LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE STATE OF THINGS - SECTION 30
The subsequent day at daybreak, at the city-square in Denor city, many who’d secretly held Yenis Luko in contempt because of her hauteur airs (superciliousness), witnessed in delight her prompt, swift execution.
That same afternoon after
a brief visit with the Luko family, the Prefect Micen Do had returned to his
office to wrap up some pertinent official concerns. Not stirring from his desk till dusk, Micen then
had studiously poured over every key document to effectively suppress (censor)
all loose ends. Moreover, mindful of
Zonar’s threat, Micen had deliberately shunned going home and instead, had kept
busy in his heavily guarded office, to purge his mind of the persistent,
unwelcome, frightful thoughts that lay just beneath the surface of his
consciousness (subconscious mind).
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| 01- MICEN AT OFFICE |
Calling in his secretary Micen instructed him to make two copies of certain key documents by the following day and also that, to promptly relay a verbal message to a specific person. As soon as he was dismissed, Micen laid (aside)down his writing implements, leaned back in his chair and stretched out his limbs. Rubbing his temples to bring some relief, he then closed his eyes in a brief, weary respite from all that work.
A slight, creaking sound
just then, however, nearly startled his spirit out of his body; sitting upright
with rapt attention, Micen held his breath and glued his apprehensive gaze to
the source of the noise. From the
passageway, now revealed behind the bookcase, a familiar form emerged. Tall, cloaked completely in dark attire, face
wrapped in an intricate leather mask and
carrying the noted stiletto (dagger) at his waist, the visitor stepped forward.
"Good, you're
here." Micen steadied his heart to accost the other in slight
annoyance. "What kept you?"
"I responded to your bidding
as soon as I was able to, Your Honor.", the cloaked figure ejected with a
bow. "The building is secured
tighter than a drum, sir. It took some
time to get past the double sentry and arrive here without being seen."
Micen was immensely pleased and felt somewhat
more assured, more invincible.
"In fact, I had arrived here sometime
prior but, hearing voices in the room, I stayed concealed until I could ensure
that Your Honor was alone. I thought
that this caution was warranted."
"All right,"
Micen conceded. "But, for Heaven's sake, take off that mask. I feel as if I'm talking to some
hoodlum. Besides, you look utterly
ridiculous in it."
"I beg to differ,
sir. I think it’s best I keep it on, in
case someone barges in unannounced. I am
supposed to be elsewhere at this moment."
"None would
dare. Very well, have it your way."
Micen conceded with a wave of his hand then drummed his fingers impatiently on
his desk. "Well? You've wasted enough of my time. Has everything been taken care of?"
"Perfectly, your
Honor, all done according to your specifications down to the very last
detail. I can therefore foresee no
complications. After all, if I may be
permitted to comment, your plan was most ingenious, sir. There was one trifling exception which I took
the liberty of covering up."
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"Affirmative… The course you took was appropriate. Right you are." Micen beamed in pleasure
as the figure whispered more of the report to him.
"Well, it seems you've covered every
angle, even some I haven't thought of… Funny how I could have overlooked that
one? Yes, it could very well have
spoiled everything. As for the other
problem you mentioned, you are being over-zealous, as usual." Micen grimaced wryly and stroked his chin in
thought.
"I told you to leave that alone. It's but a minor problem, not worth your
bother. In the unlikely event that it
gets to be too much I can deal with it myself as easily as swatting a fly
caught on a honeyed bun. You can just
concern yourself with your end."
The Prefect rose and, walking over, removed a small bundle from his
locked wooden chest and handed it to the cloaked figure. "You should be finding everything you'll
need in here."
The other appeared
hesitant. "Don't worry; you'll be
compensated for this later." Micen ejected coldly.
"Thank you, sir, but
I was not suggesting payment. Only that
I wish there was an alternative. Must he
be destroyed as well?"
"Yes, we've discussed
this earlier. You know that no other
course is available. I'm well aware of
your feelings in this matter, but I trust they won't hamper the success of your
mission. I expect positive results and
tolerate nothing less. Now go, you still
have much to do before night is over."
With a wave of his hand, Micen dismissed the figure who swiftly
disappeared back behind the same bookcase.
Just then a guard barged
in, brandishing his sword.
"What's the meaning
of this outrage? How dare you rush in
and startle me like that?" Micen exploded.
"Begging your pardon,
Your Honor, but I thought I heard voices here and feared for your (safety)
life. You may have been in danger,
because your orderly (personal Stuart) was with me, and I knew your secretary had
already left the building."
"It’s most comforting
to know you are on the alert and not asleep at your post." Micen forced a smile to his lips as he reeled
around his desk and sat himself in his chair.
"However, as your own eyes can attest,
sergeant, there is no intruder here, nor is my life in any danger." Picking up a document he added, as if to
himself, "I may have absentmindedly read out loud some passages to myself
to check their construction, and that's what you’ve heard." He raised his head and ordered, "You may
return to your post now."
As the guard, apologizing
for his intrusion, turned on his heels to leave at once, another appeared at
the door.
"May I come in,
sir?"
"What is it
now?" Angrily Micen slammed the
document he was holding down on the desk and glowered at the Head Bailiff. "I thought I'd left strict instructions
not to be disturbed. You had better have
a good reason for this, Hecun. Why have
you left your post? Who's supervising
the prisoner's guards in your absence?"
"Mouro, sir, and it’s
on his directive, that I've been sent here to obtain your permission to recall
the off-duty men, in anticipation of an attack by Zonar, when he attempts to
free the prisoner."
"What of the men that
you have already? Are they all incapable
of stopping one lone wolf? Besides, the
prison compound is impenetrable. It’s
more likely that the attempt will be made while on route to the Capital. Tell Mouro to stop wasting my time. You have your orders, Captain."
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| 03- HEAD BAILIFF HECUN |
"Yes, sir, but as I
was leaving to come here, I heard Mouro dispatching someone, to bring back the
physician, already."
That wouldn't
surprise me, at all, if Mouro had conceived of the precaution I'm now
considering. It’s just like him to
pre-empt my next move. Micen
grumbled under his breath, cupping his chin as he pondered further.
Looking up, he said, "Tell Mouro that, as
soon as the prisoner is secured, he's to report to me for further
instruction. And, Captain, instead of
Yoki, I've decided that you should be the officer in charge of the transport of
the prisoner to Tenzo Province tomorrow.
When you return, turn over your duties to sergeant Cuinn and get
yourself some well-earned rest. I want
to see you in my office at sunrise.
You're dismissed."
"Yes, sir… Thank you, sir." Hecun promptly left the room, his heart
filled with misgivings.
That night the entire law
enforcement (police) men remained on full alert, awaiting the expected assault
from Zonar.
Much to their relief this did not manifest and
by daybreak many questioned aloud, while stretching their limbs, the veracity
of the stranger's threat. Fradel Rurik
Korvald, already locked up in the well-guarded, restrictive mobile iron cage,
was given absolutely no chance to escape.
~
In the small hours of the
night, by Micen's orders, Mouro and two able assistants were dispatched ahead
of time to ride on ahead and reach Tenzo Province post haste.
Mouro was instructed to
see Magistrate Rue of Cheabirger Prefecture and entrust him with the official
papers of indictment, Prefect Micen Do's letter in which he laid out the
delicacies of this case and asked his full cooperation, and a sealed envelope in
which he was told were contained Fradel Rurik Korvald's identity papers and the
Imperial Summons. Of course, Mouro also carried the key to the cage's
lock. After overseeing the successful
transfer of the prisoner to Magistrate Rue's jurisdiction and further transport
towards the Capital, Mouro was to make haste to report back to Micen Do.
This precaution was deemed
necessary by the Prefect in the unlikely event that the escort group and
prisoner were intercepted by Zonar along the less-traveled route they were to
take. Even if Zonar was to be successful
in securing (gaining) Fradel's freedom, the prisoner could not enter the
capital without the papers. A delay on
the Scholar’s part in responding to the summons would incur the wrath of His
Highness and, wherever he was, Fradel Rurik Korvald would certainly be made to
suffer the consequences of his freedom.
If there was no trouble
from Zonar on the road, the means of transport itself would provide Micen with
his next most viable alternative.
Fradel's grave wounds and the rough action of the cage on the road would
ascertain his demise just after he was transferred into custody of Magistrate
Rue. It would become the problem of the
other prefecture. Micen could hardly be
faulted for his precautions in view of the threats that Zonar had issued before
all in court that day.
On the other hand, if Magistrate Rue contested
Micen's precautions and averted assuming full responsibility for the prisoner's
demise, then Hecun could easily be sacrificed as the scapegoat. All blame could rest with him, and he would
be charged for his negligence in the transport of the prisoner.
Though Head Bailiff Hecun
was seen by Micen as a thorn in his flesh, easily expandable, Hecun, properly
deceived, had been led to believe that he had been selected for this task
because of his impeccable record and invaluable skills. Furthermore, he had been
assured that a promotion awaited him on the successful completion of this duty.
Hecun had accepted the
package of documents he was given, in blind faith, as the originals and truly
believed that Fradel's identity papers and summons were in his safe keeping on
the journey.
Ignorant of the conspiracy set against him,
Hecun had expressed gratitude to Mouro, when latter (the other) feigning
friendship, had secretly confided to the bailiff about his separate dispatch on
another urgent, highly confidential errand, the delivery of the cage's key to
Magistrate Rue and the briefing of the official on the details of the
case. And instead of being alarmed,
Hecun had, approving of this precautionary measure, thanked Mouro for his
candor and promised to repay his kindness (favor) at a later opportunity.
