11- LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - EVIL PERSONIFIED - SECTION 19

The moment Qarzten Caimund had returned to his quarters, he at once sat down at his desk and began writing several letters (documents), all to be forwarded soon after to the designated groups, each carrying specific orders. An elite team (zealous investigators) was dispatched to the Inn near the Nexoko Pass, where the actual Steward Chutek had stayed, as the starting point to begin the thorough investigation and, therefore, uncover the truth of, what became of the, presumed abducted Chutek.

Qarzten had firmly believed that the pseudo-Steward Chutek languishing in the dungeon, who bore an uncanny (eerie, unnerving, creepy) akin, likeness to the original, doubtless result of a cosmetic surgery, would never cooperate or confess the truth, since he awaited absolution (pardon, release) or rescue, that would never come; meanwhile, his disguise had been so painstakingly meticulous (through) that it had even fooled astute Egil Viggoaries.

Qarzten leaned back, with a slight grimace on his lips; he closed his eyes in brief respite and then begun silently cogitating (ruminating, tallying up) the key current events till then:

Qarzten’s man had of course prior, covertly uncovered the fact that the surrogate Chutek, had even had his body physically altered (fashioned) by being castrated, in not-too-distant past, with one small variance. As nothing escaped Qarzten’s vast network, he had already been informed, of Chutek’s most recent endearing feat, of piercing his earlobes the night before his departure from Channing, to wear his master’s parting gift to him, that was a pair of moonstone earrings that had been for pierced ears.

01- CHUTEK WITH PIERCED EARLOBES 6

This slight oversight of the schemers (culprits), and because of Egil’s sadistic ego compelling Qarzten’s attendance (presence) in the dungeons, the otherwise elusive (subtle, hidden) truth had been fortuitously imparted (divulged) to Qarzten: when his quick analysis (probe) had confirmed (proven) that the Chutek, being tortured in the dungeons had no such piercing in the earlobes, therefore was the proxy Chutek.

It now begged the question what had warranted this replica (counterfeit Chutek) in the first place, who was behind this ploy and was it solely a design (object, goal) to seize (procure) Tutor’s considerable assets. As it were, because of Egil Viggoaries, that aim had been utterly foiled (thwarted, hindered).

Then again, after going through this much trouble, would not the perpetrators (doers, agents) expediently destroy the original to ensure secrecy? Even if Qarzten’s men reached Chutek too late; the manner of his death and disposal, however, would still provide some answers and ultimately contribute to solving this mystery:

Provided (if) the culprits had discarded the corpse over a cliff or dumped it into fast flowing river or lake without anchor, Chutek’s remains could then be found (retrieved). But if instead, they opted to anchor it or discard the carcass in wilderness or a forest for the predatory animals to make it disappear, or bury the corpse in some unmarked grave, Qarzten’s team, however competent, might never discover Chutek’s remains.

Qarzten Caimund next, turned his attention to another serious matter: the planted agent, the competent and enigmatic Stuart Lorenzo Koen, who had not long ago successfully infiltrated the Royal Tutor Worren Youkup’s inner circle, as well, befriended Chutek, to complete the reprehensible conspiracy (ploy) that landed the Stuard in that perilous predicament. A low, resonant groan escaped Qarzten Caimund’s throat as he shook his head to dispel at least for now, from his mind the impending (future) irksome task; instead, he turned his cogitations (deliberations) to Worren Youkup and the bane plant (shrewd spy) Stuart Lorenzo.

02-- LORENZO, THE ENIGMATIC STEWART IN EMPLOY OF WORREN YOUKUP.

Stuart Lorenzo Koen had suddenly appeared in Channing about nine months prior; then, after being employed by the administrative office of Royal Tutor Worren Youkup, remarkably, in a very short time had risen to the coveted position of assistant overseer and hence, he became (in the know) privy to the highly classified (confidential, top secret documents handled by the privileged (most trusted group) inner circle of the prudent (judicious, cautious) Royal Tutor’s domestics. Subsequently, Lorenzo had also wormed his way to taciturn Chutek’s confidence when he more than once defended Chutek against an unjust attack by his jealous colleagues.

Qarzten had an innate sense (a sixth sense) about people, especially ones that caused prickling of the hairs at the back of his keck. Recognizing Lorenzo’s purposely suppressed perspicacious and shrewd (crafty, cunning) characteristics he had from then on astutely observed him. Before long Qarzten had the opportunely gleaned proof, when Lorenzo, at three crucial moments, strategically modulating (curbed, downplayed) his superior physical and mental aptitudes, had each instance, relinquished his right to victory or justice, to simply elevate those base individuals, which thereafter had become his puppets. His curiosity aroused, Qarzten suspecting Stuart Lorenzo of being worse than false, extremely ambitious and for having a hidden agenda, Qarzten had a while back, initiated a constant stealth (covert) surveillance on the Stewart and furthermore, had his background investigated by his elite team. The attained results (though it took some doing,) had far exceeded Qarzten’s expectations. Yet, he had failed to timely act on this to incarcerate him; erroneously thinking there would be ample opportunities in future.

The hidden clues once unravelled, had linked Stuart Lorenzo Koen to a little known, however immensely powerful, and elite organization, the Wolfbane; the recently established, exclusive association (group, society) with tentacles extending far and wide in Wenjenkun, though it had its ancient roots (two centuries old) emanating (stemming) from Kontu.

Qarzten incensed with this (oversight) negligence, clenched his jaw, now deliberating (cogitating): This mole, who had at present gone effectively missing, for so many months prior, had spun his scheming web to beget the tangible plan, bypassing (going undetected) their most stringent security, illuminating a serious flaw, a vital breach, hence, warranting a present comprehensive (indebt) analysis of the massive shadowing (surveillance) system.

 

03-QARZTEN CAMUND (6)

~

 

Following day, by providence, Qarzten’s worst fears had not been realized, and he soon received a report which informed Qarzten, about Stuwart Chutek succinctly thus:

 Elite leaders in Wolfbane organization had indeed been appraised well in advance, by the implant Lorenzo, about the Royal Tutor Worren Youkup’s taken measures to ensure Chutek’s comfortable future welfare and safety; therefore, the surrogate Chutek had been readied (altered), well beforehand. Finally, the recent last steps concluded, it had assured the eventual annexation (seizure, takeover) of Worren’s amassed fortune.

They had not factored in however, Egil Viggoaries’s part, nor the bizarre set of events with Prince Herleif that in the end thwarted their carefully conceived (crafted) plans. As things had gotten out of hand, leaders in Wolfbane organization thence, decided to abandon the deemed expandable agent, pseudo Chutek to his doomed fate and, (minimize) cut their losses in half, by timely (and cogently) aborting (terminating, cancelling) the entire project.

Since Stuart Lorenzo Koen was still at large, Qarzten conjectured (estimated, theorised) that he had been re-assigned elsewhere, far from Channing and to a remote (distant) province of Wenjenkun. Qarzten was not a vindictive man, but he hated being duped; hence, he inwardly cussed and sworn (avowed) that Lorenzo would one day be apprehend and be made to pay most dearly for it.

Qarzten’s deputies and expert huntsmen, meanwhile, had promptly submitted their detailed report about their findings and the deduced (presumed, construed), sole outcome of Stuard Chutak’s fate, his certain demise:

As it were, when the plot (plan) in Channing got botched (bungled), Stuart Chutak’s life being considered forfeit: his unconscious body had been promptly, mercilessly discarded (cast) by the ruthless Wolfbane agents, hurled (tossed) like a grain sack, over the edge of the sheer bluff, to disappear into the bottomless abyss (gorge, Ravin). His death was a certainty as no mortal being drugged and comatose, could survive a fall form such a high precipitous (sheer, steep) cliff!

Qarzten, with an unreadable expression after carefully perusing (examining, reading) the report, he had it filed away as the now unsatisfactorily resolved case of Stewart Chutek. Actually, his (gut) intuitive feeling had informed (apprised) him that, despite the logical assumptions, the real Chutek was not dead but in fact, very much alive; however, the Dark Eunuch’s iron-clad case against Chutek, though Qarzten suspected was all fabricated, would condemn Chutek if discovered, to a fate far worse than death. Far worse than his stand in had borne (endured, suffered). Qarzten also suspected that if Chutek had survived the fall and learned of the developments in Channing, he would then with apt prudence (judgement, shrewdness, discretion) would remain in hiding; thence, have a second chance at more peaceful life.

Qarzten, had therefore decided to let the matter drop, in other words, let the sleeping dogs lie. Subsequently, he turned his undivided attention to the other more pertinent issues at hand.

                                                                                              ~

 

Following two weeks Egil Viggoaries had been relentless in his persecution of the victims in his grasp; consequently, in one of the adjacent cells to pseudo Chutek, the physician Enqui Rimeng had also been tortured, though not as severely, until all the required depositions, in the presence of three unbiased witnesses, had been extracted from him.

Quasi Chutek, meanwhile, during this period, succumbing to his grave injuries had unfortunately expired.

Onus (burden of guilt) now squirely resting on the Royal Physician Enqui Rimeng, to establish an irrefutable litigation, he had therefore been nurtured back to life from the brink of expiring and then forced to perjure himself twice then once more in an official Court. Overall, Enqui had confessed to colluding (conspiring) to, murder Worren Youkup with wanton greed and contempt due to a grudge he had borne the tutor for an alleged insult the physician had suffered at Royal Tutor’s hand seven months’ prior. Stuard Chutek, knowing of this grudge, had found it easier to recruit him. Enqui admitted further to his knowing that it was Chutek who had planted the penknife in prince Herleif’s scroll when Master Worren Youkup had been temporarily distracted by the gardeners’ squabbling at outside. The assassination attempts on His Highness later, had been the diversionary tactic of Chutek’s as he had reckoned, in the anticipated uproar no one would pay too close attention to the irregular passage of the aged Royal Tutor.

 

04-PHYSICIAN ENQUI RIMENG (2)

More importantly, through Enqui Rimeng’s forced confession, a prior, far grievous criminal act, which happened to be the murder of prince Chucek Yozdek, at the behest (command) of Prince Herleif, was disclosed; up until then, everyone had believed that prince Chucek had been stillborn. At the time, Prince Chucek’s mother Princess Shayen Yozdek's life had also, by design, been deliberately compromised. Her willingness to participate in this diabolical plan had been a shocking revelation. Enqui had professed, how Princess Shayen Yozdek had been beset with dreaded fear that she would not carry the infant to full-term and thus incur the dreaded wrath of Sovereign Zakhertan; consequently, she had sought out and received in secret, a miracle drug from her confidant Enqui Rimeng which had at first, worked true wonders for her. On prince Herleif’s directive however, the last administered dose had been supplanted with another drug of similar appearance and taste which had induced instead, the abortion.

Even though one or two of the attending Royal Physicians had suspected an irregularity, they had kept their quiet and did not seek out the reasons or the source lest, they be charged for negligence. The gruesome details (particulars) of a deliberate abortion now furtively unveiled, caused quite a stir in all Palaces; five of the Royal Physicians fearing grave repercussions, hastily took their own lives, which further infuriated Zakhertan. Oddly enough though, no action was taken; meanwhile, compounding the burden of guilt, Enqui Rimeng had also professed his part, albeit a small one, in the sudden death (death by umbilical-cord suffocation) of the male offspring prince Kureing, another supposed stillborn three years prior, to Lady Yinnis, Sejon's predecessor.

05- ZAKHERTAN YOZDEDK  AND HIS BELOVED LADY YENNIS

The Dark Eunuch Egil Viggoaries had hastened to swiftly conclude this matter (and hopefully stave off danger) as this would be more grievously remembered by Zakhertan Yozdek; for Lady Yinnis, the once favorite of Zakhertan, had in the end succumbed to grief and lost her senses. Then one fine evening she had hung herself just before Zakhertan’s visit. Zakhertan Yozdek had been so enraged that he had ordered that entire wing of the palace be demolished, reducing all, objects, and beings, along with the memory of her, to dust.

In view of all this evidence, Egil Viggoaries had expected therefore, once the physician Enqui   Rimeng's collusion with Prince Herleif was established beyond shadow of doubt, the Crown Prince would also be indicted under the present law and placed under house arrest. But infuriatingly, the Dark Eunuch was shorn off (denied) consent to personally detain and inquisition (under torture) the ostensible criminal, prince Herleif. This had come about, because of the endorsed, timely addendum by Qarzten Caimund in the Wenjenkun’s Rules Book, which sealed off the ancient loophole in law. Thereon, only the reigning Sovereign, in this case Zakhertan, had the inherent right to pass judgement and punish any other member of the Imperial House. Still, Egil Viggoaries did not lose heart.

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(END OF SECTION 19)