Knives of Bastion (An Empire Falls Book 2)

by Harry Leighton

  “I have my sources.”

  “I see,” the Governor said, looking serious, whilst thinking quickly. “In part,” he said.

  “Interesting,” Garen said, eyes widening slightly as if not expecting the confirmation.

  “The official story is correct, that she died in the line of duty.”

  “But…”

  “Her methods were unusual. She liked to do things her own way.”

  “I noticed.”

  “What we’re not telling people is that she assassinated the Hood.”

  “What?! How?”

  “Caught him unawares. Burned his house down around him. It was the night of the troubles. I’m sure you saw the fires.”

  “Many of them. And that seems a bit extreme, even for her.”

  “I agree. But she was also an opportunist.”

  “But somehow she also died?”

  “It got away from her.”

  “How do you know this then?”

  “She didn’t die right away. My residence was closer than hers so she came here seeking help but unfortunately it was too late and my physician couldn’t get here in time.”

  “Surely if she took down the rumoured head of Bastion’s underworld, it should be something celebrated, something she should be remembered for.”

  “Except for her methods.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “We don’t want to be seen to be encouraging vigilante justice. Hood should have been brought in and to trial.”

  “I see. I suppose that makes sense, though it put you in a difficult position. I thank you for trusting me with this information.”

  “We go back many years Garen. If I can’t trust you, then who can I trust?”

  “Of course. Of course.”

  “One last thing…” the Governor started.

  Garen raised an eyebrow.

  The Governor paused a moment. “Tell me. The man you recommended for my staff…” he said eventually.

  “Darek? What of him?” Garen said, looking confused.

  “How well do you know him?”

  “Quite well actually. Served the council well for some years. Is there a problem?”

  “He’d proving a little unreliable.”

  “I see. I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll have a little look at our records for you then. See if there is anything that might explain it.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” the Governor said. “Now, join me for lunch?”

  “I’d love to but isn’t it a little early yet?”

  “It’s been a long morning.”

  “I can imagine. In which case, certainly.”

  *****

  Elena entered the office quietly, studying the occupant. A smartly uniformed, middle-aged man who was scratching his head and staring vacantly at a large map of the city that was full of coloured pins. She recognised the position of some of them. Nightwalker killings. This was him then. She sighed to herself. From the puzzled expression on his face, it didn’t look likely there had been a lot of progress in her absence. She took a deep breath. She'd got this far into the station without too much fuss other than a few sullen looks, a fact that had surprised her somewhat. That run couldn't continue.

  “Inspector,” she said politely but loudly.

  The man looked around, surprised. “Oh, yes, I suppose so. Or was, anyway. Kasan, please,” he paused, expression changing in recognition. “Ah. I see. It's you.”

  Elena smiled politely but said nothing.

  “I was just clearing my things,” Kasan said, casting around for a box and picking up a sheaf of papers.

  “No need for that.”

  Kasan frowned. “I don't follow. You're taking my stuff as well as my case?”

  “Neither. What do you have so far?” Elena said calmly.

  Kasan gave her a confused look.

  “We've both been on the wrong end of politics and this case has kicked our arses. The important thing now is getting it solved. If you can help with that, I want you here,” she continued carefully.

  “You're not throwing me off it? I've not been thrown off it I mean? Um, I’m not fired?” Kasan said slowly.

  “No and no,” Elena said patiently.

  He thought about that for a moment. “Oh. Okay. I see then. Thank you, I think. I'm sorry for how I reacted when you came in then I guess.”

  “Don't worry about it, I get that a lot. Doesn't bother me anymore.”

  “Really?” Kasan said, eyebrows raised. “It'd bother the hell out of me.”

  “I've had plenty of practice,” Elena shrugged.

  “Yes. Well.”

  “That's a very impressive map you have,” Elena said, changing the subject.

  Kasan smiled. “Thieftaker herself gave it to me. I thought I was on the way to big things. Now she's gone and this case is a mess.”

  “Well let's see what we can do to put that right.”

  “We?”

  “We're going to be working together.”

  “We are?”

  “Is that going to be a problem?”

  “Um, no. No, I suppose not...”

  “Spit it out.”

  “It’s just that you've got a reputation.”

  Elena sighed.

  “Sorry, didn't mean it like that. I meant for working alone.”

  “I'm sure you can guess why.”

  “Ah. Of course.”

  “But I don’t think that’ll be a problem here.”

  “Well I've not got much choice in the matter, have I?”

  “There's always a choice.”

  “I leave now, my career is in ruins.”

  “Though if we work together, your reputation may be in ruins,” Elena pointed out.

  Kasan came to a decision. “Only if we don't catch him. I’m in.”

  Elena smiled for the first time that day. “Pleased to hear it. Now, let's start with what you have.”

  “A lot less than I was hoping. You're the only one that seems to have got anywhere so far.”

  “No need to blow smoke up my arse, I was a long way from catching him.”

  “Um, that's colourful.”

  “I speak bluntly these days.”

  “I see that.”

  “So there's a lot of pins in the map…”

  “Yes. I’ve marked the position of each of the known killings in red. Possible sightings are in yellow. I’ve also marked the extent of our recent search area.”

  “Recent search area?”

  “Not my finest hour. But we didn’t find him.”

  “I don’t think we need to go into that. Tell me about the possible sightings.”

  “It’s what I’ve been occupying myself with for the last few days. It’s been hard to get any other proper police work done at the moment, what with the Thieftaker and all.”

  “Yes, it’s been a shock for the whole city. Do you have spotters then or are these reports from the public?”

  Kasan sighed. “It’s mostly just been me on the case lately after the disturbance. These are all reports from the public that I’ve been collating.”

  “That’s certainly something to work with anyway,” Elena said. “Maybe we’ll find something. A pattern perhaps, or a hotspot of sightings.”

  “I very much doubt we’ll be that lucky, but the reports are over there if you want to look them over.”

  “I’ve got the rest of my notes too,” Elena said. “I’ll fetch them.”

  “There’s stuff that’s not in your files here? Why?”

  “I’ve been looking into the case on my own time. Not that I expected to be reassigned to it, but I couldn’t leave it alone.”

  “Perhaps the better part of your reputation is deserved then.”

  “The better part?”

  “Please excuse the phrasing but it is said that you’re a ‘dog with a bone’. You won’t let things go.”

  “‘Like’ a dog with a bone I hope. Though if not, I suppose I’ve been called worse.”

 
“Sorry. You know, you’re not quite what I expected up close.”

  “Really?”

  “You’re supposed to have set me on fire or beaten me to a pulp by now.”

  “The day is still young,” Elena said with a smile. “And you can always tell people that I did if it helps.”

  “Let’s leave that for if we fail,” Kasan said, looking a little nervous.

  “I’ll be back shortly then,” Elena said, turning and walking back out of the room.

  “Sergeant Elena, my office, now.” The words came as if they tasted bad.

  Elena didn't need to look to see the speaker. Clearly the captain was looking to reassert his authority. She was hoping that she’d been a little more inconspicuous in her return but he’d obviously just seen her.

  “Captain,” she said.

  *****

  “I’m not sure wandering the streets randomly at dusk is the best or safest way to find the Nightwalker,” Zedek said.

  “Do you have a better idea?” Trimas said a little sharply, turning to look at him.

  “Give up for the day I think,” Zedek said gently. “We’re tired and I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry, my feet are sore and I’m fed up too.”

  Trimas mused on that for a minute. “Maybe you’re right. We’ve got a bit of light left though. We’ll carry on until dark, maybe get a pie on the way back.” He looked around for where to head next.

  “Another pie. Lovely.” Zedek’s face was a picture of disappointment.

  “What?” Trimas said distantly, focused on something else.

  “I said another pie,” Zedek said. He peered in the direction that Trimas was staring. “Something important?” he asked.

  “Maybe,” Trimas said. “That man look a lot like a rooftop bowman to you?” he added, indicating a man across the street who was in conversation with a trader.

  Zedek studied him for a moment. “We didn’t get a great look, but it could be,” he said thoughtfully. “Height near enough and build is about right. But that probably describes half the city.”

  “He looks shifty though.”

  “Again. Half the city,” Zedek said distantly, still watching. “He’s not exactly screaming you-know-what to me from here,” he finished, looking away.

  “Can you be sure from this far away?”

  “No. But I don’t think it is likely.”

  “We don’t know what he’s doing to disguise himself or how well he is integrated into the city,” Trimas pointed out. “And this one is wearing a hat which would cover certain features.”

  Zedek sighed. “A hat. You’re suggesting we follow every suspicious looking person who is the right shape and wearing a hat?”

  “You have a better idea?” Trimas said, not taking his eyes off his target.

  “Many,” Zedek said firmly.

  “Any that help find the Nightwalker?” Trimas retorted instantly.

  “No,” Zedek admitted.

  “I’ll do you a deal. Since we have no more useful leads at the moment, we’ll follow him for a bit, see if he does anything more revealing. If not, we’ll head home and I’ll buy you that pie you were on about.”

  Zedek sighed.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Trimas said. His target set off down the street at a leisurely pace so he set off after him, shadowing at a healthy distance, Zedek in tow.

  “Looks like he might be heading into the sewers,” Zedek muttered, eyeing their direction and looking disgusted.

  “So?”

  “It smells really bad down there.”

  “That’s kind of the point. Besides you’re none too fresh at the moment either.”

  “I resent that,” Zedek said before experimentally sniffing at an armpit.

  "None of us are,” Trimas said. “Oh for a hot bath.”

  “And a warm bed with a willing woman. I know, I know.”

  “Maybe I have been saying that a lot lately,” Trimas admitted.

  “Just a bit.”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me? Oh. That again. Hot bath and bed would do me just fine thanks.”

  “Maybe now Daeholf is moving again we can change our arrangements a bit,” Trimas said, still watching the man carefully as they walked.

  “Now where is your mind going?”

  “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”

  “So rotate the bed again then?”

  “No. Move somewhere bigger. I don’t think the extortionists are coming back. Erik is safe enough now.”

  “You really want to carry the gold and weapons crates through the streets to somewhere else?” Zedek said quietly. “Besides which, did you have somewhere in mind?”

  “Perhaps not and not really. Maybe instead we could buy a couple more proper beds, cram them in the room.”

  “Only if they stack.”

  “That’s an interesting idea. I’d get the top one though obviously.”

  “Obviously?”

  “Seniority.”

  “Of course.”

  “Don’t smirk at me.”

  “I’m not. And he is definitely going into the sewer.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  “Human waste systems leave a lot to be desired.”

  “You want to stay out here?”

  “Yes.”

  “Tough.”

  “Nice.”

  “You got your Bounty Hunter rod with you?”

  “Yes…?”

  “We can grab him then if we need to. If he’s not our man, we’ve got a get out.”

  “I’m not sure it works that way. And I thought you didn’t want me using it?”

  “When it’s necessary...”

  Zedek gave him a disgusted look. “Let’s at least see what he’s doing first.”

  “Fine. Now let’s keep it down, voices will carry a long way in there.”

  Zedek nodded and took a deep breath from the air outside the sewer entrance. Trimas rolled his eyes before walking in quietly. The failing light outside didn’t penetrate far but their target had stopped around a bend a little way further in and lit a lantern. The reflected light from the damp walls was just enough to guess where they were putting their feet and not make too much noise as they trailed him around a series of turns. The sewer then straightened out and they didn’t have to travel much further before they saw more lights up ahead. Their target approached them and stopped. Trimas and Zedek held back, watching unobserved.

  “A meet,” Zedek whispered in Trimas’s ear.

  “Smugglers from the look,” Trimas replied quietly.

  “That probably rules him out then,” Zedek said.

  “Depends on who he’s meeting. Could be how our man is getting supplied.”

  Zedek thought about that. “You may have a point.”

  “Tackling all of them would be messy. Let’s wait and see if he is coming back this way alone. If he is we grab him, if not we follow the group and see where they go.”

  They watched for a short while longer. Whatever exchange had taken place was over quickly and their target started to come back this way, with the other lights heading off further down the sewer passage. The two of them shuffled quietly back along the tunnel, hiding behind a bend, lurking in the darkness. The light appeared around the corner and they leaped into action, Trimas grabbing the man across the mouth to keep him silent before slamming the back of his head into the wall, Zedek catching the lantern and stopping it from breaking as the man went limp. The two of them eased him to the ground, listening carefully to hear if their attack had been noticed.

  “All clear,” Zedek said after a minute.

  Trimas took off the man’s cord belt and used it to tie the stunned man up, propping him up against the wall before squatting in front of him. “Wakey wakey,” he said, slapping the man none too gently to rouse him, before once again putting his hand over the man’s mouth. The man’s senses returned and he tried to say something, struggling against the bonds but Trimas’s hand muf
fled him effectively and he was bounced against the wall again.

  “We will ask questions, you answer them,” Zedek said.

  “Is that clear?” Trimas said, a hint of menace in his tone as he pressed the man against the wall. The man gave them a terrified look in the lamp light, nodding as much as he was able.

  Zedek removed the man’s hat and held the lantern close to his face. The man tried to shrink back but was unable to move far. Zedek sighed. “No,” he said.

  “Search him at least,” Trimas said. “He might be able to blend in better than we expect.”

  “Okay, but it’s not him,” Zedek said. He searched the man quickly, pulling out the man’s knife and examining it in the light. “No,” he said again, handing it to Trimas. Trimas sighed before tossing the blade into the muck.

  “What now?” Zedek said.

  “We ask him some questions at least. Maybe he’s seen or knows something useful,” Trimas said.

  “Hmm,” Zedek said. “Okay then.” He turned to the man. “These sewers are actually quite impressive. Certainly more than your usual sewage in the street anyway. How well do you know them?”

  He got a confused look in reply.

  “Perhaps a different tack,” Trimas said. He bent over the man, his face inches from the frightened man’s face. “What are you doing here?” he said. “And be clear, if you try anything I’ll drown you in the shit by your feet.” He took his hand a short distance from the man’s mouth.

  “Hood will have your heads for this,” the man said quietly.

  “I doubt it,” Zedek said.

  “You work for Hood then,” Trimas said.

  “You’re messing in something that will get you killed,” the man said.

  “I’ll take that as a yes,” Trimas said. “What were you doing down here?” The man was silent so Trimas bounced him off the wall again a couple of times.

  “Okay, okay,” he said. “It was a sale.”

  “You didn’t look like you were carrying much with you,” Zedek said.

  “Delivery is separate,” the man said.

  “What and where?” Trimas said.

  “Can’t tell you,” the man said.

  “I’m not sure you realise your situation here,” Trimas said.

  “Can’t tell you,” the man said.

  Trimas bounced him off the wall again and the man went completely limp. “Huh,” he said. “Too hard that time.”