A Long Time from Home Ch. 32

She snorted and chuckled at the same time. "I know, I know. It's impossible, but just try."

"Likewise." I laughed. "But being safe isn't really part of our job description."

"Good point." She said and gave me another hug. It would have been a romantic gesture, but the sound of my stomach rumbling again ruined it.

Verina laughed and let me go. "Take the weapon bag and let's go get food."

With a nod, I reached into the closet and took out an oblong leather bag. A quick look inside confirmed that the bag did indeed contain Shadow Fang along with my throwing knives and the rest of the equipment I had been wearing.

Closing it again, I slung it over my shoulder. "Let's go."

------------------

As we walked out, I mentally contacted the Ordo Praesidium chapter. "< This is Spectre, reporting in for duty >"

There was silence for a moment, but then the answer came. "< This is Adept Marcius, Welcome back, Spectre. I have a message from the Dominus Grande for you >"

"< Please proceed >" I said, wondering what it might be.

"< Yes, sir, and I would like to add that I am reading from a written statement, starting now > " He paused. "< Good job, Spectre, and congratulations with the promotion. If somebody reads this to you, it's because you have both a month of vacation and four weeks of sick leave, that you have forgotten all about. Take it. Now. Don't show your face in the head quarter. You -- are -- on -- vacation. Have a good time and get well. That's an order >" There was a pause. "< Signed Dominus Grande Kaeso Maximus of the Ordo Gladius >" Another pause. "< Sorry about that, sir, but the Dominus Grande was quite insistent about it >"

"< Yes, he can be that from time to time. Well, I guess that I'm on vacation then >"

"< Yes sir, but don't hesitate to call if there's anything that I can do for you >"

I thought about it for a moment. "< Well, I would like an update on the situation >"

"< That is against my orders, sir. You are on vacation >"

I chuckled for myself. The Dominus Grande must have been very insisting. "< No worries, Adept Marcius. Spectre out >"

Verina must have heard the chuckle because she looked at me. "Something funny?"

"Only the Old Man insisting that I need a vacation."

She shrugged. "Well... you do, but we'll get to that later, now we go eat and then I'll escort you home." She held up a hand, before I had a chance to say anything. "Don't argue. It's an order from the Old Man."

There was a seriousness in her tone, that gave me the chills. Last time I had heard that was at the outbreak of The Disease. Taking a deep breath, I said, "Verina... What is happening?"

She was silent for a moment but then reached out to hold my hand. We linked and a heartbeat later, I started to receive information about had had happened while I had been in a coma.

It was all bad.

Three assassins had attempted to kill the High King while he was on way to speak in the Senate. They didn't succeed in killing him, but the High King was so seriously hurt, that even with Baylon healing, it would take almost ten days before he was well again, effective leaving Baylon without a leader.

To make matters worse, the security at Southern Anchor had been breached and while nothing had happened, the incidents at both the Western and Southern Anchors had sparked yet another round of heated debate in the senate. One so intense that the country was on the edge of a civil war, as both sides accused the other of being behind the assassination attempt on the High King.

I felt a wave of dizziness roll over me, as my mind took in the information. The pleasure I had shared with Verina had supplied me with Vis, but I needed food.

Suddenly I remembered something Chuzara had said to Kruse, when I had overheard them a week ago: "... we still have a job to do in the north."

Added to that was that it had been three assassins, exactly the number of people in the group, and nobody got close to the High King without being undetectable by powers, which everybody in the group was.

"< I know who tried to kill the High King >" I sent, almost making Verina stumble in surprise, before she sent "< One moment >" and walked over to a taberna (Baylon: street-kitchen'), bought two meals and walked back to me, handing me one of them. "Here you go."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." She answered with a smile, but there was no joy in her eyes and a heartbeat later, she resumed our mental communication. "< Do tell... as long as you remember to eat >"

One of the numerous of advantages with mental communication, is that it possible to do while eating and as we ate, I told her about the group of half-breeds as well as the Unknown Noble Mage, and my analysis of the situation.

"< Did you say that you included a mind-image of the unknown mage in the report? >" Asked Verina, her mental voice sounding thoughtful.

"< Yes, in the ones I sent as mental communication >"

"< There was no mind-images in the reports I have seen >" Verina sent, adding "< and yes, I have seen all the reports, both written and mental >"

It took all the willpower I had to not looked shocked. All mentally delivered reports were usually kept in an enchanted crystal, called a Memcrystal, from where it could be accessed later. The advantage of that, was that mind-images were kept along with the report, enabling everybody to view them later. Since accidents happened, every report was kept on three different Mencrystals, that was stored in three different places.

That meant that for someone to fiddle with the reports, they had to have access to three different places, which only high-ranking members of the Ordo Presidium had. Unfortunately, it also implied, that the Baylon mage in the mind-images either had connection in high places or was a high-ranking member himself, and both options were bad.

Another point to consider was, that it was highly unlikely, that I wouldn't discovered that the mind images missing soon after being released from the hospital. They were after all described in the report and since they were missing, someone would ask me about them.

For a moment, I wondered why the Dominus Grande haven't mentioned them in his message but then realized, that he had read the original reports before they were sent on and thus didn't know the mind-images were missing from the later versions.

The timeframe was also worrying. Those who had removed the mind-images must have known that it would only take a few days after I had been released from the hospital before it was discovered. So, whatever they had to do, required that the mind-image of the mage didn't reach public for seven to eight days or so. It also meant, that either the job was finished now or....

"< Tits of the Goddess >" I cursed. "< That's how they got from the Western Anchor, to the Southern Anchor and then back to Baylon in time. They were gated to Baylon by the Unknown Mage! >"

Verina sighed and nodded. "< I agree... and the Mage most likely got them away from the Capitol again, since three undetectable strangers would be easy to find. Basically, all it takes is to round up everybody that can't be detected and start the interrogations >" She grinned a humourless grin. "< I heard they briefly suspected both you and Dominus Grande Maximus, but both of you had an impeccable alibies. You were in a coma in the hospital and the Old Man was in the Senate, waiting for the High King >"

I nodded slowly. With a natural ability to be undetectable being so rare, it was normal that the Securitas had checked out those they knew had that ability first. That way they could eliminate us as suspects and move on.

Taking Verina's hand, I sent her the mind-Images I had gotten from Chuzara. "< Anyone you recognize? >"

She was silent for a while, but finally said, "< No, but the mage looks somewhat familiar. I just can't place him >"

Suddenly not feeling hungry anymore, I dumped the remains of my food in a trashcan. "< I'm going to change the plans. Instead of going home or to my parents, I'm going to Grove to visit my sister. You on the other hand is going directly to Arcem >" I smiled weakly at her. "< That's an order. You need to deliver the mind-images to the Dominus Grande and Sabia Lartius. After that, I want you to call in Varro and give him the images as well. The more people you can get them to, the better, but don't leave Arcem for a week or so >"

"< Yes, sir >" said Verina, understanding the seriousness of the matter.

"< Good. Then I'll do my best to make it look like I obey my orders and go on vacation >"

"< Wise.. and take care >"

"< You too >"

Just to be on the safe side, I walked Verina to the Ordo Vectio building, where she was gated to Arcem. To the irritation of the mage doing the gating, I stayed in the gating room, keeping mind contact with Verina, until she told me, that she had arrived at Arcem. Then I thanked the mage and teleported myself to a small forest just outside Grove, where my parents used to take my sister and I for walks when we were younger. It might be me that was overly cautious, but if somebody was tracking me, I wanted to give them as hard a time as possible trying to follow me.

The first thing I noticed when I arrived, was the black mountains that loomed in the horizon. They had been a constant sight as I grew up and as I walked into the city, I found that I had missed them.

Grove was the only major city that was located this close to the mountains, which was the reason for it had escaped almost untouched by the Disease, since Grove wasn't a city you passed through on the way to anywhere else. As the last city before the mountains, important people only visited Grove when they had business there and that had enabled the quarantine rule to come into effect before the city was contaminated.

After having used an Ars Mentalis trick to locate my sister, I walked down the main road with a slight smile on my face. A city filled with artists, musicians, and scholars from the Acedemia Major (Baylon: 'University'), Grove was not only a beautiful city, but a lively one as well.

I walked past café's, where students were drinking and eating, while they debated problems of every kind. Others were playing music, board games or flirting. It looked so relaxed and peaceful, that I felt tempted to sit down and listen to them for a while, but while I was pondering that, I saw my twin sister sitting at a table, chatting with another woman.

Instead of going right over to her, I leaned against a column and observed her.

As she had been away from Grove the last time I visited, it had been almost a year since I last saw her, but she looked pretty much the same... and with that, I mean that she looked really good.

Most of it was natural, but a few things weren't. Some years ago, she had asked me to use my healing powers to correct a few things she found irritating, and I did it for her as a birthday present. Her teeth had been straightened, a few birthmarks had been removed and any unwanted hair had been removed permanently.

By themselves, these changes weren't that big, but the overall impression had become better, and she was a beauty to start with.

According to our parents, I had taken after our mother's side of the family and she had taken after our father's side, which basically meant that we were mirror images of each other. I'm a good Mentat and fighter, who have a few Ars Magica spells and the scholastic skills to back up my profession. She's a good Ars Magica user and Scholar, who have a bit Ars Mentalis and some combat skills, which our mother had taught her. I'm a quick thinker, while she's clever and have more brainpower than anyone else I know, with the possible exception of Verina.

Since our parents insisted that we learned the 'classic social' skills, we can both dance and play the lute, but she's a better dancer than I am. On the other hand, I'm much better on a lute. She likes candy and I like stuffed dates. Of course, we're similar on a lot of other areas, but we're different enough not to have the sibling rivalry that so many others have.

The woman my sister was talking with had long brown hair framing a face that was almost as good-looking as my sister, though her skin-tone was somewhat darker. A glimmer from her hands caught my eyes and I realized that she was wearing a mage ring. Not that it was much of a surprise, since my sister spent so much time at the university, that she usually met her partners there.

Returning my attention to my sister, I reached out with my mind and contacted her. She blinked a few times as she recognized the 'feel' of my thoughts.

"< Hello Chili >" I thought. Her name is Pandora, but I've been calling her Chili since we were teenagers.

"< Ivah! >" she exclaimed. "< Are you home or on assignment? >"

"< I'm on vacation >" I thought with amusement as I saw her leaning back in the seat with a smile.

"< I'm glad you're coming home. Where are you now?"

"< Look away from the girl you're trying score and look to your right. >"

She did as I said and at the same time, I stepped out from the shadow of the column.

A moment later, I had a happy young woman around my neck, hugging me.

"Ivah! So nice to see you!" she grinned and kissed my cheek.

"Hello, Chili." I said as I placed her on the ground again and noticed that the young woman by the table was looking hard at me. It was the kind of look you send to a rival who have an unfair advantage. Pandora turned around towards her and said, "Atia, this is my brother Ivah and Ivah, this is Atia."

That piece of information made Atia smile as she nodded to me. "Nice to meet you, Ivah. Have a seat."

I did as she said and sat down on a chair. "Hello. I hope that I didn't interrupt anything."

"No, no." said Atia and signalled a waiter, who came over to the table immediately.

Still being hungry, I ordered some seared water- and honey melons, a spicy burger, stuffed dates as dessert and cider to go with it all.

Pandora laughed. "Do you ever get tired of filled dates?"

Smiling back, I shook my head "No and to be honest, I don't get it that often."

Eyeing the sword bag, Atia asked, "Are you an Imperial Guard?"

"No, I'm working for Ordo Praesidium in Securitas Interna."

"Nice." She said with a smile, which told me that she most likely wasn't from a noble family.

The good thing about working for Securitas Interna was that it was quite popular among the common people, since it was the place where they could get help, if they were cheated by government officials, Mages or Mentats, or were victims of corruption or incompetence. On the other hand, most nobles hated us as all misuses of power fell under our jurisdiction, which meant that we could and would drag them to court if they misused their rights.

"So, are you on job or vacation here?" Atia continued.

"Vacation." I said with a chuckle. "My boss insisted that I needed one."

"And he was probably right." Added Pandora with a smile. "You're not really known for relaxing that much. Actually ..."

She was interrupted by a waiter that arrived with the seared melons.

"Saved by the bell." Atia said as she looked from me to Chili.

"Not me." I said, "Chili here may know a few stories about me... but I know a lot more stories about her."

Atia blinked a few times and looked at Pandora. "Chili?"

"Childhood nickname." Pandora said with a shrug.

"I like it!" Atia said, flashing a wide smile at my twin. "Chili!"

"Now see what you have done!" Pandora said and sent me a stern look, but a smile was visible at the edge of her lips. "You're ruining my reputation here!"

"Naaah." I said with a grin. "Alcohol does that, not me."

Atia looked questioningly at me. "Is there a story behind that?"

"Not one that is mine to tell." I answered with a smile. "So, what have you two been planning for the afternoon?"

"We're going to the theatre to see a play." Said Atia immediately. "You're welcome to join us."

It had been a long time since I've had the time to enjoy a play, but almost as soon as Atia had uttered the words, I could feel that both of them wanted to be alone at the theatre.

"Thanks for the offer, but if it's okay with your, Chili, I would rather just relax in the house."

"No problem." Said Pandora and drank from her cup.

"< Oh brother of mine >" Said Pandora's voice in my head. "< Could you do me a favour and tell me if I have a chance with her? She's sweet, fun and intelligent and I want her, so please use your investigating training or something >"

I chewed on a melon as I sent back. "< Take her with you and buy some more tea >"

A moment later Pandora almost dragged Atia up to get some more tea, while I looked at them laughing and talking.

Hands, eyes, and body language tell more than people know and after seeing the way Atia's eyes kept lingering at my sister's mouth and ran over her body as well as the way that she kept touching Chili's arm as the talked, left me in no doubt that she wanted Pandora. A few other details made me even more certain, among them the look Atia had sent me before she knew I was Chilli' brother, and I smiled as my sister looked at me and nodded shortly to her.

"< Are you sure? >" she asked mentally.

"< As sure as I can be without reading her mind and that's illegal >"

There was a mental laughter, and she closed the connection with a "< Thank you >"

Two glass later, Chilli and Atia walked to the amphitheatre to watch the play, and I walked 'home' to the house I had grown up in to relax.

-------------------

I felt much better when I woke up the next day. The healing had completed during the night and the tiredness was gone, only to have been replaced by hunger, so after the usual morning routines, I walked to the kitchen to get some food.

I had planned to make something simple, but Kima, the elderly house maid, had prepared three delicious looking plated with freshly baked bread, cheese, and fruits, so after thanking her, I took a plate and walked into the garden to eat there. Kima had been there as long as I could remember and since she had seen both Chilli and I grow up, she tended to treat us as her own grandchildren.

She was also an excellent cook, and I was enjoying the meal, when Chilli and Atia walked into the garden hand in hand. I wasn't surprised. I had been sleeping when they had returned to the house, but during the evening I had been briefly awakened by the sound of them sharing pleasure.

"Good morning." I greeted them cheerfully. "Slept well?"

"Yes." Said Chilli with a smile as she sat down in a sofa.

"Extremely well." Added Atia as she sat down next to my sister and gave her a kiss. "Oh, and the play was very good as well."

Chilli nodded agreement and together they explained about the play, while I ate the rest of my meal. One of the characters in the play had been an Inquisitor called Ghost, who always appeared out of nowhere to the surprise of the rest of the cast and the amusement of the audience.

"You really should have seen it, Ivah." giggled Chili. "It was hilarious."

"If I have the time, I will see it one of the nearest days." I promised.

"You know, my brother Quintus actually met an inquisitor once." Said Atia as she absently played with Chili's hair with one hand.

My sister looked at her and kissed her hand, before asking. "What happened?"

"Oh, he won't say much about it, but he was working as a guard for the Pulcher family and apparently one of the magi there had illegally caught a magical creature. However, the creature escaped and as the mage was trying to kill it, an inquisitor showed up, knocked the mage out and arrested him." She chuckled. "Quintus said he was sure he and the other guard were next, but the Inquisitor just announced who he was and after a questioning, my brother walked away a free man."