Holly had returned and collected the boys from Yawnee and Lurtews before SJ had arrived back home. Lurtew informed SJ that they had gone back to the inn that she had booked for them. Holly had apparently looked exhausted when she had arrived for the boys.
“I think I am going to offer her the chance to return to Killic,” SJ said.
“Do you believe she would accept the offer?” Yawnee asked.
“I would hope so. I am going to speak to a friend in Killic about a job for her. With the town growth as it is, there may be an opportunity.”
“It would be nice to see the family settled. The boys have been a great help, but Holly will never earn enough as a barmaid in Asterfal to support them. The wages they get paid are so low, and with the increase in costs of everything, it’s getting harder for so many.”
“Have the costs risen that much?”
“Yes. My usual market trips are nearly half again what they used to be, and that increase has been within the past two months. If the costs keep going up as they are, even we will start to struggle.”
“That’s never going to happen,” SJ stated emphatically. “If you ever need anything, all you need to do is ask. That reminds me. I need to visit the bank while I am here, and I will require one of you to accompany me when I do.”
“What for?” Lurtew asked.
“I am going to open an account and will deposit funds into it for the bills for our home.”
“Since you purchased the house in full, there is little requirement for extra coin. The only fees are the Mage’s fees for the water and waste. Although, they have also increased significantly.”
“I was aware costs had increased due to the issues that are occurring with the rebuild in District 3, but I was unaware that they were affecting so many.”
SJ was infuriated by the fact that costs were increasing so much. To consider the size of Asterfal and the appearance it gave when you first arrived, compared to the reality on the streets, frustrated her. She wished she could almost start from scratch and rebuild the city.
The fire in the lounge’s hearth was burning brightly. SJ sat on the sofa, reading one of her books. Several hours had passed since he had been at the Astaria. She placed her book down and sighed, disturbing Kibble, who had been curled on her lap. Yawnee and Lurtew had already retired for the evening.
“What’s wrong?” Dave asked.
‘Still no notification,’ she thought.
“The poison is placed, have patience,” Dave said.
‘It’s already been several hours. I doubt it’s going to happen tonight, even if it does.’ Ever since Dave had shattered her initial excitement of performing such a clean job, stating that he may have resistances or be healed, she had been getting more and more annoyed.
“You need to calm yourself. There is no point in getting frustrated. What will happen will happen.”
‘You’re right. I just hoped to complete the second quest today. That was all.’
“You may as well consider the next quest you wish to do rather than awaiting the outcome.”
SJ pulled up her display and read the other two quest details. She had been considering the one for Master Garshaw, but investigating the death of Killian Broadaxe was enticing. It sounded more meaningful and righteous as a vengeance quest over killing a trader’s competition.
‘I will see if I can find any details on Killian Broadaxe tomorrow,’ she thought as she stood, picking Kibble up in her arms. She made sure the fire guard was in place to stop any sparks landing on the soft furnishings in the lounge and retired for the evening.
When SJ awoke the following day, her first thought was to check her notifications. She already knew she didn’t have one, as her display would have had a flashing icon if she had. The sun was already up, and she blinded herself by opening the drapes. It was much brighter this morning than it had been the past few days. She opened the balcony doors, allowing Kibble to go outside. He flew onto the balcony rail and sat, stretching his neck into the air, soaking in the morning sun. The sun looked beautiful this morning as it stretched across the horizon.
The inner city was coming to life, and SJ could see over the wall and watch the activity on the streets. Her home was in a prime position, after all. The outer city streets were also picking up, with wagons clattering over the cobbles below. That was when she noticed something rather unusual.
A column of beings was moving down the street in the inner city. The entrance from District 11 to the inner city wasn’t far from her home, and she noticed the line of beings moving through it. They were all heading in the general direction of the tower.
‘I wonder what’s going on,’ she thought., heading back inside with Kibble and downstairs.
Yawnee and Lurtew were already busy at work, so she walked down the garage, looking out the open doors at the stream of beings.
“Any ideas what’s going on?” SJ asked.
Lurtew looked up from where he was working. “It’s an execution.”
“What?” SJ said, surprised. She knew that the city executed beings for serious crimes but had never witnessed one.
“You don’t usually get as many attendees watching it, but this one is quite special,” Lurtew said.
“In what way?”
“It’s a nobleman’s son. He murdered the daughter of the lieutenant for District 5.”
“Why are they so interested in a nobleman’s son?”
“He worked for one of the largest Merchant Guilds and was pretty high in the organisation. It has been the talk of the streets for a couple of weeks.”
“I had no idea, and you say he was high in the Merchant’s guild as well?”
“Apparently so. It has caused a bit of an uproar. I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t trouble at the beheading.”
SJ hadn’t been aware of the manner of executions, and the comment of a beheading brought images of guillotines to her mind.
“If there may be trouble, why is it a public execution?”
“The lieutenant of District 5 requested it as retribution for his daughter. The murderer’s mother and father are also being forced to attend, apparently as punishment for bringing him into the world.”
“That sounds barbaric. Why should they be forced to watch? It’s not as if they committed the crime. I also expect that they had solid proof.”
“A man fitting his description was seen fleeing her home, and when the guard investigated, they found her necklace in his possession.”
“Was the investigation by the tower guard?”
“Yes. Any execution will be authorised through the tower guard. It prevents bias from the districts.”
“I had no idea.”
“The city laws are quite specific; if you murder an innocent, then the death penalty is the outcome. All districts follow the same law, although I am aware some are not as strict as others or spend the time investigating or even reporting murders. There is usually at least one execution a week, but they normally don’t get this sort of attention.”
“I had heard the streets could be violent, but how many murders are there in the city?”
“Many,” Lurtew shrugged. “Street gangs, muggings, thefts and then when you add in the guilds that are always at each other throats. You also experienced what occurred in the cages,” Lurtew visibly shuddered from the comment. SJ had saved his life when she stepped in at the Black Griffin. “Not all will reach the death penalty as it is usually deemed that the murdered party doesn’t hold innocence. It is only if they are deemed truly innocent that a being receives the death penalty. It is the main way that beings who have murdered don’t receive the death penalty and instead are sentenced to the mines if they are ever caught to be found guilty.”
This information was making SJ’s mind spin. They used the mine in Killic as a punishment for crime, making beings perform hard labour, but they never had any murders to deal with. That wasn’t exactly true, as the last murder in Killic had been performed by herself when she had killed Darjey Simpson, the legionnaire responsible for conning Setu. She still knew so little about Amathera’s workings and how it operated. The politics in the city alone were a minefield that she had only scratched the surface of.
“While we are discussing a murder, I don’t suppose you heard anything about the death of a being named Killian Broadaxe?”
“No, sorry,” Lurtew said.
“Did you want some breakfast this morning?” Yawnee asked, changing the topic of conversation.
“Yes. That sounds good,” SJ said, although the conversation about murder and execution had curbed her appetite slightly. Kibble hopped excitedly at the mention of breakfast. “Come on then, let’s go eat,” SJ said as she went back upstairs.
It wasn’t long before Kibble happily chomped on hogling strips while SJ ate a bowl of porridge with sweet honey stirred into it. Yawnee had cooked and then gone straight back to work. SJ had protested that Yawnee didn’t need to cook for her, but Yawnee insisted.
‘I may head into the inner city and see what’s going on,’ SJ thought as she placed the spoon in her empty bowl. ‘It would also make sense to ask the tower guard about Killian Broadaxe. I would hope they may have some information.’
“Sounds like a plan,” Dave said.
“Kibble. I’m sorry, but I need you to stay here again today with Yawnee and Lurtew.”
Kibble squeaked from where he had landed on the table, licking the remnants of SJ’s porridge. She reached out and stroked him caringly.
SJ went back to her room and freshened up before she left home. Kibble was happily playing in the garage area with a small piece of wood Lurtew had shaped into a ball. He tapped the wood before pouncing on it and then hitting it again. His actions reminded SJ of the way cats played with toys. She couldn’t help but smile as she headed towards the inner city.
Due to the influx of beings, the streets were much busier than usual, and SJ was caught in the crowd moving towards the centre. She had no idea where the executions were performed, but considering the number of beings that had entered and were still entering the inner city, it was going to have to be a large area. The line of beings eventually turned off the main street and towards where SJ knew a park was situated. She followed the group out of interest until she entered the park. At the centre of the park was a large platform; having never visited it before, she did not know what to expect. The crowd had gathered around the platform. It was already several feet deep, and SJ could see the bright colours of tower guards providing a cordon around the platform itself.
SJ didn’t recognise any of the guards in attendance.
The crowd was boisterous. Several people were shouting, and it appeared that there were two factions—one in support and one against.
‘This definitely looks like it could be troublesome,’ SJ thought.
“Indeed. The guards have their work cut out for them today,” Dave said as a scuffle broke out in the crowd.
‘I wonder what time it is due to happen?’ SJ didn’t fancy witnessing a beheading. ‘Anyway, I am going to head to the tower and see if I can find out about Killian.’
The route to the tower was quiet. A few beings were there to collect food from the kitchens, but the majority of beings, even from within the tower, were heading towards the park. A few thousand might be in attendance at the numbers she had witnessed.
“Morning Ambassador,” the desk clerk said, seeing SJ approach.
“Morning. Who is the duty guard commander today?”
“Captain Hamilton, she should be in the watch room.”
“Thanks,” SJ said as she turned, heading towards it. She was aware of its location after the problems with Carlito and knocked on the door that led from the entrance hall.
“Come in,” a female voice called.
SJ opened the door and entered. “Captain Hamilton?” SJ asked, seeing the female human sitting behind the desk. This was the room she had been made to wait in with Jay after her free fall from the tower.
“Yes. How may I help you, Ambassador?”
“Please call me SJ. I’m not here on official business.”
“I see. Then please call me Natalie,” she smiled. Natalie had a strong face, her cheeks sunken through age. Considering her appearance and long grey hair pulled back tightly across her scalp, she had to be relatively old. Yet she still made an imposing figure sitting in her highly polished armour, a long sword resting on the side of the desk.
“I wanted to know if you know anything about the murder of a being called Killian Broadaxe. I was speaking to a friend yesterday who mentioned it.”
“Killian Broadaxe. Let me see,” Natalie said as she took a book from behind the desk and turned through the pages. “Ah, here we are. Killian Broadaxe, a male dwarf, age unknown, was found murdered at his smithy in Poxon Street District 12. Status closed.”
“Oh, its status is closed? My friend said that no one had ever been charged for his murder?”
“Unfortunately, many murders go unanswered. We have limited resources within the tower guard, and the districts aren’t always as helpful as they could be in resolving issues. If a murder is not solved within a month of us being informed, its status is closed.”
“I see. I will let my friend know when I see them next. They will be disappointed.”
“That is understandable,” Natalie nodded in agreement. “I wish we had the beings to solve all the cases that we get notified about.”
“I see that today could be busy for you with what is happening in the park.”
“Yes. The execution isn’t due to happen until midday, and the crowds are already large.”
“They are. I got caught up in them when I entered the inner city. Thank you for your assistance, Natalie. It’s appreciated,” SJ smiled.
“Not at all, Am... SJ,” Natalie corrected herself.
‘I am going to see if the chancellor is in and if Alice is here. We are supposed to depart in the morning, but I may stay. As you suggested,’ SJ thought with resignation.
“I do have wonderful ideas,” Dave said smugly.
‘Only when you want to share them. I still haven’t received a notification about Justin. If he drank the poison, would I receive a notification, even if it didn’t kill him?’
“No. Only direct actions of damage are notified. Death’s are once they occur from indirect actions.”
‘I am glad I didn’t choose poisoning as a branch for my class then. I am a nervous wreck waiting for a notification.’
Alice was in, and SJ went to the room she had been assigned on the first floor; the door was open, and SJ entered, seeing her friend head down reading.
“Hi, Alice,” SJ said.
Alice almost jumped out of her seat, looking up startled. “SJ. You scared me.”
“Sorry,” SJ chuckled. “I just wanted to speak to you about the return journey.”
Alice placed a sheet of parchment in the book she had been reading, closed it, and moved around the desk to the sofa, where SJ joined her.
“What about it?”
“I may stay a little longer. I still haven’t managed to find anything out for the chancellor yet. I would still be back for the festival. I would portal to the cottage then return from there.”
“That’s a shame. I would have enjoyed the company. We don’t get much time just to talk.”
“I know, and I’m sorry. You may not be alone, though.”
“Oh, and why would that be.”
“I have met a family that has been suffering through hard times, and I was thinking of offering them the chance to move to Killic. It is a mother and her two children. Her husband died several months ago, and I found them living in the slums, trying to scrape a living together from the district rubbish pits.”
Alice frowned, concern on her face. “The rubbish pits? Are things that bad in the districts? I never get out there with the meetings and business in the tower.”
“I am starting to discover a rather dark side to Asterfal the more I investigate. I do feel that the chancellor and his team have a massive undertaking to turn the tides of the city.”
They talked for a while. Alice knew of a property in Killic where the family could live if they agreed to move. SJ stated she would cover any initial rent needs from her monthly income from the mine until they got settled. All SJ had to do now was talk to Kerys and see if there was work available at the Hogling Arms. If it came down to it, she could also speak to Nexis at the Wandering Ogre, but she would prefer to keep Holly away from that environment if she could.
As they sat talking, a commotion could be heard from the corridor, and they watched as several beings run past.
“I wonder what’s going on?” SJ said as they both stood and walked to the door.
“What’s happening?” Alice asked a kobold tower guard who was hurrying down the corridor.
“Riots at the park. All the guards are being called to attend,” he said as he hurried past.
