Chapter 51: Shadows over Daggr Port
Part:II
The thorny burrs jabbed through the cleric's clothes. She brushed and picked at the debris best she can, but she would have to wait to clean them till she got back to the tavern. She had more important things at hand. The graves she spotted earlier.
"Don't wander off again." Her paladin guard lectured eyeing over the rows of tombstones and overgrown turf. Varris followed her charge closely as she inspected the tombstones.
Several freshly planted graves were neatly in their hedgerows. Mixed of wooden and stone headstones, depending on what their families could afford, were placed firmly facing south. To the sea. Their names were carved into their headstones. Hastur unfurled her journal and jotted down the names of the recently dead. Though many tongues would never speak their names nor remember their faces, at least a shadow of their mortal legacy would remain.
'Maria Tess aged 36 years'
'Heinrich Tess aged 38 years'
'William Tess aged four days'
'Leon Njord aged 44 years'
'Sophia Auclair aged 19 years'
'Marcus Colfax aged 52 years'
'Abigail O'Driscoll aged 27 years'
'Claudia Luna Mariani aged 23 years'
Hastur stopped in front of the youngest of the graves. Hear heart felt heavy. A child taken form a world only after entering it for a few days. An injustice she could never right. As for the others, there was a melancholy seeing the resting places of two girls so close to her own age. Whatever had taken their lives she wanted to find out. Only a monster could have cut down something as innocent as a youthful creature as them
Next to Sophia Auclair's grave. The dirt mound looked disturbed probably an animal or scavenger. The cleric brushed the dirt back nicely and gave a prayer over the graves. Their chapel may have been neglected. But the souls of those residing in the graveyard shouldn't.
"Lord Oghma. Grant these souls to their afterlives and give them the peace only your knowledge can bestow."
She gave one last look over to the graveyard. It was a shame that the grounds were in such chaos. But it if she had the ability. She would have wanted to assist in its renovation. But now was not the time. She had a murderer to catch.
The two women found Thaelin lounging on a bench back at the inn in the tavern hall. Freki laid curled up atop his chest perfectly undisturbed. An arrow twirled between his fingers. Unsurprising to find him already finished. But one could never be hopeful with that degenerate.
What did you find Thaelin. Any clues or suspects?
"Straight to business huh? Not even a 'oh gee. Master ranger, I know the world is perilous and I'm such a frail maiden, but please. Allow me to drag you to this shitty port city to be shot at by assholes." He said leaning up from the bench and arrogantly flicked the arrow across their table.
Freki sprang to life and rushed to his half elf friend. She greeted Freki with ear scratched and the usual belly rub. The pup's muzzle pouted when the belly rubs stopped.
Hastur brushed off the remark. But it was still an omen. This wasn't going to be easy. It was dangerous here. They snoop around and ask the wrong questions. They could get more than an arrow shot in a warning.
The group's paladin grumbled audibly "Its not like this is the first time you have been shot."
Thaelin pouted his lips over his tankard. "Don't remind me Myshka. My ass still hurts. So how was church?"
The temple looked like a bunch of termites were holding hands. Place looks like its about to crumble any second. As for the graves. Well…I got a list of names. Four women, two men, and…one baby.
Thaelin paused for a second then went back to his drink at the mention of the infant. "Welp. Lets hope the pay from this job will be good.
The three exchanged notes some more and turned in for the night. A heavy rain came in from the sea and investigating further for the day would be more difficult than warrant. Flashes of lightning illuminated the room for a second. And terror took the puppy in the group. Freki let out a bark and whimper as the thunder rolled. Hastur placed her arm around the hound.
"Its okay boy. Its just a storm. It will pass."
Another flash outside their window and the room rattled in the echo. When she was a little girl, it was always fun to watch and count the flashes of blue and white light outside her window in the abbey. But here and now. She felt uneasy in it. There was a sense of unease with it. She felt Freki's muzzle nestle against her. The poor creature was terrified.
"Shhh. Its okay Freki. It will pass."
McClainn Manor was a stone fortress of a home. Solid and unmoving. Best matching the owners. The stonework looked to have been carved by a lifetime of masons. Arching stone herrings made the framework of the iron gates to the property. The grounds were kept neat. Precise. Every hedge trimmed on a level.
The three looked to each other at the doorway. Unsure how best to proceed. Thaelin extended his arm to give a knock, but before his knuckles could make contact the large solid doors swung open. A long upright nosed man stood before them. He looked down at the three and gave a judgmental sneer.
"May I help you?" The man croaked with a strong and thundering voice.
"Um, yes sir. You see we are adventurers that came to Daggr Port to-"
Mid sentence, the door slammed shut and Hastur's cloak fluttered with the closing breeze.
Varris pursed her lips and gave the door three harsh rasps.
The door opened again and the man looked down at the three once more.
"May I help you?"
"As I saying, Sir. We are adventurers. And myself and my companions have come to Daggr Port to assist in the-"
Just like before the door shut. But Varris slid an ironclad foot into the doorway to stop it. Thaelin then pushed the door in and took began to speak for the cleric.
"Listen pal. I'm a bounty hunter. And me and the ladies here are trying to solve the weird shit going on in this town. So how about you open up so we can get on with our interview?"
"Sebastian! Who is that at the door?" came a call further back in the manor
"Three ruffians, my Lord." The doorman answered. "Shall I have them removed, Sir?"
Bring them in. I shall have this settled. I believe Mother is in need of your assistance in her chambers. I shall receive these guests in the drawing room."
"Very well, my lord. This way."
Hastur circled the chamber. Her eyes scanned every portrait. Every detail. Every brush stroke. They were all highly valued masterpieces. Every image showed the same. A family down the ages. The most recent looking portrait held the likenesses of five people: a man and a woman both starting to show grey hairs, and three children two with brown hair and one with blonde.
As they waited Thaelin approached Varris who was leaning against the wall. Ever the sentinel.
"So Myshka. This will be our first mission in what, five years?"
Varris rolled her eyes at the ranger's attempt at small-talk.
"How about you and I go looking for clues later, say over dinner?" the man said trying to woo his former love
"The only thing that we will find is you on the ground with a broken arm. Now leave me alone and
The door opened and in walked a man a few years older than the three. He had dark brown hair tied back in a short ponytail. His clothes were black. Finely cut from silk and wool. An ornate short sword hung from his belt. A silver hilt inlayed with ivory. His hands were clasped behind his back and he walked with very precise steps.
"Now then." He said "How can I help you."
Hastur turned and gave the young man a slight bow. "Thank you for seeing us sir. We are-
The man raised his hand towards Hastur "Pardon miss, but I believe introductions should be made first."
Hastur pursed her lips 'How could I be so blunt?' she cleared her throat and tried to speak as authoritative as possible "Right. I am Hastur Prynn-."
"And where are you from, Miss Prynn?" the Lord pressed
"S-Swansee."
"And you sir," he said turning to address the ranger
"Thaelin Fridulf. From Aldrick"
"Aldrick? My, my. Now that is a strange place for a man to reside from. Good to meet a fellow Northerner though. And you miss?"
Varris kept to her position leaning up against the wall. "Varris. And I'm from Morteu"
"Hmm." The Lord of the manor said as he took a few steps forward. "Not exactly a Northerner, but I wont hold that against you. As for myself, I am Laird Johann McClainn. Heir to the McClain estate and the Sapphire Sea Trading Company. At you service. Apologies for inquiring about your origins, there's been an increase in those Southern bastards migrating to the North. One cannot be to careful I supposed."
Hastur gave the man a friendly smile from underneath her cowl. "As I was saying, my Lord. We have traveled here to better investigate the mysterious deaths of Daggr Port."
"I see. I shall be pleased to aid in your investigations. The sooner the culprits are caught the sooner my company can continue its work."
The mage produced her notebook. She opened to the list of names from the grave stones. With a heavy heart she read their names. When she got to the last name. she saw it. As faint as it was, she noticed it. From under her hood, she saw him grin when she mentioned the last name. A damned smile cracked on the edge of his faint lips. She felt something tug inside her. And a voice, not her own, spoke in her head.
'You bastard'
"Well, Miss Prynn. Ah yes. The three men on your list were employed to my company. I cant quite recall their position, but I was informed of their deaths earlier this month. Grief took Mr William Tess after losing his wife and newborn in such a way. Mr. Njord was an unlucky soul to drown at sea. And as for Mr. Colfax, that would be the handy-work by those Sol Lancian butchers. During a disagreement, they sliced open his belly. The Mayor is siding with the bastards saying it was in self-defense."
"And what do you think happened to the women on the list?"
Johannes face became even more stone-like
"May I confide in you, Miss Prynn? All of you for this matter."
"Of course."
"There is one name missing from your list, Miss Prynn. My dearly departed sister. Erika." The young Lord approached the family portrait and pointed to the blonde haired girl in the portrait. "She passed away just a few weeks ago. It was very sudden."
"Does anyone know what the cause of death was?"
He stumbled to form the words. And when they were spoken it pierced him like a blade "S-suicide."
Johannes hand gripped his silvered sword so tight his knuckles turned white. "We were very close as children. All of us. She would never have killed herself. In the days prior she was happy. I've never seen her so happy in my life. Promise me Mrs. Prynn. If you find the killer, let me be the one to cut them down. On my honor, you will be rewarded for your efforts. Handsomely."
Thaelin liked the sound of that incentive. He looked about the manor as the three left. If he could solve this mystery, perhaps he would buy a mansion as big as this.
Hastur led the trio through the city. The air felt even more unnatural. And the revelations as to what happened made her stomach queasy.
"This place stinks." Said Varris
"I don't like this. I don't like any of this. Nine deaths in the course of a month. Its not right." Hastur said cradling her stomach
"Yeah. Back when I was asking around the docks, I saw firsthand how there is some pretty bad-blood boiling between the factions. North verse South. If we don't do something we may have a war on our hands."
"We cant let that happen." Hastur said stamping her foot.
"Any idea what to do next?"
"We heard the North's side of the story. Maybe next we inspect the Souths?"
"Best stay on your guard, Hast. If we make one small misstep, we may not make it out alive."