"I would be lying if I said I was surprised," Marcus said, "but now we have a whole new problem on our hands." Marcus finished his glass of Pinol. Kael noticed the innkeeper staring at them for the fourth time during their conversation. It was beginning to bug him. "Out of respect for Cara, I say we send her family and her up north, and then notify the bishops. Let them know there is another force."
Kael took his eyes off the innkeeper. "I suspect the new archbishop, Kallo."
"I do as well. If this were a murder, he had the most to gain from having it happen." Marcus motioned for one of the maids to collect his glass. She ran over and placed it on the tray. "If he had something to do with this, telling him we know the Archbishop was murdered will only stress him. Seeing his reaction will be enough for me." Marcus stood up and straightened his cloak. "First things first, we send the Amsat family up north."
***
"What do you mean she's gone?" Marcus demanded, taking a few steps closer to Archbishop Kallo's desk. Kael raised his eyebrows at the Archbishop's previous statement. The Sentinels visited the Stitch and Saddle first thing that morning, finding a locked-up shop.
"I mean, she's gone. Nobody's in the shop, nobody's seen her…I believe she's run away." Ovince Kallo casually took a sip from his teacup, eying the two Sentinels boldly.
"Really?" Marcus was visibly distraught. "How did you find out so fast?"
Archbishop Kallo sat back in his chair, then shifted around. "I am the Archbishop now, I know what happens in my city."
Marcus glowered at Ovince. "So she's just missing, just as Archbishop Heron went missing?"
"I don't have the answers to your questions. You spoke to her, right?"—he smirked—"Maybe you made her leave. Maybe you frightened her." Could this man act any less suspicious?
"How could we have frightened her?" Marcus quipped.
"Maybe you brought up bad memories?"
"Like what Archbishop Heron did to her?"
"Oh… I knew something happened there."
Kael looked out the window from where he stood. This back-and-forth squabble was irritating to him. Cara is clearly dead, and the Archbishop does not seem to find himself very suspicious.
"Nothing happened there." Marcus was seething. "It was a lie, I wonder from whom. The Archbishop did not go missing; he was killed, but you already know that."
Archbishop Kallo was taken aback by that comment; for the first time, his ruse of confidence wavered. He looked to the silent Kael, then back at Marcus, before collecting himself. "What are you accusing me of, Sentinel?"
"I think you already know." Marcus spat. I wonder if we have enough information to deduce that this man is truly guilty.
"Hm. I usually give respect to you, Sentinels. Maybe your partner realizes your immaturity. Leave my office at once, I won't ask again. What you are accusing me of is baseless and shameful. Out."
The authority of Sentinels is vague in the nation of Valdora. They are undisputedly the highest enforcement of the church, yet they serve no military purpose. An Archbishop must respect a Sentinel; however, whether or not either listens to each other's commands is up for debate. Unless guilty of a crime, an Archbishop and a Sentinel could be considered equals. An Archbishop will not comply to the commands of a Sentinel unless they are in the wrong.
Therefore, finally realizing that this conversation would lead nowhere, Marcus reluctantly left the Archbishop's office, Kael trailing behind. Marcus did not say a word the entire walk out of the Tairos City Hall, so neither did Kael. Once they were back in the rain, Kael began to wonder when his partner would speak, pulling on his hood and glancing at the man quickly. Then it struck him.
"It seems someone was listening to us," Kael said, breaking the silence. "Someone followed us into the inn."
"That's obvious," Marcus grumbled.
"Maybe that would be the next course of action. Perhaps the innkeeper could let us know if somebody was following the Secretary and me."
"Cara."
Kael frowned. "Yes, Cara."
"To think…right after she told you the truth. Only a couple of hours later…"
"I do not think it is too worrying. She told me everything she knew."
Marcus stopped. "I'm not talking about how useful she was."
Kael began to make the turn towards the street of their inn, yet his partner remained still. "Where are you going?"
"Does it not eat at you, Kael?"
"I am confused."
"An innocent woman, and maybe her family too, are dead, because you were followed. Does that not eat at you?"
Kael turned to face Marcus, confused. "Well, it is inconvenient. I don't understand. We are here to investigate the Archbishop; the Secretary's case is not our business."
Marcus looked downward. "You may be right." He walked towards Kael, moving past the confused Sentinel. "It just doesn't sit right with me. Let's go."
***
"Well, I…I don't really know, to be honest. I just led you to the room, then went back to my duties, I couldn't tell you if I saw anyone follow after you…sorry," the innkeeper said, glancing upwards as if trying to recall the events.
"Do people regularly visit the cellar?" asked Kael. He found the innkeeper to be interesting.
"Well…no. But it wouldn't stick out in my memory if someone moved downstairs. I mean, look at this place,"—he motioned his arm to the tables filled with people in the common room behind them—"it's hard to keep track of where everyone moves."
"I understand," Marcus said. "That's…that's all then." The Sentinels moved away from the counter. Marcus scanned his eyes around the room before locking them on something. Kael looked to where he was and saw the courier seated, eating his lunch. Marcus walked over and approached him, taking a seat in the chair opposite.
The courier looked up at the Sentinel, mouth full of porridge. He swallowed it down, placed his spoon back in the stew. "Sentinels, do you need something delivered?"
"What's your name?" Marcus asked.
The courier's eyes widened in confusion to the unexpected reply. "Pellen, sir, Pellen Doret."
"Good day, Pellen. I need a favor."
"Oh, of course, sir. What can I do you for?"
"Ovince Kallo, do you know where he lives?"
"Oh, the bish"—Pellen paused, remembering the power change—"the Archbishop…yes, archbishop now, I believe. Yes, I do."
"Amazing," Marcus said. "Could you tell me where?"
"Yes, of course." Pellen scratched the stubble on his chin. "He lives four—or was it five—yes, five houses down from the Central Church, in the direction of the gate. Big house, just like the rest in that district, but it has Aemir's eye on the door."
"I see," Marcus said, reaching into his satchel. He tossed four chips to the courier. "For your trouble, and your silence. Good days."
"I…thank you, sir. My honor," Pellen gleamed, pocketing the money.
Kael followed Marcus out the door. They pulled on their hoods as they stepped back into the rain and onto the cobblestone street.
"Let's not talk in that inn anymore, I don't trust this city at all," Marcus said, heading back up the street. The Tairos City Hall was on the same street they stood on, far in the distance of the city.
"What will we do with the archbishop's house?" Kael asked, half sure of what the answer was going to be.
Marcus paused. "We're searching his house."