THE FRAME

It was only Midday, but Monte knew there was no chance he would be back in the Capitol this evening like he had planned. Since the three young staff members had delivered news of the Padrig's death, nothing had stirred. Monte sensed Orna had stopped breathing. Just then, the cat leapt down from her perch above the fireplace and into Monte's lap. The sudden movement wound the clock of the room again. Monte heard an intake of breath again, and the staffers shuffled from the doorway.

"You should go. I've taken enough of your time." Monte said after waiting through another long silence.

"No." Orna said, gaining her composure again.

"No, I believe I will call on you again before the day is out." Orna said.

I knew I wouldn't get away that easily.

"How could I possibly help? With that ring on you will get to the bottom of this immediately, won't you? " Monte asked.

Orna had been staring into the distance, through the doorway to nowhere. Hearing Monte's word snapped her back into the room. Her gaze focused on him.

"You must be misunderstanding me. I have no need for your help. I insist you stay here until you're needed for more questioning." Orna said.

More questioning?

Monte simply nodded, unable to form a response. He had a plan when he arrived in town this morning. Now he needed a new one. Did the mayor believe he was somehow involved in Padrig's death? Monte felt confident that Orna's ring was nothing more than a piece of jewelry. But could he be sure of that?

The crafts his father made during his lifetime contained mysteries Monte couldn't have imagined. Another wave of realization that he would never know hit him. With the clockmaker now gone, another line leading to his father's work was severed.

"You're right, though." Orna said. This time it was Monte who snapped back into the room.

"I must go. You can stay here in the office as long as you like. Whatever you do, don't stray far." Orna said as she stood up and swiftly left the room.

The heavy door closed behind her and Monte was in the office alone for the first time. He needed a new plan. Scanning the room, he noticed the out of place books on the shelf again.

Monte stood up, causing the cat to leap from his lap to the desk and begin stretching nonchalantly, as though the sudden movement hadn't disturbed her at all. He picked up one of the books and leafed through it idly, thinking. It contained some rudimentary herbal remedies. One page felt like it had been open for some time. Leaves of the book folded automatically toward it and the spine split naturally open and stayed there.

Printed on one side was a recipe to induce a fog in the mind, apparently for the purpose of inducing sleep. On the opposite was the antidote, a potion to wake the mind up again. Without thinking about it, he folded the edge of the page and slipped the book into his pack.

The next book was full of descriptions of metal crafting that Monte immediately identified as nonsense. He'd spent hours upon hours in the shop listening to his father, watching him.

Nothing Monte ever learned about forging came from the pages of a book, and now he could clearly see why. There was no page clearly marked, but the book had been thumbed through multiple times. There was no reason to keep this one, so he replaced it on the shelf.

Monte heard the large wooden door shudder and start to move. The cat raised her head in alarm. As he turned toward the source of the sound, he saw one of the staffers standing on the threshold again.

"Sir. If you don't mind the disturbance, someone has come for you." She said.

"I don't mind. Umm… do I have them come here?" Monte asked, unsure of the correct protocol for the situation.

"I believe they wish to meet you in the lobby, sir." The staffer said.

"Thank you. You can leave the door open then. I was just leaving anyway." Monte said, unsure if he was telling the truth or not.

He gathered his bag and slung it over his shoulders. The cat took her spot upon it. He descended the stone stairwell and found the once bustling front offices were now somber and quiet. It looked as though many people had left, perhaps with the mayor. Clearly the news of Padrig's demise had already spread through the office, and likely through the entire town.

"Monte!" A voice said from the doorway. Monte recognized it as Alaya's immediately. He met her gaze and neither said a word until they were out on the square again.

"I've just heard something awful." Alaya said. The two of them emerged from town hall into the rich sun and warming breeze of the early Autumn. There was noticeably less commotion on the Square. Monte could see a small group forming around the base of the clock tower. The crowd gave him an eerie and familiar feeling.

"Padrig's dead." Monte said solemnly.

"Yes. How did you…?" Alaya started.

"The mayor just learned. I was in her office when the news came." Monte said.

"Ah. That explains why I saw her and her retinue leaving in such a hurry." Alaya said.

"I've also heard the Guard already has a suspect." Alaya said. Monte stopped walking and looked at her.

"A suspect? Well, who is it?" Monte asked.

He assumed the next words out of her mouth would be the name of a café regular, someone he had heard express displeasure with Padrig. He cursed himself for not getting to them first to get the truth. He cursed himself for not setting things right before this suspect was brought before the Hammer and Hand.

"Some out of towner, supposedly." Alaya said. Monte kept staring at her.

Surely not.

"Just a random act. Nothing they could do." Alaya continued.

"Can I talk to this… killer?" Monte asked.

"He's already in Guard custody, you would have to ask them I guess." Alaya said.

"That could be an issue. But I suppose I need to try." Monte said.

"You’re going to be the hero again then?" Alaya asked, looking back at Monte finally. The two of them started to walk again.

"I'm not sure I ever was." Monte said. They walked in silence for a moment.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

"Alaya, why did you come to Town Hall just now?" Monte asked.

"Well, I had my meeting with the Guard. Thanks for asking about it.” Alaya said, pausing to look at Monte. He did his best to ignore her glare, blushing slightly. After a pause, she went on recounting the events.

“Turns out they couldn't help me. They didn't know a thing about the counterfeiting. Figures, they're good for nothing most of the time. But just as I'm leaving, I see them bringing in a man. I asked what happened and they said he killed old Padrig. He didn't look like much of a killer, just some drunk most likely." Alaya said.

"You say you saw this man? And then what?" Monte asked. This time Alaya stopped and turned to Monte.

"Well… I figured the Guard were wrong. And I went looking for a hero." Alaya said.

The pair stopped in front of the Guard station again. It occurred to Monte that neither of them made their destination clear, but it was obvious this is where they were headed. He needed to see this supposed killer. He needed to know what the Guard knew. Monte suspected the designs were far more sinister than just framing an old vagrant. He could feel that things would not go his way unless he could learn who was really behind this murder.

"Well? Did I find the right person for the job or not?" Alaya asked. Monte simply smiled and headed back inside the Guard office for the second time that day.

Monte expected it to be bustling with activity. After all, the murderer of a prominent person had just been captured and it wasn't much of a secret anymore. However, he found the front office as deserted as he and Alaya had left it earlier that morning.

Nobody?

He stepped as lightly as he could through the archway and back down the corridor to the interrogation offices. His plan was to get as much information as he could, without giving himself away. While he was deciding what he would ask the supposed killer if he found him, he was caught.

"You there. What are you doing here?" The voice belonged to an unfamiliar Guard several paces down the corridor who had emerged from an interrogation room and closed the door behind him. It was too dark to see his face.

"I'm here to interview the suspect." Monte said, puffing out his chest and summoned his most authoritative voice.

"The suspect? Who sent you?" The Guard asked in return.

"The…. Mayor sent me." Monte replied. The Guard moved his right hand across his body, gripping the hilt of his sword.

"You will leave this office unless you can provide official documentation. Now." The Guard said. Monte recognized the fear tinging the authority the man's voice carried.

Without saying another word, Monte turned and headed back out to the square.

Plans change.

Monte opened the door to the Guard office and the early afternoon sun nearly blinded him after the relative darkness inside the Guard station.

"That was quick! What did you find, hero?" Alaya said, grinning and cocking her head to one side.

"It didn't quite go the way I was hoping." Monte replied, rubbing his eyes.

"You don't say. Come on, I'll make you a coffee and we'll plan your next move." Alaya started off in the direction of the café, and Monte followed.

Back in the café, Monte sat at a table rubbing his temples. A small cup of hot, dark brew sat wafting fragrantly in front of him. He took a small sip of it.

"You just need something to prove you're allowed to be there. Don't you know anybody?" Alaya asked.

Monte had considered the question already. Karth was a Guard himself, and his best friend. Even if Karth wasn't someone who usually went by the rulebook, he didn't exactly own Monte any favors. In fact, if anything it was the other way around.

"I know a Guard who would have helped. But… he lives in the Jeweled City now." Monte said wistfully.

"Lot of good he'll do then." Alaya quipped.

"If I write to my contacts in the Capitol, it could be days before I hear back, if at all." Monte said.

The momentary silence between them was broken by a rapping on the door.

"We're clo--" Alaya started to say but stopped. Monte followed her gaze to the window and saw Kieran standing outside again. His face looked even more set and solemn than it had a few hours before.

"Am I having déjà vu?" Alaya asked quietly, before shouting for Kieran to come in.

As Kieran stepped inside, Monte's stare went to his pack and sword, leaning against the wall where he had left them. He judged in his head how many steps it would take to get to it if he needed to.

Three. Four if I need to push him out of the way.

Monte stood up but said nothing. His eyes returned to Kieran, who stopped next to a chair across the table. He was looking at Alaya.

"Is it done then?" Kieran said.

"Seems that way. I'll make a little tea for us." Alaya replied, standing up and heading behind the bar.

"It's about time." Kieran said, as he pulled the chair out and sat down. For the first time that Monte could remember, Keiran smiled.

"How did you know?" Monte asked, taking his seat again.

The man across from him had all the features of a killer they taught Guard to look for at the Academy. Kieran had an opportunity. He had slipped away from Monte in such a state, it had been at least a few hours and in that time the body appeared. He was still a physically strong man, surely overpowering the diminutive and sickly Padrig wouldn't be difficult. Most of all his motive was well known to all. He openly despised Padrig and his actions. He made no secrets about it.

But why now?

Monte knew his questions couldn't give away his suspicion. This wasn't an interrogation, but he wanted information. He composed himself.

"I just saw Orna. She seems like she's doing well. She told me about the Clockmaker. I was sorry to hear about her passing. How are you doing?" Monte said. Kieran's expression stayed frozen on his face.

"It has been a hard couple of weeks I'll admit. Hearing that old rat Padrig is dead is the first good news I've had in some time. But…" He started, his face turning to allow some sorrow into it.

"It has been difficult." Kieran said after a pause.

"For all of us." Alaya said, placing a mug of steaming tea down in front of each of the men.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I didn't feel it was my place." Alaya said, taking her seat again. Monte didn't have time to assess the truth of her statement.

It occurred to Monte that for the second time that day, he was part of a questioning where the suspect didn't know he was one. He didn't have to force a smile picturing Alaya as an unwilling Hand. He was playing the role of Hammer.

A little tougher when the hand doesn't know her part.

"I remember when my father passed on. He lived a good long life, though I feel he was too young." Monte said.

If anyone from this town had known his father, it would have been from many years ago. If they knew he'd passed, they would believe it was naturally at home. Kieran seemed to doubt that was true, just as Monte doubted it was true of his father.

"She wasn't some old crone. She didn’t go quietly in her sleep like they're saying I know it." Kieran said with a tinge of a growl.

"Oh Kieran. We know how you feel about it. You can't really believe…" Alaya said.

Maybe she does know her part.

"Believe what?" Monte asked. He hoped Kieran wouldn’t try to bury it.

"Her daughter… my daughter. She's the one that killed her." Kieran said. Monte had been prepared to hear some gossip, but he wasn't ready for such an accusation.

"Orna?" Monte asked. There was no way to disguise his shock.

"Me and her mother… We've had separate lives for years and years. Orna lived with me, trained her whole life to be mayor. She barely knew her own mother so to her…" Kieran stopped in the middle of the thought and put his head in his hands.

"May I?" Alaya asked, placing a hand on Kieran's arm. Kieren nodded into his hands.

"Kieran believes that Orna was more involved with Padrig's misdeeds than she initially let on. Orna's behavior since the Night of First Tolling has been increasingly paranoid. You've seen the Guard she brought in. We-- I mean, he, believes his daughter may have… silenced… the only person who knew may have known anything." Alaya said as she squeezed Kieran's arm again and turned back to look at him.

"So, you didn’t kill Padrig?" Monte said. He immediately regretted it.

Alaya's head swiveled back across the table to him. Kieran dropped his hands to reveal red and puffy eyes.

"Me?" Kieran said.

"You think Kieran murdered Padrig?" Alaya said.

"I was trying to keep the old rat alive. I've been his loudest defender. Ever since the night you brought him before us. I had to talk quite a few men down from hanging him right on the square that night. The man deserved justice. The more I learned, the more I realized he was just a pawn." Kieran said. He dabbed his eyes with a napkin.

"Then where did you go this morning?" Monte asked. Any pretense of withholding accusation was out the window. Kieran gave him a knowing look.

"If you must know. I've been going to the graveyard around ten bells most days. It's one of the only places where you can't hear the clocktower so well, and the Guard don't patrol there as much. I go there to visit with the Clockmaker and think. Like I said, it's been a tough couple of weeks." Kieran said. He gave Monte a dirty look as he said it.

Monte was embarrassed for making such an incorrect assumption. He knew Kieran wasn't a killer. Monte may have now lost the trust of one of his only allies in town. But he still had questions.

"Then who did kill Padrig?" Monte asked. He looked at Alaya, half expecting her to bring up the man they'd taken into custody, but she stayed silent.

"Monte. We're both glad you're here. You might really be the hero we need." Alaya said. She looked like she was about to continue when this time Kieran placed his hand on her arm. She stopped and looked at him.

"Alaya has told you most of the story. She left out one thing. There is someone else who might know something about Orna's crimes. At least, Orna believes they do. They're in terrible danger as long as they stay here." Kieran said.

"We should find them then. They might even be the next target. Who is it?" Monte asked.

Both faces across the table from him stared back, eyebrows slightly raised.

It's me.