Chapter 3: A Crime; the Accused

Vale stumbled into Officius dead on his feet. His horse had stopped, exhausted a few miles out of town. He wouldn’t move until Vale had dismounted. Vale had to lead both horses; Aarden was asleep in his saddle.
Vale finally collapsed in front of an old, rundown, farmhouse just outside the city’s western wall. Farmland and grazing land surrounded the capitol. Merchants flowed in and out of the city gates, even at this late time.
Aarden, waking up because of the stop, saw Vale lying on the ground. He slid off his saddle and woke Vale. He helped him up and the two walked groggily to the front door and knocked gently.
They heard instant movement inside and, after a few moments of banging, the door flew open and Booruck glared out at them.
Booruck was supposedly the same age as the two friends, but the lines in his face made him look much older. His years of working as a farm hand left him slightly hunched over and his skin more golden than the Durvy nobles. His features were sharp and, along with his abrupt movement, made him look birdlike. He was a head taller than Aarden who was a hand taller than Vale. Despite his strange and weather worn appearance, Booruck was still regarded by most women to be attractive.
He towered over the two friends until his eyes adjusted. His face finally cracked into an awkward smile as he recognized Vale.
“Ah, wayward son, come in. What are you doing here in Officius?”
“Booruck, this is my friend Aarden.”
“So this is the noble gardener that I’ve heard so much about.”
“Hello sir,” Aarden muttered shyly. He took the seat Booruck was offering him.
“Sir? Did you hear that Vale? The nobleman called me sir.”
“He’s just a farmer Aarden,” Vale supplied. He sat down next to Aarden and took the warm ale Booruck was offering him.
“And despite my comely appearance, I’m still a young man.”
“I’m sorry si-, Booruck, I’ve never been very good at-.”
“Personal interaction,” Vale supplied.
Booruck pulled an armful of bedding out from a cubby and handed them to Vale. Vale started making up some beds on the floor.
“Thank you for-.”
“Stop nobleman, no need for thanks. What is a friend for?” Booruck handed him some pillows and exited to a bedroom. The door closed and Aarden looked down at Vale.
“Aren’t you exhausted?” Vale asked already on his way to sleep.
“Who is this guy?”
“He’s a friend, I trust him. He’ll get us to Rota faster. He’s taught me everything about hunting, fighting, riding, everything.”
“How did you meet him?”
“No more questions tonight. We’ll talk about everything tomorrow, I promise.”
Vale fell automatically into deep sleep. Aarden, although he was exhausted, struggled into his dream. Cool water trickled through his fingers and he began to cup them. If only he could get a cold, refreshing drink before the blood. He began to pull the water to his lips, but the red began to trickle. He tried to wake up, but the dream held him this time. And the nightmare would get worse.

* * *

Aarden awoke in a cold sweat. He struggled to remember what had frightened him, but his nightmare had already escaped him. A banging at the front door brought him to his senses. He realized it had been the knocking that had awoken him.
Vale was already on his feet at the window. He saw Aarden rise and held his hand out for Aarden to remain still. Aarden quietly drew a long dagger and moved silently over to the door. Booruck emerged and smiled calmly at the two friends. He gently moved Aarden away from the door and opened it.
A mob was standing at the door, torches blazing. A fully armored knight stepped forward from the group.
“Sir Bovin,” Booruck said, dripping with vehemence. “What can I do for you?”
“We’re here to arrest you.”
“And what have I done this time.”
Bovin sauntered past Booruck into the room. Aarden and Vale were still standing at the ready. Bovin’s hand drifted to his sword as he looked back at the mob. Booruck followed his eyes and closed the door, smiling.
“We tracked three horses from Jocha’s farm to here. We know you stole them.”
“I didn’t touch those mangy mares. They found their way here on their own.”
Bovin began backing towards the door, beginning to get nervous. His hand was fully gripping his sword now. Booruck looked between Vale and Aarden, trying to calm their nervousness.
“We will let the courts decide. Come with me; if you are innocent then you will have nothing to fear.”
“Your courts, the people of this quaint little township have hated and distrusted me since I came to live here. For three years I have been an outsider. It looks like you had no trouble mustering up that mob out there.”
“You are a suspicious individual. And who are these ruffians?”
“My friends, noblemen from Distrus, on their way to Rota to pay their respects to the late Tor Sambo.”
“He was friends with my mother,” Aarden added. The knight looked suspiciously at Aarden then turned back to Booruck.
“Please just come with me. The people are tense and need a resolution to this, one that doesn’t end with bloodshed.” Bovin had almost made it to the door.
“I think this will end in bloodshed, if only my own. I will come with you sheriff, but I can’t guarantee there won’t be an incidence. I will defend my innocence, first in the court, but if not, then bloodshed it will be.”
Booruck opened the door and stepped out. Several men grabbed his arms roughly and led him away. Bovin left, taking one last look at Vale and Aarden.
Vale immediately jumped into action. He quickly packed the few belongings he had unpacked and started towards the door. He was already fingering the arrows in his quiver.
“What are you going to do?” Aarden slowly began repacking his things.
“Hurry, I know the road they’ll take well enough. It passes through a patch of woods about a mile from here. If we ride quickly, we can ambush them.”
“Booruck said he wanted to try the courts first-.”
“He knew they would fail.”
“It will take a few weeks before any kind of decision is reached. We are on a mission to Rota. You were so worried about going. We need to stay the course.”
Vale struggled within himself then his reason caught up with his temper. He sat down hard and waited for Aarden to finish getting ready.

* * *

Aarden and Vale wandered into Rota overwhelmed. They had avoided Officius for the most part, but had to travel through Rota to get to Tor’s house. Distrus was quiet and small. Rota was completely different. The city was laid out in large crowded blocks. The streets were narrow and bustling. Street vendors lined every street and the roads were nearly impossible to navigate. Through alleyways or along a busy catwalk that floated around the top of the outer wall were the only ways to get from one side of the city to the other.
Aarden glanced at Vale who appeared to be a little nervous. Aarden started towards an apple seller, but Vale grabbed him and pulled him towards a staircase. Vale dragged Aarden up to the catwalk and they began pushing through the hordes of people.
“Do you know where you’re going?” Aarden shouted, trying to be heard over the buzz of the crowd.
“Just stay close. We have to be able to see where we’re going from here.”
Aarden struggled to keep up with Vale. Fortunately, Aarden could look over most of the crowd and could keep track of his friend. Vale’s shaggy red hair made it easy to find as well.
As he bumped his way through the crowd, he kept hearing bits of conversation about Tor; a mystery lover, a strange creature, a brutal murder. Whispers started to penetrate his thoughts; whispers of a suspect, a man from Officius; then the name Booruck. Over and over, Aarden heard Boorucks name being uttered by people passing. He tried to listen, but Vale was moving too quickly. Finally, Aarden caught up to his friend and stopped him.
“Are you listening? People are talking about Booruck.”
“What about him? They’re probably talking about the trial.”
“A horse thief? They’re talking about the murder, about Tor.”
“Booruck didn’t kill Tor,” Vale said a little too loudly. Several groups of people stopped and looked at them. Vale grabbed Aarden and dragged him behind a buttress. “These people will be accusing us by tomorrow,” he whispered severely. “There is very little trust of outsiders here.”
“What if he did though? How much do you know about him?”
“I trust him. Let’s just get to Tor’s.”
The two continued in silence. The bits of conversation continued to permeate Aarden’s conscious, and he couldn’t ignore them. The doubts continued to grow; all the way down the stairs and through the final crowded streets to Tor’s residence. The thickest crowd hovered around the murder scene.
Vale shoved his way to the front, dragging Aarden all the way. There were several knights guarding the entrance, but Vale continued to them authoritatively.
“Can I help you?” a young knight, clearly frustrated with this menial job, sighed.
“My name is Vale Drumond. I’ve brought Aarden, son of Lady Genish from Distrus.”
“We’ve been expecting you. After you’re finished here, there are some papers to go through with Minister Trong. Do you know your way?”
“We’ll figure it out.” Vale pushed his way through the guards and entered the quiet manor.
The manor was empty and in disarray. It was obvious no one had been here since Tor had been killed. Aarden had only been here to see Tor once when he was little. His father had brought him fishing with Tor in the nearby Pobul Lake. Tor and Aarden’s father had grown up together here in Rota. They had been friends through their schooling, but had a falling out when Genish came along. Aarden’s father had been in love with Genish since the first day they met. Genish however was infatuated with Tor. Tor was set to marry the daughter or the Minister of Rota, a girl he had been in love with all his life. Genish eventually settled. A few years after Aarden’s parents were married, shortly after Aarden was born, Tor’s engagement fell apart. His betrothed was found dead; she had hung herself.
Aarden followed Vale up a spiral staircase. At the top was an open balcony, overlooking the manor. Aarden looked over the edge and began to feel dizzy. This was why he always stayed on the ground.
“Now why are we here?” Aarden asked, turning to Vale.
“So you could see.” Vale looked nonchalantly over the edge and then began examining the room. Aarden watched Vale moving around the room like a tracker. He tested the dried blood, looked around the room for scratches, for any sign of entry. “I wish I could see the body,” he finished, under his breath.
“His body; you want to see his body? You’re thinking that this man might be my father and you want to see his body?”
“Your father? Where did that come from?”
“That’s why you wanted to come here right? You think Tor is my real father.”
“No, I-, how did you know?”
“I’m not stupid Vale. I figured it out. But I know that my mother never had an affair. You’re wrong.”
“Then why was your mother so anxious about you coming and seeing him?”
“I think we’ll find out at Minister Trong’s. Let’s go.”

* * *

“I’m sorry it’s taken so long for you to be admitted,” Minister Trong apologized as Aarden and Vale were let into his study. The room was a simple stone box with a few chairs and a desk. Minister Trong was all business. Aarden and Vale had been waiting to see Minister Trong for over an hour while court officials passed in and out of the room. The guard had made Aarden think that the Minister was waiting anxiously to see them, but it was obvious now that this matter was a trivial matter.
“I’m hoping you can shed some light on this situation,” Aarden said calmly. “My mother was anxious that I come and deal with this.”
“I understand her anxiety. You see, Tor has been your mother’s benefactor since your father died. Although he lived a simple life, Tor was actually quite wealthy. He left your mother all of his money and you now own his property. There are some things to go over, but you can take care of them with my aide.”
“So Lady Genish and Master Tor-.”
“No son, there was no impropriety. They both loved your father too much. Now please, I have a lot to do and I’ve already had to spend too much time on this.”
Vale and Aarden were rushed out and, after a brief meeting with the aide, were pushed out on the street.
“Well, let’s go clean up your house,” Vale said with a smile.
Aarden looked at Vale incredulously. “I can’t live here. I have to return to Distrus.” “Why, what’s there for you? You have all the land you could want; start your own garden
“My mother needs my help. She’s really helpless.”
“You really are a milksop. Your mother has a hundred servants and friends in all of the cities of Durvy. She now has Tor’s money. Why does she need you?”
“I’m her son. Plus, we left Spot there.”
“I’ll go get Spot and the rest of your stuff. You need to stay here and begin establishing yourself as a lord in Rota.”
Aarden once again gave into Vale’s charisma and the two moved excitedly towards Aarden’s new manor.