Chapter Nine

  Part Five

  After pulling herself together, Line and Vax’dian began their search for their two missing friends. It didn’t take long to spot Ali and Hyde in the crowd, who were both scanning across each face as they passed. As soon as Ali spotted Line, she immediately ran over.

  “Line! Are you alright?” Ali asked.

  “I’m fine”

  “Do you know what that man said? He said no one was able to pull the sword out of its sheath, not even any master blacksmiths”

  That wasn’t surprising to Line. Seether- the sword- would only let people it recognised wield it. But it wasn’t like Line could say that Seether was created via Blood Magic, and that Line shared that blood. So instead, she let Ali continue her ramblings.

  “Line, why didn’t you stop when I called you. I was so worried” Ali let out a loud sigh, then eyed the sword still clutched in Line’s hand “So what are you going to do with that sword?”

  “I’ll either use it, or give it back to its rightful owner”

  “I didn’t know you could use a sword”

  “I can”

  “And do you even know who the original owner is? If the sword is here, then anything could’ve happened to its old owner”

  Line hesitated, Ali certainly had a point. If only Ali knew that Seethers owner was still alive, but she didn’t “Then I’ll have to keep it”

  Hyde eyed the sword also, then glanced at Vax’dian, who gave him a look. Hyde responded with a subtle nod, it seemed Hyde also recognised this sword and the weight of Line’s actions. But he remained quiet.

  “Let’s continue looking” Vax’dian jumped into the conversation “We might still get lucky”

  Line inwardly thanked Vax’dian for changing the subject “Lets go”

  Line led the way, and continued their search. During their search, Line suddenly halted again. She turned to gaze at the woman who had just passed by them, she smelt strongly of perfume. Remembering what Xena had told her, Line hadn’t only be keeping her eye out. She had also been getting close to the people who passed her, trying to pick up any strong scents.

  Under her breath Line said “We should question her”

  The group immediately spread out, keeping the woman in their sights. This woman did stop every now and then to give out perfume samples from the brown leather bag she was carrying. Her long dark cloak fluttered in the wind slightly, further carrying the sweet and flowery fragrance in the air.

  Seether hummed in Lines hand. It seemed Seether new this woman was Lines target. So now, even if Line did loose sight of this woman, Seether would still be able to track her.

  Up ahead Ali was blocking off the woman’s path, and with Line behind, this woman was slowly getting pined between them. All without her noticing. Vax’dian and Hyde, were keeping the left and right of her covered. So she wouldn’t be able to go that way either.

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  They followed for a while, before Line made her move. When this woman was no longer talking with any one, Line came towards her.

  “Excuse me?” Line began to pull out her monastery token “Inspector Line-” but before Line could even finish saying that sentence, the woman turned to run.

  But was immediately stopped by Ali “Hello”

  The woman turned again to face Hyde. Another turn to see Vax’dian.

  “Why are you running?” Ali asked.

  “...Umm, I thought...” the woman muttered.

  Line gave her a smile “Let’s talk somewhere a little quieter, alright?”

  *

  They were now sitting at a bench, with Line and Ali siting on each side of her. While Vax’dian stood in front of her, and Hyde leaned against the back of the bench behind her.

  “Why were you running?” Line asked.

  The woman seemed to have regained her composure “I thought you were the tax collectors again” Maybe it was Lines imagination, but her accent seemed...off.

  “Why would an Earl be after you?”

  She scowled “I haven’t paid them for using the park yet”

  Line tilted her head “Are you in charge of the travelling market?”

  “I am”

  “Then you should know someone called Benedict Rashe, no?”

  “...”

  “May I have your name?”

  “Felicity Golding”

  “Miss Golding, I’ll ask again. Do you know someone called Benedict Rashe?”

  “While I’m in charge of the travelling market in general, Benedict Rashe is in charge while the market is in Yor. We’ve met a few times”

  “Is that so?”

  “Yes”

  “When was the last time you met with him?”

  “...Maybe around a few nights ago, just when we got to Yor”

  “So you didn’t meet with him last night?”

  “...No”

  “Why hesitate?”

  “...”

  “Miss Golding, it would be wise to answer the Inspectors questions truthfully. Especially while you are in her care. Because if you are handed over to me, I can guarantee a not so painless interrogation” Vax’dian said.

  “...umm”

  “Yes? Miss Golding?”

  “I did meet with Benedict Rashe last night. But I can assure you, I did not kill him”

  “We never said he was dead” Line said.

  “I’m sure you did”

  “No, I just asked you if you had seen Benedict Rashe. Nothing about him being dead”

  “Is he not dead?” Miss Golding asked like she was actually worried Benedict Rashe wasn’t actually dead.

  “Why? Would you rather he was?”

  Felicity Golding looked down at her knees, quietly fuming.

  Line eyed her “He is dead”

  Miss Goldings head snapped up.

  “Deaths Touch is nearly impossible to remove from the system, Miss Golding. But I wonder where you got it from? I also wonder why you killed Benedict Rashe in the first place?”

  Her eyes turned cold “I wouldn’t tell you. Besides, you’ve got no evidence”

  “No evidence? Are you sure about that?”

  “Yes”

  Line nodded “You’re right. I don’t have any evidence. But Miss Golding, confessing now will save you a lot pain”

  “You’ve already threatened me with pain”

  “I know, I'm just reminding you”

  “Then if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way. You have no evidence against me, so you can’t keep me. And I won’t confess” Felicity Golding stood “Excuse me” and she moved past Vax’dian.

  “Line! We can’t just let her leave. Can we?” Ali asked.

  Line sighed and followed after Felicity Golding “Even if we have no evidence, we can still lock you up for forty-eight hours”

  Miss Golding turned, eyed Lin for a moment. Before holding out her wrists “You won’t find anything, Inspector. You really should let me go” yet she didn’t complain as Line took hold of her.