(eng) Marshall Ryan Maresca - Maradaine Constabulary 01 by A Murder of Mages

Author:A Murder of Mages [Mages, A Murder of]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

A SHOW OF COLOR turned out to be a dozen Constabulary Patrol, most of whom had just reported for duty with the sunrise. They walked the six blocks to the chapterhouse, with Welling and Satrine at the head, looking more like an organized mob than Constabulary on official business. The streets were beginning to buzz with activity, though most anyone walking about made a point of clearing out of the way of the swath of red-and-green coated Constabulary coming up the lane. Satrine found the whole thing strangely thrilling, the blatant display of authority.

“We should have marched them in formation,” Satrine joked. “Leading them on horseback.”

“That would have been ostentatious,” Welling said.

“Like this doesn’t make a statement.”

“It does,” Welling said. “‘We’re coming.’”

Welling didn’t hang back on the stairs when they reached the chapterhouse. He bounded up, two steps at a time, and gave a resounding knock on the door. “Maradaine Constabulary! We have a warrant for a search of the premises! Open peacefully or the door will be battered in!”

“How much time will you give them?” Satrine asked.

“A count of ten,” Welling said.

Satrine was starting to think Welling was enjoying this a bit too much. “They could still be asleep.”

“And Jaelia Tomar could still be alive, so I’m not wasting any more time.” He snapped his fingers and gave a nod to the uniformed patrolmen. Two of them charged up the steps and smashed their shoulders into the door. It only budged a little. They hit it again. A third time yielded no better results.

“Good door,” Satrine said.

“Hmm,” Welling said. He pulled his arm back, and his hand shimmered and shone with yellow energy. Satrine grabbed the two patrolmen and pulled them away.

The door flew open before Welling did anything else. The same old man from the day before, now in a dressing gown, came storming out, eyes on Welling. “Let that go, Inspector!”

The glow around Welling’s hand dissipated, but Satrine noticed her partner’s muscles tense, the wince of pain in his face. Despite that, Welling reached into his pocket and produced the writ for the old man’s inspection. “We have a warrant. We will search these premises.”

“What for?”

“Either for Jaelia Tomar, or evidence about those who may have wished her harm.”

“Who would—the last I saw Jaelia she was being arrested by you!”

Satrine stepped forward, touching the man on the arm. She gave a slight nod to Welling and the patrolmen, who filed into the house. “We know that. However, she was broken out of Constabulary custody.”

“Broken out—”

Satrine cut the old mage off before he could continue. “You do understand that there are two possible parties we think would do such a thing.”

“Two parties? What do you mean?”

Satrine gave a nod, indicating inside the chapterhouse. “Either she was rescued by her allies . . .”

“You mean us? Preposterous!”

“Or she was abducted by the same people who murdered her husband.”

The old man shoved Satrine’s hand away. “This is all some sort of ploy to invade our privacy, discredit our Circle. It won’t work.

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