Sam

  The morning looked grey and bleak in the town of Luton, where a drowned sun rolled behind an endless expanse of rain-laden clouds, and a damp breeze began to gather up speed through the concrete and cobblestone streets, fluttering Sam's long coat. Another rainy day, huh? he thought with a sigh. He folded the newspaper he had bought from a paperboy and tucked it under his arm. It had rained almost every day since his arrival in Luton more than a week ago, along with the other members of the ISS and the delegation from Idnus. It seemed that the city was not appreciative of their stay. Sam predicted that the weather wouldn't change in the coming days, and his opinion was supported by the newspapers he bought daily, which reported that the bad weather was forecast to continue hitting that region of the country at least until next week.

  Sam watched the street and the crowd marching past him. Most were heading to an open-air market two streets down. He could see the crowd of people dressed in black and gray, a few in cheerful colors, gathering at the market entrance. He and Ruby had visited it before, one afternoon when they had a break from accompanying Alma and Naya around town. Most of the shops and stalls sold vegetables, meat products, pickles, and cheeses, with the occasional cleaning or household goods shop thrown in. Sam and Ruby didn't find anything that appealed to them after walking around the place twice.

  He looked up at the sky and wondered what time it was. He estimated that he had been standing outside for half an hour or more, waiting for Ruby to come out of the house. They both had a breakfast appointment with Alma and Naya, and were running late. He glanced at the house of two floors, cracked stairs, and yellow walls behind him. It was where he and the other members of the ISS were staying in Luton. The members of the Temple of Idnus were staying in a hotel, an exclusive one, in the city center. Sam thought about going to the restaurant right away. The breakfast with Alma was scheduled for eight in the morning, and he knew that the old lady would not wait for them. However, he felt it would be rude of him to abandon his companion. So he remained.

  While he waited, he thought of his leader, Noel. He hadn't seen him since he and his men, along with the two detectives from Helsane, left Luton two days ago, working on a lead related to José's whereabouts. He wished he had been part of that task, rather than staying behind to serve as a companion to an elderly woman and her friend of exotic appearance.

  Alma was a pleasant woman to spend time with. He and Ruby enjoyed her company. However, being with her brought back some bitter memories that he wished to forget. Alma reminded him of someone who had once meant everything to him. Sometimes he imagined her calling him 'my little Sammy' instead of Sam whenever they talked, or hitting him with a ruler when he was not paying attention. This frightened him. He hated that a stranger could make him feel so vulnerable and feeble, like a child under his mother’s impassive gaze. He made every effort not to be alone with her to avoid recalling a life he had longed to bury.

  A while later, Ruby came out of the house. She wore a black coat, a navy blue skirt, and black leather heeled boots. Sam noticed the umbrella she held in her hands.

  "To protect yourself from the sun?" he asked, pointing to the umbrella.

  “For another rainy day,” she replied dejectedly, looking up at the sky. “And where’s yours, Mr Read?”

  Sam showed her the newspaper. “This will do until I find shelter if the weather decides to ruin our day again,” he said.

  “That flimsy paper won’t save you in a predicament, Mr Read,” Ruby said, smiling.

  “If things get bad, I'll swim. Shall we go, my fair lady?” he said with a bow.

  Ruby showed a modest smile and joined him. But they didn't manage to move a foot, for they spotted Noel turning at the corner and heading towards them. The people on the pavement might have tried to hide his silhouette, but Sam would never mistake that polished bald head in the sea of faces, which miraculously still gleamed despite the dull sky.

  ?“Good morning, sir. When did you get back?” Sam asked.

  “Good morning, sir,” Ruby said, giving a small bow.

  “I returned to the city early in the morning,” Noel said, with a face that warned he wasn't in the mood for nonsense. “Why are you both standing outside?”

  “We have a breakfast appointment at eight with Mrs Rivera and Miss Sako. We were just about to leave,” Ruby replied.

  "Where?"

  “At the Flower of the Prairie. She told us that the place had been recommended to her.”

  Noel chuckled. “Is this a fancy restaurant, like the others?”

  Ruby shrugged. "From what I've heard, it seems the place is more known for its drink selection than its food."

  “Didn't you say she loves fine dining?” Noel asked.

  "Right. That's why it's strange that she wants to go there. Maybe this time she’s more interested in having a good wine,” Ruby said.

  “Maybe it’s because of the cat,” Sam said.

  “Cat? What are you talking about, lad?”

  “The restaurant is famous thanks to the owner’s cat,” Ruby replied on Sam’s behalf. “Apparently, the cat performs tricks so that customers will give it food.”

  Noel smiled. “So she likes cats. And where is the restaurant?”

  “About seven blocks from here. We thought we’d walk,” Ruby replied.

  Noel took out a pocket watch and checked the time. “It’s almost 7:40. Won’t you be late?”

  “We know, sir, that’s why we were leaving,” Sam said.

  Noel frowned and rubbed his chin as he thought. “Damn. I think I know where the place is. Who's paying today?”

  “Us, sir,” Sam said timidly.

  “George won't like it when the bills get to his desk. You two have been living the high life during this mission.”

  “We’re sorry, sir,” Ruby said, lowering her head.

  Noel looked around. “Come with me. I need to talk to both of you before you meet with Alma.”

  “But what about the appointment?’ Ruby asked. ‘We'll be late.”

  “You’re going to pay, aren’t you? They can wait.”

  ?The three of them left behind the house of yellow walls and cracked stairs. Ruby and Sam marched upright and apart, behind Noel. The detective walked two blocks straight, then turned left, where a cobbler's workshop stood, not yet open for business, and continued two more blocks until they saw a small park on their right. Noel turned his steps towards one of the green-painted iron benches that lay in the shade of an oak tree, whose green branches held a small nest full of baby sparrows, crying loudly for food.

  “Sit down, both of you,” Noel said in a voice of authority, pointing to the bench.

  "Of course, sir." Sam and Ruby replied.

  “The restaurant is this way,” Noel said, “so you should still be able to get there at a good time. Well, tell me about your progress with Alma. What else have you discovered about her, and has she told you why her people came to Asprain?”

  So this is what he wanted to talk about, Sam thought. “Nothing of value, sir,” he said. “She hardly ever talks about herself or her companions. The same goes for Miss Naya. She always tries to change the subject when we ask them why they came to Asprain. We're sorry for the failure. But at least we confirmed our suspicions about her wealth, if that's any consolation.”

  “What did you discover?”

  “Do you remember what we said about her manners and knowledge of expensive wines and foods?”

  Noel nodded. “Yes, I remember.”

  “Well, she never flinches when it comes time to pay the bill, no matter how much it is.”

  Noel looked at Ruby for confirmation. “Is this true, miss?”

  “Yes, sir,” she replied. “And let me console you about our expenses by telling you that she pays most of the time.”

  "Don’t you mean that Temple is paying?"

  “No, sir, you’re mistaken. She’s the one who pays.”

  Noel frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

  "Because she told us when we asked her. She said that she has to pay with her own money, or she’ll have to deal with the Blue Vultures' complaints. We asked her how bad they are, but she avoided answering us. She just said, ‘pensar en esos desgraciados y malparidos me arruina el apetito’. Thinking about those bastards ruins my appetite, it means in our language.

  “Ruby told me about the Blue Vultures,” Sam said. “She says Alma’s attitude is very common among the staff at the Temple of Idnus, and it’s been going on for centuries. Something to do with money.”

  “The Blue Vultures” is the nickname given to those who work in the auditing department of the Temple of Idnus,” Noel said. “The hatred their colleagues have for them is known throughout the world. Even people from outside hate them.”

  “But her hatred seems more personal. Even Miss Naya doesn’t have anything good to say about them. Aren’t they on the same side?”

  Noel chuckled. "One day you'll understand, lad. When you have to defend your work expenses against some twat sitting in his comfortable leather armchair, whose skin is so white from never going outside, you'll know how it feels. Alma belongs to the military branch. It’s well known that the military and civilian branches of the Temple of Idnus are always at war. The President and the Grand Marshal are always arguing about something. Anyway, isn’t there any other clue about the state of Alma’s finances?”

  “A pocket watch she carries with her,” Ruby said. “It’s made of pure gold.”

  "Are you sure?"

  “Yes. She showed it to me. It was heavy and bigger than my watch. I asked her how much it cost, but she said she didn’t know because it was a gift from a friend. I didn’t believe her, of course. What kind of friend would give you something so expensive?”

  “A friend who wants something from you,” Noel said with a smirk. “Don’t you know where she gets her money?”

  Sam shook his head.

  “That’s fine. You did a good job.” Noel sighed deeply as he looked down the street beyond the park. “At least you guys got something, unlike my team and me.”

  ?“And where were you, sir?” Ruby asked. “And what happened to the witness you questioned? Did you make any progress in the search for Jose?”

  “Has Alma said anything about the investigation?” Noel asked.

  “Nothing. She doesn’t seem to care what happens to Jose,” she replied.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Noel crossed his arms and stared at the ground. "What could be going through that woman's head?" he said. “As for your question, I was with my men and the two detectives from Helsane, following a lead outside the city. We didn’t get very far. It was like taking one step forward, then two steps back.”

  “Why? Didn’t what the witness told you help?” Sam asked.

  “We haven’t gotten much out of him. He won’t talk until we offer him a deal, and he wants it signed by a judge, the mayor, and the Home Secretary. I asked him if he wanted it signed by the Queen and The Radiant, too, the mad bastard. He’s a career criminal. He knows the case is high-profile, and that’s why he wants guarantees before talking. It’s clear this isn’t his first run-in with the police.”

  “He already had a plan when he turned himself in to the police,” Sam said.

  “The man knows that he faces the gallows for helping Jose escape,” Noel said. “He wants the Queen's pardon and a ticket to Nova Aurora, as well as a donation of five hundred pounds to start his new life on the new continent.”

  Sam laughed. “What a scoundrel, the prat.”

  “That's quite bold of him,” Ruby said.

  Noel shrugged. “Either way, I think he’ll get his way in the end. Gustave is pressuring me to take the deal. He said Temple will cover the ticket and the five hundred pounds. I sent a letter with one of my men to George, informing him of the situation. Now we just have to wait.”

  “And how do you know that the man isn’t just a fraud, sir?” Ruby asked.

  “The man told us about himself, his team, what they did, and the contract he took on where he met Jose. For accepting the job, his entire team was murdered.”

  Ruby's eyes widened. "By the gods," she said, bringing a hand to her mouth. "Don't tell me Jose killed them all."

  Noel snorted. “No, miss. It wasn’t Jose. It was the men who are hunting him. Apparently, we’re not the only ones looking for him.”

  “Who are they? The Walsh family, maybe?” Sam asked.

  Noel shrugged. "The witness doesn't know. It was a miracle he wasn't caught. That’s why he turned himself in to the Luton police. He did it to save his own skin.”

  “Could you tell us the story from the beginning, sir?” Ruby asked excitedly.

  “And what about the date with Alma?” Sam asked.

  “She can wait,” Ruby grumbled. “She won’t starve. She can eat by herself if she wants.”

  I can see that she won't budge from here even if thunder and lightning strike, Sam thought, watching her.

  Noel laughed, twirling his thick mustache. “Well, allow me to flatter you, miss. Our witness calls himself Talon. He refuses to give us his real name, though we’ve already made a sketch of him and are in the process of finding out who he is. It’s only a matter of time. According to his story, he was part of a five-man crew that specialised in robbing mansions and commercial premises; a band of cracksmen, you could say. Their main targets were magical artefacts and sayr quartz.

  “Through a trusted intermediary, he and his crew were summoned for an interview with an individual who urgently needed to get a friend out of the country, who was heavily wanted by the police. The man’s friend was Mr Jose Zambrano.”

  “And who is the individual who summoned them?” Ruby asked.

  “Talon doesn’t know. The individual wore a mask and disguised his voice. He neither gave nor asked for names. The only thing Talon could notice was that he was a man of average height and a slender build.”

  “And they accepted that contract without knowing who they were working for?” Sam asked.

  “The man offered eight thousand pounds to the five of them, two thousand in advance, and the rest upon completion of the job. He also promised a bonus of five thousand more if Jose escaped safely.”

  Sam became speechless. “Wow... That's a lot more than the two thousand pounds on José's head. Now I can understand why they took the risk of taking the job.”

  “That’s a lot of money,” Ruby said. “And what happened next?”

  “After fleeing the capital, they went to a town called Pitfall to hide for a few weeks while the authorities’ search cooled off. It was Talon’s idea to go there. His expertise in the crew was border smuggling. Once they had amassed a good haul of artifacts and sayr quartz, they smuggled them out of the country. It was safer to sell them to foreign clients. Talon had previously been part of a smuggling ring that trafficked liquor from the New World, thus avoiding import duties and taxes. That operation fell apart, but he retained the experience. The house where they were hiding was one of the many hideouts the crew used after each heist.

  “A month later, the house was attacked by eight men. Talon thought it was the police, but the foes were dressed in black and did not identify themselves as such. They were quick and efficient. They broke in through the front door and windows right after nightfall. Those inside the house had no chance to react. They were subdued, gagged, and dragged to the basement. There, the invaders tortured them for days, demanding to know José's whereabouts.

  “And wasn’t Jose with them?” Ruby asked.

  “He was lucky. Earlier that day, he and Talon had a heated argument about the escape plan. Apparently, Jose didn't want to flee the country across the border. He was planning to go in a different direction. Talon thought it was a crazy idea and told him they were hired to get him out of the country. If he planned to go another way, he should go alone. Talon and his group would simply take their advance payment and leave. Jose became furious upon hearing this, and left the house to take a walk around the area to pass the anger.”

  “And where did Jose want to go?” Ruby asked.

  “Talon doesn’t want to say. That’s among the things he’s withholding in exchange for a deal. The others are his real name, a list of his contacts, including the man who connected him with the job; he’s furious about his companions’ deaths and wants revenge. And a sketch of Jose’s new appearance. He told us he’s wearing a wig and painted his beard.”

  “How did he manage to escape captivity and his companions didn’t?” Ruby asked.

  “They never caught him. The house has some loose floorboards in the pantry, giving access to the space beneath the house. That's where the crew had hidden the two thousand pounds in a small chest. Talon was going to withdraw some money for expenses when they were attacked. He hid in there for three days, listening to his companions being tortured. He came out when he was sure they were gone. He checked the house. It had been ransacked, and his things destroyed. He found his companions bound and mutilated in the basement.”

  “My gods,” Ruby said, bringing her arms to her chest.

  “He knew the job was over,” Noel said, “and the best thing for him was to collect the two thousand pounds and leave. However, during those three days he was trapped under the house, it never occurred to him to check the small chest where he kept the two thousand pounds. He found nothing.”

  “W-what, what?” Stammered Ruby.

  “No way. It can’t be,” Sam said. His mouth was wide open.

  “Jose robbed them blind,” Noel said, trying not to laugh. “The very day he said he was going for a walk, he already had the money with him. Since Talon told him they wouldn’t help him if he wanted to go in another direction, well, Jose decided to go on his own. And since the crew didn’t do the job they were hired to do, Jose snatched the money from them.”

  “Incredible. By the gods. This is incredible,” Ruby howled, excitedly.

  “I imagine that’s when he decided to go to the police,” Sam said.

  “That wasn’t his intention at first. What he wanted was to catch Jose, beat him to death, and get his money back. He spent three weeks searching for him, without finding any trace. He decided to give up when he realised he was being followed. It was the same bastards who had killed his companions. He had no choice but to seek refuge with the police here.

  “When the police heard his story, they immediately notified the capital and placed him in solitary confinement, with two constables on guard around the clock.”

  “And what happened to the men who were following him? Have we been able to identify them?” Ruby asked.

  “Unfortunately, no. This puts us in a difficult position with regard to Jose. I couldn’t just sit around, waiting for a response from the capital, so my team and I, together with the detectives from Helsane, decided to go to Pitfall and check the house where Talon and his crew were hiding. The house is on the outskirts of town, in a secluded corner, which makes it perfect as a hideout. The place smelled of decay. We found the house wrecked, the floorboards loose in the pantry, and the four decomposing bodies in the basement. Talon didn't lie.”

  ?Noel fell silent. His gaze followed an omnibus packed with passengers passing by on the street, pulled by three sturdy horses. The omnibus made a stop, then continued its tedious march. The sound of the carriages and the silence of the park felt pleasant under the shade of the oak. The little birds stopped crying. There was a sparrow sitting in the nest.

  “If what Talon said is true, it means that over a month has passed since Jose left Pitfall,” Sam said. “Do you think anything Talon might say could help with the search?”

  “I don’t know, but we have no other choice,” Noel replied. “Remember that another group is following Jose, and they have the head start. I pray to Ecsis that they haven’t captured him yet. Seeing what they did to Talon’s companions, Jose won’t be in one piece when they catch him.”

  “Does Talon have any idea who sold him out? Someone must have talked for the assailants to find the house.”

  “That's why he'll give us a list of all his contacts. One of them must have talked. And this is why he wants that ticket to Nova Aurora and the five hundred pounds. He knows that by selling out his contacts, he'll be branded for life. He'll have no choice but to change his identity or leave the country.”

  Noel turned and looked at Sam and Ruby with a serious face. “Listen carefully,” he said with a grave voice. “I have a bad feeling about all this regarding the Temple of Idnus. First, we have the thirteen thousand pounds that the mysterious man offered Talon and his crew to get Jose out of the country. Only the Temple of Idnus has that much money to throw away. Next, we have Detective Gustave Baschet. He guaranteed Talon the ticket and the five hundred pounds. The cunt even offered to have Temple’s soldiers personally escort Talon to Nova Aurora if the man wished. Those bastards know something. I need you two to get something out of Alma, anything. Get tough on her if you have to.”

  “But, sir,” Ruby said. “She hardly talks about the case, no matter how much we ask her. She doesn’t seem to care.”

  "She might be faking it. Either way, don't let your guard down with her. Keep investigating. You might uncover something if you persist. I also need you to find out who she really is. I suspect she's no ordinary invoker. There's no other explanation for why her captain can't control her. She's clearly violating the chain of command, but Harvey doesn't seem to care."

  “Do you believe that? Well, I've seen them argue a couple of times, but I think they found a way to resolve their differences,” Ruby said. “She says her captain doesn't want her to participate in the search, or even give her opinion. So she's doing what he wants by staying out of it.”

  Noel snorted. “I think what that man wanted was for her to stay in the capital, locked in her hotel room, not roaming freely through the city and countryside. She has too much freedom to be just a lieutenant. She's not just any invoker. I'm sure of it. You have to find out.”

  “Does being an invoker really help?” Sam asked.

  Noel laughed. “You can't imagine, lad. Invokers live in their own world and have their own rules and ranks. She may be a first lieutenant, but I swear by Olnus that woman thinks she's above her captain.”

  “We’ll try to talk to her,” Sam said. “But sir… There’s something you need to know. It’s serious.”

  ?"What, what happened?"

  “Alma plans to leave the delegation very soon.”

  “Does she plan to return to Iberia?”

  “No, she…” Sam looked at Ruby, as if pleading for help. She looked away.

  “Speak up, lad,” Noel ordered.

  “Well, she wants to… she wants to leave the delegation to travel around the country and get to know it.”

  "What?! Are you kidding me?!" Noel shouted.

  “No, sir. She’s been saying the same thing for a couple of days now. I’m afraid she’ll be leaving this weekend.”

  “By the gods,” Noel said, rubbing his forehead.

  “I’m sorry, sir.”

  “Forget it. It’s not your fault, lad. However, I need you to do something, so listen,” Noel said. He gave Sam and Ruby a chilling look. “I’ve got enough headaches with the search for Jose, so I don’t want another one. We can’t let that woman wander around the country. I need you to talk her out of her stupid dream of running away. You have to keep her here!”

  “I’m sorry, sir, but it’s an impossible task. Not even Miss Naya can reason with her,” Sam said.

  "I don't care. You have to keep her attached to her unit. Do what you can."

  “Why do we have to do something? Why don't you complain to her captain?” Sam protested.

  “Didn't you hear what I just said, you daft? She doesn't obey him.”

  "I don’t understand. Why can't she leave? She’s just an old lady. She won’t hurt anyone.”

  “It’s not the same thing, you fool. That woman is a walking political nightmare. We can’t allow her to wander around the country like she’s on a holiday.”

  Sam scoffed. "By all the gods, sir, you're overreacting."

  Noel glared at him, making him shrink back in his seat. "Don't you see, lad? That old woman has it all: she's Iberian, just like the dead ambassador; she belongs to the Temple of Idnus, just like the dead priest; and remember, we don't know how powerful she is. Can you imagine the headlines if something were to happen while she’s under our watch? The prestige of our police force would plummet. Our alliance with Iberia could be harmed. The royal family would lose ground to their rivals. And the Temple of Idnus—don't forget the Temple of Idnus. They sent a delegation to investigate the murders, but one of their invokers was killed as a result. They'll never let us forget that."

  Sam remained silent. He had never realized the magnitude of the consequences. He always thought Noel was just being annoying.

  “If anything happens to her, lad, we’re dead, do you hear me? George and Christine will hunt us down personally. She’ll slit our throats, and the old man will burn the bodies.”

  Sam turned white. He remembered the muscular old man and his strange partner.

  "She's not an ordinary woman, is she?" Ruby asked.

  “She isn’t… But I won’t tell you anything. Ask her yourself if you want to know. Let’s forget about her and listen. We’ve already lost an ambassador and a head priest; we can’t add Alma to that tally. That woman needs to stay with her people and be her own problem, or at least give up on her stupid idea of ??taking a vacation.”

  Sam nodded. "I'll see what I can do."

  “Me too, sir,” Ruby said.

  "Good. I trust you will succeed."

  But I don't have much confidence in myself, sir, Sam thought.

  Sam blinked. A cold drop had fallen on his forehead and was running down his nose and mouth. He looked up at the sky. More drops began to fall, wetting his face and clothes.

  “Rain!” Ruby cried. She quickly stood up and opened her umbrella.

  Noel said goodbye to them and jogged back to the house.

  Sam grabbed his flimsy newspaper, spread it out, and held it over his head, wishing it would last him before it turned into a grey mass of paper and tint.

  They both ran towards the restaurant.