“Do I really have to be there? He makes me feel uncomfortable.” “It’s either that, or potentially miss out on crucial information.” Nils grimaced at the thought of spending brunch with Niklas Fure, known Mutaurum and wicked flirt, but Inigo had pressed him to attend with sound logic: Fure could enlighten them on particular avenues they had otherwise not followed. They stood outside what was, effectively, a cafe, an establishment coined by the avians of Meva. Made for more higher-up nobles, the cafe accommodated anyone who had the money for their admittedly extortionate prices. Under Fure’s direction, they were to meet him here in the early morning and he would pay for brunch, on the promise they’d both attend. Inigo couldn’t be sure why he was to intent on seeing them again, but part of him guessed it was the man/s persuasion and ‘interests’, more than anything else. Fure was fashionably late, arriving 10 minutes past the time he had suggested. He didn’t particularly elaborate on why he was late, but he did welcome the pair of them warmly, and lead them into the cafe. “As promised, I will handle the cost of this meal, gentleman. Consider it on me.” Fure smiled pleasantly at the two of them as he slipped into a seat. He was wearing clothes now, comparing to when they last saw him, as were they technically. Inigo and Nils had ditched their heavy armour, Inigo opting for his standard leather garb, whilst Nils wore the red cloth of his uniform. Fure was the more fashionable of the pair of them, clad in fine silk that draped over his lithe form and left his chest exposed, sitting between the deep ‘v’ neck of his top, with a pair of simply woven pants. “Do you do this with all your potential...'clients’?” Inigo questioned, prompting Fure to raise his eyebrows. He regarded Inigo for a moment, before his lips curled into a cheeky, almost flirtatious grin. “I don’t know what you mean, detector.” He teased. The waiter came to them and Fure placed his order, before looking expectantly at the other two. Inigo took the canine’s offer in his stride and ordered what he wanted. Nils was anxious and ordered the bare minimum, opting for a warm, albeit fancy drink. “So, onto business--” Inigo began, leaning forwards, but Fure raised his hand. “Surely, you can allow me a little bit of idle conversation before you bombarb me with questions, detector? Your time may be limited, but at least grant me a little bit of enjoyment.” Fure’s eyes twinkled with that same hidden mischief he’d had in the bath house just the day before. “Very well. What did you wish to discuss?” Inigo leant backwards in his seat and regarded Fure from a distance. He could see the canine’s eyes running hungrily up and down his body, just for a moment, before looking to Nils who sat in the chair next to him. “That’s some striking fur, young man. What kind of heritage do you have?” “O-Oh, well...” Nils began awkwardly. “I originate from Gurgus, a good 20 leagues from here.” “You’re quire the distance from your hometown then, but I am familiar with the men of the western region,” Fure acknowledged. “They say their fur is as red as fire, their tempers the same.” “My father is one of those men,” Nils sounded sheepish. “My mother was his opposite: delicate, with white fur.” “Hence...” Fure gestured and his lips curled into a grin, admiring Nils’ fur from a distance. He looked to Inigo next, and the reptile quickly guessed what he wanted to know. The reptile sighed. “Southern Atrecal. Effesus is where I was born, in the swamps. That’s what attributes to my scales.” Inigo explained vaguely enough, and Fure seemed to agree to that, and didn’t press for any more information. “How delightful. Again, it’s interesting to see a reptile this far north.” Fure was, of course, referring to the layout of the 4 kingdoms. Portum sat square in the middle of the continent, and Sinaca sat in the north, with Atrecal in the south, Meva in the east, and Sattuca-- the home of the felines-- in the west. “There’s a reason for that, and I don’t mean Sinaca’s budding hospitality, of course.” Inigo nodded in Fure’s direction, and the canine’s eyes sparkled dangerously. The amusement was clear on his face, and he soaked in Inigo’s body once more, quietly shuddering, before he sighed and looked away. A man came to their table, placing around their meals for brunch. Fure had opted for something meaty, whereas Inigo stuck with a simple salad. Nils quietly sipped his drink. “Enjoying that drink, are you, young Nils?” Fure asked quietly from across the table, watching Nils’ thoughtful expression, his eyes glazed over. “Hm?” Nils snapped back to reality and blinked in confusion at the canine sitting across from him. “You looked as if you were quite enamoured with something...or someone. I guessed your drink, but...” Fure chuckled quietly to himself as Nils cleared his throat and sat up a bit more, the skin under his fur flushing with embarrassment. Inigo wasn’t sure what Fure was referring to, and didn’t care to ask. Instead, he decided to press on with what he actually wanted to ask. “Anyway...” Inigo deliberately made motions to change the subject, and he heard Fure gently chuckle in amusement. “Very well, detector,” Fure mused. “You wanted more...sensitive information on Lund’s Trading Company, is that right?” “Indeed. I don’t need the gritty details...that is, unless it involves the shipment of magical items. But other than that, just the basic details will be fine.” “Well...” Fure chewed on his food and leant back, dabbing his lips with a small cloth napkin. “There is many a rumour surrounding just about everyone, isn’t there? Especially concerning the Omnimallage...” He blinked his eyes in Inigo’s direction, amusement clear on his face, but Inigo’s serious face forced him to inevitably move on with the conversation. He cleared his throat and continued. “I’ve done a little bit of independent work for Lund’s Trading Company, from time to time...Marcus has always been a little dense when it came to his finances, and I am rather renowned,” Fure chuckled, picking at his food with a fork. “I did notice a few oddities in their books.” “What kind of oddities are we referring to?” Inigo leant forwards, fingers locking together. “Some of their funds had been sifted through a few subsidiaries, and not just small amounts, but rather large ones, too. The payments seem to disappear once they reach the subsidiaries. Other bits and pieces too lead me to a certain deduction.” “Which is?” “They’re buying more than they say they are...and potentially avoiding some unwanted costs as well,” Fure mused. “One might suggest that they are delving in more illegal activities. One might even say they are importing items not ordinarily available.” “That is troubling.” Inigo replied quietly. If those rumours were actually true, then it would mean that their list of suspects might have potentially grown significantly. There was always the potential for unruly customers who had items smuggled into the company, or even employees who were ‘in the know’ and wanted a bigger cut than Kristoffer Lund wanted to offer. Inigo’s brow wrinkled and he let out an irritated sigh. “Thank you for the information, Fure,” The reptile peered outside towards the sun, gauging, before nodding over at his aide. “We should be going.” “No, no! Stay a little while longer. At least finish your meal.” Fure gestured with a wide, happy smile, before the canine picked at his own food, munching down a little more. Nils had finished his beverage long ago, and he now sait leisurely watching the two chat. Inigo watched Niklas Fure from the other side of the table, slipping the occasional leaf of his salad between his wide lips, chewing them down. He wasn’t a fool; he could tell when someone’s eyes were on him, in a manner of speaking. Fure’s attraction to him was as clear as day, and the Mutaurum made no effort to hide his infatuation. Perhaps it was a common thing amongst those in power to fraternise with who they wanted. Inigo would be lying if he said he’d seen that sort of gaze before: he never considered himself attractive, and neither did anyone else. He was arguably not that interested in the thought of it, either. They are in mostly silence, but for the occasional small talk from Fure, who asked them all about random points in their life, such as their first job or who they were smitten with when they were younger. Eventually, their plates were cleared. Inigo slowly rose to his feet, glancing to his aide. “We should go. Thank you for brunch, Mr. Fure.” Inigo nodded his head in respect and the canine leant back to admire the two of them, sighing almost wistfully. “We will meet again, wont we, detector? I still haven’t shown you my study.” His eyes twinked and Inigo shot him a rather simple, unreadable expression. He turned from him without a word. Inigo heard Nils offering his thanks for the invitation, before the canine guardsman followed the reptile out of the cafe and back into the busy streets of Aelibuch. The weather outside was overcast, but humid. The impending threat of rain overhead caused Inigo and his aide to move relatively quickly through the busy streets to collect their equipment. Their next stop: Lund’s Trading Company, and their respective offices. ---------- x x x ---------- “Mr. Lund will see you now.” Marcus Lund’s secretary, a delicately shaped and well dressed canine, gestured them professionally towards the ornate mahogany door that led into Marcus’ office. Inigo and Nils, having dressed appropriately in their right attire, armour and all, stood and moved towards the door. This was their next stop. They had spoken to Lady Armelle, and now they had Marcus Lund to deal with, for the time being. Inigo didn’t knock on the door, nor did he wait for someone to open it. Instead, he stepped through, with Nils walking in after him, the young canine anxiously stepping over and patiently waiting in the corner. From behind the desk stepped Marcus Lund, a man who looked remarkably like his older brother, Kristoffer. Both of them bore the same luscious fur and sharp senses as his older brother, but his colours were more vibrant, and his posture was warm. He was clad in clean cloth robes that looked fine and neatly woven, with pants and boots. Inigo had gotten the impression that Kristoffer was standoffish and irritable, but Marcus appeared to be a friendly man, when taken at face value. The canine raised a hand and Inigo shook it in his. “Inigo Taborette. I hope you don’t mind the intrusion, Mr. Lund. I’m sure you’re a busy man.” Inigo spoke clearly and plainly, bowing his head in respect. “Not at all, detector. I’d do anything to see my brother’s murderer brought to justice. If I can be of any help, then please, allow me to be.” The canine nodded and then stepped back, returning to his desk and sliding back into his chair. He collected his papers and then put them to the side, in an act of giving Inigo his full attention. “Very well. I wont take up much of your time, Mr. Lund. I imagine this is a difficult time for you,” Inigo traded carefully around the man, knowing that one wrong inference would likely anger the man, or make things worse. “You were with Lady Armelle when you saw the body, is that right?” “Y...Yes,” Marcus cleared his throat and looked uncomfortable. “We had returned from a meeting in the market. I was intending upon speaking to my brother about some paperwork, but when we got the villa and into his study...well...” He trailed off, but Inigo understood, nodding his head. “You needn’t provide the details. That will be enough,” Inigo assured him, and the continued. “What can you tell me about your brother, when he was alive? Did he have any enemies, anyone who might have proved a threat?” “We’ve always had our fair share of dislikeable people,” Marcus admitted. “But no-one has ever gotten close. Our houses are almost impenetrable, and we keep good company. I can’t think of anyone that comes to mind who’d want to hurt him. My brother was a good man.” Inigo sensed the sincerity in his tone and he looked over to Nils, before back to the canine sitting before him. If Marcus was the murderer, there would have to be quite the explanation: his unwavering loyalty was obvious. “We’ve heard a few rumours,” Inigo suggested. “About your company. Some illegal imports going on. Do you think that an employee of your company might have done something, maybe because of that?” “Illegal imports?!” Marcus looked utterly baffled. “Absolutely not. We do not do that here. I am the director of imports and exports. If there was anything like that going on here, then I would know.” “Are you sure about that? Someone could always be doing it behind your back.” “I am absolutely sure.” Marcus was beginning to sound irritated, so Inigo decided it was best not to press the issue. He needed his potential suspects to be co-operative, rather than bitter. “I’ll take your word for it.” Inigo nodded, and he glanced to Nils, who seemed to have a question of his own. “Do you think we can have a tour of your company, Mr. Lund?” Nils asked quietly, and Marcus turned his head towards the guardsman. Inigo detected a hint of annoyance in the man’s eyes. “And whatever do you need a tour for?” Marcus glared directly at Nils, who immediately withered from his stare. “Well, anything could be a clue...?” Nils glanced to Inigo, and the reptile sighed through his nose. He guessed that Nils just wanted a look around. “I suppose he has a point. If it’s not too much trouble, Mr. Lund.” Inigo asked, and Marcus sighed from behind his desk. He rose to his feet and gestured with a hand, leading them from where they were standing out of his office, and into the main lobby of the business. The receptionist to his office sat behind their counter, eyeing them with a certain degree of curiosity. “This way, then.” Marcus gestured them onwards as he stepped through a door to the side, near his office, and out into the expanse of his business. The company itself was situated primarily on the edge of the city, near the main trade routes that came in and out of the city. Marcus’ office sat above the entire warehouse below, so he could oversee his employees as well as be on site. The three of them descended the steps that ran along the wall, leading them down to the warehouse floor. “The heart of our company is imports and exports,” Marcus began. “We situate ourselves near the main trading route so that our movements in and out of Portum are the most efficient and the quickest.” He lead them down the far end of the warehouse to a pair of large, barn-like doors at the far end. They were swung open to reveal a path leading to the main road, and they watched as carts pulled up inside the warehouse, the carts loaded with boxes of food and raw materials. “We primarily specialise in the raw materials. Wood, stone, marble...even precious gems,” Marcus continued, gesturing to the men who rounded the cart and began hauling them off. “We have staff working day and night to keep the warehouses operational, and each of them are paid a decent wage.” Inigo would have openly remarked that the workers looked tired and thin, but he didn’t want to anger the nobleman standing next to him. A man who had everyone handed to him on a silver platter likely had no real idea how much it cost to survive day to day. It wouldn’t surprise to reptile if the poor workers only got 10 gold a day. “Over here, we sort out the materials into the categories and place it upon the shelves. Then, they are distributed to the appropriate stores through hand-drawn carts that move deeper into the city.” Marcus rounded off the remarkably short tour and turned to them, looking impatient. “Is that all?” He asked, his voice sounding a little curt. Inigo heard Nils’ boots scuffle behind him and guessed that the canine moved behind him in an attempt to hide himself, like a child. “That will be all. Thank you for the tour, Mr. Lund. I believe that’s all we need from you today. We’ll speak at a later date.” Inigo held out his hand, and Marcus leant forwards to shake it, his expression suddenly rather sombre. “Please, find those who killed my brother.” He asked, sounding almost desperate. Inigo bowed his head in respect and Marcus passed them, striding back across the right hand side of the warehouse, where he ascended the steps and returned to his office. Inigo slowly turned to regard Nils, who anxiously stared down at the floor, looking a little guilty. The reptile watched him for a moment before he held out his hand indifferently, raising it up to tuck it underneath the canine’s chin, forcing Nils to raise his head. “You seemed rather eager to explore Lund’s warehouse. Mind explaining?” Inigo asked quietly, without a hint of irritation or amusement in his tone. “I just...” Nils began awkwardly. “Hoped we might find a clue.” Inigo regarded him quietly for a moment, before he nodded solemnly. He wasn’t about to reprimand Nils for trying, but he had a feeling that Nils was only trying to impress him. The reptile lead Nils out of the warehouse and they walked in quiet silence back towards the main city’s fountain, the one that marked the centre of Aelibuch. The two of them arrived at the fountain and Inigo wondered what his next avenue of attack was. The case had hit a standstill, and he was waiting on additional information in order to continue onwards. He placed himself on a vacant seat that sat around the side of the fountain and Nils moved in beside him. “Did you hear anything about the search at the home? Did you find the wand?” Inigo asked, glancing over towards Nils. The canine shook his head. “The search at the Lund house turned up empty. The wand is not there, not even in the servant’s quarters.” He explained, and Inigo grumbled in frustration. He leant back and folded his arms, lost in thought. “What are you thinking, sire?” Nils leant closer towards the reptile and Inigo felt the 19 year olds hand on his leg. He looked down to the gloved hand, before snapping his gaze up to Nils’ wide, innocent green eyes. “I’m thinking...” Inigo shifted and Nils instinctively removed his hand. “We are at a standstill. I am inclined to believe Fure when he states that there is some illegal importing going on at Lund’s Trading Company...but I also believe that Marcus Lund is oblivious to the deceit under his own nose.” “He did seem like a good man...albeit an impatient one.” Nils remarked sourly, and Inigo found snorting briefly, a hint of amusement reaching his lips. “Lady Armelle...she is an enigma. She’s more snake than I-- she speaks in tongues, or least appears to,” Inigo muttered. “But a gut feeling isn’t enough to go on. I need more. With this servant still not found, I wonder if he was even responsible...and with the wand not at the scene, the investigation has become all the more infuriating.” “I’m sorry,” Nils muttered, as if it were his fault. “Are they always this difficult?” “No...not always,” Inigo replied absently, staring at the people who walked past. “I’ve had a few ‘easy’ ones, as it were. Ones where the murder is as plain as day. But when people involve magic...they feel they have to go the extra league to cover it up, because they know detectors are not far behind." “I suppose that makes sense. Detectors are sort of famous.” “So you’ve said before...though I’ll admit that I’ve not heard much of my own reputation. At least, I find that people don’t treat me any differently than usual.” “They don’t seem more scared or intimidated by you?” Nils joked, coaxing a smile on the lizard’s face. Nils’ sort-of-naive outlook to how a detector ran his business was a little amusing, perhaps even endearing, but it was much darker than Nils could realise. At least, not right now. If anything, people were largely uncooperative around detectors, or the Omnimallage as a whole. They believed them to be horrible people, people who wanted all the power and planned to take over the 5 kingdoms. Some, like the feline shopkeep they’d met the day before, were scared and on edge around detectors, and took the opportunity to run when they could. They were lucky that most of the case involved nobleman, who couldn’t afford to ignore them. It wasn’t because people had something to hide, as such. But, it is as they say: absolute power corrupts absolutely, and the common folk believe that more when it came to those who wielded magic. Inigo remembered a time in which his target was one of his own. A time when he was called in to a murder and quickly learnt that the culprit was another detector, one who had dipped his fingers into too many pies, a man who had formed a network of contacts using his utter authority and absolute power. His impeccable training had kept him off the ‘radar’ for weeks after he went missing, and it had taken Inigo and his superior skills to track the detector down. He was lucky that the detector involved was arguably one of the worst, a new recruit who hadn’t been with them for very long. Were it someone of Inigo’s experience, they would have never have found him. In short, people were scared. They wanted magic utterly gone from their lives, but they wanted to convenience of the wands and the artefacts that made their lives easier. They couldn’t have one without the other, and the intimidating, impending glare of the Omnimallage from their ‘ivory tower’ set them on edge and made them rebellious, almost hateful. “Inigo?” Nils gently jostling of his shoulder brought him back to reality, and the reptile turned his head to stare at Nils, his eyes wide for a moment. Inigo shoot his head and straightened up. “Sorry. I was...” He trailed off for a moment. “Reminiscing.” “About better days?” Nils’ voice was gentle, and soft. “Quite the opposite.” Inigo sighed, getting to his feet. He made his way through the group of milling citizens and back towards the front of the guardhouse, with Nils moving along beside him. “Lady Armelle said she knew little about her husband’s business...but the two of them shared the same home. I don’t believe that she’s completely oblivious. She must have heard something, be it something rather small, or something of monumental importance.” “But she is a noble,” Nils pointed out. “A woman, no less. I wouldn’t be surprised if she wants to protect her husbands fortune, her livelihood.” “Now you’re thinking like a detector.” Inigo mused, and he saw Nils’ tail wag a little in excitement. “At any rate, we should visit her tomorrow,” The reptile suggested with a sigh. “We might hopefully find out more information. In any event, we’re mostly waiting on hearing about the Lund servant before we can make any meaningful steps into another lead.” “I understand, sire.” Nils nodded his head in acknowledgement and the reptile regarded him for a moment, his innocent eyes, short stature and auburn fur. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it again. He didn’t know what to say. “What did you think of Mr. Fure, sire?” Nils asked casually enough, but the flush on his cheeks was obvious. “He strikes me as a man with a lot of time of his hands...and that his spare time involves laying his hands on others, if you understand my meaning, Nils.” Inigo’s voice was a little bitter, but there was at least a small hint of amusement. “Are you implying...” Nils leant forwards, getting in close. “Flesh against flesh? Of two men?” “His advances and fleeting gaze seemed to indicate as much,” Inigo nodded to answer his question. “And yet, he values restraint. Until we are clearly interested, he will continue to tease, believing he is holding a carrot in front of a horse.” “I didn’t realise,” Nils muttered. “I thought he was just very friendly.” “He showed a blatant interest. But then again, I have been around similar nobleman in other countries. When life hands you all that you want on a silver platter, the chase of something taboo and forbidden can taste as sweet as any expensive wine.” “That sounds very poetic, sire.” “I can assure you, I mean it in the most factual sense. Fure enjoys the pleasures of the flesh, but values the thrill of the journey, more than its destination. He showed a keen interested in me, but not for my personality, but for my appearance and profession,” Inigo scoffed. “Not many can say they have seduced a detector.” “Have you ever...been with anyone, sire?” Nils knew he was overstepping, and yet he said it anyway. Inigo dipped his head to regard the canine and stared into his eyes. The auburn furred man looked embarrassed and averted his gaze. “No. It’s never really interested me,” Inigo sighed, and Nils’ face became unreadable, and hard to describe. “We should rest for the night.” “Yes, sire.” Nils bowed his head and stepped back. He watched Inigo step away and turn, heading down the street towards his known inn and the room that awaited him. Nils watched him go with a quiet stature, his gaze wistful, his hands fidgety. He knew what he wanted to say, but feared the repercussions of saying it. Not just from his colleagues, but from the potential recipient of his interest. It was a conundrum. All his life, he had hidden that part of him. All this business with Niklas Fure had surfaced feelings and memories he would have preferred to keep deep down inside him, so he didn’t have to think of them. He couldn’t remember the last time he had felt eyes search him, or the feeling of him doing the same. The warmth of sexual chemistry and the way it made him feel, the way it made his stomach twist...Nils shuddered at the thought. He watched Inigo walk off into the distance, until he could only see the speck of him entering the inn around the other side of the fountain, along a splintered path. He heaved a quiet sigh to himself and turned, stepping into the barracks and shutting the door quietly behind him with a final, fleeting glance.