write the history of the world is a task of infinite proportions. Each day a new chapter must be recorded.
It would be good to see his friend after the passage of so many years.
Leo traveled at times for learning, although he sometimes needed additional gold and silver to fund his travels or experiments. More recently, he had become known for his ability to locate thieves through a combination of intuitive detection and arcane methods. He developed a working relationship with a friend who was a Keldon mystic knight, and they collaborated on occasion to locate the thieves and deal with their threat.
Mostly because of his wealthy family ties, Leo slightly altered his name at times so that he would not be recognized as a frequent traveler at inns. Sometimes thieves targeted regular travelers or merchants after learning their predictable travel routes.
The messenger who originally contacted Leo indicated that Barricus wanted some discreet help with discovering some thieves. Leo realized there must be some political issue involved, as specially trained members of the local legion or constabulary would normally handle the problem. He heard some movement in the hallway and turned toward the entrance.
Barricus walked into the large study. He hugged Leo and grasped both his forearms in greeting. He had put on some weight but was still robust. He was dressed in a Roman-style toga with a black cloak draped over both his shoulders. He had dark curly hair with a touch of gray mixed in, and his brown eyes were clear, although some redness and moisture indicated he had controlled his emotions. “This is a sad time for me, friend. My older sister is dead.”
“I had not heard. My condolences, Barricus,” Leo replied as he touched his friend’s shoulder. He recalled Lady Seneca. She was a fairly pretty woman and, more importantly, was an influential person capable of leading and running her estate in Tosca.
Barricus, his brown eyes still heavy with his sister’s loss, said, “Her death is part of the reason I wanted your help. Let us leave the villa and walk toward the senate and forum. I don’t want all of my family hearing this conversation.”
Leo knew the senate buildings were only a league away, and the walk would be good. Barricus led him out of the villa. Walking around the house, Leo noticed the tall, thin Lombardy poplars scattered around the area. This section of the city was a partly manicured forest preserve with a mix of mature and old trees. Wealthy people lived in the large villas, like Barricus’s, that backed up to it.
Others walked along the stone paths that led to a well-kept road. Leo noted that the language in the main cites, where those with a Roman descent lived, was closer to the original Latin than that of the outlying areas or smaller cities and towns.
They moved away from the villa and continued along the garden route to the central city area. Leo said, “You seem more composed than usual, my friend. Worried, perhaps.”
“Yes, I am worried. My sister was murdered. It was not a natural death. There is evidence of creatures and evil forces.”
“Murder? What level of investigation was done initially?” Leo asked. “What manner of creatures?”
“The legion’s investigators found signs of the spore of several animals, including some type of night crawlers. There were also some non-household dead left behind of what appeared to be northern barbarians and goblin mercenaries. As you may not be completely aware, Lady Seneca had a large household guard—over one hundred men and women led by an experienced centurion.”
“Do you know what happened? How many died defending?” Leo asked. “Night crawlers” usually refer to creatures of the undead type, he thought.
Barricus continued. “Andrius found all the guards dead. He is a priest of Diana’s temple, near the great lake in Tosca. He was a family friend and was going to visit Lady Seneca. He was supposed to meet with her, according to her planning ledger, around late morning the following day. He notified the legion and a local inquisitor of the calamity, and, being a responsible friend of hers, he kept the initial incident of her death from the public. The quaestionarius from the legion found evidence of murder and notified Lady Seneca’s son, who was with some cousins, and a courier notified me, as I was in the capital.”
“A terrible thing, my friend. So you want me to find out what happened.”
“Yes. I hope you can be discreet for as long as possible. The events will likely require me to return to the Tosca province. I still have to deal with a few citizens vying for contracts or position, and I find myself affected by her loss even now.”
Leo nodded. “I understand, Senator. There will be others with issues and agendas.” He had heard of political scheming in the capital for which of the senators would be selected as the consul to replace old Zeraphus. The old consul was finally retiring to his villa in his home province, and Barricus was one of several senators up for consideration.
Barricus replied, “Excellent. Then, if needed, I will help arrange your travel to Tosca.”
“That would be fine, and I will probably require some help. I have worked in the past with a colleague named Erios; he is a Keldon mystic knight.”
“I have already acquired some aid for you. One of the dawn knights was recommended to me. She seems to have a good reputation and will keep the family’s interests secure.”
“I see…Thank you.” Leo thought, He really does want to control issues, and I still need some additional funds for my further studies and experiments.
Barricus continued, “I think of the dawn knights as an order or division of the mystic knights, and, like the other special ancient orders, they have the authority of low justice as granted to them originally by the old Celinadion government and later by our republic. That authority may become useful during your search.”
They walked closer to the buildings of the forum, not far from the senate halls of Megalos. People approached Barricus along the way, and he pointed them in the direction of his secretary. A few guards, who had been following discreetly at a distance to give Barricus privacy, closed the distance as they approached the senate halls. They intercepted a few people who were only able to say a brief greeting.
Leo squinted. “There must be something else you have not told me yet.”
“Yes. Two issues, actually—one to be aware of and the other…the dawn knight can help you look into.”
Leo said, “Hm…two other issues.”
“First is that a son of one of our relatives, Tribune Orem, was also visiting the estate. I heard he may have been killed as well, although a body was not found—only blood in his bed. As the missing boy’s father is a tribune, he may also arrange to conduct his own investigation.”
“I see. And the other issue?”
Barricus looked around. “A large shipment of weapons, including spears, swords, and shields, was taken. It was held on my sister’s estate and was meant for part of the northern legion that defends the territories to the north and northwest of Tosca. Additionally, the company of Megalosian guards that helped transport the shipment was killed.”
Leo’s family was friends with Barricus’s. When Leo was younger and still worked with his father and uncle in the family business, he and other family members visited with Barricus’s family. Leo’s family owned several foundries and made weapons, such as swords, for the legions.
Leo said, “It seems that I may need some of my colleague’s help after all.” As a senator for Tosca, Barricus commanded a military defense and likely replaced some of the weapon losses already out of his own provincial stores.
“I recall your family’s ties to the weapon-making business,” Barricus said.
“Personally, I have not done much with the weapons business for years, and my uncle runs that family enterprise now; however, my friend Erios Keldarion is actively involved with many mercantile endeavors, including weapons. If he and his small organization were not the calm and somber type of merchants and instead were aggressive, my family would have