Kendra

Part 21

“He kept himself to himself. He had no wife or children and few friends at court. That is all I know of him really. He did visit the city a lot, usually at night, but I did not keep tabs on him, for until that fateful day he struck you, he was considered to be trustworthy servant.”

As Kendra and Menelas walked through the Garden they took in all the sights and smells of the beautiful surroundings. Butterflies and birds danced around in the air. A Hummingbird darted in and out of a flower. There were guards at each set of doors and each archway in the Garden. Kendra nodded to two of them as they passed back into the palace. A few steps more and they were at the room of Dinas the scribe. The door was slightly ajar and Menelas pushed it open. It was an untidy mess, it looked as though somebody had already searched the place. “Did the palace guard do this?”

“I am not sure, I shall ask the guard near the door.” He called to the guard, “Guard come here.”

The guard to the left of the door looked round, motioned with his head slightly and then jogged to Dinas’s doorway. “Yes my lord?”

“Did you or your men leave this room in and untidy state when you searched it.”

“As far as I know, my lord, my men did not search it.”

“Wha...?” Said. Menelas. “That means that the guards have not been doing their job. Have you seen anyone enter or leave this room since Lord Kendra was attacked?”

“The day after the attack I was ill, another took my place of guard duty.”

“Who was it?” asked Kendra.

“I do not know, I shall ask my partner.” He called to the other guard. “Kuss, who was on duty with you when I was ill?”

“I was on duty on my own that day, and I saw none enter or leave.”

Kendra walked into the hallway to look squarely at the Kuss. “Did you have any breaks?”

“I went for food in the noon, and relieved myself about two hours after.”

“Did anyone take your place?”

“No my lord, they did not.”

“When did you notice that the door was ajar?”

“I am sorry my lord I did not notice such a small thing.”

“You can both go back to duty now.” Said Menelas. He turned to Kendra. “It seems a sly individual has circumnavigated our guards. I wonder if anything is missing?”

“I shall look around, thank you for bringing me Menelas.”

Menelas bowed slightly and said, “By your leave.” Then turned and left.

He looked around the room for a little while. He saw some letters. Flicking through them one caught his eye in. It read:

“Exaltations!

At last we have a brother within King Baran’s Palace, in the place where our hated enemy is said to reside.

May the angels of Cephrasi’s family guide your hand in the deed.

“K.”