War Bow

by P. S. Power

  His voice was bland, which was hard to do in Modroc.

  “No one will tell me this, if it happened. All agree that it is the most likely thing. That one of us, in this room, poisoned our friend. What now? If none here will talk, and one is almost certainly guilty?”

  Anders regarded the man coolly, for a long moment.

  “I’ll find who did it. If it was one of you, come and tell me, or let me know and we will cover that up. Blame another in your place. There are reasons for this.”

  One of the others nodded.

  “To stop a war. This... I think it was not the plan at all and not one of us. After all, if we had to pick, we would have killed Chistos, as it would have greater impact. No one in command would risk such a thing. It is too uncontrolled.”

  Anders agreed, but didn’t comment on it. People did foolish things at times. General Coelder had shown him that. Even otherwise intelligent people might make the wrong choice, and not all who were in command were exactly wise or far thinking people. Still, it wasn’t the most likely thing to have going on. He repeated that he planned to investigate using magic, then left. There was only one door left, the one Eltha Tennet shared with one of the other ladies that had come to visit. Sandra. She was a spy, and possibly more than that, but was also the main attendant to Princess Sweyn.

  Eltha was as well, which was probably an explanation for where she was, at the moment.

  Rather than find Mistress Colm next, Anders started with the hall guards. He took notes, finding each person that had been anywhere near the Ambassadorial hall on the day that Natan Smidt had died. Several servants fit the bill there, including Agorn, which was convenient. When Anders dropped into a trance and focused on the man he found what he expected.

  That Agorn had made food deliveries, from the kitchen, and had never truly entered the hall at all. No one that was on duty to the hallway had handed anything to Natan directly that day. Except, of course, the very last person that Anders checked.

  He was so deeply entrenched in his own mind that he wasn’t even that shocked when he realized that the man who had murdered Natan Smidt was Daren Willet. The room servant that Anders himself had put in place there. It took him a lot longer to work out why it had happened.

  Part of that was that Anders made a mistake near the beginning of his search. That Daren had acted for someone else. That he’d been paid, bribed or blackmailed into taking the action that he had. That Daren, a boy that had been around for Anders entire life had sought to better his lot in life, by doing dark things. Only after several hours of searching, he found nothing like that at all.

  It was definitely Daren that had done it, however. He was certain of that. More, he knew that others, the King, and Master Tolan, knew it as well.

  For the first time, Anders went into the mind of the King. What he found there was... Remarkably calm and normal. He had regrets, but the man wasn’t evil in any way. Not petty or particularly cruel, either. He, Anders, was at least as bad. Even Farad had been and the old man had lived a life that he figured was a rather good and kind one.

  On the matter of Daren Willet, the reason he hadn’t pointed to the boy as the killer, as soon as Master Tolan had found him, was that they feared Anders would be angered over it. It wasn’t a true fear, though. The King and Master Tolan didn’t think Anders would fight them or anything like that. They didn’t want him to be harmed by their actions. Because they cared for him.

  Even knowing that he was, in part, Farad Ibn Istel.

  It was, in the end, why Anders, a boy in appearance if not totally in fact, had been given the task of finding the killer. So that he could, if he wished, protect Daren Willet from his own actions. So that he could subvert justice, if the mood took him.

  Rather than decide at that moment, Anders went to find Daren. He was preparing to take the evening meal to those who were eating in their rooms, with Agorn aiding him in the task. The older servant sneered at him, anger and hatred for him rippling through the air, it was so intense. It was that, more than anything else that decided Anders in that very moment. He might have to deliver Daren to justice as well, but Agorn was gearing up to kill him eventually. It might never happen, or take years, but it truly seemed the path the other man was on.

  True, it wasn’t going to work, most likely, but Anders didn’t feel like looking over his shoulder in yet another direction, at all times.

  “Daren! A word? We have a special event coming soon, since Princess Aisla and Ambassador Depak are leaving soon. We need to plan a party for them. This is to be a large event, so you’ll need to work with many people, to find out what will be needed. We should go and talk about that.” He looked at Agorn, who seemed ready to yell at Anders, in his anger at the little bastard who dared to think he was as good as real people were.

  Looking at the server, who was dressed for the job, as was Daren, in all black, he bowed, doing it properly.

  “Can you do the service tonight, Agorn? I’ll try to have Daren back in a few moments, but if not... We should wait. I don’t know if you’re up to the task. I don’t want to press you.”

  Those words nearly had him slapped, he was certain. Agorn managed to restrain himself, and nod. Grumpily.

  “I can manage, for a good cause... Andy.” The man acted as if he’d taken something away by calling him by a child’s name. It might have actually worked on some level, if he hadn’t traveled under that name for weeks, recently.

  “Thank you, Agorn. We’ll hurry. We don’t have to set up much right now, but there are a few things.”

  He didn’t take the boy outside or anything, just to the end of the hallway. The guard there was one that he recognized, but didn’t know by name. They’d talked a few times, however. They were no more than twenty feet away from where Agorn was working, making the food cart presentable for service.

  He spoke loud enough for the guard to hear what was said. Not even trying to hide it.

  “You killed Natan Smidt. We have the evidence and those in charge know of it. Tell me why you did it. I can’t figure that part out. It wasn’t for gold or to get us into a war. I checked those, using magic. So, what was your reason?”

  The man looked panicked and ready to run for a moment. The guard brought his spear around, ready to strike the boy, who was only sixteen or seventeen, down for his crime, if it was needed. Finally, tearing up, he spoke.

  “It was Alice. The serving girl? We was to marry, but she took up with him and got with child. Then the man wouldn’t take her as a wife, as is proper. Trying to dump a bastard on her. Begging your pardon. I was just so filled with rage over it, that I...” He shook his head, slowly, tears coming to his eyes. “I can’t even claim that, can I? I didn’t take a knife to him. I plotted, like a fiend. I deserve to die for it. I didn’t know that... I didn’t think it would risk a war. What do we do now?” He looked lost and scared.

  Anders considered things for a moment, then shook his head.

  “I need to talk to some people. For now, can you collect yourself enough to help with the dinner service? Act normally. One moment.” He nodded at Daren, then the guard, who seemed baffled. “No matter what happens now, simply agree with me. Even if it means that you have to die, Daren. Understood?” He stared at the boy, who was still taller than he was by half a head.

  There was a nod, and a sniffle, as he headed to make certain Depak Sona had his food in a timely fashion. Then he walked over to the Modroc Ambassador’s door. He was alone and waiting for his food, so answered rather quickly. Anders hurried inside, and pulled the man away from the portal.

  Then he spoke in Modroc.

  “I’ve found the killer. I have a question first. In your country, if a man was betrothed and another man got his woman with child and then refused to marry her, what would be done?”

  The man wasn’t a fool, so worked out what that had to mean.

  “Ah... There would be blood over it. Certainly. Even if the wronged man couldn’t act, his friends would for him. Who w
as wronged in such a fashion? Natan... He was forbidden to marry on this journey. We all are. That... Yes. We must allow that as a personal matter. Is this person coming for the rest of us, do you think?” He spoke as if that made any sense at all.

  “No. It was Alice, one of the maids, who was left with child. She probably lost it, having been with the red fever recently. I treated her myself, but didn’t make the connection. She was engaged to Daren, but broke things off with him, due to circumstances.”

  The man’s face twitched, then warped in pain.

  “Our Daren? The man who brings our food and cleans for us?” He teared up then.

  Anders did as well, then he lied.

  “Yes. His friend Agorn, took matters into his own hands, without Daren knowing of it. The man meant to do the right thing, I’m certain.”

  The Ambassador nodded, his face wracked with pain, for some reason.

  “I understand. We must hold him blameless then. That is a hard pill to swallow, but what tradition forces upon us. I shall explain this to the others, so no one will feel a need to seek retribution.”

  Moving to the door, Anders didn’t really understand what he was going to do next. The story had to be close to reality, for it all to match up. Otherwise it would be too transparent. That or fall apart almost instantly. Farad, being older and wise in many ways, figured the plan had to fall to pieces almost instantly. Agorn would deny his role in things, and Daren, being a good man, would admit his own part in it, to protect one he saw as innocent of the crime. Even if it meant his own death.

  Daren Willet was a sturdy man, after all.

  Which would make sense to others. Alice had to have worked it out already, having all the facts.

  It was possible to control a man’s mind, even control the words from his mouth, using magic. Anders simply didn’t know how to do that kind of thing. Depak might have been able to do it. There had been hints of that kind of thing, from Princess Aisla. Which did him no good, since there wasn’t enough time to arrange anything, if the man would have done that for Daren, at all.

  The only thing to do, would be to prevent Agorn from talking to anyone about it at all. Short of killing the man, ruthlessly, in the next moments, he doubted he could do that. He might have been able to cripple his throat or mouth, but he didn’t have the needed words for it, since that kind of thing had never come up at all, so far.

  Sighing, he moved to the hallway.

  “Thank you, Ambassador Fromet. I’m glad to know that this won’t lead to war, between our peoples. If we could not spread this around? To protect those who are innocent of wrong doing...” He didn’t have to wait, the other man simply bowing. Anders did it back, using second courtly, to show his respect for the man. One willing to eat the death of his Assistant, to prevent a war.

  Daren and Agorn left Depak Sona’s rooms, pushing the cart between them. Daren looked miserable, but as if he was trying to be professional, regardless of the hardships he’d been bearing up under.

  Ambassador Fromet was behind him, about five feet back, when Anders called out, walking directly toward the two serving men. Daren shied away, cowering, as if a beating was about to come.

  That was ignored.

  “Agorn!” His voice was stern, loud and hopefully sounded real. “Ambassador Fromet and his people understand what you did and why... and forgive you for it. You acted to protect the honor of your friend, Daren. We, the kingdom of Istlan, cannot allow murder, even given your good intentions on the matter. Not like this. I’m sorry. I must pass judgement on you, in the name of the King and his kingdom. Justice must be served.”

  The man looked at him, confused and angry.

  “What are you going on about, you stupid bastard?” He had the grace to make a face after that. One that showed he knew that he’d spoken the wrong words and that there would be a price for it.

  It was the last thing he could say, as a low thumping noise came from inside of his chest. A small explosion, which might have ripped another man apart. That it didn’t showed the man had a partial immunity to magic, which was interesting to note. About a third of all people did, though, so it wasn’t that hard to imagine it happening. Anders looked at his opened right hand and put it down, before the older serving man even fell to the ground. Gasping for air which wouldn’t come. He didn’t die peacefully, gasping and clawing at his own throat for several moments. There was no sign of how he died on the outside, except a small, bloodless bulge over his heart.

  Other people came out into the hallway, as the guards came at them, one from either end. The one who knew what was going on stared at him. Seeming uncertain. That showed in that he glanced at Daren.

  “We found out that Agorn poisoned Natan Smidt. Trying to get revenge for what happened with Alice, since Daren couldn’t act, being a good soul. This will end it, even if it’s a sad way for things to go. We won’t have war, at least. I’m certain that we don’t need to speak on this too openly. There are delicate feelings and death involved.”

  The guard from the far end of the hallway, the one who had heard the conversation earlier, simply nodded.

  “Right. Agorn there admitted to it, before he died. I heard him say it, loud as day. You did too, didn’t you, Daren?”

  The boy froze, wide eyed, not speaking at all. Ambassador Fromet however, nodded.

  “I, too, heard that. This man, who is now passed, said that he acted to protect his friend, this man here, Daren Willet. Without any foreknowledge on his part.”

  Depak Sona had come from his room, as had Duma Sett, they both looked at the man on the floor, who was no longer gasping. He looked peaceful, Anders decided.

  Daren tried to stammer the truth. Anders waved at Depak then.

  “Could you take Daren to your room for now, Ambassador? This must be a huge shock to him. It would be best if he not speak on what he saw, until his wits come back to him. He just witnessed a good friend of his die, after all.”

  That wasn’t even a hard sell. Agron was an awful person, but hadn’t hated Daren, in particular. True, the man probably wouldn’t have killed to protect the boy, but it was a good enough story to tell others. Murder was a crime, but this would allow everyone to think that only Agorn was guilty. They’d mainly miss that the actual killers, Daren and Anders, were still walking around free.

  Looking at the guard, the one that was lying for him, he made a face.

  “Can you have this taken care of? The body. I’ll go and report this to the King, if I can. He’s probably at the late meal. I could wait?”

  The guard snorted at him.

  “Do it now, even if you have to wait on his pleasure. This is too important to sit on. Run now and do that. I have this here.”

  Anders did it, jogging away. He didn’t want to be the bearer of bad news, but figured that he could find someone to take a message in to the man, directly. Instead of that happening, he found the man himself directly outside the main dining hall, standing in a clutch of bodies. He saw Anders there, dressed as he had been earlier, and waved him over.

  “Joining us for the meal, Master Brolly?”

  “No, Your Majesty. I was set the task of finding the killer of Natan Smidt. I have and the murderer is dead. Put to death by my hand, to the satisfaction of the Modroc Ambassador, who heard his confession of the crime, as did one of the hall guards there at the time.” He waited, expecting the man to have him whisper the name or perhaps go to another room to speak of it.

  Instead the man nodded.

  “Quick work. Who is the culprit?”

  “A serving man of some repute here, Sire. Agorn Stergis. He found out that... There was a personal matter, with another servant, and a relationship that was made dire, due to pregnancy, involving Assistant Ambassador Smidt. Agorn acted to protect his friend and fellow servant. This is acceptable, if not desirable, to those of Modroc. I removed Agorn myself, acting under your word. I hope that was not overreaching my place as investigator. Ambassador Fromet would have allowed him to live, b
ut we cannot condone the murder of our friends and allies.” He sounded wrong, and as if he were leading the ruler to think a certain way.

  Which he was. It was, in fact, painfully obvious to him that was the case.

  King Mathias simply nodded, closed his eyes and put his hand on his shoulder and held it. Hard, but not painfully.

  “That is painful to hear of, but perhaps understandable. It was good that you acted quickly, instead of allowing a good man to suffer in pain and fear of what had to come from our hand. It had to be done. Now, you could dine with us?”

  Anders shook his head, then sighed.

  “Thank you for the kind offer, Sire. Unfortunately, I need to see to some small matters, before I can rest and dine.” One normally didn’t beg off of such honors, but the man simply nodded at him. Then spoke loudly enough that it was obvious he wanted to be heard.

  “Very well. Thank you for your service this day, Master Brolly. It is a dark thing, but done in a timely fashion.”

  Then the man moved inside the two heavy wooden doors, followed by the near hundred others, all dressed in finery. Anders was still in mail and gambeson, which looked out of place there. Several people stared at him, including his mother and walking next to her, her father, the Baron. The man broke free, coming over to Anders, with a strange look on his face.

  “Those papers have been signed and copied. I’ll have a set delivered to you, tomorrow. What took place here? I fear that I’m not up on the comings and goings of the castle as I should be.”

  Anders nearly didn’t say anything, tired of the man already, but he was, it seemed, family. The bad kind that wasn’t worth having, but still, related to him. So he explained, quickly.

  “I was placed in charge of finding a killer and did. They’re dead.”

  The other man nodded then, as if that truly explained anything at all.

  “I see, I think. Very well. We should meet, before you leave for Barquea. Get to know one another. I’m almost certain that those who have spoken of me to you might not have been favorably disposed toward my cause.”