"Palmer! You're here early." I was greeted joyfully by Holly when she opens the door.
"Said so myself, didn't I?"
"Oscar's not even back from the butcher yet. Come on in, Henrietta's in the back of you wanna say hi."
"I think I will. Mind if she gets her gift early? She's gonna be asking after it anyhow."
"If she starts, she won't stop. So do. I've still got to get everything ready."
"I'll be back in to help after I give Henrietta my well wishes."
"You're a guest here Palmer. I couldn't ask that of you."
"Nonsense, I'll be but a minute."
I made my way through the small house to the rear where a small plot of land was used by the neighbouring houses as a community courtyard. Henrietta was there with a few of the children from the area playing a game that involved a lot of running and screaming and laughing. It brought a smile to my face to see the girl enjoying herself.
I didn't interrupt the game but she came running over soon enough. She ran and jumped and I caught her in my arms as she squealed "Uncle Palmer!" I held her until she released me and I allowed her to drop to the ground.
"Did you know it's my birthday?" She asked me.
"Is it now? That means your five now, right?"
"I'm eight! You know that."
"Well I suppose I do."
"Did you get me anything?"
"Oh no! I must have forgot! Oh, this is terrible. I guess you don't get a present this year."
"Quit teasing! Can I have it now?" Then added as an afterthought. "Please."
"Oh alright. But you have to promise me something."
"What?"
"You have to promise that you'll like it."
"Okay, you give the best presents anyway."
I take the gift from my coat pocket, it's wrapped loosely in wax paper with a ribbon of silk tied in a bow. She smiles wide and grabs for it. I toss it up and take a step back as she rushes around to catch it. When she does, she hops back over to me and I pat her head.
"That's a good dog."
"Hey! I'm not a dog."
"Sorry, my mistake. No dog can be as cute as you."
She smiles and hugs me again before asking, "What is it?"
"Aren't you supposed to figure that out when you open it?"
She pulls the ribbon out of the bow and tucks it in her sleeve. If I know her she'll have it in her hair by the end of the night. She may not like dolls but she would dress like one at every opportunity. The paper however, she tore at instead of unrolling the simple wrapping, putting paper scraps everywhere.
She takes the knife in her hands and holds it up catching the sun on its silver and gold helix hilt. Her eyes widen and she slowly pulled the sheathe off the blade turning it above her head.
"It's beautiful."
"Then it's only fitting that you have it then."
"Oh, thank you, Uncle Palmer!"
"Remember what I said about knives?"
"They are a tool to be used only when necesatary."
"It's necessary, and what did your mother say about them?"
"One mishap and I'm never touching a knife again."
"Very good. Now go brag to your friends, I'm going to help Holly."
She ran off to rejoin her friends, who had stopped their game to see what she got. I walked back into the house and walked in just as Oscar was pushing open the front door. He nodded in greeting. Unlike Holly he was not part of the guild, though he was not unwelcome, he always said he had his job and liked it. I considered him an honorary member.
"Palmer," He began, "Thought you would be here early. Good thing you are, too. There's trouble at the guild. Joseph stopped me on the way back, told me to fetch you."
He approached as he spoke dropping a canvas bag of various equipment that I never familiarized myself with. He smelled strongly of fish and he still was damp on his back from sea spray. He appeared the romanticized version of a fisherman, with harpoon over his shoulders and large arms bared through a sleeveless shirt and impeccably groomed facial hair, a point of pride for him.
His words didn't surprise me at first, 'trouble' is a common occurrence at the guild. It could be anything from a tussle between two that went a bit too far, a high-profile client that is getting a bit too unruly, even something as trivial as a message from the queen. What worried me is that Joseph sent him. Something as simple as any of that wouldn't worry him.
"Are we heading out now, then?" He continued after seeing the effect the words had on me.
"You don't need to come along, it's your little girl's birthday."
"I do. If I don't, Holly will and she needs to finish cooking." Indeed, she was already clipping her knife belt around her waist and slipping on some gloves. She stopped to listen however and I could see slight disappointment in her face. "If she leaves, Henrietta's going to be without her birthday roast. 'Sides, from what I've seen, it's unlikely anything'll happen today. I'll be back before she notices."
I nod. Not else much to do, we set out at a brisk walk. Should the matter have required more timely response then I was certain Joseph would have arranged something.
I was not opposed to this, it gave me time to better grasp the possibility of what could have happened. Of course, I could have asked Oscar, but he is a quiet man when not at home and so I observed him for hints. Besides, he looked a little angry and thought it best to leave him to himself. And I enjoyed the little puzzle.
The anger was a good hint. It meant that there was something to be angry at. What would make him angry that involved the guild but some kind of attack on the people, the possessions held there or the building itself held no value, not to him. He wasn't too close with any but a few of the guild members and he wouldn't be calm if something happened to someone he cared about.
I know and have witnessed it when one of his fellows was bitten by a shark and he dived in the water with harpoon in hand. He dragged the shark onto shore a half hour later.
It would have to be someone else, but what would anger the surprisingly sensitive man? Deaths would have a different effect, he would likely be more upset than angry. So it must be that someone was hurt.
But who would he sympathize with? Most guild members were strangers to him and any harm to them wouldn't be likely to draw a visible anger from the man. But he's a father and husband. It could be someone who reminds him of his family.
Starting with Holly. Surely there were a few relatively young women staying in the hall at the moment that could draw out a reaction from Oscar. But I couldn't see anything happening to them whether alone or in the company of the guild hall. So, it must be some who got hurt that triggers his fatherly instincts.
This narrows the search further. The victim would have to be or appear young. The children of guildmembers aren't likely to come to any harm, not with any members present and the likelihood of no one being around to prevent that is miniscule. They would be out of the question.
What's left would be the youngest members of the guild. Men and women who in all honesty would be better referred to as children in my opinion. I could think of four candidates that met that criteria: Rickard, Sam, Little eyes, and in a stretch Colter the Cheat.
This was assuming it was someone in the guild and not just related to it like that waitress Maya. But if I were to follow that train it would take much longer and be pointless as we'd just arrived at the guild and found that Joseph had told Daniel Almon to wait for us. We were directed to one of the many rooms in the back of the guild hall.
A small cynical part of me wondered as the door to the room was being pushed open, if I had misjudged and Rickard's proposal backfired horribly. That part died though as the door swung open to reveal Sam on the bed.
I say that as if I recognized him, but his face was swollen and bruised nearly to the point of unidentifiability. I could only be sure by the University robes he donned and the shaggy blonde shock of hair.
"What happened?" I ask Joseph who was leaning against a wall staring at the boy in the bed.
He shrugged. " Came to me with his hood up, hiding his face. Passed out. Carla's mixing up some kind of tincture. Already gave him painkillers to help him sleep. I've stayed with him."
Unsure what exactly to do, I just stared at him. I was angry but mostly I felt incompetent. Did I not just see him yesterday? He was fine then.
Joseph had been staring at me. "He's not dying. He was just roughed up bad."
That helped. The certainty that I hadn't made an irreparable mistake. "Has Jasa left on the job he's been thinking of taking?"
"Not yet. I've already sent someone to find and tell him to head to the university. He'll find out what's been going on by the end of the night."
The University? "What's been going on?"
He waved me over and pulled the collar of Sam's robe revealing an assortment of other bruises in all stages.
"The boy has been getting beat. Must have happened at the University, why else would he be dressed like this?"
I agreed with that statement but this must have been going on for a long while. How could I have missed this? Nothing to be done now.
"Who are we bringing?" Joseph continued after giving me time to mull everything over.
"You, me..." I look toward Oscar and he nods. "Oscar. More if we need to. I don't think we will need weapons, but make sure we have a bossed shield just in case. It will likely go down at the University."
"Fine place to teach someone a lesson I think."
"Ha!" Oscar laughed but not, I think, in humour and with it carried a tone of menace that I would not want to be in the way of.
"Oscar, you should go back for now. Joseph, can you cover for me tonight?"
"That, I can."
The two left and I stayed. I pulled a chair up and sat down by Sam's side. And there I stayed until Carla came back and gave his medicines without waking him by pouring it in his mouth and massaging it down his throat. He stirred enough to swallow but fell under again immediately.
Joseph came back later to check in along with a bowl and glass of water. The bowl had Holly's cooking in it and must have been warmed before given to me. I ate, I knew that not eating would not solve anything and I appreciated the kind gesture.
It wasn't until the next morning that Sam woke. His eyes opened and he stared at the ceiling for a long while before he turned his head toward me he could not keep eye contact for more than a moment and spent even longer with his eyes anywhere but on me.
I was not going to push him to talk out of courtesy for him and the fact that by now Jasa should have found out everything we need to know. The University is a big place and what happened to him was likely to have been noticed, especially since it was a recurring thing. I gave him a chance to speak and he didn't take it instead looking off to the sides with a guilty look.
I stood and smiled at him. "This won't happen again." I squeezed his shoulder, hoping it wasn't also bruised, and turned away as tears began to well in his eyes.
Best to leave before he actually cried, he felt bad enough as is and I saw no reason for him to feel further humiliated, even if there was nothing to be ashamed of. But before I closed the door I heard a sob escape.
I entered the main hall, rowdy as ever, and asked after Jasa or Joseph. Through vague answers such as 'I might have seen him heading uptown a few hours ago' or 'so and so said something about the school', I gathered that he was waiting at the university.
It was quite a ways to walk to, so I hailed a carriage, they often wait outside the guild hall. Provides good business I hear. And took a quick nap during the journey. I always get tired riding things like that.
The driver knocked on the door firmly but not loudly to announce our arrival. I stretched my shoulders and back before exiting the door held ajar by the driver, I tipped him a silver bit and a smile before continuing through the gates of the university. Where I was promptly stopped.
"Mr. Reed, sir. What business do you have at the University today?" An old man with a decorative polearm and a fancy coat with shiny metal buttons on it, stood just inside.
"My own, Jack. Why must you always be a nuisance?"
"Just doing my job, no need to give me trouble for it."
"Aren't former students supposed to have free access?"
"Only alumni, you failed every course you took before dropping out."
"Fine. I'm here to see the headmaster."
"I'll send him a message."
"It'll take too long. I know the way, I'll find him myself."
I move to walk in and was met with the flat of the polearm's head against my chest.
"Reed, you know the rules. How many times do we have to do this cock measuring contest. You are not above anyone else."
I stare at him. I slowly push the head or the polearm away and brush my hand against the gate. I step out of the way and continue on.
A loud clang sounds, and Jack comes rushing over with a shout and no polearm. He halts me with a hand on my shoulder, spinning me to face him. I push his chest away and continue on. I hear him stumble back before he starts shouting at me. A few of the nearby students laugh at his misfortune.
I would feel sorry for Jack if he wasn't such an ass.
The campus was laid out so that most of the buildings were on either side of a long straight road. The Grand Offices were at the far end providing the most scenic route and proving the most inconvenient to myself. I almost wish I had kept the carriage driver to carry me to the door but then Jack would hold a grudge and not allow the driver to enter. It could harm the man's livelihood.
So, I walked. And walked. And walked, passing students and other people at the university on some kind of business. Trees and various floral arrangements, that probably took decades to grow, separated the main road in two and lined the front entrances of many of the buildings. If I was even remotely familiar with flora, I'm sure I'd be suitably impressed. However, the air of the pines mixed in ruined it for me. Made my eyes itch.
When I entered The Grand Offices, I was accosted by the smell of parchment and ink as well as a wave of hushed voices that created a constant thrum that could almost be physically felt. A few nearby took a quick look up before going back to working.
I moved to the rear of the building, trying my best not to get in the way of everyone who was rushing around. When I reached the staircase, I began my climb up. And up, and up. The old fool's older than me, why would he choose the top floor for his office. So he can stay in shape? Is this why the old man's so tough?
A woman of middling age sat outside the headmaster's door, reading over documents of some kind so densely packed with text that from where I stood it appeared a solid grey. She smiled and nodded in greeting but did nothing as I walked through the door. Inside, a large man sat behind a large desk with a large stack papers on the desk all silhouetted by the light from the window. A large window. Everything in this room made you feel small in comparison, especially the man himself. Despite the man being at least thirty years older than myself he would probably be able to toss me the length of the room.
I pulled out the seat that sat across from him, but that reminded me too much of my time enrolled here so instead I got up and stood behind the chair. Out of respect for the man, I waited for him to speak. He sat arms on his desk, hands folded and his chin resting on them. I couldn't see his face by the way he sat; With his back to the sun and no other light in the room, his entire front was in dark shadow. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being deeply scrutinized.
Until he started snoring.
I opened the door to the office and slammed it shut again. He didn't move or give any indication that he had been sleeping instead he greeted me.
"Ah, Palmer. What brings you here? Please sit, I'll have Jody bring some tea." He rang a bell on the desk and Jody immediately pushed the door to the office open, while carrying a tray of tea. "That, Palmer, is how you can tell you've chosen a good secretary."
Jody placed the tray down and served the tea before leaving. We sat in a somewhat amicable silence as we sipped our tea, which I admit, was quite fantastic. A hint of mint in a sweet sort of brew.
"I'm sorry, Atis. Jack will probably be here later. Complaining. Again. I didn't hurt him this time, but I'm pretty sure he'll still rant up a storm."
"You know, I'd probably care more about how you dealt with him if he wasn't such an ass. I hear you took some time off down at the guild. The place still holding up when you leave? And how was the capital? I haven't seen it in years."
"A few minor clerical crises but business as usual, still getting strange requests every now and then. And the capital was fine as always, a little spoiled by the men following me everywhere, but fine. It would be nice to have a look around without eyes boring into my back regardless of where I go. She worries too much, I have no interest in whatever it is she thinks I'm doing."
"Queen Adrianne? She is a bit of a worrier when she perceives a threat. Real or imagined."
I nod. "It's good to be back though. Some say a crowds a crowd but it's different if you know them."
"So, what trouble are you up to now? I know you well enough that you wouldn't visit for the company, as fine as it may be, and that guilty look on your face worries me."
I stayed silent as I thought of a way to broach the subject easily.
He continued, "I told you before if you needed confidential information, that I could not give it to you. That's held in trust by high profile clients and sponsors. In that cabinet over there."
Should I skirt the subject with only vague explanations of what I plan? I respect him enough to not just proceed without at least a warning.
"A place to hide someone? Be warned we harbor no criminals here, especially not in the warehouse behind the natural sciences building."
Ah hells, subtlety was never my strong suit. "I'm likely going to be beating the shit out of some of your students."