by John O.
“Ora, forgive me for losing my temper there. However, I am your father and you should treat me with some respect.”
Oracion’s head remained lowered as she sobbed silently. She had had enough drama for one day and all she wanted was to retreat into herself. The Aishe realized he had mishandled the situation and was unsure how to mend things. Deciding it was something to be done at a later time, he simply patted her head before departing the room.
For the first time in Oracion’s life, she imagined herself ridding the world of her father.
Yosi Sint made his way through the crowd that had gathered in front of his father’s house. As he entered the living room, he briefly recalled Prisca’s dream as narrated by the Ispri. Was she actually executing her plans or there was someone else out there? How come there was a faint smell of Rosa Centifolia? It hadn’t been there only moments earlier. He shelved his thoughts as he regarded the Protor who stood beside his kneeling father.
“Lord HN,” the Protor began in greeting. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss.”
Yosi nodded in acknowledgement before asking, “What happened here?”
The Protor narrowed his eyes in contemplation before saying, “Your father here claims to have walked in to behold this scene just as it is now. The guards assigned to this area claimed to have seen no one go in to the house after you left. Yet there is a broken neck and an impaled head. Someone had to have done this, and I have no choice but to suspect your father. Perhaps a squabble ensued after you left and this is the end result.”
The great healer, Jorraine, simply shook his head in denial of the allegations.
“Tell me, Protor. My father is not trained in martial arts, yet he effortlessly killed his daughter, an accomplished Spyinme, with a knife to her head? He somehow managed to remain unscathed, despite this stretched out flail which indicates it was used in defense or attack by my sister? What was my mother doing all this while? Perhaps her neck was already snapped before my father began fighting his own daughter? What bothers me about your hasty analysis, Protor, is that you have simply assumed your men must have been alert and therefore no intruder entered or left this room. Aren’t you finding it quite convenient to defend your own men? Have you inquired of them on their whereabouts in the last hour? Why, it could even be one of them, no? Why have you ignored all these possibilities in order to close this case quickly?”
“Yosi, you’re berating the man harshly,” Jorraine Sint muttered without looking up. “You’re distraught. The man is hasty, true. But it is unlike you to lose your temper so easily.”
This time Jorraine looked up and wiped the tears from his eyes. He had a look about him that suggested he was disinterested in living any further. Yosi took a deep breath in order to calm his nerves. He may have acted out of character, but he owed the Protor no apology whatsoever for his apparent stupidity.
Regaining himself, he said, “It’s no fault of yours that you’re not privy to the investigation of recent murders that have a similar pattern of stealth. If you were, you wouldn’t have said what you did. Let us wait for Leade Zach Sen to arrive; it is better if one who is not directly related to the victims applies an objective analysis of the crime scene.”
27
They were already halfway through the journey on the surprisingly fast mule which bore them both. They sat such that Surita was in front, with Sido closely behind. Through this time, he had been thinking of how and when to make his proposal, but the opportunity never seemed to present itself. He particularly needed to get it over with before they arrived at the Helesp, lest Surita became so distracted that the magic of their love would be lost in matters of State. Desperate times, desperate measures, he thought as he suddenly drew in the reins of the mule. They came to a stop moments later with Surita turning back with an angry stare.
“Whatever did you do that for?” she asked.
“Nature calls. I need to ease myself by the bush,” he replied sheepishly and alighted from the mule.
Before she could retort, he quickly bolted for the nearby bush in false hurry. In truth, he was nervous and needed the privacy to be able to gather himself. He spent around five minutes going over the words he had composed and still, he did not feel comfortable enough.
“Sido! Wherever you are out there, if you don’t come out soon, I will depart without you,” Surita called out impatiently.
Sido realized it was now or never. With a sigh, he emerged from the bush and walked awkwardly towards the confused Spyinme. It was his next move that hinted Surita at what was about to occur; he knelt on one knee.
“Surita…”
“No. No. No. Oh no. Sido. Not…” Surita couldn’t find her tongue.
“Yes, Surita. I love you and that’s all there is to it. To let you go would be to send my soul to the goddess by my own hand. I, never in my entire life, thought I would find someone like you. My mother, bless her heart, always told me to find a girl who would stay at home with my children, who’d succumb to my every wish and who’s life’s mission is to make me happy. Little did she know that I had no interest in that type.”
“I have always dreamt of a brave, strong woman, always ready to speak her mind and conquer the world with me. A woman whose passion is so tangible, it will set my heart ablaze upon merely beholding her. You are that woman Surita. And what’s more, you are the most beautiful woman in this world and the one to come.”
The passion in his voice became more intense as he continued, “It was only when I met you that I realized I was dead all these years; a dead man walking. But you came and you’ve shown me what it is to live. Only a fool would find life and let it pass him by; I’m certainly no fool, though I can sometimes be an idiot.”
Surita, with watery eyes now, couldn’t help but let out a short laugh at this point.
“My idiocy will not get in the way this time. For I kneel before you with fervent passion. Oh Surita, will you grant me the best day of my life, the day you choose to be my wedded wife?” With that, he looked at her with such intensity that she felt herself melt instantly. So moved was she that she lost her balance and was suddenly lunging towards the ground.
An anxious Sido quickly dove and caught her before she hit the floor, so that she lay in his arms as he looked at her from above.
He revealed the nuptial necklace with his right hand and said, “I should have added sloppy in my description of the ideal woman, but still, my question stands. Will you marry me, Surita?”
Surita’s mind was poised to ask all the questions around how things would work, and whether it was too hasty, and all the other logical reasons that would make life a struggle if she agreed.
However, her heart conquered, for to her joyous surprise, she heard herself say, “Yes Sido, yes. I’m yours forever.”
A tear trickled down the overwhelmed man’s face as he put the necklace around her neck. With a smile that lit up her world like the sun, he replied, “Now let’s go get that Loila Even!”
Prisca regarded the array of candles in her vision; thousands of them placed on stairs which descended towards her. She took a closer look to confirm what she was seeing and indeed, her inner eyes had not failed her. The candles of Maya and Sue Sint burned no longer.
She opened her physical eyes abruptly in shock. What could have happened? Were they really dead? With haste she stood up, to the surprise of her Aisprises for they were still in prayer.
“Ispris, is anything the matter?” Aispris Cara asked.
The Ispris was still dumbstruck and could only stare vacantly.
Worried, Cara stood up and touched the Ispris. “Is everything alright? What’s going on?”
The Ispris found her voice, though her demeanor was distant. “There is something I need to confirm in person. I will be riding out immediately.”
“I am coming with you,” Cara declared.
“If you wish.”
“Me too,” another replied.
“I won’t have more than two with me. Now hurry,
we need to depart.”
“To where if I may ask?”
Prisca realized she would have to inform the girls at some point. But at the moment, she felt it wise to confirm things in person before proclaiming that they were dead.
“Cara, Jena, I haven’t asked for you to accompany me. But if you insist, you will have to do so without question. Is that alright?”
Once the two assistants recognized that it was up to them to decide, Cara dutifully replied, “We will wait for you outside. Which horse do you prefer to ride so we can have it ready?”
Zach Sen rode alongside the Sentor Ro Haus. He had been in the hall analyzing Rahel when the Sentor came in to summon him. Ro had refused to apprise him of any details, for he felt that it was not his place to break the news to the officers of the Helesp. It was only after they had ridden a distance that he had informed Zach of the murders. Zach had momentarily gasped in horror before regaining his composure as he rode. It was high time the assassin at large was caught for good, he thought to himself. The impunity with which he or she murdered well placed officers in quick succession was one that could no longer be tolerated.
The pair arrived at the crowded residence a few minutes later. Zach walked in to find the men seated around the crime scene, with everything seemingly intact. “Lord HN, I came as soon as I heard.”
“Thank you Zach. I sent for you to help investigate this crime scene. But first, allow my father to tell you what he knows.”
Jorraine Sint looked at the Leade and said, “Maya and Yosi stopped by for a visit about five hours ago. An hour ago, my wife, Maya, and I bid Yosi farewell, after which they returned to the living room while I descended into my laboratory to do some work. Even as we speak, the potion I was brewing still boils. My wife tends to clean up after me such that when I need certain things, I find that I cannot locate them. Such was the case with the Astragalus, a plant my son Yosi only sent to me two days ago. When it was time to put it into the boiling mix, I realized it was nowhere to be found. I ascended into the living room with the vial I hoped to use with the plant. That was when I came upon… upon… this. In my anguish, two men approached to see what was going on. Then came the Protor, guards and the throngs of people outside the house.”
“You heard nothing while down in the laboratory?”
“It is impossible to hear anything from there. It is sound proof.”
Zach Sen considered this for a moment before proceeding to the window and saying, “Someone else was here, as evinced by these foot prints on the window pane.”
The Protor reddened, for it was a direct indictment on the competence of his men. To his relief, Zach finished by saying, “The notion that no one saw this person makes it consistent with the murder of the Ishe and other officers in recent times.”
Yosi stood and announced, “There you have it. This case will join the long list of cases that will be leveled against this assassin once caught.”
Turning to his father, he said, “As is our family tradition, the light of day will never see us rot and decay. Will you come with me to bury them now?”
His father said nothing, apparently still in shock.
Yosi turned to the Protor and ordered, “Get me a chariot!”
Sido and Surita approached the Helesp from the rear and alighted from the mule. Poised in manner ready for battle, one could never tell that they had just shared the most memorable romantic experience of their lives. Surita narrowed her eyes as she scanned the area. She knew the outposts of the Spyinmes and as such she knew exactly what to do to circumvent them if it came to that. Not that they were her enemies, she just didn’t want anything to tip Loila off.
“It begins?” Sido asked with a shrewd smile.
“It begins,” Surita confirmed. “Now go.”
Sido planted a brief kiss before stealthily heading through the shadows to reappear at the front gate.
A few minutes later, an unarmed man appeared before the Helesp and requested to see either Leade Ron Riten or Rosi Lite.
“Who are you?” Sly asked the stranger.
“An old friend of the HN. Please inform the Leades that I have an urgent message for them.”
Sly beckoned Rensy and asked him to deliver the message. He instead would stay with the stranger to ensure the man did nothing to warrant trouble. The man regarded him with a curious smile, which unnerved the poor boy.
Shortly after, Ron Riten appeared, “Who are you and what do you seek?”
The man suddenly drew near and whispered in Ron’s ear, “If you want to know what happened to the three missing Spyinmes, I suggest you let me in and take me to your meeting room. Thereafter, summon a Spyinme named Loila Even to join us. Once she’s safely locked in with us, have another Leade, preferably this nice boy here; scout the nearby bush for a woman. Upon finding her, he should bring her to join our cozy little party.”
“You’ve said what you seek. Now who are you?” Ron replied.
“That is of no consequence, for it will not cause you to believe me anymore than you do now. Surely you already have your suspicions about this Loila woman?”
Ron regarded him for a moment before saying, “You are surrounded by highly skilled officers, I’m sure you are aware. Should you try anything stupid, you would wake with the goddess.”
“Trust me, I woke up with one this morning,” Sido jested to a confused Ron.
To Sly, Ron said, “You heard the man. Come behind us. Once you’re sure that Loila is safely seated with us in the meeting room, which I will take this man to, go and retrieve this lady he talks about.”
“I’m not sure I know who Loila is,” Sly replied.
“Have Rosi confirm it then. Whatever you do, be sure to act normal.”
With that, Ron led the man into the hall and proceeded to enter a meeting room to the right of the hall entrance. Shortly after, Ron emerged and walked towards the Conclave. Rahel Ni, who had seen them enter the room, was sitting in front of the Conclave when Ron arrived. Rahel, please check to see if Loila is within. If she is, tell her I wish to speak with her.”
Rahel nodded and did as she was bid. She entered the Conclave to find Loila reading a manuscript.
“Loila,” Rahel smiled, “I believe someone is here to see you.”
“Who?” Loila asked in wonder.
“A handsome tall man with dark hair; perhaps he’s here to court you,” Rahel winked.
“Are you sure?” Loila was suddenly apprehensive as to why her handler would openly come to look for her.
“Well, to be honest I’m not. I saw Ron escort the man into a meeting room. Shortly after, he came out and now stands in front of the door asking for you.”
Loila blanched. So Ron had finally obtained proof of her duplicity. How had he found her handler? What did this mean? If her handler had been caught, she was done for.
Rahel was about to leave when she felt the blow that incapacitated her. Loila, who was more than skilled in hand-to-hand combat, had no issues striking at a pressure point that rendered Rahel unconscious. It was a good thing they were the only ones in the room or she would not have gotten away with it. Ron was still out there and she could not afford to be caught. With haste, she forced open the office of the Spyinme leader which had a rear window that opened to the backyard of the Helesp. She immediately climbed through and lowered herself such that she hung from the pane. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for the fall.
Zach Sen helped Yosi load the bodies onto the chariot. The poor healer had chosen to remain within his home, for he could not bring himself to see his beloved as they were put in the ground. Zach didn’t know whether to offer to escort Yosi to the cemetery. At times like this, some preferred company while others preferred solitude. Yosi seemed to belonged to the latter group and as such, Zach decided to withhold his offer.
“Thank you Zach,” Yosi said when they were done with the bodies. “Please stay with my father for at least one more hour to ensure he gains himself well enough to manage on his
own. I truly appreciate this.”
Zach nodded, for he was at a loss for words. He had seen Maya just that morning and now she was already with the goddess. How shallow this life was. Why did the so-called Almighty Spirit allow criminals such as the assassin to roam free and unpunished? He shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the brooding mood that was coming over him. It would not pay for him to brood while trying to comfort the HN’s father.
“I’ll be on my way,” Yosi said as he mounted the chariot. “If you return to the Helesp before me, take charge and inform all of what happened here. Thank you again.”
“Should I cancel your remaining appointments for the day?”
“Yes. But should an emissary from the Foté province arrive, have him wait for me. It would be rude to turn him back after traveling that distance.”
With that, Yosi began his journey for the cemetery. It was a good thing he had grown up in the temple, for there, he learnt how to keep his mind blank of all thoughts. The deed ahead of him was more than unpleasant, but with a blank mind, he would easily cope. He had already convinced himself that there was nothing he could have done to prevent what had occurred. There was no telling as to whether or not he would even be alive, had he not left his family when he did. He increased his speed as he rode past the farm via the Outer Main Road and maintained that speed for about an hour before detouring unto Cemetery Street. His thoughts tried to drift towards the Ispris as he rode on, but he reined them back in to emptiness. What he hadn’t mentioned to the Protor, and what he was sure Zach Sen had also noticed, was the mild scent of Rosa Centifolia in his father’s living room. If the Ispris was the perpetrator, she would be foolish to have worn that scent to that house. His gut feeling told him it was someone else but he decided it was a matter to be thrashed out later.
