Excerpt: Swordplay

(This is part of a short story I wrote that started this novel. In the finished novel this scene will be close to the end and it will change drastically.)

Sabio Marten and his partner had just returned from one of the worst crime scenes he had witnessed during his long time as Capitanus magilis. Their steps echoed through the empty entrance hall of the magical rural police. Sabio carried the box with the pieces of evidence under his right arm. With his left arm he wiped his mouth again. He had a foul flavor in his mouth although he himself hadn't vomited. His partner Druidus was worse off.

"You’d better clean yourself," Sabio said. "I’ll take the box to Excelsior and start with the report." Druidus nodded gratefully and turned to the toilet. He still choked. Sabio went down the stairs to the vault. The safety door announced him and he entered but Excelsior Van Steen ignored him. The archivist blew away one of his white curls that hung in his face and put a spiked flail in a small glass case which closed automatically.

"Luxariä," he ordered and a blue flame pulverized the weapon. "Your invention of the firebox is praiseworthy, Sabio. Finally, the damn weapons can be destroyed safely. Sometimes I think you would have been much better down here then me." He grinned at Sabio. Then his eyebrows rose in consternation and he stroked his long, white beard. "Why are you so pale?"

"An antique storekeeper butchered himself and his whole family. No one’s ever seen anything like that. There were body parts everywhere, walls and floor were bloody … it was disgusting."

"The weapon?"
"A sword."
"Magical?"
"Maybe …” Sabio handed Excelsior the black box. The archivist put it on the table beside him and started to fill out a form.

"How did Druidus fare?”
Sabio grinned. "Not too bad, I'd say. Of course he puked. Nevertheless, he noticed that there was way too little blood for so many corpses."

"That’s my boy!” Excelsior seemed pleased. He handed the form to Sabio to sign. "Send him down in an hour and I will give him a temporary report."

Sabio nodded and touched the signature zone with his left hand. A purple flame ran around his fingers and condensed into Sabio’s initials. Excelsior took the sheet and checked the signature. "Remember the séance tonight. Aparta insists on your coming."

"I am looking forward to it,” Sabio said and left. On the way to his office, he allowed himself to dream of Aparta Van Steen for a moment. He loathed his longing for her. I won't go tonight, he decided. Excelsior isn't stupid. He will soon notice what I feel for his wife. To turn his mind from Aparta, he started to dictate his report into the red funnel of the writing implement. The goblin on the other end had problems to write so fast. Sabio ignored its protests.

Druidus reappeared half an hour later. He was still very pale but clean. "Thanks,” he said and slumped into his chair.

"That’s what partners are for, isn’t it,” Sabio replied.
Druidus smirked. "I’d rather think you wanted to tell Dad about my discomfort."

"You can do that yourself and don’t forget to bring the temporary report.”

"I will." Druidus got up and left. Sabio went on dictating. When he finished he looked up to the clock. Druidus had been gone nearly an hour. This is weird, Sabio thought.

An unknown officer stepped closer and bowed to the ground. "The Inspectorius wants you to come to the vault. Druidus Van Steen is asking for you."

Sabio ran off. An uncertain fear twisted his insides. He ran down the stairs and through the open safety door. There, he stumbled over Excelsior’s head which lay right in the entrance. Only the broad back of the Inspectorius stopped his fall. It took him some time to realize what he saw. Blood dripped of weapons and walls. Druidus clutched Excelsior’s body and whimpered. When he noticed Sabio he looked directly into his eyes.

"I killed him, Sabio," he whispered and after that he stayed silent.