And now, a rather odd turn of events... but not in the story. A re-titling for my work. Shadowmasters was originally just a working title, and as the story has continued, deviating a little from the original intended course, the name has become quite... unsuitable. And a little geeky. So, everyone's favourite fanfiction (*snort*) is now renamed 'Tide of Destiny'... which is a tad more fitting, don't you think?
Chapter 35: Where No Law Can Reach
Harrian was most tentative as they entered the Council building, and could feel the eyes of Tolgerias on him the whole time they were inside… or maybe that was just his imagination. Needless to say, he was itching to get this settled and get them away from the scene of their crime as soon as possible.
But first, he had to worry about Anomen. Although the squire seemed resolute in his decision, he still seemed quite shaken, and understandably so. He would need a solid voice to guide him, and although Harrian was not certain in his decision-making, he knew that advising Anomen to not take vengeance was the safest course of action.
They approached Bylanna Ianulin, the local magistrate, a little tentatively. Both Harrian and Yoshimo felt their automatic thief instincts kick in and slid a little behind Haer'Dalis and Jaheira as some of the guards eyeballed them.
But Ianulin seemed to not notice, and she smiled in a warm way Harrian had never known a magistrate to as they approached her. "Good business, my friends," she greeted them, seeming sincere. "Is there aught that I can help you with?"
Anomen nodded, still as resolute and solemn as ever. "Yes, honourable magistrate," he responded respectfully. "I am seeking information on the murder of my sister, Moira Delryn," he continued, though a little hesitant.
The magistrate's expression softened a little, and she looked almost regretful. "Ah...you must be the son of Lord Cor," she replied slowly. "Anomen, is it? I am afraid that there is very little I can tell you regarding your sister's death," Ianulin finished, genuinely apologetic.
Delryn frowned with complete disbelief. "What do you mean?" he demanded incredulously. "Surely you have found evidence to link Saerk to her murder? The man will be brought before the courts to meet justice, will he not?" There was panic in his voice, and the conviction he had felt in his father's estate was slipping away.
She shook her head slowly. "There is insufficient evidence to connect Saerk Farrahd to the murder. The only other person in your father's estate at the time was killed, as well," Ianulin informed them.
Anomen looked unnecessarily embarrassed at that piece of news. "Yes, my father...cannot afford additional guards and servants, it seems," he said bitterly. "But...is there nothing you can do? Surely you know that Saerk is responsible!"
Bylanna Ianulin looked considerate for a moment, and was clearly thinking. "I know of your family's feud with the merchant," she started slowly, "but a motive is not enough without witnesses or evidence. The rule of law must prevail...surely you understand."
Once again, the squire looked shaken to his very core. "No!" he exclaimed with disbelief "There must be something that can be done! Moira's murder cannot go unanswered!" he declared, his mask of conviction slipping away.
Ianulin raised an eyebrow at him. "Answered?," she echoed suspiciously. "Take vengeance on the merchant and he replies in kind, and the feud continues unabated. Is it not time for this hatred to be put to rest?" she asked.
The uncertainty on Anomen's face grew tenfold. "I...I do not know," he confessed at length, and threw a questioning, pleading glance in the direction of the others.
"She speaks the truth, Anomen," Harrian declared at last, realising his input was needed, but innately uncomfortable at agreeing with a magistrate. "What if this Saerk is innocent? You cannot go and take vengeance on someone who is not guilty." His friend looked unsure, so Corias delivered the final blow. "You are a knight, first and foremost," he reminded the squire.
"Yes, you are likely correct in this, my friend," Anomen decided at last, nodding a little reluctantly. "It wrenches my heart that Moira's death should go unpunished, but there is little that can be done. I should not take vengeance upon a man my father believes is guilty only because of his pride. It could just as easily have been a... a burglar, perhaps," Delryn conceded, though he sounded dubious of this suggestion.
"And if it is this Saerk," he continued, "the gods will punish him even if the courts will not. I wish I could return to my father and convince him that this is the best way, but I am sure he will not even see me. He is a stubborn, vile man," Delryn spat. "Perhaps, in time, he shall see the truth of this matter. At least... that is my hope."
Anomen grew thoughtful, and it was a few moments before he spoke, his face clearing up as he straightened, seeming to be trying to shrug the worries off. "Ah, Harrian, let us continue on your quest and leave this behind us. It leaves an ashen taste in my mouth that I would sooner forget."
Corias looked as if he was about to say something, then thought the better of it. "Yes… let us go," he said hurriedly, then lead them all quickly outside, ignoring the feeling of Tolgerias and Corneil's eyes on his back. It had to be paranoia.
Delryn still seemed less than happy as they strode away from the building, and Jaheira turned to him slowly. "I would not worry yourself, Anomen," she assured him. "Men like Farrahd always fall over their own plans sooner or later. He shall meet his own end, and, like you said… if he does not, the gods will deal with him."
"That," Harrian butted in, "will not be necessary. We may not be charging in for righteous vengeance, but I don't think we'll let Farrahd, if he is guilty, get away with this. In any way," he told them firmly.
Anomen looked at him as if he thought the thief had completely missed the exchanges of the day. "What do you propose?" he asked dubiously.
Harrian turned to Yoshimo. "Talk to Tellis – pay him what he's earned, by the way – and see if he knows anything about the murder… if Farrahd has hired some people to do his dirty work." He smiled at Anomen's surprised expression. "It's rather passive action, for all I intend to do is give any information found to the magistrate, but if the man is guilty, then I say we do something about it." He took a deep breath. "Now, I say back to the Five Flagons. See if Minsc has ripped Edwin to pieces yet."
As they set off, Haer'Dalis fell into step with Jaheira, who had seemed thoughtful since emerging in the middle of the encounter with Odesseiron. "Lady Jaheira, you seem quite contemplative. Have the matters of the previous night affected you adversely?"
She shook her head slowly, although seeming unwilling to share such thoughts with the tiefling. "No," she answered briefly. "They… they seem a long way away, in fact. I was thinking of… other matters."
"Naught I can aid you with?" the bard offered lightly. "Thou looks as if thy has the weight of all the planes on thy shoulders. Any burdens this sparrow can lighten for thee?" he continued, switching into a slightly more theatrical tone.
"My burdens would be lightened significantly if you were to cease your incessant prattling, bard," Jaheira retorted, less than happy at the conversation and clearly unwilling to discuss problems with Haer'Dalis.
"Very well; I shall keep my silence," the tiefling replied. "And if you wish to speak of what ails thee, then this sparrow is ready to lend his ear and listen. For I cannot continue with my 'prattling' if I am hearing what you have to say, can I?"
"That is debatable," Jaheira pointed out. "For I would be surprised if the mere voice of someone else was enough for you to hold your tongue." Her glare deepened for a moment. "And besides, if I were to lighten my load by telling you what troubled me, how could I be sure that it would not appear in your damnable play?"
The bard smiled in a way he obviously thought was winning, but merely grated the druid's nerves. "The play is already finished," he assured her confidently, then took on a pensive look. "Although, if successful, a sequel is not to be discounted –"
Up front, oblivious to Haer'Dalis's fruitless attempts to discuss with Jaheira, Anomen diverted his gaze from their downcast stare at the floor to regard Harrian with a thoughtful air. "My friend, I have a question to ask of you… it is not too serious, yet preys on my mind nonetheless."
Corias turned frankly to face him, a cautious yet sympathetic expression on his face. "Of course, Anomen. Anything I can do to clear your mind," he assured the squire as sincerely as possible. He did not envy the position Delryn was currently in.
"It is the hypocritical advice you have given me," the cleric continued, his face still impassive. Harrian met his gaze, nonplussed, and Anomen grimaced at last. "You are telling me that wants do not rule this world; that what I must do my duty, do what is right, rather than follow what I like?"
"I am," the thief replied, still a little oblivious as to the point his friend was getting at. "And it is true. Following a desire, doing what you want in this situation could destroy you, Anomen. It is evil. How is this hypocritical?"
The cleric looked thoughtful for a long moment, before a slightly wicked expression crossed his face and he raised an eyebrow. "It is hypocritical because you are going against your advice when it suits you to."
A cold chill struck Harrian as the truth of Anomen's words tugged at him. "I…" He grimaced, then looked away. "I don't know what you mean."
Delryn's face sagged. "Please, do not play the fool. I am, of course, referring to the matter of yourself and the Lady Jaheira. You have advised her to follow her heart rather than her duty, and here you are telling me the exact opposite. I wonder, if her duty told her to do what you were in favour of, you would tell her the same thing?"
Harrian's sympathetic expression disappeared in a flash, and a brief stab of anger hit his heart as he glared at Anomen. The pain withheld in the squire's eyes dampened his fury somewhat, and he settled with clenching his fists rather than throwing Delryn into a wall as he had been tempted. "How… Why…" His voice trailed off, and his jaw tightened. "Don't presume to know my life."
"I don't," Anomen replied in an irritably calm voice. "It is just that you have helped me very much today by stopping my desires from getting the better of me, and I am doing my best to return the favour." He took a deep, faltering breath. "The righteous path is often the hardest to walk, is it not?" he commented dryly, managing a faint, wry smile.