Chapter Ten: Break Out

It had been about a month since Yuri was murdered, but Flynn remembered little of it. Alexei had brought him back to the commandant's suite in the castle and given him free reign to wander the castle, as long as he didn't bother anyone or enter restricted areas. Flynn had spent the month in a daze, roaming opulent halls and wondering if this was all part of a dream. The only time he felt physically part of the world was when he found himself at the Knight's training ground.

He watched the knights train with desire. Every time swords clanked, he thought about about an alternate reality where he was strong and armed like them and could blaze into the alley and cut the murderer to ribbons. After a few days of watching, some of the knights had called him over and offered to let him practice with them. Flynn had never been formally trained, and enjoyed the chance to receive guidance from a professional for the first time in his life. While his muscles burned from activity and his mind focused on drills, he was finally able to stop thinking about Yuri.

In the evening, Flynn made his way back to Alexei's rooms. Sweat dripped down the back of his neck and fresh bruises dotted his arms and torso from a day of training with the knights, but he didn't mind. It felt good to work his muscles. He would have stayed longer, but Alexei had dinner sent up from the kitchens at seven-thirty and it would be rude to let it get cold. He pushed open the door just in time to hear, "…all I could, but I don't know if -"

Captain Schwann stopped when Flynn entered the main room of the suite. He glanced at Alexei, questioning if he should continue.

"Sorry," Flynn muttered. He'd seen Schwann around the castle a few times while he'd been here, and they'd even had a chat once the first time Schwann spotted him. Schwann just wanted to know how he was holding up, to which Flynn hadn't been able to say much more than a grunt. "I didn't know you…. I'll go."

He started to turn, but Alexei stopped him. "It's all right, Flynn. Captain Schwann was just leaving. Come sit down before dinner gets cold."

Flynn looked between him and Schwann and slowly crossed the living room. As he was sitting down in the dining room, he heard Alexei say, "I understand. It seems we've done all we can." He let out a frustrated sigh. "This keeps happening. It makes me wonder if going about things the traditional way is even worth it."

"I don't follow, sir."

There was a long pause, and then: "Forget it. You're dismissed."

A few seconds later, Alexei emerged in the dining room. He put on a smile and said, "Good evening. Did you have a good day?"

Flynn shrugged and finished chewing a piece of prime rib (what food! He couldn't get over the quality and quantity of food in the castle). "It was ok."

Alexei sat at the head of the table and picked up his own knife and fork. "I've heard you've been training with my men."

"Yeah - I mean, yes, sir."

"I've heard you're quite talented."

Flynn turned his nose to his mashed potatoes. "Not really. I've never really had training before. Just… fooling around with Yuri." His throat tighten the way it always did when Yuri's name came up.

"You don't have to have formal training to show a spark of talent. I was also impressed by the way you confronted the murderer in jail. It was a foolish action, but it certainly demonstrated spirit. I think you have the makings of a strong warrior."

"Thank you, sir." Such high praise from the commandant himself didn't do much to break through the grey veil that had hung over his life for the past month.

"Have you ever considered becoming a knight?"

He nodded. "Yuri and I always planned to. We were… going to join together."

"And do you still wish to?"

Now that Yuri was gone and he'd be joining alone? "I'm… not sure, sir." Eager to change the topic, he asked, "Why was Captain Schwann meeting with you here and not your office?"

"It was not a formal meeting. I'd already officially ended my work day, but he had received news and thought I would prefer to hear it as soon as possible."

Flynn studied the pink meat as he sliced off another piece. "What sort of news? Um, sir?"

He should have known what it would be about when Alexei hesitated for so long before answering. "It concerns the conclusion of the case of the so-called Backstreet Butcher."

Flynn glanced up and saw Alexei watching him intently. Aware that the conversation would shut down if Alexei thought he couldn't handle it, Flynn carefully reigned in his stampeding emotions. "Oh. What happened?" Hopefully, an execution date had been set. Flynn had never thought himself a violent person, but he couldn't wait to see this bastard hang.

Alexei spoke carefully. "It has been decided that there is insufficient evidence that the man in Knight custody is the perpetrator of the heinous crimes plaguing the lower quarter."

Flynn's fork hit the edge of the plate with a clatter. "But I saw him! I saw him kill Yuri!"

"But the Knights did not. They arrived too late to see it happen, and he is claiming he arrived on the scene, chased the murderer away, and then approached you to try to help."

"That isn't what happened!" Flynn's voice cracked. "He-"

Alexei held up a hand. "I am aware. I'm certain the judge does as well, because he's been sentenced to several years of house arrest in his estate outside the city, allegedly for threatening a minor with a knife. That is the best we could do."

"They didn't even ask me. You said I was staying with you because I'm a witness, but nobody ever asked me any questions!"

"It was decided that a child from the lower quarter was not a sufficient witness to speak against a man of such high standing."

"But he killed someone."

"He had many connections on the Council. If it came out that the serial killer who has been plaguing our streets is a friend of prominent city officials, it would be damaging to their reputations and careers. Everybody wants to sweep this under the rug. It's why they've decided he should be protected by anonymity - everybody knows the man we arrested last month was the culprit, but we can't make it official. They're just going to quietly shuttle him off to his estate and try to forget about this embarrassment."

"But that's not… how can they… he killed Yuri!" Tears sprang to his eyes again, as they did so often these days. "You said you'd take care of it! You said there was trouble because of his connections but that you'd work it out!"

"I'm sorry, Flynn. I tried, Captain Schwann tried, but some things are out of the hands of the Knights."

"He murdered Yuri! And a bunch of other people, too! He can't just get a slap on the wrist and then free to live in his nice fancy house!"

"Yes, Flynn, I am aware. I would very much like to see him appropriately punished, but it's out of my hands now. I have done all that is in my power, but this is the best we will get."

"It's not fair!"

"Life seldom is."

Flynn shoved his chair back and stormed away from the table. Obviously Alexei wasn't to blame for what happened, but he didn't think he could handle staying at the dinner table and having a civilized conversation. In the spare room, he curled into a ball on the bed and pressed his face into his knees. Yuri was dead and no one was getting punished for it. Now that the case was settled, Alexei didn't need to keep him nearby so it would be back to the Comet for him. For the first time, he'd have to return to the room that would remind him so forcibly of Yuri, and how his friend would never set foot in it again.

It was at least fifteen minutes before he'd cried himself out. When he couldn't find anymore tears, he rubbed his eyes and pressed his head against the wall, taking deep breaths. A few minutes later, there was a light knock on the door. He didn't answer, so after a few seconds, Alexei entered.

"I've put your dinner in the oven to keep it warm."

Flynn stared at him. Huh? It took a few moments to process thoughts of anything other than Yuri. "Oh. Th-thanks." He scrubbed his eyes. It made no sense that Alexei seemed to believe he had potential to be a great knight considering how often he'd seen him cry. "When do you need me to leave by? I can go tonight if you want."

"Leave?"

It was good to try to concentrate on practical matters. "Since you don't need me anymore."

"Hm… where will you go?"

Flynn shrugged. "Back to the Comet, I guess."

"Where you still have no guardian?"

"I'm used to it." Even though he'd always had Yuri with him in the past. But… he had to make do now. He needed to get used to life post-Yuri.

Alexei folded his arms and deliberated for a few moments. "You're welcome to stay here."

"Stay… here?"

"This apartment is certainly large enough. You've made a good deal of progress with the sword in just a month; it would be a shame to halt your training now."

"You're serious? I mean… you're the commandant. I can't just… you really don't mind?"

"I am interested to see what kind of man you become, Flynn Scifo. Stay here, continue training with a blade, and perhaps in a few years I will have a valuable new knight to enter my army."

Far too much information was crowding Flynn's head to fully process this. "I… thank you, sir." The thought of living at the castle for years to come was too difficult to comprehend in his state. All he knew for sure were two solid facts: his best friend was dead, and from now on he would live with the commandant.

Yuri had hoped he would never have to wear a Knight uniform again after Heliord, and yet here he was. Leblanc had supplied the uniform, complete with a face-concealing helmet. They walked through the castle, because running would look suspicious. Yuri wondered how long it would take for someone else to pop down to the jail and notice he wasn't in his cell anymore, and hoped they got out of here before that happened.

"Does anyone else know what you're doing?" Yuri asked. They were in the wee hours of the morning, so the hallways were thankfully deserted. Moonlight through the windows gleamed on the polished floors of the otherwise dark corridors.

"No. I haven't informed my subordinates."

Yuri had a mental image of the tweedles attempting subterfuge and was very thankful Leblanc hadn't hinged Yuri's life on it. "Probably for the best."

The helmet was uncomfortable and Yuri couldn't wait to take it off. His hair was tied into a hasty bun so it would be concealed under the helmet, which now pressed awkwardly against his skull. His arm ached, too. Leaving it in a sling would be too noticeable, since any knight with a crippled arm would be on medical leave and not wandering around in uniform. The close-fitting black sleeve clung to the bandages and the heavy steel gauntlet pulled at the stitches. He couldn't risk taking it off, though, because they'd passed numerous servants cleaning the public areas while the residents were asleep. No one paid any heed to a pair of knights passing through.

They were nearing the exit in the Knight's wing of the castle when someone else rounded a corner ahead of them. This time, it wasn't a maid. Sodia paused when she saw them and then said, "Good evening, Leblanc."

"Good evening." Yuri hoped it was only knowing it was there that caused him to see guilt splash across Leblanc's face. "What brings you here at this hour?"

"Work." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "I fell asleep in my office while dealing with the papers for the surplus prisoners." She raised her hand to demonstrate the pile of paperwork she held. "I promised the commandant I'd leave them on his desk before I left tonight, so I'm heading there now."

"Why are you working so hard to help him accomplish something that is clearly immoral?"

Sodia's sleepiness vanished. "I'm doing my job. I trust his judgement."

"Hm." Leblanc clearly had more thoughts on this, but thankfully he didn't want to start an argument with Yuri standing right behind him. So far, Sodia hadn't noticed him, but if she looked close, she might see through the gaps in the helmet and make out his face. The darkness of the hallway was working in their favour for now.

"I've already heard your opinion on all this. Don't tell me you believe Lowell's story about evil twins or alternate universes or whatever he's claiming now?"

Leblanc stiffened. "Of course not."

"I'm glad the commandant has finally seen the truth about Yuri Lowell. I admit I'm surprised he made such a quick turnaround on him, but I suppose the evidence that he'd murdered an innocent person was highly coercive."

Yuri bit his lip to hold in the comments he longed to add.

Leblanc couldn't help but ask, "You don't think it's a little odd that he's had such a sudden change of heart? Whatever the reason, to turn on Yuri Lowell and condemn so many prisoners to death so suddenly does seem uncharacteristic."

"It is not our place to question the commandant's judgement. If we can't have faith in Flynn, in whom can we?"

"Hm… I suppose."

"Anyway, what brings you here at this hour?"

"Ah, this new recruit needed guidance for his first graveyard shift. I was just… showing him the ropes."

Sodia's eyes fell on Yuri. Was that recognition on her face? His arm ached and begged for him to adjust the gauntlet, but he didn't dare with Sodia watching. "It's kind of you to take that job on yourself, Lieutenant. It shows excellent leadership."

"Thank you."

"Have a good evening."

Both Yuri and Leblanc had to keep themselves from running the second they were free of the conversation. They maintained a casual pace, and Yuri stopped himself from checking over his shoulder. When he was certain she was out of earshot, he muttered, "Sodia is as helpful as always."

"I'm helping you escape jail, Lowell. I'm not here to gossip about my colleagues with you."

"Aw, and here I thought this was the start of a beautiful friendship. You gonna reject my invite for a slumber party, too?"

Leblanc let out a sigh through his nose that rustled his moustache. Perhaps Yuri should shut his mouth before Leblanc decided against helping him.

They made it to the exit without running into anyone else. Yuri had never been so glad to breathe outside air. Even if it was cool, damp, and smelled of dead worms. He reached for the helmet to free his hair, but Leblanc grabbed his wrist. "Wait. Leave it on until we get off the streets. Just in case."

"Where are we going?" Yuri looked back at the lights of the castle as he hurried down the road. Had they noticed he'd escaped yet? Would he hear the commotion of the search from here if they had? "Comet?"

"Of course not. That will be the first place they look. The lower quarter will be crawling with knights looking for you within a few hours. I'm taking you to my house in the public quarter. No one knows I was involved in your escape, so ideally no one will think to look there."

"Your… house?" Somehow, it had never occurred to him that Leblanc had a house. Obviously, if he had ever put thought into it, he lived somewhere, but imagining him in a house was as weird as imagining him out of uniform.

"It's this way."

It wasn't currently raining, but the puddles they tromped through indicated it had been recently. The clouds overhead blocked any hint of moonlight, so the only illumination on the road were candles in windows. Yuri had trouble seeing with the helmet covering most of his face. This was another reason he hated the Knight uniform; you couldn't see a damn thing. Sure it protected the head, but it was killer for agility.

It took about twenty minutes of walking through the dark, rain-soaked streets to reach a narrow house of brown bricks squeezed into a corner of the public quarter. A candle glowed in the front window and Leblanc looked up and down the street to make sure no one was watching as he led Yuri up the steps. They slipped inside and quickly shut the door. Yuri tripped on shoes piled by the door, and Leblanc grabbed his arm to keep him from crashing into the floor.

"Whoops." Yuri grabbed the wall to stabilize himself.

"Shhh."

"Not like the Knights will-"

"Sh!" Leblanc whispered, "My daughter is asleep."

Yuri blinked twice and then whispered back, "Daughter?" He was about to ask more when soft footsteps carried a candle down the hallway. A woman in a nightgown greeted them as Leblanc took off his boots.

"You must be Yuri," she said. "Martin has told me everything."

"Martin?" Yuri looked between her and Leblanc. "Who's Martin?"

The woman giggled as Leblanc sighed. "I'm Martin."

"Excuse me?"

"My first name is Martin."

"Your first name is Lieutenant."

The woman covered her mouth to stifle another giggle.

Leblanc ignored Yuri's comment and said, "Let me introduce my wife, Charlotte."

Yuri shook her hand. "Nice to meet'cha."

"I'm pleased to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"Good things, I hope."

There was a long silence as she glanced at Leblanc. "Well."

Yuri snickered. "I can imagine."

Leblanc grabbed Yuri's arm to pull him away from his wife. "You can sleep on the couch. And don't touch anything."

"How can I sleep on the couch without touching it?"

As they entered the living room, Leblanc said, "I can send you right back to jail, Yuri Lowell."

Flynn didn't know what time it was, only that it must be very late. It was hard to accurately gauge the time in a windowless cell. He sat on his bed with his foot resting on the edge to give himself more slack in the chain. With one link gripped in his hand, he scraped it against the brick around the ring bolted to the wall. With each scrape, clay powder fell away. Eventually, either the metal link would be worn thin enough he could snap it, or the brick would be fragile enough he could pry the ring out of the wall. It might take weeks to get to that point, but he didn't have any other ideas.

If he got free of the shackle, he could get to the cell door, and then he could figure out how to unlock that. Hopefully it was less secure, because his captor would be relying on the ankle cuff to keep Flynn restrained. From there, he'd navigate out of this prison and hope there weren't any more locked doors, and then make it through the streets of Zaphias and back to the castle before the doppelgänger returned and took him captive again. There was an awful lot of hoping and wishful thinking in his plan.

Worst of all, he'd been at it for hours already and the scratch in the brick was only about a millimetre deep. There was no way he'd get out of here before dawn, with enough time to make it to the castle and order Yuri's release. He had to believe that Yuri would find a way out of this mess without Flynn's help. Yuri could not die in the morning. Just imagining how he'd feel if the execution went as planned made sympathy for the doppelgänger rush through him. When the other Yuri was killed, that version of himself responded by cracking down horribly on criminals. Flynn wanted to believe he would never do that, but he couldn't shake the thought that if his doppelgänger succeeded in having Yuri killed, Flynn was going to kill him himself, laws be damned. There was no question of whether he'd be capable of such cruelty, because he knew for a fact now that the capacity for ruthless harm existed in himself.

But I don't want to be like him. The metal link slipped in his fingers as he pressed too hard against the wall. His arm ached from the repetitive action. He could become a killer, like the alternate version of himself. He could throw out the law and rain vengeance upon Yuri's murderer - hell knew he would want to - but he would not.

Flynn was so concentrated on trying to chisel his way to freedom that he nearly missed the thump of approaching footsteps. He dropped the chain immediately and let his foot fall to the floor. Seconds later, a man carrying a candle crossed in front of the bars. Flynn had expected to see his own smug face returning to mock him, so he was shocked that someone else had wandered in here.

"Hey!" The chain clinked in his rush to stand. The man jolted and turned around in shock as Flynn continued, "I would appreciate your help, please."

The man stared through the bars. The single candle flame did little to illuminate the dark hall of the prison, and cast menacing shadows on his otherwise handsome face. Flynn had just been about to explain that he was the commandant, he was being held against his will and that the Knighthood would bestow a significant reward on anyone who helped him escape, when he realized he recognized the man.

"What are you doing here?"

The man raised his eyebrows. "I was going to ask that of you."

Flynn shook his head. These were details that could be worked out when time was not of the essence. "Never mind. Can you open that door? Perhaps there is a spare key in an office somewhere."

The man surveyed him through the bars and Flynn was uncomfortably reminded of an animal being sized up for meat. "No," the man said slowly. "How is it that you have come to be here? I could have sworn you were acting a busy little bee in the castle today."

"It's a long story. The man in the castle is not me; he's an impostor. I'm the real Flynn, and I can assure you that a handsome reward is in your future if you help me escape."

"I am afraid it is simply beyond my ability. Have a nice evening, Commandant." He tipped his head in a curt bow and turned away.

"Wait!" The chain pulled against his leg as Flynn struggled to reach the cell bars. "You can't just leave me here!"

The man didn't even dignify him with a response.

Flynn seethed with frustration and fell back to the edge of the bed. Bitter words begged to escape his mouth, but swearing after his visitor wouldn't convince him to come back. Shouting and thrashing wouldn't help Yuri. The best he could do was sit here and try his damnedest to carve away his freedom before the sun rose. He knew it was hopeless, but perhaps his fury at being abandoned would speed his work.

When Yuri opened his eyes, someone else's face was mere inches from his. Sleep left his mind in a flash, but before he could even remember where he was or where his sword was, the owner of the face said, "Hi! You're Yuri, right?"

"Uh… yeah."

She pulled away enough that Yuri was able to see more than her big brown eyes. Her dark brown hair landed on her shoulders and she leaned against the cushion of the couch wearing a shirt with a duckling embroidered on it. "My name's Julia. Is it true you're a son of a bitch?"

Yuri nearly choked. "I'm a what?" Post-awakening amnesia was beginning to fade and he recalled that he was on Leblanc's couch.

"I hears my dad say you were one."

"He did, did he? And do you know what it means?"

"Nu-uh."

"It means a really cool person, and yes, I am one." He swung his legs around and ran his hands through his hair to straighten it to the best of his ability. "Where's your dad now?"

"He's in the kitchen. He said to go up to my room and not bother you."

"Clearly you follow directions well." Yuri rubbed his eyes and then stood. The smell of pancakes drew him to the kitchen, though Julia ran past to beat him there.

"He's awake, he's awake!" she yelled on her way to Leblanc.

He sat at a simple wooden table with a mug of coffee in hand. Leblanc looked between Julia and Yuri and sighed. "Didn't I tell you not to bother him?"

Julia's enthusiasm faded. "Y-yeah."

Yuri shrugged. "She didn't bother me. I was already up."

"Would you like some pancakes, Yuri, dear?" Charlotte turned around from the stove with a full plate in hand. She saw him begin to decline but grabbed his arm and pulled him to the table. "I made enough for you, so sit here next to Martin and eat up. There's plenty more on the stove if you're still hungry."

Julia climbed into a chair across from Yuri. She'd already finished her breakfast, but seemed keen to watch the newcomer. She watched him like a hawk as he dug into the pancakes. After a few days of jail food, it was heavenly.

"Your cooking is amazing, Mrs. Leblanc." Yuri would have finished his plate already, but he was so accustomed to holding a fork in his left hand that trying to eat with him right slowed him down. He held his sore arm against his stomach. "I see why Martin here is overweight."

Charlotte giggled while Leblanc choked on his coffee. "Excuse me?!" He put the mug down a touch too forcefully.

Yuri had just finished the last piece of pancake on his plate when two new ones miraculously appeared. "You look hungry," Charlotte said with a smile. "After all, I doubt they've been feeding you properly in that jail. Would you like some juice?"

Leblanc rolled his eyes. "Dear, he is a criminal. I broke him out of jail because he didn't deserve to hang, not because he didn't deserve to be there in the first place."

"Yes, Marty, so you've told me. Repeatedly. For years."

Yuri couldn't believe the miraculous gift that had been bestowed upon him, and filed 'Marty' away to be used later.

"Dad talks about you a lot," Julia said. "Did you really steal the statue from the garden in the royal quarter? The one of that old emperor?"

Yuri clearly recalled the statue being erected a few years ago, and the general mumblings of discontent from the citizens of the lower quarter, who didn't remember him too fondly based on their great-grandparents' stories of mandatory conscription being based on income. 'The Great' was not a moniker often applied to him in Yuri's neck of the woods. With a glance at Leblanc, he shrugged. "I can neither confirm nor deny that I had anything to do with that statue going missing and appearing in the river the next morning."

"I know it was you, Lowell." Leblanc glared at him over his coffee.

"Prove it."

"Here, Yuri." Charlotte appear beside him again, this time with a large square of white fabric. "Martin told me your arm was injured. You can use this as a sling."

Yuri reached for it to tie around his neck, but she went ahead and did it for him. Once his arm was secure, she said, "Now then, I think it's time for someone to head to school."

"Noooo." Julia clutched the edge of the table and leaned forward. "I wanna stay here and Yuri will teach me how to steal a statue."

"He can show you tonight. Oh, and Marty, dear, I found a stack of papers on the desk in the study. Did you forget those? The ones dated from two weeks ago?"

Leblanc's eyes widened and darted from his wife, to Yuri, and back. "Oh… uh…. Yes, dear, I do need those."

Yuri smirked. "The great lieutenant forgot his paperwork? Gosh, I bet it would be awful if more people knew this story."

Leblanc puffed himself up. "This is none of your buisness, Lowell! And - and besides, I did try to take those to Captain Chapman's house the evening they were due, but he was out that night. And then Lady Avondale's body was found the next day so obviously we all had more important things to worry about, so…."

"Yes, dear" Charlotte patted his shoulder and then rounded to the table to guide Julia off the chair. "They're sitting on the desk if you need them. Say goodbye, Julia." Julia paused at the door to wave goodbye, and then the pair of them left the house.

When they were gone, Yuri looked back to Leblanc. "Your wife seems nice." Leblanc didn't answer, so when Yuri finished swallowing another bite of pancake, he said, "Boy, I'd hate to see the face you'd give me if I said she was awful."

"Just eat your breakfast, and stay away from my daughter. I don't want you giving her any ideas about statue-stealing."

"You still never proved that was me. Anyway, what's our plan for today?"

"Firstly, I'm going to the castle to act surprised when they tell me you've escaped, and then I'll do my best to derail the search for you. Your number one priority must be to locate and rescue Commandant Flynn."

Yuri twirled circles in the maple syrup on his plate. "Right. There are some spots in the lower quarter that might work to hold a prisoner. I'm going to do some poking around."

"Keep a low profile. I doubt I can break you out of prison twice."

"Don't worry, it's not too hard to outsmart the Knights."

Leblanc gave him a dirty look and opened his mouth to speak, but then a sharp knock came from the front door, which was fully visible from the kitchen table through the doorway to the hall. Leblanc's look of annoyance turned to panic, and then he jumped up and grabbed Yuri's arm. Before Yuri could question him, he was dragging Yuri across the room to a coat closet in the hall, and shoved him in. "Don't make a sound." The door shut in his face.

The whole thing happened in twenty seconds, and Yuri rubbed the injured arm that had been bumped against the doorway in the hustle. He could have just told Yuri to hide, he thought with a grumble.

The front door swung open. Yuri peered through a crack in the closet door and spotted a tall, skinny knight standing on the front step. "I say, good morning, sir!"

"Has something happened?" Leblanc asked Adecor. Maybe it was because Yuri was listening for it, but Leblanc's voice was slightly forced.

"It has! Something truly dreadful, I say!"

Yuri scowled at this; his escape from the gallows was embarrassing and inconvenient for the Knights, but he didn't think it should count as dreadful.

Leblanc, at least, agreed, because he said, "Come now, I doubt it was dreadful."

"It was, I say! A poor child, ripped apart!"

Yuri's heart skipped a beat.

"A - a what?"

"The lad was found early this morning. It seems to be one more foul murder by the villain they call the Backstreet Butcher! I say, he simply must be stopped!"

"I… I see. You said it was a child?"

"Yes, sir! The victim was a boy called Michael Reaney. He was eleven years old."

Yuri closed his eyes tightly and had to stop himself from bursting out to speak up. Michael was a friend of Ted's. It really didn't seem like a coincidence that all of the victims so far were from the lower quarter, and Yuri was getting pretty damn pissed that some deranged killer out there saw his people as disposable.

"And also," Adecor went on, "Yuri Lowell escape from prison last night! I say, nothing will stop that felon from acting up."

"Oh, did he?" The edge of overacting returned to Leblanc's voice. "What a crime. Well, you go to the crime scene in the lower quarter and I will take care of Lowell's case at the castle."

"Yes, sir!"

After Adecor left, Yuri pushed the door open and stepped into the hall. Leblanc turned to face him, eyes heavy.

"What are we going to do about the Butcher?" Yuri asked.

"We are not doing anything. You take care of the search for Commandant Flynn and leave this Butcher to the Knights."

Yuri put his fist on his hip. "No offense, but I don't trust you guys to take care of this. If some psycho is chopping up kids in my home neighbourhood, I'm not going to sit this one out."

"Commandant Flynn is the priority. You're the only one who even knows he needs to be rescued. Let the Knights handle the Butcher until the commandant is back in charge."

Yuri ground his fingernails into his palm, but had to agree Leblanc was right. He couldn't try to find the Butcher and try to find Flynn, and if he didn't prioritize Flynn, no one else would. But… he was heading to the lower quarter anyway, so he could at least look around a little and maybe stumble across something.

"All right. I'm going to the lower quarter. You head on to the castle - and don't forget your paperwork, Marty."

In retrospect, Yuri couldn't say he blamed Leblanc for smacking him.