Munroe caught the coin, and was surprised by its weight.
“This alone is worth a small fortune. It does look somewhat Teutonic; Saxony you said, right?”
“What I actually said was that it doesn’t matter where the coins came from,” Dyla repeated. “There will be more of them if you can be of service to us.”
“Of course I can be of help,” Munroe quickly replied. “I know the whereabouts of Blackheart’s mansion, and I can lead you to it.”
“Please, Munroe, don’t waste our time,” Darius said. “We know where the mansion is, but what we want to know is how you got the goblet you have out of the mansion without being caught.”
Munroe gave a wolfish grin.
“It was actually the same as you intend to do. I stole it.”
Munroe, warming to the conversation, continued his explanation.
“I know the layout of the mansion. There is quite a collection of pieces, and I know exactly where Blackheart keeps the artifacts like those goblets you were so keen on in my apartment.”
“Then I believe we can use you,” Dyla said.
Munroe had been eyeing Dyla’s lithe form all evening. It had not escaped his attention that Dyla was a beautiful, young woman, and he loved her type--beautiful, strong-willed and capable.
“I think I would like that. Here’s what I can do. I’ll bring you to the mansion, help you to get inside and get the goods out. For the right price, of course,” he said, without taking his eyes off Dyla.
Eclair jumped off the bed.
“Tell me, Munroe, what might that price be?” he demanded.
Munroe laughed at Eclair’s emotional outburst. He had noticed Eclair’s reaction as he checked out Dyla’s figure.
“Not to worry, young man, my interests lie in more material things. You can sit back down. I want 20 of these coins, half now, half when the job is done.”
“Five now, and 20 more when the job is complete,” Darius countered.
“Done,” Munroe agreed quickly.
“Good, then let’s begin.”
Darius got up and walked toward the door. Eclair and Dyla clambered off the bed to join him.
“Tonight? Right now?” Munroe asked.
“Yes, right now. Take us to the mansion. We want to move quickly. Our benefactor is impatient.”
“OK, but give me my down payment first.”
“Why Munroe, don’t you trust me?” Darius asked.
“Let’s just say, I’m a cautious man.”
Darius laughed. He reached into his pocket, pulled out four more coins and handed them to Munroe.
“Now we can go,” Munroe said.
Dyla slipped her hand in Eclair’s as they followed Darius and Munroe out the door. Eclair gave her hand a quick squeeze.
***
Munroe drove slowly around the property. A fifteen-foot-high privacy wall surrounded the estate, and the only view of the interior was through an electronically-locked gate that fronted a long driveway leading to the house. The house and driveway were both bathed in spotlights, strategically placed to ensure maximum visibility of the entire front lawn.
“It looks quiet because the grounds are covered with motion sensors and infrared sensing cameras,” Munroe explained. “There are two guards on duty inside the mansion who monitor the security systems at all times.”
“How did you get in before?” Darius asked.
“Posing as one of the caterers for a celebration at the estate. It was quite the party, but Blackheart rarely throws them. I had to plan months in advance for that, and even then I nearly got caught. The only piece I was able to get away with was the goblet you’ve already seen.”
“How do we get in this time?” Darius probed.
“I don’t know, I thought you might have some ideas.”
“Great. You’re a big help so far Munroe,” Dyla mumbled.
“I have seen enough for tonight,” Darius said, after the second loop around the property. “I’d like to come back and see what this place looks like in the daylight. Maybe walk around the estate, look for any weakness around the perimeter. Then we’ll sit down, study all the ingress points and develop our strategy.”
“You know, the way you talk, you sound like you have military experience with this sort of thing. I’m beginning to think that you’re not only treasure hunters, but also some sort of paramilitary group. Are you part of some international thieves’ organization?”
“And if we were?” Dyla asked, one eyebrow arching. “Would you really want to know?”
Munroe looked at Dyla with a twinkle in his eye.
“Only if I could join you,” he answered.
“Let’s wait and see how this goes, first,” Darius said.
***
When Munroe finally left the trio in their room, Eclair fell onto a chair with an explosive sigh.
“I never thought we’d pull that off. I can’t believe both Cat and Munroe bought our story.”
“Who says they did?” Dyla asked.
“The best lies are always based on some elements of the truth,” Darius said. “When I read Munroe’s mind, I simply gave him what he most desired; another chance at Blackheart. It’s interesting that Blackheart is nobility. Did either of you catch that?”
“Yeah, I heard that. Who is he anyway?” Eclair asked.
“From what I could discern from Munroe’s mind, Sir Henry Hanover, known as Blackheart, is the worst, and most successful, crime boss in the area. He has his fingers in every illegal activity imaginable, and controls it all with an iron fist. I don’t know anything about his noble rank though. There was nothing more about it in Munroe’s surface thoughts. The only thing that’s important to us is that Munroe has seen his extensive collection of artifacts.”
Darius looked over at his sister.
“And what’s this about a thieves’ guild?” he asked.
“I made it up on the spot. We needed to give Munroe something he can understand so he’ll help us. He doesn’t trust us, but he has been inside the mansion and has invaluable information about the layout. We need him as much as he needs us.”
Darius yawned, and stretched his long limbs.
“We need a plan to get past Blackheart’s security, but not tonight. It’s been a long day and we should all get some sleep. You two can have the bed, but keep the noise down to a minimum,” he joked.
“What?” Eclair cried, as a blush rose up his face for the second time that night.
Dyla laughed. “No worries brother, we’ll be quiet.” She walked over to the bed, grabbed one of the pillows, and threw it at Darius. “Here, wouldn’t want you to say that we don’t share.”
Darius caught the pillow and settled himself on the reclining chair. Dyla grabbed Eclair’s hand, and pulled him to the bed.
Eclair was happy to finally lie down beside Dyla.
“By the way,” she said, “thanks for sticking up for me with Munroe, but you know that he wouldn’t have gotten within ten meters of me.”
“I know, but I didn’t care for the way he was looking at you.”
Dyla kissed Eclair soundly on the lips before snuggling into his chest to sleep. Eclair wrapped his arm around her, feeling content for the first time in a long while.
Darius looked over at the two, rolled his eyes, and snuggled into his own pillow for a long-awaited rest.
Excerpt from The Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First Vacancy:
Division I – The Rule of Otharia
Subsection IV – Rogue Gypsy Nation
All communication with the gypsies has been prohibited, but that didn’t stop it from happening. The gypsies have the largest fleet of ships, and rule the seas. They go where the winds carry them, and are fiercely independent. The clan leaders did not impose any restrictions on its citizens regarding trade. The trade that any ship entered into was its own business. Multiple clans and ships often partnered together to satisfy the orders that come from the duchies. It was this concept of freedom
that the Grand Council wanted to keep segregated. Most of the Grand Council was in agreement that the loose structure of the gypsy nation government would lead to anarchy and the decline of civilization in the Kingdom.
Chapter 32 – Trinity
Trinity fidgeted at the control desk console. She watched the steady stream of regular travelers come through the portal station. Earlier in the day, she had sent a message to Ty telling him she had news. Her conversation with Crestov and Sardel last evening sent her mind reeling in a dozen different directions. The men had been sparse in their details, and she wanted Ty to help her sort it out.
When Ty finally came through the portal, Trinity walked over to greet him, and whispered in his ear.
“I have interesting news, but I don’t dare tell you here.”
Ty nodded with understanding.
“Trinity, are you able to walk up to the house with me? I have a meeting with Avikar and you would be a welcome distraction.”
“No, sorry. I’m on duty for another hour, but promise me I’ll see you after the meeting.”
“Of course, I’ll see you a little later and then we can go have a bite to eat.”
“I’d like that. See you soon.”
Ty kissed her and left the station. Trinity went back to studying the portal logs.
Sooner than she expected, Ty was back.
“Good timing,” she said.
“Would you expect anything less?” he teased. “Let’s go get a table at the Painted Horse Grill. I’m starving.”
Trinity’s relief telekinetic was already on duty, and she was free to leave.
“Sounds good, let’s go.”
They headed off toward the tavern. Inside, they took a table in the back and the waitress took their order. Trinity looked around to be sure no one could overhear their conversation, before she quickly recounted the events of the previous night.
“I told them I would do my best to convey their message to Avikar,” Trinity said. “Of course, I didn’t tell him, but their story corroborates what I’ve suspected for a long time. I think that bastard brother of mine is up to his neck in black market smuggling. That gypsy, Sardel, wanted me to arrange a meeting as soon as possible with him, but I wanted to tell you what they said first.”
“Good, that was quick thinking. Those people you met are extremely dangerous. I don’t want you meeting them again by yourself.”
“But I wasn’t in any real danger. I’ve known Crestov for years. He goes through the portal station twice a week. He would never hurt me.”
Ty pressed his point.
“How well do you know him? Did you know he was working with the gypsies?”
Trinity shook her head no.
“My point exactly; I don’t want you to meet with them again. I’ll go instead.”
“They won’t trust you. There’s no way you’ll get near them without me.”
Ty thought about that for a moment. He hated to admit it, but she was right.
“All right, we’ll go together. Arrange another meeting right away, but don’t tell them I’m coming. Let them think they’ll be meeting with Avikar. That way, they won’t be suspicious. If this gypsy verifies that Avikar was the head of the smuggling ring, and not Uncle Levon, then I believe we’ll be able to show that Avikar was complicit in framing Uncle Levon.”
“Do you think that Avikar could do that?” Trinity asked.
“He could have. Everyone knows that your brother has lusted after the throne for years.”
“But to commit murder? Even I can’t believe my brother could do that.”
Ty nodded in agreement.
“True, but everything depends on what this gypsy says. Enough business. Shall we talk about something more personal?”
Trinity waited, her heart beating faster.
Ty moved his chair next to hers and took her small hand in his.
“I know my duties have taken all of my time, and it’s been hard for you, but I haven’t stopped loving you for an instant. I want to announce our wedding banns soon, but I must defer to the decision of my councilors. They know better than I the protocol we must follow. You still want to marry me, don’t you?”
“Of course I do, you crazy fool. You must never doubt that. Don’t you know that I could never stop loving you? I’ll wait as long as it takes for us to be together.”
She leaned over and kissed the young duke. “My Lord, your wish is my command.”
Ty chuckled.
“Be careful where you say that, my dear. I will restrain myself today, but I promise you that may not always be the case.”
***
It was another 24 hours before Crestov’s regularly scheduled trading day. There was nothing Trinity could do but wait. On his appointed day, she waiting patiently until Crestov finally came through the portal station. She nodded at him when he arrived.
“Trinity,” Crestov said, smiling expansively. “How are you this fine day?”
“Wonderful. How about you?”
“Business is good and I’m thinking of celebrating. Any suggestions of where I might get a good meal?”
“You’re in luck; the Painted Horse Grill is serving their special cut of lamb tonight. They begin serving at sunset, but I hear they run out fast, so don’t be late.”
“Wonderful, sounds just like what I’m looking for. Tonight at sunset, you say? Hmmm, I think I’ll try your suggestion. Thank you, my dear; you’ve made an old man very happy.”
Excerpt from The Chronicles of Otharia during the reign of the First Vacancy:
Division I – The Rule of Otharia
Subsection IV – Rogue Gypsy Nation
Though the Grand Council declared the gypsy nation outlawed, it could not stop the ideals that it represented from spreading across the Kingdom. Some of the dukes tried to embrace and combine their traditional form of rule with the gypsy nation’s concept of freedom. The major difference was that the gypsies elected members of their parliament for a specific term of office, unlike the royals, who ruled for life within their own duchies.
Chapter 33 – The Evidence
Trinity entered the Painted Horse Grill at sunset. There was a normal amount of activity in the main room of the tavern. She looked around. She spotted Crestov at the same table they had shared at their earlier meeting. As she had expected, Sardel was with him. Trinity was nervous, because she had promised the two men a meeting with her brother, and she didn’t know how they would react to an unexpected guest.
She smiled as she walked toward the table. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Ty standing at the bar. She nodded at him, and he moved toward the group.
Crestov watched her, but Sardel was looking over Trinity’s shoulder at the young man approaching.
Crestov stood up and pulled out the chair for Trinity, and she sat down. However, Sardel looked at her with a menacing stare.
“You were followed,” he growled. “Crestov, we’ve been betrayed.”
Sardel reached into his cloak, and pulled out a long knife. Trinity inhaled sharply, and rushed to explain.
“No, wait. You have not been betrayed. I invited this man here tonight instead of my brother.”
Ty pulled a chair from another table, and took the liberty of sitting down at the table before they attracted any unwanted attention.
Crestov scowled, clearly not happy with the young woman.
“Trinity, what’s the meaning of this? You tread on shaky ground here.”
“I realize this isn’t what you wanted, but please listen to him for a moment. I know we can all help each other.”
It was Ty’s turn to convince the hardened men of his usefulness.
“My name is Duke Tyrian Persing, and I came here in the hopes that we might be able to help each other.”
Crestov put a cautioning hand on Sardel’s arm.
“Sardel, put the knife away,” he said, before turning his attention to Ty. “I know who you are; no one could mistake that red hair. I knew your father. He
was a great man. I’m sorry for your loss. If you’re half the man he was, you’re welcome at my table.”
Ty visibly relaxed.
“Master Crestov, his murder and other events are why I’m here.”
“We know nothing of your father’s murder,” Sardel interjected.
Ty put his hand on top of Trinity’s.
“If I thought, for one moment, that you had anything to do with that, you would have found yourself surrounded by Persing guards instead of this fair company. However, I have reason to be believe that the deaths of both my uncle and father may be connected, but I’m not sure how.”
Sardel sneered at the young duke while scanning the tavern for Persing guards.
“What do you want, boy?”
Ty was not intimidated by the gypsy’s gruff exterior. He had gotten past their initial shock of his appearance, and had their full attention.
“First, understand this; I may be young compared to your grizzled hide, but I’m the crowned Duke of Persing. Any business we conduct together will be with mutual trust and respect.”
Ty looked at the gypsy with a steely-eyed stare.
“I’ll personally guarantee your safe passage for as long as we’re engaged together, but be warned, if you cause any trouble or try to harm anyone associated with me, I’ll cut you down myself.”
Sardel stared at the young man across the table. The air was thick with tension.
“Ha,” Sardel cried, sitting back in his chair. “You have courage, I’ll give you that. As to whether we have business together, that remains to be seen. I’ll ask you again, what do you want?”
Ty tried not to show his relief at Sardel’s reaction, but Trinity let out an explosive sigh. Ty patted her trembling hand reassuringly.
“I think you must know of the smuggling ring that was exposed in the Telkur Duchy last year. My purpose is to prove that my Uncle Levon was not the ringleader, but to do that I need proof of who was in charge. I think you know who that was, and since you asked for a meeting with Avikar, I can only guess it was probably him.”
“Why would I tell you anything of that night?”
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