“Like I said, I have nothing against the Knights at all. But you have to understand I’ve got a shipment of the best shulshu here. You ever eaten one? Freshly killed, they make one of most delectable meals to be had, but freshness is everything. Every minute I stand here waiting the value of my cargo drops.”
“We’ll open the gates as soon as we’re done, you have my word. We don’t mean to hinder business in Gasara any longer than we have to. Please, be patient.”
“That’s all fine and well, but my shulshu are rotting here.”
“If you have a problem with it, talk to your branch. We’re following government orders here, that’s all. If your branch chief goes along with us, we’ll be out of here in no time.”
So they were after Kutz. Where is she? I’ll have to sneak into the branch and take a look for myself. Wataru’s hand went to the hilt of his sword.
A double circle of onlookers stood in front of the branch. The outer ring seemed to be mostly residents. The inner ring consisted of five Knights of Stengel, standing in a formation in front of the door.
Trone must be inside. Wataru thought a moment, then went around to the back of the building. All the windows were firmly shut. The window to Wataru’s room on the second floor, which he had left open that morning, was closed too. Even the shutters had been locked.
Wataru returned to the front of the branch. He mingled with the crowd, waiting for an opportunity to enter the building. Everyone was talking and shouting and demanding answers. It was noisy.
All at once, the Knights moved to the side and the door to the branch opened. A voice was heard from inside. One of the guards nodded in acknowledgment.
Wataru made sure no one was looking and drew his sword. Quickly he made the sign to create the invisible barrier. Once obscured, he slipped through the crowd and past the Knights.
“Hrm?” A Knight grunted. “What was that?” He looked down at his feet, but Wataru had already made his way inside.
Trone was sitting calmly at Kutz’s desk in the center of the room. There were two Knights by his side. Directly in front of the desk stood Captain Ronmel.
It appeared the other Highlanders had managed to duck out of sight in the nick of time. Wataru could see no one else. Either that, or they’ve already been taken away.
“I’ll ask you one more time,” Captain Ronmel was saying to Trone. Wataru had heard the Captain’s voice many times before, but never had it sounded so ominous, so full of threat.
Trone, on the other hand, seemed unconcerned. He leaned back in his chair, fixing his glasses on his nose, looking perfectly relaxed.
“Where is Branch Chief Kutz? We know she hasn’t left the town.”
“I’m sure she’s around somewhere. Wish I knew. I’m not her bodyguard, you know.”
“Even if you don’t tell us, you won’t be doing her any good. We’ll find her sooner or later and take her in.”
“Then I suggest you get busy! Sorry I can’t tell you what I don’t know.”
“If we start searching the town, it will upset the residents more than they already are. I would think you’d want to avoid that from happening. Cooperate.” Captain Ronmel’s eyes burned with a cold blue intensity. Like Trone, he seemed at ease—like he was ready to wait for days to get the answer he wanted. Still, Wataru thought he detected a hint of weariness in his demeanor. There were shadows under his eyes.
“We know you are the sub-chief at the branch here, responsible for keeping order when Kutz is away. I wouldn’t think Kutz would wish to create any needless commotion here in Gasara.”
“Oh, I think I know exactly what the chief would wish—and I certainly don’t need you to tell me.” Trone’s words were sharp and to the point. Though he was still leaning back in his chair, his eyes flashed. “I’m still not sure I understand why exactly the chief has to be brought in to the Senate. It sounds like a case of unwarranted arrest to me.”
The young Knight standing to Trone’s right suddenly beat his fist on the desk. Documents scattered and a pen clattered noisily to the floor. “We have a warrant right here!” The Knight’s eyes burned through the gap between his helmet and breastplate. Captain Ronmel lifted his hand to stay the Knight, his eyes never leaving Trone’s face.
“I’ve lived a few years myself, and I’ve never seen an arrest warrant from the USN before…” Trone began picking his nose. A long nail extended from one round furry finger and began deftly probing one of his nostrils. “Nor had I ever heard of anything like this treason law it talks about. How can I be sure this warrant is the real deal? Could have been faked.”
Captain Ronmel’s eyes took on a dangerous gleam. “Very interesting. So you claim our warrant is a forgery?”
“I’m just saying it wouldn’t surprise me, coming from the likes of you,” Trone said, revealing the fangs on one side of his mouth as he chuckled. “I’m sure your keepers in the Senate feed you well. A well-trained dog will do anything his master says. Why, you’d walk through a sea of nightsoil to get a bone if your master said fetch.”
Trone would’ve continued if the young Knight standing by the desk didn’t suddenly lash out at him with his fist. At least he didn’t draw his sword, Wataru thought. The other Knight standing guard quickly moved to stop him, and another ran in from outside. Immediately a great brawl started, rowdy enough to shake the building. Wataru slid across the floor past Trone’s feet and hid under the desk.
Wataru was breathing hard with the effort required to keep the barrier up. He let it fade. Clasping his mouth with both hands, trying not to make a sound, he breathed with both shoulders heaving.
When the shouting and yelling and punching had died down, Wataru saw Trone’s feet lifting off the floor. There was a heavy slam above his head. They must have pushed him onto the desk.
“You’re welcome to your ridiculous delusions…” he heard Captain Ronmel talking, his voice calm, as if nothing had happened. “But we have sworn our allegiance to the Senate, and we act with their full authority.”
“Oh? I wonder about that,” came Trone’s reply, undaunted, even if his face was pressed to the desk.
“Not only did the four high branch chiefs not heed the Senate’s admonition and send their Highlanders out without authority, but we know they planned terrorist activities against the Northern Empire. High Chief Gil is already in our custody. We are currently interrogating the Highlanders who were with him about this plot to assassinate Gama Agrilius VII. You’ve been caught red-handed, Trone.”
Captain Ronmel’s voice cracked with emotion for the first time. Wataru hunched down beneath the desk. So High Chief Gil had been arrested.
It was over. At least Kutz was still free. Hopefully we can keep her that way.
“You’ve known Kutz a long time,” Captain Ronmel said. “So you must know her past. You know that I was also once a Highlander, one of her trusted partners. An incident drew us apart, but I always had the highest respect for her work, and I do not wish to see her unfairly treated. More than anything, if she plans these acts against our country’s best interest, I will have her stopped.”
Trone was silent. Wataru could hear his ragged breathing.