by Spoor, Garry
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Well, that’s funny, because my new friends here think you do.” She said with a slight grin.
Charles looked first and Carter, then at Daniels.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” He scoffed. “Is this all you’ve got? What are they going to do?”
“Oh, I didn’t mean them, I mean these new friends.” She said, and she lifted up her arms and one side of her Hunar appeared, and on the other side was Gorum, Oblum’s two large black Shinar mastiffs. The blood drained from Charlie’s face and what courage he felt at that moment quickly sank away as the two monstrous dogs sat on either side of Kile. Even Daniel was intimidated by the sight of the redheaded girl standing there, flanked by these large black dogs.
“You see, they don’t want to see me go, and they have a feeling that you know more than you’re telling.”
“It… it was a... A joke, nobody was supposed to get hurt. It was rigged to simple misfire… it was just to make you look bad.”
“That’s a pretty bad joke.” Kile remarked, and Hunar second that opinion with a low menacing growl.
“I’m sorry, I’ll do anything you want, anything.”
“First, you’re going to confess to Master Adams. You’re going to tell him exactly what you did and who told you to do it, believe this, if I get thrown out of here because of a stupid joke you pulled, then there will be no reason for me not to set my new friends on you, do we understand each other?”
“Yes ma’am.” Charles whimpered.
It was hard to determine who detected him first as Gorum, Hunar and Kile all turned around at the same time to see Eric duck out of the back of the barn.
“Damn, that’s torn it.” Daniel replied, “He’s going for Master Boraro.”
-I want him.-
Gorum told her.
Why not she thought.
“Go for it.”
No sooner had she said the words then the large dog shot out of the barn in pursuit of the boy.
“Daniel, take Charles and the crossbow to Master Adams…”
“We have this covered, you get back to the dorms before Boraro gets there, I don’t think Alex will be able to keep him fooled, especially if he’s on to us.”
- I’ll walk you back. –
“No Hunar, stay with Daniel and help him get Charles to Master Adams. If Charles doesn’t confess or tries to run for it, eat him.”
-Really?-
There was a note of pleasure in the mastiff’s question, a little too much pleasure for Kile’s comfort.
“Well… use your discretions.”
-Sure sure, take all the fun away.-
Hunar approached Charles who was staring wide eyed with fear at the large dog. She wished that she could wait around to see what Master Adams made of all this, but she knew she had to beat Eric back to the dorms.
Kile went out the same way Gorum did. She was forced to give the field a wide berth since the staff was now out trying to break up the fight. Eric was well ahead of her, but the boy never stopped to speak with any of the staff members. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, it was because Gorum was right on his heels. Eric ran straight past Boraro and was going for Oblum’s office, he almost made it, but Gorum was quicker, and the Mastiff plowed right over him, planting him face first into the dirt. Oblum came running out of the office as he tried to pull his dog off of Eric, but Gorum had other plans as he sat on the boy's back, refusing to let him up. Kile wanted to stay and watch, but when Boraro join Oblum the two men together persuaded the mastiff to move.
Kile reached her window, jumped up to grab the sill and pulled herself in. She hit the floor hard and quickly got to her feet only to be greeted by another Kile sitting on her bed watching her.
It was a strange sensation to actually look at yourself looking at you. She cautiously walked around to the side of the bed, all the while with the other Kile staring at her with a vacant expression, it was all a bit unnerving. She reached out to touch her other self, and wasn’t sure what she would have done if her hand had felt something solid, as it was her hand passed through the other Kile’s arm and she slowly faded away.
“Pretty good huh?” Alex asked as he appeared behind her. She quickly motioned for him to be quite and Alex clapped both hands over his mouth, but it was too late, the latch of the door was lifted.
Kile pulled off Alex’s cloak and shoved it under the blankets as she jumped into bed, sitting where the other Kile had sat not too long ago. The guard poked his head around the door and looked inside. If he had noticed anything different, he didn’t show it.
“Everything okay?” He asked.
“Yes Sir.” Kile replied as she flipped the page of her book.
He scanned the room once more, then closed the door again, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly looked around but couldn’t find Alex anywhere. She was sure he didn’t go out the window, but she didn’t know if he had learned the invisibility trick that Carter had.
“You still here?” She whispered.
“Yeah.” The wall whispered back.
It was a section of the wall that blurred and became distorted as Alex appeared. He had created an illusion of the wall and simply stood behind it. It was a pretty good trick, considering she knew he was in the room and still couldn’t see him.
“Boraro is probably on his way, you better get out of here.” She told him.
Alex nodded, not daring to actually speak as he started to climb out the window.
“Alex.” She called out to him in a hushed whisper before he disappeared. “Thanks, for everything.”
Alex gave her the thumbs up and was about to descend when she called to him again.
“Alex.”
He was dangling out the window now, holding onto the ledge as he looked at her.
“Don’t ever let me catch you making another illusion of me, you got that?”
She never got her answer as the voice of Oblum was heard in the hallway.
“Guard, open this door immediately.”
Alex let go of the sill and all she heard was the dull thud of him hitting the ground.
“Is there a problem sir?” The guard asked.
“We have reason to believe that the prisoner is no longer confined.” Oblum replied.
“Sir, as I told your staff member, technically she is not a prisoner, she is a detainee.”
“I don’t give a damn what she is. You will open this door now.”
The latch on the door was lifted and the door was pushed open, Kile looked up from the book she was supposed to be reading.
“I assure you sir, she never left this room.” The guard replied. “As you, yourself, can plainly see sir.”
“There would appear to have been an error.” A tall lean man with a long braided beard and a large floppy hat said from the back of the group that was now crowding her doorway.
Boraro was the first to enter, this time the young guard made no attempt to stop him.
“Obviously you are not aware of the skills of the cadets here.” He said as he grabbed Kile’s arm. It was clear that he had figured it out, or thought that he had figured it out, that the Kile he spoke with was an illusion of sorts, because once his hand clamped on the real Kile’s arm he quickly released it.
“What’s going on?” She asked as she pulled back from the Weapons Master and giving her best frightened look to Oblum.
“Yes, I would like to know that as well.” The large fat man replied.
“It’s an illusion.” Boraro stammered.
“Clearly it is not.” The bearded man said as he stepped into the room. “Are you alright child?” He asked her.
“Yes sir.”
“And your name child?”
“Kile sir, Kile Veller.”
He crouched down, placed his hands on the floor and closed his eyes. She wasn’t sure what he was trying to do, but whatever it was it didn’t take him that long to do it as he looked up at her
. There was a strange look in his eyes, and she had the feeling that this man now knew everything that had just happened in that room.
“Have you left this room at any time today?” He asked, without breaking eye contact.
“No sir.” She replied and hoped that this man couldn’t read her mind. He looked at her for a few moments, nodded his head, and then gave her wink.
“I see no deception in this cadet, nor does this room tell me of any arts that may have been cast within it.” He said as he stood up and faced Oblum. “Cleary, I think we have another issue before us.”
Oblum looked confused. “What are you talking about Folkstaff?” He asked.
“Far be it for me to accuse anyone of any wrongdoing, and since there is no evidence…”
“Get on with it man.”
“These accusations seem to be more… personal than they should be.”
“What are you saying?” Boraro demanded as he took a step toward the other Hunter. Kile thought that the Weapon’s Master was about to swing on the bearded man, but Folkstaff never flinched as he looked over Boraro’s shoulder to where Oblum was still standing in the doorway.
“I don’t believe we should be discussing this here.” He said calmly.
“No, I want to know. If you’re accusing me of something...”
“It just appears to me that you have a personal vendetta against this particular cadet. You claimed she had broken confinement, and obviously she hadn’t, you insisted that she was an illusion, and clearly she isn’t. You have made these accusations without proof. Would you have been so eager to accuse her, if she wasn’t of Orseen blood, or a peasant’s daughter?”
“That’s outrageous; you’ve heard the account from cadet Rimes. He saw her in the stables.”
“I heard a story from the cadet, but not one that I am willing to take as truth. He has not told us why she was in the stables or what he was doing in the stables for that matter. Perhaps that is where your illusion was and not here, and what of Sir Oblum’s dogs?”
“What about it?”
“It has always been my belief that animals are a good judge of character. The fact that Oblum’s dog attacked cadet Rimes without provocation would have me doubt the validity of his honesty.”
Boraro turned to the Headmaster who stood in the doorway. “Are you going to believe this Oblum?” He asked him.
Oblum looked at Kile for a few moments, as if studying her for the very first time.
“There is a lot in what Folkstaff says.” Oblum replied softly. “But I do not believe it should be discussed here.”
“You’re going to side with him on this?”
“I don’t side with anyone Master Boraro, I weigh the evidence as I see it, and clearly this accusation toward the girl is unfounded. I would advise you not to say anything more on the subject, at least until the Guild members arrive.”
Oblum stepped aside, a clear sign that the conversation was over and that Boraro was to leave the room. The Weapon’s Master gave one last look at Kile, probably hoping she would disappear or fade from existence so that he would be vindicated, but she remained solid.
“I do apologize for this child.” Folkstaff replied with a faint smile. “I hope to be seeing you soon.”
“Sir.” She called out to him. She wasn’t sure what she was going to ask. She wanted to thank him for defending her, she wanted to really thank him for lying for her, assuming that he did lie for her, of course if he didn’t that would be rather embarrassing. Now that he was standing there waiting for her to say something, and she had nothing to say, that was rather embarrassing too.
“Certified level one Hunter Robert Folkstaff at your service.” He replied, then tipped the brim of his hat to her and walked passed Oblum back into the hall.
“As you no doubt know, members of the guild will be convening tomorrow evening to discuss your case,” Oblum said once both of the men were gone. “If they feel there is enough evidence, it could go to trial. Is there someone you wish for me to get in contact with, a family member maybe?” He asked her.
“No sir.” She replied.
“Nobody, You should have somebody here for you.”
She just shook her head.
“As you wish.” Oblum replied as he pulled the door closed.
Was that actually a look of concern on the big man’s face? Did he actually regret the direction that this was taking? She almost felt sorry for him.
***~~~***
18
Kile wasn’t aware of how tired she was. After Oblum and the others left and the room was once again her lonely cell, she laid on her bed to think about the events of the day, and to plan her future if things didn’t go the way she had hoped. Somewhere between thinking and planning, she fell asleep. She wasn’t sure when Vesper had returned, but when she woke up, he was in his usual spot, curled up beside her on the pillow. She vaguely recalled the guard looking in on her once or twice during the night, probably making sure that she hadn’t disappeared while he was on duty. It was a good thing he never came into the room to take a closer look, there was no telling what he would have done had he seen the yarrow on her pillow.
It was well past dawn by the time she got up, and she stared at the light that was now streaming through her window. She had slept the night and most of the morning away, and even though she had nothing to eat since yesterday afternoon, she still wasn’t very hungry, if anything she was worried. She should have heard something by now, unless the plan went horribly wrong. What if Charles hadn’t confessed? What if Master Adams didn’t believe them? What if Hunar ate Charles? Actually, she wouldn’t have been all that upset about the last part.
She crawled to the end of her bed to look out the window, her only means of seeing what was going on, but the compound appeared dead. There was no activity, nobody in the field, maybe they all went home on leave and forgot to tell her she thought as she leaned back against the wall.
There was a soft knock on the door, which was rather odd since everyone else just came barging in, except for one person. She quickly leapt out of bed. The door should have been locked from the outside, but it wasn’t as she pulled it open. No lock, no guard, only Master Adams standing alone in the hallway.
“May I come in?” He asked. He didn’t appear to be as solemn as he had the last time she had seen him and that could only mean good news.
“Of course sir.” She said as she stepped aside.
“I’ve come to tell you that the charges have been dropped, and you are free to leave your room whenever you want.”
That was it, it was all over. One statement and the matter was forgotten. How long had she been free anyhow?
“What happened sir?” She asked.
Master Adams gave her that curious look, the one that said, I’ll tell you, but I’m sure you know more than I do.
“Don’t you know?” He asked.
“No sir.” She replied, which really wasn’t a lie. She only knew up to the part where Charles was supposed to confess, beyond that she had no idea what had happened.
“It would appear that a young cadet by the name of Charles Banes confessed. He took responsibility for the incident. Are you familiar with him?”
“I know of him sir, I don’t really know him.”
“He came to me yesterday with an outrageous story and claimed he had to confess because he didn’t want to be eaten by a dog, I had half a mind not to believe him and send him to the healers for a psychiatric evaluation that was until he told me about the crossbow. I then took him to the council and he revealed everything. It would appear that you were the unwitting target of a practical joke. The fact that Master West was injured was never his intent.”
“What now sir?”
“For you… nothing. Once Guild Master Latherby heard the confession he convinced the council that they would appear foolish if they pursued the matter any further.”
“Guild Master Latherby is here?”
“He was. He appeared sometime yesterday
afternoon. As I’ve said, he often does appear without warning.”
“What's going to happen to Charles?” She asked. In spite of the boy playing tricks on her that nearly got her expelled, she didn’t really wish to see anything bad happen to him, he was, after all, just an unwilling pawn in Eric’s game.
“Cadet Banes has been expelled from the academy, whether or not the council will wish to follow up on charges is entirely up to them.”
“Charges?”
She couldn’t help but feel responsible for the consequences that Charles now faced. She knew he was in the wrong, and she would have done anything to prove her innocence, but she wasn’t going to lie to herself either. By forcing him to confess she was putting his neck on the chopping block, but she figured that once they heard the entire story, once the council realized that there was no true malice involved, he would just receive punishment. Expulsion seemed a bit over dramatic, even if that was what they wanted to do to her, and the thought that he could face further charges was just too much.
“It’s not your fault.” Master Adams said as if interpreting her prolonged silence.
“Isn’t it?” She replied. “I’m not so sure. If I wasn’t here, it would never have happened in the first place.”
“If you want to use that logic then nobody would take responsibility for anything. You could just keep passing the blame down the line. You might as well say if Master West’s ass hadn’t gotten in the way of the bolt, then this situation wouldn’t have gone as far as it did. Cadet Banes chose the action and therefore he must accept the consequences.”
“What about Eric, doesn’t he take any responsibility for it?”
“Why should he?”
“It was his idea, he was the one that told Charles to do it, shouldn’t he be held responsible for something?”
“What proof do you have, where is your evidence?” Master Adams asked. She knew he wasn’t trying to defend Eric, or make him out to be an innocent bystander in the incident. He was only trying to show her the reality of the situation. It was the evidence that freed her from blame and it was the lack of evidence that freed Eric.
