Chapter 12 #2
“I have a bad feeling about it,” Eriz said. “But I can’t put my finger on why.”
“May I speak?” Yori asked.
“Please,” Queen Lucita said. “We invited you all back because we trust you, and we want your input on this situation.”
“Mmm.” Mannie nodded. “Queen Yori, I noticed you having a close look at Rostam. I also understand you have a lot of personal experience with farm animals.”
“Yes, especially horses,” Yori confirmed. “I’ve unfortunately seen more than my fair share of horse tramplings.”
“Are they always so…” Lucita’s voice cracked. “So gory?”
“No.” Yori shook her head. “It looked like Rostam was struck in the head at least four times, and I have never seen a scared horse behave like that before.”
“What do you mean?” Horus asked.
“When a horse gets scared,” Yori explained, “they usually rear back on their hind legs, and that’s when they’re the most dangerous.
When those front legs come back down, if you’re under them, you’re going to be trampled, but then the horse runs off to get away from whatever spooked it.
Horses are prey animals, and they behave as such when they sense a potential threat. ”
“But whatever struck Rostam did so multiple times,” Enken pointed out.
“In the same place,” Doria pointed out.
“So the horse wasn’t scared?” Enken asked.
“Or it wasn’t a horse,” Eriz said.
“There’s more than that,” Mannie sighed, and he looked at his wife.
Lucita nodded, and Mannie squeezed her hand.
“Rostam only ever rode his own horse,” Mannie said. “He refused to ride any other mounts.”
“Ever?” Yori asked in surprise.
“Ever.” Mannie nodded. “He was a superstitious man, and he was somewhat frightened of horses in general. It’s something he has– had dealt with for years, his fear of horses. His mare was the most gentle of souls, and she healed something in him, some old trauma.”
“Is it possible he was trying to overcome that fear?” Eriz asked. “That he was riding another horse this evening?”
“No.” Mannie shook his head with utter confidence.
“He didn’t even like to ride in carriages pulled by other horses,” Lucita added.
“He was a superstitious man,” Mannie sighed. “Rostam was well-known to walk if his horse wasn’t available. Only two weeks ago, she threw a shoe and couldn’t be ridden. He walked five miles to come to a meeting rather than ride another horse.”
My suspicions were already high, but with every detail the King and Queen of Zall shared, the higher my hackles raised. It was becoming less and less likely that Rostam had succumbed to a tragic, freak accident.
“Ken,” Mannie said, and he leaned toward me in his seat. “I would like to ask you and your people to investigate this.”
“What?” I asked in surprise. “Me? Why?”
“Someone seems to be targeting us,” Mannie said. “Rostam was my finest ambassador, and I do not see it as a coincidence that he was the one killed this evening.”
“Okay…” I arched an eyebrow to prompt him for more details.
“Your Master of Spies’ reputation is well-known,” Mannie said.
“I mean, yeah,” I said. “But don’t you have a spy network as well?”
Mannie sighed and glanced around, and it seemed like the other royals read the room.
“It’s late,” King Horus said and stood up. “I hope we can uncover the truth of this matter. Please, let us know if there is anything we can do to assist.”
“Thank you,” Mannie said. “I appreciate the offer.”
King Horus nodded before he left the tent, and Eriz, Doria, and Enken offered similar pleasantries before they headed out, too. That left Yori and me alone with King Mannie and his queen.
“I’m uncertain of the loyalty of my spies,” Mannie revealed. “I suspect a traitor in our midst.”
“Shit,” I breathed.
“You clearly have complete faith in your Master of Spies,” Lucita said. “And you have proven yourself to be dedicated to your people and the safety and well-being of our citizens as well.”
“Alright.” I nodded. “Um…”
I looked to Yori, but she just shook her head like this was above her pay grade.
“We should speak with Vannesh,” I decided, and the gears in my mind started spinning.
“Ah.” Mannie held up his hands. “I think it would be best if I knew very little of what you plan here, my friend.”
“Oh, uh, okay.” My voice was uncertain. “If that’s what you think is best.”
“They cannot harm us for information we don’t have,” Lucita explained.
“Yeah, good point,” I sighed. “Okay… I’ll see what I can do.”
“Thank you,” Mannie said.
I could sense that our meeting was coming to an end, even though Mannie didn’t strictly say so, and my Midwestern instincts kicked in. I managed not to actually slap my thighs as I stood up, and I gestured to Yori to come with me.
“Sleep well,” I told the king and queen. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Good evening,” Lucita said, and her husband gave a half-hearted wave.
Yori and I headed out of the tent and walked in tense silence across the grassy field to our tent. All the hubbub and chaos from earlier had died down, and the only people milling around the edges of the encampment were the guards on patrol.
I recognized some of my soldiers on patrol together, and they gave me a subtle nod as we passed.
“Ken…” Yori whispered.
“Wait,” I cut her off.
When we arrived at the tent, I whispered a request to Anders, and he quickly tasked another soldier with finding Vannesh.
We stepped into the front section of our tent to find Carissa sitting with Tanell and Serra.
All three of them had tense expressions.
Serra had some needlepoint in her hands, but she wasn’t working on it at all.
Carissa was chewing on her bottom lip, and I noticed she’d changed out of her dress and into a dark shirt and pants.
Tanell had been staring unblinkingly at the tent flaps, but the second she spotted me, her blue eyes focused on my face like a laser.
“What have you found out?” Tanell asked.
“Some interesting details,” I said. “Did you get anything useful from the maid?”
Tanell shook her head sadly.
“No,” Serra said as she put her untouched needlepoint aside. “She was inconsolable. She was one of Kestran’s maids, and their doctor had to sedate her.”
“Fuck,” I breathed. “I hope she’ll be okay.”
“Me, too.” Serra frowned.
“What did you learn?” Carissa asked.
“Why did King Manolito want to speak with you?” Tanell asked.
“He told us some very interesting things about the man who was killed,” I said.
Yori and I sat down with the women, and I explained everything Mannie and Lucita had told us about Rostam and their request that we investigate.
“We should speak with Vannesh–” Tanell started.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Vannesh said, and he yawned. “I’m right here.”
“Sorry to wake you,” I said.
“No, no.” He waved a hand. “I’ve been informed of the tragic development of this evening. You were right to summon me.”
“Please, sit,” I said. “King Manolito has asked us to investigate.”
Vannesh’s tired eyes were suddenly alert with surprised interest.
“Indeed?” he murmured.
I quickly explained everything Yori and I had learned from the King of Zall, and by the time I was done, he looked ready to launch into action.
“We should begin immediately,” Vannesh said. “I have a dozen of my men and women with me in camp.”