Dead Letter (32 page)

The
Guildmaster’s lips attempted a smile, but his eyes bore into her.
“All the same, there were unfortunate losses of life. I can only
imagine how hard that must have been on you. As a Guard of our city
you are faced with difficult decisions. I am sure you did what you
had to do.”

“
I could have done more, but I was given little choice. Things
are not settled.”

“
Fear not, Captain Malik has taken it upon himself to tie up
the loose ends, while you were incapacitated. As you know, the
Jandan trader had manipulated Master Mertin. It was through him
they commissioned the glaziers to manufacture components for the
production of blaze with the intention of flooding our streets with
the foul drug. The Jandans engaged Bloody Agnus and used one of her
gangs, the Black Hand Boys, to steal the magical gems and the
glassware for manufacture.”

“
Moondrops are for making the blaze?” asked Kettna, knowing
full well the true purpose.

“
As you say. And to stem the flow of Jandan drugs on our
streets, I have passed a law through the High Council to regulate
the sale of moondrops through the Calimskan Treasury. You witnessed
the extremes criminals will go to get their hands on them. It has
become an issue for public safety. It was fortunate that you were
on the scene to rescue Lapidary Schon and his jewellers. It could
have ended much worse … as it did in the case of the bandits you
captured.”

“
You’ve hung them already? What about a trial?”

“
They didn’t make it to trial. Unfortunately, prison was not
kind to them. The injured rogue you selflessly saved died of his
wounds. The healer was unable to revive him. The other two
attempted escape and required a heavy hand to subdue. They too died
from mortal wounds.”

Kettna
sunk in her pillows. “Without trial we have no way of proving who
they were working for.” That is just as the Guildmaster wanted it.
No links back to him.

“
As I said, Captain Malik has wrapped everything up and we
have enough evidence to prove Bloody Agnus was collaborating with
Jando to undermine Calimska.”

“
And did Merchant Guillan have all his stolen items returned?”
probed Kettna. “The missing lockbox was so important to him. Did
you find it, Malik?”

“
It was destroyed in the fire,” said the Captain, with the
brevity of a man resigned to repeating a fabrication. A shorter lie
was closer to a fact than a long one.

“
Guillan must have been disappointed. Were there not any
remains of his personal effects?”

“
On the contrary, he was delighted that the Jandans were
exposed and eliminated by you. It turns out that they were
extorting him to manipulate the coming elections. He was so ashamed
to learn that other guilds had been harmed by the same agents and
wished he had summoned the bravery to give them up at the
beginning.”

“
The truth is for the brave, is it not?” asked Kettna,
addressing each man in the room, wondering who knew what, and what
lies they told each other.

“
The truth does not make amends, and it can often cause more
damage and hurt than a lie. In favour of Merhant Guillan’s bad
judgement, he has since made amends. All guilders hurt by the
manoeuvres of the Jandan agents have been compensated for their
losses. The Merchant Guild has been generous on this account.
What’s more, Merchant Guillan has stepped down as a candidate for
Guildmaster and thrown his support behind me.”

“
Merchant Guillan was a critic of your inability to stop the
rise in crime and corruption. Are you are committed to eliminating
the source of it all? What is to be done with Bloody
Agnus?”

“
I am your advocate for her capture. I trust that you are
mine?”

Kettna
had no choice. If she disagreed with any of the story, she would be
outed as being an associate of Bloody Agnus. The Guildmaster was
right. The truth would not make amends. “You have my vote,
Guildmaster.”

“
Good. Much is afoot across the Great Dividing Range. The
Salroc Sea is awash with rebellion and piracy. The tide is rising
against Jando and I fear it will wash upon us in Calimska. It is
good to know I have the people’s new hero on my side. For now I
must go; I have pressing business requiring my
attention.”

A moment
after the Guildmaster left with Malik in tow, Herder Kleith came to
sit by her bedside. “I feared your spirit lost, child. Nathis knew
not where it was. I tended your burns and bruises, but there was no
more I could do. Your body was so cold, your heart slow. I heard
you whisper of flowers and stone. I hope you don’t mind, I went
through your things at the Cog and Wheel and found this book of
pressed flowers. I brought it to you and once it was in your hand,
you would not let it go. Only then, your spirit returned. I am glad
of it, for things in Calimska have been set on a dire path. The
people need you, Inspector. However, when you are well enough,
first call on me in the Hall of the Dead. I have made
arrangements.”

Rix was
dead. Kettna could do nothing but weep. Her wounds were too fresh.
Herder Kleith took the Inspector’s hand and comforted
her.

“
We have to make things right, Kleith,” said Master Mertin,
passing Kettna a handkerchief and sniffing back tears of his own.
“How many more hearts must break for this great city? How many
young lives must disappear? I cannot bear it any
longer.”

“
You must,” said Herder Kleith, standing to leave. “There is a
way; now all the brighter we have found a hero.”

A
breakfast of thin porridge was brought to the Inspector, but it was
not enough for her ravenous appetite. Master Mertin was kind and
served a second breakfast of scrambled eggs, provided Kettna agreed
to a generous sprinkle of beneficial herbs. He clucked and fussed
around her, offering gems of wisdom, sage advice and water, lots of
water. Thankfully, a bedpan and a moment of privacy were also
offered before the Constable arrived.

The
staunch step of the veteran warrior’s approach shook the boards of
the house and in three strides he was up the stairs to the loft. At
the top he stopped and saluted Inspector Kettna with precise
vigour. She returned the gesture with less of both, but it didn’t
dim the beaming smile the Constable had brought for her. “By the
gods, you don’t mess around! Either you’re all in, or all out,
aren’t you?”

“
Do I get paid while I’m out?” asked Kettna.

“
Not a copper clipping.”

“
Then I’d best find my way up to Founders Fort to pick up my
next assignment.”

“
No need. I’ve brought it with me. Master Mertin?”

“
Yes, Constable?”

“
May we discuss our sensitive business?”

“
Of course,” replied Mertin and lingered with interest at what
the Constable had for Kettna.

“
Might we do so in private?” asked the Constable.

“
Oh, I see! Take all the time you need. I’ll be
downstairs.”

“
Thank you.”

“
Call if you need anything,” said Mertin.

“
I will,” replied the Constable.

“
Tea?” asked the alchemist.

“
No, thank you.”

“
Wine?”

“
No, nothing,” insisted the Constable. “Thank you.”

“
Perhaps, chocolate?”

The constable fixed Mertin with a steely glare.
“You’re
much
too
kind. No.”

Mertin
took the hint, gathered his dignity and retreated
downstairs.

“
Constable, before you task me with a new assignment, you
should know that my first assignment is not complete.”

“
How so? Every detail is accounted for. I grilled Captain
Malik so that no stone was left unturned. I walked the carcass of
that warehouse and saw what he saw … What you saw. The outcome was
a grim yet superlative success in the eyes of the High Council.
Even the Guildmaster is pleased.”

“
Can I trust you?”

“
What a rotten question! You know you can. Logic has proven to
you that I am your advocate.”

“
That is what the Guildmaster said.”

“
Say what you have to say, Inspector, and be done tarrying
about.”

She
beckoned the Constable closer. “The Guildmaster was behind it all,”
she whispered.

He
gripped her shoulders so tight; Kettna thought her arms would drop
off. “I knew you were the right choice! Thanks be to gods that
walk!”

“
What do you mean, you knew.”

“
I suspected,” replied the Constable. “That … and more. But
suspecting and knowing are two different beasts.”

“
So what do we do now?” asked Kettna.

“
What proof do you have?”

That was
the problem. “Nothing but my word.”

“
The people high and low have already bought a different
story. Unless there is anyone else who can confirm the
truth?”

“
Bloody Agnus?” suggested the Inspector, knowing it was a
ridiculous proposition.

“
She will not help. Witnesses to the political machinations of
our great city are quick to take the hand of Nathis. There are none
left to tell tales.”

“
One of the Black Hand Boys gave me a clue.” Kettna could not
bring herself to say his name. “He said something about the Dragon
Choir. Do you know what that is? A rogue who had a gripe with the
Jandans asked me about the same thing.”

“
I’ve never heard of it. Sounds like a magical relic of some
kind. Ask your elders for help, but if it is truly the key to what
the Guildmaster has been up to, your enquiries have to be kept
quiet. At least we two can be resolved to deliver true justice in
the future. For now, we must press our seal of approval upon the
Guildmaster’s story and bide our time.”

The
Constable’s words jogged Kettna’s memory. The seal. There was one
witness, she could call on; the kitchen hand from the Cog and
Wheel. He had run a black seal message from Rix’s warehouse to her.
She had also seen him accept a black seal message from Herder
Kleith for the Guildmaster, so he must have been sent from the
Guildmaster to the Black Hand Boys. Elrin would help her get
proof.

“
While you were out of action, the Guildmaster went mad
issuing dead letters, so I have an assignment that might uncover
more truth for—“

“
We need to find the errand boy,” interrupted Kettna. “He
knows. Elrin runs the messages. The black seal messages. He’s in
danger.”

“
That is the very thing that I came to talk to you about. It
might be too late, but no one has come to claim the bounty, so
there is hope.”

The Constable handed her a dead letter marked,
Elrin No Name
. Beneath a
sketch of his handsome innocent face was a bounty large enough for
anyone to picture him a hardened criminal. He would have every
blade from Calimska to the Coast swinging for him.

Kettna
stared at the warrant for Elrin’s death in disbelief.

What did
Elrin do to earn such a fate?

Had he
discovered the truth about the Dragon Choir?

The
adventure continues in the

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