Chapter 187: The Truth Behind The Attack

Despite Tanaka’s refusal, no one seemed to have the courage to challenge him. The King sat still behind the voting sheet, and Tavren Raukhan looked at Tanaka with barely contained malice. While the majority had voted in favour of Lynessa’s execution under the emergency laws of the Wolf Crown, the Wolf King hadn’t given any orders to carry this out. Tanaka was determined to try and change their minds in any time he had left.

"I don’t want you to grovel to another king out of fear. I know I have no right to be here, and I’m not asking you to give Eldoris a vote or ignore your laws. I just want to protect her because I know she is innocent!" He turned to face the other rulers. "Yes, she may have had reason to work with the villains but have you actually thought about it? Why would she do this and why now?"

Tavren scoffed. "You have no proof she didn’t." Tanaka shook his head. "No, I don’t. But neither do you have proof she ordered these killings. We have a missing ledger, a suspicious key and some magical residue that appears to be trying to imitate Foxfolk magic. We also have several dead people from various races and each death has made you more likely to execute the prisoner."

Garrath Goldmane leaned forwards. "So you’re saying the deaths were faked to sway us?" Tanaka nodded. "It helps them. They may have started the killings for another reason but they may have used the panic that followed to their advantage. However if we execute Lynessa now we could be killing the only person that could help us understand why Mereth was targeted." Tavren countered. "Or we’re letting a criminal off because you have personal interest in her. You met her during your stay here and are willing to go against the judgment of every ruler in this room." Tanaka didn’t deny this. "I am interested in protecting her but this doesn’t mean there is more evidence against her."

However before they could argue further, an odd silence fell over the room. Several rulers looked away. Tanaka recognised this as doubt. They weren’t agreeing with him but they were uncertain enough that they were reconsidering whether they should execute her immediately. Tanaka took a breath.

"People love to believe that monsters are evil from birth and it makes it easier to decide who should die. However sometimes they’re just people who have been backed into a corner and have no other option. Sometimes though, the real monster is the one who put them in that situation and then point and tell everyone to be scared." He looked around at the rulers. "Especially those of you who voted in favour of Lynessa’s execution."

There was a pause. Then Garrath crossed his arms. "If the mastermind wants her dead why not just kill her? Why go to all this trouble and risk us finding out the truth?" Tanaka sighed. "Exactly! Maybe they need her to die to make it look like a legal execution. Maybe the missing ledger is linked to her and they can’t risk us finding out. Or maybe I’m wrong and their end game isn’t what I think it is and they just want us to turn on each other. Either way there are plenty of reasons for us to investigate."

Before Garrath could reply, Tanaka felt a familiar presence in his mind. Relia spoke with urgency. Lord Tanaka, another Beastfolk has been killed. They found a Foxfolk attendant near the western market and there was the same odd magical residue. Tanaka clenched his fists. Secure the area. Don’t let anyone near the body and don’t go after anyone on your own. Tell Sylva to stay with the guards until we know if the killer is still nearby. Relia acknowledged the order.

However almost immediately he received another message. This time from Raveana. Their frustration is clear. The warriors are getting impatient. Tigers and Lions are gathering outside the prison and some of them are demanding Lynessa be handed over immediately. The Wolf Crown guards are struggling to keep them under control. Tanaka glanced at Aldren. "Another Foxfolk attendant has been murdered. There was the same magical residue and there is a crowd outside the prison."

The room was full of questions. "Another one?" Queen Elowen gasped as she got up from her seat. A Foxfolk delegate slammed their hand on the table. "How many of our people have to die before this council realise someone is trying to frame us?" "The first attack involved your people!" A Tigerfolk delegate spat. "We have been cooperating with the investigation!" The Foxfolk argued. "Don’t mix up what the people responsible did with them trying to copy our magic!" Aldren slammed his hand on the table. "Garric, send more guards to the prison and western market. No one is to go in or out of either place without permission. No delegations are to force the prisoner out."

A messenger rushed out to deliver the message. However Tanaka could already feel the effects of the latest death. The people who believed the Foxfolk were involved had more suspicions and there was a crowd outside the prison which could turn this into a public execution. Tanaka turned back to the rulers. "Before you decide what to do with Lynessa, how many Catfolk have you seen since we got here?" Several confused looks were given. Garrath frowned. "None as far as I can remember." Tanaka shook his head. "I haven’t seen any. The only Catfolk I have met is Lynessa. None of the rulers are Catfolk." Aldren considered this. "Their ruler didn’t send a delegation. Whilst this could be suspicious, some smaller territories don’t have much of a relationship with the Wolf Crown and chose not to come."

Tanaka nodded. "I understand. However I think this is something we should consider." Tavren snorted. "Now you’re trying to accuse them because they didn’t send a delegation?" Tanaka shook his head. "I’m just wondering why the only Catfolk we’ve seen is a prisoner with locked magic. Why go to such lengths to frame her for a murder involving a stolen ledger? Nira, during the festival you felt spirits gathering around Lynessa. You also said she didn’t react how someone without magic usually would." Nira nodded. "They were naturally attracted to her. I don’t know why but they reacted as if they had a strong affinity with her."

Tanaka nodded. "I have also felt how much mana is locked inside her. Whilst we don’t know who locked it or why, it could have something to do with her." Aldren frowned. "This could have nothing to do with them. Just because their magic is strangely locked doesn’t mean they’re connected." Tanaka nodded. "Whilst this could have nothing to do with them, it gives us another question to investigate. The missing ledger may hold the answer. Someone killed Mereth, stole her records and made sure Lynessa would be found with the body. If they wanted this to be over then the later deaths have done the opposite. Unless their endgame was to make us act before we found out the truth."

Garrath looked serious. "So you think they could be connected to Lynessa?" Tanaka nodded. "I think there is a possibility. Whether it’s blood related, an old connection, her locked magic or something we haven’t considered. I don’t know but I can tell you that someone has made her the centre of this crisis. Every time we get closer to executing her another body turns up. Until we know why, we could be doing exactly what our enemy wants." Tavren got up. "You’re telling us to ignore justice because of a theory?" Tanaka shook his head. "I’m telling you that they have given you an easy target and a constant reason to hate her."

The Tiger ruler’s claws dug into the table. However before he could reply there was a loud bang. The windows shook, dust fell from the ceiling and the lamps flickered. Black smoke could be seen rising from outside the royal district. The whole room fell silent for a second before shouts could be heard outside. Alarm bells rung. Tanaka’s Dominion Nexus was filled with Raveana’s voice. Lord Tanaka! There was an explosion of a fire bomb near the prison! Tigers and Lions are attacking the guards and trying to get in! Tanaka’s chair screeched as he got up.

Aldren was already giving orders. "Lock down the royal district. Send the Crown Guard to the prison. No one is to enter or exit the inner barricades. Bring the leaders of both groups here immediately. No one is to use their weapons unless the guards are attacked." Garrath got up. His face darkened as he heard Lion warriors were involved. Tavren’s face hardened but it was unclear if it was due to anger or worry for his people. Queen Elowen gripped her staff and looked at the smoke. The other rulers were shouting amongst themselves, asking who had authorised the attack and if the prison was still secure.

Tanaka ignored the noise and listened to his message. "Raveana, get the others out of the fight. Raizen stay with me. Sora don’t attack anyone unless they try to kill you or one of us." He turned to face Aldren who had paused giving orders. "This isn’t an investigation anymore. Someone is trying to force us into war and they’re using Lynessa."

The Wolf King looked at the smoke before turning back to the voting sheet. For the first time since the crisis began he looked visibly shaken. "Can you prove it?" Tanaka clenched his jaw. "Not yet." They both knew. He had a theory, some worrying clues and increasing evidence that someone was trying to manipulate the council. However Lynessa was still in danger, the guards were being attacked and the next decision could decide whether the Beastfolk turned on each other. Tanaka walked towards the door.

"Then I best find some proof before someone starts a war."