The fall of Lorit Options

[Jac]

This is an expanson of a short story I posted awhile ago. Comments and critiques are welcomed. Thanks in advance.

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Sunlight streamed through the open shutters over Thadius’s face as he lay on the bed. He grunted and threw an arm over his eyes before turning towards the wall. A delicate finger caressed his ear as a soft voice whispered into it, “Thadius, it’s time to get up dear.”

“Bah. They can’t begrudge me a few more minutes sleep, Lorit.”

“Thadius, you need to get up now, dear. You know how the Legion is. If you’re late again…”

Thadius sighed and rolled over to face her. He opened his eyes and smiled as he looked into her brown eyes. He brushed a finger over darkened skin and through her short red hair. “I know, Lorit, I know. It’s just that-“

Lorit silenced him with a finger on his lips. “Shh. Enough of that, Thadius. It’s time for you to get dressed.”

“Yes dear.”

Groaning, he rose from the bed and slowly changed into his uniform. Lorit rose from the bed, her lithe body glowing in the sunlight as she helped buckle him into his cuirass. He turned around and embraced her, tracing a finger down her bare spine. “How did I get so lucky as to find you, Lorit?”

Lorit smiled at him and tousled his short brown hair. “Because you’re so good to me, Thadius. But if you don’t leave soon, that may change.” She poked his chest playfully before bringing his head down for a kiss. He smiled as he kissed her before reluctantly releasing her and strapping on his broadsword. He strapped his shield to his left arm and donned his helmet before opening the door and stepping outside. Lorit donned a robe and stood in the doorway watching him leave until he turned a corner. She closed the door and leaned against it for a few moments before closing the shutters, plunging the house into darkness. She lit a candle and carried it to the bed. She stepped out of her robe and lay on the bed, waiting. After what seemed like hours, she heard the door open and close softly. A figure stood by the bed, seemingly untouched by the light. A cold voice filled the room. “It is almost time, Lorit. Are you ready?”

Her breath caught as she answered, “Yes, yes I am, Reden. How much longer?”

The figure smiled as pale fingers snuffed out the light of the candle. Lorit tensed briefly as she felt the figure climb into bed, but relaxed as heat flooded through her.

[Jac]

Byron stared at him in silence. “Well, I think we should start with the last victim. That is, unless you have a better idea.”

Thadius glared but didn’t respond. Instead, he started to the door. Byron snorted and eased his bulk out of the chair before rifling through the papers on his desk. He pulled a sheet out and followed Thadius out the door. He read as the two exited the fort and walked into the city. “The last victim was the Warlan family, Jims and Lariah. Their grandson, Warrick, disappeared one night.”

“Jims Warlan?”

“What, are you deaf? Yes, Jims Warlan. Why?”

Thadius stopped and looked at Byron. “Don’t tell me you don’t remember Jims Warlan, Byron. He was next in line for General before General Dagon was promoted.”

Byron spit before replying, “Yeah, and if you’ll remember right, he left the Legion before that happened. Or did you forget what his daughter did?”

Thadius shrugged. “That’s ancient history. Everybody can make a mistake. Besides, she left shortly after.”

“Not everybody haves a dalliance with another while married, Thadius. You know the rules – she’s lucky she wasn’t court marshaled.”

“She did leave the Leg-“

Byron cut him off, “Only because of her father’s influence. If it weren’t for him…”

Thadius sighed, “Enough, Byron. We’re here to find a missing boy, not to reopen old wounds.”

“Maybe not, Thadius, but Charon was a good man. What that harlot did to him was unforgivable.”

Thadius turned away and started down the street without replying. Byron glared at his back before following, mumbling under his breath. The two walked through the streets in stony silence until they came to a modest dwelling. Thadius placed a hand on Byron’s shoulder to stop him as he started to knock on the door. “Allow me. We’re here to get information, not pass judgment.” Byron shrugged and indicated he should proceed. Thadius shot him a look before knocking on the door. The door opened to reveal an older woman with dark skin, hair and eyes. “Yes?” a deep voiced asked as the woman looked the two over. “May I help you, officers?”

“Mrs. Warlan?”

“I am she. What do you want?”

“I’m Captain Thadius and this is Captain Byron. May we come in? We want to talk about Warrick’s disappearance.”

A hand gripped the side of the door tightly as Lariah glared at them. “We’ve already talked to your superiors, Captain Thadius, and we have nothing else to say to you.”

“Mrs. Warlan, please-“ Thadius’s words were cut off by the door as it slammed shut. Byron snorted and started to walk away. “Figures. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. No wonder their daughter turned out the way she did.”

Thadius glared at his back before starting follow. As he took a few steps, the door opened again and a voice called to him. “Officers, I will talk to you.” They turned to the voice, an older man with dark hair streaked with grey. He looked at them stoically as they came to him and stepped aside as they entered. He gestured for them to sit and poured himself a drink, not offering either the same. He sat with a sigh and addressed Thadius, pointedly ignoring Byron. “My wife tells me that you’re here about Warrick and what happened to him. As she has already told you, we don’t know.” He paused and glanced at Byron before continuing, “His father wanted nothing to do with him and left my daughter to raise him on her own.”

Byron leaned back and grunted. “Charon was a good man, Jims, he would have been there for his son if he was allowed to.”

Jims stared at Byron before replying, “You think you knew him, Byron, but you didn’t. He wasn’t the noble man you think he was.”

“Enough,” Thadius shouted. “This is getting us nowhere. Colonel Warlan, I apologize for Captain Byron’s behavior. Can we talk about your grandson instead?”

Jims shrugged and wrapped his hands around his cup, taking a deep drink before continuing. “It happened a few days ago. My daughter is in the Valmir province doing research and asked us to look after Warrick. We readily agreed and wished her luck. The night he disappeared, my wife had put him to bed in Jasmine’s old room and we settled in for the night. Late that night, my wife woke with a chill – she felt as if there was a presence in the house. I rose to search the house and was tending to the fire when I heard her screaming. I rushed to the bedroom to find her frantically searching. I asked her what was wrong and she said that Warrick was missing. The two of us searched everywhere: underneath the bed, in the closet, behind the baskets but we could not find him. I went outside searching for him and even asked a few of the neighbors to help. No matter how hard we looked, we never found a trace. It’s as if he just vanished.” Jims paused and took another deep gulp before refilling his cup. He sat back down and gave Byron a level look. “Does that satisfy you, officers? Or would you like to know what we had for dinner that night?”

Thadius hurriedly spoke, “That’s not necessary, Colonel Warlan. Colonel, did you or your neighbors see anybody suspicious that night? Any strangers?”

Jims shook his head sadly. “No, and I asked everybody that same question. We didn’t see anybody or anything. Nor did we hear anything. It was as if he was never there. Now, if we’re done here, officers, I must get back to my wife.”

Thadius nodded before standing. “Thank you, Colonel, for your cooperation. We’re sorry for disturbing you and we grieve for your loss.” Byron stood with a grunt and walked to the door without a word.

“May the Goddess be with you, Officers. Please find out what happened to my grandson.”

Thadius nodded. “We’ll try sir. And may she be with you as well. Good day.”

Jims stood by the door and watched as the two exited. He closed the door on their backs and leaned his head against it. Lariah came behind him and leaned her head on his back, wrapping her arms tight around him. Jims turned to her and held her wordlessly as tears fell from his eyes.

Thadius and Byron walked in stony silence before Thadius grabbed his arm and halted him. “What is wrong with you, Byron? That man just lost his grandson, yet you’re still blaming him for something his daughter did!”

“You wouldn’t understand, boy. I don’t care what he says, Charon was a good man and what that daughter of his did is inexcusable.”

“Fine! Whatever! Can we continue the investigation now?”

Byron just shrugged his shoulders and walked off. Thadius glared at his back as he followed.