Lords of Deception by Christopher C Fuchs

Author:Christopher C Fuchs [Fuchs, Christopher C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Novel, Medieval, Earthpillar
ISBN: 9781946883018
Publisher: Loremark Publishing

58. SERDOT

Eglamour Palace, Toulon Ministry

Bloomfade, 3034

Trying the key found on Garion in the doors of the lord ministers’ apartments had been tedious. The lords or their servants kept coming and going. Serdot knew he could invoke Arthan’s authority as Marshal of Inquiry and simply try the key as they watched. But he preferred to be discreet, trying the locks when he was certain none would see or hear him. If he found a match, Arthan would be the first to know, not one of Garion’s collaborators.

Today Serdot would try Lord Reimvick’s apartment. He knew Reimvick would be at court. The corridor was clear, so Serdot approached the door. Garion’s key turned the lock and Serdot smiled to himself.

He cautiously stepped inside. The room was nothing unusual, spacious and luxurious like the other apartments of the palace. But Lord Reimvick was not a showy man. He traveled light and kept his possessions to a minimum, despite the wealth of his house. But Serdot was certain the materially humble yet socially gregarious man had something to hide.

Serdot took his time picking through the drawers, books, pockets, and pouches. A dish of parchment ashes caught his attention. Serdot knew it was not unusual for high lords to destroy sensitive correspondence, but it was just another hint stored away in Serdot’s mind.

He came to the wardroom door and found it locked. Garion’s key turned it and Serdot proceeded to search. He froze when he thought he heard a breath. The only sound that followed was a bird at the window. Even so, Serdot’s widsemer training urged him out of the room.

He left the wardroom door ajar and returned to the main chamber. He opened the main door and after a moment closed and locked it again, as if he’d left. Then he waited. Sure as the summer sun, he heard movement in the wardroom.

He placed his hand on the dagger in his belt as he watched a black-gloved hand reach out and push the wardroom door open. Then a black-slippered foot stepped through. The dark figure spotted Serdot as he inched along the wall toward the figure. The figure hesitated briefly, then sprinted for the window.

“Stop!” Serdot shouted. “In the name of the Marshal of Inq—”

The dark figure wheeled around and jabbed at his face with a small fist. Serdot blocked the attempt and punched back at the black mask. The sound of a woman surprised him. She recovered quickly and they traded punches, blocks, and kicks.

“Who are you?” Serdot managed to ask as she pulled away toward the window.

The woman surprised him with a backflip from the windowsill. Her feet caught him in the chest and he stumbled back. But he kept his balance and grasped her ankle, twisting her down to the floor. When she grabbed a paring knife from the table, Serdot realized she had been unarmed.

“I’m not going to let you leave,” he said, pulling out his long dagger. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”

The woman behind the mask rushed him with the knife but her attempts were halfhearted.

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