The Hour of The Wolves

Chapter VI. (Alissarh)

Alissarh stared after his father for a few minutes before she went back to the house. She settled in the workroom on the ground for and ordered a jug of coffee and he guard to see her. It’s going to be a long day. She gathered her thoughts by the time the coffee and the men arrived.

“Gentlemen, my father needs us to solve this case as fast as possible, while we don’t get any attention. I am going ask the best job from each of you. First, I made a drawing about our two suspects. There is a low chance that we will find the murder as he hid his identity well, but his accomplice , the hunched man is another case. I think it’s logical to assume that he either works in the Merchant’s square or goes there a lot. Three of you should go there and ask around, take the picture.” She ordered and the guards left as she handed the picture what she made based on the baroness description over to them, “The rest of us should visit the husband of our dear deceased baroness and tell him the bad news. Gents I want you to take this seriously. Our relationship with the other houses is not the best, so they might insult as and try something fishy. I do not plant to start a war but fear not I will not let any woe befall on any of us. Stay close to me and be cautious.”

She could see the change of posture and mood of the guards as she talked to them . When she started to speak, they only followed her father’s orders, but when she finished, they would have gone and die for her.

“Yes, maam! We are happy to serve under you!” Yelled the guards and they saluted.

 “Now, as we are going to work together for a while please introduce yourself and name your captain” An older guard stepped forward and did the introduction.

“I am Lieutenant Maximillian. I lead our unit. I have been serving you father since the civil war. It’s a pleasure to meet you. The one in my right is Peterson. “ He said while he pointed to a young man with one eye covered by an eyepatch. “ Worry not both of his eyes are good, just used to b sailor and likes to keep one eye adjusted to the darkness to be prepared. He is a reliable man and can do wonder with his throwing knifes. “ He pointed to the other side to an old man , his hair already turned white, but the uniform looked tight on him, which told Alissarh that he kept his strength still. “ He is Ebenezer, he has been a tracker since the age five. Your father saved him from the gallows when they caught him for killing the lord’s game. Since then he is a loyal servant of the Belionths. “

“Thank you, captain. Please go and saddle the horses while I prepare myself. We depart as soon as I get ready.”

“Yes madam!” They bowed and went to look after the job. Alissarh went to her room and summoned the spirit of Begonia Vindicator.

“Please tell me about your household a bit while I prepare.” She asked the baroness as she turned to one of her drawers and pulled out a corset with many little pockets and holders on it.

“Oh, gladly my dear! I so want the see the surprise on my husband’s face when he fails to threaten you.” Said the ghost with a cold laughter. “ We have a lot of household servants, but they sty invisible as they should. Honestly in m opinion if you can see a servant you should flog it, foul creatures they are. “ Luckily Lissa showed her back to the lady because she could hide her annoyed grimace. “Anyway, the ones you should really watch out for are the servants you actually can see little missy. I tell you none of them is a servant, they are bodyguards and assassins masked as house staff. My dear husband is quite proud on his killers, and I have to admit they are quite professional, thought only saw them work a few times. Of course, I still don’t consider them as human beings, more like handy but dangerous pets you keep. Oh, and as we are talking about pets, we have a kennel of seeker hounds too.”

That was bad news for Alissarh. Seeker hounds were the hunting dogs of inquisitors, they had magic resistance, and they could disturb the spells of magic users if they bit them. Dangerous beast they are. She needs to bring some heavyweight power it seems like. With this thought she put six daggers with gems in their handle into the holders of her corset and a dress over I which she could reach in easily if she needs to. On each of her arms she put on a bracer with patterns of wolves and seven gems in both. She stopped thinking over which necklace she should put on as an addition, but after a few minutes she went with the one forming a bear head and closed the drawer. Now she was prepared for any inconvenience that might happen in the vindicator mansion, thought she knew if she would use her power and anybody see it, the inquisitors would swarm the county in days. A light knocking come from the door, and the captain called in from the other side.

“Miss we are ready.”

“Be with you in a minute!” Alissarh replied and turned to the ghost again. “Is there anything else I should know before we go ? “ 

“Well, I mean if I understand your powers correctly, and also if, I have to push it if, I would hate my husband so much that I would wish for his death, I might would mention that the family crypts are just below of his office. Of course, that would be a violation of the anti-magic law we both respect and would never break. “ Said the baroness with a falsely innocent voice and a menacing smile on her lips.

“Noted. Thank you for the help, so far. I should ask you the warn me if you can see that your husband is up for something fish. “ Said Lissa as she waved her hand and made Begonia vanish while she left the house.

“Oh, yes! It will be so much fun!” She could hear the other woman answer and laughing for a long time which made her smile.

“Dammit, in the end I will take a liking of her highness. “ She murmured under her nose as she pulled herself up to the saddle.