Suspects

Writers: Estelle
Date Posted: 9th October 2019

Characters: Collan, Imaki
Description: Collan continues his investigation of the body on the beach
Location: Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 3 of Turn 9
Notes: Follows "SWE: Washed Ashore" and "SWE: Investigation"

"He picked out three," Collan explained to the other guards once they'd
gathered around the barracks table. He showed them the book of sketches
that Giyald had searched for someone who looked like the missing man
from his tavern. "There were a few other possibles, but he thought these
were the most likely. Right age, matching description. This one," he
went on, pointing to the first page he'd shown them, "was picked up by
the Lord Holder's guards a few months back, dealing in smuggled goods
from the North. Sentenced to serve five Turns aboard one of the Hold's
trading ships. We'll check if he's still there, but in the meantime,
that leaves two."

"Or it could be someone completely different," Imaki said gloomily. "He
was missing a head and turning green. Not exactly easy to identify."

Collan suppressed a sigh. "Well, until we get any other leads, this is
what we have to go on. You know this man," he went on, pointing to the
next picture.

"Trivik." Imaki rolled his eyes. "Wouldn't be surprised if he ended up
in the sea. He's a peddler," he explained for the boy's benefit, "and
light-fingered with it, but he's smart enough to know what he can swipe
and only do a few days in the jail if he's caught."

"Right. I can't see who'd want to kill him that brutally, but you never
know. Maybe he saw something he shouldn't have, sneaking about. We'll
keep an eye out for him. Which leaves this one." He turned to a page
near the end and pointed to a picture of a thin-faced young man. "He's
not from around here."

"No name?"

"Doesn't say," Collan said. "The notes say he's a thief. Attacked a
smith over by the Weyr, stole his tools."

"Hmm." Imaki frowned at the picture. "Where's the smith now?"

Collan glanced over the file he'd been sent. "Sounds like he was beat up
pretty bad, had to go to the Weyr for healing. The Smithcraft was
looking into it. They don't like their people being attacked." He
glanced at Imaki. "You think maybe it's revenge? Seems excessive for
stealing a few hammers and tongs."

"We've seen throats sliced over a few marks in a card game."

"Aye, but this doesn't look like the outcome of a drunken brawl. The man
was tortured, and who takes a whole head off?" Still, fingers being cut
could be a warning against thieving. Collan looked at the simple sketch,
the narrow face and wary eyes. There was something pathetic about the
man, as if he knew life had been against him from the start and would
end badly. "But it's the only hint of a motive we've got. I'll send a
message to the Weyr next time a runner comes by, see if this smith is
still there."

"I still reckon it was pirates." The old guard spat. "They'd carve a man
up like that, no problem. And the worst part is, we'll never get the
stinking bastards until the Lord Holder gets off his arse and..."

Collan listened to Imaki's grumbling with half an ear, tapping his
fingers idly on the open book. Most likely, he was right. Pirates were
the bane of this stretch of coast, taking advantage of the many quiet,
hidden bays and isolated cotholds. Whoever the killer was, he'd be long
gone by now.

Once the meeting was over, he did make one last trip to the tavern to
speak to the barmaids. The sun was sinking below the horizon by the time
he got there, bathing the building in crimson and gold light that made
it look much finer than it deserved. He'd timed it well, they'd finished
clearing up from dinner and most of the fishermen had gone home to bed
since they'd have to be up with the dawn. A few traders lingered in the
main room over pints of ale or games of cards, but the two women were
idle, with nothing to do save lean against the bar sharing gossip, and
his question sparked their interest.

"I think so." The younger one frowned as she examined the picture Collan
showed her. "Gemise, isn't this the man who walked out without paying?
Master Giyald said we should let him know if he came in here again."

Gemise squinted at the scrap of hide. "Aye, it could be. Shifty, he was,
with little darting eyes. I had to clean his room after he left, there
were dirty plates everywhere and it stank. He wouldn't let anyone in
while he was there, even to empty the chamber pot. I reckon he was
holdless."

"You might be right." Collan pocketed the sketch again. "Did you see him
speaking to anyone while he was here?"

Gemise shook her head, and the other maid agreed, but then frowned. "I
didn't see him with anyone, he spent all his time in his room, but there
was someone asking after him. Said he was looking for his friend. He was
out at the time, though. I think he was down at the docks, booking his
passage."

"Do you remember what this person looked like?"

She shrugged. "I dunno. Dark hair? He wasn't from around here, I think
he was a trader or a craftsman or something. He seemed nice."

The guard sighed inwardly, concealing his impatience. "Old, young?"

"Um, older than me. Younger than you."

**That narrows it down.** It was a tenuous chain of evidence, to say the
least. They couldn't even be certain the body was that of the thief;
they only knew he'd disappeared around the right time. Or a man who
looked a bit like him.

Collan paid for his drink, bid the women a good evening and stepped out
into the cool evening air. His leg ached, and he felt unutterably weary.
Someone had murdered a young man, brutally, and they were going to get
away with it. Likely Imaki was right; it was a dispute between pirates.
No-one was going to care if those scoundrels attacked each other. One
less rogue to trouble the Hold.

He'd send word to the Weyr about the smith, though. What harm could it do?

***

As the guardsman limped back along the docks towards the main hold
building, a figure slipped out of the tavern behind him to watch him go.
A man, looking thoughtful, in the dusty, travel-worn garb of a small
trader. A man with dark hair.

Last updated on the October 26th 2019

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Suspects