A Thief In Our Midst

Writers: Miriah, Paula
Date Posted: 8th January 2014

Characters: Zelanka, Karhal
Description: Zelanka talks to Karhal about some missing items
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 4, day 15 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Benani

Karhal

It wasn't often that Karhal was asked to go to Zelanka's office and
when he was, it was usually important. So it was that when a drudge
passed the message that he was needed, Karhal rose from his desk and
made his way to the Headwoman's office. He knocked lightly and waited.

Zelanka had grown steadily more and more concerned over the months,
when little things started to pile up. It was nothing she could
actually pin point so she had hesitated to voice her worries.
Admittedly, the Lady Holder had lot on her hands, but Benani just
_wasn't_ that absent minded.
"Please, come in," she called, hearing the knock.

Opening the door, Karhal stepped in and closed it behind him. A brow
arched at the pensive look on the Headwoman's face; this wasn't to be
a simple visit. "What's troubling you?"

"It's about our dear Lady Holder. Take a seat. Do you want klah or tea?"

"Hmm." He sat and gestured to the klah pot. "You should know me well
enough to not even ask any more." One lip corner lifted. "Thank you."
He paused and drummed fingers on the arm of his chair. "What is
troubling Benani?"

"It's just good manners to ask," Zelanka said while pouring him a mug.
After he got his klah, she pursed her lips, "Things are gone missing
from her office," she said with low voice.

Brows immediately snapped down as he sat up. "What sort of things?"

"Letters and hides, small items like hair clips," Zelanka replied.

"Perhaps her maids are misplacing them? Orhla constantly lost
hairclips and the like." He frowned. "But hides and letters? What kind
of hides and letters?"

"Well, I would have ignored if it was just small items. Just because I
try to train my staff to be as organized and neat as I am, doesn't
mean every one is as organized," Zelanka's obsession of organization
and cleanliness was well know around the hold. "And the hide and
letters, they vary from personal correspondence to hold matters. Some
of them very important ones. I can give you example: One of my girls
swore she delivered a letter from Lady Issara to Lady Benani's desk.
She could even point where she put it down. But Benani never found
it."

He frowned, leaning back in his chair to consider it. "That is
disturbing. Benani isn't the type to misplace a correspondence such as
that. Is anything missing that is of a sensitive nature?"

"That, you have to ask from her," Zelanka didn't know _everything_ after all.

"Have you questioned any of her maids?" Karhal stroked his chin,
considering his own options.

"Not officially, but yes, I've talked with them. I don't want to raise
alarm without being sure something is wrong," Zelanka replied.
"Besides, I also don't want to scare him or her off if there is a
thief."

The thought of a thief rifling through the lady's belongings was a
disturbing one, especially considering the personal correspondence.
There would have to be a reason behind it. Likely it was a maid,
envious of the Lady's belongings. His brow knit. This would have to be
handled with care and discretion. "How many have access to the Lady's
belongings?"

"I make you a list," Zelanka said and pulled out a clean hide. It didn't take her long to list down the names. "These are the people who have access that I'm aware of. If there are others, they have no right to be anywhere near her belongings," she gave the list to Karhal.

His eyes flicked over the list; he knew most of the individuals on the list, but there were a few that he didn't know other than their names. "I'll start looking into it immediately. You might suggest to Lady Benani that correspondences be locked away until we can find the culprit. "

"I shall ask her to do so," Zelanka promised. She felt much better with Karhal on the case.

"I'll do my best to find out what's going on, Zelanka."

Last updated on the February 1st 2014

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A Thief In Our Midst