by Ian Gregoire
Seconds later the door to the room slowly swung open, revealing a staircase. Two Sisters descended the flight of stairs and entered the room, one after the other, in matching cream and beige garb. The first woman was noticeably older than her colleague trailing behind her. At the corners of her eyes, she possessed the lines that come with age and experience, while the welcoming smile upon her face accentuated the lines at the corners of her mouth. The dark hair framing her soft features was flecked with grey, and flowed down to her waist in shimmering waves. By comparison the second Sister was not only younger, she was considerably taller, too, having at least six inches on her senior. The flawless olive skin of her youthful visage was free of wrinkles, and her dark brown hair was cut short—not even reaching the tops of her ears.
“Greetings, and welcome to the seminary, Administrator Annis,” said the elder Sister as she halted in front of Fay. “I am Martina Solari, the Head Sister here, and this is Sister Kayla Narelli. When I was informed of your imminent arrival I was both surprised and honoured; we’ve never had such an illustrious visitor from the Order before.”
“Thank you for the warm welcome,” said Fay. “I hope my being here won’t be too much of an imposition on your time.”
Martina held both hands out in front of her. “Oh no, of course not.” Employing Zarantar Jist, she used a nearby ley line to induce an opening in the containment ward encircling her visitor, allowing Fay to step forward to meet her. “I am at your disposal.” The breach in the containment ward closed behind Fay and the ward was fully restored. “Now, if you will just follow me up to my office you can let me know what I can do to help you.”
Fay was led out of the arrival chamber, and up the waiting staircase into the seminary proper, with Sister Kayla trailing behind. In the Head Sister’s austere office, she was ushered into a comfortable armchair, sitting opposite Martina. On the table between them sat a steaming pot of herbal tea—the unmistakeable aroma of peppermint wafting into the air with the steam from the pot. Kayla poured out two cups of the honey sweetened infusion for the seated women, then withdrew to stand over the shoulder of her Jaymidari superior.
After taking a moment to savour her first sip, Fay inquired about a lone apprentice from Antaris believed to have arrived at the seminary a week earlier.
“Oh, yes! You mean Kayden,” said Martina, confirming the arrival. “She caused a bit of a stir when she got here.”
A bit of a stir? Fay did not like the sound of that. “What happened?” she asked, unsure if she really wanted to know.
“I guess Kayden panicked when she found herself within the confines of the containment ward,” answered Martina. “The Sisters waiting in the arrival chamber to greet her were taken completely by surprise when she not only broke the ward encircling her, but also the dampening ward surrounding the room.” Martina’s keen eyes narrowed slightly as her gaze upon Fay took on a knowing air. “The only thing more surprising than the ease with which Kayden broke the wards was her awareness of their presence at all, given she had done nothing to set them off.” Her tone of voice suggested more than just speculation about the status of Kayden’s Zarantar. “I never imagined the emergence of a new elite Sanatsai during my lifetime.”
“Officially, we cannot know for certain whether that is the case,” said Fay, trying to curb Martina’s apparent excitement. “Protocol dictates that we must wait until Kayden has been inducted into the Order before we seek confirmation of her status.” A half-smile curled his lips. “Unofficially, you were fortunate to meet her.” She took another sip of her peppermint tea then set her cup down on the tea table, ready to get the conversation back on track. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that Kayden is still here at the seminary?”
“She left within minutes of her arrival,” said Martina. “She seemed rather eager to complete the errand in Ladurona for you.”
Fay’s eyebrows rose reflexively. This was her second time hearing that Kayden was supposedly running an errand for her.
“Wouldn’t even wait for the Sisters to bridle and saddle a horse for her,” Martina continued. “She set off on foot right away. But, I suppose, it’s only a quarter-hour walk so she wouldn’t have saved that much time had she waited.”
“So, Ladurona was Kayden’s final destination?” Fay queried. “She didn’t mention anything about going somewhere else afterwards?”
“Yes, to your first question, and, to the best of my knowledge, no to your second.” Martina peered back over her shoulder, glancing up at Sister Kayla. “Did the apprentice say anything to you about going elsewhere once she completed her errand?”
“No, Sister,” replied Kayla. Addressing Fay, she added, “All she did say was that she wasn’t sure how long she’d be away before she returned to use our portal chamber to get back to her campus.”
The slight relief Fay felt at knowing Kayden intended to return to Antaris was tempered by not knowing where she presently was. Her apprentice had no idea of the ongoing threat to her life emanating from Anzarmenia, and until Fay was able to track Kayden down, the troublesome young woman was in mortal danger.
“Administrator Annis, I don’t mean to pry,” said Martina, intruding on Fay’s thoughts, “but I’m getting the impression this is a runaway apprentice situation.”
“No. It’s not that,” insisted Fay. “It’s the autumn holiday, so Kayden is entitled to be away and spend the holiday wherever she likes. But she’s not where she told me she would be, nor did she arrive there. For my own piece of mind I need to find out where she is.” Slowly, she rose from her armchair. “And as much as I appreciate your generous hospitality, Sister Martina, now that I know where to start looking for Kayden I should be on my way to Ladurona.”
“I understand,” said Martina, rising to her feet. “I hope you will accept the use of one of the horses from our stable to take you there.”
“Thank you, I would appreciate that.”
Martina instructed Kayla to lead Fay out to the stables, and arrange for one of the Sisters there to prepare a horse. She wished Fay luck in locating her apprentice, and hoped it wouldn’t be long before the pair returned to the seminary together. They then bid each other farewell, and Fay exited the office with Sister Kayla.
Fay entered Ladurona on horseback not long after leaving the seminary. She had little reason to believe Kayden would still be in town, so she had refrained from riding her mount hard in order to reach her destination sooner. The dappled mare borrowed from her Jaymidari counterparts trotted sedately through the streets as Fay observed the early morning hustle and bustle of people setting up market stalls and opening shops. Upon sighting the Gold Crown Inn she dismounted and led her horse to the establishment. She paid for stabling until midday, but informed the stableman she was likely to return before then, in which case he would still be allowed to keep her full payment.
Departing on foot, Fay stopped for a moment at the edge of the road outside the building. She cast out her senses in every direction, extending her range via a ley line, in a half-hearted effort to pinpoint Kayden’s location somewhere in town. Moments later, she let out a laboured breath. The brief exertion confirmed her suspicion: she would not find Kayden in Ladurona. In all likelihood the missing apprentice had left town several days ago, but Fay was all too conscious of the fact that the Naldashian River was less than seven miles south of the town. The fast-flowing river was the de facto border separating the Kingdom of Darmitana from neighbouring Anzarmenia, and if a second group of fanatics had been dispatched by Master Yosarian to assassinate Kayden, it was conceivable they had come upon their unsuspecting quarry in Ladurona and completed their mission.
Lips pursed, Fay shook her head, trying to rid herself of such negative thoughts. She couldn’t help but feel she had made a mistake in not telling Kayden about the assassination attempt on campus. If she had been honest maybe the current situation could have been avoided. She could have persuaded Kayden of the necessity to remain on campus until the threat had been neutr
alised or, better yet, she could have sent Kayden to Temis Rulan where Yosarian’s followers had no hope of reaching her.
As things stood, with no definitive answer to the question of what had become of Kayden, there was only one clear course of action available. Rather than waste time questioning random townsfolk as to whether they could recall seeing an apprentice Sanatsai of Vaidasovian origin during the past week, Fay decided she needed to find the nearest Guard station. If the worst had happened, and Kayden had met her end in the town, the Local Guard would surely know of it.
Fay stopped a passer-by to ask for directions, then was on her way and reached her destination within ten minutes. Inside, she introduced herself at reception and asked to speak with the most senior officer on duty. She was promptly escorted to the office of the station’s commanding officer, Sergeant Dantonio Branko, who welcomed her warmly as he admitted her into his office.
“I’m really good with faces, and I like to be familiar with the many Sanatsai who come into town,” said Sergeant Branko, after ushering Fay to a chair in front of his desk, “but I don’t believe we have ever met.” He sat down opposite Fay. “I would certainly remember a face such as yours.”
The mention of many Sanatsai coming to Ladurona reminded Fay that the Order provided personnel to the King’s Royal Border Guard, to assist in manning the half dozen border crossings spanning the Naldashian River. Those Sanatsai serving at the bridge crossing south of Ladurona would no doubt spend time in town while they were off duty.
“I’m not based here in Darmitana,” she replied. “I’m the administrator of the Antaris campus in the Kingdom of Mirtana. Under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have cause to be here.”
“So what brings you to our town today?” Sergeant Branko poured himself a drink from the pitcher on his desk. The liquid smelled suspiciously of mead, possibly laced with something stronger.
“I’m trying to locate a missing apprentice whose last known whereabouts was here in Ladurona a week ago,” said Fay. “It is likely she simply passed through on her way to somewhere else, but I’d like to rule out the possibility she came to harm before she could leave.”
“I see,” murmured the sergeant. “So how may I assist you?”
Frowning, Fay watched him take a long gulp from his tankard.
“Apologies for not offering you a drink,” Sergeant Branko said sheepishly. “But I know you Sanatsai are not allowed to drink the hard stuff, and that’s all I have. Perhaps I could have one of my men fetch you some water?”
“That won’t be necessary. Let’s stick to the business at hand.” Somehow Fay managed to conceal how unimpressed she was with the sergeant’s drinking while on duty. “The apprentice I seek is a young woman of Vaidasovian extraction. She’s as tall as I am, with a blemish-free, porcelain complexion, and long raven hair that she usually keeps in a ponytail. Her heritage and striking looks would make her very easy to remember. I need to know if there has been a murder of a young woman matching this description within the past week.” She swallowed down her discomfort. “Perhaps even an unexplained death that made identifying the body difficult or impossible.”
Sergeant Branko put down his tankard and leaned forward in his seat, suddenly appearing interested in the conversation. “As it happens,” he said, “we had our third murder of the year seven days ago in the northwest quarter. The victim was decapitated, her head never recovered. The men at the northwest Guard station weren’t able to identify her, and no one came forward to claim the body, nor has anybody been reported missing recently.”
Lips pursed, Fay’s heartbeat quickened. She held her breath, paralysed with worry as she pondered the possibility that Kayden was dead, and that her killers had taken her head as confirmation of a successful mission. “Is it possible for me to see the body, Sergeant Branko?” she asked.
“The body would have been buried in an unmarked grave if it still hadn’t been claimed after three days,” replied the sergeant. “Besides, it’s safe to assume the victim isn’t this unforgettable apprentice you’re looking for.”
“If the body wasn’t identified, how can you assume that?” Fay could barely conceal her annoyance at the flippancy of his tone.
“Your description of the missing apprentice doesn’t correspond with that of the victim written in the report compiled by my colleagues at the northwest Guard station.” Sergeant Branko leaned back in his chair and raised a finger. “One, you said your apprentice is as tall as you, whereas the victim—even taking into account her missing head—was reportedly a short woman.” He held up a second finger. “Two, you described your apprentice’s complexion as porcelain, which would be indicative of the Vaidasovian ancestry you mentioned. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that this is not the norm anywhere in the Nine Kingdoms, least of all here in Darmitana, so it should come as no surprise when I tell you that the victim had a tan complexion.” He raised a third finger. “Three, you said your apprentice is a young woman, while the report describes the victim as having the body of a woman in her fifties.” He paused and lowered his hand. “Trust me, Danai Annis. This unfortunate murder victim is not your missing apprentice.”
There were no grounds for disputing the sergeant’s assertion, Fay realised, so she offered no rebuttal. For a moment she sat in silence. She was back to square one. Without knowing why Kayden had come to Ladurona, and who, if anyone, she had come to meet, there was no meaningful lead to follow. Returning to the seminary and making her way back to Antaris was the only real option open to Fay. Maybe if she conducted a thorough search of Kayden’s dorm room, it would unearth a helpful clue as to her whereabouts.
“I appreciate the assistance, Sergeant Branko,” she said, breaking the silence. “It seems I have reached an impasse in my investigation and will need to search for my apprentice elsewhere.” Fay stood up, prompting the sergeant to do likewise. “If I could ask one favour of you before I leave, I’d be grateful if you and your men could keep an eye out for anyone matching the description I gave you for the next couple of weeks.”
“Certainly.”
Sergeant Branko walked out from behind his desk to usher Fay towards the exit.
“If she does make an appearance during this time,” said Fay, halting at the door, “no attempt should be made to apprehend her. For one thing, she’s not a criminal guilty of an offence, and secondly it’s not in the power of you and your men to forcibly detain her if she doesn’t wish to be.”
A subtle shift in the sergeant’s facial expression betrayed his alarm at Fay’s statement, but he nodded his head all the same.
“Don’t worry, Sergeant, my apprentice isn’t dangerous,” Fay assured him as he pulled the office door open to let her leave. “If she is seen anywhere in Ladurona, all you need do is have one of your men deliver a message to the Sisterhood seminary outside town to inform the Sisters of her presence. They in turn will contact me.”
Fay left the Guard station immediately, retracing her steps through town, setting a course for the inn where her horse was stabled, all the while pondering why Kayden had come to Ladurona, and where she was now. Her preoccupation with the whereabouts of her apprentice was so acute she failed to react in time when a man hurriedly came around the corner of a bakery, and bumped into her. The smartly dressed man was slightly taller than Fay, and appeared to be in his mid-thirties. He was clearly annoyed by the collision, but his demeanour changed the moment his eyes locked on hers, and whatever angry words he’d been about to utter in response died on the tip of his tongue.
“Please forgive me,” said Fay at once. “My mind was elsewhere.”
The man’s eyes slowly slid down the length of Fay’s frame, drinking in the sight of her from head to toe, then back again. “There’s no need to apologise, Master Sanatsai. My name is Tavio Esterado, and it was a pleasure bumping into you.” He flashed a close-lipped smile. “It’s funny,” he continued. “Attractive women is not something I typically associate with the Order, and yet, somehow, I’ve had th
e good fortune to literally bump into the two most beautiful women I have ever seen in my life within the space of week—give or take a day or two.”
Under normal circumstances, encountering a chancer who’d like nothing more than to get her out of uniform would have prompted Fay to excuse herself and walk away. But the possibility that this man had met Kayden recently kept her rooted to the spot.
“It sounds as though you may have met a close associate of mine,” she said in a conversational tone. “This other beauty wouldn’t by any chance have been a tall, raven-haired young woman of Vaidasovian extraction who speaks with an Astanese accent?”
The expression of amazement that appeared on Tavio’s face was telling. It was as though he thought his mind had just been read. “That’s her,” he confirmed. “Kayden was her name. Very prickly at first, but once she warmed up to me she was much nicer.”
Fay couldn’t believe her good fortune.
“Next time you see her,” continued Tavio, “please be sure to tell her that she’s always welcome back to the shop.”
“The shop?”
“Esterado’s!” said Tavio theatrically, as though that answered everything. It didn’t. “The renowned clothing boutique in the town centre,” he prompted, in response to the obvious lack of name recognition. “Frequented by nobles from the capital and beyond.” He sighed at the lack of reaction, then adopted a matter-of-fact tone to explain. “It’s the family business. My mother is a seamstress, and my father is a tailor. Kayden asked for directions to somewhere she could buy some new clothes, so I kindly escorted her to our shop.”