Roanoke: The Price of Power

The Report

Arnold knocked at the assistant governor's door and waited for the summons before stepping into the Dare cottage.

"I couldn't keep him here long," Dare said straight away, "he seemed to have somewhere to be."

"I'm certain you made the effort. Nothing more could be done."

Dare nodded, seemingly relieved that the plan was executed without arousing Doc's suspicion.

"Did you discover anything in his home?"

Arnold stepped over to Dare's desk, a polished roll-top that looked incongruous with the meanness of the Roanoke lifestyle, and snatched a quill and small leaf of paper. He quickly sketched the symbol that he'd seen on the hidden signet ring and held it out for Dare to examine.

"Perhaps I have," said Arnold, " if you can fix a meaning to this."

Dare took the paper and held it in the morning light, now streaming with more utility through the rear window of the cottage.

"By God," smiled Dare, "I've seen this before. On a ring. Only seen two like it in my lifetime, but one was in London."

"And the other?"

"On the voyage to Roanoke. I saw it on the finger of Shaberdge."

"The man who went missing shortly after Doc arrived," said Arnold. "Then I certainly have found something of interest. There was a hidden cache beneath his floor, just as I thought. I found a ring bearing this symbol among the contents."

"So you think the Doctor is connected with Shaberdge's disappearance," said Dare.

"I think he killed him. The ring had traces of dried blood."

"The bastard kept a souvenir then!" said Dare with grim enthusiasm, obviously eager to put the investigation behind him.

"It's a fair call that if Doc killed Shaberdge, he will know something about Jeremy Swift," said Arnold. "We need to question him."

Dare stood and punched his fist into his open hand.

"We'll take him now!" he said. "The man I would normally call on for this sort of aside is on patrol. Will you join me in taking him into custody?"

Of course, Arnold wanted to say. This "sort of aside" is what he had been born and bred for. But in a colony far removed from law, frontier folk could carry their own weight in powder-keg troubles.

"I will, but you must make me an assurance," replied Arnold. "This will be treated to the letter of the Queen's Law. No fanciful hangings and no vigilante justice. I want you to assure me that any man who takes undue action against Doctor Richard will face persecution."

Dare narrowed his eyes thoughtfully and Arnold immediately lost trust in the man. It should not bear long consideration to agree upon just action. He knew then that he would need to turn his attention to protecting the accused. There would be no way around it.

"Very well, Mr. Archard," Dare said after his moment. "Let's be done with this."