Part 15: Epilogue - The Return

[December]

December strode confidently toward the front door of his home. It had been several days since the end of his business in Bephal, and December had spent that time in the underground headquarters of the Night's Bloom, much to Rivus's consternation. He was not hiding, per se, but he simply had thing to put in motion that could not be trusted to Rivus. After all, the 'master thief' had allowed at least one traitor into his organization, and had let Author Hendragon escape. Rivus would have to be dealt with in the future, but now was not the time.

As promised, the home of Jerimiah Trisk was ransacked and burned to the ground two days after his death. His extensive library of magic now belonged to December. The less interesting books would be sold or otherwise disposed of, but the true gems, the tomes that Trisk had used to work his most powerful magics, were spirited away into December's personal collection. He would put them to good use.

There were other things that needed tending to. Trisk had woven a simple, yet effective web of suspicion around December, and that would need to be dealt with before his operations in Montfort could continue. Fortunately, December had already made preparations. Things had not gone exactly as planned for Trisk OR December, but December was still alive and Trisk was not.

There was a lone man waiting outside December's house. The stranger glanced nervously up and down the streets, and tried desperately to avoid eye contact with December as he approached. December was not surprised to see him, for J'hasp had gone ahead and reported on the stranger's presence. As he drew closer, December recognized the man.

"December..." said the nervous stranger.

December merely nodded.

"My name is Therus. You- You might not remember me."

"Of course I remember you, Therus. I never forget a customer. Tell me... how is your wife enjoying the emeralds earrings? If I remember correctly, I gave you a rather substantial discount on them, yes?"

"Oh, sir! You don't know how much they meant to her! It was such a surprise! I-I can't usually afford such things on my salary and, well- Thank you."

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Do you wish to make another purchase?"

"Well, no. I mean... Well...I'm an investigator with the city of Montfort. Did you know that?"

"Certainly. Are you here on official business, then? I hope you haven't been waiting long, I've been away. Some rather unpleasant business has kept my out of town for a while."

"Well, that's just it, sir. Your-- Your name came across my desk the other day. The case was supposed to be mine, but- well, anyway, there were these murders and-"

"Yes, I already spoke with a gentleman from your office about that. A man named Parade, or something like that."

"Parode. Well, he's dead. And several others, too."

"Yes, I know."

"You know?"

"Yes. It seems an business rival of mine in a nearby town decided not to revive an old grudge. There were murders. Evidence implicating me. Then I was kidnapped, and only recently have I managed to return to Montfort."

"I managed to piece all of that together, but there are still a few questions that I have."

"Perhaps you should tell me what you know, and I will fill in the gray areas."

"That's not usually the way-"

"Indulge me."

"Well, like I said... The case was supposed to me mine, but Parode got to it before me."

"Yes."

"And from his notes, a few witnesses, a confession and some physical evidence, I kind of pieced together what happened."

"And what did happen?

"There is - was - a man named Jerimiah Trisk in Bephal. You killed his daughter."

"In self defense. A matter of public record."

"The way I figure it, this Trisk person wanted to get back at you. So he created these golems to come to Montfort and commit a series of murders. The golems were ice, and made to mimic your...uh... rather unique...uh...abilities."

"Perhaps you should downplay my 'abilities' in your report."

"Of course, sir. So naturally, you were the first suspect. Then this fellow by the name of Author Hendragon shows up. He claimed to have been sent from Bephal and had some rather...uh...disparaging things to say about you."

"Yes. This is the same Hendragon that was directly involved in the murder of his immediate superior."

"Well, that's really beyond the scope of the inves-"

"Perhaps you should make a note of it anyway."

"Of course."

"I trust you verified his statements about me with the authorities in Bephal."

"Well, no. Most of them are dead."

"Except for Author. How curious... Well, what did Mr. Hendragon have to say about me"

"That you were involved in some...ah... criminal activities and that you and Trisk were rivals."

"Which corroborates your theory... That Trisk was behind the murders. Of course there's no evidence to connect me with anything criminal. You said there was a confession?"

"Confession? Oh yes, we picked up a young man. Actually, he turned himself in... he'd been badly beaten and... well, like he'd been attacked by something. It was his story that brought everything together. He said he was a member of some gang or other, and that he'd been on Trisk's payroll. He said Trisk had some kind of plan for getting back at you, but he didn't know what it was."

"I see. Where is this boy now?"

"Locked up. Very safe. Thinks someone is out to get him... other members of his gang, perhaps. He screams a lot at night."

"And what else did he have to say?"

"Else?"

"About me?"

"He didn't say anything about you."

December nodded. Nightly visits from J'Hasp had assured that Minis would say and do exactly as he was told. The authorities thought their witness was safe, but no cell or dungeon could keep J'Hasp in. Or out.

"Did the boy mention anyone else that Trisk was paying off?"

"No, sir. But I imagine that the whole gang was working for him."

"This gang..."

"Called the 'Night's Bloom' or something. Newcomers to the city. Don't worry though, we'll track them down. You'll be safe from them. Sir."

"I see. And what about the murders?"

"Well, frankly we were stumped at first. We didn't know about the golems. Then a couple of nights ago some we caught sight of some...creatures... on the outskirts of town. We managed to apprehend one of them. It was already injured... missing an arm, so it wasn't quite so dangerous. It went berserk a little while after it was captured, and had to be destroyed. It was an ice golem."

"I see. As I said, Jerimiah Trisk created them and sent them to Montfort to implicate me."

"Well that's my theory. Some of the others think that you created them. The golem had your face carved into it, after all."

"Now why would I create such a thing and place my face upon it? I do not even know how these things are made."

"Well the evidence pointed to Trisk. We spoke with some people in Bephal, and apparently some of the same type creatures rampaged through the town recently. Trisk was known to dabble magic. His house was destroyed before we could go through it, probably had some wards set up to torch the place if he died. We did find a few half-burned tomes in the ruins. One was on the construction and animation of golems."

December nodded again. He was glad that Rivus's men didn't botch the placement of the evidence.

"And Trisk?"

"Killed by one of his own golems. You should know, witnesses said you were there."

"I know. I saw the whole thing... horrible. I was trying to escape. He confronted me, then he lost control of the creature and it killed him."

"Author Hendragon had a different opinion. He said YOU were controlling the golem. But even if you were, it would be self defense, right? I mean Trisk DID frame and kidnap you. Author Hendragon verified that, although he seemed very reluctant to do so. "

"Of course. Sounds like you have everything covered."

"There are a few questions. Like what happened to the golem? The ice creatures were destroyed, but the golem that killed Trisk was of another type. It was never recovered. If it's running amok like the others-"

"I saw the creature leave Bephal. It was not headed towards Montfort, so your interest in it is...misplaced."

"Then there are the accusations from Hendragon."

"Nonsense. Utter nonsense. I was the victim here; the evidence supports that."

"Well, the others are quite insistent that there is something more going on here."

"I am sure you will set them straight on the matter. And I trust that you will let me know when any of your fellow investigators gets overly curious about my private affairs. Right?"

December stared deeply into Therus's eyes.

"Of course, sir." said Therus.

"Good. Tell me... Are you familiar with any members of the Tower Guard?"

"No, sir. We don't usually work with them."

"Pity. I take it our business is concluded then."

"Well... seems like you got more information out of me than I got out of you."

"Only because you have already done such an excellent job of getting to the truth."

"The truth."

"Yes. We are finished, are we not?"

"Yes." Therus nodded, waited expectantly for a few moments, and then started to walk away.

December opened the door and stepped inside, then turned towards Therus.

"I seem to remember an emerald necklace that matched the earrings you purchased. Are you still interested in it?"

"Oh, no sir. I can't possible afford-"

"Stop by my shop tomorrow. We can work something out."

"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."

Therus walked away as December closed the door. Just as the door latched shut, a faint blue haze appeared, thickened, and coalesced into a man. Blaymore stood outside for a few moments studying the stone wall of December's house. He sensed the thick bands of magical power that prevented his entry, then he nodded and vanished into thin air. His activities were reflected in the large reptilian eyes of the grotesque creature hanging by it's claws from the roof of the house. J'Hasp watched a few seconds more, then skittered back across the roof and ducked inside.

The End

Copyright 1998 by Marc Washington