A Killing in the Air - The Further Adventures of Bander

  * * *

  MAGISTER ROLO CALDWARD WASN’T HARD TO TRACK DOWN. There was a guard office on the other side of the barracks. Caldward was there with a adjutant going over the details of providing security to a supply caravan coming in from the south. He was a heavyset man of around 50 years of age with a red complexion. To Bander, he didn’t look military at all. There was a softness about him.

  Vala introduced the two men. Caldward looked Bander up and down, but mostly down before mentioning that he knew Bander’s commander, Tad Stircas. Bander despised Stircas so the name dropping had no real effect, other than to confirm Bander’s initial assessment that Caldward was an ass.

  “This has dragged on for far too long,” Caldward said. “Naturally, the Lord Governor is very troubled by this turn of events, but we can’t let the nature of this misfortune affect the important work that’s being undertaken here.”

  “Bander’s particular expertise is in the investigation of…sensitive…matters,” Vala explained.

  “Yes, yes.” Caldward’s hands fluttered. “We’ve all read about your exploits down south, Captain. But we must have—will have—this matter resolved quickly. The mages are under the belief that Tobin Leroth’s past caught up with him. A vendetta of sorts. Natural, given his background.” Caldward’s eyes narrowed and Bander could tell that the fat man was thinking about both Bander and Vala’s questionable past.

  “In my experience, you have to be honest with mages,” Bander said. “Their heads may be in their spell books, but even their most casual musings find the truth rather quickly.”

  “Our mages believe what they are told to believe,” Caldward said. “The Lord Governor’s generous donations to the Guild ensure that. Still, we will not abide distractions and time is of the essence. The next time we speak, I look forward to hearing what you’ve uncovered about this vendetta.” He waved his hands again, dismissing them.

  Vala and Bander left Caldward’s office and went down the hall where another adjutant forced him to endure paperwork and briefing on the rules and regulations pertaining to his assignment. Finally he was rewarded with a palace brooch, signifying that he was on the Lord Governor’s official business and had freedom to enter most areas within the city.

  “I think I’m ready for that drink,” he said as they departed the guard office.

  “One more stop. The laboratory where Tobin Leroth worked. We’re meeting Silbra Dal there.”

  “The girl mage?”

  Vala glared at him. “That ‘girl’ is a fifth adept of the White. She was sent by Ramipoor himself as the Guild Representative.”

  “I was wondering when the conversation would get around to the Guild.”

  “Initially it was a very short conversation, believe me. It was only through the intervention of Aglaard Shie that they allowed me three days to investigate this—”

  “Three days? No one said anything about three days. Tobin Leroth deserves more than—”

  “Exactly. And that’s the only reason we’re involved at all.”

  “You’re wrong,” Bander said. “The reason we’re involved is that the Mage Guild hasn’t been able to solve this themselves.”

  Vala didn’t reply to that. She just walked more quickly towards the lab.