Winterfall

It had been awhile since I had peered into Theo’s mind when he was on a case. Especially a case that involved death. As I hated seeing it since my parents died. So, feeling the urge to peer through our bond, I gave into it. I was curious to see what happened.

I felt bad for how I left things, but when I received a message from my guard I had to act quickly. The message was as follows, Man dead. Unknown cause. Wife is suspicious.

This case in particular was in the innermost ring. This ring is the most unstable when it comes to crime. Once I dropped the connection I ran as quickly as I could to the location of the crime. Which, I received a moment later: A few blocks away from the center druidic tree, south side.

I just had to hope that my short message didn’t alarm her. However, I knew that was impossible. Considering I already felt her presence, yeah figured she was watching.

Are you sure you want to see this, Maria? I questioned her.

I can handle it, Theo. I think. She responded to me.

I admired her will to prove herself capable since her parents death. I just didn’t want her to push herself too quickly.

If you think you can handle it, I will allow it.

Either side had the ability to cut the other off for a brief moment. Something we did not do often but when she was going through hell, I cut her off on a few occasions when the murder and crimes were too violent.

Thank you. She responded back to me and our communication fell silent as I felt her observing me.

Once I arrived at the scene I came across a gnome male who appeared to be in his late forties deceased. His wife was being held by Lukus as he deemed her actions suspicious.

To me the dead man’s wife appeared as a normal widow would. Grieving, shock, the works. “Miss?” I questioned her as I slowly approached the scene. I didn’t want to startle her.

However I failed at that. As she jumped in Lukus’s grasp. “It is okay Miss, I mean no harm.” I suppose to some I could be viewed as terrifying. “I am here to help.”

I allowed my aura to wash over the area. In hopes to sooth her nerves. However, I don’t even think that helped as she just stared at me wide-eyed and tried to move away from my guard.

“I am here to help. I promise.” I told her as I knelt down on one knee in front of her. I had hoped that if I lowered my stature she would ease up. “Can I ask you a few questions?” I asked her as I placed my two fingers on the dead man’s wrist. And that confirmed what was already spoken, he was dead.

“Y-yes. H-he is my husband.” She stuttered. “I--is he a--alive?” Her words came out broken up but thankfully I was able to understand her.

I didn’t want to look at her but I knew delivering the message directly to her was better than not saying it to her face. I took a deep breath and chose my words carefully. “I am sorry for your loss, but I am afraid he is no longer with us.”

I could feel my heart sink as I delivered the news. This part is one of the parts that I hated about the job. My heart sunk even further as she reacted appropriately. Her body was like liquid as she fell against Lukus. Her cries and screams filled the air, almost suffocating me in sorrow.

“Hold her.” I ordered Lukus. He nodded and I turned my attention back to her husband. I utilized two spells when I examined his body. Death Examination - used to perceive how the man died. Detection of Cause - used to determine cause of death.

With both spells being used I found out that he was killed by a strong poison. One that resembled that of what Marcel’s blade had produced when he attacked Maria. I let a minute pass before I had to ask what I did next.

“Miss, did your husband have any enemies?”

She shook her head, “I-I don’t think so. Why?”

“Just curious.”

“W-was he killed!?” She explained as she tried to…cry? I noticed her tears seemed almost fake. But I couldn’t call her out on that. At least not yet. After all, there was a way to speak with the dead. I just have to utilize a spell called Spirit Communication. I can then ask her husband five questions.

This type of spell utilized magic from the necromancy magic school. So once I casted the spell a greenish glow pulsed from me and into the deceased. Once the spell took hold, his body slowly rose as he regained a bit of mobility. A raspy sound filled the air as his lungs expanded and collapsed as air entered them.

With a soulless stare he fixed his gaze on me. “What did you do!?” The wife shouted at me. I figured this was the reaction I would get as some did not like necromancy spells. Not to mention I just caused her husband to rise after being dead.

“I am hoping to get some answers about what happened.” I responded to her.

“You can’t!” She shouted at me as she tried to escape Lukus’s grasp.

“Protocol, miss.” Which was not a lie. If there is a suspicious death, then utilization of this type of spell is allowed. Considering her reaction, yeah, this spell was definitely necessary.

First thing first, I need to figure out his name. I know I could ask his wife, however, with her state I was unsure if I’d get much information out of her right now.

“What is your name?”

I figured it would be best to ask the guy himself.

“Oliver…” His raspy voice echoed in the street.

“Please stop!” She begged. “Please!”

Ignoring her request at this time I proceeded with my next question. “Do you know how you died?” A bit of confirmation never hurt..

As the man’s lungs filled with air again, his voice echoed through as he moved his mouth, “Poison.”

Now for the more critical question, “Do you know who killed you?”

I had my suspicions to which I was curious to see if I was right. “Wife.”

With my suspicions confirmed, I glanced over at Lukus and motioned for him to cuff her. From there, he knew to take her to a holding cell in The Iron Gates of Fate, the kingdom’s prison.

I knew I needed to question if they were truly husband and wife and I had two questions left to cover that. I would also have to ask her the same thing once I went to the holding cell. At least here, I wouldn’t get a bitter or harsh reaction, which is what I expect from her.

The man’s wife tried to get away from Lukus as he put the cuffs on her but failed. She screamed and squirmed in his grasp but he held her tight. “Book her, I will be there when I am done here.” Lukus pulled her along to the prison.

First thing first, I needed to send a message to the mortician to collect the body. Then I needed to finish off the spell. I had two questions left and was curious why she would have killed her husband.

First the mortician South side of the inner ring. A few blocks from the tree. One deceased.

Be there in five. It was a simple response I received but I was just glad I received one.

Question four, “are you two actually husband and wife?”

“Yes….for ten years.” His raspy voice breathed.

And the final question, “Why would she do this if you two are married?”

“Claim…I cheated.”

I was in disbelief that a couple who had been married for this long would resort to this. I couldn’t help but wonder if there was something else at play here. I knew there was poison involved but I couldn’t help but wonder why and where the wife would get such a poison.

I didn’t leave the scene until the mortician got there to collect Oliver. Once he was picked up I asked the mortician if I could do a quick examination before he took the body. “I suppose that is fine.” He responded.

With my keen eye, I examined his body closely. To my surprise I found a pin-like hole in the back of his neck with a bit of greenish-like substance dripping out of the injection site. Interesting, I thought.

Once the man was taken by the mortician I headed back to my office to go over the evidence I collected from the crime scene. Maria.

It was only her name but I knew she understood that I wanted a bit of privacy. As I didn’t want to alarm her with anything. She had enough to worry about.