Black and gold livered functionaries with velvet black floppy hats, their cap sleeve surcotes a dark yellow with the pattern of black diamonds and dark sunburst common to those serving the Imperial house, who scurried here and there. While groups of courtiers in silk finery mingled as close to the Imperial Dias as they dared, which for the most part kept them well beyond hearing range of what was said before the Emperor. And everywhere Imperial Guards gleamed in white and gold with their polished white winged silver helms, about half armed with deadly looking Partisan a six foot black wooden handled polearm with a two foot steel dagger blade on the end, a very effective stabbing weapon, and the other half armed with the Halberd an ax on a pole, and all of them armed with the Katzbalger short sword, devastating in very close quarter combat, that swung at their sides. They were just the most obvious of the defenses protecting the sovereign, others more deadly were kept hidden.
“Ah the joy of climbing these steps to the throne, surely they are only matched in enthusiasm to those that lead to the scaffold…” Myst thought wryly, “Maybe because one set of steps so often leads to the other… Well my curiosity put me here so I’ll pay the price.”
“Your Imperial Majesty,” they bowed.
“Well, General Trendal, what have you for me today?” The Emperor sounded almost amused, a bad sign indeed, as was the darkly amused gleam in his eyes.
The general almost visibly winced and cut a look over to Myst.
“Great, the headsmen is probably hurrying to sharpen his sword…”
The General stood up, Myst remained bowed, “Majesty, Ser Mystros Sunstar came to me this morning with news of Shadow Elves and their accomplices in the city…”
The Emperor smiled, “Ah, then we better hear the Colonel, or should I say the former Colonel... who left Our service just a few days ago, well Ser Myst, do tell this, story of yours…”
Myst unbowed, “Majesty, last evening…” and for the second time this morning he told the tale, and both times he left out the part of the Imperial Signet ring on the hand of the female Sun Elf, that would have got him a trip to the executioner and a ‘haircut’ without a doubt.
~
That late afternoon, Myst looked out over a pale winter blue sky cut by faint wispy clouds that somehow were producing a light dusting of snow. Large lazy flakes of what Myst thought of as “that abominable white curse” drifted down; already it was sticking to the “bluish-grey or was it greyish blue” slate roofs so common in the city. He looked back at the palace, cheery warm lights shone from the grand windows… “Burr, sure it looks pretty, but does it have to be so damn cold?” In his defense, Myst had picked up a faint touch of frost bite in his ears many years ago in the Winter War, the last time the Frost Elves and Orcs of Yagon had truly made all out war on the far outposts of the Wildlands. He paused for a second to watch some Elven children playing at skating on a large frozen puddle, the sound of their laughter lightened his mood.
A bell from the cathedral of St. Sulpen’s began to toll the hour of None as a flock of Starlings took off, he supposed in fright, Myst rather enjoyed the melancholy tolling sound echoing through the city.
“Myst!” Someone called his name.
He looked around and saw his friend hurrying up to him. “Ser Ious, what in the flaming dragons are you doing here,” he grabbed his friend in a great hug.
“Prisoner transport!”
Myst cocked his head and looked at him in surprise.
Ious shrugged, “Yes two days at home before the order from the Lord High Constable to bring some high value prisoner to the capital, and of course I was ‘available’…”
“That or your wife was tired of you already…”
Ious, laughed “You may be right about that.”
“You’re not staying at the Palace of Justice Barracks are you?” Myst took Ious’s arm and headed down the street.
“Not if your sofa is free… but is not your new wife here? I don’t want to intrude!”
“Kayla is at the School of Magic, so I am by myself for a couple of days, so I insist.”
Ser Ious mockingly bowed, “As my Lord commands…, I humbly and gratefully obey. Sleeping in a ditch in the snow would be an improvement over the barracks…”
The late afternoon sun was starting to fail as the streets fell into shadow, the gas lamps had started to come to life, as well as stands of white magic fairy lights affixed throughout the city, both trying vainly to push back the insidious cold dark. They came to Café Bonpart, just down the block from Myst flat, the outdoor tables under the striped dark red and blue awning unsurprisingly empty, they hurried into the inviting warmth of the Café. Ious noticed the pleasant warm wood room, lit with the glow of white and red lights and cheery fireplace. The red lights lit up the wood columns around the room, the white lights rimmed the ceiling. Old maps of the city decorated the walls.
They found a table near the fireplace and Myst was very warmly greeted by Julian whom Ious took to be the owner. After Julian gave them menus and left to get them a bottle of red wine, Ious asked, “What’s with the red lights? It does not look like a brothel?”
“You know I have never asked, maybe it used to be, but it gives a nice warm ambiance don’t you think.... And the food is good and close by my apartment.”
Julian brought them a basket of warm bread and served them the wine and took their orders, Myst had the; Pan-seared duck, with cherry brandy jus, and white truffle risotto. Ious couldn’t decide on the ‘Pan-seared chicken served with roasted mushrooms, scallions, roasted garlic mash potato, in a white wine dijon mustard sauce’, or the ‘Sauted veal escalope, capers, lemon beurre-blanc, with roasted garlic mash potatoes’, in the end he went with the veal as Myst had indicated he was buying…
“So who did you bring up, anyone interesting?” Myst topped off their wine.
“Ah, Horc smugglers, names of Torman Verga and Mordu Reese… Mumm, this veal is fantastic.”
Myst sat back, “Well it is a small world.”
Ious paused in eating, “You know them,” he asked incredulously?
Myst took a big sip of his wine, “About a year ago in the Waste, Reese was coming back from smuggling weapons, ran into on the road east of the ruins of Dachron.”
“You let him live?”
“Well I can’t kill everyone… Besides he gave me some information that turned out true…” Myst shrugged.
“Still, Half Orc smuggler…”
Myst laughed, “There’s probably ten thousand Horcs in this city alone… Half of whom are doubtless criminals!”
“You’re probably right,… Job security for me.”
Myst finished his meal and ordered a Cognac to enjoy after the meal, Ious nodded yes, so he signaled Julian to bring two of them. The attractive bartender, a very well built auburn haired lass, brought them over to the table. The two elves watched appreciatively as she walked back to the old carved wooden bar.
“What did Reese smuggle?”
Ious was swirling the glass snifter full of the wonderful amber liquid… “It looked to me to be a magical dog collar… Why the Lord High Constable wanted Reese and Verga with the collar brought up to him I have no idea. But a customs frigate boarded them south of Bordan, or should I call it Oreon as Lord Pedar does…?” Ious paused to take a sip of his liquor, “They were trying to make a landing to avoid paying the steep tax on magical importation we think, and Verga was already wanted on smuggling and piracy.”
Myst swirled his own Cognac, sipped quietly, thinking of what Ious had told him…
“I also recognise the name Torman Verga, I heard it recently from an asset of mine in Surin...,” Myst looked at his friend wondering if he should involve him further in this mess.
Myst suddenly sat forward, “I was just at a meeting with the Lord High Constable…
Ser Ious, made a ‘come on’ gesture at Myst...
“So, let me tell you about last night…” This time he told the whole story.
Ious listen wi
th rapt attention, half way through he waved for another Cognac to be brought to him.
“So, I got out of there with my head at least… But am to ‘assist’ in looking around and report directly with your boss the Lord High Constable.”
Ious drained the rest of his liquor rolled the glass snifter in his hand, “Not my boss, he’s my boss's boss… Damn, I think I could use another one after that, but caution now suggest otherwise.”
Myst laughed ruefully, “Still want to spend the night…”
“Aye, it’s better to die in silk than live in squalor, I always say … or I think I say something like that if I’ve had enough to drink....”
“Ha, you’ve never had enough to drink! Let's go get some rest then. In the morning I want you to get me into see those prisoners, I don’t believe in coincidences, only patterns yet unrevealed.”
~
The sun had yet to rise but the light of pre dawn was turning the buildings along the street a pale blue. The shadows slowly faded away as morning had come agin and night fled the dawn. Myst and Ious hurried through the light foot traffic as the city came slowly awake. Myst had donned a charcoal grey leather long coat against the chill, worn over smokey black breeches and a dark jacquard vest, a soft white silk shirt and dark red foulard scarf at his neck and a matching dark red silk scarf tied around his waist.
He had attached to his right chest his Order of Solar Knights emblem, he wanted no questions from anyone why he wore his sword at his hip. Knights had the ancient right to be armed with swords at all times, even in the presence of the Monarch. Ser Ious was dressed and armed nearly the same as Myst, only dark greyish green instead of grey. He too wore his Knights emblem on his right chest, on his left was affixed the badge of a Justicar of the Drakar Royal Constabulary.
The bridge that connected the south bank to the ‘city island’ in the middle of the canal was empty of traffic, below a white mist coated the top of the water as a pair of swans appeared in a sudden break of fog. They crossed over and soon came to the Palace of Justice, the fence of gold capped black iron spears protected the grand courtyard, with the main gate, a great and imposing mass of heavily decorated wrought iron and gold structure wide enough to easily take a carriage, that was capped with a roof of black metal with a golden Imperial Emblem thirty feet above the street, it was not yet open.
They ducked across the street stopping in an open cafe, and grabbed a much needed coffee and croissant at the nickle plated counter, to wait for ‘Justice’ to open… They did not have long to wait, a quick ten minutes later and Ious nudged his shoulder and tilted his head in the direction of the street.
Myst looked and saw a contingent of the Constabulary open and take up guard at the great gate.
“Let’s go.”
Ious new better than argue so he downed the last of his coffee and followed him out the street, still munching on his croissant. The streets were now quite busy with early morning workers, the Palace of Justice was located where two streets came together to form a “T”. The Palace was large and grand, pale grey marble with a light blue slate roof, the center building had a small flatish dome and imposing fasade five stories high, the two wing buildings that made up the left and right sides of the courtyard were of the same design but a story lower and without the dome.
The guards did not even look at them as they entered the gate, hurried across the granite pavers to the long set of marble steps, Myst wondered why thirty seven steps, it seemed odd, he would ask Ious later he thought, but of course forgot.
They walked into the great barrel vaulted main hall, three stories high, with rows of marble columns along each side that divided the space into two side areas. Off the side area life size stone statues of people that Myst didn't recognise protected great wooden doors that led to courtrooms. The floor was white marble set with large box panels of grey marble, trimmed in black marble. Imperial Justice looked very expensive… But the one thing that had Myst stopped and frankly staring, was the four foot in diameter, molten red sphere that magically was suspended in the center of the room. How, and more importantly why, someone had decided to place what looked like a piece of the sun or maybe the earth's core there, was beyond Myst imagination, the possibility that it was simply an objet d'art was certainly a possibility however unlikely to him.
Ious grabbed his arm and led him to a doorway that went off the the West Wing of the Palace, and then down a narrow spiraling staircase to the basement that opened up to a antichamber divided by black iron bars and a steel gate, decidedly less attractive than the one guarding the front of the Palace of Justice. A half dozen of the Constabulary guarded the gate and they were much more attentive that the ones at the main gate. They were in grey green uniforms in the same color as Ser Ious’s long coat, but not of such fine quality.
Ser Ious took the lead walking up to the corporal of the guard, “Knight-Justicar, Ser Ious Taustara, I wish to interview the two prisoners I brought in yesterday. ”
“Papers sir’s”
They passed thru their identification, the corporal handed it to an assistant who entered them into the ledger book. The corporal signaled to two of his men standing on opposite sides of the room well behind the iron bars, they each reached reached out to what Myst had taken to be a decorative metal wall fixtures and simultaneously touched them with their ungloved hands. A magical buzz came from the gate, and the corporal pulled it open.
“Please follow Constable Enaryis gentleman…” He indicated a female constable who led them past a weapons vault then thru another magically opened door, a seven foot in diameter silver disk etched with edric ruins of power, it was as thick as Myst thigh, that rolled back into the wall with a decidedly unpleasant grating sound. That seemed even less pleasant sounding when it closed behind them. “Sounds like a stone tomb being sealed…” Myst thought, “Happy happy joy joy thoughts!”
They they entered into the main holding cells of Justice. It was warm in here he noticed, probably because they keep the prisoners naked, it makes them more docile and it's harder for them to escape or pass contraband.
These cells were not meant for long term confinement, only for those under interrogation, or awaiting trial, or final punishment in the Black Cells… The stone here was old, Myst could palpably feel the misery of over thirty generations who and languished their final mortal hours in this fell dungeon. They came to a steel door of great weight, the constable placed the palm of her hand against the surface, a blue glow seem to come from deep in the metal to surround her hand, a click and the door swung open.
Myst and Ious stepped into a stark stone cell, at a heavy table sat a Horc, Myst guessed that he would be at least six two and two hundred twenty pounds, he looked more than solid, a hardness of body and of his face all sharp planes and cut angles. With scraggly long black hair, hazel eyes, and the oh some comon with Horcs a three day shadow of a beard, that made it abundantly clear that only part of their ancestry was elven.
The Horc stood up as they entered, “Impressive size,” Myst thought, he supposed the Horc would appeal to some women, particularly those who had a thing for violence and danger, such as Alia Marigny.
He looked at them calculatingly, a searching intelligence, “What’s this then...”
“Torman Verga,” Myst took charge of the interview, “unlike your partner I don't know you. My name is Myst... In a very real sense, I will decide if you live out this day or not.”
The Horc tensed, but Myst walked forward to the table and set across from him without fear. “So tell me everything without deception, for I assure you Mordu Reese will, as he has in the past…”
Verga involuntarily glanced at his right wall as he sat back down, Myst rightly guessed Reese would be in that cell. “What does your Lordship want to know…?”
Myst smiled coldly, “Who were you supposed to deliver the device too…?”
Verga looked Myst in the eye, “I don’t know,... Wait, wait” he called as Myst started to stand. “All, I know is…
I was to wear a hooded cloak to meet an elf women at the Shrine of Edessa when the bells chimed Sext, and give her the fulcrum.”
“How would you know her.”
Vega paused, then continued,“she would approach us, that she would have dark hair but be a Sun Elf.”
“Who told you this.”
Verga started to look away, but Myst slammed his and on the table, “don’t waste this chance Verga! My patience is short, do not try it.”
Verga openly hostile spat out, “Paras Korfu,... You know who she is.”
“She is an exceedingly good assassin, called the Whisper of Death, handmaiden to Ver Sitha the Dread Princess of Shadows…”
Verga looked around nervously, and for good reason Myst thought, Paras Korfu was good at what she did, very good, and did not tolerate those who talked of her business.
“Yes, yes her… I was just to recover the fulcrum from Reese and bring it here, I was paid well not to ask questions.”
Myst got to his feet and headed for the door, “Well Lord, was that what you wanted…” Verga asked.
Myst looked back at him, “For now. Oh, did you enjoy the hospitality of the Baron of Summerhall, I’m certain it was more pleasant that here….”
Verga for the first time looked completely stunned as Myst and Ious left, the door clicked shut behind him.
Ious looked at him questionally…
“I don’t know yet, but if what he told me is true…” Myst said softly, “then we are in the eye of a great storm, the like not seen in many generations. When we are done here my friend, I would suggest you leave this city and return home as fast as possible.”
Myst signaled for the constable to open the next cell.
Inside a slightly less tall but just as thickly muscled Horc, with darker hair and swarthy complexion, numerous scars, and yellow tinted eyes, and even heavier shadow of a beard, definitely less attractive by any standard, except maybe by his own mother's. Reese was pacing nervously, he recognised Myst immediately and froze.
Darkness has Fallen (Elf World Saga Book 2) Page 10
