NOVEL NEXT Chapter 112 - The final mystery
The curtain falls upon the scene of the guards cuffing the cultists, and my stage crew gets to work. In no time at all, the next scene is prepared, and the curtain lifts again upon a new environment. A study is revealed, lavishly furnished, yet dimly lit. The only illumination comes from a set of candles placed around the central desk, faintly illuminating the outline of a bound and gagged man in the seat behind the desk.
The Investigator and the Captain enter the room from the left, the Investigator looking around with keen interest while the Guard Captain rushes to the bound man’s side and begins to remove the rope bindings. Arrayed around the room are several runes and symbols drawn in blood that faintly shimmer in the candles glow.
“So, Investigator, how did this all happen?” the Captain asks, while removing the final piece of rope off of the body and attempting to shake the unconscious form of the Count awake, to no avail.
“That is the question, isn’t it, Guard Captain? How, why, and when? All of these details are related, so we must answer them one by one. The easiest one to start with is when, I believe. Now, Guard Captain, I’m not sure if you have been informed of the results of my interrogations, but the last guest to interact with the count before the… Incident, would have been the Magister. She was with him until right before the incident, and I believe the substitution did not happen until after. When did you last talk with the Count, Captain?”
The Captain responds thoughtfully while lifting the unconscious body of the Count over his shoulder. “It was after. The general handled the immediate response but I was called on to communicate the developments to the count. Last I saw him was this morning when he was left here with the general and… with the body… of the Countess… where is the body? It was in this room, did they have it moved? And what about the dagger?”
“The dagger that was found in her back, wasn’t it? A curious point, that, considering she died by means of stabbing herself with a kitchen utensil. I believe that will tie into the how. But first, the when was without a doubt this after this morning, then, maybe as recent as a few hours ago if noone but the general has seen the Count since then. As for the how, I believe the dagger you mentioned is crucial. As is the Identity of the robed figure outside.”
The Investigator turns towards the edge of the room, before continuing.
“Shall we go have a chat with your captives, Captain? I’m sure they will be more than happy to accommodate our questions.”
It is at that point that a guard enters the scene, armor bruised and covered in blood.
“Captain! We have been betrayed! The other guard attacked me! They freed the captives, and now they are running away!”
The Captain and Investigator look at the guard, before turning to each other. The Investigator speaks up first.
“Well, that complicates things. If they fled the premises, I don’t think we can go after them. It seems we might have to trouble my assistant investigators after all.”