by Duke Kittle
Chapter 8
"Come in."
Captain Cephalin pushed the door open in front of Tina and gestured with his gauntlet-clad hand for her to enter. She stepped inside with the expectation that the captain would follow her, but a voice from the high-back chair settled in front of the fireplace changed that notion.
"Thank you for coming, Theorist. Please, have a seat." Governor Keldo's orange tail gestured to the other high-back chair across from him. "Captain, please wait outside."
Captain Cephalin looked down at Tina, wrinkled his muzzle, then turned and closed the door behind him.
Tina walked to the chair to which she had been directed and climbed its corner nimbly. Seating herself in tailor style, she bowed her head to the governor. "I apologize for the late hour and for not coming to see you sooner, Governor."
Keldo straightened up in his chair and put his hands down on the armrests. He looked startled by Tina's appearance. But he leaned back in his chair a moment later and steepled his fingers together in front of him. "I admit to some surprise at your appearance, Theorist," he smiled at her, "but I also think you must be an extremely talented wizard for High Theorist Mythran to send you to deal with this situation. May I offer you anything before we get down to business?"
Tina shook her head. "I appreciate the offer, Governor, but I think it would be best to get straight to the material." When the governor nodded, Tina adjusted her glasses. "My name is Tina van Schtoffen, Governor. I am an investigative theorist working for the Council of Stars, and I have come, in accordance with the request you made of the High Theorist, to find out what I can about these Dragon Eaters and recommend to the High Theorist a procedural course to resolve the situation they have caused here in Likonia. It would be in the best interest of all if I could find a resolution which would suit the people of Likonia as well as the Maldavians."
Keldo nodded. "I agree. Though the Maldavians have been somewhat adversarial to our presence, perhaps this common enemy would help everyone to see things from a more objective perspective."
Tina folded her hands into her lap. "Perhaps. But my job right now concerns only the Dragon Eaters." She removed her glasses from the bridge of her muzzle and used the edge of her robe to clean them. "It has come to my attention that there was a wizard in Likonia before me. Were you aware of this?"
Keldo bowed his head. "I was. It was an unfortunate matter and one of my own doing." He straightened to lean back in the chair. "I enlisted the wizard before the Dragon Eaters appeared for several reasons, most of which had to do with agriculture and advice concerning the Maldavians. Since the Council of Stars had gone so far as to prevent aid from the king, I believed I would need to seek out a wizard not attached to the council."
Tina slid her glasses back onto the bridge of her muzzle. "Why did you believe you needed a wizard at all?"
"At first, I did not." Keldo sat up in his chair and rested one hand on his knees while he gestured at Tina with the other. "The wizard approached me when he heard I was recruiting retired guards and ex-military for protection in Likonia. We spoke awhile, and after having a conversation with him, I believed him trustworthy even though he was an Idassian."
"Idassian wizards are as welcome as any other in Levansia," Tina replied, "but because of Idassia's adversarial relationship with Madrigaarde, Levansia's closest ally, they tend to be educated by another more dangerous entity in their homeland rather than come to us. Were you aware of that, Governor?"
"I am and was at the time. Being aware of the political climate involves more than just knowing who's trying to stab who in the back." The governor chuckled. He leaned back again and steepled his fingers with his hands resting on his stomach. "But I was desperate for help. And while I was aware he was attached to the cult in Idassia, he seemed reasonable and helpful enough. So I hired him."
Tina wiggled her whiskers. The governor was being a little more forthcoming than she had expected. When she'd heard Lazur's description of the wizard's attire, she suspected he was part of the cult. But the governor had known all along. Putting that thought into the back of her mind for the moment, she proceeded. "Would you be willing to tell me a little of the wizard's activities here in Likonia after his arrival?"
The governor frowned. "I would, Lady van Schtoffen, but I'm afraid that the wizard's activities in town were fairly limited. He spent most of his time working in a wizard's tower some distance north of the town. I'm not aware of what he was doing there, but I do know he was able to augment our crop growth, and he was glad to lend the assistance of his assistants to farms which needed extra hands."
Tina's eyebrows rose, and her ears swiveled toward the governor. "Assistants?"
Keldo nodded. "Yes. A pair of Kamadene women came with the wizard when he arrived on the Water Walker. They were both very kind and helpful but also very quiet. Unfortunately, I have not seen them since the wizard was killed by the Dragon Eaters."
Tina's ears twitched as a thought occurred to her. “You mentioned a wizard's tower, but I saw no tower to the north when I arrived in the city.”
“Yes, I could not see a tower to the north either,” Keldo spread his hands, “but that is where he said he was when I inquired. I just assumed it must have been set up in the caves along the cliff farther north. It's only a few hours walk to get to them, but they face away from the harbor.” He inclined his head to the north. “If you wish to verify the tower's existence, I would appreciate it as well. Should it be in the caves, you can find a path down the cliff side which leads to the largest one on the northern side of the cliffs.”
Tina nodded. “I would like to take a look, at least.” Tina laid her tail across her lap and curled the tuft of fur on the end of it against the back of her hands. “If I may, Governor, there's another matter I'd like to address.”
“Anything, Wizard.”
“The Akoan, Kravek Rivakian, was arrested earlier tonight.” When Keldo simply nodded his head, Tina became curious. “This doesn't surprise you?”
“It does not,” he replied. “Unfortunately, the Akoan has been known to cause a disturbance now and again. As I understand it from Mr. Kilba, the Akoan likes to drink a fair bit.”
“If it's a common problem,” Tina wrinkled her muzzle, “why do you allow it to continue?”
The governor sighed. “There are many things I need to consider when upholding the law here in Likonia, Lady van Schtoffen. One of those considerations includes the fact that the Akoan has been invaluable to our docks. He is incredibly strong and able to move crates and large items by himself and without the aid of a crane.” He tapped his fingers together and then folded his hands into his lap. “His size also makes it difficult to stop him from doing much. He's been arrested a handful of times for drunkenness, and on one or two occasions, for damaging a guard's armor.”
“You seem to know his activities well.”
Keldo nodded. “He does stand out. And his activities have warranted my personal attention.” He waved his hand dismissively. “One way or another, he doesn't cause enough trouble to warrant banishment or prolonged incarceration. And when he hasn't been drinking, he is quite amiable. Even when he dented a few breastplates, he put in the labor at the blacksmith's to repair them.”
Tina thought that sounded a bit more like the Kravek she'd met on the docks. She shook her head. It had occurred to her to suggest a course of action, but it wasn't her place to tell the governor how to handle his law enforcement. “I see.”
Keldo leaned forward. “Why do you bring it up, if I may ask?”
“I wanted to ask if he could be released from his punishment.”
The governor's eyebrows shot up. “I'm afraid that would be counterproductive. And as there are no ships arriving in the next few days, and the Thorn's Side has been unloaded, his muscle will not be needed at the docks.” He rubbed his chin. “I just hope he will take to it this time.”
Tina rubbe
d her incisors against her bottom lip in thought. “Governor, if this method of punishment has not worked before, do you really believe it will work this time?”
Keldo shrugged. “Some nails take more strokes of the hammer to drive into place.”
“Perhaps,” Tina replied as she adjusted her glasses, “but there is an old saying that doing something again and again and expecting different results is insanity.” She held her hand up. “I don't mean to be insulting, so please don't think I mean to imply such.” Her hand returned to her lap. “But if I may, I'd like to have Kravek released.” She cleared her throat. “Partly because I think I may be able to offer an alternative, and partly because I believe I am somewhat to blame for his misconduct tonight.”
The governor raised one eyebrow in curiosity. “How so?”
Tina rested her elbows on her thighs and leaned forward. “Kravek stepped forward to intervene on my behalf because Captain Cephalin was being a little too enthusiastic with Mr. Kilba in trying to find me at the Stumble Drum. Had I stepped forward more quickly, the entire incident might have been avoided.”
Keldo turned to look at the fire burning in the fireplace. “Perhaps. If you would like to claim responsibility for his actions, though,” he looked back at Tina, “you will also need to claim responsibility for him in the days following.”
She nodded. “I understand. And, if you agree, I'd like to offer Kravek the job of accompanying me as a guide while I'm here.”
“I can understand the desire, but I would prefer it if a guard accompanied you.” He glanced over his shoulder toward the front door. “Though I could understand if you didn't want Captain Cephalin.”
“Actually,” Tina rose to her feet, “if it's possible, I'd like Lieutenant Copaire to accompany me.”
Governor Keldo looked surprised. “You know of the Lieutenant?”
“I saw her earlier in the day in town and watched her briefly.” Tina swept her tail behind her. “She left a good impression.”
“You're quite the watcher, Lady van Schtoffen, a trait which is likely helpful in your duties as an investigator.” He tapped his fingers together, but his answer came more swiftly than Tina expected. “Very well. Kravek and Lieutenant Copaire will accompany you while you are here.”
Tina hesitated for a moment over how quickly the governor had agreed, but nodded. “Thank you, Governor. I hope, with your help, to settle this matter of the Dragon Eaters swiftly.”
The governor smiled. It was that same smile Tina had seen when he was talking to the townspeople, and it made her tail twitch uncomfortably. “As do I, Lady van Schtoffen. As do I.”