Chapter 184: A Kingdom In Fear

Varghelm awoke again. This time however it was a Rabbitfolk healer. She had been found shortly after sunrise in a small courtyard behind one of the temporary medical stations that had been set up for the festival. Her robes had been covered in blood and the medical staff she had been carrying had been broken in half. There had been no obvious signs of a struggle however apart from some scorched stone near the wall.

Word spread fast. Very fast. Tanaka had just arrived with Raizen and Garric when royal guards arrived and began sealing off the courtyard. Queen Elowen Whiteburrow was already there. Her usually calm face was gone and her hands were clenched tightly around her wooden staff as she stood next to the body. "There was a healer here. Her name was Mirella. She worked for the Southern river settlements for fourteen years." Elowen said, her voice was quiet.

Tanaka looked down at the body. "Was she involved with Mereth?" "We don’t know." Garric crouched down by the wall. "There’s some residue here." Tanaka narrowed his eyes. "Foxfolk?" Garric didn’t respond. One of the investigators walked over holding a small glass crystal. "It looks similar. It’s spirit hiding and the general layout is the same as the Raukhan residence." Elowen’s grip tightened.

Tanaka didn’t like this. Not because it was pointing the finger at the Foxfolk. But because it was becoming clear that someone wanted it to. More deaths would create a pattern. People would stop thinking. Before he could say anything a commotion broke out from the street. A group of Rabbitfolk had gathered. "Who killed her?" "Where is the murderer?" "Is it the cat?" Tanaka turned. Garric swore.

The rumours had spread quicker than they could investigate. One Rabbitfolk man pushed forward. "They arrested someone yesterday! Why is she still alive?" Another shouted. "She killed Lady Raukhan and now someone else is dead!" Tanaka frowned. "She was in prison." The crowd barely listened. Or cared. Fear was doing what it always does. It wants simple answers. Someone to blame.

Things got worse by midday. Tanaka had just returned to the royal district when a frantic messenger ran over to Garric. "Deputy Chief!" Garric turned. "What’s wrong?" The man paused when he saw Tanaka. "There’s another body." Tanaka’s stomach dropped. "Where?" "The Lion delegation quarters." A pause. Garric frowned. "The missing warrior?" The man nodded. "He was found this morning. He’s been dead since sometime last night."

Tanaka thought about the hidden enemy. The duplicated magic. How the assassin had been working to create doubt between different groups. Everything made sense. The healer had been killed this morning. The Lion had been dead for longer. Two bodies, in a short space of time. Different races. Same city. Same festival. Same uncertainty. "Who is it?" Tanaka asked. "A high ranking Lion warrior. His name is Darrok Flameclaw." Raizen growled softly.

That name meant something. Garrath Goldmane wouldn’t ignore it.

The Lion King arrived before Tanaka. He stood over the body of Darrok in complete silence. This was worse than shouting. There were a number of Lion warriors in the room and in the corridor. They were all pressing their mana against the walls. Not enough to activate the ward network but enough to make it clear they were angry. Garrath crouched down next to the body. He examined the wound. Then the Foxfolk charm on the floor near Darrok’s hand. He gritted his teeth. "Get that off."

One of his warriors looked confused. "Your majesty?" "The charm." The warrior picked it up. Garrath stood. "Someone wants me angry." No one responded. He turned to Tanaka. "That doesn’t mean I’m not." Tanaka nodded. "I know." One of the Lion warriors stepped forward. "So give us the cat." Garrath’s head tilted. "Lady Raukhan dies. Then the Rabbitfolk. Now one of us. The prisoner is involved in the first murder. Who knows who she is talking to?"

"She’s in a cell." "That doesn’t mean she doesn’t have contacts." Another Lion stepped forward. "She had time with outsiders during the festival." He looked at Tanaka. "You." The atmosphere in the room shifted. Raizen took a step forward. Tanaka raised a hand. "Stop." Raizen stopped. Just. Tanaka looked at the Lion warrior. "You think I’m helping murder Beastfolk?" "I think people are dying." "That’s not an answer." "It’s enough to cause fear."

Tanaka remembered those words. Because they were true. Garrath stepped between them. "Enough." The Lion warriors listened. Unwillingly. Garrath looked at Tanaka. "I don’t believe the girl killed Darrok." "Good." "But my people don’t care what I think right now." Tanaka frowned. "They see a prisoner involved in the first murder and then more bodies. They think she’s involved in something bigger." "She isn’t." "Can you prove it?" Tanaka said nothing. Garrath’s face remained the same. "That’s the problem."

By afternoon the fear had spread throughout Varghelm. Merchants were closing early. Families were staying away from the festival area. The busy streets began to empty out before sunset. The Wolf Crown had increased patrols around all major delegation residences. Extra guards had been placed around the teleportation circles. This caused some people to become even more nervous as movement between certain districts was temporarily restricted. Another death. A Boarfolk courier had been found in a supply warehouse near the eastern road. No obvious witnesses. No clear motive. Another hint of spirit magic.

"Give us Lynessa!" Tanaka arrived at the detention hall to hear the commotion. A crowd of Beastfolk from various races had gathered outside the Wolf Crown prison. Some were scared. Some angry. A few looking for an excuse. Tanaka walked through the crowd. "Murderer protector!" "Give her to the Tiger Clans!" "How many more will die?" A rock flew. It hit Tanaka on the shoulder. He stopped. Raizen turned instantly. The crowd flinched. Tanaka looked at the rock on the floor. Then the person who threw it. He said nothing. This seemed to scare them more. Tanaka walked inside.

Lynessa was standing when Tanaka arrived. She looked worse than before. She had heard the commotion outside. "I heard. More people died." Tanaka nodded. She swallowed. "They think it’s me." "They think you’re involved." "That’s worse." Tanaka agreed. Lynessa gripped the bars. "I haven’t talked to anyone outside this prison." "I know." "Tell them." "I have." Her eyes were full of frustration. "They don’t believe you?" Tanaka stared. "Some do." "And the others?" "They’re scared." Lynessa looked away.

Tanaka could feel anger rising. Not at her. At the situation. At the people manipulating it. At the hidden enemy who knew exactly how to use fear to put pressure on people. "They want me dead." Tanaka said nothing. That was enough. Lynessa’s hands began to shake. Tanaka took a step closer. "Look at me." She did. "I won’t let them kill you." "What if more people die?" "We’ll find out who’s doing it." "What if I can’t?" Tanaka wasn’t prepared for that question. He had no answer. Lynessa realised. For the first time since meeting him she saw uncertainty in his eyes.

The emergency council was called before sunset. All major rulers who were still in Varghelm attended. Aldren stood at the front. Garrath sat with his arms crossed. Tavren Raukhan looked like he was going to tear the room apart. Queen Elowen said nothing. Too much. Tavren slammed his hand on the table. "My sister is dead. Your prisoner was found in the room. Now more bodies are turning up whilst you protect her." Aldren’s face remained calm. "There is still no evidence linking Lynessa to the later murders." "Then give her to us so we can question her." "No."

Tavren’s eyes narrowed. Tanaka interrupted. "She stays." Tavren looked at him. "This is not your kingdom." "No." Tanaka leaned forward. "But she is protected by me." A few rulers reacted. Garrath didn’t. He simply watched. Tavren’s voice dropped. "You would risk conflict for one of your servants?" Tanaka looked him in the eye. "Yes." A pause. Queen Elowen finally spoke. "My people are asking the same questions." Tanaka turned. She looked tired. "I don’t believe the girl killed Mirella but belief is no longer enough. My people want to feel safe and every hour we don’t provide that they become harder to control." Garrath nodded slowly. "The Lions feel the same."

Tavren laughed bitterly. "Perhaps it’s time we stop pretending this can be solved with patience." Aldren’s eyes darkened. "What are you implying?" "Give us Lynessa." Tanaka stood. "No." Mana flowed around the room. It wasn’t an attack. Not yet. But everyone could feel it. Garrath slowly stood. "Tavren." The Tiger ruler looked at him. "You want war over a prisoner?" "I want justice." "No. You want certainty." He fell silent.

Another messenger ran into the room. Everyone turned. The man looked pale. "Your Majesties..." Aldren stood. "What now?" The man swallowed. "There’s another body." A pause. "Who?" Elowen asked. "A Deerfolk envoy." No one spoke. Tanaka closed his eyes. Another death. Another race. Another spark. For the first time since arriving in Bravelm he felt like his strength was useless. He could crush the assassins if he found them. He could destroy any army that attacked Lynessa. He could tear Varghelm apart.

But none of that would stop the fear. None of that would prove her innocence. None of that would stop the Beastfolk kingdoms turning on each other. Tanaka opened his eyes. And for the first time in a long while he had no idea how to solve the problem without violence.