Ezra glanced up at the thudding on her door, a scowl on her face. “What do you want?” she called, slapping the stack of parchment onto her desk. The door cracked open, groaning on its heavy hinges. Ezra had a dagger in her hand before the door stopped moving.

A portly scribe peaked his head into the room. “Ms. Woolf, His-“ The scribe was instantly silenced by the quivering blade that sat in the doorframe.

“Call me Ms. Woolf again, scribe, and the King will have to replace you. Now what is it you want?”

“U-Uh, His Majesty, the K-King Wishes t-to…” The scribe trailed off at the glare she leveled at him.

“Fine, I’ll go see the man,” she sighed, placing the parchment she’d been reading in a drawer and locking it.

Ezra stepped around the desk, scowling as she moved to retrieve her blade even as the stammering man stumbled out of her way. She grimaced at the smell as she stepped into the hallway. “And clean up your piss before you leave too.”

Ezra tore down the hallway at a brisk walk, the low burning torches casting a flickering shadow in her wake. The guards that stood in the hallway were mostly accustomed to the investigator’s harsh form appearing like a wraith as she passed through the stone passageways. The newer guys were the exception, of course. She took pride in the fearful starts they gave as she passed, a vicious grin pasted on her face.

As she finally reached the courtroom, Ezra slowed, hiding the last vestiges of her malicious smile behind the usual scowl she maintained. A dais came into view between the pillars along the side of the throne room, a small table next to the chair that sat in the center. There were guards placed liberally throughout the room, and they all seemed to bristle as she walked into the center of the room. Giving a slight bow, the no-nonsense woman jumped right to the point.

“Who and where?” Her voice was terse and left no room for distractions.

So she thought. One of the younger guards drew his sword a few inches. “You will address His Majesty properly!”

The King smirked and shook his head. “Leave her be, child. She’d likely cut your throat before you had that sword free of its sheath anyways.” The older man stroked his salt and pepper beard. “One of the nobles. Lord Helias. He was apparently returning home from the tavern nearby when he was stabbed to death in an alley behind Merchant’s Plaza. The tavern was called The Crystal Inn. I trust you have it handled?”

Ezra gave a slight nod before smirking to the guard and turning on her heel, forgoing her usual attempts at respect. The kid huffed loudly, slamming his sword back into its sheath with vigor.

Leaving the throne room, the inquisitor navigated the labyrinth of the castle as she always did, and quickly found her way to a thick door in a less secluded part of the castle. The people that passed gave the grim woman a wide berth, moving just a little bit faster. A quick knock, and Ezra heard the telltale signs of someone coming to open the door.

Ada poked her head through a moment later, her chainmail clinking as she shifted into the doorway. Her face lit up for a moment, and then drooped as she realized who stood at the door. “Oh. It’s just you, Ezra. I had hoped it was Selles. Another murder, then?” Ada sighed as the inquisitor nodded. “Let me grab my sword and we’ll go then.”

“Who was it?” Ada asked, her booted feet filling the hall with a dull rhythm as she emerged from her room.

“Lord Helias. Murdered after a night of drinking.” Ezra sneered at a particularly nosey servant as they passed. The thin man dropped one of the scrolls he was carrying in his haste to get away.

Ada shook her head. “Found him this morning?”

“I would certainly assume so. I’d have words with the King if otherwise.” Ezra pointed to a tapestry and the two slipped behind it into the corridor beyond. The stale, poorly lit passage echoed with their steps.

When they emerged into a more open hall, Ada spoke up once more. “What killed him?”

“A blade if I had to guess. The King would have been far more forthcoming if he thought it were poison or magic.” The two of them made a formidable pair, and so were left to their devices by the guards they passed.

“I’m sure we’ll find some clues as to the opposite. City guard did the initial search?” Ada waved to a passing noble, who smiled- up until their eyes found Ezra’s. They hurried away.

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As they broke through to the open city, the citizens, noble and common alike, seemed to be averse to their presence. Ezra wasn’t surprised. She was annoyed at having to speak up to be heard by her companion. “As always. We’ll see when we get there though.”

The stench of death became all too clear as they passed into Merchant’s Plaza. Ada grimaced and covered her nose, her face tinting green in a heartbeat. Ezra merely rolled her eyes, sniffing lightly as the bittersweet tang assaulted her nose. Most of the shopping area was still filled, but one of the corners was notably empty, the store owners in the area looking both red in the face and green about the gills as the detectives pushed through to the empty section. They spotted the alley with ease, two royal guards standing at the entrance.

The men blanched, stepping away immediately, allowing Ezra and Ada through without question. The alley was a horror scene. Blood was splashed on the walls like an interpretive painting, and there was a trail of it leading to Lord Helias’ grey corpse. There were scorch marks along one of the walls and his hands were blackened from magic he lost control of. And it stank. Even Ezra coughed away the taste of bile as the noxious air stirred with the wind. Just under the scent of death, fecal matter and vomit were prominent. And under that, magic lingered in the air.

“Whatever he’d cast it must have taken a lot,” Ada said, stepping gingerly around a pool of blood as she choked back a gag.

Ezra tapped a dagger hilt on one of the scorch marks, grunting in agreement. “Likely tried to turn the man into ash with one hit. Look at how deep this burn goes. And there are only two. Last ditch effort then.”

Ada nodded, flipping the dead man over with her boot. She hissed at the gashes as she lifted his tunic. “Not a stiletto then. These cuts were meant to hurt. Looks like it was pretty personal.” The knight patted at the lord’s waist before pulling a knife free of its leather sheath. “Never had a chance to cut his attacker either. So, what made those?” She pointed to splashes of blood that ran up the wall, starting at chest height and ending nearly a foot above Ezra’s head.

“Perhaps he had a second blade to cut the attacker with?” Ezra stepped forward, reaching out to the stale magic around her. It recoiled at her touch before coming under control. Pictures began to form in her mind’s eye. A blade of light. Fire, white hot and urgent. Shadows, thick and cloying. And behind all of them, the unmistakable tang of fear and burn of anger unchecked.

Ada stepped up, seeing Ezra fall out of her scry with a gasp. “What did you see?”

Ezra shook her head, pulling a pipe from her cloak and packing it, hoping the smoke would mask the stench of the already rotting body. “Not a face. Just the magics. Seems our friend got a few lucky hits in. The killer was definitely angry. We’ll need to get to the Crystal Inn, see who was there and who he’d upset.”

Ada nodded, already making to leave the alley. Ezra followed, lighting the pipeweed as she went. The walk was short, the crowds parting between their overwhelming aura of confidence and Ezra’s choking pipe smoke. As they made their way into the well-to-do establishment, the grumpy owner shot the inquisitor a glare. She ignored him, striding up to his companion at the far side of the bar.

Ada broke off and approached the crotchety man on the other side of the bar as Ezra began her work.

“We’re looking for some answers about a patron of yours from last night, friend. Might be you could help.” The investigator flashed a grin that could have been genuine, barring the twinkle in her eye.

He shot the grizzled woman a withering look, a singular eyebrow raised. His face morphed to a far more neutral tone at the thud of a silver piece hit the counter. “Prolly wouldn’t know who ya mean, lass. See lots of people at this bar, especially after harvest.” Another coin hit the table, stacked nearly perfectly on top of the other with a soft  clink. “I suppose I might remember a few patrons from last night.”

Ezra smiled a wicked grin. “Lord Helias was murdered not far from here. Know of anyone he might have angered during his revels last night?”

The bartender paused a moment before reaching for another glass to clean. “Not that I can think of, I’m afraid. Seemed to keep to himself, from what I saw.” He started to turn away, attempting to walk closer to his boss, when the tip of a thin dagger caught the lip of his glass, flicking it free of his grasp and disappearing in a fluid motion. The glass shattering silenced the entire room.

“Oh my, are you okay?” Ezra asked, feigning concern as she ignored a pointed glare from Ada.

“Fine,” the bartender murmured, ears red as the conversation picked up around them. “What do you want, woman?”

“I’m willing to pay for that glass that I just know your boss will be angry about, but I’m going to need something more than what you’re giving me,” the investigator whispered with a grin from ear to ear. She flashed a gold coin, rolling it across her knuckles, before turning slowly on her heels and dropping the coin back in her pocket.

A low sigh slipped out from behind the bar. Ezra froze, her grin still plastered on her face.

“Fine. There were rumors that Lord Helios was involved with some girl from House Grayriver. Then her brother turns up at the local healer with a nasty cut from some edged blade training. Only thing is, I hear the cut was far too thin for how deep it was and stank of magic and the healers couldn’t Mend it like they should have been able to.” The bartender didn’t wait for an acknowledgement before reaching towards the coins that were stacked on top of each other.

Ezra was faster, however. She snatched the silver from the smooth wood, slipping a gold coin across the bar to land at the glowering man’s feet. He gave her a weary look before bending to retrieve his coin and going about cleaning up the shattered glass. “So nice doing business with you, friend,” she shot over her shoulder as she spun on her heel.

The inquisitor gave her companion a nod as she began to leave. When the knight finally caught up, her annoyance was palpable. The crowd seemed to widen their berth around the pair slightly upon seeing the kindly woman glower at her companion.

“You didn’t have to break anything, you know. I’m sure a few more silver would have had the same effect.” Ada shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Did you at least get a name?”

Ezra chuckled, false chagrin slipping into her voice. “You wound me, dear. We both know I would have kept breaking things until I did.” Ezra snorted at Ada’s contemptuous glare. “Alan Grayriver. Apparently, the good Lord was involved with the boy’s sister. Seems he turned up at Sara’s apothecary without a strange wound that reeked of magic and couldn’t be Mended. Figure I’ll talk with Sara and then I might turn up at the Grayriver Estate after some quick paperwork.”

“I’m coming, Ezra. If Alan Grayriver dies without a trial, the guards they supply will be up in arms before the night ends.” The knight’s tone left no room for argument, and her face was hard set. “The last thing we need is for the city to be in a riot because you got caught up in the fight again.” The glare she leveled would have cowed lesser people.

Ezra simply shrugged, lighting another bowl of pipeweed as they walked. “Whatever you say, toots.” The inquisitor took a long drag, quelling the urge that fought its way up as her hand brushed the short sword that hung at her hip. Not in broad daylight, she thought to herself. Soon, but not tonight. Soon I’ll have to do it again. Ezra glanced at the sky, noting the moon hanging in the sky not far from the sun. I may have to force the fight tonight before the new moon tomorrow. The Inquisitor grimaced behind her pipe, taking another long drag.