The Executioner's Apprentice (The Executioner's Song Book 2)

by D. K. Holmberg

  “Why here?”

  He understood Meyer wanted to be thorough, but he wanted to get back to Verendal.

  It felt like things were happening there while he was away—and he needed answers.

  “We need to question those involved,” Meyer said. “I figure it’s best to do that here rather than on the outskirts of the village. Certainly not near the prison, such as it is.”

  “You want them to be comfortable.”

  Meyer nodded.

  He raised his hand to knock, but the door came open, and the old woman poked her head out. “So?”

  “Mistress Elaine. I have a few questions I’d like to ask before we move forward with our sentencing.”

  “Questions? All the questions have been answered. You are here to perform a task, hangman. I don’t need for you to be questioning my people.”

  Meyer bowed his head slightly. “I understand why you’ve summoned me here, but the purpose of my visit is more than simply to carry out the sentence your people have requested. As you can well understand, I’m tasked by the king—”

  “I understand who you are tasked by. That’s the only reason I sent word. Otherwise, we would have been done with this ourselves. I have no trouble tying a rope.”

  “Be that as it may,” Meyer said, “my responsibility is such that I need to question all who might have involvement in this case. I would like to speak to the ones who found the body, along with a few people who knew Jasmine Melth the best.”

  “You can’t tell me that you want to get to know the girl. She was trouble from the very beginning.”

  “How so?”

  “Trouble, hangman. Do I need to be any clearer than that?”

  “I’m afraid you do,” Master Meyer said.

  “Fine. She got herself caught up in far too many situations like the one with Matthew. He wasn’t the first boy that she tussled with.”

  “Is that right?” Master Meyer said.

  “A little bit of a trollop, if you ask me. Going around and slipping into a man’s bed.”

  “That is no crime,” Master Meyer said.

  “No crime, but the gods certainly don’t care for it.” She glanced over to the church nearby, her gaze drifting all the way to the top. Finn suspected that it was a church of Heleth, but he didn’t really know. Within Verendal, there was a church for each of the gods, but here there seemed to be only the one church. It might celebrate all of the gods, though such a thing would be difficult. Each of the gods had their own forms of celebrations, and he couldn’t imagine the priests working together like that. Heleth looked over all of the gods, though, so would be the most logical one for the people in this village to celebrate. “You can’t tell me that a girl like that can go running around without any repercussions.”

  “I can’t say I would expect there to be repercussions,” Meyer said.

  “No repercussions? Let me tell you, when I was young, a woman waited for man to woo her. He did so delicately and with the gods’ approval.”

  Meyer smiled tightly. “I understand the tradition.”

  She arched her brow at him. “Do you? I didn’t know a hangman could marry.”

  “There are no laws against it.”

  “No? Maybe there should be. Maybe you shouldn’t have the opportunity to take a wife, especially since you are so quick to take a life.”

  Meyer tensed, though nothing in his expression changed. “I would like to visit with those who found her, along with those who accused her. Additionally, I would like to speak to whoever might know her best.”

  Mistress Elaine sneered at Master Meyer. “Do what you think is necessary.”

  “And I will be using the village hall as I question,” he said.

  “That wasn’t the agreement.”

  “I am on official business,” he said.

  She frowned. “I suppose you are, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.”

  Meyer smiled slightly. “I’m not asking you to like it.”

  He strode forward, into the village hall, and Mistress Elaine watched him before stomping off along the road. Finn followed Meyer into the hall and joined him at a table. It was a simple space, a long table running the length of it, and several rooms off to the side. Meyer had set his pack and the sword Justice up against the table, leaning it there, and he took a few shallow breaths.

  “Did you take anything from what she said?” Meyer asked.

  “Other than the fact that we might have alternative explanations as to who killed Matthew?”

  “Very good.”

  “It’s going to be difficult proving that,” Finn said.

  “Difficult but not impossible. And it’s something they should’ve considered.”

  “Should they, though?” Meyer frowned at him, and Finn just shrugged. “You said it yourself. You’ve carried out over a thousand sentences, which means you’ve carried out at least that many investigations. Possibly more.” Meyer nodded. “You have experience looking for alternative explanations and trying to find those who might be guilty but have not yet revealed themselves.” Finn shrugged. “It looked to be a crime of passion, and it means either the lover or a spurned lover.”

  The door to the village hall came open, and an older man came in. He looked to have once been muscular, but muscle had turned a bit to flab, and he limped, his knee or ankle, or possibly even his hip, bothering him as he stepped into the room. His hands were clasped behind him, and he glanced from Finn to Meyer nervously, taking up a position at the end of the table as he watched them. “I understand you wanted to meet with me, master executioner?”

  Meyer nodded. “Your name?”

  “My name is Bester Holanth.”

  “And your role?”

  “Well, I heard the wailing, and I went to take a look. I suppose you’d say I found the poor man. Avard didn’t deserve nothing like that. Skilled carpenter and all as he was. Up and coming, you would say.”

  “I’m sure,” Master Meyer said.

  “Never seen anything like that before.” He rubbed his eyes, shaking his head. “So much blood.” He widened his eyes, looking at Meyer. “Not that blood’s a bad thing. I’m sure you get to see that often enough, and I’m sure that it doesn’t—”

  “Take it easy,” Master Meyer said, smiling slightly. “I’m not here for you. I’m here for information.”

  The man breathed out. “The girl was sitting there, holding on to that knife. Couldn’t believe she would do it. Always so sweet, you know. Said hello to everybody in the town. Of course, she was known to flirt and all. Use it to get things.”

  “Did she?” Master Meyer asked.

  “Not that she… oh. I was just trying to say that I didn’t think it was the kind of thing she would do, but she just sat there with the knife, staring at Avard.”

  “Is anything else you can tell us?” Meyer asked.

  “Just that we can’t have a killer like that in our village. Glad you’re here, master executioner. We’ve never had to call for your kind before, and it’s just so hard on us.”

  Meyer nodded. “Thank you for your report.”

  He turned, hurrying away, and Finn frowned. “You said that you had been here before.”

  “I suspect it was before his time,” Meyer said softly.

  “That long ago?”

  “Long enough.”

  “He didn’t think she was likely to have done it.”

  “He didn’t, and I think if Mistress Elaine were to be honest, she would have said the same thing.”

  “But?”

  “But we still don’t have somebody else to accuse,” Meyer said.

  The door came open again, and this time a woman entered. She was a few years older than Finn, blonde, curvy, and he flashed a grin at her before remembering why he was there and suppressing it. She rocked from foot to foot nervously, her fingers twisting the fabric of her pale blue dress as she looked at Master Meyer, ignoring Finn altogether.

  “You wanted to see me?”

&n
bsp; “What is your name?” Master Meyer asked.

  “Wendy Rithen.”

  “What is your relationship to this?”

  “Mistress Elaine said you wanted to talk to Jasmine’s friends and family.”

  “And you are?”

  “She was my friend. Is my friend.” Wendy shook her head, finally seeming to see Finn, and flushing slightly. “I’ve known her since I was a little girl. Since we both were, really. At least, since she came to the village.”

  “Do you think she could have done this?”

  Wendy still rocked from place to place, clutching the fabric of her dress now.

  “Wendy?” Meyer pressed.

  “I don’t know,” she said. “I would have said no, but lately, she’s been a bit different.”

  “Different in what way?”

  “I am not even sure how to explain it. She has so many different men she’s been involved with, and it’s been hard for me to keep track. I feel like I don’t even know her anymore.”

  “Do you think she could have killed Matthew?”

  Wendy’s eyes softened. “She wouldn’t have done that, would she?”

  “That’s what I’m asking,” Master Meyer said.

  “I… well, I just don’t know. I would tell you she wouldn’t, but she didn’t like anyone getting in her way, you see.”

  “Is that right?”

  “When she wanted something, that is. She made a point of getting what she wanted, regardless of who might be hurt.”

  “Did she ever hurt you?” Finn asked.

  Wendy glanced over to him, the flush working through her cheeks again. “She was my friend.”

  “Friends hurt each other sometimes,” Finn said softly.

  Wendy shook her head. “No. Jasmine would never do that. She and I were friends.”

  “Is there anything else that you can tell us about your friendship with her?”

  “Just that I don’t want to lose her,” she said.

  Meyer nodded. “Thank you for speaking with me.”

  Wendy sucked in a sharp breath, gripping tightly to her dress. “Is that it?”

  “Were you expecting more?”

  “When Mistress Elaine told me that the hangman wanted to speak with me…”

  “That’s it,” Master Meyer said.

  Wendy scurried toward the door, closing it almost too loudly.

  Finn looked after her. “She’s not telling us everything,” he said.

  “She told us enough,” Meyer said.

  “She did?”

  “They were friends but rivals.”

  “You think she might have been the one to have killed him?”

  “I doubt it. Maybe jealousy, but killing? Unless she had a relationship with this man, it doesn’t strike me as something she would have been capable of doing.”

  The door came open again, and an old man hobbled in, leaning on a cane. He had thinning hair, deeply tanned skin, and heavy wrinkles at the corners of his eyes looked to have deepened recently. He glanced from Master Meyer to Finn, turning from one to the other, and nodded to both.

  Another person? How many did Meyer plan to interrogate?

  “I’m Krell Divs. Hear you wanted to speak to me.”

  “We are speaking with anyone who had a relationship with the accused.”

  “Relationship?”

  “Did you not?”

  “She was my granddaughter. Can’t say that we had much of a relationship.”

  “Why not?”

  “Well, her mother and father died when she was young, and I was forced to take her in.” He shook his head. “Didn’t care much for it, but also didn’t have much of a choice.”

  “She wasn’t from here?”

  “She been raised here since she was little more than knee-high,” Krell said. “Been nothing but trouble.”

  “I’ve heard that from Mistress Elaine.”

  Krell glanced toward the door, his brow furrowing. “She say that too? That blasted woman.”

  “What else can you tell me about her?”

  “I told you everything I can,” Krell said. “What more do you think I need to say?”

  “How about you start with whether or not you think she could have done this.”

  “Killed him? Nah. She been trouble, but not that kind of trouble. She wants to be a good girl, you see; it’s just she gets a little bit of the fire of Volan into her, and you know what that does to a person.”

  The trickster god was often blamed for crimes, but Finn had never heard of anybody accusing him of crimes of seduction. He might have to try that sometime.

  “You don’t think that she could have done this, then?” Meyer asked.

  “I done say that, didn’t I?” Krell shook his head, glancing over to Finn. “Is he always this dense?”

  Finn suppressed a grin. “We are just trying to determine whether or not Jasmine could be responsible for what took place,” Finn said, choosing his words carefully. “We have been interviewing anybody who might have been involved with her, along with the man who discovered the crime.”

  “If you’re trying to find anyone who’s been involved with her, then maybe you need to talk to Joseph Malloy.”

  “Why him?” Finn asked.

  “Well, he and Jasmine were a thing for little while, but…” He shrugged. “Can’t say I blame her for wandering. Joseph wasn’t always the best for her.”

  “Why was that?”

  “He wanted her to stay here. Figured that was the best way to hold on to her. Jasmine, well, she wanted to be like her parents and figured she could wander.”

  “Is that right?” Master Meyer said.

  “Not saying that she was ever going to leave, but you know how kids are.”

  Finn smiled. Krell was older, but he wouldn’t have considered Jasmine to be a kid.

  Meyer nodded to him. “Thank you for visiting with us. Would you mind letting Mistress Elaine know we would like to speak with her next?”

  Krell grinned. “You think she has something to do with this?”

  “I don’t, but I would like to have a few words with her,” Master Meyer said.

  “You let her know that if she had anything to do with what happened to my granddaughter, I’m going to…” He shrugged. “Anyway. I will let her know.”

  He hobbled out, tapping his cane on the ground, and was gone only a moment before Mistress Elaine came in, standing in the doorway. “You want to question me now?”

  “No. I would like to speak with a Joseph Malloy,” Master Meyer said.

  “Malloy? That boy hasn’t done anything. He’s too simple.”

  “Maybe,” Master Meyer said. “But I’d still like to speak with him.”

  Elaine turned, slamming the door closed behind her.

  “I will say one thing about investigations outside of the city: it sure is a lot easier to get people together,” Finn said.

  “Easier, but in some ways a bit more complicated as well.” Meyer stared at the door where Elaine had departed. “You find a few more tempers than you do elsewhere. Along with a bit more to carry out your investigation.”

  “Of course we’re going to have disagreement,” Finn said. “She likely has already convicted Jasmine of the crime.”

  “She has,” Meyer said, nodding slowly. “I have not.”

  They sat quietly, and Master Meyer jotted down a few notes in a small notebook he carried with him. “I need to check something with Mistress Elaine. You question the next man and we will discuss.”

  He stepped out and Finn waited for only a few moments before the door opened again. This was a younger man, dark hair, strong chin, a hint of a beard lining his face. He swaggered into the village hall, his gaze drifting to Finn. “I hear you want to talk with me?” he said.

  Finn nodded. “You are Joseph Malloy?” He didn’t look simple. Arrogant, maybe, especially with the way he held his head cocked to the side while watching Finn.

  “I am. I didn’t do anything to Avard.”r />
  “No?”

  “That’s why you brought me here, isn’t it? You wanted to see if I could have done it.”

  “We’re trying to gather information about whether or not Jasmine could have done it,” Finn said.

  “Knowing Jasmine the way I do, I wouldn’t put it past her,” he said. “She gets a bit fiery.”

  Finn frowned. He’d been getting annoyed by how long they had been here questioning, but this comment caught him and made him take a second look at him. “What do you mean, fiery?”

  Joseph was sneering at Finn. “You know the type. Likes to throw herself around. Didn’t pay too much attention to running off when she had the opportunity with him.”

  Something Jasmine’s grandfather had said triggered a different question for Finn. “I understand you wanted to keep her in the village,” Finn said.

  Joseph frowned. “What does that have to do with anything?”

  Finn just shrugged. “I’m trying to get as full of a picture as I can of her.”

  “She was found covered in his blood. Holding a knife. Can’t be anyone else other than her, could it?” Joseph Malloy asked.

  “You would think it would be so obvious,” Finn said, smiling slightly.

  “Yeah, well, I told her that I wanted to stay in the village, and she wasn’t interested in it. Said she wanted to go and see the world. Planned to go to Vur, even to the capital, but I didn’t want to do that.”

  “Did she end it with you?” Finn asked.

  Joseph frowned. “Did she? I’ve never had a woman end anything with me.”

  “Is that right?” Finn asked.

  “You can ask anyone.”

  “Do you have a woman now?” Finn asked.

  “I thought you already knew, seeing as how you questioned her.”

  “I just wanted to confirm,” Finn said.

  “Yeah, well, Jasmine got what she deserved.”

  “And what is that?” Finn asked.

  “She killed him, now she’s sitting in that cell. That’s what she deserves.”

  “Do you think she deserves to die?” Finn asked.

  “Deserves? For what she did to him? Of course she deserves to die,” he practically spat.

  Finn frowned.

  Joseph just shook his head. “Craziness, if you ask me. All of this business calling in somebody from Verendal. We could take care of this ourselves. Especially after what she did… Anyway. I’ve had enough of this.” He got to his feet.