Chapter 3 #3
“It produces a lot of smoke when you burn it,” Nikka responds as she takes notes on her pad.
“The smell is…interesting. It is used in ceremonial pyres, or added to incense, or used to bless rooms. Outside of the church, if you know your chemistry, you can actually do some pretty interesting things with brimstone and fire.” A sudden look of realization crosses Nikka’s face.
“Sir, the high priest mentioned the Shatu Uzu’gor this weekend.
There are always a lot of fire dancers and street performers.
It might be worth being on the lookout for anyone using an excessive amount of brimstone. ”
“Good thinking, officer. Please make a note of that in your report,” Khazak tells her as he emerges from the closet, where his eyes catch something on the door frame.
Smiling, he carefully plucks what looks like a torn piece of black cloth from the splintered wood.
“Seeing as the priest’s robes do not come in black, I think we can assume this belonged to our assailant. ”
“Here you are, sir!” Nikka steps forward, holding a small jar from her bag.
“Thank you, officer.” Khazak drops the cloth into the jar. “As we are already a day behind, please take that back to the lab immediately and attempt to scry on its owner. David, go with her. I am just going to quickly update the high priest and then will be right behind you.”
“Yessir,” we respond in unison.
The two of us exit the temple as Khazak goes to update the priest alone, which I suspect might have something to do with wanting to avoid me learning of any embarrassing stories from his youth.
That’s fine. I’ll just ask his sister. It’s a quick walk back to the station, and Nikka takes us right to the forensics lab.
The room is emptier than it was this morning, most officers off working their own cases.
Nikka sets up at one of the desks with scrying equipment—at least I’m pretty sure that’s what it is.
At the center of the table is a very detailed map of the city.
I think I can make out each individual building.
Next to the map is a large mirror laying flat on the surface of the desk.
“How does this work, exactly?” I’ve never actually seen someone “scry” before, but I know it’s a way for some spellcasters to locate a person or thing from a distance.
“Well, if this is from the thief’s clothing, I should be able to channel my magic through it and pinpoint his location on this map, assuming they are still in the city.
” Nikka sets her bag down and removes the jar with the cloth scrap.
“I can also try to bring up a visual image of them and their surroundings, but that can be a little trickier.”
“So, what’s to stop someone from scrying on one of us and discovering the city’s location?” I ask, suddenly worried people back home might already know exactly where I am.
“Anti-scrying enchantments around the city’s perimeter,” she explains. “Strong ones, too. They make it impossible for anyone outside of the city to scry in, but as long as you are inside the enchantments, the magic should work just fine.”
I nod. I’m not exactly sure if anyone back home is looking for me, but at least I know my location is secure for now.
Nikka reaches up to remove her necklace, a simple gold chain attached to a small animal fang, no longer than an inch.
She wraps some of the chain around the fingers on her other hand before opening the jar and placing the cloth scrap in her palm.
Closing her fist, she holds it palm-down over the map, letting the necklace dangle freely from her fingers.
We both look up at the sound of the door opening and see Khazak entering the lab.
“Just about to get started, sir,” Nikka calls him over.
As Khazak moves to join us, Nikka begins to chant to herself as she moves her hand slowly over the map.
The fang on the necklace glows as the spell activates, swaying in the air over the city.
A second later, the chain goes taut, and with a gentle thunk, the fang plants itself onto the map, standing straight up.
“Got them!” Nikka declares excitedly. “It looks like they are in a warehouse… Lot 549. Let me see if I can bring up a visual.”
Nikka moves her focus over to the mirror, placing her hands on either side of it. I see the surface of the mirror start to look cloudy, like smoke is swirling around on the reflective side, but nothing else happens.
“Damn, they are blocking me,” she gripes.
“Why didn’t it work?” I watch the mirror go back to normal.
“Magic is not foolproof,” Nikka explains. “There are still ways to hide from it.”
“It may also mean the thief is aware we are looking for them.” Khazak inspects the spot on the map where the fang still stands. “Officer Silentfang, please pull all records we have for that lot and bring them to Deputy Keenguard’s office. David, you and I are going to the warehouse, now.”
After splitting from Nikka, the two of us leave the station and head south, walking at a quick pace. Judging from the map, it’ll take us ten minutes if we hurry.
“So, did everything go alright with the priest?” I can’t help but ask, I’m still really curious about a young temple-going Khazak.
“Hmm? Oh, yes, everything was fine.” Khazak turns to answer me.
“After I updated him, he asked me about volunteering at the temple again. Thankfully, my job and all its duties are more than enough of a valid excuse. However, I did let him know that my sister was back in town, and that she has nothing but free time on her hands.”
“Oh, I’m sure she’s going to love that.” The twin in me understands: when you’re given an opportunity to pull one over on your sibling, you gotta take it.
“Should at least make for interesting conversation next time we see her at dinner.” He sounds pleased with himself.
“And what’s this I hear about a festival happening next weekend?” I ask about the other thing on my mind. The high priest and Nikka both mentioned something.
“Yes, that.” Khazak smiles coyly. “I was going to let that be a surprise, but I suppose it is a little late now.”
“Yeah, cat’s outta the bag,” I add.
“Who puts cats in bags?” Khazak asks, puzzled.
“It’s just a saying.” Who does put cats in bags, though? “What is the festival?”
“The Shatu Uzu’gor. It begins Aquaday evening and continues through Solisday,” he informs me as we walk. The name sounds familiar. “Translated, it means the Festival of Steel & Thunder. It is a celebration of relationships like ours.”
“What happens?” Celebrate how, exactly?
“A lot of outdoor parties. Drinking, eating, more drinking. There will be street vendors and demonstrations.” Now I’m curious: what kind of demonstrations?
“I still want to leave some things a surprise, but let us say that we will finally get some use out of that harness I had made for you. It is one of the few times the city actually gets any kind of tourism.”
“People really come here for all that?” Would people from home come if they knew what it was about?
“There are more people like us in the world than you think, David,” he responds.
“You mean people who are twins?” I joke, giving Khazak a cheesy smile when he looks over to correct me.
Then he looks concerned and quickly pulls me over to him, the sounds of horses galloping on my left.
I turn just in time to see a blur of black as a horse-drawn carriage flies past us. Why does this feel familiar?
“Slow down!” Khazak shouts after them as he lets me go, then nods toward his right. “We are almost there.”
We stop before we enter the next lot. Most of the buildings in this section of town are workshops or warehouses of some kind.
This next building is no different, but it looks much more run down.
The color on the walls has faded and some of the windows are broken.
I think the roof might even have a hole in it.
“Yeah, this place gives off big evil villain lair vibes,” I comment quietly. “How do you wanna do this?”
“Let us try and look inside first.” Crouching, Sir leads us to one of the warehouse’s windows.
We wait on either side, carefully turning our heads to peer inside the building.
It’s dark, the only light coming in through the windows, but I don’t see anything.
I look over, silently asking if he sees something I don’t, but he shakes his head then nods at the front door. He tests the knob, finding it unlocked.
“Weapon at the ready,” he whispers to me, and we both draw our swords as he opens the door.
We walk inside slowly, Khazak in the lead as we carefully eye our surroundings for any movement. It’s easier once my eyes adjust to the dark, but I still don’t see anything. It’s so eerily quiet in here that I can hear my own heartbeat.
The first part of the building is mostly desks, all covered in dust and old papers.
Just beyond that through an open doorway is the rest of the warehouse.
Huge ovens line the walls, a smelter and an anvil next to each one, all of them long since rusted over.
Along another wall are a series of crafting tables, a pile of old bows lying atop one. They made weapons here.
“David.” Khazak whispering my name snaps my head to attention. He’s standing near one of the desks. “Look.”
He’s pointing down at the desk, and at first, I don’t realize why. It’s just another empty desk. Then I realize this one isn’t dusty like the others. Someone’s been here. I look around quickly to see if our assailant is nearby.
“We need to search the rest of the building, but I think whoever was here is already gone,” Khazak says at a normal volume.