Chapter 85

"Make way! Make way for the Viceroy of the Commons!" called a Crier in a spotless silver uniform with white piping.

Upon his chest was the heraldic cockatrice of the realm.

An honor guard of four troops was marching ahead of a closed carriage. Its cockatrice pranced in artful, trained motion, causing the bells on their harness to jingle as they approached.

"Ooh, a muckety muck," She said to Tobias as they stepped out of the way to allow passage.

He kept his eyes down, as did all those around him, but Riley stared, "Is this a royal? Some high born noble?"

"The viceroy of the commons is the representative of the royal family to the people, Riley," Tobias said reverently as the carriage went by.

Chadrick sneered out from behind the door with Mavora on his shoulder. As he caught sight of Riley, his eyes went wide in concert with hers.

"No fucking way," she cursed.

Tobias sighed. "Come on Riley."

A surge of emotions hit her.

"You're angry," She blurted out the words, surprised by the onslaught.

There was no sign; not even his shoulders were tense as he walked, save for the stony silence that percolated around him like tombstones in a cemetery.

"Of course I'm angry. An untrained kraus would be a better choice for that position. It's...typical," Tobias projected, careful to keep his words far from audible.

"How can I help?" She queried as they made a direct line towards the barracks.

"Let me focus on my work. Chadrick getting more than he deserves has already filled up too much of my life, and it's firmly in the category of things I can do nothing about," he replied, sounding suddenly tired.

"But he's the bad guy! We can take him down! He's guilty!" Riley proclaimed in a whine.

"Of trying to kill us? Yeah, twice, and the fact remains we don't matter enough for it to matter, as to the rest of it? Maybe... and that's a big maybe. Riley, take your blinders off. You're not a cockatrice, and it's unbecoming of you. There are other, bigger monsters than Chadrick in this world, and those are the ones we can kill, thankfully," he sighed again and let his hand rest upon the door, trying to center himself.

"You're right," She agreed with drooping ears.

"Remember those kids from Landon, the widows? Well, we've got twenty three victims in need of some kind of answer. I intend to give them the right one, even if it's not the one I want," His left hand hardened into a fist as he yanked the door open and strode into a small anteroom.

"I'm here to see Commander Wystan," Tobias announced to the posted guard.

"Of course, Ranger, Sir." He firmed up at attention before turning about face, leading them into a wide open room with bunks built three high framing each side.

"Corporal Aethelred, see to my post until I return," he ordered as he passed.

"Yes Sir!" Aethelred replied, fastening on his sword while rushing toward his post.

"Are we at war or something?" Riley scanned around.

"This is the royal seat, Riley," Tobias explained, projecting.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

"Fair enough," she replied as they crossed the last of the bunks. Two doors were set to either side of them, leading to more bunk rooms. Just in front of them was an iron banded door with a plaque proclaiming it as the Office of the Watch Commander. After knocking twice, the guardsman took up position at the side of the door as if keeping watch.

"Do you think they dream in that position?" Riley snickered.

"Do you know how many dreams I have now about endlessly running?" Tobias countered.

"Fair, kinda same, but running away is one of my weird animal things," Riley replied.

Tobias chuckled softly, brightening some, just as a gruff voice shouted, "Enter!"

Riley's jaw dropped in surprise at the visage of a portly, balding man in his fifties. He was clad in battle leathers that had been considerably let out to accommodate his bulging belly, which protruded over a wide leather belt like a sheer cliff. On one side, keys hung on a loop. The top of his head was shiny and bald, save for the hair that framed the sides in what Riley considered "the Picard style." A tight gold torc wrapped around his neck, combining with the ruddiness of his face to give the impression he was choking. His beady, watchful eyes framed a sinister grin, portending menace.

"That will be all, Sergeant Albrecan. Return to your post," he growled.

"Yes Sir," The guard set his fist over his left chest and left with a bow of his head.

"Ranger Tobias, I presume," He held out his fleshy hands, allowing them both to clasp arms. "I was told you were to be in contact with me. How can I help?"

"Yes, sir, thank you for your time. I was instructed to report to you about the series of murders that've occurred. I've hardly been briefed, so I was hoping you could bring me up to speed," Tobias replied.

Wystan gestured to a chair that sat across from his desk.

"Interesting," he rumbled before turning in his chair, which creaked under his impressive weight.

He unraveled a few scrolls set on a shelf behind him before grabbing one and passing it to Tobias.

"Most have been commoners, which isn't too much to worry about, really, but the first was a sorcerer. This was about a year and a half back. That, of course, was unusual and drew the attention of the Guard. The most recent murders, though, indicate motion away from the castle grounds, almost like it's eating its way out of the city," Wystan explained.

"You're referring to Instructor Alecto," Tobias replied.

"Did you know him?" Wystan asked with all the skill of a trained interrogator.

"By reputation, I was recently in attendance at the Valenheim Academy. His death was announced, but I had no idea it was believed to be murder or monster attack," Tobias replied.

"Ah, then you're new to the Blackblades. Yes, the victim was found desiccated, devoid of fluids, and literally crumbling. He was the first. Since then, whatever the hell is doing it has been chewing on the odd noble, but most victims are predominantly commoners. If only it had kept to the lower stations, I could've put this one to bed as an unsolved," he tsked, shaking his head.

"I don't think I like this man," Riley replied, her eyes narrowing into a scowl.

Tobias nodded subtly.

"And you say the perpetrator has been keeping away from the castle grounds lately?" Tobias questioned.

"Aye, it does seem to be the way, though it will occasionally pop back up in the vicinity of the royal lands before ranging down again. I swear it's making loops, but the truth of it is, there are no eyewitness accounts, just desiccated bodies as if everything vital has been stolen from them," Wystan yawned, revealing stained yellow teeth.

"That does sound like what Mavora did, but they'd have no reason to range with their level of access," Riley thought out loud as she felt a hint of approval from Tobias.

"Anything else I need to know?" Tobias pressed.

"All pertinent details that we've been able to glean are in the report scroll there, and I'll make sure to loop you in on any further murders that occur while you are investigating. Now..." He trailed off, looking to his left and right, before pulling a small coin purse out of his desk, "I was wondering if you and I might talk about helping each other."

Tobias went pale. "Help each other?"

"Oh it's just a thought, a hypothetical. You handle this quietly, end the threat, then you let me take the credit and another piece of filth gets the blame that deserves it. We have a proper hanging, the public gets to see justice done, and everyone wins," Wystan smiled affably as Riley fidgeted with rage.

"And I assume that coin purse is for me?" Tobias queried.

"Oh this? Why, I thought it was yours...if we have an agreement," Wystan pressed, holding out his hand to clasp arms.

Tobias rose and straightened his cloak, "I'll take it under advisement. Would you permit me another question before I go, in the interests of our new working relationship?"

"Of course, Ranger, I'm really hoping we can be friends. That's how things work in the capital, favors. This is your chance to get in on the ground floor and meet with the right people," he explained.

"I see; how'd you come by this post?" Tobias took a deep, centering breath, trying to find a quiet place of peace between two converging storms of emotion, his own and Riley's.

"Oh, well, family connections, of course. I'm the heir of Turnworth," he replied with pride.

"I thought as much, you've a noble bearing to you, sir. Good day," Tobias bowed his head before turning to leave.