Murder Suspect

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 58442

Fortunately for Felfel, though the guards on the gate had been briefed to question anyone seeking to leave the town, in case they might be needed for the davar's investigation, they had no reason to be suspicious of anyone seeking to enter. So Felfel was able to pass with no trouble, and made his way to the stable where Hesht lay.

There was no sign of Namak. Felfel could guess the reason for that. Nor was the doctor there; no doubt he had other patients to see to, ones who would pay better. But Felfel was pleased to find that Hesht himself was now conscious, though looking pale. Someone had brought him some bread and cheese and a mug of water, but he had managed to eat and drink very little.

When he saw Felfel, he attempted to rise. "Don't try to move, Hesht," Felfel told him. "You've lost a lot of blood, and you don't want to start the wound off again. I have brought some salve to put on the wound, to counteract the risk of rot."

"It's g-good to see you, F-felfel. How's Astra?"

"I don't know. I've been out of town getting the salve. But she's a lot better than you, I expect. Now hold still, while I apply the salve. This may sting a bit... So what happened? Telling me will be good practice for telling the davar, for he's sure to come and see you before long once he hears that you're conscious."


Astra had awoken that morning to find that her headache was gone, but that was the only positive thing that she could think of. She had never previously had any serious illness or injury, and she was not looking forward to being restricted to bed for some days and then being seriously handicapped for some weeks or even months after that. It would have been bad enough even if she had been at home, but now it would seriously delay when she could return to that home.

That delay must also greatly increase the risk that people working either for Doazda or for Gilder might find her. Did Penhan have an extradition treaty with Hespan? Even if it did not, if Doazda's men were seeking her she wouldn't put it past them to smuggle her back across the border if they managed to find her.

Then there was the question of how she was to support herself over the coming weeks. Even if the White Hospital operated as a charity as far as providing treatment was concerned, they still might want payment for her food. She would have to ask the nurse about that. And once she was well enough to leave the hospital, if she took lodgings nearby until she was fully healed then how would she pay for them? She wasn't afraid to work for her keep, but it seemed that it would be some time before she would be well enough to do any non-sedentary job.

But she found that what worried her most, even above her own problems, was Hesht. She would have to see if she could get her nurse to find out more about his condition.

As if on cue, the nurse entered her room. But before Astra could raise the subject of Hesht, the woman said: "The davar from Darvazde Yepenhan is here, and would like to speak to you, khanomam. You may recall that I mentioned it to you yesterday evening. Shall I send him in?"

"I suppose that you had better, though as I told you yesterday I don't think that I will be able to help him very much."

"I don't know if I should be telling you this. But one of the two men involved is dead, and the survivor is claiming that you and your friend made an unprovoked attack on them. So this is a murder investigation."

Just when I thought that things could not get any worse, Astra thought. And as an outsider, my word is likely to count for less than this man's. What's more I can't afford to tell the truth about my proposal of a swordfight, since if this davar found out that I was a skilled swordswoman that would be sure to lead to some very awkward questions.

"Thank you," she told the nurse.

The nurse went out, and a moment later a richly dressed man whom she assumed must be the davar came in. "Good morning, khanomam," he said politely. "I should like to ask you some questions about the events of yesterday. May I sit down?"

"Please do," Astra said. "But before we start I must warn you that I cannot remember anything from the time that I was hit on the head until I found myself in this bed."

The davar sat down in the chair at Astra's bedside. "It will be valuable for me to learn about what led up to that blow to your head. I have already spoken to the companion of the murdered man, whose name is Gog, as well as to a man called Namak, who was one of those who found Gog and brought him in."

"Have you spoken to Hesht - my companion? The nurse has told me that he is seriously ill."

"Not yet... It is unusual for such a young woman as you to have white hair, khanomam. Tell me, is that its natural colour?"

The question surprised Astra. How was her hair colour relevant? She was aware that by now her hair must be showing some red at the roots, so decided that it would be unwise to lie. "No. Its natural colour is red."

"I wonder why you had it dyed?"

Astra wondered whether to say that she had not had it dyed - or at least not deliberately. But that might lead to further questions that she would prefer to avoid.

The davar went on: "But I think that I already know the answer to that question. You wished to disguise your appearance. You see, only yesterday, an interesting item reached me, issued by Governor Gilder of Corona. I have it with me, and will read it out to you:

"Wanted, for the murder of two palace guards: A serving woman going by the name of Astra. A reward of 20 gold pieces is offered for information leading to her capture and return. She is aged about twenty, is unusually tall, good-looking, with a fair complexion and red hair. Not a native Hespaniard, but her true nationality is unknown. Warning: She is highly dangerous.

"If you have already killed two men, it seems reasonable to presume that you might have murdered a third. What have you to say to that?"

  1. Astra can see no alternative to telling the truth about her flight from Gilder.
  2. Astra attempts to lie her way out of trouble.
  3. Meanwhile, at the stable...

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JH

5/9/2006 12:25:49 PM

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