From Falls a Dark Shadow: Arcania Rising Book Two

Adjunt awoke suddenly when the door to his room was smashed open. Three men pushed inside, yanking Adjunt to his feet. Two men, one on each arm, dragged Adjunt into the narrow hallway, while the last went about gathering Adjunt’s belongings.

Without a word the men began shoving Adjunt down the stairs. Upon reaching the ground floor, he suddenly turned on his captors.

“I am a formal representative of the Imperial Army. I demand to know what this is all about.”

The guard nearest Adjunt was suddenly shoved aside by another man. Adjunt quickly recognized the officer he’d seen and followed the previous day. Reginald. An almost murderous rage had no replaced the sarcastic expression from the day before.

“You think your high and mighty Emperor is gonna save you? Think again, you Ceran cockroach.”

Deputy Reginald shoved Adjunt toward the door. In turn, Adjunt whirled around just as Reginald reached out to push him again. In a flash, Reginald’s arm was twisted behind him. Adjunt pushed his prisoner to the ground wincing in pain.

“I’ll ask you gentleman once more, what is the meaning of this?”

The two remaining officers, who were dressed exactly as Reginald, exchanged confused glances. Reginald was obviously in charge here, and the men were scrambling for what to do next.

“Well, you see…” one of them began.

“Shut up!’ Reginald bellowed.

“I’ll know the answer before you get up.” Adjunt made sure to keep his voice calm and collected.

“Don’t just stand there,” Reginald shouted. “Get him.”

A short twist on Reginald’s arm sent a shiver of doubt through the two young men accompanying Reginald. Adjunt realized they wouldn’t say anything without their leader’s permission.

“There are laws, good sir, even down here.” Adjunt began. “If accosting citizens without giving any reason at all has become policy, perhaps it’s high time the Empire took a much closer look at our neighbors here in Byloth.”

Nothing moved for a moment. The captive deputy took a long breath at last. Anger filled his voice.

“The sheriff was found dead last night, murdered. Since you were about looking for him yesterday afternoon, you stand to be a prime suspect. We’re taking you in for questioning on the matter.”

“And that warranted bursting into my room unannounced?” Adjunt asked, with as much incredulity as he could muster. “Shoving me around without so much as a word?”

“We don’t offer killers such amenities here, Ceran.”

“As you will no doubt learn later on, I am not a killer.”

Adjunt noticed this was the second time Reginald had called him ‘Ceran’. No doubt a shortening of Cerasin-Cera. So now people from the capital had their own slang name.  A signpost on a dangerous road that often led to things much more tragic.

“Well I think you are. And one way or another, you’re coming with us.”

The truth of Reginald’s statement weighed heavily. He was right, of course. Sooner or later Adjunt would have to answer their questions, some of which might land dangerously close to his mission. Deciding it would be unavoidable, Adjunt let go of Reginald’s arm, and stepped back.

“Very well.” Adjunt began. “But you’ll conduct your questions here, now. I cannot be your murderer, as you will soon see.”