The Kaiser Affair (The Drifting Isle Chronicles) by Joseph Robert Lewis

Author:Joseph Robert Lewis [Lewis, Joseph Robert]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Copper Crow Books
Published: 2013-11-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13. A Crime Scene

The grove was a wide flat circle of uncut grass waving as high as their waists in the cool night breeze. Slender trees wearing smooth silver bark stood in silent contemplation all around them, fencing them in, hiding the world outside their private space. At the foot of many of the trees stood small stone pillars like the ancient mile markers on the highways that stretched from Eisenstadt across the wide plains to the distant spires of Haebern and the golden domes of Oshen.

Bettina frowned at the lone stick that stood in the center of the grove, thrust down into the soft earth and left to lean away from the breeze. The end of the stick was black with char and a dim red glow hinted at the torch it had been just an hour ago.

“Look at this.” Arjuna pointed to a spot on the ground hidden by the tall grass.

Bettina and Jennian came to stand beside him and look. The grass lay matted and pressed against the ground in a haphazard carpet of green and yellow wands. Around the edge of the depression there were deep gouges in the earth, black grooves and holes where the grass had been torn away and something heavy had struck the soil. And in the center of it all was a dark shining stain.

“Blood,” Bettina said. She pointed to the dark gouges at the edge. “Boot marks. Kicking, clawing. Someone was held here, possibly tied up. They fought back, tried to escape.”

“Were they killed?” the young girl asked in a small voice.

“I don’t think so. There isn’t enough blood,” Arjuna said gently. “And no blood trail. I think the prisoner walked away.”

“Which way?” Bettina squinted at the dark grass for signs of a trail.

“West.” Arjuna nodded at the trees.

“You said the thieves wouldn’t hurt anyone,” Jennian said, her voice laden as much with fear as accusation.

“I said they didn’t come here to hurt anyone,” Bettina said calmly, still studying the ground. “I never said they wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“But why? Why would they?”

“For information,” Arjuna said. “They came, they saw the town, and they realized there were no riches here to steal. So they found someone to interrogate and came out here to demand answers. I’m encouraged actually. I’d expect the notorious Magdalena Strauss to kill a hostage when she was through with them. Clearly, Kaiser is keeping her in line.”

“Maybe.” Bettina nodded. “Come on. We need to get moving if we’re going to catch up to them.”

“Wait.” Arjuna held up his hand for silence as he cocked his head to one side and peered off in the direction of the town. “Someone’s coming. Sounds like two men.”

A moment later they heard the tell-tale sound of boots striding swiftly through the tall grass, the shushing of men’s feet trampling along more in haste than in stealth.

“Then let’s be gone before they arrive.” Bettina took her cane in one hand and her skirts in the other and headed for the trees.

“Too late.

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