From Death, A New Beginning

They made it back into the city but was stopped at the gate by a dark-skinned knight of Augustein.

James put a hand on his sword hilt, hard to trust anyone at this point, anyone could potentially be part of the cult. He didn’t have much time to ponder as the knight came over in a bit of rush.

“You are Andrew correct?” James asked as the knight approached.

The knight nodded and spoke,

“Thank the Sky Father Hrafnagud that you two are alive! We feared the worst. You must come with me back to the castle.”

“Hold on, we need to talk to captain Paul we were attacked by cultists!” Alex replied

Andrew looked at Alex with a stern look, “you being attacked by cultists is why I need you back at the castle. I have been unable to locate commander Paul in any case. This was a coordinated attack. Duke Rudolf has been murdered.”

“…well, shit.” Alex replied.

“Let’s go Alex.” James commanded. The three of them rode back into the castle in haste.

James mind already whirled with thoughts. Someone is trying to destabilize Lyris with the death of a commissioner and the duke. It’s true many Restrorationists ended up joining the cult after the war but to see their homeland ravaged by war again? There was no more of House Strass to even attempt to restore to the throne. So why would the cult of Fear and Hunger would be doing this?

That vile cult.

That nameless entity with an unknown form. The God of Fear and Hunger with its festering appetite. James cannot even conceive for any logical reason for the worship of embodiment of human fear and suffering. Yet, the worship of the God of Fear and Hunger flourished in the shadows of the civil war and its aftermath. The military tried it’s best to suppress and eliminate the cult within Lyris. No matter how bright a light, it cannot destroy the shadows.

Alex, James and Andrew made it to outside Rudolf’s chamber where Edwin was waiting.

James looked at Edwin, “you better have a good explanation for why this even happened but first the body.”

Edwin sighed and gave Andrew a smile, “so you found them, good work. Yes, we can talk in time, commissioner. For now, we have lady Adeline of the Hospitallers with the body.”

“What no court doctor? A member of the Order of the Goddess Herta?”

“It’s a long story we can come back to.” Edwin said as he opened the door and led the two into Rudolf’s chamber.

There waiting was the hospitaller already at the scene. She was an older woman perhaps the beauty of her youth had faded. But what was left was a striking woman with an aura of confidence. She put James on edge, she was dangerous. He could feel it in his bones.

“Lady Adeline. We have found military commissioner Mansfield and his accompanying knight Alex of House Spiers. This is Adeline Master Hospitaller in Augustein. I summoned her to examine the body.” Edwin explained

Adeline sighed and didn’t bother to look up, “oh of course. Here comes the thugs of the Grand Military Council. I’ll get out of your way.”

Adeline walked over to Edwin and gave him a small smile, “how you are holding up?”

“Could be better not going to lie. Castle is in complete chaos. Would it be possible for you to not be so rude to our guests, my lady? They aren’t used to your sharp tongue.”

“I’ll give it some thought…I gave it some thought and no.”

“That was quick. That didn’t seem like that was a lot of thought.”

“I’m just a quick thinker.”

“Or you already decided your answer.”

“Same difference.”

James and Alex got a better look at the body.

Rudolf was left hanged from the ceiling. His face pale white with bloodless lips with his tongue cut out. His eyes were staring into the distance. His stomach was also cut open with his inners spewing out.

Alex looked sick at the sight.

“Pull yourself together man.” James said as he came over to the body.

James examined the cut in the gut. Running his fingers through the cut. It was a clean cut, done with someone with experience, no jagged lines or need to cut through a second time. Unfortunately, that didn’t realistically narrow down who could it be. The life in the north is a harsh one, it would be uncommon to find someone who wasn’t at least familiar with the blade. James checked the duke’s expression, still wide eyed with shock. James checked the windows and doubled back to the door, nothing seemed to suggest there was a forced entry. Likely it was someone the duke trusted, and the betrayal cut deep before his untimely demise.

“Ugh, and you are putting your fingers into his gut. This is something else to see death like this so close. So fresh? By the goddess Herta this is fucked up.”

“Where is the court doctor, Master Adeline?” James asked turning over to Adeline.

Adeline replied, “His excellency did not have one. After the previous one resigned, he had one of our healers act as his attending doctor.”

“Who was the attending doctor among your order then?”

“A local healer named George Vasa.”

“Where is he?”

“He’s not in the city. He has been attending to patients up north of the city and will be away for a while.”

“How very convenient. What about Rudolf’s medical records, where are those?”

“His old records are still here among the papers in the library. For more current records those are under our archives.”

“Well, I would need his more current records.”

“I cannot share medical records to those who are not a Goddess Herta’s Hospitallers. We take patient privacy very seriously.”

James stood up to full height and glared at Adeline, “I would pick your next words carefully. You are obstructing and disrespecting a representative of the Grand Military Council.”

Adeline just steadily looked back at James, unfazed. “The Hospitallers aren’t under worldly authority like the Lyris Military Council. We are an international order only subordinate to the goddess herself. You have no authority here. What will you do to threaten me? Arrest? See how the people will react to that. Death? I have no fear of the Underworld.”

James grunted and shook his head. He had no counter to that. “Fine. I have my eye on you. You have put yourself under suspicion.”

Adeline merely shrugged.

Edwin sighed, “would it kill you to play nice with them? The sooner they are done questioning you the sooner they can go away.”

Adeline gave a mighty, humph.

James continued, “I will need Fredrick’s old medical records, the registrations logs of all members of the Hospitallers in the city, and the information you had on the previous court doctor.”

“That I can do.”

“Deliver these documents to the Fiddle and Fey Inn. You can leave them with the innkeeper.”

Adeline nodded, “if you don’t have any other requests, I’ll get a start on the paperwork.”

“That is all Master Adeline.”

She bowed and went on her way.

“And now for you, commander Edwin. I hope you are ready.” James said as he got out his notebook.

“I’m always ready.” Edwin said with a slight smile.

“Where were you tonight?”

“I was receiving reports from my guards. I then met with Duke Rudolf but he ordered me away for the night. Rather angrily I might add, he had a personal matter and did not want anyone to disturb him. I got him to concede to a pair of guards protecting his chamber when he met his guest on pain of death if they disturbed him during the meeting without his consent. I was at the orphanage with Father Gideon since I was dismissed. Played some cards with the children.”

“How very convenient that you wouldn’t be around for his murder. Didn’t it strike you as odd that he ordered you away?”

“Not at all, Duke Rudolf was a man of great skill of coin and a fair judge for the people. He was also a fat, short-tempered, gluttonous, lustful, and spiteful man.”

“That’s rather harsh for your former ruler. Not doing yourself any favors in reducing my suspicion on you murdering the duke.”

Edwin gave a small smile, “I will mourn for the man he once was, not the man he was in the end. I served his father Fredrick as well who was potentially even more distasteful than Rudolf. Fredrick betrayed he Restorationist cause not out of principle but out of sheer greed and cowardice. I had hoped and as many others that Rudolf would be a better man than Fredrick, tragic how it all ended up becoming.”

“Who was he meeting with that Rudolf was so attached to being left alone?”

“His former court doctor who resigned as mentioned earlier. They had a…falling out of sorts.”

“Care to elaborate?”

Edwin merely shook his head, “It’s deeply personal. You can ask him yourself. Doctor Viktor lives in Misni these days.”

James jotted the name Misni down.

“Any suspicions that the cult of Fear and Hunger was behind this, commander Edwin?”

“…potentially but I could not tell you. The cult is skilled in stealth and assassination, they also killed Rudolf’s father. Their motivation would be unclear if they did the deed.”

James sighed, exactly his thoughts. What was the motivation behind the murder?

“I want a copy of the postmortem done on Duke Rudolf also delivered to the inn, is that clear Commander Edwin?”

“Understood.”

“I will take my leave, then. Commander Paul will be at the north city gate, correct?”

“That’s where he should be posted, yes. Why? What do we need from him?”

“Just a friendly chat.” Alex replied

***

Alex slammed his fist on the table, “spill it, Paul. What you know?” Sending papers and books flying.

The captain of the city guard was looking a little ragged as Alex interrogated him.

“What are you talking about?” Paul asked in a mild panic.

James sighed and looked at Alex, “let me do the talking.”

James gave Paul a stern stare, “Rudolf has been killed. We were attacked by God of Fear and Hunger cultists.” James told him bluntly.

“Lord Rudolf? That poor man. Wait? And you think I might be behind this? By the Goddess Herta, no!”

“Tell us what you know about the cult here in Svarostadt.”

Paul looked back with some anger in his eyes, “the cult? Those blood sucking pests! They prey on the good folk of this town, kidnapping and stealing. I would never work with their kind. Never!”

“What were you doing after you left us?”

“Well, uh. I was with a woman…”

“Go on.”

“Really? I have to?”

“I was with a uh…woman of the night.”

Alex shook his head furiously and slammed the table again, “are you fucking kidding me? That’s the best you can come up with?”

Paul looked back at Alex with alarm, “you don’t understand. This is madame Amelia we are talking here! Her beauty and charm are incredible. I had to book my appointment a month in advance! I wasn’t going to miss out.”

James closed his notebook and rubbed his eyebrows in frustration.

Paul shrugged helplessly before continuing, “Look, sir. Commissioner James. Mr. Mansfield. I became commander of the town guard because it’s easy and calm. We been at peace, nothing really of note happens in this city. I want to keep it that way, so everyone can live a simple and safe life here in Svarostadt. I have absolutely no interest in whatever crazy conspiracy is going on here.”

“Thank you, Paul. I’m sure you will be busy. Keep your eye out, there may be cultists among your rank. You are dismissed.” James replied.

Paul left.

“Well, I don’t think he’s trying to kill us.” Alex said

“Yeah, I already was under the impression that Paul is no conspiracy mastermind beforehand.”

“Then why were you interrogating him so harshly?”

“I like seeing him rattled.” James replied with a faint smile.

“You jerk!”

James chuckled, “yeah, I know. But this does confirm a couple of my suspicions.”

“Oh yeah? What can you tell me what you mean?”

James shook his head, “give it some thought. What do we know so far about the guards?”

Alex rubbed his chin. Thinking out loud, “well only a few people would have known where we were going. If we can rule out Paul means it must have been a guard. With that logic, there are traitors among the guards themselves.”

James nodded in approval, “Go on.”

“Hmm, well I guess that wouldn’t narrow things down. There were a bunch of guards around when Paul was barking orders. It would only take one guard to relay our location to our attackers.”

“I knew there was more going on that brain of yours other than sex and violence.”

“Jeez, you don’t have to be so condescending.”

James smirked, “would it be better to say that I’m proud of you?”

“That still sounds condescending!”

James closed his notebook and stood up, “that’s all we need from here. Come let’s get back to the inn. We will need to get our rest in, busy day tomorrow.”

“Ugh, I don’t feel like sleeping. I’m wide awake, this whole situation is crazy, the duke is dead, and people are trying to kill us.”

“I’m going to sleep like a rock.”

“Are you kidding with me?”

“This is how it goes with military commissions go. You got to learn to roll with the punches.”

“It’s not so much punches more like being stabbed at repeatedly.”

James rubbed his earlier wound, “point taken. Enough of this, let’s get going. Busy day tomorrow."