Royal Vengeance: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Kingdom War Book 4) by J.D. Ruffin

Author:J.D. Ruffin [Ruffin, J.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 3Aussies Press
Published: 2023-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

A few days later, as Jess was setting her crown onto the velvet cushion beside her throne, ready to change out of her formal audience attire before dinner with Kendall, the page’s head popped between the cracked double doors.

“Your Majesty, the High Sheriff is asking to speak with you.”

Jess and Marks shared a look. Sheriff Cribbs hadn’t returned to the palace since accepting his office.

“Send him in,” Jess said, adjusting the crown on its pillow then turning to stand before her throne. Marks stepped to the bottom stair on her right and faced the doors.

One of the golden doors swung open and a harried-looking High Sheriff scurried across the long chamber and bowed before his Queen.

He eyed the crown resting by the throne. “Majesty, thank you for seeing me. I won’t take long, as I’m sure you’ve had a long day.”

Jess waved a hand as she’d seen her father do a thousand times. “Sheriff, our duty never rests. What brings you to the palace?”

Cribbs locked eyes with Marks for a moment, then looked to Jess. She raised a brow at the interaction but said nothing.

“Majesty, there was a murder in the eastern quarter last night. The victim was a shopkeeper who sells pottery near the Temple. No one of prominence.”

When Cribbs didn’t continue, Marks spoke. “And? Murders are rare, but they do happen, even in the capital.”

“Yes, Chancellor, that’s true, but two things concern me. First, the man was killed behind his shop, in a densely populated area of town where he could only have been alone for a few moments. His body was mutilated.”

“What do you mean? How so?”

“It looks as though some wild animal attacked him. Massive rends across his chest and stomach appear to have been made by claws of some kind, and his face—it’s barely recognizable.”

Jess covered her mouth with her hand.

“The eastern quarter abuts the Spires. Is it unusual for wild beasts to wander down in winter, seeking food?” Marks asked.

“No, of course not. We see bears and wolves on occasion, but they are rarely bold enough to attack. There are so many people packed into the capital these days that most wildlife is too afraid to venture close.”

“You said there were two things that bothered you. What is the second?” Jess asked, impatient to be done with her day.

Cribbs looked to Marks. “This is the third killing in three weeks that appeared to have been committed by wildlife. The other two occurred in Oliver and Featherstone.”

“Oliver? I could understand Spoke. It sits on the eastern base of the Spires, but Oliver is a port town with nothing but fields at its back.”

“It gets stranger,” Cribbs nodded. “The victim in Spoke appeared to be mauled by a wolf or some other smaller predator. In Oliver—I hardly know how to believe the description. Constables there report the man appeared to have wounds consisted with a bear. There were wide gashes across his chest and arms. Worse, whatever attacked him didn’t stop when he was down. It continued tearing at his flesh, his face in particular, until he was barely recognizable.

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