Reign of Four II by Jake Bible

Author:Jake Bible
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: space opera, military science fiction, scifi adventure, game of thrones in space, regal science fiction, reign of four, royal space courts, medieval space
Publisher: Permuted Press

* * *

The bodies were mutilated almost beyond recognition. Not a single one was left intact.

“Who would perform such a heinous act?” Stolt asked as he covered his mouth with a handkerchief. He tried to look away, but everywhere he turned was blood and gore, limbs and entrails. “Steward Exchester had no enemies that I can think of.”

“He was on the council,” Beumont replied, trying to breathe through his mouth to avoid as much of the rotted meat stench as he could. “There are always enemies of the council, even within the meeting of stewards.”

“Sweet Helios,” Stolt muttered. “You cannot believe that a steward ordered this, can you?”

“How else would they be able to gain access to a steward’s estate house?” Beumont replied. “Simple thugs could not do this. Someone with credentials gained entry and then went to work. Look about and tell me what you see.”

Stolt stood stock-still. “I’d prefer not to look about at all, thank you.”

“Stop being such an old man, Stolt, and look!” Beumont snapped.

The old steward narrowed his eyes and turned, but didn’t look about the room, instead he looked directly at Beumont.

“You have changed, Jackull,” Stolt said. “You have sharpened your claws and shielded your heart. You are not the same, naïve steward who came to me years before. I wouldn’t go so far as to say you have become cynical, but you certainly have embraced the ways of the Station.”

“I have done what has needed to be done, Stolt,” Beumont replied. “That is all. Now look and tell me what you see.”

Stolt reluctantly studied the room and the dismembered bodies. He spun all the way around then closed his eyes.

“I see nothing but death, young man,” Stolt said. “Hideous, brutal death.”

“Look at the entryway to the room then,” Beumont said. “The answer is there.”

Stolt opened his eyes and turned towards the gruesome scene at the room’s entryway. Four guards were spread across the floor, their bodies shredded.

“I see men who failed in their duties,” Stolt replied.

“You see men who came to help when they heard what was happening,” Beumont said. “Then they were killed. The guards had already let the killer, or killers, inside. This proves my point that whoever did this was known on this estate.”

“Then it could be a servant, could it not?” Stolt replied. “A worker gone mad? Have all been accounted for?”

“No,” Beumont said. “There are two missing. Lowdeckers.”

“Lowdeckers?” Stolt gasped. “Who in their right mind would hire lowdeckers as estate servants? The pigs can barely wash themselves.”

“Be that as it may, I think we know who the killers are,” Beumont said. “Now we must find out who ordered them to do this.”

“They are lowdeckers!” Stolt snapped. “The animals didn’t need to be ordered! They just went mad and showed their true selves! All we need to do is have all lowdeckers on the Surface and in the Estate Decks rounded up and questioned! Then we will have our killers and this business will be done!”

“You are slipping, Stolt,” Beumont said.

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