Chapter 49:

A few hours later, I understood why accountants had the reputation of being boring. I always had assumed this stereotype was false, based on a few impressions with some accountants I knew from work that were really interesting. But after poring over numbers for hours, well, my mind hurt. I'd found what I needed to know within the first 20 minutes.

It wasn't that difficult to track. I just wanted to take a quick look at the reference books for tax laws and read through the ledger. Everything appeared to be quite straightforward. Basically, someone was reporting that we paid more taxes than was actually sent to them. Someone was skimming off the top. A significant amount, too. But interestingly enough, all the coin that was being skimmed off was being sent off with the taxes to the capital to the King.

I wasn't exactly sure why or how yet. Still, given the chamberlain's reactions, it was pretty obvious who was doing it. I spent the rest of the time trying to figure out who possibly was benefiting from it because the chamberlain didn't seem particularly rich.

Was he just putting away a nest egg? It seemed unlikely. There was clearly some backer here.

Also, pretty obviously, it was clear that I wasn't a very good count or a very good noble. The personal accounts were ridiculous. I was so deep in the hole that I'd be paying off interest in some of the loans I'd taken out for a very long time. And the money, as far as I can tell, wasn't going anywhere. It was going towards clothes and food and feasting and partying and women—just complete wastes of money.

In fact, we were spending ridiculous amounts. That was going to have to stop. As much as I like the good luxury, I wasn't sure how long I'd have to wear this disguise. Perhaps people would buy that the blow to my head had changed me slightly.

I was about to call it a day and go find the captain of the guard to have the chamberlain arrested when a page knocked at my door. He poked his head in and said, "My Lord, there's a letter from the King waiting for you in your office."

I nodded my thanks. Standing, I stretched, glad that he hadn't brought it directly to me as it gave me an excuse to leave this hellhole.

"I suppose it's best if I give the chamberlain his office back," I said as I left, and the page nodded. "Please tell him that he is welcome there."

The page ran off as I went up the stairs to what could only be my office.

On my desk was a sealed letter with the crown imprinted into the wax. I read the address to one Count Fenrir Alaric and smiled at Loki's joke of putting me in this body.

Breaking open the seal, I quickly read the letter. It was a simple request for a report on the investigation. Frowning, I dug through my desk and found in a locked drawer a pile of a couple of other similar letters from the King. I returned and found the earliest one and read it in its entirety.

"We ask... the royal personage has found fit to ask you to perform a task. Ever since your father's service with His Royal Highness... for such long and glorious service, your name has languished for too long... The King sees it fit to provide an opportunity for you to continue such glorious service and be rewarded as such."

The letter went on and on about something before actually getting to the meat. There was a lot of flowery language to say that the King respected Arlic's father and hoped I was as good of a man. Basically, I was asked to investigate an unusual amount of bandits near but not in, nearby but not centered around my lands.

They had unusual amounts of organization and better weapons, showing that they had some support compared to normal bandits. It was entrusted to me because of my father's service, and it seemed like a personal friendship with the King. Apparently, the King or his advisors weren't aware of how much of a useless fop the previous Alaric had been.

I found some maps rolled up in dust off to the side, unrolling them and locating the places in question. Looking around, I plotted the multiple sightings of bandits. I found that while they were near my territory, they almost perfectly circled around my neighbors.

Count Roderick was my number one suspect here.

Digging through some more desks, I found an unopened file that read intelligence reports. It was only a month old, but it hadn't been touched clearly, as the dust was quite thick on it. Flipping through it, I found some worrying bits of evidence about Roderick's actions. The amount of money he was having soldiers amassed, as well as visits from various ambassadors and other delegations, was great. This was quite worrying. No wonder I had been attacked. And I bet the previous me had run off without understanding any of this.

I sighed and rang a bell, calling for a messenger.

"Have the captain come here as soon as he can," I said, and the messenger ran off. A few moments later, I looked out the window and saw the messenger boy dashing through the crowd toward the gatehouse. Good. At least that would be taken care of soon. And we could get the chamberlain investigated.

***

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"How long have you served me?" I asked the captain, who I still didn't know his name. The man was standing before me at attention, coming soon after I asked him to.

"Five years, my lord. Ever since you took over after your father passed," he replied.

"And how long did you serve him before that?" I inquired. The man's eyes shifted upwards as he tried to remember, doing some mental math.

"Um, just a little under 13 years, sir. Ever since I was 14. And... was his page," he explained.

"No good. And how long has the Chamberlain been in service to my family?"

The captain frowned. "About four years, so he never served my father," he said.

"That makes sense," I muttered to myself. All the people who had been around earlier for a while seemed to be much more professional. But the newer staff? Well, it was a little bit early to pass judgment, but I didn't think Alaric was the best judge of character. Or maybe he just didn't inspire loyalty. I would need to change that.

"I have suspicions about him. Tell me about what you have available for investigations from the garden," I requested.

The captain grew very serious. "Well, we do have a few investigators, but if you need anything sneaky done, I have contacts."

"So I would like the Chamberlain and his wife followed for a bit. Let me know if they do anything suspicious. Keep track of who and when they meet with people," I instructed.

The captain frowned, looking worried. "About his wife... there's been rumors that... well," he paused, looking awkward, "rumors that she's a witch," he finished in a rush.

I leaned back and chuckled. "Wow, a witch!"

The captain continued, still a bit rushed, "Of course, no charges have been levied of witchcraft against her. Just rumors, my lord. But... and we would never deem it necessary to make such an accusation against such an important person without at least your say-so. But she has been known to do dark things in the night," he said in an ominous tone.

"Now that does sound ominous," I said. "Hmm. Be careful about her, but investigate. I think the Chamberlain might have more powerful friends than I realized, and I don't want to act without absolute proof," I cautioned.

The captain nodded and went on his way.

I stood up and paced, running my hands through my hair. My hand kept clenching and moving to my side or to my shoulder, where I kept my weapons as I paced back and forth. I realized I was having trouble thinking; I needed to clear my head. And to my horror, I realized I was itching for a straightforward fight rather than something complex and sophisticated like this.

What was Valhalla doing to me? At least my full class was helping me fit this role rather well. It felt natural to perform an act in ways that I never would have been able to do before. But at the same time... I let that thought hang as I left my office and went downstairs.

It took me a few wrong turns and a trip through the kitchens, but I eventually found my way out to the training yard, where some guards were practicing. Several were drilling formations with their truncheons against wooden dummies padded with burlap stuffing.

I walked over to the rack and pulled out a wooden practice sword. At first, I was unnoticed, as it was clear that my presence around here was not expected. But as soon as an officer recognized me, he called out an order, and everyone snapped to attention and saluted. I was slightly uncomfortable but had no trouble mustering the required command presence to give my new persona.

As I waved to everyone and said, "As you were," the drilling continued, and an officer came over and asked,

"My lord, is there anything you need?" Clearly confused about why I was there.

I looked at the sword in my hand and swooshed it back and forth, feeling the balance. "I need a chance to think. I feel that my recent encounter has left me dissatisfied with my ability to defend myself personally," I said.

"Of course, my lord," the man said, "would you like me to fetch an instructor?"

I shook my head. "No. Just one of the dummies for now would be good."

Quickly, the cadets were ushered off, and one dummy was brought to me. I went up to it, performing a fluid kata of light strikes that I had practiced as a warm-up many, many times. As my body started to move, my mind did as well. I didn't just need to solve the problems so that my persona would continue to be intact and I wouldn't be in danger.

No, I actually needed there to be conflict. Roderick was a great way of fostering such a thing. Perhaps I could start initiating border skirmishes after we cleared out the bandits. I would need to look into the laws with that. I wouldn't want the king coming down on my head for something like that, but I'm pretty sure I would have good enough cause if I found out if I could show that he was behind the bandits. That should take me over for a while. Ten inches the first month from the bandits and then maybe 20 and even 40 if I stretch out the war with Roderick for a couple of months.

It still wouldn't be enough to get me to stay for any real length of time. Hopefully, three months would be enough for Valhalla to calm down before I had to go back. If not, well, I'd figure something out. I finished a furious strike to the center of the dummy, sending it rocking back and forth and almost tipping over.

Panting, I took a step back and realized the whole courtyard had frozen and was watching me in surprise. Looking back, I studied their faces. Hmmm. How could I use this?