Lake Merrin

by Samuel Colbran

  Stillwater kicks me under the table. Klaus responds, “Oh? What do you suggest?”

  I finish my mouthful. I love this meat. “Well, as you are benefiting monetarily from our discoveries, I think more is needed for our contact with the Count's court. A counter offer: ten thousand slips, with a bonus of four thousand if we set up a meeting with a higher-up official. What do you say?”

  He looks over at his wife, and she has the blankest face I have ever seen. Stillwater kicks me again; I am going to feel that later.

  “We agree to your offer. This would bring a lot of business to us. It is worth the risk, but you will be paid on delivery.”

  Three thousand gold slips! So worth it. Stillwater pipes up, “Are you sure? We did agree on five thousand and two thousand for court connection.”

  Before Klaus can answer, the desserts come out. I mean, wow! I look over and the others have a different dessert; well, I see at least two. One has a crown of something green, looks so nice. Oh well.

  “Joan—may I call you Joan?” Stillwater nods. “I agree to the increase because it has benefit to both parties. You bring someone to justice, and I have a foot in the door. It is a win-win.”

  Such a lovely meal. I need to eat better. I need money, but this will do. With my share, I could pay ten years of Pela's rent, and buy a new sword and armour.

  “Please, may I have everyone's attention?” Looking at the Count, I wonder what he is going to blather about. “I would like to thank all of you for coming tonight, and also thank my cousin, His Grace the Duke, for his presence. There are a number of others who I wish to thank before the Duke hands out his medals. Abbot Kamil of the White, High Inquisitor Dale of the Blue, and Knight-Commander Ian Kingfisher of the Duke's Shield, I thank you for your attendance tonight. Now, without further ado, His Grace, Duke Trahern Isenhart.”

  His Grace stands and moves around to the front of the table to the sound of dignified applause. “On this wonderful evening, we honour our past and present heroes. I would like you all to commend them on their bravery.” A page brings a wooden case over to him. “With this medal, they will become revered members of my court, will be knighted, and will be inducted into my Order of the Shield.”

  Wait, what? I am going to be a noble? A knight! Day of days.

  “The first to be presented with our Iron Medal is Squire Lourens Hazewold, for protecting the town of Nearon from Unspeakables from the Wild Lands for three days.” A large man stands up and receives his medal.

  “The next will be Mistress Sarah Blumer, for discovering the five uses of rhizome root, which has advanced cure research for several diseases.”

  She stands up and … come on! When will I be called?

  Do I even deserve this award? I just jumped out of a window.

  “And the final medal we will be giving out tonight is to a local hero, former Corporal J—”

  The Duke clutches at his throat, and I can see a dozen other guests doing the same thing. Three servants and four merchants jump up with knives in their hands and stab the closest guard to them. They yell in unison, “For the true Duke—Duke Darel!”

  Huh. It is not too different from eating at a tavern after all.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Journal Entry Three continued …

  Yes, I was there on that dark night ...

  Another two assassins come out of the kitchen, knives in hand. Many of the Duke's guards are down. I am in shock! How could this happen? Blood is everywhere, people are running, others are gasping for breath. What to do?

  “Snap out of it, Solo!” Stillwater. “Protect the Abbot and the Duke!”

  Gunnar yells, “Way and I have the Abbot! Halfy, use that bloody sword and be a hero!”

  Stillwater turns over a chair and rips a leg off. I follow her, drawing my needle. It is too light, but I have nothing else. WayWocket and Gunnar run to the edge, trying to make it to Abbot Kamil. I see Seth and Belgrim moving towards the Abbot too. I am so glad that the Travellers are here tonight.

  As we rush forward, two of the 'merchants' stand up from killing someone and look at us. Just remember what Kilroy said: ‘Only need half a span to kill someone.’ We have the advantage, longer weapons. Breathe, calm, and wait.

  Stillwater stalks her opponent. She sidesteps a knife thrust and swings her club down on his arm. She rolls her shoulders, ripping her own dress, and smacks him under the chin. I hear the wet crack of his neck breaking.

  My opponent is a similar race to Zlata; a half-breed. He snarls at me and leaps with his knife extended. Laughing at such foolishness, I step and smash his face with my hilt. As he drops, just a quick cut to his neck.

  Althanis and Laura have taken out two others. Count Darel is standing over the Duke, stopping anyone from coming too close—even the surviving guards. I hope he has nothing to do with this.

  Another two intercept us. Is it just me or are there more than before? I take some time to look around. There are at least ten different skirmishes taking place in the ballroom. There must be at least twenty assassins. No difference. Save the Duke and the Count.

  This reminds me of my old army days—no style, just kill or be killed. I have seen too much blood these last few days.

  “Solo, watch out!”

  As Stillwater yells, a slice crosses my chest from one of these fiends. Care later, fight now. Stillwater steps up and hits the guy in the side of the chest. Blood spews from his mouth and he goes flying.

  “Are you all right? Why did you get so distracted?” she asks me.

  “It is just a scratch. Look, the way is clear. Let us help the Count and save the Duke.”

  I do not know if he is in on this plot, but family is family. After seeing those two together tonight, no way our Count would attack His Grace. He is cut up pretty bad, but is holding off three people with a chair. Without even talking, Stillwater and I intercept one of the three and quickly finish them off. As we distract the last one, he turns and is clobbered over the head with the Count's chair. Good one!

  Stillwater keeps her distance and asks, “Are you all right, Your Excellency? Solo and I are here to help. Two of my Charter are gathering the Abbot to help the Duke.” The Count does not allow us to approach. I do not want to do it, but for the Duke, I will take him out if I have to! I start moving forward with my sword extended.

  Althanis grabs my arm. “It’s fine, Solo. You can trust Count Darel.”

  Beside him is his wife, Laura. She says calmly, “Your Excellency, these are The Rejects and they are here to help you, as are the Travellers. What are your orders?”

  He lowers his chair slightly, with tears running streaks through the blood on his face. “Please, help me save the Duke.”

  Stillwater moves to flank him, talking over her shoulder. “Any moment now, one of the best healers the Trinity has to offer will be here to help. We just have to keep him safe till then.”

  Laura, Stillwater, and I take up defensive positions while Althanis checks the Duke. “Hmm, he appears to have been poisoned. From the state of him, it could be hemlock. I can delay it, but I don't have the power to heal him completely.”

  His arms start to glow green like Gunnar's. He places one on the Duke’s head and—

  “Pay attention, Solo!” I turn around and someone is nearly on me. I barely deflect his thrust. Being unbalanced, no counter. Everyone is busy, so I have to do this. From his thrust, he flips his knife and goes for a slice to my stomach to match my chest wound. All I can do is dodge and parry.

  Need to find my footing. Screw it, I cannot just dance around all day. Go bold or go home! Stepping in and taking the knife in my arm, I smash my hilt into his throat, and again. He is stabbing me in the shoulder and arm, but I have him at bay. He drops. A quick thrust to his chest ends his life.

  I have taken out three so far. How many are left? In the corner of my eye, I sense someone coming. I turn to attack and it is Gunnar and WayWocket with Abbot Kamil. Great, I can see Seth and Belgrim with them too. Where is O
live?

  Count Darel visibly relaxes. “Kamil, please, save my cousin.”

  He smiles a kindly grandpa smile and all my stress just flows away. “Of course, Darel. I have known Trahern since he was a boy. He is a strong lad. Everyone, please give me room!”

  As we all back up, there is no assassin left standing. High Inquisitor Dale strides forward with cuts and blood on her formal robes. I go to block her. No idea what she is going to do.

  “Out of my way! I need to help!”

  Kamil looks up sadly. “He is dead, Dale, but with your help, the Trinity will provide. We need to do this in unison.”

  They start chanting eerily together. It sounds like a chorus. Whatever it is, it is beautiful.

  Wind is the breath of our soul and lives

  Fire warms the hearth and allows us to live

  Water is the gift of life and gives us peace

  Earth sows the seeds and grounds us in reality

  Life is the bringer of all we are

  Death is the completion of the circle we see

  Complete is the circle of our soul and all we will ever know …

  A green halo surrounds Abbot Kamil and Inquisitor Dale as they chant.

  We are the light, we are the sun

  We are the fire, burning out what's not right

  We are the righteous, hunting bringers of evil

  We are the sun, shining justice through light

  We cleanse with holy fire, we are the bringers of holy ruin …

  Now the halo has taken on an orange glint. The sound of the chanting increases.

  Know no opinion, only facts tell the truth

  Hear no rumour, take only statements as facts

  Seek not circumstance, only proof of the crime

  Passion is chaos, knowledge is pure justice

  There is no guilt or innocence, only law abides and there is only one way …

  Blue is now mixed with orange and green. Each colour is fighting to mix with each other. I am speechless. Their volume increases and sweat beads down their faces.

  I can see Gunnar and Althanis kneeling and praying too. Their bodies are immersed with greenish light, cascading from them like falling green leaves.

  We are the holy fires that burn within

  We bear the sword of justice with conviction

  Our earth is pure as the cycle of life and death

  We are the Trinity that brings clarity and purity to the mind, body, and soul.

  A penetrating bright white light emerges from the chaos of colour.

  “Trinity,” Kamil and Dale speak in unison in an eerie voice, “we beseech you to heal this man; not for his title, not for his honour, not for his mortal reach, but because he is a good man. His time has not come yet. Please, heal him, Trinity!”

  A burst of bright light covers everyone in the ballroom. I am blinded but I can see. I can see pure beauty. I can see the truth.

  Oh my Trinity! I am at peace.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Journal Entry Three continued …

  Being bathed in the Holy Light of the Trinity will go down as one of my most important life events. Words cannot describe what I experienced, but I think the Trinity smiles down upon me …

  As the light recedes, I still cannot see, but I do not want this feeling to leave me. It feels like my mother wrapped me in her arms and told me that she loved me. That never happened, but in this fleeting moment, it feels like it did.

  I look around once my vision returns. There are sludge marks from each of the assassins. Just like before, they have turned to goo. How many of these people are around here? I’m so tired of it! Looking down at my shirt, there are cuts, but no blood. All my wounds have been healed, and everyone else has been healed too.

  What was that? I never knew the Trinity was so wonderful and real. The people who dropped from the poison rise to their feet, dazed, but I can see tears shimmering on their cheeks.

  Moments pass. Unabashed tears flow from everyone's eyes. The Duke sits up. “What … What happened here?”

  Kamil, in a weary voice, says, “You were poisoned, Trahern. Someone seasoned your dessert with hemlock seeds.”

  Count Darel turns to his cousin. “Know that I had nothing to do with this, my Duke. Things have been happening lately that I don't understand.”

  I feel like a supporting role in my own story, but I can understand there are things out there that are bigger than me. I found two tonight.

  Stillwater steps forward. “Your Grace and Your Excellency, I was a part of Lake Merrin's Watch, but last night I quit because of some disturbing events that were almost carried out by—”

  The Duke holds up his hand. “Not here. Help me up.” Stillwater and Count Darel support him to his feet. “Where is Ian?”

  “I am here, my Duke.” An older man—with a fantastic moustache—stands up and moves over.

  “Gather what’s left of my guard and secure this room. Remove everyone except The Rejects and The Travellers.” It seems like only four of the guard survived. Must have been the others’ true time to die. Thank you, Trinity, for your grace and protection. “Once the room is secure, I will listen to your evidence, Sergeant Stillwater.”

  I lean over to Gunnar and whisper, “What should I do, Gunnar?” He looks shocked. I frown and remind him, “Stillwater is busy, and you are the next in charge, so what are your orders?”

  “We'll … follow her lead. You have important information for the Duke too, Solo.”

  No attitude in his voice—now it is my turn to be shocked. “Sure thing, Gunnar. So, what was all that chanting?”

  “The prayer? Well, I am not part of the traditional Trinity faith, but I do respect and venerate the Green Aspect.”

  “That really does not answer my question … No matter, there are more important things to deal with, like that villainous woman, Zlata!”

  Ian returns and reports, “The room is secure, my Duke.”

  “Let us keep this unofficial. Take a seat and we will go over this.” Turns to Housen, who I had not even noticed being there. “Could you go grab the barrel of ale from my room, Cousin? I thought we would be sharing it later this evening, but I think this mood needs a little levity.” The Count laughs at this. How can they be smiling? Nobles are weird. “So, Sergeant Stillwater, what were you saying?”

  At the table is the Duke, Count Darel, High Inquisitor, the Abbot, Ian, the Travellers, and us Rejects.

  “Well, it all started a few days ago, Your Grace. To make a long story short, Lone here—” She motions to me. “—stumbled over evidence that at first seemed random, yet we have further evidence pointing to a larger plan. For the life of me, though, I cannot join the dots. From gangs ravaging the streets, to the poisoning of Commander Axel, to the contamination of the town's grain bins, it all points to one person—the current interim leader of the Watch, Acting Commander Zlata.”

  The Duke turns to me. “So, what evidence do you have of this?”

  The highest noble outside the royal family is now talking to me. “Um, ah, well ... It started, like Joan said, a few days ago … Um, I do not know where to begin.”

  Seeing my nervousness, Kamil says calmly, “Take your time, son.”

  Being in the spotlight, it is strange. I breathe in and out. Calm down. I see the Travellers giving me the thumbs up. I have got this. “It began when I was accepted by the Watch to boost patrol numbers prior to your visit. I was set upon by Zlata. She had some sort of plan for Commander Axel, which involved a local gang of thugs, the Dock Boys. She mistakenly thought I was one of them. I did not get all the information, but she did hint that she had a hand in poisoning the Commander.”

  There is a collective gasp. I can see Stillwater wants to interject but the Duke holds up his hand. “Please, Solo, continue.”

  “She assigned me to Stillwater's squad, and to bring me up to speed, I went through some cold cases. I saw a pattern between some break-ins and the murders of homeless people around the warehouse d
istrict. Gunnar found out later that the grain bins used the same type of lock that these other break-in locations used. I pointed out that it was something that thieves do; they practise at other locations with similar elements so they can make sure they can do it with the real target. The murders were just poor people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Count Darel looks at his cousin. “This is the first I have heard of this, but tonight's events point to something larger.” The Duke nods. “Why do you think Zlata is behind all of this?”

  “I have seen her with Malik; he was the leader of the Dock Boys. The Travellers spoke to me tonight about the Bloody Swords. I have seen her with them too.”

  “Bloody Swords?” the Duke asks.

  Count Darel replies, “I’ve found out some disturbing information of late, and it seems to extend further than I thought. These attacks on travellers on our highways; most of them have been farmers and traders of produce. The fiends were part of a Charter called the Fellowship of the Sword, or the Bloody Swords. They have a reputation of brutality, but there have been no witnesses left alive to corroborate these stories, until now.”

  Althanis adds, “If it wasn't for Solo, our Charter wouldn't have investigated this. It was Trinity's luck that led him to us. Unfortunately, some prisoners escaped from their capture. The ones we did bring in seem to be only bully boys.”

  My face is so hot at the moment, it feels like a kettle about to explode. The Duke looks at me and laughs. Everyone else starts too. What are they laughing at?

  “It’s okay, Solo,” the Duke says to me directly. “It seems you have stumbled upon something much greater than yourself. I thank you, Lone Solo, for protecting my land and my people.”

  “Duke, I ... it was not just me. My Charter and the Travellers did most of it. I was just along for the ride.”

  He laughs again. “I am glad that, even after all of this, I can still laugh. I think it is time for me to send some of my personal guards to pick up this Zlata!”