Hoops and Vikings

Chapter Three - Mystery's Folding

Vandorr took his time as he strolled along the beautiful city of Araguaia, it had been about five years since he was last there and nothing seemed to have changed. Eyes trailed after him as he walked along a pavement, he was used to it. He was almost seven feet tall and hefty, a curse he would have to endure till his last breath.

He took the wicked contemptuous look with a slight bow and a smile even though it seemed to always persist, his long bright brown hair fell backwards, already gelled perfectly and long bushy beard washed clean. He sniffed happily as he walked on, it had been ages since he took a clean bath.

He needed answers but could it have been a great idea coming to Araguaia or even worse bringing Celiona along too?! He never doubted for once, the culprit who he strongly believed was from a noble family in the city and it was important that he got the answers he needed, of course solve this mystery and return back to his own life.

He had left her in the hands of Armando who he instructed to keep her in hiding until they found the answers they needed, afterall taking her back to her family would probably  incite things he wasn't really prepared for or even worse call suspicions to him. The door flung open immediately as he knocked on the door of a beautiful mansion just amongst many others.

"Oof! Vandorr Bresk, a trunk of a man!, What could have ever brought you back here. Have you come to see me?!".

"Oh Elena, I don't think coming to see you would ever be right. The memory of Gaius trying to kill me stays fresh in my feeble mind. I have questions nothing more" He replied coolly. The woman giggled weirdly and stared lustfully, she was only but a little over five feet tall, slender body and face revealing more bony and rigid structure, her hair, blonde stroking its curly strands around her face.

"We've had our time and I know you enjoyed every minute of it" she bit her lips gently as she spoke. "I regret every minute of it, Your loose tongue almost had me lose my head..." He replied looking around him hoping no one saw him and walking inside the house immediately. It was as noble as one could imagine, the beautifully design cushions, tables, ornaments and wonderful smell of fragrance that caressed the inside of his nostrils.

"You accuse me like I'm the only one with a loose mouth, speaking of one, What about the Indie you carry alongside you" She said falling backwards on one of the white cushions. He looked up at her and helped himself to the teacup that sat on a table in front of him. "Armando has never betrayed me, Elena" he replied with a dead cold tone.

"I need something..that's why I'm here" he said again after taking a sip of the tea in his cup. "If it's that something you need, you should better visit Sheila's brothel, she holds more pleasures that can satisfy the heavens. I know Gaius visits there even though he doesn't speak of it" She winked and beamed a smile. "I do not speak of that, be serious for once. I need answers. What is it you know about Celiona Serth??" He heaved a sigh and rolled his eyes.

He frowned immediately as he watched the smile on her face wash away changing into terror, he had never seen anything make Elena fear or worry that much. "Vandorr, we do not speak of these things!!" She whispered sharply.

"You do realize that only both of us are here?!" He said still frowning. "Vandorr, walls have ears! I can't help you! I don't know anything!" She said gathering herself together, looking away from him.

"You must leave now, I'm sorry" She looked up at him with glistering eyes saving up her courage. He returned the gesture in same manner, whatever seemed to be going on was definitely grievous and frightening as his only source of information seemed not to be of use. He stood to his feet and made to leave immediately, hiding the disappointment on his face. "Vandorr...." She called but he didn't look back. "Ask for Hemrick Shall at the Governor's office. He might have the information you need. You have to forgive me, I have spoken already too much that any other word concerning this matter, Gaius will have my tongue cut off" She walked up to him as he opened the door to leave.

"Alright then..." He responded without taking any further glance at her. .
Hemrick Shall.

He had heard the name before, one of the consul to the governor. He heaved a sigh as he approached the roadside, he never imagined going up into the politics of Araguaia in order to get information about something that struck fear in the hearts of many. "Going somewhere, friend?!" A man on a carriage had stopped by his side.

"Hardin's road.." He shielded the sun rays from his eyes as he looked up. "That would be 2 freons.." The man replied with a smile.

"Going to see the Governor eh?!" The man said again  this time louder as the carriage began to move so that he could hear him. "You don't have to pretend to be a wagon driver, Doric" He said as though not impressed with something. The man turned back to look at him and laughed out loud, without any further hesitation, he jumped out of the seat and entered into the carriage itself even as the horses continued to move.

"Hopefully your horses don't drive us off a cliff" Vandorr said again in the same manner as before. "Vandorr, how could you even have known?!" Doric asked despite still laughing with a sense of amazement and astonishment. "I've seen things you could only dream of, fought even worse and you think I can't see past some illusion spell?! What in God's name is the Governor doing in the street alone?!" Vandorr responded egoistically.

And without much of a second passing, the man's face had began to morph like rubber expanding and contracting that almost immediately another man sat before him. Nothing more than forty years of age, smooth skinned, blue eyes, a perfectly trimmed moustache that match the brownness of his gelled hair. "My free time! Braveheart!!! I can only use it to do things I love" Doric beamed a smile that could make woman drool.

"You seem to forget that you have enemies...amongst the Noble families. The " Vandorr replied looking away from him.

"The Effreus still hold a grudge if you remember. They believed Jackson should have been next Governor not you and not to forget the allegations that led to his imprisonment" He said again, some memories stuck longer than he thought.

"Or Hermis Serth for one" Doric said staring into space as though considering something in his mind. "Speaking of Serth, that's why I'm here. I might have found Celiona Serth,... One of those arrogant beings" Vandorr said as soon as he noticed the awkward silence that followed Doric's last statement.

Doric broke off from his daydream immediately "are we talking about the Celiona Serth daughter of William?!".

"Never really cared about a family tree, you of all people should know that. Maybe she's the one, I really don't know, never cared" Vandorr stroked his beard. "Do you know what you're talking about Vandorr!!? We are talking of someone who disappeared eight years ago!.." Doric frowned.

"I think I know what I saw Doric! She even claims to have a daughter called.... Ha! I seem to forget" Vandorr stared away thinking really hard, how could he forget such a name?! He had really never seemed disappointed at his own intelligence.

"Aretha....if that's what you're looking for" Doric said coolly as though trying not to offend him. Vandorr nodded. "That girl would be ten next month... I doubt she remembers her own mother since Marionetta is doing quite a pretty good job as one" Doric said again.

"Where is she as we speak!??" He looked up at Vandorr and asked. "Consider her safe, I find it threatening to speak of her whereabouts now... If you must know" Vandorr said looking around before explaining what had happened a few days earlier.

"Pure madness Vandorr! Your expeditions have turned you mad. The VANDOLSK is nothing but a myth!! Even books don't keep any record of it " Doric replied.

"You think?! Look! This was what we found with her. Recognize it??because I don't, I need answers" Vandorr responded, his patience diminishing by the second. The horses had come to a halt in front of a majestic building, it was the Governor's Office. Doric's eyes grew wide as Vandorr held out a green diamond pendant that glistered in the orientation of sunlight.

"The Crest of Marmalade!! How's that possible??" He exclaimed.