Chapter 14- Investigation

The Lady Bell was laid to rest three days after the tournament. They food her in the bathroom with a dagger plunged through her chest. They searched the city nonstop but could not find the culprit. Nobody knew anything. Nobody saw anything. The Duke barely spoke a word during the whole affair and deputized the General to lead the investigation. Jodoro, Derry, and the three Onaki Jodoro met during the tournament worked tirelessly during those three days to build a mausoleum in her honor in the eastern courtyard garden. The Onaki girl, Midge MightyViper, did not lie. She and her older brothers, Hal Bull and Jal BigBull, could work stone, block and mortar almost as good as him. Jodoro worked to avoid the burning questions in his mind but not matter how hard he tried to avoid them they kept piercing his brain.

Who killed Lady Bell and why?

Did Heliodor have something to do with this?

Should he tell Christa and Guy?

Would learning about their mother’s infidelity break their hearts?

The funeral was lovely to the extent that a funeral could be and many citizens of Bellgaurd turned out. People delayed leaving after the tournament to give their offers of support to the Duke and his family. Jodoro paid his respects with Derry and then told Derry to take Midge and her brothers to the property they bought. They would begin surveying the land and making construction plans.

As they departed Derry told him not to do anything stupid but how could he not tell them. There had to be another course of action. He saw the General walking toward the city and rushed after him.

“Sir, how goes the investigation?”

The General gestured for him to join him. “Come.” The General commanded. “We have one lead and no suspects. It is floundering.”

Jodoro steeled himself. “Sir forgive me for saying this, but I think Lady Bell was having an affair.”

The General grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into an alley. Jodoro didn’t see the punch that caused him to reel over and lose his breath. He looked up and saw the General wink. “I’ll hear no such words of dishonor soldier.” He said loudly and then in a whisper. “I suspected as much but don’t say such words out loud.” He pulled him back onto the streets and Jodoro struggled through the pain. Then in a quiet voice, a couple blocks away, the General pulled him into another alley and said. “I had observed her strange behavior over the past few months, but I didn’t put two-and-two together. Tell me what you know.”

Jodoro told him of the voices in the library and of his suspicion that Heliodor was the other person involved. The General listened to his words nodding. “The pronunciation adds credence to your theory and Heliodor is a known womanizer. This is troubling, very troubling.”

“What will you do about it? What should I do?”

“Son we can’t do anything. Think! Who are the two most plausible suspects in this love triangle theory?”

“Oh shit.”

“Yeah, oh shit. A heartbroken Duke or the third son of a King. Both of whom were accounted for at the time of death. If either was behind it, they would not be called to account. My only recourse is to find the knife man or knife child in this case.”

“You think a child did this?” Jodoro asked. He found the theory hard to believe.

“Yes, from the angle of the blade and its depth it was likely a child sized individual. Strong but still a child.”

“How am I supposed to help you with this?”

“You’re not. What I need you to do is start training with the Bell Battalion again. I’m thinking about a complete restructuring of our military and I need good men ready to take leadership positions. Train and go to school. Be young for as long as you can. We must be prepared for anything that comes.”

Jodoro took that as a dismissal. He walked to the castle library and found his study corner. He pulled paper and a pencil from his pack and hit the shelves. He pulled a couple books from the military sections as he browsed: Marshall Julia’s Forty-Four Laws, The Principles of Command, Sieges and Blockades, and Scholar Tredge’s Farkian Military Tactics. These were the classics but just as he was about to head to his desk a slim volume tucked between two books caught his eye. He pulled the book out. The Art of the Spear. It looked aged and worn but the words were still legible. He placed it onto of the others and went back to his desk.

His performance during the tournament bothered him. Despite instruction from Carl and the General his spear work wasn’t progressing as much as he liked. The weapon felt good in his hands, but he had trouble translating that into any real skill. He relied much on the dirk and hatchet he had used growing up, but these were only truly useful from close range. He picked up the slim manual and began to read:

There is a lot of talk nowadays about how the sword is superior to the spear. I have made my opinion on the subject clear in the coliseums and my sword wielding opponents have all been vanquished before me. To be clear I know where this assumption comes from. The path of the spear is difficult and not many have the fortitude and natural talent to progress to the level of mastery. A master spear wielder is a tempest, a whirlwind, a force of nature that can cut through her opponents as unencumbered as a scythe through wheat. Armies have fallen before my elite spear corps and we have made the known world ours on the backs of these properly trained men and women. In the interest of preserving this dominance have set out in these pages to guide readers along the path of glory, to teach them the philosophies behind the greatest weapon in the world, to teach them the Art of the Spear.

There are two primary paths of spear wielding that both have their benefits but it is important to note that one can train in both paths but that is a difficult endeavor and not recommended. These two paths are that of the lone spear and the spear and shield. Each have their own techniques and their own benefits. Neither of them is superior to the other. This manual is divided into two sections dedicated to each path.

Jodoro thought about this for a moment. It was clear to him that the path he should read about was the spear and shield one. The General emphasized the worth of the shield and in Bellgaurd’s military it was standard issue. He began read the section, but it was difficult to understand. The first few pages were devoted to stances and while the diagrams were well drawn, he could tell he’d have to practice them as he went along. He placed the manual in his bag.

“You know you shouldn’t take books out of the library.” Christa said to him. He hadn’t even realized she was there.

“Lady Christa you are right. I apologize.” Jodoro said as he removed the manual from his pack. She looked so happy during the gala but now her eyes were baggy, and her hair was uncharacteristically messy. So much had changed in three days. “I’m sorry for your loss. I know how it feels to lose a parent. If there’s anything I can do to help let me know.” He could not tell her about her mother. If it would not bring justice what was the point.

“I think I’m getting used to death Jo.” Christa replied wearily. “I think it doesn’t hurt so much anymore. Is that a good thing?”

Jodoro stood up and gave her a hug. “I don’t know Lady Christa. But I do know that we must always remember them and that they are happy in the Star Court.” She began to cry and started to collapse. Jodoro picked her up and walked out of the library toward the royal apartments. She was surprisingly light, and he made it there with no trouble. A guard at the door let him in and he placed her down on a sofa in the anteroom.

“You need sleep Lady Christa,” He said to her.

Her bright eyes swam with tears, “You are right.” She placed a hand on his cheek. “You’re a good friend Jodoro Jaguar. I saw the mausoleum. It was beautifully done.”

“Don’t worry about that. Just rest.” He said as he found a blanket for her and placed it over her. “I’ll be back to check on you.” She nodded at him and he left the room. He went to the kitchens and got a plate of fruit and biscuit. He begged for a small flask of wine and was obliged by an Onaki woman who worked in the kitchen.On the way back he stopped in the Great Hall but didn’t see Guy or Erza there. When he returned with the plate Christa was already asleep. He set the food on the table and left the room. He went back to the library and began transcribing the manual. No, he could never tell Christa.

***

Weeks passed since Lady Bell was laid to rest and things began to fall into a routine for Jodoro. He woke up early and practiced the Art of the Spear then trained with Derry, Nova, Amethyst, Carl, Guy and Christa. After this training he would go with Carl to train with the soldiers of Bellgaurd. With the influx of new recruits, the General made good on his word and completely restructured the cities military forces. There was the new calvary force that consisted of 400 men. The infantry force which was made of 2,200 infantry soldiers. A scouting unit of 100 men had been added to patrol the lands across the Nowell. After the murder of Lady Bell, the city guard had gotten a boost with 300 men. Their numbers were still woefully low but there was hope that with the city and lands around Bellgaurd being settled that the population would grow enough to generate further enlistment.

At the General’s urging Jodoro had begun to cycle between each unit depending on the week. The most challenging part of this was the calvary. He still had not gotten the hang of riding Cow but at least he was improving. The other soldiers would laugh at him every now and again, but the jests were light-hearted.

The stance he was learning from the manual were helpful. He was firmer in his defense and no longer over-extended when thrusting. His targeting had not improved and his jabs with the spear rarely found the vulnerable parts of his opponents’ armor. Carl said that he would improve with time but Jodoro could not help but feel somewhat frustrated with his progress. Sargent Horn thought he was making good headway though and placed him in a more advanced infantry training group. The men in this group were seasoned veterans and tried to share whatever wisdom they had with him.

The scouting unit was his favorite by far. They relied heavily on the bow and quick movement over vast areas of terrain. He went with them each Saturday and they typically cover twenty miles a day before making camp and then returning Sunday night.

His afternoons were spent in school and even though he was beginning to dedicate himself more to martial training he found the knowledge useful. With the end of the term approaching tough decisions would come. Should he apply to one of Ardinum’s academies or should he stay in Bellgaurd with his family?

His evenings were dedicated to his own pursuits. He either practiced the Art of the Spear, checked on things with his property, rode Cow, or hung out with his friends. Derry was doing a remarkable job setting up the mill and Midge and her brothers had been given more control over its construction. They hired three Onaki boys to help and hoped to have the mill operational by mid-summer. That was a problem. He and Derry would be cutting it close financially. Sure, he could probably approach Nan headband in hand and beg for a loan, but he wanted this to be something he and Derry accomplished together.

Derry was in an awkward position. With Lady Bell’s death he was left without a tutor. Scholar Barkley hinted at apprenticing him to Erelda, but an anonymous tip made him change his mind. Derry of course pouted and sulked but he eventually threw himself into his new role as the apprentice to Steward Olman. He seemed to flourish under this role and was beginning to show a remarkable acumen for statecraft. This surprised many but not Jodoro for he had been dealing with his brother’s machinations for years.

Amethyst had changed since the tournament. Her mother was still pressing the issue of marriage and Amethyst felt powerless in the situation. Although her father was sympathetic to her, he would not go against his wife’s wishes on this. She insisted she did not want to get married yet and this suited him just fine. However, her desire to spend more time with him despite her mother’s protests put him in an awkward position. Was it wise to stoke the ire of the General’s wife? Probably not. But Jodoro found it increasing hard to resist her allures. Sometimes she would sneak out of the castle and sit with him in the courtyard. It was impossible for her to come to the yurt at night because the guards would likely tell her father. They would sit by the fountain that Guy cried into and talk for hours. She told him secrets that she had never told anyone, and he did the same. Things got as physical as they could given the circumstances and Jodoro was finding it difficult to control himself when she was in his arms. But before anything could progress, she would always plant a kiss on his cheek and given him a smile as she walked back into the castle. Jodoro was under no allusion that the General did not know about this and each time he visited him he was sure he would get rebuked or worse, but it never happened.

***

Jodoro was reading through Scholar Tredge’s Farkian Military Tactics in the library one day when he stumbled across a particularly interesting passage.

There are rumors that the Farki have developed a breeding program that created their Redsteel warriors. I know this to be true, but the rumors hardly give credence to the depths of their depravity. The breeding program is not restricted to the military. The Alises themselves are bred from a stable of suitable men and women that have certain physical and mental characteristics that Sala the High Empress values. They are selected at birth and groomed for their positions. What might you ask happens to the boys? This too has puzzled me but a Onaki traveler I met swears to have stumbled upon a remote location, miles from Garloon where small boys and young men are trained as assassins. I have been unable to verify this report and the question still exists. What happens to the boys?

Jodoro nearly fell from his chair. Could it be? The General’s theory. Ridge was already tired of his constant badgering about the investigation and had passed it off to the city guard. He did not know the guardsmen well, but he was sure they wouldn’t take his theory seriously. He looked at Christa who was across the table from him reading.

***

“Something on my face?” She asked when she noticed Jodoro staring at her. He had been acting strange toward her recently constantly asking her if she was okay or needed to talk. She appreciated his concern but sometimes he was overbearing. The other evening, he had even sent Amethyst to his room at midnight to check on her. He was still staring at her biting his tongue. She never noticed it before but now she could not ignore it. He did it quite often.

“Have you heard…” He hesitated. “The General’s theory about the…culprit?”

Her interest was piqued. She’d heard the General’s theory. She visited him four times a day in the first few weeks. “He thinks a child did it.”

“Yep, read this.” He slid the book he was reading toward her and moved around and leaned over her shoulder.

The smell of bergamot and sandalwood wafted off him. It was subtle yet intoxicating. She stopped herself from leaning into him. What is wrong with you? Get a hold of yourself. She read the passage that he was pointing to. “This is interesting, but I would hardly call it a theory. There’s no proven link between…what happened and the Farki.”

“Who stood to benefit the most from the potential destabilization of Bellguard?”

“True but the scholar himself said the theory was unsubstantiated.”

“Yes, but what happened to the Swan?” He asked her and Christa thought for a moment.

“Stabbed by a peasant boy for no apparent reason.” She said then another thought struck her and she raced to get it out before his inevitable question. “The Farki stood to benefit because a marriage between Heliodor and the Swan would bring the Hytians to our side in the conflict.” She looked at him and saw his nod.

“I know its shaky but it’s a theory.” He said. He was still leaning over her shoulder. She wanted him to move and she wanted him to stay. He returned to his seat looked at her. “What are you going to do about it?”

“Do? What can I do?” she responded angrily. What the hell was his point? Why was he bringing this up?

He crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. He was biting his tongue again and looked as if he wanted to say something back at her. She almost wanted him to so she could set him straight. “Lead!” he rasped. “You have friends lets do something. Take this thing in your own damn hands don’t leave to these fucking guardsmen, who can’t tell their asses from their elbows handle this.”

She tripped the legs of his chair and watched him whirlwind his arms and fall to the floor. It was worth it for the look of shock on his face. “You want me to lead!” She shouted into his face. She wanted to laugh and cry at the look of shock on his face. “I’ll fucking lead. Gather everyone and bring them to the Regal Pidgeon in an hour.”

He smiled and she stormed out of the library, but she still heard him reply. “Yes, Duchess.”

***

“Mind telling me why the fuck we’re here.” Derry asked the people gathered around him. Nova, Amethyst, and Guy shrugged. Jodoro had rented a private room in the Regal Pidgeon and had already ordered drink for them when they arrived. This was not shit Jodoro did. It put him on edge.

Christa stood up. “We are launching our own investigation into my mother’s death.”

“An investigation?”

“An investigation?”

“Here, Here.” Said Guy.

“Us?”

“Yes, everyone we will be launching an investigation. And anybody who hems or haws about it can leave.” Christa replied. Bossy Christa was his least favorite Christa.

Derry looked around and saw everyone and saw them all bend to her will. What could they do? What made her think they were qualified? Just because Amethyst, Nova, and Guy were cowed didn’t mean he would be. The nerve to give him an ultimatum. He got up from his chair with the hounds on his tail. The one-eared bitch was pregnant and that was the least of his problems. Karna still owed him half of his winnings and was beginning to give him the run around. And now Christa wanted him to help her find her dead mom’s killer, a task that even the General couldn’t handle. Before he could walk through the door Jo grabbed his shoulder and gave him the look. All brothers knew the look. All brothers used the look. It was the look that said- Just do me this one favor or I got you next time. If there was anything that Derry learned it was that one must protect the sanctity of the look. It was currency and it was honor. Refusing the look could have far-reaching and ominous consequences. Dark emotions might arise, resentments could build, and above all else it could destroy the fulcrum that carefully balanced brotherly relationships. So, Derry did what any sensible, Star Court believing man would do. He took his ass right back to his seat and acted like he never got up.

Christa looked at him. “Is everyone on board?” He nodded back at her ready to get the ball rolling on this thing. He took a gulp of the ale and a bite of chicken as he listened to Christa explain her theory. As far as he was concerned it was farfetched, but he would play along.

“Pardon Hytanese but how do we know this little fucker didn’t already skip town with the rest of the tourney lot?” He asked.

“I was wondering the same thing.” Nova echoed.

“We don’t,” Jodoro replied. “But we should still look into it and if we buy the theory that the perpetrator is a Farkian agent then wouldn’t it behoove them to keep someone here in Bellgaurd? After all it is a place of strategic importance to the Farki. They need constant information.”

Guy spoke up. “What is our plan of action? I Cannot think of anything beyond interviewing every boy in the city.”

“Glad you asked,” Christa began. “Amethyst I need you to milk your father for any information he already has. If he has any notes get that too.”

“I can manage that.”

“Guy, Nova and Jodoro I need you three to figure out how this agent is communicating with the Farkians. Its quite possible he is receiving commands somehow. There is no trade between the kingdoms so that limits that possibility. They must be communicating by some means.”

Christa hesitated then looked at Derry. “Derry use your access to Steward Olman to review the tax and attendance records from the tournament. Look for anything unusual.”

“Unusual?”

“Yes unusual,” Christa replied sarcastically. “Like a lone child, strange name, or a weird country of origin.” She looked around at all of them. “People we are in the information gathering stage. Get your hands on anything you possibly can. I will be talking things over with the guardsmen and picking their brains for anything they know. I do not need to tell you how much this means to my family, so I won’t. I’ll just thank you for your help ahead of time. I will reimburse any investigation expenditures. Let’s get to work.” She began to walk out of the room.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” Jodoro asked. She promptly turned around grabbed a leg of chicken then ate it in the most unladylike manner Derry had ever seen then left the room. Derry shared a look with his brother who just shrugged. He was not sure if he liked this new Christa or not.