"Everything sorted out?" The blockish Acolyte asked as they exited.

"The Lord was right." Kint replied, eyes readjusting to Shrouded streets.

"Of course he was." The Acolyte grinned. "Man’s a genius."

"We'll need to canvas the area. Make it look legitimate."

He gestured to the Apartments across the way.

"Things should be sewn up after that."

"Not gonna check the bodies?" The stout man asked.

Kint shrugged.

The Acolyte looked them over, then nodded. Elsha, for her part, remained silent.

"The Lord judged you well." The man smirked.

The Inspector grimaced at the comment.

"Go on then.” The Acolyte pointed. “The quicker we get this cauterized the better."

"Understood." He replied, making his way across the street.

The Inspectors searched for Payter's shadow in the Shroud as they walked.

Elsha pointed to a nearby apartment where the lad was speaking with a slight gentleman.

Kint called him over.

The boy arrived, taking a moment to brush wrinkles from his pants.

"What do you have for us?" Kint asked.

The boy straightened.

"I went through each apartment, knocking on the doors of every resident." He began. "Only five of the apartments across the three buildings were occupied. None of the Kadenites were very forthcoming, but a few were willing to talk."

Elsha gave him a hopeful look.

"Three should be enough, right?"

“Should be fine.” He shrugged. "Unit numbers?"

The boy reached into his pocket, pulling out a folded piece of paper and handing it to Kint.

He looked at the writing on the paper, then folded it again, nodding to the lad.

"This is good work."

The boy smiled.

"You can go now, Payter." Elsha added, "Tell Fezzy we’ve got it all handled."

The young redhead turned to go, then paused.

"You should speak to Mr. Namzeth first." He commented, pointing to the bookish man. "He’s a bit of a gossip."

Kint nodded, watching the boy turn a corner, reminded of his younger days.

He shook his head, smiling.

“Shall we.” Elsha pressed, anxious to be done.

----------------------------------------

Mr. Namzeth was a gossip of the worst order.

He had a gaunt look, with hollow cheeks and thin hair. His eyes were sunk deep in his head, with spectacles that made him look like a bug.

The Inspectors had hardly asked a question before the imp was giving all the details he had on the area.

According to Namzeth, the surrounding apartments had been well occupied several months ago. Filled with families who’d lived there for dozens of years. The man indicated he had some sort of leadership role in the community but was unclear exactly what that might be.

He as if he was the keeper of the histories, except he couldn’t help adding his opinion to every excerpt. He gave detailed accounts of each family's doings and exactly what he thought about them.

Kint couldn’t see anyone actually liking the man.

"Now I can’t say for sure that they were selling Reflection, but I’ll tell you, they drank it quite a lot." He said, finishing a history of the family who’d most recently vacated the building.

It was then that he finally realized how long he’d been talking.

“So what’s this about then?” He asked, needing a reminder. “Some sort of trouble at the factory?”

Kint nodded, amused.

"Was it Mr. Insmuth?" The man questioned. “I bet it was him. He’s alway flouting his authority. Especially when he’s drunk.”

The man rubbed his hands as he spoke.

"The man’s a Junior Acolyte, it’s basically a made up job." He scoffed.

“The man’s a menace.” Elsha whispered in Kint’s ear.

He smiled.

“A junior Acolyte?” The aged Inspector probed.

“Lord Echrus’ Kadenite toadies.” Namzeth answered, “They’re twice as cruel for half the cost.”

The man grimaced, adjusting his glasses.

"But not even that oaf wouldn’t be stupid enough to break into a renters property... If he was drunk enough though..." The Kadenite grinned.

Then he frowned, as if realizing something.

"Oh... ummm... what is the crime anyway?"

"Double murder." Elsha chirped.

Mr. Namzeth stiffened.

"Double murder..." He repeated, lips trembling.

"Yes, quite a gruesome affair." Elsha mentioned. "Two Acolytes dead, blood everywhere, not a trace of the killer. Lord Crecius is quite upset.”

"Acolytes..." The man repeated. "Lord Cre--" Mr. Namzeth cut himself off.

For the first time he truly looked at Kint and Elsha, taking in their faces.

"I... I don't recognize you two. Are you new?"

Elsha raised a surprised eyebrow.

The man was just now realizing this wasn’t some local hijinx.

Kint pulled the gold sigil of the Black Seal from his coat, showing it to the man.

Namzeth went pale.

"Black seal..." He muttered.

"Mr. Namzeth, what can you tell us about the events that took place last night at the factory?" Kint questioned. "Did you see or hear anything odd?"

"Black seal..." He muttered again, eyes distant.

"No..." He whispered. "No. I haven't heard anything-- seen anything. I go to bed quite early you see, and I'm a very heavy sleeper."

"Are you sure?" Kint probed.

He was enjoying the odious man's squirming.

"Sure... Yes, sure. Definitely sure. Nothing happened." The man said, he backed away as he spoke. "I'm truly sorry Inspectors, but I just cannot be of any more assistance on this matter. I'm very busy and I really must be going."

The man reached back, grasping for the apartment door.

"Mr. Namzeth..." Elsha cooed.

"Please." He begged, "I really must be going. If you have questions about the goings on at night, you should ask the Insmuth family. They have a young baby. The woman hasn’t slept in weeks."

He slammed the door behind him.

"Should we... Go after him?" Elsha questioned.

"No." Kint grinned. "He’d just lie to get us out of his hair."

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Elsha shook her head.

“He loves talking about other people's troubles, but doesn’t want to be near it himself.”

Kint snorted, taking out the sheaf of paper Payter had given him.

"Come on. Looks like the Insmuth's are on the second floor."

----------------------------------------

Kint knocked.

The worn wooden door opened a crack, a young woman behind it.

"Who are you?" Came an accented voice.

"We're Inspectors, here under the black seal." Kint stated.

"Yeah?" She said questioningly, "Got proof o' that?"

Kint held out the Sigil.

Mrs. Insmuth grabbed the seal, bringing it behind the door.

"Mrs. Insmuth, we're just here to ask a few questions. We'll be out of your hair in a moment." Elsha soothed.

The young woman peaked back through the crack, handing back the sigil.

"Come in if ye have to." She relented, opening the door wide.

Furniture was sparse in the room, the walls barren. It was painted a dreary yellow, lit by the stale gray light through the fog outside. To the left was a Kitchen with a wood stove, counters, and a dining table.

Mrs. Insmuth groaned as she sat in a worn leather chair, cradling her sleeping baby.

The girl was a bit younger than Elsha. She wore a loose fitting blue dress that might once have had a floral pattern on it.

Kint frowned, noticing the side of her face was marked with dark purple bruising.

"Well?" Mrs. Insmuth started, voice harsh.

Kint hesitated, looking at the child, then back to Mrs. Insmuth's impatient face. Heavy purple circles marked her eyes.

"Mrs. Insmuth." He began. "A crime was committed across the street at one of Lord Crecius’ properties. We’re told you might have been awake last night?"

The young woman raised an eyebrow.

"And who told you that?” She questioned. “Namzeth I'll wager. Sending trouble my way, the bastard."

"Were you up last night, Mrs. Insmuth?" Kint repeated.

"Oh, I was up. Can’t keep the little shite down." She replied, nodding to the baby. "But who wants to sleep, anyway… damned dreams" She grimaced. "Can't say as I heard anything though. This one takes up most of my attention."

“Could your husband have seen something?” Elsha asked.

"Aye, he might have seen." She smirked. “Not that he could tell ye.”

Kint gave her a questioning look.

"He’s a bloody drunk." Mrs. Insmuth sneered. "Can barely remember how to use his pecker. But sure, ask ‘im about his night."

Kint cleared his throat, uncomfortable.

"Where could we find Mr. Insmuth, if we needed to?" He asked.

"He's one of the Lord's lackey's." She grimaced. "He'll be at the Arena. Like most days."

He nodded, filing the information away.

"Well..." The Inspector muttered, readying to leave. "I think we're done here. We know where to find you if we need anything else."

She nodded, showing them out.

He was halfway down the hall before realizing Elsha was not with him.

The woman was still by the door, talking to Mrs. Insmuth. Kint could barely make out what they were saying.

"Help?" The girl chided, voice rising. "Help with what? What do you know about it?"

"I think--" Elsha stammered.

"You think?" The woman asked, words cracked like a whip. "Think harder next time. Cause we don’t need your help. We solve our own problems down here Inspector. So if you please… fuck off!”

The door slammed shut.

Elsha stood there, face downcast.

Eventually, she nodded, turning to meet up with him.

"Elsha..." He started, hesitant.

She blinked, giving him an uneven smile.

"I'm alright Kint." She soothed, making her way past. "Let's move on, shall we."

----------------------------------------

The final apartment was that of a Mrs. Tanzeen.

Kint knocked on the door, Elsha sulking at his heels.

"Come in." A muted voice called.

The apartment was similar to the Insmuth's, but better adorned.

Mrs. Tanzeen was hunched over the stove top in the kitchen.

She turned, straining to pull the tea pot off the stove.

"Have a seat over there."

She nodded to a group of cushioned chairs in the sitting area.

"I put some tea on when the young man said you'd be stopping by."

Kint tugged Elsha to a chair as she was still lost in thought.

Mrs. Tanzeen arrived carrying a tray of tea in silver cups. She set it down sitting gingerly in the chair across from them.

Kint reached out, grabbing a cup.

Elsha declined.

Mrs. Tanzeen cupped her goblet in both hands taking a sip.

At the insistence of her earnest eyes, he took a sip as well.

A comforting warmth spread through his body, rippling like a massage across his shoulders and chest. It wasn't the best tea he'd had, but it brought some color to the stale room.

"So." The elder Kadenite began. "What brings a couple Vorvan Inspectors to my humble home? Young Payter said there was some sort of crime?"

"Yes." Kint began, but was cut off.

"I can't say I'm surprised." Tanzeen continued.

She looked skeptically out a window to the factory.

"The way things have been going, I'm shocked it didn't happen sooner."

"What do you mean?" He prodded.

"Well I'm sure you've noticed how few people there are in this area?" She commented.

"I assumed people were moving to where the work is." Kint replied.

She shook her head.

"Community means more to us than coin.” She smiled. “People were happy to save up a bit and wait for another Lord to rent nearby."

"So, what's changed?"

"Can't say for sure, but ever since Lord Crecius took over the factory, the folk here have been slipping from the path."

"How so?"

"It started out slow." She said, eyes lost through the window. "Just some extra rough housing among the children. Nothing an apology wouldn't fix." She smiled, remembering. "But, then it spread to the parents… With harsh comments, and sour looks in the hallways. Pretty soon it was full blown shouting shouting and spilled mead. The community fell apart before I knew it.” She looked down, face solemn. “No more get togethers, no more helping each other through the hard times, no more tea..." She trailed off.

"So people just left?" Kint pressed.

"No." She shook her head. "We're stubborn folk here. People stayed even after the factory closed down..." She sighed. "No... people didn't start leaving till the fights broke out, and Donnie Chimmons fell out the window." She clicked her tongue. "Nobody knows the full truth of it, but things couldn't be the same after that."

A depressing silence fell over the room.

Kint put his teacup down. Its warmth gone.

"And you think the factory had something to do with it?" Kint asked.

"I don't know." She sighed. "But, I've lived here forty years. Seven different Lords have come and gone, with not a flinch for these good people."

There was a bit of heat in her words.

"But once you're Lord started up... well... "

Another silence.

Eventually Ms. Tanzeen settled down.

She reached across the table, cradling a silver cup and offering it to Elsha.

"Are you sure you don't want any tea?" The Woman asked.

"No." Elsha replied, not even glancing in the woman's direction.

"Mrs. Tanzeen." Kint said, brushing past his partner's ill manners.

The elderly woman sank back into her chair.

"Can you think back to last night?" He said, trying to get things on track. "Did you hear any loud noises from the factory, or see anything suspicious in the later hours."

She put a finger to her lips in thought.

"No... No I don't think so..." She responded.

Kint nodded. He'd expected as much.

She cocked her head to one side.

"No..." She muttered, thinking.

"Mrs. Tanzeen?"

"Well..." She started again, "I did hear some sounds late last night... awful sounds." She slowed, searching her mind. "Screaming... a child screaming… Awful thing."

She shivered.

Kint’s hand moved to his coat pocket. His tobacco tin.

"It was probably a dream, though.” Mrs. Tanzeen continued. “My dreams have been so frightful of late."

The aged Inspector grimed.

He needed to end this.

"Is there anything else you can remember?" Kint asked, moving on.

Mrs. Tanzeen put a finger to her lips.

"I'm sorry Inspector.” She shook her head. “Like I said, just dreams."

He nodded, getting to his feet. He nudged Elsha to do the same.

"Thank you for your help Mrs. Tanzeen.” He said, “We’ll get in contact if there's anything else."

The woman followed them to the door as they exited.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help." She said, "Please, have a blessed day."

"Thank you for the tea." Kint smiled, hearing the door shut behind them.

"Well that was a waste of time." Elsha griped, as they made their way down the stone hall. "Could she have been more boring?"

"I thought it was interesting."

"If you say so." She shrugged. "I'm just glad it's over."

"Over?"

The question broke their conversation.

"What's over? What have you done?" The mayor asked, buttons bulging.

"Fezzy! What a wonderful surprise." Elsha joked, "Couldn't wait for a report from that lacky of yours?"

The mayor frowned, confused.

"Just, tell me what's happened." He commanded, "I don't know how you could have rusted this up since morning, but just tell me so I can deal with the blowback."

"Things were a bit testy in the Ignatium..." Elsha commented.

The Mayor's eyes widened, nightmares playing out behind them.

"It's done, sir." Kint soothed. "We've completed the Seal."

The Mayor's brow furrowed.

"It's done?" He repeated. "What do you mean 'done'?"

"It was a simple mission." The Inspector started, "The Lord asked us to investigate a crime, but the outcome was settled. We just had to clean up the details."

"And you did that?" He pressed, eyes intense.

"Near enough."

The man’s eyes narrowed.

But, eventually, he sighed. A visible weight leaving his shoulders.

"God's Fezzy." Elsha exclaimed. “What’s going on? What has you so vexed?”

The Mayor glanced between them, coming to a decision.

"I got some news this morning." he grumbled, "Duchess Alendria is on her way here from the homeland."

“The Duchess? Why?” Elsha asked.

“How should I know.” Fezzeline pouted. “All I know is, that it makes finishing the seal all the more vital.”

The Inspectors shared a look.

“Let me guess.” Kint grunted. “She’ll be here in three days.”

The Mayor grunted in acknowledgement.

“How’d you know?”

“That’s how long we had to finish the job.”

The bulbous man gave a sardonic chuckle.

"Well… The Lord should be pleased." He noted, "Though, I wouldn't expect praise for your efforts. Credit is a Blessed thing."

Kint nodded at the old saying.

"Oh we know." Elsha commented, "He made that quite clear."

The Mayor chuckled.

"I'm sure he did."

He took a heavy breath, looking around. His layers of fat rolled, relaxing as he exhaled.

"Now…” He huffed, patting his belly. “Can you help me find the tube. The Shoud is thicker than butter here."