A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 3: Lies

Chapter 3:Lies

Lies are treacherous. Lies are deceiving.

Lies are devious. Lies are undivulging.

Lies are unending. Lies are concealing.

Lies are a pitfall, dug by man for him.

There exists, in fact, not much difference between the truth and a lie. The objective of one is to make you believe in it. Therefore, in a way, the world is a concealer and a conjurer. Once can scare believe one's own senses and definitely not those of others. The truth is merely what you choose to believe in.

Teylin found it difficult to believe what he had just heard.

It was scarce five of the clock and already, for the first time in history, the town was awake. Sentries came to search every establishment to find likely candidates for a man who could have murdered the king. The gates to the city had been closed three hours ago.

How could Asteryn have failed to keep his promise? Was it that he really hated the late king so much that he neglected his duties and his promise to him only the nigh two days ago?

Strolling out, he assessed the general mood of the public. Other than the annoyance on being woken up early, they were fine. Naturally, the town was abuzz with news. Several speculations and stories emerged on the topic. Was it an outsider? Was it a commoner? Or was it one of the inner circle?

Gossip was common enough and the occasions heightened the frequency of wagging tongues. His own neighbours were busy talking, speculating as to the implications of this event. The discussion was the general one.

"I tell you we are going to have better days." Old farm hand Munroe said. "The tyrant's death is a relief.

"What if the tyrant were to be replaced by an even worse one? From what I hear, the king's son isn't exactly an angel." Mrs. Olivier, wife of Charles Olivier, the jeweller spoke out.

"The prince is a quiet figure. At most, you can accuse him of being shady." Teylin came to the rescue of his friend.

Mrs. Olivier looked at him with eyes so sharp they would have cut a strand of hair strait down the middle. "You speak as though you know him, Teylin." She said.

"The thing that worries me more is the food crisis. What can anybody do about it? I hear there is food hoarded in the palace. They are waiting for the prices to go higher still before they sell it. What will the prince do about it?" Another asked.

Voices were hushed. The discussion being an alluring one lasted till sunrise and beyond.

The king's death also raised questions as to the stability of the kingdom. As Teylin feared, people began to wonder as to what was going to happen next. Some said better days were around the corner. Others began to foretell doom. Others yet began stories of supernatural sorts to explain the situation.

Personally, Teylin were wondering why the guards were even taking the bother to search. Obviously, the murderer would not be amongst them, now would they leave anything important behind. Besides, he would have made his escape good long back.

Teylin noticed something else now: Everyone was confused. They had no idea as to what was going to happen next. The dark that lack of knowledge ignites is a prelude to fear. Asteryn would have to take control soon.

Presently, one of the sentries rode up to him. He was in full armour, complete from spurs to breastplate to gauntlet to helmet. It was a show of strength and fear, a message to all those who questioned the integrity of those in the palace. This particular man was ever so slightly dark, complete with the spear carried in his muscular hand; he seemed to be a force to reckon with.

Teylin smiled. In a real battle, people like these were the first to go. They stood out too much and as a result, were targeted by all. Most of the survivors would bee of the quiet, weak and meek type.

The sentry did not even ask him before entering the sanctuary of his home to search it. It was understood.

The quiet smile vanished. Teylin was about to storm in and tell the guard off for entering his premises in such a blasphemous manner when he heard a noise from across the street.

Joe Salsberg was an old friend of his. Together, they had created mischief that would make them notorious in the old market. They would steal cartloads of apples from caravans for those of lesser economic backgrounds to feast on. The vendor would come back after securing a good price for the previous lot and would find the crates empty. The guards posted could not explain the incidents either.

The incidents could never be blamed on them directly, but by the way benefactors looked at them, it was obvious.

Right now, Joe was being arrested by the sentries. One of them, a particularly slow and loud voiced one began to call out to his comrades: "We have found him! We have found the murderer of the King!"

Teylin stood there, shocked into inactivity. How could they take Joe to be a murderer? He had seizures whenever he ever so much as looked at blood. As a consequence, he was a vegan.

In a flash, his own home and security was forgotten. Joe was going to be in big trouble if he did not come to his rescue now. Teylin ran up to him, but a pair of sentries barricaded the way. The army was well trained in the art of maintenance of public order. When they were deployed, few seldom dared to challenge them.

"Stop! Stop!" Teylin cried out. "You have got the wrong man..."

"Do you know the identity of the killer, commoner?" The big-mouthed sentry asked in a spiteful, arrogant tone. Evidently, he did not like being questioned.

"It is not a commoner, definitely not a commoner..."

"Do you or do you not know his identity?"

Teylin shook his head from side to side, slowly.

"Then do not waste our time."

The procession moved towards the palace road." Something had to be done soon. Teylin began to run in hope of cutting them off and somehow freeing his friend. After all, he knew the streets of the city better than anyone else could possibly know in a lifetime.

Almost as soon as he started in his endeavour, he felt a sharp, searing pain t the back of his head. Touching it gingerly with two fingers of his right hand, he brought it forward to his eyes. They gleamed red with blood in the morning light. His knees felt wobbly. The last thing Teylin remembered seeing was Joe being carried away. There was something else too, something with a sentry that he should never have had. He could see it from the ground where his head lay now. Under his cloak was a small purse of gold.

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Hope you enjoyed the story so far! Wait, there is a cover-up? Or was the guard bribed by some low-life? Why did they pick Joe? What will happen to Teylin? Follow me as I keep adding chapters all the time! If you liked the story, then please do vote(just click the little star-shaped icon) and share it with your friends.

Thank you for being there.

Archit Kottapalli