Dark Deeds: A Fire Investigation (2/2)

Writers: Paula
Date Posted: 11th May 2017

Characters: Zandan
Description: Zandan investigates a death scene, a "tragic accident".
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 12, day 7 of Turn 8

The fire had finally been put out in the early hours of the morning. Since the cot was located on spot relatively remote from other cots, it had taken a moment before anyone noticed the fire. At least there was no danger of the fire spreading to other buildings. Then they had to wait until it had cooled enough to enter to investigate. Sarban had sent one of the understewards to help with it.

"So, who lived here?" Zandan asked, like he didn't know.

"A pair of siblings, newcomers, Furtor and Lizayna, man worked as a farmhand and the sister was a drudge. Haven't lived here long, less than six months," the understeward replied.

Zandan looked the house. The walls and roof looked intact. They were stone, so they didn't burn.

"It's now safe to go in," one of the soot covered firefighters informed them.

Zandan nodded a thank you and gestured the understeward and two guards to follow him inside. He stepped over the fallen door. (they had removed it to get to the fire inside). What he saw gave even the hardened guard Captain a pause.

"Well, he's crispy one." Furtor's burned corpse was barely recognizable as a human.

The younger guard turned green and made a gag-sounds
.
"Vomit outside," Zandan told him with kind tone. The young guard hurried outside and the Captain could hear him empty his stomach.

"That's one resident counted for," The understeward was looking bit green around the edges too and he pulled a scarf to cover his nose. "Any sign of the sister?" he asked and swallowed.

Zandan gestured the remaining guard to check the other rooms. The cot had two rooms and kitchen. He then stepped closer to the body and absently kicked away one of the wine bottles rolling on the floor. He was bit surprised to see that they were still intact. "Well, we don't need a healer to tell us how he died."

Understeward looked at the bottles. "Was he drinking?"

"Looks like it," Zandan replied.

"Drinking and careless handling of open fire," the understeward muttered and scribbled a note.

"Yes, alcohol kills in so many ways."

"Over here, found the girl, she's dead too," the guard called from the second room. It turned out to be a small bedroom, barely larger than alcove. It was mostly untouched by the fire that had destroyed the main room.
She looked so peaceful, laying there on the bed, like she had died on her sleep.

"She doesn't have any signs of being burned, what killed her?" the guard wondered and bent over to examine her.

Zandan hurriedly stepped to stand next to him. "Probably smoke poisoning. House fires create all kind of toxic fumes. Poor girl, she didn't deserve this fate. At least she didn't suffer," his voice had genuine pity. He quickly pulled a fur over her face, before the other guard would examine her too closely.

"Yeah, looks like she didn't even woke up. Small mercy, that." the guard said, sounding shaken.

Zandan touched his shoulder with gesture of sympathy and gestured them to leave the room. "Let's show her some respect."

They returned to the main room. "Should we get healer to investigate her?" the understeward asked.

"Why bother? They've busy tending the living ones. It's obvious what killed them both. Such a tragedy," Zandan said.

"Alright," the understeward scribbled notes again. "I try to find some next of kin to inform of this. If none is found, I suppose Hold will arrange their funeral."

"Looks like there won't be anything more to investigate. It's an accident, tragic one that claimed two lives, but just an accident," Zandan said. Case closed, problem solved. Their deaths would be recorded and bodies buried, no questions asked, no relatives to demand further investigation. Corowal would be pleased.

Last updated on the June 8th 2017

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Dark Deeds: A Fire Investigation (2/2)