Chapter 11: Interview With…an Inspector

"Karigan! Where have you been?"

Karigan paused with her hand on the door to her room. "I just—"

Eran's head was poked out of the door to his room. "What are you wearing a dress for?"

Karigan opened her mouth to say something not at all nice when a door slammed somewhere in the warren of rooms. Mapstone's voice thundered down the hallway. "G'ladheon! My office. Now!"

"Yes ma'am, just a minute!"

"No, NOW!"

Eran gave her a frightened look and retracted his head. The dress couldn't be helped. She rapped gently on the Captain's office door. "Come in".

The dress barely fit through the narrow door. Karigan couldn't help but notice Mapstone's twisted expression. "I didn't get a chance to change."

"From last night? No, don't answer that. Well, take it off, then report back immediately."

Karigan stood. "Thanks." She didn't need to guess what the captain wanted to discuss.

Luckily, Sal was still in her room, and could help Karigan out of the laced gown. She didn't say any words except "be careful".

When she returned to Mapstone's office to find the Captain staring at the door, fingers tapping her desk top. "Sit down; we've got a lot to go over." When Karigan had sat, Mapstone began pacing. "All hell has broken loose. Aside from last night's little adventure, Coutre got a message this morning; apparently Estora dropped from sight right before they boarded the ship back from Selia. The Duke is taking it well. In that he hasn't thrown a fit. That means he's planning something big." She swung to face Karigan. "She sent a side message; that I could get in touch with her only if absolutely necessary…through you. What do you know about this?"

"She told me before she left. I would have let you know last night, but I didn't get the chance. I delivered a letter to Zachary explaining everything a few days ago."

The Captain just looked at her, then turned away and sighed. "It wasn't really my business, and you did tell who had the right to know. I just don't like being blindsided like that.

'But that's not the main reason I called you…I only have a few minutes; he's on his way now."

"Who?"

"Last night. Last night you got involved in something. I should have known you'd find something. The Inspector's on his way now to speak with you, Karigan."

"Yes?" It was all very confusing; people were just giving bits and pieces of information, never the whole story.

"You need to be careful with this man. Before you speak, think of the King, the Riders, yourself, and your Clan—in that order. Understand?"

"Yes Captain."

There was a sharp rap at the door, and it opened before Mapstone had time for a response.

Inspector Vyllord entered with one of his assistants. "Thank you for your time, Captain. Constable Wicks has a few questions for you…perhaps you have another room?"

"Of course, Inspector. If you'll follow me, Constable?"

As Mapstone left, Karigan inwardly smiled a wry smile. Everyone was being sooo careful in using the proper titles, and the Inspector was seeing that Mapstone didn't have the advantage of home turf in her own office. Well, let Wicks try to get anything out of Mapstone she didn't want to tell…With her ability, she'll probably learn more from him than he from her!

Vyllord shut the door after them and locked it. "So we won't be interrupted." He gestured for her to take a chair, and he settled opposite. "I just have a few things to go over. I seem to have missed you last night."

King, Riders, self, Clan… "Of course. What would you like to know?"

He crossed his legs, resting his clasped hands on his knees. "To begin with, what is a Green Rider doing at a ball for the gentry; or rather, what is a Sub Chief doing as a Green Rider? Let's start with that."

"I delivered a dying Rider's message when I passed him on the road. By the time I had delivered it, I had heard the call, so I stayed."

"The call?"

"Yes." Short and simple. Let him ask the question if he wanted…not that it would help him any. There were some things a Rider should not and could not explain to others.

He narrowed his eyes at her. "I see. And Rider life has agreed with you?"

"As well as any life can, sir."

"And the ball…?"

"I don't see how that has any relevance, Inspector. The fact remains that I was at the ball and saw certain things, things that I'm sure you wish to go over."

Vyllord went still for a moment, then gave a tiny smile while he looked straight into Karigan's eyes. "On the contrary. I consider it relevant, therefore it is. It always helps to have good background information on the principle players in any situation. And though I am going to order you to stay out of my investigation, I have this feeling that you won't. And my feelings are rarely wrong. So, why were you at the ball? I understood you renounced your status."

"Don't you need some paper to write all this down?"

"I have a good memory."

"I was there on Clan business."

"Not good enough. Don't even think about obstructing my investigation, Rider G'ladheon. "

Karigan kept her hands still with an effort. She had conquered worse foes than this! What's wrong with me? Before, I was fighting for the kingdom, now, I have the feeling that I'm fighting against the realm. It might be embarrassing, but in the end, Karigan knew she'd be ordered to tell anyway.

She fixed her eyes on a colorful and intricate tapestry to her left. "I renounced my status for the duration of my service in the Riders. I was approached by Clan Chief G'ladheon; the Clan decided it would be in everyone's best interests that in this time of unrest, the inheritance line should continue as soon as possible. I had a small injury, so Captain Mapstone released me from duty for this week to attend the Spring Balls. It was hoped that I could fulfill those obligations."

"That is possibly the most incomprehensible and flowery manner I have heard describing the pursuit of matrimony. Your Clan is a new one, I understand."

"Yes." Karigan said stiffly. She did not like at all how this was going.

"Now, last night. What was the course of events?"

"I was standing near my aunts when I heard the scream. I went towards it, and found a man lying on the floor. The lady was screaming, doing no good for anyone, so I slapped her. It needed to be done. General Sora assisted me in the initial examination, and we gathered the foodstuffs; there didn't appear to be any missing from the plate. Servers were handing out pre-measured dishes of a variety of finger foods. There was no wine on the floor, so I would conclude he drank it. Charles Avery, Lord of Eastwick came in then. He was very upset. Master Destarian arrived, and then you Inspector."

"You know General Sora?"

"We met earlier in the evening."

"And he supported you taking command. Interesting." He didn't pause. "And Eastwick, how did you know him?"

"I met him earlier as well."

"Is there anyone else you spent time with last evening?"

"My aunts. King Zachary."

"Really? And what is your take on the death? Was it murder? Heart attack?"

"Does it matter what I think?" Karigan had the unpleasant feeling that he was playing with her. "If you care at all, I do think there was something suspicious. Lord Avery spoke to me a little afterward; his uncle was in good health, even though he looked fat. He was very fit, and no other family members have a history of problems. It seems odd to me that the first night he is in court, he dies, almost as if he knew something someone didn't want let out."

"It seems you've put a bit of thought into this. Well, thank you for your impressions." He uncrossed his legs and stood. Almost as if on cue, the doorknob rattled. He unlocked it to Constable Wicks and Captain Mapstone. "Stay around the palace grounds for a bit, I'll need to be able to get a hold of you. Captain." He left, Wicks in tow.

Mapstone strode over to Karigan. "I wish I'd had a chance to—"

"Who is he? Where did he come from?"

"I keep meaning to fill you in. I'd intended to be able to do that before he came, but he surprised me, coming this early." Mapstone settled into her desk chair. "His name is Javoris Vyllord. After all the shakeups and conspiracies last year, the post was open. He popped up from somewhere and fit the position like a glove. Nobody really knows he's there unless there's a problem—then he's on your doorstep. His record is perfect to date. This is the most public any case has been, so the pressure's on. Zachary trusts him…to a certain point.

'My problem with him is that I don't know how he thinks; I can't predict him. I've never been able to catch him in a falsehood. That could mean three things; either my ability is on the blink when it comes to him, he never lies, or he watches his words so carefully that he never actually says something straight out. Now that you're on his radar, you'll need to be careful. You're visible to him.

'You've still got a few more days of your semi-leave, so while I can officially recommend you stay out of the investigation, I would appreciate any information relating to this matter, however it is come by." She pushed back from her chair. "I've talked too long. I'm sure you have things you need to do. Just watch yourself. I can't afford to lose you."

Karigan took her cue and stood up. When she left the office, she couldn't resist a backwards glace towards Mapstone. The Captain was sitting, just staring at some papers on her desk illuminated by the low lamplight. She looked harried and overworked. Karigan felt an overwhelming urge to turn back and say "Sorry."

Sorry for all the extra work, sorry for the extra thought, but most of all sorry for the extra heartache that seemed to cling to all those close to her.

But she didn't .

Instead she went and got her crutches, left in her room in the hurry.

It was only natural that she should seek out those who had been at the "commotion" with her.