hear how much extra work you’re going to give this poor old soldier. Morgan, shouldn’t you be with Elisse and Eadan?”

“Yes, Uncle Bull.” The boy skipped off, watched fondly by his mother and the huge man by her side.

+ + + + +

R
obin handled the crossing into Andaryon and thence to Port Loxton, exchanging pleasantries with Lord-General Anjer as he did so. He told the Andaryan that Sullyan was in charge at the Manor, and also informed him where the High King would be for the next few days. It was a courtesy agreed between the rulers to inform each other when absent from their capital. It helped cement their relationship and remind their subjects of their close ties.

Before the human forces left the realm of Andaryon, General Blaine sent Dexter’s corporal, Wil, ahead of the main party as an emissary to King Lerric to inform him of the High King’s intention to visit on the morrow. Blaine had decided Elias would be more comfortable staying at an inn for the night rather than one of Bordenn’s garrisons. He told Wil to keep his wits about him while he was in Daret, and to pay good mind to anything he heard or saw. The corporal went off cheerfully, and Blaine saw him emerge from the substrate tunnel into Bordenn’s wintry landscape.