| |
Ninallia was enjoying a late breakfast when she was interrupted by an older woman pushing her way into her room.
“Excuse me my dear, I have a few questions if I may.”
“I don’t believe we have met before,” Ninallia said.
The woman puffed up. “I am Lady Orand. I am sure you would not be familiar with my name, given your background.”
Ninallia tensed. How should she handle this? She wished Sayeri were here. As if in answer to her silent summons, Sayeri came back into the room. She took one look at Lady Orand and stepped beside Ninallia.
“How may we help you Lady Orand?” Sayeri asked.
Lady Orand smiled. “I was hoping to have a private chat with this girl.”
Sayeri crossed her arms. “My Lady, Ninallia is the mother of the heir.”
“He hasn’t been confirmed yet. I am working on verifying a few facts.”
Ninallia decided it was her turn to speak. “Arturon has already verified his paternity.”
“I have read his statement, but the council has many guidelines to the succession.”
Sayeri shook her head. “You have been hired by the council as an expert?”
Lady Orand hesitated. “I have been consulted by a private individual on behalf of the Council of Nobles.”
“I see, I don’t suppose you are at liberty to disclose Lord Hanoree’s name?” Sayeri asked.
There was an intake of breath, and Lady Orand sputtered, “My clients are confidential.”
“Then I see no reason to allow you to interview Lady Ninallia.”
“She is no lady born,” Lady Orand said.
“She is the mother of the Imperial heir. Her credentials have been made public to the council. Perhaps you are out of touch. Didn’t you realize this?”
By the shocked look on Lady Orand’s face, the jab hit the target. She made some vague remarks about the loyalty of one’s ancestors to the Empire then left.
“What an unpleasant woman,” Ninallia said. She was relieved Sayeri had come to her aid and was not intimidated by Lady Orand.
Sayeri put her hand on Ninallia. “If there are any skeletons in your family closet Lady Orand will find them. I see no reason to help her do so.”
A chill swept through Ninallia. How would she know if her ancestors were involved in anything illegal? Her son was the son and heir of the emperor, and she was his mother. What else should matter?
~ * ~
Arturon slept fitfully. His subconscious tried to devise a plan. He memorized the information and destroyed the paper. He was sipping his morning tea when there was a loud banging at his door.
“Coming.” He wrapped his robe tightly around himself and opened the door.
Two local police officers stood there. They seemed taken back to be facing a Brother of the Order.
One of the officers bowed. “Brother, forgive this intrusion. We were told a certain barmaid, named Ibella, visited this room last night.
Arturon smiled, thinking they might be investigating prostitution. “Yes, Ibella came here.”
The officers shifted, scratching at their necks. “Can you tell us the nature of her visit?”
“Is there a problem?”
“I hate to inform you, Brother. Ibella has been found murdered.”
Arturon wobbled. He reached and put a hand on the table to steady himself. She was in his room last night; now she was dead. “I am sorry to hear this. I came here on behalf of her mother. The woman is old and frail. She asked me to seek a reconciliation with her daughter.”
Tension slipped from the officers. Now they were happy to accept his explanation and avoid conflict with the Order, but he knew they would check and confirm his story. He had not left his room after Beliani’s visit.
“I am sorry to burden you with sad news for the mother, Brother. How long will you be in the city? Our supervisor will want to speak with you, and you could be called to testify.”
As he answered, Arturon was very cordial to the officers and walked them to the door. He didn’t know what to do. He would be watched if he tried to leave the city. It was possible the authorities would discover his identity, and the First Brother of the Order should not be found in the area. His presence would raise too many questions.
Arturon was sure it would take months for the investigation to be completed. He was also sure the security forces here would be unable to find this killer. If this was, as he suspected, a murder by Lord Hanoree’s forces, the murderer was out of the kingdom already.
One thing was certain, if Arturon was to be in this port city long term, he needed a different place to stay. He preferred simple meals and much more privacy. His first mission after breakfast was to find living quarters. There were nice tourist areas and seedy port areas. Something private and nice without being extravagant or showy would fit his needs. He sent a message to Sayeri and explained his situation. She told him about the problems Lady Orand was causing.
I do not think there is anything to worry about, he said. Short of treason there is nothing serious enough to negate the inheritance.
Sayeri agreed. She wanted Arturon’s presence in the Imperial City but understood the importance of his mission. She wished him safety and luck in uncovering Beliani’s murder.
He broke the connection. He would have to be very careful with any inquiries about Ibella. The police would not share information with him, and he could not appear too eager to help them. After going downstairs, he passed the young woman at the desk as he headed outside. He stopped when she yawned and rubbed her eyes.
“Bless you my child, you look tired.”
“Thank you, Brother, my relief will be here soon. I have worked all night.”
Arturon nodded and started to walk on but halted when the woman hesitated as if she wanted to say something. He tilted his head and smiled.
“Forgive me, Brother, I was the one who told them the woman they were looking for visited your room. I told them she was not there long enough for illicit purpose, and that you did not go out.”
“No problem, daughter. Both statements are true, and the Order would never want anyone to lie.” He exhaled slowly. “Did you see the woman leave? Did you notice if she was alone or see anyone following her?”
The woman blinked. She looked up as if to remember the night. By her reaction Arturon felt sure the two officers had not asked her this question. “Yes, I see everyone who goes in and out. I told the officers she left alone. I did see an odd-looking man standing across the way watching our building. When she was gone, he was not there anymore. He could have followed her.”
“Can you describe him? Why was he strange or odd looking?”
The woman described the man, who appeared to be dressed in an expensive foreign costume. His manner as he stood across the way watching the hotel had seemed nervous. It wasn’t much to go on, but Arturon thanked her. “That could be important. Be sure to tell the investigators when they return.”
He did not tell her about Ibella’s murder. If the local police didn’t mention the murder, he would not. At least this was a small lead on the killer. Strolling into the café near the corner, he scanned the crowd.
“Morning, Brother. You are a long way from the Temple City,” a young waiter said. He was fresh-faced and pleasant.
Arturon could tell he was at the beginning of his shift. “Yes, I am on sabbatical. Can I have some hot chai and maybe a sweet roll?”
“Yes of course, Brother,” the waiter answered.
Arturon nodded at the customers. “You do good business. How late are you open?”
“We’re open all night. We serve breakfast for the night workers when they get off.”
Perhaps some of these workers would remember the mysterious man. Waiting until he received his chai, he listened and decided to strike up a conversation with two men in a booth near him. Again, his presence in the city was remarked upon.
“Brothers enjoy travel the same as anyone,” he said. “Unfortunately, my rest was disturbed by the police. I am afraid they are searching for a man dressed in foreign clothes who followed a woman from the hotel.”
One man shrugged. The other man spoke up. “I saw a man like that standing around looking shifty. He was too well-dressed to be a vagrant or night worker. No posh restaurants here.”
He blushed when the waiter carrying his order obviously overheard the comment because he frowned. “I meant no offense. The food is great here, but it’s not fancy, and the price is affordable.”
“Have you seen the man before?”
Both men agreed that the stranger was new to the area. They could add little to his description.
Arturon watched the people going up and down the street; one of them would be a police person assigned to follow him. He sent a message to the Brothers and Sisters hiding in the area. Three agreed to go to the transport center and watch but feared the description was too sketchy for them to spot the killer.
Inquiring about hostels or houses that could be leased for short periods of time, he found few available. He agreed at last to accept the hospitality of a friend of the Order who lived in the area. She had left the Order to care for an elderly parent.
Angena bowed low. “It is an honor to serve the First Brother.”
Arturon returned the bow, raising a hand. “I am here on official business, and my mission requires that I be anonymous. I count on your discretion to remain so. I am a simple Brother on sabbatical. There was an incident involving a murder, and I may be interviewed further, though I am not under suspicion.”