Turning danger into opportunity was an idea that brought a smile to Malums face. It could make disaster turn into fortunes but its possibility brought about idea of fortune turning into disaster.
If it was possible, then Malum would need to wary of the future.
For now, he focused on the present.
He greatest strength and ally was Baron Smith’s complete backing. That in court would save him from a completely unfair trial.
But Malum had caught some interesting material as he had wandered through the bank and whilst it wasn’t a great treasure it would certainly come in handy now.
He passed letter into three houses as he walked through the Nobles district, two were went through the doors of Baron and one was sent to a Count.
With the seeds planted he had himself a greater chance of getting out of his danger alive. He noticed how the danger didn’t subside when he passed each letter through the letter box but he did find that the negative senses became more focused.
Instead of feeling like pins were poking every place in his body, it felt like a dagger was stabbing his neck and hand: instead of a constant ringing sound, he heard a sharp and painful whistle every couple of seconds.
It could be interpreted that he was in more danger, after all he was feeling more pain than he was before as whilst the sharp whistle appeared less it also hurt far more on impact. Yet, those areas not receiving pain or that brief moment before another whistle came was where his opportunity lay.
With hope, Malum focused back on his task and moved down the street back towards the mansion. After entering he informed Jameson and Florence about the danger and from it continued the plan.
Jameson left the room and entered his own. He lay in his bed and prepared for the rest of the plan. He got into his nightwear and entered his own bed. The heat of the summer coming through the windows was annoying but Jameson was sure he wouldn’t be feeling it soon.
Soon his friend came though the doors and with him came a bottle of suffering.
“Don’t delay it, just pass me my pain.”
“Here, but don’t down it all in one go. You’ll need to take around a quarter every day for the plans duration. If the plan lasts longer, ask Florence for another bottle. Now drink up commander.”
Malum gave him a smile and Jameson scowled as he held the bottle. He inspected it and measured out a quarter before he took of its small cork and said, “Cheers solider.”
He then drank a quarter and placed the bottle onto the nearby bedside drawer.
Malum watched as his complexion quickly paled. Florence entered with a warm wet rag which he then placed on Jameson forehead.
The poison was called Winter’s Solace and it acted like a common sickness. It left the victim weak and freezing even in the hottest of summers.
The effects would only worsen with continued doses until they finally gave into the cold.
Malum choose it because it had clear effects and needed more than 20 doses to actually kill and common man. For a man like Jameson he would need around 25, and whilst the poison wasn’t a fun experience it was definitely one of the tamer ones he had in his arsenal.
For the next hour, Malum and Florence both acted as one to keep Jameson as comfortable as possible. The fireplace was lit and the thickest wool hung around Jameson’s body in the bed.
The poison was also reminiscent of a certain demonic disease. If it was a potentially dangerous spreader then even as Baron he wouldn’t be safe from being burned in paranoia.
All Malum needed to do now was wait for the danger to arrive. He had set up his own part of the play, now was to see what fate had dealt his enemies.
As a guard he had always kept his work separate from when he was at home. His wife didn’t like the conversation and his brother wasn’t the best listener at the best of times.
So usually he would keep what he saw today to himself.
But, he couldn’t get the lads head out of his mind. Those yellow eyes, he had heard his brother speaking of the thief and seeing a man in his twenties with yellow eyes he thought perhaps they were the same person.
Or was he was just overthinking things. He was a docter in a Barons Mansion, why on earth would he be a thief?
“Any news of the Thief brother?” He decided to ask.
To his left at dinner table sat his muscled brother.
“No. We still have no leads on the rat, even thought we’ve checked every carriage leaving this city twice over.”
He couldn’t help but feel bad for his brother. He was always a righteous kid but the Knight training had really amplified it to the next level. He cared so much about his job and the wellbeing of the citizens, it was part of the reason he became a guard himself, though he wasn’t talented enough to be a Knight.
He thought a bit, then decided to say anyway, “On the patrols today I saw a twenty something guy with yellow eyes.”
His brother almost jumped from the table, “What built was he?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
“Athletic, though he clearly did some training.”
“Which side was his sheath?”
“On the right.”
His brother calmed but still remained energetic.
“Have you reported this in?”
“No, he was at a Nobles mansion working as a Docter.”
His brother paused slightly, “Indeed that’s strange, but still bring him in. Such a criminal must be caught, remember that when your decided whether or not to take them in.”
He nodded and agreed to report it in. His brother wasn’t one to argue with.
“What about dessert, would any of you want some of my home-grown fruit?” his wife said to move onto a different subject. He thanked the Gods for his wife and decided to report it in the morning. It probably wasn’t that poor docter but he could get some credits for taking in a suspect anyway.
Honour, duty, he didn’t care about most of those. He loved his family, perhaps that’s why he never thrived as a Knight.
The morning came and Malum and Florence where awoken by the loud sound of knocking. Indistinguishable shouts could be heard but Malum was to tired to hear any of it.
That danger had kept him up all night and now it seemed to have arrived right when he had fallen asleep.
He got dressed in his `Docters` attire and walked to the door with Florence right in front of him.
The knocking continued and only stopped when Florence opened the door,
“What reason could you be so rudely knocking on a Barons door at such a time in the morning!”
Malum cheered Florence on but knew it was a loosing battle from the moment he saw the uniform outside.
A glowing silver, from head to toe: a Knight.
“Good morning Butler, we do apologise but we are on a task of the utmost priority. Could we meet the Baron for such discussion?”
The voice was similar to the one Malum had heard at the Bank. He looked at the face to see a pair of eyes he had already seen before. He paused in terror but kept himself cool with words of encouragement.
Florence didn’t miss a step, his words following the plan to the letter, “I’m sorry but the Baron had recently fallen ill. Here is Docter Malum if you wish to learn when he will recover.”
Malum nodded to the Knight and Malum felt as his eyes gave him a once over.
“The Docter?” The Knight muttered under his breath and he looked again at Malum. Focusing on the eyes.
They did look similar, but the Knight had already signed him off on account to his identity. No docter could run that fast for so long, yet alone take down a few Knights, even with poison.
“It is a shame to hear he is sick. Well...” The Knight fell into thought as thought of what he should do. Taking away the docter of a patient, that of a Baron no mind, was not the greatest of ideas but his orders where to take the Docter in.
“I’m sorry but the Docter is going to have to follow me. His appearance is too similar to the Thief so we will need to find out if he is in any way related to the case.”
Florence began to erupt, “WHAT?! You want to risk the Barons life over a mere suspicion. I personally was here on the night of the robbery with him tending to the sick Baron!”
“I again apologize but my orders are absolute.”
“Order from whome!” Florence settled with.
“Knight Captain Gale Erving.”
Florence calmed with the name. It was another vassal family of the Roosevelts, this one being the main Knight family whome had protected them for generations.
Still, Florence had some leeway especially with the circumstances, “Well then he will receive a letter of complaint before the evening. I’m sure the other Nobles will also join me after hearing of this preposterous event!”
Malum looked at Florence’s face with surprise. He hadn’t seen the calm and collected butler fire off like this, he hadn’t even heard him raise his voice but it seemed the old man had some bite to him.
The Knights face crumbled slightly, more out of resignation than annoyance. Regardless of the hassle it would bring, he collected Malum and soon the Docter had iron cuffs around him arms.
“This is outrageous.” He muttered, making his opinion known to his escorts.
They guards around him looked away. They all knew the Nobility would make a stink of the occasion and they were going to be suffering the consequences.
So once they arrived at the Knights Temple Malum was taken to a nice bedroom. He was given food and drink and about everything he asked for as long as it didn’t include freedom.
Danger still lurked in the shadows but with the good treatment and hope on the horizon Malum felt less and less anxious about the coming events.
He was talking with the guard when a bearded man entered the room. He was a big guy, the sword on his back though was just as big.
The Guard gave a salute the second he noticed the big guys arrival.
“Knight Captain, Sir!”
Malum looked him over again and swore the pattern on the mans armour. It was a mix of leather and a shiny metal. Perhaps not a pure spiritual armour set, those were beyond anyone but the King and perhaps a Dukedom, but an alloy one.
Malum reckoned he sword wouldn’t even dent it.
He kept to his manners when addressing the Count, “My humblest greetings.” He even bowed because Florence had said it would sell the act more.
“Enough of that.” The Knight Captain starred at his eyes a little then said, “Sorry for your rough means of travel, I’m sure you’ve heard of the recent robbery.”
“Of course your lordship, such a travesty by such villainess fiends. The Gods will smite them for their stupidity.”
“If only it where that simple,” The bearded man grumbled, “and you unfortunately match the description of the fiend whome the Knights saw the most off.”
Malum shook his head in dismay. “Curses. Well it explains a lot but I must remind you that the Baron is ill and I must attend to him.”
“Yes I have already received a runner about that. Now we will take you to be seen by the witness’, you will speak and wear garments similar to that the robber wore. After that you will be free to go.”
Malum nodded and they moved along. He didn’t want to push his luck for as much as his situation was pitiable he was also talking to someone of much higher standing. So he played it safe.
They walked out the cell and Malum said goodbye to the guard who chatted with him. They then followed a few wooden corridors towards a small room with just a table and chairs. On the table was an outfit which the Count pointed to, “Put those on and say the phrases on the paper. You visitors will be here as soon as you’re ready.”
Again, Malum chose to nod and once he had left he slipped into the clothes as fast as he could. He then poked his head outside, called out that he was ready before slipping back in and into the chair.
He looked around to see a plain wooden room. No windows sadly, but the torches on the walls made the room as bright as it would have normally been at this time anyway.
It didn’t take long before someone came into the room and Malum recognised them instantly, it was the Knight who had taken him in.
“You’re a witness?” Malum asked to which the Knight sighed.
“Yes I was there on the night. One moment I was standing guard over my comrade and the second I had a poisoned dagger between my armour.”
Malum tried his best to look away from his neck. Nobody else but the perpetrator would know to look there so Malum dragged his eyes towards the Knights face.
“You seem to have not suffered much scarring.” As a docter Malum played his role.
The Knight pulled back on the cloth set he was wearing below his amour, to reveal a bandage around his neck.
“We were wearing full plate amour and the scum got me in the neck. I was lucky I lived; it was only a shallow cut.”
“That good to hear, but as much as I enjoy the conversation I believe we have better things to spend our time on.”
The Knight nodded before heading for the door. “I’m confident it was not you. You will have three more until you can go though so just convince them and you can go.”
Malum hmphed, “Alright, get the next in quickly.”
The knight nodded before disappearing out the door. With one of 4 completed and done so well Malum felt a wave of danger dissipate around him. It still remained deadly but no longer was his fate so miserable. It seemed fate was uncertain.