Chapter Nine
Part Two
Line and Ali walked side by side into The Four Seasons tea house. A few guests were seated in the many tables, and there were servants coming back and forth. Even though the letter Line had received just that morning, the tea house was still in business.
A brown-haired young woman made her way through the lower levels of the tea house, wearing a smile. She was the same woman who healed her almost severed arm.
“Ali. Its good seeing you without being drenched this time” The woman said.
Ali blushed, which caused Line’s head to tilt. For as long as Line had known Ali, she had never seen her blush this much.
Thinking she should remove herself from the conversation Line spoke up “I can find the room myself” and left Ali to this woman.
Line moved up the stairs and spotted some guards standing outside a pretty unassuming door. But these guards weren’t wearing royal guard or city guard uniforms, instead they were just wearing regular citizens clothing. Line eyed them, and she could tell that they were wearing armour underneath their clothes, the same goes for the woman that Ali was talking to.
As Line came closer, the guards bowed and one of them said “Inspector Line, we’ve been informed of your arrival” they then stepped out of the way “Please” they gestured towards the door.
Line copied their bow, and headed through the door.
Inside, was an equally unassuming room. A table and chairs sat in the centre, books cases lined the walls, and there were a few potted plants around. This room was only missing one thing, the victim.
Vax’dian made himself known “The victim has already been taken to the doctor” Vax’dian was still without his usual red coat.
Line smiled “Here” she moved, taking the red coat she had been carrying and returned it to him “You’ve been missing your signature red for too long”
Vax’dian returned the smile “Thank you”
Line then turned to the room “What happened?”
“Xena -she works here- came to refill the tea pot, when she found the body. There was no blood at all”
“Then how do we know if it was murder?”
“The victim didn’t come alone”
“But the victim was alone when Xena came?”
“Exactly”
“Where were they sitting?”
Vax’dian gave a gesture “There”
Line gave a nod, and sat in the victim’s chair. There were trays of small baked goods and two tea cups stood opposite each other, it looked as if only one of them had been drank from. She picked up the victims cup and raised it to her lips, but before the cup had even touched her lips she placed the cup back down on its matching saucer.
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“Tell me about the victim” Line asked.
“He was a member of the merchants guild, in charge of overseeing the travelling market that’s in Yor right now”
“The travelling market?”
“Yes. Do you know of it?”
“Ali wanted to go”
“Well now will be the perfect time to visit, I heard the market is leaving tomorrow”
“Vax, pull some strings for me. The travelling market is not allowed the leave the city of Yor, not until this case has been solved”
Vax’dian faltered for a moment before returning back to himself “I will do just that”
“Thank you” Line paused, did she just shorten Vax’dian’s name? She forced herself to continue “Where is this Xena?”
“Xena should have met with you downstairs. Did you not see her?”
Realisation hit Line “Oh, I see. Ali is with her” She stood “Where’s Hyde?”
“He’s with the doctor”
“One last question, do you have the victims name?”
“Benedict Rashe, this room was booked in his name”
“Alright, thank you. I want to talk to Xena now”
*
When Line had made her way back down to the first floor, she could see Ali and Xena sitting at a table that was placed against the wall.
Vax’dian spoke up “I will go and make sure the market doesn’t leave”
Line gave her thanks and watched Vax’dian leave the tea house flanked by two guards. Line watched Ali and Xena, waiting for a more opportune time to jump into the conversation.
“...And then what happened?” Xena asked, completely enthralled by Ali’s story.
“The chicken then jumped out of my arms and started attacking this man in front of me. You should’ve seen him...” Ali said laughing “... I’m sure this chicken scared him witless”
Xena laughed along with Ali “He deserved it”
Ali continued “I managed to calm the chicken down, but by that point I had absolutely no idea where I was. I was completely lost, so I just chose a random direction and ran”
“Did you make it back home?”
Ali shook her head “No, I made it here instead” Ali smiled sadly “I had to eat that chicken”
Xena’s smile dropped.
“And after that, I made a pledge to never eat meat again” Ali sighed “I was so attached to that chicken, but I was also extremely hungry. I had no other choice”
“I’m sorry... for your loss”
This is when Line decided to interrupt “Xena? I assume?”
Xena stood “Ah, yes. I’m sure you have some questions for me”
“Please sit” Line also took a seat “I’ve been made aware that you were the one to find the body?”
“That is correct” Xena said as she sat.
“And did you also see the person he came here with?”
“I did, but I couldn’t see much of them”
“How so?”
“They were wearing a pretty heavy looking black cloak, and they were wearing a black scarf around the lower half of their face. So I couldn’t make out any defining features” Xena winced “I’m sorry”
Line sighed “That’s alright, we’ll find the killer eventually. Did you notice anything else? Something that might be helpful to us?”
Xena thought for a moment “It’s probably nothing, but...”
“Yes?”
“They smelt heavily of perfume”
“Perfume?”
Xena nodded “I’m sure of it” she continued “But that’s all I noticed. Sorry”
Line gave a nod, then “No, don’t apologise. You never know what could be helpful in a case” she stood “But, if you think of anything else, please either inform Prince Vax’dian or send me a letter”
“I will”
“Ali, time to go”
“Oh... sure” Ali then looked at Xena “Bye, Xena”
Xena smiled “Bye, Ali”
