“Are you sure it’s one of your people?” Elena said. “How is it that you’re here? I have so many questions.”
“One at a time,” Zedek said. “Yes. And I’m an exile.”
“How sure are you?” Daeholf said. “This will be the first of your people we’ve come across directly.”
“Directly?” Elena said.
“Another day,” Trimas said. “It’s not important for the problems at hand.”
“I’ll have to believe you on that,” Elena said.
“I’m sure,” Zedek said. “Vika had a report of the weapon used. It was a bronze dagger.”
“Even so,” Trimas said.
“Only my people still use bronze like that,” Zedek said. “Bronze has long since been supplanted by steel in the Empire both on practicality and cost. No one would use it now. Your bronze is terrible.”
“Yours is better?” Trimas said.
“Night and day,” Zedek said.
“So how did Vika put that together?” Daeholf said.
“She’s clever. She researched it. Our peoples had a lot of contact a long time ago. Wars were fought. Documents still exist,” Zedek said.
“But we have two killers in the city,” Elena said. “You don’t think both are elves do you?”
“The chances are negligible,” Zedek said. “If you’d told me before tonight that there was an elf in town, let alone a murderous one, I’d have laughed at you.”
“But you’re here. And why the distinction on murderous? Surely your people commit crimes too? You’ve not exactly been the right side of the law since I met you,” Elena said.
“I’m something of an exception,” Zedek said. “In that I’m here, I mean. Exile is a terrible punishment among my people. Only one step from death.”
“I don’t understand,” Elena said.
“I don’t mean to be harsh and please don’t be offended, but I wouldn’t expect you to,” Zedek said.
“What about you two?” Elena said to the others.
“I’m learning some new stuff now,” Trimas said. “And I’ve known him longest.” Daeholf just shrugged.
“You said exile is a terrible punishment,” Elena said to Zedek.
“Yes,” he replied.
“Can I ask what you did?” she said gently.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” Zedek said firmly.
“Can you explain the death thing though? I’m confused,” she said.
“Mine is a long lived people. This makes our lives very precious. Taking a life is almost never done,” Zedek said.
“More precious than ours?” Elena said.
“It’s complicated,” Zedek said. “I’m not sure I have the words to explain it. But essentially killing is taboo among my people.”
“What about killing humans?” Trimas said. “Is that taboo too?”
Zedek looked awkward. “Yes. No. I don’t know. I’m having difficulty with this,” he said.
“Perhaps I could have a stab at it,” Daeholf said. “So to speak.” Zedek just held his hands up. “I suspect that in some ways your people see us as beneath you,” Daeholf said. Zedek looked at him sadly. “I’m not saying that you do,” Daeholf added.
“Thank you,” Zedek said. “But you’re right. As a general attitude among my people. Not all of us agree.”
“Is that why you were exiled?” Elena said. Zedek looked at her, shocked. She decided to leave it there.
“Anyway…” Daeholf said. “Whilst killing might be taboo amongst elves, perhaps it might not be seen in the same way where humans are concerned.”
“It has always been self-defence,” Zedek said quickly.
“We’re not throwing stones,” Trimas said gently.
“And we’re certainly not accusing you of murder. But maybe one of your people is acting on an impulse? Venting something that he couldn’t at home?” Daeholf said.
“Maybe,” Zedek said. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Hmm,” Trimas said. “Let’s assume for a moment that our societies are similar.” Zedek gave him a funny look. “Bear with me,” Trimas said. “In both of our societies there are those that are predisposed towards crime.”
“There are,” Zedek admitted. “But not murder.”
“But maybe not all of your people see it as murder where humans are concerned,” Trimas said. “Maybe in the Nightwalker’s mind he’s just killing animals?”
“You’re not animals,” Zedek said. “Not to me or my people.”
“But as an idea…” Trimas persisted.
“Like I said. Maybe,” Zedek said.
“How would your people select targets?” Elena said.
“How would I know?” Zedek said angrily. “I’m not a killer.”
“Forgive me,” Elena said. “I meant no offence. I was just hoping you might be able to give us some insight. Up until today I’d have laughed at talk of elves. It feels a bit like I’m dreaming even now.”
“It’s fine. It’s just a bit much for me at the moment,” Zedek said.
“We’ve still got a body on the floor,” Daeholf reminded them.
“I actually wish I was dreaming,” Elena said.
“We all do,” Trimas said.
“We need to come up with a plan,” Daeholf said. “Preferably one that doesn’t involve leaving the body here.”
“What do you suggest?” Trimas said. “I’m tired and can hardly think.”
“As Elena said, the watch is out. We could just dispose of the body…” Daeholf said.
“That would just result in an extended manhunt,” Elena said. “That option is out.”
“Then there’s only one person I can think of that might be able to get us out of this,” Daeholf said
“Do tell,” Trimas said.
“We know Vika had enemies. That much was clear from the information Kellan had gained,” Daeholf said.
“You’re not suggesting…” Trimas said.
“Yes. You’ll have to take the body and the evidence to the Governor.”
*****
Kasan stood looking at the map on the wall. Each murder or suspected murder was marked neatly with a pin. He stared at it with pride. It was a masterpiece of mapmaking and Vika had given it to him. He’d taken good care of it. It was no doubt extremely valuable.
So many pins and it wasn’t as if they were close to finding the killer. A killer that had accounted for the careers of two watchmen before him. Two that, by all accounts, had been good at their jobs, if perhaps not very popular.
He’d spent a lot of time going through their notes but there was little help there. If there had been anything key then it was likely that Elena in particular would have found something. So he’d had to try something else. A new approach.
He’d carefully fixed some string around the area that he’d ordered searched comprehensively. Sometimes it helped to go back to basics. Boots on the ground. Breaking a problem by sheer force of effort. That hadn’t gone well though. It wasn’t something he much liked to dwell on. Fortunately the Thieftaker had been there to tidy that up for him, though that was a mixed blessing. It didn’t do well to make too many mistakes like that in front of her. Perhaps he had a little extra leeway as he was the third man on the case in short succession. It might be difficult to find a replacement for him. That was dangerous thinking though.
Back to the board. So his first initiative had been a qualified failure. At least they’d managed to eliminate an area from their enquiries. It still left the rest of the city however so that was small comfort.
What were his advantages then? Theoretically he still had a lot of men under his command. Far more than either of his predecessors had, who both seemed to have tried to tackle the problem alone. So a lot of men. Men he’d nearly caused a riot with.
Now he needed ideas, fresh thinking. The Nightwalker was just as elusive as his name suggested. Perhaps if there was some way to limit his ability to hide in the gloom? He briefly considered suggesting the
city put up extra torches and they have the public on watch but he dismissed that idea quickly. He’d caused enough trouble with the watch. It was hard to imagine how much extra damage would be caused if civilians got involved.
So a lot of men under his command. And little idea of what to do with them, which was why he was still here, late at night, trying to work out what to do next. It didn’t do well for the men to see him dithering so he’d taken to being in the watch station later and later when there were fewer of them around to see him. He’d told them it was because they day to day grind was distracting and it helped him focus. In a way he supposed it did.
So what could he do? More door to door searching was clearly out. Maybe he could set up some sort of trap. Offer the Nightwalker a victim he wouldn’t be able to resist and have a squad of watchmen ready and waiting to grab him in the act. He was sure that hadn’t been considered before. And it was brilliant. Except that he had no idea what would make for an ideal target.
Maybe that could be plan B then. If he ever found a pattern between the victims and could find the perfect target. Maybe he should offer himself? Perhaps he should put it about that he had a low opinion of the Nightwalker. Perhaps say something about the man’s sexual preferences and make offensive comments about the man’s parents. Kasan considered that for a moment. It might work but he wasn’t suicidal. The watch didn’t pay him enough to tempt him into making himself a serial killer’s plaything and he wasn’t sure he was liked enough by the men for them to make certain they got there before he was killed.
So definitely plan B. Or C. That still meant he needed a plan A. Plan A. Plan A. Hmm. He’d heard one thing that Bounty Hunters did when they couldn’t find their man was to turn in the body of some random peasant. Perhaps he could find some patsy, some vaguely plausible person, take them and offer them up as the Nightwalker. It probably wouldn’t be that hard to put together some evidence to support the claim. He had access to it after all. All he’d have to do was hope that the Nightwalker didn’t strike again. Hah. Some chance.
Bounty Hunters though…? He’d heard there were a number of them in town. Maybe they could be a useful resource. Put a big enough bounty on the Nightwalker’s head and they’d be sure to attract someone that would catch the man. That wouldn’t work though. The moment the watch put a price on the man’s head they’d be admitting defeat. And setting every enterprising fortune-hunting citizen out on the streets looking for blood. If he hadn’t cause a riot before, that’d be pretty sure to start one.
This was hopeless. He was making no progress here tonight. He was tired. It was time to go home, have something to eat, get some sleep. He’d heard that sometimes if you slept on a problem you’d wake up with the answer… Hah. He looked at the map again.
There was some noise outside the office. So much for the lack of distractions. He wasn’t making any progress here though so he might as well see what was going on. He opened the door and looked out. There was an unusually large number of watchmen on duty. Curious. He looked again. Some of them were rushing around, struggling to put on the rest of their uniforms.
“What’s going on?” he asked the nearest watchman. The man was red faced and was panting a little as if he had been running and was unfit. One glance at the man’s waistline suggested he wouldn’t have had to run far to get like this.
“There’s been a murder on Warden Street. Respected merchant so it’s caused a bit of fuss. The Captain is scrambling the force,” the portly watchman replied, taking a moment to catch his breath.
“For a murder? Is it the Nightwalker? Why wasn’t I informed?” Kasan asked. I can’t have been replaced already can I? he thought to himself.
“Not unless he can be in at least two places at the same time,” the watchman said.
Kasan resisted the temptation to sigh in relief. Not the Nightwalker then. No more victims that he could be blamed for. “What do you mean? What’s happened?” he said, hoping that the man hadn’t seen his reaction. It would be … inappropriate.
“There’s been a murder in Fold Street too,” the watchman said, seemingly oblivious.
“Fold Street? What’s going on?” Kasan said.
“We’ve started to get reports of trouble from around the area. People being robbed. People disappearing. People being murdered.”
“This can’t all be one man’s work,” Kasan said. Not the Nightwalker then. Confirmed.
“No. It’s starting to look like some sort of riot,” the watchman said.
Kasan’s blood ran cold. A riot. “Shit,” he said. Maybe it hadn’t been cleaned up quite as well as he’d thought. But surely the Thieftaker couldn’t have been that sloppy?
“Yeah, exactly. Look, we’ve been told strictly to leave you alone to focus on the Nightwalker. Thieftaker’s orders. I’m not going to disobey her so unless you need me for something, I need to be going…” the watchman said, already starting to move away.
“Go,” Kasan said, waving him off. He watched the men rushing around for a few more moments before disappearing back into the office. A riot? What was going on? He hadn’t caused this, had he? And if he had, would he be blamed?
*****
“This is crazy,” Trimas grumbled, shifting the Thieftaker’s corpse awkwardly on his shoulder as they walked along the dark snowy street.
“There’s no one else we can go to. It does make sense,” Elena said quietly. She patted the bag containing the documents for reassurance.
Trimas just grunted, trying in vain to find a comfortable position for the body.
“I’m glad you think so,” Zedek whispered back from just ahead, eyes darting wildly, expecting to be caught at any moment. “Just keep us away from any watch patrols. This is something we’re not going to be able to explain.”
“We’re off the patrol routes,” Elena said. “Besides which, they’re probably all out dealing with whatever she ordered before she died. If it hasn’t already lit the city up, it will do soon.”
“Sending hundreds of watchmen to swarm the streets,” Zedek said.
“They’ll be sent to trouble spots. We’ll see them coming,” Elena said.
“You really think you can persuade the Governor?” Trimas said, still trying awkwardly to balance the extra weight and not slip on the treacherous surface underfoot.
“Let’s hope so,” Elena said. None of them liked to consider what would happen if they failed so they proceed the rest of the way through the quiet snowy streets warily and in silence.
They stopped just across the street from the Governor’s mansion, hidden in the darkness, planning their next move. They observed the two armed and alert guards on duty at the well-lit gate from their position of cover.
“Do you really think we can bluff our way past them?” Elena said to Zedek.
He drew out his Bounty Hunter rod and looked at it. “I’ve seen it done,” he said quietly. “I had hoped we might find a better way when we got here though.”
“We can’t just go marching up with a body and ask to speak to the Governor,” Trimas said, setting the body down for a moment.
“We could but it won’t go well,” Elena said. “I can’t get us in by myself. My credentials weren’t enough, even if I hadn’t been suspended.”
“Daeholf had faith in us,” Zedek said doubtfully.
“It’s a bloody shame it’s not him trying to talk his way into what’s probably the most guarded building in the city,” Trimas said.
“Let’s hope those guards buy our story then,” Elena said.
“I’d have liked to work on it some more,” Zedek said.
“And I’d like to be in bed with a belly full of beer and a willing woman. We can’t all have what we want sadly,” Trimas said.
Elena gave him a hard look.
“Do you see any way over the wall?” Trimas said, ignoring her. “It’s going to be easier to retrieve the body from inside the grounds.”
“That wasn’t the plan,” Zedek said. “What about dogs?”
“I think there’s a quiet spot a short way round to the left,” Elena said. “You won’t be able to climb over the wall due to the spikes, but you might be able to throw the body over.”
“By myself? What are you going to be doing?” Trimas said.
“Distracting any guards so that hopefully they won’t be paying any attention to any thump they hear,” Elena said.
“Give me a minute to get round there then,” Trimas said. “After which you’d better get to sweet talking your arses off.” He heaved the body back onto his shoulder and disappeared into the darkness.
“I wish it was Daeholf here too,” Elena mumbled, watching him go.
“He’s just tired and grumpy,” Zedek said. “He’s normally much better company.” He looked at her. “You up for this?”
“Not really but we don’t have any choice,” Elena said. “You want to start and I’ll jump in?”
“I’m still not settled on what to say,” Zedek said, looking at the two guards and weighing their chances.
“I guess you’d better let me do most of the talking then,” Elena said. “Try to look sufficiently Bounty Huntery.”
“Bounty Huntery?” he said, looking at her and raising an eyebrow.
“Menacing or something.”
“I’ll try.”
They stood and walked confidently towards the guards. As soon as they were seen, the guards snapped to attention, pikes readied.
“We need to see the Governor immediately,” Elena said firmly, looking the guards straight in the eyes. The two guards looked at each other and laughed.
“Our business is urgent,” Zedek said, holding out his Bounty Hunter rod.
The guards stopped laughing and looked at him. “What business do you have here, Hunter?” one of them said.
“I’ve been working with the watch,” Zedek said.
“That’s a little unorthodox,” the guard said.
“It’s a delicate situation,” Elena said.
“I’m sure it is, but it doesn’t belong here. Move along,” the second guard said.
“Can we trust you?” Elena said.
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