Cheilin Saga ~ 14

 Cheilin Saga ~ 14 Return to the Eternal City

By Len Morgan

Aldor returned to the Eternal City through the portal, that same evening, having spent less than a day in the Abbey of Samishaan.   He returned through a subterranean basement beneath the outermost ring of buildings fronting onto Circle 20 (C20).   He emerged within hailing distance of the Arch of Triumph a few hundred yards from where he had been taken three weeks earlier.   The evening was cool, the lamps were lit, and the street almost deserted.   He saw several men loitering in the doorway of a local tavern.   He allowed his eyes to be drawn in the opposite direction at the sound of hearty female laughter.   He watched from the shadows as a young redhead took up post with two others as her departing client waved and weaved his way home to his long-suffering yet ever-loving wife…

  As he stepped out into the light, heading towards the watch post at the junction with ‘E5’, he heard angry shouts up ahead.   He observed a male figure being hustled into an alley.   Drunks he thought.   Then, he heard a sharp yell of pain and immediately ran towards the alley past the men in the doorway.   When he reached the spot, the man’s attackers were gone.   The man lay in a pool of his own blood.    Aldor checked his vital signs he was still alive.   A more thorough examination revealed a puncture wound in his back that was oozing life.   He frantically searched his pockets for anything that he could use to staunch the flow.   When this had been done he yelled for somebody to fetch the sergeant of the watch.   One of the men in the tavern doorway obliged.   A corporal and five guards came at the double.

“He needs a physic, urgently,” said Aldor.

The corporal nodded to one of his men who went off at the double.

“He will be here in moments but will require payment in cash, in this neighbourhood at this time of night it will not be cheap” the corporal warned.

“I can pay,” said Aldor.

The physic attended and patched the man up.   “He’s out of danger now and you did a good job, probably saved his life with your prompt action.   He’s lost a lot of blood and will need rest but he will survive.”

The man’s eyes flickered open.   “You…” he said.   “Why did you do this to me?”

“What?”   Aldor’s said startled.  

“You stabbed me” the man accused.

There were now half a dozen curious bystanders to react to his words.

 The corporal looked long and hard at him, his eyes narrowed, the face looked familiar. “I’m afraid I will have to ask you to accompany me to the watch post, sir,” he said.

Aldor shook his head, ‘what are you saying’ he thought as he scanned the victim's mind, for the face of his attacker.   What he saw was indeed very similar to his own features, though not identical, it was close enough to convince this man.

“Yes of course corporal” he answered aloud.

“He didn’t do it corporal,” said a woman’s voice in the crowd, “he ran a hundred yards to help this man.   We all watched him.   Tell him!”   She prompted the two men from the doorway, pushing them forward.

“That is so, he was farther from this man than we were when the blow was struck.   I heard him squeal like a pig.   One of the men he was drinking with looked a bit like this man but they all headed in this direction together.”

The corporal looked at the second man for corroboration, he obviously recognised them both, “Bordek?”

The man nodded his head “She’s right for sure, twern’t him as done the deed.

Aldor looked at the woman who had spoken up for him, it was the redheaded woman.

 The Physic and the corporal conferred briefly.

“Does anybody know where he lives?”

A fourth voice spoke up “He’s from ‘E4’ I’ll take you there; if needs be.”

The corporal nodded and detailed two of his men to stretcher the victim to his home.

“You four come with me, I will need to take down your statements, and the description of his attackers,” he said. 

The watch room was small and cramped, Aldor took it in at a glance; there were three adjoining rooms their doors conveniently labeled.   Holding room, Mess & Easy room, and, the last said Sergeant.  All that could be heard from the latter was loud snoring punctuated by wheezes.

“How is he Dragor?” asked the corporal.

“He’s not well,” the young man behind the desk said tactfully.

“Take their particulars, check their papers, and send them in one at a time.   I’ll have the locals first, then our young hero” he said flashing his version of a friendly smile at Aldor.   He leaned over and whispered something in the man’s ear before entering the Holding room.

“Take a seat,” said Dragor to the first man, glancing at Aldor as he spoke.   The first man had Aldor’s face firmly imprinted on his mind, the others even the victim, were vague shadows.   Aldor planted a helpful suggestion that his own face was probably a little thinner.   With prompting from the corporal the man eventually produced a reasonable description of at least one of the other two attackers.   Bordek was better; it seemed he knew the other two men.   They were petty criminals who he feared because his vague descriptions to the corporal, was obviously intended to misdirect him, differed markedly from the clear pictures in his mind.  

“Are you sure you are not involved in this Bordek” the corporal asked suspiciously, how can you be so sure of one yet so conveniently vague about the other two?   I’m not happy with this, mayhap we should keep you here for a while, at least until the beer is out of your system and your memory returns.”

“No, honest as an orse trader, I know nuthin…”

“Wait outside while I speak to the other two, and we’ll see if your memory improves.   Send in the lovely Doreeta,” he yelled through the open door, “Bordek is to wait out there!”

The lovely Doreeta had all the while sat silently beside Aldor.   As she rose, she favoured him with a smile.  

He responded by nodding reassuringly, “good luck, and thank you.”

She bent forward as though to kiss him, instead she whispered in his ear, “may chance never be a factor.”  

At once Aldor knew she was Tylywoch.   He scanned her briefly with renewed interest as Dragor continued to scribble.   As expected, her mind was disciplined, but she had three perfect identification pictures in the front of her mind, that stared right back at Aldor.   The three had spoken to her on their arrival at the tavern. 

“Papers please,” said Dragor.  

“Did you get a good likeness?”   Aldor asked as he placed his official papers on the desk.

“How did you know I was sketching you?” he asked, holding up the portrait for scrutiny.

“That is indeed an excellent likeness,” said Aldor.   “As soon as you started to shade, I knew exactly what you were about, the corporal asked you to do it?   He is quite a man.”

“He is a good man to have on your side in a situation, for sure.   He has twice been sergeant but, sometimes he is too outspoken for his own good.   He will without doubt get to the bottom of this matter, I’ll wager on it.   He’s not a yes man, unlike others” his eyes strayed in the direction of the sergeants’ office.   He opened the papers and seemed to freeze momentarily as he reviewed what he had said, but decided he had nothing to reproach himself for.   Although, his manner changed subtly, as he handed back the papers, “Thank you, sir” he said, “please take a seat.”

Doreeta emerged from the holding cell, still smiling.   She nodded to them and left.  Dragor took the opportunity to nip in and warn the corporal of his guest’s identity.

“Next!” he called.   As Aldor stood, he saw, out the corner of his eye, that Bordek was edging towards the door.   “Do you think I will not come after you Bordek, sit down!”  The corporal’s voice stopped him in his tracks, Dragor hurriedly returned.   But, Bordek had already returned to his seat as Aldor entered the holding cell.

 

“Well then Aldor, quite an entrance you make.”

“I only saw them briefly as they came out of the tavern,” he apologised.   One was a little like me, but a little thinner, it is possible that he was wearing makeup.   My guess is that the attacker was intended to look like me, possibly to discredit or undermine my position.”

“How would they know what you look like?”

“This is not my first visit to the Eternal City.   I have been here many times before, on the emperor's business.   Just one good likeness, similar to the one your desk man drew would be all they would require.”   He went on to describe the other two men He had seen through Doreeta’s eyes.

“I have to inform you that you’re still not off the hook.   If I find a single shred of evidence to implicate you, sure as my name is Sloan, I will come after you.   I will know where to find you if I need more information, so you may go.”

“Thank you Sloan, I like that you never allow yourself to be intimidated, by power or wealth, and I would hazard a guess you could not be bought.    A glance into his mind revealed a sense of order, verging on obsessive, which to a large extent was what made him such an excellent investigator.    His need to tie up loose ends had frequently led him into conflict with superiors, but Aldor knew it would not be an issue in the emperor’s Red guard.  “Who is your commanding officer, Sergeant Sloan?”

“His name is Tukk, Captain Tukk, and it’s Corporal Sloan.   Do you wish to take issue with my handling of this investigation?”

“No!   On the contrary, I have been impressed by your thoroughness, and impartiality.  Just remember this conversation Sloan.  Do not change, and never allow rank or position to influence you; as to your rank we shall see…”   He stood up and left the interrogation room, without a backward glance.

(To Be Continued) 

Copyright Len Morgan