Chapter 9 #2
The two of us split up, each slowly searching one half of the forest, making sure to keep the cart in sight. It’s completely silent out here, and no matter how hard the two of us look, we both come up empty. About twenty minutes later, Khazak returns along with another horse and three officers.
“The immediate area is clear, sir,” Arik reports as he approaches.
“Thank you, Ranger Deepfist.” Khazak nods as they all dismount. “A search party is on the way to help comb the area. Officer Frostsong, please check the cart for any potential traps before you assist the others.”
“Yes, sir.” The forensic mage steps forward, already scanning the cart with his magic.
After he gives us the all clear, the rangers conduct a very careful physical inspection before deeming it safe.
It’s decided that the best thing to do is to bring it back into the city so that the farmer can check the contents.
I volunteer to drive the cart back with Khazak riding his horse alongside me.
Steering one of these is a lot less intimidating than riding them.
I take note of the horse pulling the cart.
Bist, I think the farmer called him. He’s older but not unhealthy.
The same breed as Khazak’s, just a little smaller.
Definitely a workhorse, probably not used to doing more than pulling this cart around.
Poor guy got more of a workout today than he has in a while.
“I didn’t realize you had horses here in Nova.” I know plenty of people brought horses with them, but I didn’t think any were native.
“There are a few species of wild horses on the plains in the west, but these horses were actually a gift, or at least the original herd was.” Khazak pats the mane of the black horse he’s riding.
“They were originally from Northern Albion, gifted by a visiting delegation of elves almost a century ago. Farmer Stouthand’s family has been responsible for raising them.
” Then he pauses, turning to me. “‘Nova...’ Is that what you call this part of the world?”
“Yeah, ‘Nova Mundus.’” I nod my head.
“You know those words literally just mean ‘New World’ in Ancient Elutian, right?” He looks over, one eyebrow cocked.
“No, I did not.” I shake my head. Why would I know that? “Why, what do you call it?”
“It goes by many different names.” I groan at his answer. “Most of them hold the same meaning. We call it ‘Avural Ug’dol.’ It means ‘turtle island.’
“Why is it called that?” I have seen some turtles but not like a ton.
“Its shape resembles a turtle. Or so I am told.” He shrugs.
We return the horse to the stable and take the cart back to the station.
The farmer comes in a little later to inspect it, but he’ll need time to do a full inventory.
He agrees that it looks like most of his items are still inside, and he’s just as confused as we are.
It’s the afternoon by the time the search party returns, and unfortunately, it’s empty handed.
“No luck, sir. We could not find a sign of anyone or thing out there,” Arik reports to Khazak in his office.
“Damn.” Khazak wipes his hand down his face in frustration, fingers combing through his beard. “Spirits help me, what is happening in this city?”
It’s late in the evening and almost time to go home when the officer helping the farmer returns with a list of what is actually missing. Only one thing.
“Flauk? All the stole was some dammed flauk?” Khazak asks in frustration.
“That is what he said, sir,” the officer confirms from across the desk.
“What is ‘flauk’?” I ask after the officer leaves Khazak’s office.
“Fertilizer. You would know it as...” Khazak pauses as he tries to think of the word. “Saltpeter. It is mined by dwarves in the west, who then send it to a group of halflings who process it into fertilizer.”
“Eww, fertilizer?” As I scrunch up my nose, there’s a knock on the open door as Ragnar enters the office, ready to start the night shift. Damn, is it that late already?
“I heard there was another robbery?” He comes in looking both worried and excited.
“Yes,” Khazak sighs. “This one took place just outside of the city.”
“Do you think it’s related to the last one?” Ragnar takes a seat across from Khazak.
“Unfortunately, yes. Once again stole a single item was stolen: flauk. Saltpeter,” Khazak repeats the information we just learned. “Additionally, we were told they wore the same black robes as the one we found at the factory.”
“Wait, the carriage!” The mention of the robes jogs my memory. “I’ve seen it before.”
“You have?” Khazak asks me.
“Yes, and so have you. Twice.” If I’m remembering right, at least. “The first time was on my first day here when I saved that little girl. The carriage that almost hit her was black with black horses. Then it happened again a few weeks ago when we were on our way to the factory. You pulled me out of the way that time.”
“I remember that.” Khazak’s eyes go slightly wide.
“That can’t be a coincidence.” They passed right by us. “They must have fled the warehouse once they knew we were tracking them.”
“If that is true, then it means they are taking the cart in and out of the city.” Khazak turns to look at Ragnar.
“We need to speak with the guards working each of the gates, and then we need to tell the entire force to be on the lookout for that carriage.” He pauses and looks at the clock on his wall.
“Perhaps we should stay and continue working a little longer.”
“Are you sure? They probably won’t try anything again so soon. I’ll talk to Keenguard and make sure we get the info to everyone.” Wow, is he actually asking to do more work? “I can talk to the guards tonight, too. That way you two can attack everything with fresh eyes in the morning.”
“That sounds like a good plan, Deputy.” Khazak smiles at his friend.
“Who the hell steals sulfur and saltpeter anyway?” Ragnar asks no one in particular.
Sulfur? “Did someone steal sulfur?”
“Yeah, the brimstone.” Ragnar turns to answer me. “That’s just sulfur.”
I don’t think I knew that. Sulfur and saltpeter. Why does that sound familiar?
The words continue to nag at me as we pack up our things and head home for the night.
I stop thinking about them sometime during dinner, and it’s not until the next morning when I see a tired looking Ragnar leaving for home that they return.
Sulfur and saltpeter. I spend the rest of the morning in the breakroom, trying to figure out why those words are stuck in my head.
“Drepa lat, David.” I look up from my cup of coffee to see Nikka walking in. Must be working at this station today.
“Drepa lat, Nikka.” I repeat back her ‘good morning.’ Turns out reading about a language doesn’t mean much until you actually start using it.
“You are getting better.” She smiles as she pours her own mug of coffee and sits to join me. “What is on your mind?”
“Just something that Deputy Rockfang said yesterday.” I chew my lip as I continue to think on it. “‘Sulfur and saltpeter.’ Those words mean...something, but I can’t remember what.”
“Sulfur and saltpeter?” Nikka frowns. “Those are two of the ingredients in—”
“Black powder,” we both say in unison, Nikka’s words finally making things click.
“The only thing missing is—”
“Charcoal.” “Carbo—I mean charcoal.” Less in unison.
“Where did you hear those words?” She sits up straight, as one does when talking about explosives.
“Yesterday, there was another robbery—this time the only thing they took was saltpeter,” I inform her.
Her eyes go wide. “Do you think we can expect another robbery for charcoal?”
Nikka’s words jog something else from my memory. “Actually, I’m worried it might have already happened.” I stand and motion for her to follow.
I find Khazak in the front of the station talking with some officers and tap him on the shoulder.
“What is it?” He can see that I look hurried.
“Can I see the list from the first robbery? The missing militia shipment?” I need to see exactly what was on there.
“The book is locked up in the evidence room.” He turns and dismisses the officers he was speaking to. “Let me help you find it.”
We follow Khazak to the evidence room, which only he and a few others have access to. It’s filled with all sorts of shelves and boxes, each item belonging to a currently open case. Khazak heads straight for a bookshelf against the far wall, moving his hand along the spines as he searches.
“Here we are.” He pulls the red book from the shelf, flipping through its singed pages. “You said you wanted to know what was in the missing shipment?”
“Yes, please.” I hope I’m wrong.
“Alright, we have two-dozen steel longswords, ten set of full-plate armor, five chainmail tunics, 80 kilograms of fuel—”
“What kind of fuel?” Nikka pipes up.
“Hmm, it does not specify, but given where it was coming from, I would assume charcoal,” Khazak says nonchalantly.
“Fuck.” Exactly what I didn’t want to hear.
“What is it?” Khazak looks confused.
“Well, that, plus the sulfur from the church, and the saltpeter from the farmer equals...” I count off with my fingers in the air.
“Oh no.” Khazak connects the dots the same as we did, standing up straight.
“I need to contact Chief Grandtooth and Deputy Keenguard. Officer Silentfang, please gather the files we have on all three cases. David, I need you to go to Deputy Rockfang’s home and ask him to come in.
Meet back in my office as soon as possible.
” He pauses. “And for now, please keep this to yourselves.”
“Yes, sir!” Nikka nods and salutes.
“You got it, Sir.” I am less formal.