Chapter 14 - Playing Detective

When he stepped into the training field, the clanking noise of steel strikes entered Arthur's ears. A few guards were lightly sparing nearby, but he didn't recognize them, so he continued across the field without paying them much mind.

As he made his way toward a small, unassuming building that stood next to the barracks, the sun's stifling rays bombarded Arthur with every step he took. Being outside in the Revan territory made him feel disgustingly sticky, so he picked up his pace and let himself inside the moment he arrived.

"Can I help you, lord?" A middle-aged man behind a shoddy desk asked as he entered.

Arthur didn't respond immediately, instead opting to look around the small office as he recovered from the sun's brutal assault. The office was rather spartan in its furnishings which wasn't all that surprising considering it was used by the family guard.

Next to the shoddy desk was something similar to a cork board with schedules tacked on. Arthur scanned the names written on it for a moment before finally turning his gaze toward the middle-aged man.

"Hello sir, I'm looking for Captain Onarr, please." Arthur stated with a smile.

"That's me, lord. May I ask why you're looking for me?" Captain Onarr asked.

"Oh, good!" Arthur cheered. "I'm looking for Foster Welt, he usually stands guard at the study, but I haven't been able to find him today."

"Foster?" Captian Onarr raised his brow. "I'm sorry, but he didn't come in for roll call this morning."

"He didn't come in?" Arthur was confused. "I thought the guards lived in the barracks? How could he not come in for roll call?"

"When the guards aren't on duty, they're free to do as they please. They occasionally go out to the city for drinks, Foster especially. It wouldn't be the first time he missed roll call because he drank too much and passed out in some alley."

Arthur thought for a moment. "Would you happen to know who he was with last night?"

"I don't, but his usual drinking buddy Harkon might know. He should be right outside sparring. Would you like me to take you to him, lord?" Captain Onarr asked as he began to rise out of his seat.

Arthur raised his hand and nodded his head. "No, thank you. I can figure it out. Thanks for your time, sir!"

As soon as Arthur turned away from Captain Onarr, his innocent expression distorted. He had far too much on his mind to be running around playing detective, and if he found Foster passed out in an alley, Arthur would likely wake him up with a fireball as thanks for the unneeded trouble.

Once he exited the office and entered the training field, Arthur walked to the nearest sparing guards. "Hello! Are either of you Harkon?"

However, before the guards could respond, a soft voice called out from a few dozen feet away. "I'm Harkon, Lord."

Arthur turned to see the voice's source and was surprised to see a guard even scrawnier than Foster walking toward him. He seemed meek and looked as if he hadn't stepped out of his teenage years just yet.

Arthur only needed one look to figure out why Foster brought Harkon along when he drinks. Foster was likely playing the fun senior and taking advantage of his junior's wallet.

"You're looking for me?" Harkon asked as he reached him.

Arthur shook his head and stopped himself from feeling sorry for the kid. "I am! I'm looking for Foster, and Captain Onarr said that you might know where he is."

"Foster?" Harkon appeared confused. "I thought he was with you, lord."

"With me? Why would you think that?" Arthur asked curiously.

"Because he said he'd serve as your personal guard starting today." Harkon replied.

"So you spoke with him last night then?"

"Yes, lord. We went to celebrate at The Cat's Cradle, but I left after it got late. That was the last time I saw him."

He didn't appear to be lying; frankly, the kid didn't seem to be the type to lie in the first place.

"Why didn't Foster leave with you?" Arthur asked.

"We met a man and a woman." Harkon paused as he searched his memories. "I think their names were Mara and Alan. Foster got along well with them, and when I was ready to leave, he told me he'd stay with them and continue drinking."

Arthur felt a headache coming on as it became more and more likely that Foster had gotten too drunk and simply passed out in an alley somewhere. However, since there was still a chance something was wrong, he couldn't just leave it be.

Arthur's eyes fell toward the training sword at Harkon's hip. "Go get yourself a real sword and come to my room. You can ask a maid for directions if you don't know where it is."

"Ah, um... Lord, I have a shift soon..." Harkon replied nervously.

Arthur rubbed his brow in frustration breaking his innocent illusion. "Did Foster not tell you that you were also selected to be one of my personal guard?"

Harkon pointed to himself with a dumbfounded expression. "Me?"

"Yes, you. You'll be working directly under me from now on, along with a dozen others. You don't have to take shifts anymore."

Harkon still appeared uncertain, and Arthur didn't have the time to walk him through it step by step. "Harkon. Sword. My room. Now."

"Ah! Yes, lord!" Harkon shouted as he snapped to.

According to Foster, the kid was a fourth circle which should be enough protection if Arthur needed to go to the city to track Foster's whereabouts.

Still, to be careful, he intended to be seen leaving the manor by himself. Once in the city, he would meet up with Harkon and search for Foster. That way, anyone who would do Arthur harm won't bother sending someone powerful. Of course, that assumed Kyren didn't find him sitting in the manor's dungeon.

As Arthur entered the manor, Kyren phased through a wall beside him.

"Speak of the devil, and he shall appear." Arthur muttered under his breath in English.

"Doovil? What's that mean?" Kyren asked as he floated to Arthur's side.

Arthur stopped walking and turned to him. "Don't worry about it. Did you find Foster?"

"The pretty boy's not in the dungeon or inside the manor. I checked everywhere."

"You're sure?" Arthur pressed him.

"Damn it, kid. I'm a ghost, not stupid. I checked the whole damn manor. He's not here." Kyren grumbled.

Arthur sighed. He didn't want to leave the safety of the manor if he didn't have to. The thought alone caused his chest to feel tight as his pulse quickened.

"You're going to have to come with—" Arthur suddenly stopped talking as he felt eyes on him.

He quickly scanned the hallway before looking out the window and seeing the mercenary leader Fenric staring at him. Arthur unconsciously moved out of sight the moment their eyes made contact.

"What are you doing, kid?" Kyren stared at him, holding back a laugh.

"He saw me talking to you." Arthur shot back in a panic.

"Who?" Kyren looked around before gazing out the window. "Him? So what? He probably thinks you're some brat speaking to your imaginary friend. It's not like he can see me."

"You're probably right." Arthur said, secretly blaming his strange overreaction on his teenage nerves.

"I'm going to have to enter the city, so naturally, you're coming with." Arthur finished his thought that was interrupted earlier.

Kyren shrugged. "It's not like I got anything better to do."

Arthur nodded and walked the halls toward his room, keeping an eye out for any maids along the way. When he finally found one, he asked them to ready a carriage for him.

He would have liked to tell Senna where he was going but knew he shouldn't. She'd want to come along if he did, and if she were with him, he wouldn't be able to speak with Kyren, removing one of his most essential cards from play.

Once inside his room, he made his way over to his mattress before lifting it up and grabbing the three items hidden beneath it. The first of the three items was a simple short sword.

It wasn't engraved with a house crest or anything flashy. The only thing that set it apart from others was that the blade's width was noticeably thinner than what was typically sold to feel comfortable in his teenage hands.

The other two items were a matching set of forearm sheathes with matte-finished double-edged blades nestled inside. The blades didn't have handles; instead, having a continuous edge and a point on either side.

However, they didn't need handles as the blades weren't meant to be held; they were designed to be controlled with the Revan's telekinetic spear art. Of course, Arthur took inspiration from a particular assassin game on Earth when he thought up the design, but the actual function was slightly different from its Earth counterpart.

Arthur removed his shirt and strapped the sheathes to his forearms before throwing on another that was a bit looser.

"Hmph." Kyren crossed his arms in judgment. "Hidden weapons are for cowards."

"Only fools whine about fairness in a fight to the death." Arthur shot back as he analyzed himself in the vanity mirror.

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