Turn 104

Emmett looks quickly at the guard, trying to get a good ideas as to who killed him (that is to say, ruling Hiro out) before moving into the ship. His throat has been rather professionally cut, so the local thugs aren't _completely_ incompetent.
    It's cold up in the belly of the ship; the stove has been put out. Even so, the smell of death is everywhere. As they move slowly through the _Distraction_, Emmett counts twelve corpses, all of them armed like the men who attacked ibn Fadil and Nyala the other night, many of them bearing Hiro's distinctive signature, but others different and hence very puzzling wounds -- but no sign of the enigmatic swordsman himself, until they reach the bridge.
    Emmett strides around, taking in the scene, using his eye to provide pinpoint illumination (and making the locals more than a little nervous). "Local roustabouts from the look of it. And maybe someone else..." This last is in a barely audible whisper.
    There is a neatly rolled and tied paper on the helm. _Forgive my haste in this writing, and also in my departure, if you can, after so long a time as comrades. An attempt this evening was made to seize the ship, which failed._ Emmett can just hear Hiro's deadpan tone. _I now find myself called away by an urgent errand, about which I think it better to say too little than too much. If the fates will it, we shall meet again. If not, do not be troubled on my account, for hope has returned when it least was looked for. May your endeavors be blessed by your gods._
    Emmett rolls the scroll back up and pockets it. "Well, that explains everything." He turns to the nearest guard, "I have to get back to the castle. Could you get a detail of men to clean these bodies out of here?"
    "Of course." The man almost salutes, then looks around nervously and back at Emmett with clear questions.
    "Hmmm...Oh, a bunch of the local thugs who tired to kill our quartermaster a few days ago made a go at the ship. Hiro killed them all before leaving on a personal errand. I think you'll find street crime has gone down a little, given how they've weeded out their ranks in strange efforts to kill us."
    Outside the ship once again, Emmett casts about a final time, ranging in a wide circle for additional signs. Some distance from the ship he comes upon Hiro's trail unspoiled by the boots of the guardsmen. Beside it is another set of tracks--the small, booted feet he has seen once before. The trails are headed along the coast when they vanish.
    He gives a short sharp nod at the tracks, then turns his horse and rides back to town with speed.
    * * *
    Giffish facial expressions are difficult for non-Giff to read, but the troubled thoughts that lay pooling behind Yestin's dark eyes are easy for his long-time crewmates to detect. The Giff stands erect, as though presenting an official military report, but his massive shoulders slump despite his efforts.
    "Captain Valarin was feeling better and suggested we take a turn in the fresh air. As we were passing an alley near the inn where we are quartered, we heard sounds of a struggle and saw a group of men apparently abducting a young woman. Valarin charged after them." Yestin doesn't need to elaborate on Val's motives to his crewmates. "He was outnumbered and getting the worse of it when I caught up. I fought his attackers, but then I felt a sudden blow and blackness fell. That was the last I saw of the captain."
    Yestin's grayish-purple skin deepens nearly to black and his ears twitch furiously, signs of embarrassment and shame over his failure to protect his captain. His eyes dart momentarily to Emmett for moral support, and, perhaps surprisingly, to one or two of the guards whom he has befriended during his days on Rigol.
    "I did not recognize any of the men. They seemed the sort of dockside trash found in almost any groundling port town. The woman I recognized as Tesfaye's, er..." Yestin's blush deepens. "As Tesfaye's."
    Emmett lowers his head. "Ooohhh. Diplomacy!" he whispers to himself. "Some more of those men tried to storm the ship as well. Hiro handled them, and then left." Emmett shrugged. "Maybe he went after the captain, maybe not, but he asked us not to intervene with him. Val, on the other hand, I want to get a shot at locating."
    The room is full of surprised exclamations and a lot of very suspicious glances at Dorek, who glares back at them.
    "They won't get far," Feliks predicts grimly. "We'll find them."
    "Yes," is all Tesfaye says, clearly so far gone in fury that it's probably for the best that he can't actually stand up right now. Emmett is reminded of the "thorough" sort of justice these people practice.
    Later, when ibn Fadil and Lynden show up with the box, more is made clear. The papers appear to consist of coded exchanges between Nikodem and Cyryl, His Lordship's second son. Although it will take some time to decipher the entirety, given what they already know it seems plain that the idea was to kill Bogumil and kidnap Mela, with Dorek in position to take the blame, leaving Cyryl as heir. Apparently Nikodem believed him more fit for the coming tribulations than his older brother.
    Unfortunately, there is no indication of where they planned to take her or what was to be done with her.
    Cyryl's political maneuvering was not unexpected, Lynden thought, fully aware of the intense rivalry he shared with his brother but his partnership with Nikodem was more worrying. The likelihood was that Cenon had chosen to take advantage of the younger brother's jealousy of the heir apparent but the bigger question that remained to be answered was who had recruited Nikodem? And for how long had he been an adherent of the faith he had earlier revealed?
    At this point the visitors, Lynden, Bendek, Feliks, and Tesfaye have retired to the small council chamber to sort through everything. Then Brother Pham, who has been very quiet ever since seeing the pseudo-mechanical abomination in the tunnel, speaks up.
    "My lord," he says with a bow, "I believe I can caste some light on these events. The god Cenon worships is known on many other worlds as Hextor. He is a cruel and tyrannical deity, and many tales could I tell of the evil that has been done by his followers. Some of you may have noticed," he glances at Lynden, "that I wear a similar symbol, but I give you my word that I do not worship that... thing." He has learned in his conversations with people here the important of oaths. "Indeed, my advice would to be to smash it, melt it down and cast what remains into the sea after your own priests have dispelled the curse." Bendek nods grimly.
    "It is my guess," Pham continues, "that this god came here through Victor's ships--unless there has been other offworld contact we do not know of. You may wish to concentrate your investigations upon people who have had dealings with him, but they appear to be operating secretly here--which they do not usually do on other worlds, from what I have been told--and I am very much afraid that having had several years in which to work, that trail will be cold. But it would be a start. And if I may say so," he adds with another bow, "this makes it all the more imperative that we speak to your king, for who knows how deep their roots have penetrated?"
    [if no one wants to add anything else, we can wrap that time-segment. Chris, I hope that was okay - I figured Pham would want to say something....]
    The castle is in a state of near-chaos at this point, as people try to simultaneously organize a search for the missing woman and captain, figure out how to uncover the rest of the cult members, and prepare a war party to attack Cyryl's manor.
    Emmett makes it perfectly clear to Yestin and the locals that he wants to be in on the attack. "If Val's anywhere local, he's there. And we'd have to move fast."
    'The seeds of discord were well sown,' Lynden mutters under his breath observing the bedlam around him. Reluctantly he steps forward and calls for quiet, conscious of the attention he courted. "My Lord, it seems a rescue and bringing to justice combined is called for."He bows to Tesfaye and includes the offworlders in his obeisance, "With your permission I will assemble the search party."
    Permission is granted, indeed it seems with some relief; Lynden is trusted and it means one less thing for his superiors to be worried about right now. Squads are quickly assembled and fan out from where Yestin was found.
    Meanwhile, Emmett and ibn Fadil update each other on developments: "Twelve local ruffians tried to take the ship. Hiro and a gnome killed them, and then Hiro took off on a quest with the gnome," and "Cenon had a well-hidden hiding place with a box full of incriminating papers. It seems someone thought it was a good idea for Tesfaye's younger son Cyryl to be in charge of things here."
    There follows a larger meeting. As Yestin and Emmett convene the reduced crew of the _Distraction_ to discuss these developments, ibn Fadil takes Nyala aside and speaks quietly and seriously with her for a few moments. [No need for further detail yet.]
    [GM: How about now? Huh huh huh? You got me all curious....]
    At the ship, ibn Fadil immediately goes to the galley and starts getting a fire going again in the stove; the rest of the group follows the promise of warmth.
    Emmett crinkled his nose. Despite the removal of the bodies the Distraction still smelled ominously of death. "Well, it's been a busy day, eh?
    "Here's the deal as I see it: Hiro has gone off to go do something for the Gnomes, and he'll get back when it can. I think one of the little fellers snuck on board the Distraction invisibly to recruit some help for something, then revealed himself to help Hiro. He said he'd be back when he could, and I think we have to take him at that. Besides, I don't think any of us have a chance in hell of finding Hiro if he doesn't want to be found.
    "Val's been kidnapped, and is either right nearby at Cyryl's house or he's miles away from here by now. I figure we owe it to the captain to try and rescue him if he's nearby, but if not, we we also owe it to him to continue the mission. I'm less confident of his ability to take care of himself than Hiro, but that's because Hiro has learned not to think with his..." He glances quickly between Nyala and Inez before continuing, "...heart.
    "Plus, bringing the locals forces over to Cyryl's house rather than make them ride will earn us more points in the letter of recommendation we want Tesfaye to cough up."
    He looks back to Yestin "I think we're still much faster than the locals think we are, and that gives us a day or two to try to help Val before we have to skedaddle to meet with the High King. But if we want to do any business on this planet, we have to respond to that summons. What do you think, First Officer?"
    The half-elf quietly closes the door of the stove, moves to a position near the middle of the group, and waits for Yestin's response.
    [and he says....? and is anyone planning to collect Michal at some point?]
    * * *
    By the time they have finished searching the town Lynden has been on his feet for almost two straight days, and there is no trace of the missing woman or the captain.
    "What signs we were able to find suggest that they may have left by sea," he reports to Bendek as evening falls once again.
    "Then they could be anywhere," the older priest sighs. "We shall have to hope that they did indeed make for their master, and that we shall find them there. His Lordship is most wroth." He hesitates, apparently weighing his words. "Strange and dark days have come upon us. These visitors... I believe they can be trusted, but I cannot fail to note that much of the recent trouble appears to have been on their account. I will be glad to see them gone, but I would not have them unwatched when they arrive at the capital. I will not command you in this journey, but despite your youth you have done great service already to your lord and god, and I believe this responsibility will not be too great."
     * * *
    When evening arrives the crew again assembles at the castle to hear what His Lordship has to say. He is looking better, but it will be several days before he is fully recovered from the poison's effects. Bendek, Lynden, and Feliks are also there.
    "Well." He looks them over. "As you know, a ship arrived this morning bearing word from the capital. His Majesty wishes to speak with you. It has been most... interesting having you as guests in our city. You have done me great personal service in uncovering these traitors, and have suffered losses of your own. Do not fear these will be forgotten; the war party leaves as soon as we may. I know that you are anxious to locate your captain, but in this season it will be a week's journey to the traitor's den, and I advise you to heed the king's summons. Lynden will accompany you, to give report of the happenings here."
    [On the assumption that you are going to make the offer of using the ship...]
    "That puts things in a slightly different light. Feliks, you will have command of the expedition. Do please try to take him alive." The lord is clearly annoyed by his own lingering weakness. "These had been prepared in expectation that you would leave in the morning. For saving my life I would ordinarily provide a gift of steel, but you are well-supplied in that, or land or horses, of which you have no need, so I fear I am reduced to mere baubles. Some of them may, however, prove useful to you. These have been in my family for many generations." To Emmett and ibn Fadil he gives silver rings. The workmanship is very fine; these weren't made by humans. Emmett's has a small flattened area on which is carved a spread-winged eagle; ibn Fadil's is hatched all over with a design that resembles grain sheaves.
    Bendek steps forward and gives Pham a slender golden chain from which is suspended a large piece of highly polished amber, and to Alais a narrow silver circlet set with three smaller pieces. "Your quick action saved not only the lives of many within the hall, but prevented the fire from spreading. These may prove useful to you in your studies."
    "For one whose appearance initially alarmed the entire town, I am told that many here will regret your departure," Tesfaye says to Yestin. "I hope you will find some use for this." He gives the Giff a finely carved ivory box; within it is nestled a tiny but incredibly detailed ivory carving of a raven.
    

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