Mark Newton - Retribution

We sat down on the cushions and I hoped that she might continue a casual discussion of Grendor, something to set the scene of his personal life, but she didn’t reveal anything else. Instead her bright-green eyes were focusing on the table. Her hands were in her lap, her shoulders slumped. It was understandable, of course, that she would not be all that forthcoming.

‘Was he a religious man?’ I asked, a question that surprised her.

‘Not at all, no.’ She paused, as if contemplating her initial reaction, thinking hard. ‘Well, he believed in things, of course. Who doesn’t have their own religious superstitions? But he never really went to a temple as long as I’ve known him.’

‘What were his superstitions?’

‘They were mainly based around the sea or the weather. He claimed he had seen all the wonders he’d needed to see in life as it is, though he never spoke ill of religion. Why do you ask?’

‘You have no religious items around the house, is all. There are no statues. I could not see a family shrine. It’s rather unusual when a home doesn’t invite the gods inside.’

‘No,’ she replied. ‘He said that the gods blessed him continually, without him needing to make the effort.’

‘So he felt he was a lucky man?’

‘I guess you could say that. Despite his age, he kept in very good health.’

There was a commotion outside where, in the streets below, a farmer was trying to drive cattle through the crowds with limited success. ‘This is a busy street. Do you get much peace and quiet?’

A smile came to her lips. ‘Many think that, but we always loved it here — to see the world passing by. It made us feel part of something bigger.’

‘I have to ask some questions that may seem a little strange at first, Borta, but they will all help. All I ask is that you answer truthfully. If you need secrecy or feel in danger, we can ensure your safety. I have no previous connections with Koton, so revealing any secrets to me will not cause problems in the same way it might were a local person involved.’

She gave a nod, but didn’t reply.

‘Was Grendor in any financial trouble?’

‘Not at all. His pension from the royal court was very high, and due to the advice he sometimes gave on trade routes he secured us an additional income. Not to mention that merchants, too, often sought advice from him.’

‘Was his business in trouble?’

‘Not at all.’

‘Did he conduct business in this house with other merchants?’

‘Sometimes. Or in taverns throughout the prefecture. It depended on his mood really.’

‘Were you ever worried about the people he was dealing with? Did they ever seem to threaten him in any way? Was there ever a conversation you can recollect where things became tense?’

Borta was incredulous at my suggestion. ‘They were all merchants of good standing. They were gentlemen and fine women, all of whom could be trusted. They spoke openly in front of me whenever I was in the room.’

‘And you’re certain there were no questionable deals he might have been doing behind anyone’s back?’

‘That wasn’t in his character.’

It could have been behind her back, of course, but I did not reveal the thought. ‘So he never showed concern when he returned from his meetings.’

‘He didn’t have to worry about business.’

‘So what did he worry about?’ I asked.

She gave a sigh, and a sad smile. ‘Getting old mostly. He was sixty-one years old and very conscious of it — with young children around. He wanted to see them grow up. I think that brought a sadness of sorts. He had so much energy about him, you see. He bought good meat and fresh vegetables, so we ate well. He would often talk about what he was like as a younger man and tried to stay young. As I said, he was very active, even for his age. Each morning he would jog about the city and stretch his limbs.’

Now that it had cooled I sipped the tisane, a wonderfully minty and invigorating drink. She must have noticed the surprise on my face and smiled knowingly.

‘I’d like you to tell me what sort of person he was — his manners and so on — so that I might build up a picture. I appreciate if it’s difficult right now, but it will help me.’

‘Oh he was very kind and thoughtful,’ she replied eagerly. ‘You might wonder about our age difference, but he was so gentle with me, never condescending, often seeking my opinion on matters. He had never married before me, never having a need to, but he craved a family later in his life, children to continue his legacy. He was gracious with others too and very generous with his money. Though this house is wonderful, if it wasn’t for all Grendor’s donations to the needy, such as the large orphanage not too far from here, then we could probably have afforded to live in a much bigger property. But neither of us needed it, Officer Drakenfeld. This place is more than enough for us. .’ She paused for a brief moment and glanced out of the window. ‘It is more than enough for me , I should say.’

There again was a similarity between Grendor and Bishop Tahn Valin, though it appeared superficial. They were not merely high-profile individuals in the city, they were also men of fine reputations in the eyes of others. Both were well respected by those close to them and admired for their good nature. From what I’d heard, these were fundamentally kind people, too — so much so that the notion didn’t sit well with me. Kind people can be murdered, of course. But two kind people who were entering their later years butchered in such a cruel way, in a manner that was usually reserved for unkind people? Of course, we were dealing with the words of those closest to them — perhaps blinded out of love or admiration. Who Borta was describing was not necessarily the real Grendor of the Cape.

‘Did he ever cross paths with Bishop Tahn Valin?’ I asked.

Borta thought about the question for a moment, glancing out of the window, though clearly searching her mind instead of paying attention to what was going on below.

‘Never. As I said, Grendor wasn’t a man for such things. But even in a social setting, or a ceremonial event, I can’t think of a time when the two of them would have met. I mean, it is possible that they were both at the royal court at the same time, but I wasn’t aware of a friendship, no matter how small. Grendor does tend to tell me everything.’

There was a silence, then Borta said, ‘May I see my husband’s body again?’

‘That can certainly be arranged, if you wish it,’ I replied.

‘I do,’ she sighed.

‘I’ll see if I can arrange it for the afternoon.’

Another silence lingered, which was interrupted by one of the children giggling in another room. Borta cocked her head in that way mothers of young children do, somehow connected to two rooms at once, fully focused on each.

Eventually she looked back and whispered, ‘You think the person who killed my husband killed the bishop as well?’

‘There remains a chance that we are dealing with two separate murderers,’ I replied, ‘but the details are a little too similar for comfort, I must admit. From the evidence we have so far, I believe your husband’s killer had already struck once, a little earlier. There is no reason to say that this person is still within the confines of the prefecture.’

A look of alarm came over her.

‘But this would not be a bad thing,’ I replied, ‘since it means we would be able to find them. They might not have escaped yet.’

Borta permitted us to take a look around her house — I reassured her that it was just in case we saw something that might be useful to the investigation, not that we were accusing her of anything. She grew relaxed at my sensitive negotiation of the matter.