Chapter 9 The Library
The library was located near the center of town. It had two inner chambers where those who wished to study the scrolls, could read in private. Durem took Kort to the chamber his father had frequented. Inside were a wooden chair and table beside a large open window. Visible from the window were tall trees that were not uncommon in Torinth.
Kort looked around the small chamber. He then slowly fell to his knees and appeared to be searching the floor. “It must be here somewhere,” Kort said.
Durem appeared perplexed. “What are you looking for?” he asked.
“There!” Kort exclaimed. He reached for something underneath the table. He pulled back his hand gradually. He was holding a small, black object. He handled it with the utmost care as he carefully stood up. It was a dart.
“What is it?” Durem asked.
“Not here,” Kort replied as he looked around suspiciously.
They immediately went back to Durem’s house. The dart was placed in the center of a large table where Master Omed used to spend much time reading his books. They all stared at it for a while before someone finally spoke.
“What does it mean?” Misara asked. The apprehension on her face was clear.
“I have been investigating a series of murders,” Kort said with a grim tone. “They all involved the use of poisoned darts. Master Omed must have had time to remove it right before he died. He may have dropped it as he fell to the floor.”
Kort tried to recreate in his mind how the assassin might have killed Master Omed. He remembered the open window and the large trees. The killer could have hid among the branches of one of the trees and waited for Master Omed to enter the inner chamber. It is very likely that a blowpipe was used.
“Are you suggesting that Durem’s father was murdered?” Beret asked.
“The apothecary would have to test whether the dart was indeed poisoned,” Kort said. “But I have little doubt. The same type of dart was used in all the murders – one that stopped a man’s heart almost instantly.”
“Why would someone want my father dead?” Durem asked. His question had been directed to no one in particular. But he seemed very alarmed now.
“Did he have enemies?” Beret asked. Although they all knew Master Omed had lived a peaceful and quiet life.
Durem appeared to consider Beret’s question briefly and said, “I do not believe so.”
“Could his death have had something to do with the work he was doing?” Beret asked further.
“Master Omed may have been correct in his conclusion about the incomplete accounts of the royal archives,” Revik broke in.
“What makes you say that?” Durem asked with apparent anticipation. Everyone’s attention now shifted to Revik.
“In one of the archives of the Tower, I learned of how a powerful necromancer from the north joined the forces of Qorath in the overthrow of the kingdoms and the destruction of all the Temples and the Towers of Magic during the Time of Despair. When the armies of Qorath laid siege upon Arkam, the king sent word to the Tower requesting the aid of the Archon. As soon as the Archon left for Arkam however, the necromancer and his forces stormed the Tower. The wizards who remained were no match for the necromancer’s dark arts and were overcome. The Tower was ransacked. Great tomes of ancient spells were stolen. When the siege of Arkam was finally broken, the Archon returned only to be met by the bodies of the fallen. The war continued for years. During the final battles, the Archon would face and defeat the necromancer in a mystic duel that lasted for days.”
Everyone listened to Revik as he narrated his discovery. After he had finished, they all fell silent momentarily still trying to comprehend this new information.
“If this is true then father was right after all,” Durem said.
“But this does not explain why anyone would want Master Omed killed,” Kort replied still attempting to piece together everything they had learned.
“Could uncle have uncovered something else that may have been deemed a threat to someone?” Misara asked.
Her question moved everyone to think. Durem appeared lost in deep thought. He then went into what used to be Master Omed’s study. He reappeared with a piece of parchment in his hands.
“This is a list of all the scholars with whom my father worked in their attempt to chronicle the events of the Time of Despair. The Circle, they called themselves.” Durem said.
“Let me take a look at that,” Kort said.
Kort’s eyes widened as he looked at the names on the parchment Durem had brought with him.
“Impossible!” Kort exclaimed. “These are the names of the people whose murders I have been investigating,” Kort said as he allowed this new discovery to gradually sink in. He finally knew the connection between all the killings, he thought.
“Then my father was indeed murdered,” Durem said appearing suddenly very weak.
Revik had seemed unemotional the entire time. He approached Kort and looked at the parchment he was still holding. With the same calm voice he asked, “Are all these people dead?”
Kort began looking at the names once again and said, “No. There is one name here that is unfamiliar to me, a person by the name of Master Ladris.”
“Then he may yet be alive,” Revik said. “Or at least we can still hope he is.”
“We must find him,” Kort said. He then turned to Durem and asked, “Is there a record of where they lived?”
“I believe so,” Durem said as he disappeared once more into the study.
Durem brought out another piece of parchment and read from it, “Master Ladris lives in the Town of Hedak.”
“He has to be found before he too is killed,” Beret said.
“Agreed,” Kort replied. “He may even be able to tell us what their so-called Circle had uncovered.”
“The Town of Hedak is two-day’s ride southwest of here,” Misara said.
“Then we must leave at once,” Durem said. They all stared at Durem questioningly.
Kort’s gaze shifted towards Misara. Misara nodded to Kort apparently understanding what he silently tried to convey.
“Cousin, we all want you to come,” Misara said gently. “But aunt is still in a very fragile state. She needs you to look after her. She will require your strength in the coming days ahead.”
Durem’s gaze slowly fell to the floor as he seemed to be considering Misara’s words.
“I understand,” Durem said finally. “I will stay behind.”
Yet Durem’s disappointment was visible to everyone.
“You should all get some rest then,” Durem added, “and you will have to make preparations for the journey.”
Kort stared at Durem as he went back into the study and continued to sift through the notes of his father. Kort himself still had not fully absorbed what they had uncovered. It now appears that the murders were all connected. And Master Omed’s own death was part of it. But what reason could there be for killing a group of scholars? Kort wondered.