28th day of the 7th month 610th year of the 8th era

Tunio woke with a start and jumped out of bed. The bedsheets were soaked with sweat. He pulled on his trousers, stepped into his boots, and set his sword over his shoulder.

“A king stays with a lie,” he spoke aloud.

He pulled the door open and ran down the corridor to Aquillia’s room and rapped on the door.

After a moment she pulled the door open a fraction and stuck her head out. Her brown hair was in disarray. She smiled up at Tunio.

“Can I come in?” Tunio asked.

“I have company and he is still asleep,” she replied.

“I need to talk to you,” Tunio whispered. “It’s about my father being haunted.”

Aquillia pulled her head in, opened the door wider, and slipped out. She wrapped her arms around her naked body.

“This better be good,” she muttered.

“Last night the voice came back. The words spoke to me, the words on the sword. I said the last verse of the king’s challenge. The voice spoke back to me and gave a new line; I think it goes between the two verses the king used as the first clue.”

Aquillia grabbed Tunio by the arm and marched him back to his room. She closed the door behind them.

“What was the line?”

“A king stays with a lie,” Tunio said.

“Do you think the king is lying to us?” Aquillia asked.

“I doubt that the current king is. I think King Cordifolia lied.”

“What about?”

“I am not sure. We need to find a place where a king would have to tell the truth.”

“The only place the king would be compelled to tell the truth is in a courthouse.”

“I think we should check it out.”

“Let me get my clothes and I will meet you downstairs.”

***

The gnome district was quiet as the sun began to climb above the buildings of Peace Landing. Aquillia still looked both ways and continued to scan constantly for danger until they left the gnomish district. As the garden district gave way, the large walled district to their north emerged. A patrol of gnomes dressed in plate armour and equipped with long looking halberds flew overhead. They came to the edge of the garden district, slowed their pace and breathed a little easier.

“Do you know where the courthouse is?” Tunio asked, breaking the silence.

“Yes, I know where it is.”

“Have you been there before?”

“Once. A few years back I was looking for my brother, and I checked to see if they had any record of my brother.”

“Did you find anything?”

“I found that there wasn’t any record kept.”

“How long have you been looking for your brother?” Tunio asked.

“Nearly forty years,” Aquillia asked

“That has been for the whole of Metilia’s life,” Tunio said.

“Longer, I searched full-time before my funds ran out and had to take a job at Fort Northern Wiles, where I met your father,” Aquillia explained.

“And Metilia’s father?”

“Luckily for me, I didn’t discover I was pregnant until after I had completed my year’s service at the Fort,” Aquillia said.

The garden district came to an end and gave way to tall government buildings. Aquillia took Tunio down a paved road that they had not been down before and led him to a building that was set up on a large platform with tiered steps. At the top of the stairs, giant pillars, made from single crystal pieces, supported a marble slab. On the roof was a beautiful statue of a woman holding a set of scales in one hand in the other a large sword. Her head inclined to the scales as if contemplating them.

They stopped and looked up at the building.

“I think they needed a larger building to accommodate the taller races,” Tunio mentioned.

“Do you see a plaque anywhere?” Aquillia asked.

“There is one in the main lobby.”

They ascended the stairs and walked past the clear-cut crystal pillars. The main lobby stretched out across the length of the building; another opening at the far end led outside. The floor was green marble and the clatter of shoed feet echoed around the room. In the centre of the room a large white plaque was built into the floor.

“Truth can free a man,” Tunio read aloud.

“There seems to be a symbol underneath the words,” Aquillia said, pointing.

Tunio looked at the symbol. It was a man holding a sword inside a circle. The man was not holding the sword towards him but holding the sword across his neck, with the sword hilt pointing away.

“It represents that the sword of truth is held by us all and reminds us that we are responsible to tell it.”

Tunio looked up at the speaker. A gnome floated over them with gentle flaps of his wings. He had blue hair and wore a suit of brown trousers and a matching jacket. His shirt was white and set off with a blue cravat tied around his neck.

A king stays with a lie. Tunio smiled at the gnome.

“What would happen to your legal system if someone lied to you?” Tunio asked.

Shock crossed his face before the smile returned. “Truth always wins out.”

“That is true,” Aquillia said.

“Is there a penalty for lying?” Tunio rephrased his question.

“No one lies in court,” the gnome repeated.

Aquillia pulled him away.

“Thank you,” Tunio smiled.

Tunio and Aquillia rushed down the stairs, Aquillia still gripping his arm.

“It is most strange that the concept of lying is not a factor in the court.”

“It would seem so,” Aquillia said.

Aquillia glanced back up at the courthouse. The gnome had followed them out and had stopped at the top of the stairs.

“A king stays with a lie,” Tunio stated. “I think that the story of the gnomes conquering the island is a lie.”

“Yes,” Aquillia agreed. “I discovered that last night.”

Tunio frowned at Aquillia.

“The company I kept last night was a man named Logan. He is from the Island Republic of Calcadon where the story of this island is told a little differently.”

“How so?”

“It seems that the island was not fought over but givento the gnomes in a peace deal. Hence the name.”

“Peace Landing.”

“So why keep that secret and lie to the people?”

“I have no idea.”

***

Logan awoke to find the bed empty of Aquillia. He got up, dressed and picked up his copy of the Chronicles of the Battle of Peace Landing.

He stepped into the corridor and closed the door behind him. He walked the length of the corridor, descended the stairs, and sat in the tavern.

A barmaid walked over. “What can I get you?”

“Some breakfast please.”

She nodded and walked away.

He placed his book on the table and resumed reading it.

The barmaid returned and placed a plate of meat and eggs on the table.

“That woman you were with left this morning with another man,” she said.

“Thank you.” He smiled up at her and put the book aside and began to eat his breakfast.

Did she just pump me for information, then ditch me for the other man?

The only thing I gave her was that the account was wrong.

She gave me a lot more. The statue to look for and the inscription.

History and truth bring many to fight

To bring many to light

History is weakened

By how we remember.

I will follow my own ideas and let us see who gets to the end faster.

Logan finished off his breakfast, paid the barmaid and left the Whole Hog. He wandered down the paved streets of the market district, as the markets gave way to the crystal spires of the gnomish district.

History is taught at school. I need to find the school King Cordifolia founded. He picked up his pace and rushed through to the garden district. The neatly manicured lawn was filled with gnomes and slaves busy setting up tents and arranging chairs. A large wreath was positioned at the front of the chairs. He kept to the path, avoiding the commotion, and came to the gate of the walled-off district. He approached the guard, smiling at him.

The guard waved him in. Inside, the large houses, several storeys tall, were surrounded by neat garden yards. The path through the district wove around the houses. As he walked along the road, many gnomish children walked the same direction, followed by a gnome soldier or a slave that carried a small bag. At the end of the path sat a neat, small school. Huge lettering on the side of the front of the building read ‘First school of Peace Landing.’

He walked to the gate of the school where two large gnomes stopped him.

“I just want to see the school motto in the gate.” He pointed to the open gate.

“You can see from here,” the guard replied.

The gate swung in a slight breeze and the words on the wrought iron gate came into view.

History is worth fighting for

Learning can elevate.

Underneath the words was a simple man holding a rod over his shoulder.

Logan smiled at the man, turned away from the school, and returned the way he had come.

***

Tunio and Aquillia walked back down the road and returned along the path. At the junction of the garden district were the government buildings and the high walled-off district. Aquillia spotted Logan coming out of the high walled area.

“Tunio, go on ahead, I will meet you in the tavern.”

Tunio nodded and continued walking down the path into the garden district.

Aquillia turned aside and waited in the intersection.

Logan saw her and smiled.

“Logan, I am sorry that I left you this morning.”

“What happened? I thought we were partners.”

“We are, though I still haven’t told my friend. He worked something out last night and we just went to check on it.”

“I also came to an epiphany this morning. History is taught in schools and the chronicle stated that King Cordifolia founded a school.” He pointed the way he had just come. “I had a client in there and knew that the school was called the first school of Peace Landing.”

“Did you find anything?”

“I did. The gate had an inscription on it:

History is worth fighting for

Learning can elevate.”

“My friend’s epiphany had much the same result. He concluded that the only place the king would tell the truth would be in a courthouse.”

“Was, there an inscription?”

“Yes. On one floor of the lobby, it read, Truth frees a man.”

Logan frowned, “That doesn’t help.”

“Neither of them helps.”

“The last clue was put together from two different sources. What if the next clue requires us to put something together again?”

“Where would we find more information?”

“There doesn’t seem to be a lot of information about this belt.”

“Give us the sword or we will take it from you,” a voice called out.

Aquillia turned and saw two men with swords drawn and outstretched at them. A scream rang out from a bystander. The intersection cleared of the bustling people. Two large human men stood, swords drawn, pointing at Aquillia and Logan.

Logan glanced at Aquillia, drew his sword, and held it in his left hand. Aquillia reached back and presented her weapon.

“You can have my sword when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers,” Logan said.

“We have no quarrel with you, elf,” the taller of the two men said. “We just want his sword.”

“He is my friend, and that is his sword,” said Aquillia.

“As you wish.”

Both men charged forward and swung their swords. Aquillia blocked and took Rock formation stance, feet spread wide and blade held in front with both hands. She side-stepped and swung her blade and hit the shorter man in the back with the flat of her blade.

Logan took a Water stance, standing sideways with his sword held aloft, blocking the initial swing, and rolled the attack back. He countered with his own attack; his sword pressed forward.

Aquillia swung her double-bladed sword at her attacker and hit him in the face, sending him flying across the intersection.

“Davin!” called the other attacker

Davin got up. “Joseph, I don’t think we can best them both.”

“Run,” Davin called and they both bolted. They ran down the path through the garden district.

Aquillia turned and looked at Logan.

“Halt,” a voice called.

Aquillia and Logan turned and saw a squad of six gnomes wearing plate armour and holding pikes all levelled at their faces.

“Duelling outside the arena is strictly forbidden,” the squad commander stated.

“We were defending ourselves,” said Logan. “What are we meant to do?”

“Not cause a panic amongst the people.”

“Our attackers went that way,” stated Aquillia.

The commander nodded, and three gnomes flew off down the road after Davin and Joseph.

“We are sorry for causing a panic,” Aquillia placated, she tossed him a silver leaf. “We will not do it again.”

The patrol commander waved his hand and the pikes were raised. “Make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Then he flew off after his soldiers.

***

Davin and Joseph kept running until they arrived at the brothel. They had managed to avoid the flying patrol that had chased after them by ducking into several shops and pretending to be shoppers.

Their entrance startled the door girl, who screamed and ran deeper into the brothel.

Reg threw back the silk curtain, sword drawn.

“Davin! Joseph! What is the point of making such a ruckus?” Reg lowered his rapier.

“We failed, and the guards got involved,” Davin stated.

“The boss is not going to be happy.”

“Let’s go and see him,” Joseph suggested.

“I am not going with you.” Reg turned and ducked back into the brothel.

Davin sighed and stepped deeper into the brothel, Joseph walking behind him. They strode along the corridor; some doors were closed, the sounds of activity faintly heard behind them. A few doors were open, and a couple of girls tidied, readying the rooms for the next customer. The men ascended the stairs and walked along the top floor, passing rooms full of women at leisure. Several came out of their room, laughed, and ducked back in. At the end of the hallway they opened the door to the last room.

Anatoli sat a desk piled high with coins and papers. Ingirid leant over him and was pointing at the ledger under his fingers.

“This is how much we spent on food between the last full moons.”

She stood and closed her robe, folding her arms across her chest.

“What happened?” Anatoli said, standing from the desk.

“We approached the elf and the man while they were out about, and asked for the sword,” Davin began. “They put up a fight.”

“So, you didn’t get the sword.”

Davin and Joseph shook their heads.

“Is that all?”

They shook their heads again.

“What else happened?”

Ingirid sat in the chair at the desk and covered her smile with a hand.

“The city guard chased us across the city gardens,” said Joseph.

Anatoli brought a hand to his face.

“We did manage to lose them in the markets,” said Davin.

“Did they get a good look at you?” Anatoli asked.

“We are not certain,” said Davin. “We should stay low for a while.”

“Very well,” waved Anatoli. “Your pay is halved for the next ten days.”

Davin and Joseph hung their heads.

“Now get out of here.”

Davin and Joseph stepped out into the corridor.

“What will you do now?”

“I think it’s time to try a subtler approach.”

***

Ingirid was dressed in a simple green dress; her black tresses fell across her exposed, deep brown shoulders. The bodice hugged her bosom and hips a little too tightly; the length was also too short for her liking, as it came only half-way down her thighs. She pulled at the hem of the dress again and felt the whole dress move down her chest, so she pulled it up again. She caught herself and sighed. Anatoli had picked the dress, and she had to admit the low décolletage and high hem did make her feel sexy even if it made her feel self-conscious. She pushed open the door of the Whole Hog and stepped in. She cast her eyes around the room, feeling every man’s eyes on her, causing her skin to prick with desire. She saw the green-coloured elf and a man sitting at a table in the middle of the tavern. When the elf got up and drunkenly stumbled up the stairs, the man didn’t follow her. Ingirid smiled, strode across the room, and sat next to him.

“You’re not going to join your friend?” she asked, looking down her nose at him.

“No, she was too drunk,” he said, taking another swig of his drink.

A barmaid in a blue dress was walking past.

“Can I get a drink, please?” Ingirid said.

“Sure,” the barmaid said and continued walking.

“I don’t think she likes you,” he chuckled into his mug.

Ingirid pouted. “What’s not to like?”

“You outshine her.”

The barmaid walked past again, going back to the bar. She bumped hard into Ingirid’s chair, knocking Ingirid out of it.

Laughter erupted from the other patrons. Sprawled on the floor, Ingirid sat up, the cool floorboards cooling her buttocks.

“Here, let me.” He extended his hand. She took it and he helped her into the chair beside him.

She didn’t let go of his hand, “Thank you.”

“No problem. You can let go.”

“I don’t want to.” She smiled up at him under her long lashes.

“You want to get out of here?”

“Please. I think I sat in a puddle of ale.”

He chuckled, and he stood and helped her out of her chair.

“I have a room upstairs.”

“Take me away, my hero.”

Logan led her up the stairs and took her to his room. After closing the door behind them he lit a candle in the room and pulled off his shirt and dropped his trousers and kicked off his shoes.

Ingirid looked around the room. She saw a small single bed with a straw filled mattress, a sword rested against the far wall. She turned to face Logan and she lifted the hem of her dress, kicking off her shoes.

Naked, they both climbed into the bed.

She giggled and he kissed her. He wrapped her into an embrace.