Brian Kittrell - The Consuls of the Vicariate

“That’s a serious charge, Jurgen. Have you any evidence of that fact?”

“We found letters.” Brice walked over and stood next to Jurgen. “In Vicar Forane’s house. They’ve been trying to kill him for quite some time.”

Greathis extended his hand. “The letters, you have them?”

“Sadly, no,” Brice replied. “So as not to draw suspicion, we left them there.”

“Then my men shall readily find them upon a search of her residence, yes?”

Brice nodded. “Of course. In her private office on the second floor.”

“Why didn’t you come to me, Jurgen? Why the secrecy, the plotting?”

“We didn’t know on which side of the fence you stood,” Jurgen said. “We had to be sure, and I’m glad that you’re willing to do what is right.”

“This will have to be handled delicately.” Greathis closed his eyes and massaged his eyelids with his fingertips. “We will go to Forane, search her residence, and arrest her. You’d better hope the evidence is there.”

“And Tristan?” Jurgen asked.

“That will be up to you, Vicar. My men will escort you to the Vicariate on the morrow, and you will be allowed to present your charges to the consulship. Only by the will of the assembly can we detain a Grand Vicar, and I shall not impede upon the law. Without the law, we have nothing.”

Jurgen took Greathis’s hand in a firm embrace. “Thank you, Dalton. You’ll be remembered as the man who saved the church from utter destruction.”

“No, that honor belongs to you, sordid as the path may have been to get to this point. Remain here, and I shall send a detachment of guards for you.”

Laedron held up his manacled hands. “Care to take these off?”

Greathis produced a key. “Come to the headquarters within the hour and retrieve your things.”

“I’d like to come with you to arrest Forane,” Laedron said.

Greathis raised an eyebrow. “After all that has passed?”

“Yes, if it’s the same to you. If she and her friends have been studying offensive spells, it’d be best if I came along.”

“You’re probably right.”

Marac joined them outside. “You’re not going anywhere without me.”

“Me, too,” Brice said, closing the door behind them.

Laedron gave them a broad smile, then followed Greathis to the headquarters.

* * *

Within the hour, Laedron, Marac, and Brice stood in a hall with Master Greathis and a handful of militia. The hour was late, and Laedron could feel the tension like a thick cloud of anxiety hanging over their heads.

“Men,” Greathis said. “Tonight, we are going to search Vicar Genevieve Forane’s residence for seditious documents. An anonymous witness has told me letters detailing an assassination attempt are inside her house, and we mean to locate them. If we should find anything indicating wrongdoing, she shall be arrested.”

Greathis’s words must have struck a nerve in the guards because they gave one another disconcerted looks.

“Steel yourselves, men. We have a secret weapon with us, one who has joined the militia only recently. More recent still, he told me of his abilities, his prowess with magic.”

“Magic’s condemned by the church,” one of the guards said. “If a mage be among us, Azura won’t.”

“Silence!” Greathis glared at the men until their whispers ceased. “If what I am told is true, we will need his help. Azura will be with those who serve justice, so we have no worries.”

“I won’t let you down,” Laedron said, stepping forward. “I will show all of you that not all mages are to be feared. Some can be useful and even helpful, regardless of how you may feel about us.”

“He brought me back to life once,” Brice said. Laedron surmised that Brice’s support hadn’t benefited them because the guards’ faces were riddled with bewilderment.

Laedron glared at Brice. “Why do you keep bringing that up?”

Brice grimaced. “But… it was important to me.”

“Fine, yes. I’m glad that you’re with us, and we’ll leave it at that,” Laedron said, turning to the door.

“Is that true?” Greathis asked.

Laedron replied with only a nod, then left. The others joined him in the street, and they traveled to Forane’s residence in the Ancient Quarter.

Outside Vicar Forane’s house, Greathis ordered, “Cover all the exits, men. Take her alive, but defend yourselves if she attacks.”

Laedron watched the guards surround the residence, then turned to study the building. Fresh yellow paint had been carefully applied to every brick, and the lacquer on the exposed wooden frame still sparkled in the torchlight. On either side of the heavy wooden door stood well-trimmed bushes covered with white flowers. Not a single crack could be found in the steps leading to the front door.

Greathis walked toward the door, seeming either unafraid or careless of the possibilities of what might happen. He knocked three times, each rap of his iron gauntlet against the wood producing an echo.

After just enough time to make Laedron apprehensive, the door creaked open, and a young girl stepped out. “How might I help you gentlemen?”

“We’ve come to see your mistress,” Greathis replied. “Could you tell her to come speak with me?”

With a deep bow, the girl disappeared inside, and not long after, Laedron heard a woman ask, “What did they say they wanted?” from somewhere inside.

“They didn’t say. Only said they wanted to see the mistress of the house, m’lady,” the girl replied.

A woman stepped outside, pulling a robe tight around her body as if trying to hide her night clothes. “Ah, Master Greathis. I didn’t expect you this evening.”

Laedron observed Brice holding the hilt of his sword tightly, and he followed suit by reaching within his garments to find his scepter. Glancing at Marac, Laedron noticed his hand shaking, but he had a tight grip on his blade. He’s afraid. If she doesn’t come peacefully, I shall have to act quickly .

Greathis bent at the knees, seeming to gain better footing in anticipation for a fight. “I’m sorry to come here with the hour so late, but I’ve heard disturbing news, rumors that only you could lay to rest.”

“Rumors, Commander? What sort of rumors?”

“I shall have to take a look around inside. Do you mind?”

“Mind? Look, Greathis, there’s nothing wrong here. Perhaps you might find some true criminals in the low quarter, someone deserving of this harassment.”

“I’m sorry, madam, but there most certainly is something wrong here. Stand aside.”

Forane squared her shoulders, putting her hands on her hips. “And if I don’t?”

“Then, I shall have to detain you.”

Laedron drew his wand, concealing the subtle movement from Forane, then whispered an incantation.

Forane’s tone turned from obstinate to hostile. “Detain me ? Do not forget your place, guard.”

She flung open her robe and withdrew a black metal rod. Marac and Greathis drew their swords in unison, but before she could utter a word, Laedron nudged Greathis aside and flicked his wrist. A blue blast of energy shot from the ruby scepter, ensnaring Forane in a web of energy. The guards must have heard the spell because they clamored to the front of the house.

Laedron concentrated on his spell, tightening the fibrous twine until Forane’s arms were forced down to her sides. The young girl emerged from the doorway, snatched the rod from the vicar’s hand, and tossed it over to Brice. She then gave Forane a shove, sending the woman to the ground.

“Thank you, Collette,” Brice said, placing the rod into a pouch at his side.