"Chapter 4: An Unexpected Displeasure" by Ian Plumb

Chapter 4: An Unexpected Displeasure

Rana sat in her quarters. Spacious, airy, and with glazed windows they were everything living quarters in a fortress shouldn't be. The Cartélanois though understood architecture, at least in function if not in style, and had created the Captain's quarters to suit the rank of their occupier. A tap at the door caught her attention.

"Capitaine, the others have arrived and are seated in the dining hall.", said Charlotte.

Rana heard Charlotte head back down the stairs. She stood and headed towards the door. She paused a moment and looked in the full-length mirror. Over six feet tall, with brown skin and platinum blond hair she cut an imposing figure. Her elven features made humans uncomfortable, she knew, and so she accentuated them with the way she dressed, tied her hair, the colours she chose to wear. Broad shouldered and well muscled, the blood of the Cartédain made its presence known. She donned her jacket and left the room.

Simon, a dilettante courtier with a penchant for magic, was the first she noticed as she entered the room. That in itself was part of Simon's skill set -- to be the first noticed when someone, anyone, entered the room. He was as beautiful as a man could be -- not handsome, but beautiful with features that were delicate and perfect. A talented singer, a wonderous lute player, and a dancer with few equals he had the skills to put any courtesan to shame. His rise at court, amongst a nobility whose male population had been decimated or worse by the war, had been nothing short of meteoric. Their eyes met and Simon smiled radiantly. "He is like a perfect rose," she thought to herself, "with beauty to be admired and displayed until, like all members of the lesser races, he grows old and turns to dust."

Beside him sat Charlotte. A little too frequently her eyes would stray towards Simon before returning to whomever was speaking. Clearly Simon had woven a spell that had nothing to do with the Art. Charlotte had been born on the streets of Bordeleaux, Cartélan's port city to the south. Life had taught her to walk softly and take whatever couldn't be traced back to her easily. She had learned these skills well and become an accomplished cat burglar, earning the sobriquet "La Reine du Chats" or the Queen of Cats. The Mayor had brought her back from Bordeleaux one time and given her work, as a bouncer at Ancalisme's House of Delights. Being a bouncer at a brothel, especially a high-class brothel, required more than strength and Charlotte had performed the work well. Rana found her to be trustworthy and surprisingly adaptable. It wasn't long before she'd offered Charlotte better work.

Across from Charlotte sat Urendox. Irritating beyond baring most of the time, often drunk and always lecherous even now he sat staring at Charlotte's cleavage unabashed. Rana knew Urendox well though, well enough to like him for all the imperfections being a dwarf had given him. He was a crack shot with a crossbow, good with traps and mechanical things, and loyal. This last was his most endearing trait.

Next to Urendox sat the Mayor, Celedur. He talked little but when he spoke everyone paid attention. That was his style. He let everyone say their piece and then he would lay out the way forward -- and people would follow, because everyone wants to be heard but few want to be ultimately responsible. Celedur was single-minded, a man who believed anything could be brought to pass if you wished it so and stood resolute on the matter. He wasn't tall but he was wiry and strong. An acrobat by training he had spent his early years on the Borders as a scout. Those that admired him said he could break into any building anywhere.

Once he was shown around the Houses of Healing by the eldest daughter of the Duc de Lyon. She ran the place -- a master healer and a masterful administrator. She was seeking his patronage as Mayor. As part of the tour he was shown an anatomy class, where the surgeon was explaining to his new students the basics of the circulatory system. Celedur turned to Aurelia and said, "To my knowledge there are eleven locations on the human body where a one inch puncture with a leather hole punch will kill a man within a minute." Rumour has it that Aurelia simply replied that she knew of twelve, and Celedur ensured that government funding to the Houses of Healing was increased. Rana had never been able to determine whether Aurelia taught Celedur that twelfth location in exchange for the increased funding.

Across from the Mayor sat Breila, her battle-sister. Rana loved Breila deeply, trusted her completely. She was the best swordsman in the Guard with the possible exception of Rana herself. It was her responsibility to train the Guard, or it was now that Rana was Capitaine. Rana had left Breila behind when she journeyed to Roche Grande -- a decision Breila still disagreed with -- because there were many new recruits that needed to be trained. After Roche Grande many more would need to be trained.

Rana took her seat beside Breila. "As you all know Breila is to marry Findegal in the Spring. Findegal is probably the richest man in Macon and thus the richest man in Cartélan. He is also a loyal supporter of the Queen and a personal friend of ours. I mention this only to highlight the potential importance of what follows.

"In late December one of the new recruits, Pierre, stole into Breila's room by night and tried to rape her. My beloved sister responded as only a battle-hardened veteran could and young Pierre had to be medically-retired from the Guard. Breila, please, continue the tale."

Breila looked decidedly uncomfortable. "Ah, well, I thought nothing more of it. I assumed Pierre had been deep in his cups and had mistaken the bond of friendship all Guardsmen share with something more intimate. I'd certainly had my share of wine that night. No harm had been done, at least not to me. However, it wasn't long after that people started dying of contagion and the rumours started flying around that it was related to worshippers of the proscribed gods.

"Anyway earlier today Rose, the prevot of Macon, showed up here with some of her lads. She requested permission to search my room. I let her -- I had nothing to hide. Tucked behind my cupboard was a black skin satchel! I'd never seen it before! Rose opened it and shook the contents onto my bed. Well, it was plain to see -- profane stuff, evil stuff, the kind of things you imagine used in dark rituals.

"Then Jacquemets burst in and asked what was going on. Rose replied that she'd received a tip-off that I was somehow involved with the contagion deaths. Seeing the items on the bed, Jacquemets scooped them into the satchel, gave it to Rose, and ordered her out of the North Gate. Jacquemets claimed her writ covers everything within Macon's walls -- and not the walls themselves. Rose left amicably enough, saying she would arrest me the moment I left the North Gate. Sure enough three of her lads are waiting in the street below. It is all for show of course -- I could always simply leave Macon."

Urendox muttered, "How stupid would Pierre have to be to think he could force Breila to do anything let alone submit to, er, his attentions? How though is he linked to this discovery?"

"Urendox, I believe Rana is intimating that Pierre may never have had any intention of forcing his attentions on Breila.", said Celedur. "As you say, only a fool would believe they could do such a thing. What though if Pierre was trying to plant the evidence when Breila awoke unexpectedly. How could Pierre justify being in her room while averting attention from his true task? What he did was explicable albeit shocking.

"What though if Pierre was discovered before he could plant the evidence?", asked Celedur.

Charlotte took the bait. "Then someone else within the Guard planted the evidence."

Rana hissed. "Traitors within the ranks! Urendox, I want you to interview the recent intake of recruits. Sort out who knew Pierre and find out what you can about him. Then find out where he's gone -- I'd be surprised if he's fully recovered from his wounds. He may not be involved in the planting of the evidence but he's a good place to start."

Celedur said, "I'll find out from Rose what she intends to do regarding Breila. I'll see if I can find out who gave her the tipoff."

Rana said, "Breila, you stay within the North Gate. If you need fresh air, use the parapets. And steer clear of the booze!"

As everyone went off to attend to their tasks Rana wondered whether their attention was being diverted from the main game -- whatever that might be.

Note: For explanations regarding the world in which this story is set, it's peoples and language please take a look at The Encyclopaedia of Everything located in my library.