by Tony Roberts
The second was faster and more skilled, and therefore much more dangerous. Luckily the big man was more interested in killing than actually working as a team, and got in the way. Vosgaris manoevered himself so that he faced the big man with his comrade blocked. Another huge slash designed to part him from his head was blocked. Vosgaris jumped two paces to his left and the second man now saw his chance and came at him, cutting down from over his right shoulder.
The commander met it above his head, his hilt higher than the blade, so that the blow slid off to the left. Vosgaris was already in a position to strike at the other man, and did so, the sword arcing in under the big man’s upraised arm into his right pectoral and slicing through the padded jacket and chain hauberk below. Spinning to give impetus to the blow, Vosgaris turned quickly, going down low.
The next blow from the second man passed over his head and Vosgaris completed his circle and rose, his blade dripping blood. The big man was staggering away, clutching his wound, and his sword clattered to the stone surface of the road. The second man gritted his teeth and hacked down but Vosgaris met it in front of his face and they stood there, straining, trying to push the other back.
He wasn’t interested in a fair fight or playing by any noble rule, and so Vosgaris jerked his knife free from its sheath and slammed the blade into the man’s mouth, the point emerging through the back of his neck. Hauling the dagger free he allowed the man to collapse in the middle of the road and strode after the injured first. He caught up with him and threw him to the ground and stood over him, the tip of his sword at the man’s throat.
“Who sent you?” he demanded. The big man was grievously wounded, blood soaking the front of his tunic. He said nothing. Vosgaris leaned a little on his sword, aware that people were emerging onto the street from their houses. The sound of swords clashing carried a long way at night. “I asked you a question you kroll. Answer it!”
The big man spat up at him, narrowly missing him. Vosgaris leaned back. The man was probably going to die, and killing him in cold blood in front of witnesses was not a good idea. Kastanian society came down hard on murder, even if it was against felons. The price of civilisation. “They’ll probably kill you anyway – good riddance to you.”
“We’ll get you eventually, Koros scum!” the man gasped and rolled to his left and stumbled to his feet.
Vosgaris watched thoughtfully as the man weaved himself past a few startled onlookers and vanished into a side street, bouncing off the corner. He would be dead through loss of blood in a short while. He wiped his two blades and replaced them and turned to face the group of people, including Demtro, who had gathered around the fallen man. “Alright, it’s over,” he said. “An attempted murder that failed. You can go back to your homes.”
Demtro looked appalled. “Outside my home! Is nothing sacred?”
Vosgaris grunted. “Not when my men have been replaced. Those poor souls were probably murdered.” He looked round and spotted a narrow alleyway almost opposite, and looked into it. Down the far end there were two shapeless bundles. He shook his head sadly. Killed in the line of duty, murdered by traitors. Shame they didn’t die more honourably in battle. Still, they would be remembered and their loved ones given a pension. The matter remained as to who it was who was responsible for the attack. He looked at Demtro. “The one I let go said they’d get me eventually.”
“Leave that to me to find out – that’s my territory,” Demtro said. “I’ll find out and give you the names and addresses.”
“Go carefully, my friend – these people have no qualms about going straight for the throat.”
“I’ve got people who are also versed in that ability. Now go home and stay safe.”
“I’ll tell the militia to tidy this carrion up, and to retrieve the two men in the alleyway.”
He made his way back to the governor’s residence, making sure he stayed in the middle of the streets, his eyes wary and watchful. If someone wanted to take him out with a bow then there would be little he could do. Arriving at the residence he gave the location of the bodies to clear up to the duty officer.
The next morning after a troubled night and little sleep, and after a hurried breakfast, he barged into the governor’s office. Evas was drinking his first klee of the day.
“Do you have any manners, Commander?” Evas complained.
“Shut up,” Vosgaris snapped and stood before him. “Last night I was nearly murdered. My two guards were. I only escaped thanks to the fact I’m adept with the blade. One of the killers escaped.”
“What? Where was this?”
Vosgaris paced up and down. “In a main street, right under the lamps. They were quite confident. Somebody does not want me here, Governor. Can you advise me of all known organised criminal gangs in Niake?”
“Ah, I’m not aware there are any.”
Vosgaris reached out and hauled Evas out of his chair, his fist bunching the governor’s collar and tunic top. “Now listen to me you utterly feckless nobody, its time you stopped wasting everyone’s time and started acting as you should. I’ve already taken away your military duties and responsibilities, and if you don’t watch yourself I’ll take the civil ones, too. Emperor Astiras wants Bathenia to become a bulwark against foreign aggression which is why I’m here, and yet I find that you’re not even capable of sorting out internal matters. There are criminals in this city, they do operate, they are operating. Now, names.” He threw the red-faced and choking man into his seat.
Evas massaged his throat and tried to straighten his crumpled attire. His advisor frowned. “That is assault,” he started. He got no further as Vosgaris’ fist smashed into his mouth, sending him flying back onto the rug. He lay there, dazed, clutching his bleeding lips.
“No, that is assault,” Vosgaris corrected him. “And more’s available where that came from. Just keep out of this unless I speak to you.” He looked at Evas. “Well? Or do I accept your resignation as Governor of Bathenia?”
“You cannot remove me, Commander,” Evas croaked, “only the emperor may do so. I have written to him, by the way, and I am sure he’ll intervene shortly on my behalf and arrange for your removal.”
“A sword cuts both ways, Governor. Be mindful that you don’t find you’ve grasped a weapon by the blade and not the hilt. So – Governor,” he sneered at the title, “are you going to give me the names of known criminals here or not?”
“No.” He raised a hasty hand to forestall any violence. “The reason is that you would no doubt use your direct methods on innocent people.”
“Innocent? Innocent? How can a criminal be innocent?” Vosgaris glared at the sweating governor.
Evas spread his hands. “Innocent of the attempted murder – if indeed there was one. Oh, no doubt you are speaking the truth,” he added hastily seeing the commander’s expression. “But I can only take action if someone is clearly guilty of a crime, and if not, then it is unjust to arrest them.”
“You sound like a lawyer,” Vosgaris snapped, “a criminal’s friend. Whose side are you on, anyway?”
“What do you mean?”
“What I mean, Governor, is who exactly are you working for? You’re certainly not helping suppress crime in this city, and you definitely are not working in any way to support the western defences against the Tybar.”
“But the Tybar and the empire are at peace!”
“You utter moron!” Vosgaris shouted. “Does being at peace make them our friends? They’re waiting their turn to invade us again, and if you run down the military forces here in the meantime then they’ll come walking in and take Bathenia against no opposition at all! I’m utterly staggered by your idiotic simplistic frame of mind. If you want peace then prepare for war. People will only leave us alone if we are stronger than them. You’re fast becoming a liability. The emperor may well appoint me governor if you continue on in this brainless manner. Do you understand?”
The advisor stumbled unsteadily to his feet, blood seeping through his finge
rs, and he excused himself. Evas said nothing, he merely remained staring up at Vosgaris blankly.
The commander took a deep breath. “My arrival has certainly upset someone here. You for one. Now someone wants me dead. Who else could it be other than yourself? Have you approached one of these non-existent criminal gangs to carry out a murder on your behalf?”
Evas waved both hands in alarm. “No, no no! I’d never do anything like that! There are other ways…..”
As he tailed off Vosgaris smiled cynically. “To deal with me, yes I’m aware of that. Going behind my back and squealing to the emperor or whoever. Let me tell you how you’re viewed by the palace. They don’t like you. They would rather someone of action be here. Perhaps, Governor, Astiras Koros has appointed me here to see how I handle affairs in the military sphere, and if I do a decent enough job, could decide to have you removed and instal me in your place. If I am murdered, then he’ll certainly look at you and ask how it was you allowed this to happen. I doubt you would last longer than ten days after my death.”
Evas muttered to himself, wringing his hands. “But how can I take action if I don’t know who is responsible?”
“Then you pull any known associates of any criminal in and question them. Thoroughly!”
“But innocents could be affected!”
“That’s a favourite word – and excuse –of yours, isn’t it? Innocents. Innocent of what? Who is innocent? No adult, for sure. Everyone has a crime of some sort hidden away up here,” and he tapped his head. He had a pang in his heart at that moment, but suppressed it. “We know what crimes you are guilty of, so you’re no innocent, that’s a fact. Anyone could level any accusation at anyone, and you more than most because trying to stop criminals doing anything is a crime in your eyes. Don’t you understand that doing nothing is an equal crime, especially if you’re in a position of responsibility, being responsible to the people of this city. Doing nothing means you’re letting them down, and the only people who prosper are the very same criminal gangs who you insist do not exist. You are, in short, the best ally any criminal or outlaw in Niake could have. They rely on you to allow them a free hand, and this is what you have done. And why? All because you are too frightened to take any action just in case you may be taking it against an innocent.”
Vosgaris sneered down at Evas. “Well, I’ve been nearly murdered last night, and two of my men were. I suppose they fell onto their swords in despair, did they? Do your job and investigate it. Or don’t and believe it’s a figment of my imagination. Meanwhile I’m going to have to write to two families who are now without their fathers, or husbands. But don’t worry, it never happened because crime doesn’t exist in Niake.” He left, fuming.
Evas put his head in his hands.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
The inquest was instant and thorough, and Thetos’ investigations soon unearthed a culprit. One of the militia soldiers had been seen sneaking away with a bundle of papers just before light when he was supposed to have been on duty in the grounds. He had been spotted by another guard who had wandered away from his post wanting to relieve himself and had been amongst some bushes when he saw his fellow guard making his way from the open window.
He hadn’t thought any more of it until the questioning had begun, and those on duty had been really extensively grilled. The guard had then volunteered what he had seen, to get him out of a possible telling off for deserting his post.
The man who had taken the papers had not been found; it appeared he had passed through the main gates quite brazenly, opening them himself and joking with the other guards that he was taking toilet paper home.
The question of who had opened the window from the inside remained, as this man had not been inside the main residence all day and Argan had insisted all windows had been shut when he had turned in for the night. That meant the three guard rosters who had been on duty at the door were suspect, and they were taken to separate rooms and then sent for one by one by the governor under guard with Kerrin leading the squad.
The two guards on the third watch, the one before dawn, stated they had not been in the room but their duty officer, a sub-commander Blek, had gone in for a few moments to check on the room. He had been just a few moments and had come back out saying all was well and that the guards were not to allow anyone in.
Thetos looked at Argan. “Blek. That scrawny pimp. I’ve never liked him, shifty eyes, false smile.” He waved his hook at Kerrin. “Get the guards to fetch him here now.”
“Sir – he’ll be sleeping,” one of the guards pointed out.
“Drag the shit here in his bed clothes. No delay, he’s under arrest.”
Blek was brought in protesting loudly, held securely by two guards, dressed in shabby woollen underclothing. “This is an outrage, Governor! I demand an apology!”
“After I find out what you did in the hall this morning when you were on duty.” Thetos pointed to Metila, then his hook box. She smiled evilly and brought the flat box over to him, and he carefully unfastened the hook he had in, and then went over choosing a replacement very carefully. Blek watched, his eyes wide and bulging.
Argan shiften uncomfortably. “Governor – what are you going to do? This man needs to tell us the truth.”
Thetos nodded absently and picked up his biggest hook. “I can gut a bovine with this beauty,” he said in a conversational manner, and clicked it home. “Now, Sub-Commander, shall we continue our discussion? What did you do, and why?”
“I-I did nothing! I was doing my rounds as per my orders!”
Thetos tutted and got out of his chair. He walked up to the held man and ran the thick metal of his hook down the side of his face. “I will insert this up into your scrotum and castrate you. Then I shall give you to the most twisted and perverted squad I have in this city and allow them to use you as they see fit. Then, and only then, I will bring you back here and ask you again.”
Blek swung to look at Argan. “Your majesty! You cannot allow this – this creature to abuse me like this! Is this the sort of abomination the Koros permit to run whole provinces?”
Argan stepped across to come between the two. “Governor – there must be another way in getting the truth out of this man. I can’t permit such barbarity, even if he may have been responsible for the theft.”
Thetos looked disappointed. “If you insist, sire.” He nodded to the two men. “Tie him to that chair, securely.”
The sub-commander was bound firmly. Thetos checked it to his satisfaction. “You may go,” he said to the guards. They left, leaving Thetos, Argan, Metila and Kerrin with Blek.
“Metila,” Thetos said. “This kivok has information. Can you please do your best on him?”
Metila swayed in front of the bound man and eyed him, her tongue sliding over her lips. “I hungry,” she told the worried-looking man. “I eat. You fresh meat.”
“Sire,” Blek looked up, swallowing, “you can’t allow her to do this to me!”
Argan went to say something, and Metila turned to him. She switched to rapid Bragalese. “This idiot thinks I’m being serious. I’ve no wish to eat him; I may catch some illness! Just play along with this, please, Lakhani. I want him to be terrified without touching him.”
Argan nodded and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He stepped up alongside Metila and slid an arm round her waist. “This beautiful woman has my complete confidence. She is my slave and only does what I wish.” He added in Bragalese to Metila, “behave as if I am Thetos.”
Metila coyly slid up to Argan and entwined herself about him. “I love Koros – they strong – I slave. You,” she pointed at the fearful Blek, “are food.”
She advanced towards him, her tongue sliding out over her teeth and back into her mouth repeatedly. “I eat soul as well – you become mine when I do.”
“S-Sire!” Blek pleaded. He had heard rumours about this witch and didn’t know what were facts and what were mere stories. He was terrified of her.
Thetos eyed Argan. He raised
an eyebrow and Argan shrugged and briefly gestured with his fingers in a vague way of explanation. Kerrin looked extremely uncomfortable. He had caught some of what had passed between Argan and Metila but not all. He had to fill in some of the missing words.
Metila loomed over the helpless man and hissed, her teeth bared. “I start with the sexual parts,” she said. “You no longer man.”
“Sire!” Blek screamed.
Metila knelt and began unfastening the man’s leggings.
Blek broke. “I was told to open the window, that was all!”
Thetos stepped forward. “Who by?”
“Anonymous.” He looked desperately up, pleading, as Metila continued unravelling his leggings. Her fingers were inside, searching his flesh. They closed around it and she opened her mouth wide, teeth exposed, a breath of pleasure escaping her. “Letter in my room!” he screamed.
“Metila!” Thetos barked.
She stopped and looked up at him. “You let me feed!”
“No, whore!” he yelled. “Stop it right now!”
Sulking, she withdrew and stood up, glaring down at the trembling man. “I will have you. I need your parts for powerful spells and potions.”
Blek broke down into sobs of terror. “Please sir,” he pleaded with the governor, “take me away from her, I’ll tell you everything!”
“Metila, go to your room now,” Thetos said softly, pointing at her door.
The witch snarled but whirled away, and as she passed Argan she winked at him. Stalking, rather than walking, she left the room and slammed her door shut loudly.
The atmosphere in the main room palpably relaxed. Thetos turned to Kerrin. “Go to his room and fetch any letter you find there. Where is it?” he asked Blek.
