by Sam Ferguson
Sebina shut her eyes as tears escaped through the corner of her eyes. Her bottom lip quivered and her shoulders slumped. “I didn’t know you were doing that,” she whispered.
Kai put a hand on her shoulder. “I never wanted you to stay here in the desert,” Kai said. “I have been writing Aunt Agnes regularly every few months to keep in touch. I am still a few months short of the sum she proposed, but I am sure she will take you in if you tell her what happened here. Tomorrow, go and charter a trip to Kobhir. Take Jenedina with you. When you get there take this letter to Aunt Agnes, it is the most recent one she wrote and it has her address in it. No matter what, you may never come back here. Do you understand?”
Sebina nodded her head. She didn’t say anything. She just stared at the bag blankly. Suddenly, she threw her arms around her brother and began to sob. Now, instead of bringing her happiness, the realization of her dream of leaving Rasselin was tearing out her heart. She had no idea that Kai had been planning this all along. If she had known she would not have been apt to go and look for others who could have freed her from this desert prison. Her guilt swelled within her as tears flowed from her face. If only she had listened to him, they both could have gone, but now only she could leave. Her brother would stay in this sandpit, and die here. Kai opened his mouth to say some words of comfort, but then there came a knock at the door.
“This is the Rasselin city guard!” shouted a young male voice from the other side.
“Sit here and say nothing,” Kai whispered to his sister. “Remember, this was not your fault.” He rose to his feet and approached the door. He opened it slightly to see two young guardsmen. “What is it you want?” Kai asked in a calm manner.
“Captain Lador has summoned you to meet him in the meeting hall at the dungeon,” the first guard replied. “He needs you there immediately.”
“Very well,” Kai said. “I will leave promptly.” The guards nodded and then left as abruptly as they had come.
Kai returned to his room to dress in his uniform, but then he noticed a big problem. He had not had the time to clean his uniform, and blood streaked across it. If Kai answered the summons then he would be discovered. His clothes and the absence of his sword would testify to his involvement. It would be impossible to escape the room alive with all of the Rangers there. It was over. No time to run or hide. He would be dead either tonight, or he would be executed publicly tomorrow.
For a brief moment, he thought of running away. Perhaps he could escape if he had a large enough head start, but he dismissed the notion. He knew that if he did not go to the summons the consequences would be far worse. Captain Lador and the Rangers would still discover his involvement, and they would shut the entire city down in an attempt to find him. Not only would Sebina and Jenedina be prevented from leaving, but as part of the investigation, Sebina would likely be interrogated and the money Kai had given her would be seized from her. His sister would never be able to leave, and she would be left destitute.
The only way he could get his sister out of the city safely was by attending the conference at the meeting hall. Then at least there would not be an investigation, they would not think to seize his property, his sister would be free to leave just as soon as the gates reopened in the morning. It was the only way.
Kai put on his bloody uniform and headed out. He stopped at the door and turned to look once more at his sister. “Remember; leave tomorrow just as soon as the gates open!” Kai saw her nod in response, but she said nothing. She did not even turn to look at him. Kai opened the door and left.
CHAPTER FOUR
Captain Lador sat quietly at the head of a long wooden table in the center of the meeting hall, part of the large office complex on the first level of the dungeon. He waited patiently as one by one the members of the Ranger unit filed in. Redjak, Captain Lador’s assistant seated each Ranger according to rank, with the highest ranking Ranger on Captain Lador’s right hand side and each additional ranger in order all the way around the table so that the lowest ranking Ranger sat on Captain Lador’s left hand side.
When Kai entered the room, seven other Rangers were already present. All eyes fell on him as Redjak escorted him to his seat. Kai knew they noticed that his sword was missing. Kai had tried to use the sword that he retrieved from the scene, but the blade was too wide for his scabbard, so he was left with no alternative but to answer the summons without a weapon.
Redjak pulled Kai’s chair out, just two seats down from Captain Lador on the right side, and gestured to it. Kai was careful to maintain a somber expression as he and the others waited in silence for the others to arrive.
As the last Ranger was seated Captain Lador rose to his feet. He motioned for the doors to be closed. Redjak left the room and closed the doors behind him. Kai squirmed internally as the bolts on the other side of the door scraped and slid into place. The room was now locked. There was no escape.
“Tonight,” Lador began somberly, “unknown forces have slaughtered a large number of people. This is the biggest massacre the city of Rasselin has seen in centuries. The attacks occurred at the Tiger’s Eye Inn, and at a residence on Florence Street.”
Kai shifted in his seat. Lador glanced in his direction and continued.
“Several men, including the barkeep and the bouncer were murdered at the Tiger’s Eye Inn. The safe was busted open and apparently looted of its contents as well.”
Kai furrowed his brow. Who emptied the safe?
“Next we found a pair of bodies in an alley just off of Florence Street,” Lador continued.
A pair of bodies? There should have been three, plus the assassin in the street near the inn as well. Kai wanted to protest, but he held his tongue. Something was very wrong about this.
“A few men were found inside the residence. It is uncertain exactly what went on there. The men were naked, and appeared to have been tortured before their death. This building was also looted. However, it is apparent that something else was going on here. There was blood found in several rooms, indicating that there was a battle of some sort.”
“Are we talking about rival gangs?” Jimik spoke up from the end of the table.
Lador shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“How can you be sure?” Diggs asked.
Kai was too busy concentrating on the missing details to notice that Lador was looking at him. Where were the women? Where were all the bodies? Why leave only the Johns? Diggs kicked Kai’s leg under the table, jolting him from his thoughts. Kai looked up and saw Lador’s eyes boring holes into him.
Apparently satisfied that he again had everyone’s attention, Lador continued. “The gates are all locked. No one leaves or enters this city until I find the man responsible,” Lador said.
Kai felt his heart sink. With the gates sealed, there was no way for his sister to escape to safety. He knew he had to turn himself in. Then maybe he could convince Captain Lador to allow his sister to leave in the morning. His only other option was to fight his way out of this room. Even had that been possible, he couldn’t draw swords against his own friends. Kai took a deep breath and rose to his feet. A few moments passed as Kai looked at each of his comrades and then into Captain Lador’s expectant eyes.
“Do you know of something useful Kai?” Lador asked.
Kai nodded. He then unfolded his cloak and displayed it across the table. He watched the others examine the blood stains. “I am the man responsible, but I ask that you hear what I have to say before you arrest me. I will not give you a fight.”
Diggs jumped up and grabbed Kai’s arm.
“Diggs! Sit down!” Lador ordered.
“But, sir, you heard him confess to murder, we have to take him in,” Diggs shouted back. His left hand hovered over the hilt of his sword.
“He is surrendering, and you will sit. That’s an order, Diggs.”
Diggs turned a sour face to Kai and spat on his boots. He made a show of shifting his seat away from Kai as he sat back down.
; Lador frowned and tapped the table with his right thumb. Kai shifted on his feet and stared directly down at the table. “Alright, Kai you tell us what happened. Not a man will move until you deliver your story.”
Kai nodded his head and then proceeded to explain of Stefan and Mandhar. He detailed each battle carefully, accounting for each person he had killed, but being careful to inform them that most of the victims at the inn, except for Stefan and a pair of drunkards who had attacked with weapons, were not killed by his hand, but by unknown assassins. He also chose to leave out the dwarves. They had saved his life, so he felt he owed them protection in return. When he recounted the battle on Florence Street Lador stopped him.
“There were no women at this house, Kai, are you sure you saw women chained to beds?”
“I have never been more sure of anything in all my life,” Kai replied. “Stefan and Mandhar kidnapped my sister and would have forced her to work in the brothel.”
Captain Lador nodded and stroked his chin for a moment. He motioned for Kai to sit down. Kai closed his eyes and sat down, waiting for some unseen sword to pierce his back. The few moments of silence that ensued felt like an eternity, but at last Captain Lador broke the silence. “I believe your story, Kai,” Lador said. “I am happy to hear that your sister and her friend are safe. I don’t know what should be done about the women you say you saw. Without any leads it would be nigh impossible to find them. It would have been better if you had freed all of the women and brought them here.” Captain Lador took in a deep breath and leaned forward. “However, despite the fact that I believe you, I am afraid that we will have to arrest you. By law we must hang you.”
Diggs grinned and started to rise again.
“Diggs, keep your butt in your chair or you will lose it,” Lador growled.
Diggs bristled, but said nothing. He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.
“I would like to make an appeal to the governor,” Lador added.
Kai and Diggs glanced up to Lador with open mouths.
“With all due respect,” Jimik put in. “What is there to appeal? He has confessed to murdering several people.”
“The circumstances, and Kai’s motivation-” Lador started.
“No,” Jimik said with a shake of his head. “If we let him go, we make a mockery of the rangers. We will lose our legitimacy with the people.”
“The populace already give us sidelong glances and spit on our backs,” Gainer added from across the table. “Jimik is right, they will revolt against us if we let Kai go.”
“It would make investigations almost impossible,” Diggs added.
“What if it was you, Diggs?” Lador shot back. He rose back to his feet and firmly planted his palms on the table in front of him. “What if it was your sister Jimik?”
“Bah,” Jimik waved the notion away. “The law is clear.”
“Would the law be so clear if someone stole your ten year old sister?” Lador growled. “I dare say that you would have done the same thing.”
“I should have asked for help,” Kai said. At once all eyes fell back on him and the arguing stopped. “I am sorry for my actions. I should have asked for help. But, I couldn’t see past my sister. I feared for her life, and her honor. I feared I did not have even a moment to spare, lest I lose all hope of finding her again.”
Diggs slumped forward. “Captain’s right,” he admitted. “We all would have done the same in your stead.”
Captain Lador nodded and sat back in his seat. “I believe that I may be able to convince the governor that your acts were purely motivated by defense.
“What about Stefan?” Jimik interjected. “He was apprehended and bound before Kai slew him.”
Lador jabbed a finger in Jimik’s direction. “You will hold your tongue. I have heard your opinion, now be silent.”
Jimik looked away, mumbling under his breath.
Lador clasped his hands on the table and addressed the rangers collectively. “I think even Stefan’s death may be mitigated by the fact that assassins could possibly have interrogated him and compromised Kai’s safety and efficiency. I am placing a gag order on this incident. None of you are to speak of any of this. After I have spoken with Governor Gandle, we will reconvene. Until then, don’t even think about any of this. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir,” the rangers said collectively.
Lador turned back to Kai. “I will have to place you in custody, until the dust has settled.” Lador motioned for Diggs to take Kai.
Diggs moved, albeit much more slowly and less vigorously than previously, to bind Kai’s arms.
Lador called out to the door, “Redjak, unlock the door. Immediately the bolts slid and clicked back into place and the door opened.
Lador motioned for everyone to leave. “Everyone out. Diggs and I will take Kai below after you have gone.”
Kai, Diggs, and Lador watched the others file out of the room. A couple of them offered Kai empathetic glances, but most followed Jimik’s lead and refused to acknowledge him anymore.
After they were gone, Lador walked over to Kai and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I cannot promise anything, but I will do my best to negotiate with the governor.”
“Thank you sir,” Kai whispered.
“You should be aware, that you will still likely end up in the dungeons for a very long time, but it would be better than a hangman’s noose,” Lador said. “As a Ranger, you should have known better than this. We could have investigated the matter, we would have found them. I would have closed the gates until the culprits had been caught and punished. I would have seen each of them hung.” Lador sighed as he looked at Kai. “Even if the Governor would grant you a pardon, you will never be able to work in the guard or as a ranger again.”
“I know sir. I just didn’t think that I had the time to do things by the book. However, I ask one favor of you now.” Kai met Lador’s gaze with a stern but pleading stare.
Diggs furrowed his brow and glanced between Kai and Captain Lador.
“What is it?” Lador asked.
“For the last ten years I have saved money for my sister and me to move to Kobhir. I earned that money by protecting this city. I gave it to my sister tonight and told her to go to Kobhir in the morning. I ask that you reopen the gates and let her keep the money, and leave.”
Lador thought for a few minutes. “She is free to go. I will also have her escorted to Kobhir. I will send the entire Ranger unit with her, as well as ten of my patrolmen from the city guard. However, you must stay here and face your charges, whatever the outcome may be. Are we agreed?”
“Yes sir.” A tear slid down Kai’s cheek.
“I do not agree with what you did, but I will see to it that Sebina gets to Kobhir safely,” Diggs said.
“She is to go to our aunt, who owns an alchemical shop in Kobhir. She will have the address,” Kai said.
Diggs nodded.
“Diggs, you may leave,” Lador said. “Prepare tonight for the journey. I expect you all to be ready by first light.”
“As you say,” Diggs said with a bow of his head.
“Kai,” Lador said after Diggs exited the room, “come with me. It’s time.”
Redjak entered the hall and placed Kai’s sword on the table.
“You knew?” Kai asked.
Lador grinned slightly. “I may have failed to mention a few details.” He shrugged and picked up Kai’s sword.
Redjak produced a set of irons and shackled Kai’s wrists and ankles.
“Testing my honor?” Kai asked as the cold iron closed around his limbs.
Lador shook his head. “I trusted your honor. I wanted to know why. As I said, we didn’t find any women. The beds were still there, but no restraints. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, until you filled in the blanks with Stefan and Mandhar.” Lador motioned for the door. Kai nodded and shuffled his feet, chains scraping along the stone floor.
Lador was silent as he led Kai to the dungeon. Redjak followe
d behind them, holding a torch.
As they descended the spiral staircase Kai felt the air grow cooler and he could smell the dampness. At the bottom of the staircase a prison guard opened a large gate. Lador and Kai entered through the gate and closed it behind them. Redjak remained outside the gate.
Kai looked down the hall. Torches adorned the wall giving light to the narrow walkway between the eight cells in the chamber. Kai had been here many times before, but never as a prisoner. How different the atmosphere seemed from this perspective.
Lador and Kai walked to the end of the hall, and into the last cell on the left. Kai walked in as the cell gate was closed behind him. He laid his hands on the meal tray through a small opening in the gate and Lador removed the shackles.
“Your sister and Jenedina will be the only people allowed to leave tomorrow. The gates will remain locked after their departure,” Lador said.
Kai shot Lador a puzzled look.
“I will speak with the governor first thing in the morning, but I don’t know how open he’ll be to commuting your sentence.” Lador looked back over his shoulder and checked the hallway before leaning in closer to Kai. “I have been investigating these illegal brothels for some time now.”
“What?” Kai asked incredulously.
“Keep your voice down, Kai,” Lador scolded. “I believe that the governor is involved somehow, but I can’t prove it yet.”
“Do any of the other Rangers know?” Kai asked.
“Only Diggs,” Lador replied. “But that is why I am sending the Rangers with your sister tomorrow. I want to make sure that she and her friend reach Kobhir safely. These men are very powerful, and they don’t take kindly to having people disrupt their operations.”
“If the governor is involved, then why talk to him about me?” Kai inquired.
“I have to keep up appearances. I don’t want the governor to get wise to the fact that I’m aware of the trafficking of women in this city and I certainly don’t want him to know that I suspect his involvement. In any case, regardless of what the governor says I have an idea to help you escape.”