The Wolf Queen Awakens

Chapter 37

It turned out Grimvar Cruel-Sea had seen the guards Kaie had left outside the house in question and been chatting to them about it, apparently very excited to be living across from the Butcher's lair. He'd even been able to tell them it was Friga Shatter-Shield's old place, a present from her father on her 21st birthday, given in the hope Friga would find a husband, move him in and have the next generation of Shatter-Shields. Of course, after her death, none of the family had wanted to go near it. There were rumours her ghost haunted the place, female cries in the night and strange noises and lights.

Madanach had listened and quietly told Grimvar to go home and stay there, he didn't think it was ghosts behind the sounds. He'd then dispatched Kaie to go find a Shatter-Shield, ideally one of the elders, and get the key. Kaie had managed to persuade Tova, the family matriarch, into handing the key over.

"So, we're allowed to search the place then?" Madanach asked, taking the key off Kaie.

"She says she and Nilsine cleared the place out after Friga died. She's not sure what we expect to find but if it helps catch the killer, she's fine with it," Kaie said, shivering and pulling her furs closer to her... but Madanach had a feeling it wasn't just the cold. Kaie was unnerved and Kaie was rarely afraid of anything. She was normally just fine around dangerous magic... but usually that magic was being wielded by someone on her side. It occurred to Madanach Kaie had never faced dangerous necromancers who were trying to kill her before. By the time she'd been born, Madanach had unified the scattered Reachman clans, she'd never really had to face anyone in battle other than Nords and outsiders who usually weren't skilled mages. There'd been the odd execution or face off against a challenger, but no one with power like a Hag's. This killer was dangerous and Kaie looked a bit nervous... but Madanach also suspected the killer was used to dealing with citizens who weren't battle-trained and certainly had never killed anyone. Kaie was a hardened warrior and no easy prey.

"Then we'd better get inside and see what's there," Madanach said, unlocking the door. "Don't worry, I don't think he's there now. But what we find – if this is his lair, it might be gruesome." He surveyed the little group he'd gathered – Kaie and a couple of guards, his four observers, Borkul, and Delphine had rounded up some of the Blades at her disposal. Ria and the twins had been left back at the palace (or more likely the tavern knowing them), and Eola was probably still in bed, but she had Aela, Brynjolf, Sapphire, Aranea and Erandur all ready to cast an expert eye over things. Madanach approved. Their skill sets would come in useful.

The door swung open and Madanach stepped inside, casting a magelight to light the place up a bit. Tova had been right, there was barely any furniture and there was dust and cobwebs everywhere. But not as much dust as you might expect from an allegedly sealed for six months house.

The blood spatters on the floor were a bit of a give away too.

"He's been here," Delphine said quietly.

He certainly had, but which parts of the house had he been using, was the question.

"We need to spread out and start searching – Kodlak, Viola, Brunwulf, Suvaris, you four stay here by the door. I'll call you if we find anything interesting, but for all we know he's set traps. Don't want anyone getting hurt," Madanach said. Not that it would bother him that much if Kodlak got injured, but he'd prefer to avoid any more paperwork to deal with than he had to. Besides, Viola and Suvaris weren't warriors. Enough vulnerable citizens had died just lately. "All right, Kaie, take the upstairs, you two with her. Delphine, some of your lot OK to search the kitchen?"

Delphine nodded, motioning for Sapphire, Aela and Erandur to have a look round there, and for Aranea to follow Kaie. Which left her and Brynjolf trailing after Madanach and Borkul.