The sun rose in the east, just like all of the mornings before. It was
doomed to be another normal, boring day. Nothing exciting happens anymore. Not
since the Prince had wed and become King. His bride, the Queen, rules with the
thought that quarrels can be stopped with just a smile and a song. Under their
reign the kingdom has been peaceful for the last five years and with the birth
of their first child, peace is sure to continue.
Normally I would be elated that the town’s people have put aside their
differences and have decided to live together in harmony. But I’m not. I am a
detective. I make a living by making sense of trouble and sorting out gruesome
details. I haven’t had a case in years.
The squawks of the morning birds begin and I close the shutters to drown
them out. How such simple creatures can be cheery all the time is beyond me.
Not even a thunderstorm can shut the feathered choir up. Even now they sing
louder just to spite me. I take a swig from my mug expecting a mouthful when there is only a drop.
Disappointment.
"Open up Detective." A man shouts from outside accompanied by
pounding fists against the door. Unusual. I don't get visitors anymore. While the man on the other side tries to coax me out I slip to the window.
There is a crack in one of the shutters leaving enough room to peek outside.
Horses. Men in armor. The royal guard has come to call upon me. A faint hope sparks inside me. Perhaps they are in need of my help. Hope
mixes with guilt as I realize what that means. Something horrible has happened.
The door falls to the floor. Dust swirls in the air. I've forgotten when
I’d cleaned out the cabin last. My mother is probably turning in her grave. She
taught her son to be better than this. The captain of the guard step through. It takes him a minute to see me
through the dirt cloud. "Detective?"
"Captain." I reply hoping I don't look as excited as I am.
"Get dressed." He threw me a pair of trousers. "We found a
body."
"Yes."
"Man or woman?"
He motioned to my neighbors who had gathered on their lawns. "I prefer
not to discuss this here." He was right of course. Any words of murder or
ill contempt and the people would be in frenzy. No, the quieter this case was
the better.
A guard handed me the reigns to a brown steed. He was disgusted by my
presence. Sure, I had skipped my yearly bath but honestly what bum doesn't?
"This is Mud Clump."
"Mud Clump?" I took a second look at this beast. He wasn't a
cavalry horse at all. Mud Clump was tired and sickly looking. I wouldn't be
surprised if they had picked him up at the market before coming. I guess the
Captain doesn't want me riding above my station.
"I noticed that your horse has gone missing." The Captain states.
Not missing just sold to pay off gambling debt. "Where to?" I
climb aboard straddling the poor horse.
"The forest." He said with a gleam in his eye. With a shout the
troops followed their leader into the woods as I did my best to keep up.
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