From Death, A New Beginning

James and Alex rode up to Augustein Castle.

James was surprised to hear children laughing.

As they pass through the front gate and stabled their horses. James was surprised to find a bunch of children wandering around the castle grounds.

A few of them pointed at Alex and his shiny knight armor and started to gather around him.

“An actual knight of Lyris!”

“Look at his crest, he’s all the way from Cashubia.”

“I never thought I would really see a knight in person.”

James noticed one older boy among them who looked to be taking care of a girl with ginger hair. The boy came up with the girl. He looked like he had a troubled childhood with scars and burn marks on his arms.

The war was not kind to soldier nor the common folk.

Alex grinned at James and turned to the two who came up, “you haven’t seen nothing yet, children.” Alex said as he unsheathed his sword and pointed it towards the sky. The pale blue sword cracked with energy and then glowed with lightning and sparks. The children watched in amazement and after a moment the blade returned to normal.

The children cheered, entranced by the lightning.

“Isn’t that dangerous to do around children?” James asked

“Pfft, who do you think I am? I have mastered my combat arts.”

“Humph, magic. Why couldn’t you master healing magic?”

“Ah, don’t give me that. Even Chris learned some pyromancy.”

“Because idiots like you exists to endanger his life.”

Alex rolled his eyes. And turned to the children, “don’t you think that was cool?”

The children around them cheered.

“Looks like you are outnumbered old man.”

James just shook his head in amusement, “I’ll just leave you with the children for a bit. I’ll try to find Commander Edwin.”

“He’s over with Father Gideon on the north side.” Said a small girl with ginger hair and a bird plush.

James and Alex looked at each other, that grumpy priest? James left Alex with the children and headed towards the north side of the courtyard.

He found even more children playing with Hanna, Gideon and Edwin surrounding a bonfire.

Edwin looked up to see James approaching, he saluted James politely. Edwin then went back to tending to meat that was grilling over the fire.

“Good afternoon. What’s with all the children?” James asked.

“Oh, it’s that jerk from the military. They are from the orphanage.” Hanna replied.

“The orphanage? Isn’t this a bit lax of security for the castle given the duke was killed?”

Gideon tilted his head, “Keeping the castle secure for what reason exactly? Like you said there isn’t a duke.”

“Yeah, if anything there is even less reason for anyone to try to sneak into the castle.” Hanna said with an impish grin.

James rubbed his eyebrows, “I actually can’t argue against that logic. Still why did you bring the children of the orphanage here?”

Edwin gave James a small smile, “we like doing this for the children. We will come here to eat and have the children enjoy the day.”

Gideon nodded, “Edwin and I have been managing the orphanage for years. We like taking the children here. Sometimes even the duke will come down with presents for the children.”

James tried to imagine Rudolf going around and handing out presents. People were complicated.

James looked at Edwin, “I need to speak with you in private.”

Edwin sighed and looked over to Gideon, “can I trust you to handle the cooking for a bit? You won’t burn the meat again, Gideon?”

“Don’t worry Edwin this time dad has me around. I’m the grill master!” Hanna replied.

“That will do I suppose.” Edwin said as he rubbed his hands together and then wiped on his pants, “shall we get moving then? We can talk in my office.”

Edwin took James into the castle and down the hall entering an office.

Edwin gestured to a chair. James sat down.

Edwin then sat down at his oak desk and leaned forward, “alright. What did you want to speak about commissioner?”

“You knew. You knew about Viktor and Rudolf. How much did you know about Rudolf’s depraved actions?”

Edwin sighed and closed his eyes.

James clenched his fists, “answer me.” For the first time on this commission, James was genuinely angry, he wasn’t sure if he angry with Edwin or just this whole situation.

Edwin looked back up, “there was a reason why I didn’t explain this to you earlier. It’s hard to put into words the relationship between brothers like those two. There was once a time when Rudolf was a good man.”

“Maybe the reason you didn’t explain wasn’t respect for those two but sheer cowardice. You must have seen the signs of Rudolf’s actions as castle commander.”

“I had a strong suspicion and I tried to be the better man...I tried to get Rudolf back on the right path. I spoke with him, but he wouldn’t listen to me. Rudolf was my friend but...ultimately what could I do? He is duke of the land and I’m just a common soldier.”

James saw a look he was too familiar with. A quite resignation of knowing what was wrong and being unable to do anything about it.

What he said spoke to James. A flood of memories came back in. He found that his hands were shaking.

“...perhaps you and I aren’t so different after all.” James said after a moment. “I had a commission once. I was ordered by the Grand Military Council to investigate into missing children from the convent in the Duchy of Pommern. When I found the truth...nothing could prepare me for what I saw.”

James’s face twisted in horror as he relived the horrors he experienced. He looked back at Edwin, “Duke Eugen he was...torturing them. After he was done, he would kill them and throw their bodies to his prized hunting dogs. The most revolting thing was when I confronted him...he just laughed. Said their lives were in service of something greater. He was a trailblazer into the dark arts long lost to time.”

James saw in Edwin’s eyes. A flash of recognition in his eyes. Perhaps he had also seen similar cruelties inflicted.

James took a deep breath to steady himself,

“When I reported back to the Grand Military Council, they ordered me to hand over my evidence from the investigation. Duke Eugen of House Revetlo was a key supporter of the council and cousin to the king. What could I do about it? I couldn’t do anything about it. I was just a soldier with a family with two sons at home.”

He then scowled, “the nobility. They are a disgusting and loathsome lot.”

“I agree. You didn’t have to tell me this, but you did, and I thank you Commissioner Mansfield.” Edwin replied after a moment.

“You can call me James. I have just one more thing Edwin.”

Edwin gave a small smile, “Right then, James. How can I help?”

“Did Viktor ever talk to you about a girl? A maid that was used and abused by the duke?”

James leafed through his notebook and read out the description Cecilia gave, “her name is Yolanda.”

Edwin rubbed his chin, “yes...Yolanda, she’s a good girl. She always gives little treats for the children when they visit the castle. She has a pretty smile, like the sun.”

James paused and looked at Edwin curiously, “she works at the castle still?”

Edwin nodded, “yes, she is still a maid of the castle. I can find her and bring her back into this office.”

James got up, “bring her here. I want to speak with her. I will need to get Alex.”

Edwin left with James also leaving.

James wasn’t sure why he told Edwin about his experience. Perhaps he just felt he found a kindred spirit. It was a painful memory, follow by more pain. James remembered one night after that commission. He had been drinking, too much. He wasn’t in the right mind. When James returned home, he got into a fight with his wife Anna and was too drunk to stop it. She threw me out of the house that night. James became obsessed with his work and started drinking more. What he would give to change what happened.

But it was set, what was done was done. At least James was sober now.

James found Alex deep in conversation with Hanna as they tended the food over the fire.

James tapped Alex on the shoulder, “Hey, Edwin found our girl. It’s time to get moving.”

“Aww, do we have to? I was just getting to know my new friends.” Alex said as he gave Hanna a charming smile.

Hanna rolled her eyes, “and I was getting to know my knight.”

James sighed. Alex was really like Jaime. Jaime always thought himself as ladies’ man.

James tugged at Alex’s ear, “let’s go, kid.”

Alex swatted James’s arm away. Rubbed his ear and muttered something under his breath. He smiled at Hanna, “I’ll see you around. I promise.”

Hanna shook her head with an impish grin, “you better.”

With that Alex and James returned to Edwin’s office to see a girl seated in front of Edwin.

She was thin and frail with golden brown skin and auburn hair tied into a ponytail. She wore a orange blouse with a skirt and a white apron.

“Ah, James. This is Yolanda.”

She looked at James with some fear and distrust.

James opened his notebook.

“I just have a few questions to ask you. Cecilia is worried about you.”

James thought that might make her a little more trusting.

Yolanda gave a nervous smile, “she is? She is a good friend but...”

James paused for a moment. He wanted to choose his words carefully. This was a sensitive subject.

“She also let us know that the late Duke Rudolf...did things to you.”

Yolanda looked up at James with eyes piercing with spite and anger, “Rudolf. I never want to hear that name again.”

“Do you remember when you started working at the castle?” James asked

“Yes...I was sixteen then.”

Yolanda clenched her fists in frustration, “Cecilia doesn’t understand. How could she? She got the easy way out. When she left, Rudolf lost one of his favorite toys. He would abuse the rest of us even harder. He...he...a monster. I just wanted the pain to go away.”

James watched Yolanda, “you were there the night of the Rudolf’s murder weren’t you?”

She nodded her head, “There is no point of hiding it anymore. One night when a cloaked man came to my chamber. He told me he knew about everything about what was happening. My prayers were answered, I been heard. The God of Fear and Hunger had listened.”

Yolanda was speaking with so much conviction. James saw tears in her eyes.

“Did you get a good look at the man? Could you describe him?”

Yolanda furiously shook her head,

“My cloaked savior told me I could end my suffering and I would be free. All I had to do was go to the duke’s chamber like always and just let him follow me. Later on, I did exactly what I was told and he snuck into the duke’s chamber. He let me leave. Said I shouldn’t see what happened next. If I only knew what he would do.”

“What would you have done differently?”

Yolanda paused. And then she gave James a truly bloodthirsty smile, “I would have gladly watched him gut Rudolf. The bastard deserved it and more. He should have died screaming.”

James closed his notebook.

That was quite enough.

He looked over Edwin, “I’ll let you handle this.”

Alex was shocked, “what? Are you for real? Our best lead on finding more about the cultists and you are letting Edwin deal with it?”

James looked at Yolanda. She was no killer. A scared and desperate girl who wanted her suffering to just stop.

“She didn’t do it. She’s been completely honest with us this entire time. What would turning her over the military even accomplished? It’s not like she knows much about our assassin. If we can trust anything about this whole cult, it’s they are highly organized. Edwin is commander of the castle I will leave her as his responsibility.”

“What is going to happen to her?” Alex asked Edwin.

Edwin rubbed his chin, “I’m not sure myself. There isn’t a proper place for her here anymore. I’m not too sure if she would want to stay here with all which happened. I could maybe have her moved to Misni. Perhaps, Father Gideon would have a place for her.”

Yolanda nodded her head, “Father Gideon. Yes...he would be good to me. I will go wherever Father Gideon goes. I know that.”

Alex looked at her with sympathy.

“Come Alex we should get going.” James said.

“Good luck with the girl.” Alex said to Edwin as he left.