CHAPTER 4
The duke was looking very weary. He had just heard from his personal messenger that one of the politicians had been assassinated. Upon discovering further that it was Yelda Graesin, he was not too surprised. She never was one of the 'clean' ones. However, her death was a little disturbing. Regnus Gyre knew that the Sa'kage were the best crime organisation because of their ruthlessness. Yet even they did not kill without a reason. As he sat down on his bed to contemplate the thought, another knock reverberated on the door.
"Who's there?" Regnus' voice demanded. He should have left some guards outside his room. Even if it was a mere maid, the duke still grabbed his sword ready.
"Sergeant Gamble Sir!" a military tone answered. Regnus sheathed his weapon. He was already beginning to doubt the sergeant. There were eight guards with him, yet they all ended up dead and, for some unknown reason, the assassin had let him live.
"Yes come in sergeant," The duke replied.
As Gamble walked into the room, Regnus noticed that the sergeant's face was slightly distorted from a frown. But why was he frowning? Was he angry that he failed to kill the assassin? Or was he angry for his involvement with the Sa'kage almost being revealed? It was impossible to tell from looks alone. Looks were always deceptive.
"My men have confirmed that the assassination of Lady Graesin was planned and executed by the Sa'kage." Gamble reported. When he noticed the look of concern on the duke he added, "Is there something wrong sir?" Regnus glared at him like he had just asked a stupid question. It probably was.
"Sergeant, remind me exactly what happened at the House of Council," the duke asked. At first Gamble seemed surprised, but then saw the duke looking at him eye to eye. He gulped quietly before answering.
"At sun rise, the twelve members of the council were to meet at the House to discuss new laws on taxes. Lady Graesin was the first to arrive an hour early. She waited in the halls and at half past, me and my men switched positions with the other guards. Ten minutes into our patrol, we heard a faint rustling in the bushes. At that moment, I thought to myself what happened to the two guards that were patrolling the other side of the House as they were now late. Then all of a sudden, we were fighting one man who was in mottled, gray robes and wielded a large, black sword. One man crumpled to the ground with a dagger in the heart and the rest were killed within seconds. When I tried to fight, the wetboy disarmed me, held up another dagger to my throat and asked me where Lady Graesin was." The sergeant stopped to allow any questions to be asked.
Regnus was still looking weary and maintained eye contact.
"What did you tell him?" he said. Gamble was about to say that he told the wetboy you already knew, but reconsidered.
"I told him that you would just have to kill me!" he answered. Regnus did not show any emotion. Instead, he waved his hand in a dismissal. Gamble took the hint and left the room. The duke paced his room again. 'So it seems that the sergeant is indeed hiding something. King Gunder will not be pleased to hear one of his own politicians murdered by the same organisation we have been fighting for two years.' Regnus Gyre stopped pacing and stared out of the window. Cenaria's glorious tall structures bathed in twilight. 'Mark my words wetboy, I will hunt you down!'