Knives of Bastion (An Empire Falls Book 2)

by Harry Leighton

  “What happened to your leg?” Daeholf said.

  “Mace. Or, club I suppose,” Erik said. “I’m a lot more mobile now than I’ve been for a while though.”

  “Kellan mentioned that there had been trouble,” Zedek said.

  “We’ve had a number of visits from people demanding money,” Erik confirmed.

  “And it got violent, we see,” Trimas said.

  “No wasn’t something they wanted to hear,” Erik said.

  “You’d better tell us the whole story,” Daeholf said.

  “Come through to the back and sit down,” Erik said, waving in the direction of the back of the shop. The boarding made the light dim but they could make out another door. The butcher walked slowly towards it.

  “Here, let me,” Trimas said, stepping past him and opening the door.

  “Thank you,” Erik said. He led them slowly into the room at the back which had a table and chairs. He settled himself down into one with a grimace before motioning to the others to do likewise.

  “It started at the end of the summer,” Erik said. “Some new people seem to have moved into town and rather than setting up business themselves, have decided to take it from others. Or perhaps that was their business.”

  “We’ve met the like,” Trimas said.

  “They’ve managed to stay just below the notice of the watch. There’s been a lot going on in the city lately. There’s been more gang violence than we’ve seen for a while. And there’s been a series of murders that really seem to have caught people’s attention. All this has made the watch busy, and some thugs roughing up a few shopkeepers for money is a bit further down the list than normal.”

  “Series of murders?” Zedek said.

  “That’s not why we’re here,” Daeholf said. He paused. “Is it?” he said after a moment to the butcher.

  “No, we’ve not had anything to do with the Night Walker,” Erik said with a shudder.

  “Night Walker?” Trimas said. “He’s got a name?”

  “That’s about all,” Erik said. “No one has seen him. But he’s killed again and again.”

  “How many dead?” Daeholf said despite himself.

  “Five that we know of so far. I think,” Erik said.

  “Any pattern?” Zedek said.

  “You’ll have to ask the watch,” Erik said. “I’m just going on rumours. And they’re grisly. Men hacked apart and left in the street.”

  “I assume ‘Night Walker’ because he does it at night then,” Trimas said.

  “So we hear,” Erik said.

  “But that doesn’t have anything to do with the protection racket?” Daeholf said.

  “God, I hope not,” Erik said. “I have a family to think about. If we were in that sort of danger we’d be out of here.”

  “You’re in danger anyway,” Trimas said, indicating Erik’s leg. “A message?”

  “An encouragement,” Erik said. “But I’m coming to that.”

  “We interrupted,” Zedek said. “Our apologies.”

  “You’re here to help,” Erik said, “and there’s a lot going on. Where was I?”

  “The watch have it as a low priority,” Trimas said.

  “Yes, exactly. So the gang have been able to get away with it. Demanding money. Roughing up shopkeepers.”

  “So there’s more hurt?” Daeholf said.

  “Not so far,” Erik said. “I’m just the first to have said no when they asked for money.”

  “Why did you say no?” Trimas said. “Like you said, you have a family.”

  “I could say it was the principal,” Erik said. “But truth be told, not all of the money here was mine and I didn’t want them to catch wind of it.”

  “Not all of it?” Zedek said.

  “You know who we all work for,” Erik said.

  “Indeed,” Trimas said. “Still a risk.”

  “Indeed. Though I can’t say I was expecting the beating. They hadn’t gone that far with anyone else before. I suppose someone has to be first,” Erik said.

  “So what happened then?” Daeholf said.

  “I hid Karina’s money and paid them,” Erik said.

  “And they left you alone?” Zedek said.

  “Hardly. That’s why you’re here,” Erik said. “They talked about making a proper example. As I’d disrespected them. They smashed up the shop, hence the boarding. I was in no state to stop them. And since I’m not trading I can’t afford to pay…”

  “With your own money, anyway,” Trimas finished.

  “So why didn’t Karina offer to sort it out for you?” Daeholf said.

  “She did. I thought that was why you were here?” Erik said, looking confused.

  “Ah,” Trimas said.

  “She said she was sending in experts in this area,” Erik said, now doubtful.

  “That’s one way of putting it,” Zedek said.

  “So you’ll help us then?” Erik said. There was a hint of trepidation in his voice.

  “Of course. Like you said, that’s why we’re here,” Daeholf said.

  “Kellan said you’d be moving in? It’ll be a bit cramped but I think we can fit as long as you don’t all mind sharing my son’s room,” Erik said.

  “Of course he did. And that’ll be fine,” Trimas said.

  *****

  Elena walked into the watchhouse feeling conflicted. On the one hand, she was excited to get into this case and prove what she could do. On the other hand, she was prepared for the frosty reception she was sure to get.

  “Hello,” she said to the guard manning the door, “can you point me to where Rast is please?”

  The guard smiled, the unpleasant, we’re-going-to-make-your-life-hell smile she received regularly from her so-called colleagues, and looked at her carefully prepared uniform with contempt. “He’s gone.”

  “Already?”

  “Yeah, well, when you’ve just been retired and replaced by Sergeant Elena, you kind of go into hiding.” Now he was grinning.

  “Did he leave his records?”

  “On his desk.”

  “Which is where?”

  “That dark corner. Perfect for you to crawl back into.”

  She nodded, wondering exactly how quickly they’d sack her if she punched this man, and walked through the room to a desk.

  It had clearly just been cleaned out by the previous owner, but there should still be files about this case. On the top was a pile of parchment held down by an empty candlestick. So her predecessor had liked night work and, judging by the very thin pile, not got very far.

  “Elena,” a voice said from behind her, and she turned to find a bulky man with a grey beard and eyebrows that seemed to be taking over his face.

  “Captain?”

  “Yes, that’s me. I see you have found Rast’s bequest. He was a good man, working on something no one could solve. That’s your future, Elena, you won’t solve this either.”

  Thanks for the confidence. “The parchment here, is that everything he had gathered?”

  “Yes. The top sheet is a list of the victims.”

  “Good, with locations?”

  “Indeed.”

  “Okay, how many witnesses are we dealing with?”

  “None.”

  “None at all?”

  “Nope.”

  “Then what descriptions do we have of the killer?”

  “None.”

  “Short. Tall. Thin. Fat. Male. Female.”

  “Nothing there either.”

  “Okay, let me try the opposite, what do we know?”

  “Someone is ripping people up. Ripping men, ripping women, leaving their corpses all over the city. We know who they were, but that’s it.”

  “Sounds very … thin.”

  “Rast was a good man. He couldn’t solve this. You won’t either. But you can use his desk. Try not to get yourself killed.” The captain turned and walked away.

  Elena had felt determined to catch this killer, and still felt the trust of t
he Thieftaker burning within her. Now that was only enhanced as she determined to prove all these people wrong.

  First things first, sit down and read the parchment.

  A series of killings, with descriptions of the wounds that verged on the pornographic. She’d have to go speak to the coroners about them, but there didn’t seem to be much rush given the detail she had here. A good thing she had one of the strongest stomachs in the guard.

  And that was it. Just as the captain had said. Names. Locations. Jobs. Wounds. If Rast had known anything else, it had walked out with him. Maybe she should visit him and speak in person.

  Yes, that was a good idea. But first, an attempt at doing her own work.

  She looked at the list and saw a location she hadn’t been to, and resolved to take a look.

  She was soon stepping out into a light rain shower, and she walked, pleased to have it hitting her head, filtering through her hair. It made her think, think of what she could do.

  She might not have been to this place, but she knew the rough area, and as she turned a corner she met Storn.

  “Hello,” he said politely and kept walking.

  “Wait a moment, are you busy?”

  “Aren’t we always,” and he smiled, then dropped it. “No.”

  “Can you show me where this square is?”

  “Which – oh, yeah, it’s not a square but a small gap left off an alley that got comically named.”

  “I’m in charge of finding the killer…”

  “Yeah, I heard. We all heard. Er, alright, I’ll show you where it is.”

  Soon they were walking down a narrow alley.

  “This looks the perfect spot to lead someone if you were going to kill them,” Elena concluded. “Out of the way of the public.”

  “Never thought of it like that,” Storn replied.

  “So there are two entrances to this square?”

  “Yes. And some nights I patrol this area and come down them.”

  “Ah, ah! So we can narrow the killing down to a small time, between two patrols.”

  “Yeah. Except there’s no sun in the sky, so no one really knows the time. I just use my gut to know where I’m supposed to be, and this killing was in the night.”

  “Sounds like you paid attention to this case.”

  “I walk past the spot someone died. I think about it a lot.”

  “Alright. This it?” They entered a small and not entirely square space. A dark stain was still visible on the ground.

  “Yeah. This is it.”

  “Alright, what have we got. You can’t see street entrance, which is handy, so we’re dealing with someone who knows the city and knows these little spots. So probably not a newcomer. Someone with experience. And these buildings back onto places. Has anyone questioned the people inside if they heard anything?”

  “I don’t know. Rast was good. But I don’t think he realised any of what you just said.”

  “Okay. Are you willing to come with me while I interview them?”

  “To be honest, Sergeant, I’ve got to be getting back.”

  She heard the apology in his voice. He didn’t have to get back, he just didn’t want to be seen spending time with the pariah on a case everyone but her, the Thief Taker and her own brother expected her to fail.

  She would prove them wrong.

  Oh she would.

  *****

  “Does this seem a bit fishy to either of you?” Trimas said quietly as they walked away from the butcher’s shop.

  “We are by the sea,” Zedek said. Trimas shook his head.

  “You were reaching a bit there,” Daeholf confirmed.

  “I’ll work on it,” Zedek said.

  “Do. I think,” Trimas said.

  “You have a point though,” Daeholf said. “Why does Karina need us to fix this for her? From the look of him, I’d hazard a guess that our host has seen a fight or two in the past and I can’t imagine they’re the only people she’s got here.”

  “Out host also seems to have taken a bit of a beating,” Trimas said.

  “And judging by the recently boarded-up shop, the evidence lends credence to whatever trouble they are actually in getting worse,” Zedek pointed out.

  “Kellan is also suspicious by his absence,” Daeholf said.

  “I’m not missing him,” Trimas said.

  “We’re getting that,” Zedek said.

  “Still, like you alluded to, there’s more to this than meets the eye,” Daeholf said, looking back at the shop as they walked away.

  “I’m inclined to believe the bit about the protection racket though,” Trimas said. “And that is something we can help with even if it turns out there is another layer to it.”

  “So you’re saying just take it at face value for the time being and keep our eyes open?” Zedek said.

  “In essence,” Trimas said.

  “We can do that,” Daeholf said. “Though I’m surprised that Karina isn’t using whatever muscle she has in the city to get it sorted herself.”

  “Maybe that means us. Maybe we’re her muscle in the city now,” Zedek said.

  “That’s an uncomfortable thought,” Trimas said. “On more than one level.”

  “More than one level?” Zedek said.

  “No backup for one,” Daeholf said.

  “Agreed,” Trimas said. “And secondly, it worries me just how much of a hold she really has over us now. The idea of working for her still makes me feel uncomfortable.”

  “I think that goes for all of us,” Zedek said.

  “That raises an interesting point though,” Daeholf said.

  “Oh?” Trimas said.

  “If we’re the muscle now, either she’s only just moving in or whoever was here previously is dead and we’re expendable whilst she finds out what happens,” Daeholf said.

  “That is an unhappy thought,” Trimas said, frowning. “But even I don’t think she’s that ruthless. Yet, anyway.”

  “Let’s hope not,” Zedek said.

  “And keep our eyes open,” Daeholf said.

  “Let’s look at the idea that she might be just moving in,” Zedek said.

  “Okay…” Trimas said, looking at him.

  “Why now is my question,” Zedek said.

  “Money?” Daeholf said.

  “The city does appear richer now than I remember it being,” Trimas said, musing. “If you were on the up, it might be the place to be.”

  “But why not in force then?” Daeholf said.

  “At the limit of her reach?” Trimas said. “She’s certainly got a long way to go to catch up to the locals from the look of it.”

  “Which, as you suggested before, could have its disadvantages,” Zedek said.

  “We’re probably on our own,” Daeholf said.

  “If we weren’t in hiding, I’d be having second thoughts about being here,” Trimas said.

  “Let’s give her the benefit of the doubt for now,” Daeholf said. “She has been useful to us so far.”

  “Can’t argue with that,” Trimas said.

  “So what are we going to do then?” Zedek said.

  “Ask around,” Daeholf said.

  “What are we going to ask though? You both know we’re hardly trained in these sorts of things,” Zedek said.

  “How do you mean?” Trimas said. “We tracked Marlen okay.”

  “We had talented help with that one,” Zedek said.

  “They would be useful here,” Daeholf acknowledged.

  “We’ll be fine,” Trimas said. “We managed before, we’ll manage now.”

  “So, once again, what do we ask? We can’t just knock on people’s doors asking if they’re having trouble with people demanding protection money,” Zedek said.

  “Actually, I think we can,” Trimas said.

  “You don’t think they’ll just think it’s the gang again after more money?” Zedek said.

  “I think we start a street or two away,” Daeholf said. “And maybe we ask a little
more subtly than just ‘are you having trouble with a gang?’”

  “We pose as businessmen?” Trimas said.

  “We don’t look local,” Zedek protested.

  “It’s a port, there’s lots of travellers,” Daeholf said. “We can probably say we’re thinking of setting up some sort of business in the area, can you give us some advice. That sort of thing.”

  “You want to go and ask a baker for advice on setting up a bakery in the area?” Zedek said. “I can’t see that going well.”

  “Obviously not. But maybe some sort of import–export type thing, maybe selling them things that they might be able to use. Like we’ve got a line on some spices that might be useful for his breads, that sort of thing,” Trimas said. “I’ve seen plenty of spice merchants at work. We can pull off that sort of disguise.”

  “That might work,” Zedek said, nodding as he listened. “We’re going to need premises though,” he added.

  “There’s a boarded-up shop in the area…” Daeholf said.

  “Hmm,” Trimas said. “Maybe we can say that we’ve heard someone is selling up, is there anything we need to know.”

  “It’s a workable starter plan,” Zedek said. “Though I can always play the Bounty Hunter card if we get nowhere.”

  “Which will instantly ruin our story,” Daeholf said.

  “Then I’ll be careful about it,” Zedek said.

  “Let’s call that plan B,” Trimas said.

  “Spices isn’t going to work,” Daeholf said, thinking.

  “Oh?” Trimas said. “I was quite pleased with that.”

  “It’s a great idea. Except for one thing,” Daeholf said.

  “Do tell…?” Zedek said.

  “It’s going to look a little odd if we go back to the butcher’s shop and move in before they have gone. Especially if, as he suggested, he’s going to start trading again.”

  “He was rattled and he didn’t seem sure. He was going to discuss it with the family,” Trimas protested.

  “And if they decide they are going to?” Daeholf said.

  “Fine. Apprentice butchers it is then. Though you realise we know absolutely nothing about butchery unless you’ve had a past career you’ve not mentioned?” Trimas said.

  “We’ll be fine,” Daeholf said. “How hard can it be?”

  “It’s fine,” Zedek said, patting the sheath across his back. “We always have plan B.”