by Sam Ferguson
“Thank you, your majesty,” Mickelson said. “Come, let’s go.” The four of them returned to the ground floor, followed by a trio of the king’s personal guards to ensure their safety within the city.
Once in the lobby, Senator Mickelson broke off from the group and went to sit on a stone bench, resting his head back against the wall with a heavy hearted sigh.
“We need to talk,” Al said as he took Erik’s left elbow in a vice-like grip. “Would you excuse us, Lady Arkyn?”
Lady Arkyn nodded. “Before you do that, I wanted to tell you that I was in Senator Bracken’s house. I too was looking for evidence that he was corrupt, but I could never have guessed he was a warlock.” She glanced to either side and then continued. “If I were you, I would look in his library. I heard him conversing with someone in there. He called him ‘master’ and talked about Lord Lokton. I wasn’t able to catch the whole conversation, but I think if you go there you might find the answers you are looking for.”
“Thank you,” Erik said. “Where will you go?”
“I must return to Kuldiga Academy. I have some duties of my own to tend to.”
“Good luck,” Erik said.
“May your journey be swift and safe,” Al added. She nodded and disappeared out the door. After she was gone Al pulled Erik to the opposite side of the lobby and pulled him down onto a white marble bench. “What have you done, boy?”
Erik looked to his friend and then glanced around the lobby. He didn’t know what to say.
“You know, I once knew a boy who was so overwhelmed with curiosity that he would stand in awe in a room such as this.” Al swept his hand out, indicating the ornately appointed lobby. “This same young boy once stood in the main entrance of Valtuu Temple, utterly dumbstruck by a simple wall mural.”
Erik shrugged and shook his head. “I don’t know what you want,” he said.
“I want that boy back,” Al said. “Who appointed you judge and executioner? Who gave you the right to tear down the senate hall? Do you have any idea what you have started?”
“They were evil,” Erik said simply.
Al gruffed and folded his massive arms over his chest. “I think you let your emotions get the better of you.”
“What should I have done?” Erik said. “My father is innocent.”
“He wouldn’t have been the first innocent man to be executed by the senate.”
“So you would have let him die?” Erik shook his head and looked away from Al. “And you said I had lost my humanity.”
The words caused Al to recoil. He tugged on his beard and cleared his throat. “I think Lord Lokton would rather have died than thrust the kingdom into civil war,” Al stated.
“Bracken was not who he said he was. He was a warlock,” Erik retorted. “I know you saw it too when I took away his spell.”
Al grunted. “Yeah, I saw it, but that doesn’t explain why you tore through the others.”
Erik sighed and leaned forward, planting his elbows on his knees and his chin atop his clenched fists. “I don’t know what happened. I tried to summon my power, as I had in training. I wanted to discern enemies from friends.” Erik stopped talking and shook his head. “I don’t know how it happened.” He fidgeted with his foot, tapping his heel up and down rapidly. “I just remember being so angry with Bracken. He told me to execute my father and all I could think about was Tukai and his prophecy. Then, once I realized that Bracken was really a warlock too, I couldn’t contain myself.”
“That’s an understatement,” Al said. Erik turned to regard his friend, and for the first time since the senate chamber he saw compassion in the dwarf’s hard face. “How did you transform into a dragon?”
Erik shook his head. “I wish I knew, but like I already said, I have no idea how it happened. I know how to use Lepkin’s sword, but I had no idea I could use his dragonborn power to shift into dragon form.”
Al grunted again and tugged on his beard some more. He furrowed his bushy eyebrows and started to speak, but instead he closed his mouth and shook his head again.
“Don’t you have any ideas?” Erik asked. “You know more than anyone about the dragons, so you should know more about Lepkin’s abilities than anyone else too, right?”
“I don’t know, boy,” Al whispered. “But let’s try to keep it under control from here on out. Did you feel the book try to take hold of you whilst you were in dragon form?”
Erik thought for a moment but shook his head. “No.”
“Are you sure,” Al pressed.
Erik shrugged. “All of my senses were heightened. I could see better, hear better, and even sense movements around me. I could feel everything within my body. I felt my power amplified, but I didn’t notice any influence from the evil book.”
Al nodded slowly and smoothed out his beard. “Well, that’s a good sign I suppose.”
“Still, I won’t try to do it again,” Erik promised. “Not that I would know how even if I wanted too.”
Al placed a reassuring hand on Erik’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it all out, one step at a time.” Erik nodded.
The doors at the other end of the lobby burst open and in walked a pair of men dressed as the other servant had been in King Mathias’ room.
“We have the papers from the king,” one of the servants said once they were within a few yards of them.
“Much appreciated,” Al said. “Well, Senator Mickelson, we’ll be on our way then.”
Senator Mickelson opened his eyes and nodded at them. “May the gods watch over you and keep you safe.”
“Same to you,” Al offered. The dwarf stood up and took the proffered documents from the servant and motioned for Erik to follow him. Erik did so, and two of the king’s guards fell into step behind them on their way out.
Once outside, Erik caught sight of Braun sticking close to a building across the way from them. He didn’t say anything, or make any overt gestures, but when Braun locked gazes with Erik he knew they needed to talk.
“Something’s wrong,” Erik said. He nudged Al’s shoulder and pointed with his chin to Braun.
“Aye, I feel it too,” Al agreed. “Let’s go see what he needs.”
The two of them asked the guards to wait for a moment as they walked over to meet Braun. “What is it Braun?” Erik asked. Braun looked up to Erik with red, bloodshot eyes. His shoulders hung weakly and his chin quivered slightly. Erik’s heart sank. He sensed the cause of Braun’s sadness before the large man opened his mouth.
“Master Lepkin…” Braun’s voice caught in his throat. “My master is dead.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“I should return home, with Braun,” Erik said.
Al looked over at Braun, still waiting next to the king’s guards while he and Erik talked privately. “I understand how you feel, Erik, but we have to be careful in how we respond.”
“My father has been killed in the streets, like a dog, and you want me to stay here?”
Al backhanded Erik in the gut. “No one knows you are Erik, you have to act as Lepkin would act.”
“Lepkin would go to my home and ensure my family was safe,” Erik growled through Al’s hand.
“No!” Al whispered harshly. “He would stay here to uncover the assassin and help the king. The two objectives are linked. Think about it, if Bracken sent all of those Blacktongues after us to prevent us from getting to the tribunal, doesn’t logic suggest that he might have also hired assassins to take care of your father if the tribunal didn’t go the way he wanted?”
“I suppose,” Erik said. “But if there are assassins here, then what is to stop them from getting to my home?”
Al clenched his jaw tightly and glared into Erik’s eyes. “Listen to me,” Al instructed. “If Lepkin were here, he would stay because whoever killed your father likely did so on orders from Bracken, and the best way to protect your home would be to uncover who Bracken was working with.” Al glanced around to ensure no one saw them arguing. “You and Braun should st
ay here and investigate your father’s murder. Call it poetic justice. You can catch and dispose of his killer.”
Erik straightened up. “You would approve of me avenging his death like that?” Erik asked.
“It might be the only way to convince you to stay,” Al said with a shrug. “Besides, I already said that I am guessing it was a Blacktongue, and I never lose sleep over a dead Blacktongue.”
Erik nodded his head. “Alright, I’ll stay, but after this is finished I will accompany Braun to my home and ensure my mother is safe.”
Al nodded. “Agreed, but remember that you are here at the king’s pleasure. You will need to stay close to him if he desires you to do so.”
“Alright,” Erik said. “Before we depart for Lokton manor, we will speak with the king and make sure he grants us leave.”
Al nodded appreciatively. “That sounds more reasonable. Remember, you have to try to control yourself. We can’t have any more episodes like what happened at the senate chamber.”
“Trust me,” Erik said. “If I knew how to transform, I already would have.”
Al shot Erik a curious look, then shrugged it off. “Just try to maintain control.” Al slapped Erik’s elbow. “I will be as quick as I can with my brother, and then I will head straight for Valtuu Temple. Don’t dawdle.”
Erik nodded. The two of them walked back to Braun. The mighty man looked up expectantly.
“What’s the plan?” he asked.
“You and I will remain here to search for Lord Lokton’s murderer,” Erik said.
“Where do we start?” Braun asked skeptically. “I didn’t see anyone, and the crossbow bolt is fairly ordinary. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. Perhaps it would be better for me to return to Lokton Manor and resume my duties there?”
Erik held up a hand, fighting the urge to tell Braun who he really was. “I think the murder may be linked to Senator Bracken.”
Al cut in. “You will start at Senator Bracken’s house. See if there are any clues as to who he may have hired. I fear it may be possible that he employed the services of a Blacktongue.”
“No Blacktongue would ever make it into our city,” one of the king’s guards announced curtly. “Our guards are better than that.”
“No doubt,” Al said. “But, Blacktongue’s aren’t new to the game. I doubt they would come through the gates.”
The guard bristled and turned away.
“Where do you go?” Braun asked Al.
“I have some business with my brother,” Al said.
“Come, let’s not waste any more time,” Erik said. “The longer we wait the colder the trail will become.” Erik turned and addressed one of the king’s guards. “Do you know the way to Senator Bracken’s home?”
“I know the way,” the man replied.
“Then let’s go.”
“Be careful,” Al cautioned.
Erik nodded and motioned for Braun to follow him. So many thoughts were running through his head. He kept replaying the events over and over in his mind. Perhaps if his father had stayed with him then he would still be alive. Or maybe if Erik had arrived to Drakai Glazei a day earlier, for the start of the tribunal, then the whole battle could have been avoided. His father’s face haunted his mind.
He had shaken his father’s hand, but he was unable to tell him who he really was, or tell him that he loved him. Now he was gone, and he would not see him again in this life. The empty, nagging knot returned to his stomach and gave birth to a stone-like lump in his throat. He started to stumble, but a mighty hand caught hold of his arm and steadied him.
“Are you alright, Master Lepkin?” Braun asked.
Erik shook his head. “No, I am not,” he said truthfully.
The king’s guard paused, watching the two of them curiously. “Do you want to go to Senator Bracken’s house or not?” the man asked.
“Of course,” Erik said. “It’s nothing, just an old wound acting up.” Erik lightly touched his shoulder, hoping they would buy the excuse. If they doubted him, they didn’t show it. The two pushed on ahead of him. Erik delayed for a moment, trying to regain his resolve. At last he latched upon his anger. He thought of the person who murdered his father. He imagined a leather-clad tattooed Blacktongue stalking his father from the shadows and attacking from behind with a crossbow. Erik seized upon his hatred for that person and used it to push out his sorrow. He knew it was a tactic that Lepkin would not approve of, but for the moment, it would satisfy his purpose. “There will be time for sorrow later,” Erik told himself. “Now it is time for the sword.”
Braun stopped suddenly and waited for Erik to catch up. “I haven’t known the great Master Lepkin to show pain,” he said.
Erik shrugged it off. And just followed after the king’s guard. He scanned the streets as they became wider and the rows of shops and guildhalls gave way to large estates and manors. Short, wooden picket fences gave way to tall, wrought iron privacy fences backed by thick green hedges. Erik might have been mesmerized by the white and gray marble pillars supporting the great, sweeping porches if it weren’t for the fact that he knew these houses belonged to the senators. The opulence and grandeur served only as a reminder of the evil greed Erik had found within the senate chamber.
“We’ll turn here.” Erik turned his attention back to the king’s guard.
“We might want to consider going in the back,” Braun put in quickly, pointing down the road on their left.
Erik looked and saw a mob of people gathering and making their way down the road toward them. He could hear them shouting and yelling. He could see some carrying pitchforks and shovels. A couple of city guards came into view, arriving from a side street just a few yards ahead of the mob. Erik wasn’t sure who started it, but in an instant the mob surged forward, swallowing the two men in the crushing, angry wave.
“I have to go for help, if we don’t stop this it can spell disaster,” the king’s guard said.
“Go, we can handle ourselves,” Braun replied.
“Two houses down,” the king’s guard shouted over his shoulder as he started sprinting away.
Erik and Braun ducked away, hopping a large iron fence and crossing the well-manicured grass and flowers surrounding the marble and granite building. An old, lazy yellow dog raised its head off the grass and gave a half-hearted bark as they skirted by him and to the next fence. A medium-sized black dog appeared from around the house, barking wildly and charging them. The two wasted no time getting to the next yard.
Erik vaulted over the cement partition, barely scanning the ground below before landing next to a large rose bush. A thorn snagged the bottom hem of his tunic, but he paid it no mind. Braun landed a foot to Erik’s right. The dog jumped onto the fence behind them, scratching and barking at the cement. Erik sighed in relief and Braun offered a half smile. Then the large man pointed to the back door.
“Let’s go have a look around,” Braun said.
Erik nodded his agreement. The two stalked up to the white marble steps that led up the ornately appointed slate porch. Gargoyles and dragons peered down at the two of them from the stained glass windows. A shadow moved behind on the other side of the colored glass. Braun and Erik each reached for their weapons.
One of the great double doors opened abruptly and a large man with a hawkish snout and fat lips stood in the doorway staring down his nose at them with an eyebrow arched so far that it almost touched his hairline.
“Intruders shall not be tolerated,” the man said as his hands went for a flanged mace hanging from his belt.
Braun went to strike but Erik put a hand on the man’s shoulder and stopped him. “Your master is dead, and we are here upon King Mathias’ orders to investigate possible leads.”
The guard peered at Erik for a moment before slowly replacing his mace. “When did he die?” he asked.
“Earlier today,” Erik replied.
“And why should I believe you?”
“Surely you recognize me?” Erik added.
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The man nodded. “I recognize you,” the guard said. “But, if you are here on official business, then why are you skulking about the back door like a thief?”
“Take a look out the front door and you will see an angry mob. We thought it best to avoid that,” Erik said.
The guard stood there, shifting his gaze from Erik to Braun. “I don’t know you,” he said.
“He is assisting me,” Erik said. “His name is Braun, he serves House Lokton.”
The guard nodded. “And Senator Bracken is truly dead?”
“Yes,” Erik replied.
The guard narrowed his eyes on Erik. “Did you see his body with your own eyes?”
Erik sensed something in the man’s tone, an eagerness that piqued Erik’s curiosity. He scanned the man with his power, discerning the guard’s intentions. How he wished he could decipher auras the way that Marlin could. It would be easier for him if he could use a man’s energy to learn more about them. However, his own power was not without merit, notwithstanding his elementary understanding of his gift. His scan told him that this man was not a foe, and might even be here against his will. He couldn’t be sure, but he decided to take a chance.
“Would that make you happy?” Erik asked.
The guard bristled and cocked his head back. “N-no, why would you ask that?”
Erik sensed the man was lying. He smiled warmly and nodded his head. “You have no need to fear me. I know that your master was involved in the dark arts,” Erik said.
The guard’s shoulders tensed.
“We also know that he wasn’t really Senator Bracken,” Braun put in, catching on to Erik’s direction.
“You saw his body?” the guard asked again.
Erik leaned in. “I ended his life once I discovered his true identity and his treachery.”
The guard looked to Braun, who nodded and affirmed the claim. A smile of relief washed over the guard’s face and his shoulders fell slack as he exhaled. He looked to Erik as though a heavy boulder had just rolled off of his back. “That is something I have been waiting to hear for a very long time,” the guard said. He stuck out his right hand. “My name is Gildrin, I am Senator Bracken’s steward.” A frown flashed across his face. “I was away on business when my true master was slain by that wretched warlock. When I returned, I noticed the differences and sensed the man who took his place was only an imposter.”
