Stuck Investigation

Writers: Chelle, Paula
Date Posted: 16th July 2010

Characters: Sarban, Zandan
Description: Sarban and Zandan discuss ideas about how to catch the murderer-at-large.
Location: Emerald Falls Hold
Date: month 10, day 3 of Turn 5

Zandan collapsed into the chair in the Steward's Office. He looked
exhausted. He had not been around the main hold a lot lately. Instead he
had spent time at Red Rush Hold, looking for the holder's killers.

Sarban took one look at him. "I'm not going to like this, will I?"

"It's the holder Barric's murder case. I kind of know who did it but I can't
prove it unless someone confesses." The large captain shrugged his
shoulders. The situation frustrated him.
It would be so much easier if he could just beat the confession out of
someone.

"Would it help if you offered a reward to anyone who gave information?
Anonymous tips allowed and all that?" Sarban sat back and thought about
the mess.

"It might, someone might get greedy," Zandan said. "And these fellows have
started to move around. Soon they may slip out of our hands," he grit his
teeth.

"You have my authorization to post a 10 mark reward for any information that
leads to the apprehension of one of them." Sarban knew that to a holder,
farmer, or crafter 10 marks was a small fortune, enough to buy two
runners.

The captain nodded. "I'll spread the word about the reward. Let's just hope
greediness wins."

"What we should have done, though it's too late now..is to get a canine to
smell Barric and then set it loose to track whoever smelled like that."
The steward was frustrated as well. Holders were beginning to complain
about the Lord Holder's inability to bring justice.

"Everyone was too busy to deal with the fire's aftermath to really _think_ "
Zandan agreed with the steward.

"So tell me about this guy you think did it." Sarban looked at Zandan
curiously.

"First of all, there were three of them, I think. The leader is Miriek. He
was seriously pissed off when his wife died in that fire. Blamed the
holder about it. I've talked with him, but he is clever enough not to
reveal himself and proving he was there is nearly impossible."

"Ahh one of those. Tell me, being that as it is, do you think this is the
first such instance of something..happening around Miriek?" Sarban knew
with people like that, it was usually not a case of what, but when.

"I did find something from the archives, when he was a teenager..." Zandan
said.

"Oh?" Sarban was mildly curious. A sailor by trade, he was used to swift
justice.
The captain would order a hanging or someone cast overboard.

"Fighting with another young man. It wasn't that serious and no one was
truly injured, so they got off with scoldings," Zandan replied.

"Ah well that's not really anything. Every young man gets into a brawl at
some point." Sarban had had his share of scrapes. Of course the docks were
not always the most friendly places to grow up.

"So they do," Zandan agreed. He certainly had.

"Allright so offering a reward...is there anything else we can do?"

"One of the suspects has moved to another hold. I could track him down
there. On unfamiliar turf, maybe it's easier to convince him to talk.
Especially when the others aren't around to support. I probably need your
permission, and the local Steward's permission, since it isn't Emerald
Fall's territory," Zandan said thoughtfully.

"Which Hold?" There were some places Sarban was leery of offending for
various reasons. Things would have to be handled carefully.

"Crimson River. Downriver from us, along one of the Nettleweed river's
estuaries," Zandan replied. To him the place was just a name on a map.

"Small trading stop for the boats..nothing much there really. They do have a
reputation for shady people though. Might be why he went there." Sarban
scratched his face, not knowing whether or not it would be okay to send
Zandan into that.

"I could go there unofficially of course, take a couple days of 'vacation',"
Zandan suggested.

"The only problem I have is that I don't think you should go into something
like that alone. What if something happened? Then again you'll draw less
attention to yourself if you're alone." Sarban didn't like his options.

"I can take care of myself," Zandan assured him. He was a big sized man
after all.

"It's not you I'm worried about, but I leave it up to you Zandan. It'll be
your safety in question." Sarban had faith in the guard and counted him as
a loyal holder.

Zandan nodded. Besides, he was sure Corowal would bail him out if he landed
into some trouble. He would not leave his childhood friend in a tough spot.

Last updated on the July 17th 2010

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Stuck Investigation