Chapter 1
It was a small town; exceptionally quiet, utterly peaceful, and completely off the map.
It was not a town that received many visitors. In fact, years could go by before an outsider would even visit the place, partially because no map in the country even mentions the town’s existence. It was literally off the map.
A curious oversight on the part of cartographers, considering its nearness to the empire’s capital. It was located only a score of miles away.
Yet none knew of its existence.
Thus, outsiders always raised a hubbub.
Especially when one of them gets murdered in this quiet little town where even thefts do not happen.
“Lucileum”
The placard reading the town’s name was a small, shabby piece of wood, unceremoniously staked into the ground. It was hanging to the side slightly. The writing was weathered to the point of illegibility.
It was well into the evening by the time the two strangers had reached the town. The sun was setting in front of the town, slowly sinking behind the wide stream flowing in front of the town. The small beaten road on which the two strangers stood divided the river from the town.
The strangers were recent arrivals from the capital, finishing a journey that took them the better part of the day, having to push through zigzagging roads and often going around in circles to reach this place of no importance.
Grey cloaks covered their bodies, matted in the red dust characteristic of the area. The dimming light of the sun gave the strangers a bloody look.
“Is this the place?” The smaller of the two spoke. He was a man, roughly around twenty years of age. His piercing blue eyes shone in the dim light below the hood. His name was Theodore Cromwell, a recent graduate of the police academy, and he was here on his first official mission.
At least that is what he believed.
Theodore, or Theo, as he liked to be called, warily looked at his companion. Theo was not a short man; he was of average height and build. Yet, his travelling partner utterly dwarfed him as they stood there side by side. Theo could only reach up to the formidable chest of his partner. He felt like a child in front of him.
Theo only knew him as Major Armstrong. His companion and his superior. He was the one who recruited him for this mission.
Theo vividly remembered meeting the man for the first time. Granted, it was only yesterday, but it was not an encounter he was soon to forget.
It was a surprise to him to be recruited so quickly, albeit on a private mission, even if it was with official blessing, considering he was never a good student.
Well, that was a bit of an overstatement. It was a miracle he had survived the two years of grueling training at the prestigious Police Academy. Near survived, more like. He was sure he had failed the final tests. Only for this unexpected opportunity to come out of nowhere. It was a strange two years he had spent at the academy.
He had his misgivings about this mission. Though the headmaster had assured him, with as much scorn as he could muster for a failing student, that if he successfully finished the mission, he had a chance for enlistment in the prestigious police force as an officer.
It was not his dream life, but it was something that would give his life purpose.
It was during that meeting with the headmaster that he met his companion for the first time. He was sure he was called to the office to be bestowed the unique position of being the first student to fail the Police Academy at the first hurdle.
The Police Academy had a unique system, unlike any other educational institute in the whole Empire. Any exam failure meant expulsion. There were no second chances, no retries in that grueling competitive environment.
So, he had entered the office with the distinct feeling of having wasted the last two years of his life. What was the point of all those near successes if he was to fail at the last hurdle? The presence of the large figure in the office had immediately drawn his attention. It was not unique for the headmaster to entertain visitors. It was just the unusual size and volume of this strange person that had drawn his attention.
And then he learned the man had requested him for a private mission.
“Don’t worry, lad.” The man had spoken to him. One of the two times he had been graced with a full sentence. “I know you are in a bit of a pickle. But, if you help me out, I can guarantee you a good position in the police.”
He had introduced himself as Major Armstrong, no first name given. His rank had left no doubt of his connection with the military and the police. The headmaster had only confirmed what Major Armstrong had said, albeit with a strong encouragement to take the position, as no other avenues remained open to him.
So it was that Theo Cromwell, an aspiring police officer, had found himself in a carriage with the bulky man the next morning. Their destination was unknown, and the only knowledge of the mission granted to the young Cromwell was that they were after an elusive Mafia leader, who had taken residence in a town near the capital.
That was the second and final exchange between the two travelers. They had spent the better part of their journey in a tense silence. Cromwell, at the beginning, tried to engage his superior in some questions. However, he received no answer except a few grunts. Having no desire to upset his current superior, he had fallen silent.
And now they stood at their destination at last. Yet, Cromwell had no idea where they were and what they were supposed to be doing.
“Let’s go.” Major Armstrong finally spoke, startling the young Theo out of his musing. They had been standing in front of the sign for only a few seconds. Cromwell turned to see that the carriage they had arrived in was already racing back. Where the coach will find lodging on this lonely road, except for the town in front, he has no idea.
Major Armstrong had already started on the beaten path going through the center of the town. His long legs rapidly carried him to the edge of Theo’s vision. He had to scramble behind the man. It took him a few minutes to catch up. Even a normal pace for the giant man was near running for the young one. Even after catching up to Major Armstrong, he had to maintain a quick pace just to be on par with the Major.
He was conscious of the scrutinizing look they received from the occasional passerby. Yet, none stopped them to inquire after their purpose. Theo ascribed the reluctance to the inhuman size of his companion. The looming figure must make quite an impression on any individual.
And then there was he, furtively scrambling after the Major, trying to keep up.
The town was larger than Theo thought. Buildings loomed all around him, some shabby, some freshly painted. Curiously, few were single-story houses. Most rose high into the sky. Theo estimated at least three or four floors in these buildings.
A strange sight indeed for a town so out of the way.
Yet, the crumbling plaster and the faded look on most gave away the age of those buildings. Most featured cracks running throughout their façade. Probably a remnant of the Great War, fought fifteen years ago.
The buildings grew smaller as they moved into the town, the spacious main road they were on leading them right into the center of the town. Theo looked back, instinctively gauging how long it would take for him to reach the edge of the town. It was a habit of his, always looking for a way out.
The hubbub on the road increased as Theo estimated they reached the town center. The smaller buildings surrounding them looked more recent, their faces no longer bearing the telltale fractures associated with the brutal bombing of the last war the Empire had partaken in. Small stalls had also started popping up. People selling various wares.
At least, that is what Theo thought they were. Most hawkers were busy talking with each other, their stalls devoid of any customers. Yet, none showed the brooding moppiness he associated with empty shops in the capital.
Theo looked around, fascinated by the hubbub around him. He still caught whispers, people wondering what two strangers were doing in this small, unmarked town of theirs. Yet, most continued on with their life, moving from one point to another, occasionally stopping to chat with someone they knew.
It was a slow life, Theo realized, much slower than he was used to in the capital. The odd trinkets lying on the stalls fascinated him; the laughter around him made his ears perk up.
And there was an odd sensation of relaxation within him.
The increased traffic had caused the Major to slow down his pace. Theo still had to struggle to keep up with him. But there was now more breathing room.
And then something caught his eye.
A flash of vivid white hair.
Theo turned around, surprised. But whatever it was, it was gone.
He scratched his head, wondering what it was.
Then he noticed the Major right near the end of his vision. Quickly, he picked up his pace, not wanting to be lost amongst this sea of strangers.
Well, as much of a sea as a small town like this could conjure up.
It took them a few more minutes to reach their destination.
“The Flying Pony”
The newly painted sign hanging just above the door read. It was a small establishment. Perhaps the only pub in this town, Theo estimated.
While the sign looked new, the door and the building showed their age. The wood door bore numerous minuscule cracks and chips, telling a thousand tales.
Major Armstrong casually pushed the door open. Despite its age, the door made no creaking sound.
A small bell chimed, announcing their entry to the owner of the establishment.
“Welcome!!!” the voice followed the chime instantaneously. Theo spied an older-looking man behind the bar, wearing an apron, cleaning the bar behind which he stood.
“New arrivals, eh!!” His voice was jovial. In the brightly lit interior, Theo could see the grizzled face of the experienced barman. He bore scars on his face, two of them running parallel on each side of the cheek. A memento of the Great War, if he had to guess. He wore his blonde beard short, interrupted by the long scars on each side. Yet, his blue eyes held mirth and merriment, as if he had just heard the world’s greatest joke.
“We don’t get many of your lot around here!” The barman flicked the cleaning cloth before putting it across his shoulder. “Need room for the night, I reckon?”
“You guess correctly, friend!” Major Armstrong spoke quietly. Yet, his voice reverberated throughout the empty room. It was a small room, holding about seven or eight tables with three or four chairs around each table. The uneven location showed the sitting position of each regular group that used the pub, Theo thought. When everyone is a regular, they sort of mark their spots and never move from them.
“No need to worry, my friend!” The barman replied, slapping the bar. “We might not get visitors often, but we take care of them when they come!” He looked at them closely. “Now, looking at your size, my friend. I would hazard that you would require a room to yourself with a double bed!”
Major Armstrong nodded his head.
“No need to worry. We will charge only for a single bed. No need to take advantage of the way we are born, am I right?”
“Your generosity is much appreciated!” Major Armstrong replied.
“Well, that would be two rooms!” The barman bent down to pick something from behind the bar. “Would you be needing anything else?”
“Supper would be lovely!” Theo chimed in. The last time he had eaten was breakfast. He didn’t think the journey would take this long.
“Food, eh?” The man scratched his beard, his hand drifting towards the long scar. “Well, my wife can whip you up something. But truth be told, I don’t want you people subjected to her cooking!” He looked around suddenly, as if afraid his wife would pop up from some dark corner unlit by the lanterns.
“Tell you what. There is a small stall right near the end of the road. Makes a killer stew. Tell them I sent you, and they will give you a discount.”
Theo nodded his head.
The man dropped two keys on the bar. “Well, that would be four sovereigns! Special price for new guests!”
Theo’s eyebrows shot up. Four sovereigns wouldn’t even get them a drink in the capital.
Major Armstrong picked up the keys and turned towards Theo. “Why don’t you go eat? I will check out our new rooms!”
Without waiting for the reply, the major was bounding up the stairs two at a time.
Theo stood there for a moment, indecisive. The owner had returned to cleaning his belongings, whistling something horribly out of tune.
He turned and walked out. The crowd had only increased in the few minutes they were inside the pub. Yet, it was insufficient to block his view of the whole street. He looked at the end of the open street where he stood. He could spy a small shop, with a few chairs lying out in the open.
This must be the shop the owner was talking about. Theo thought.
It took him a few moments to reach the shop. It was manned by a kind old lady sitting behind the counter, overlooking various pots shimmering on low heat.
Theo hesitated for a second. “One stew, please!”
Might as well take the bar owner’s suggestion.
The lady looked up. “Oh, coming right up, young man!”
She opened up one of the lids. The delicious smell was enough to make his mouth water. She pulled a few ladlefuls onto a plate and handed them to him.
“Some extra for the handsome young man!” She chuckled.
Theo took the plate and sat down on one of the chairs. He had just picked up the spoon when the same flash caught his eye.
But this time, he could catch it in full, those beautiful white hairs fluttering in the air, on top of a young woman, slowly moving through the crowd.
The most beautiful woman Theo had ever seen in his life.
