Page 10 of The Study of Fire
“What’s wrong?” he asked as they approached his desk.
“I’ll let you explain,” Kenda said to Ryda.
Captain Ryda smoothed the tunic of her uniform. Her black hair had been braided and arranged in an artful knot on the top of her head. With wide hazel eyes and a long thin nose, she was rumored to be able to elicit a confession with one piercing glance.
While technically civilians, the watch’s personnel were arranged in a military hierarchy with the captain overseeing the watch station. Depending on the size of the city, up to five lieutenants reported to the captain, and each lieutenant oversaw a dozen street patrollers.
Normally, Captain Ryda would report to Major Edan, who oversaw six cities in MD-6. If someone ascended high enough through the ranks, they would eventually reach the general of the district. But because Castletown was so close to the castle complex, Ryda sent reports to Valek as well. Unless it was serious. Then she came in person.
“I’m not quite sure what is wrong,” Ryda said. “Which is why I’m here.”
“Then sit down. Would you like a drink?” Valek stood and gestured to a row of bottles on his sideboard. “I’ve some iced gin from MD-2.”
Ryda’s expression brightened. “Yes, please.” She settled in the seat. “Do you stock that gin just for me?”
He poured her a glass and handed it to her. “I do. It’s your favorite.”
“I’m debating if it’s nice that you know that, or scary.” She took a long swallow, and then relaxed back. “This could be nothing.”
Valek waited.
“Like any town, we have our share of drunk and disorderly conduct, fights, petty thefts, pranks. Minor stuff. Except, these incidents have increased to numbers we usually deal with during the Fire Festival. We’re heading toward the cold season and stuff like that tends to die down until the weather warms up.
“Also, what’s puzzling is the people who are acting out are those who tend to be law-abiding citizens. We arrested a grandfather the other night for running through the streets naked.” She shuddered. “And he wasn’t drunk. Just convinced he was on fire.”
“Sounds like a drug,” Kenda said.
“We thought so, too. But there’s no consistency to the symptoms. And those who have recovered, have no memory of taking anything. They’re quite confused and alarmed that they’re in a jail cell.” Ryda met Valek’s gaze. “It could be a new drug smuggled in from Sitia, but we’ve found nothing. No evidence.”
Or it could be magic. There was a possibility that a young person living in Castletown had reached puberty and had developed magical power. A new magician had no control over their powers, which would explain the random strange actions of ordinary people. Valek’s heart sank. Magicians were not tolerated in Ixia. When found, they were executed by him.
“I’ll assign some of my corps to investigate,” Valek said.
“Everyone’s on edge. Strangers will be noticed,” Ryda warned.
“Noted.”
After Ryda left, Kenda asked, “Do you think the cause could be magic?”
“It’s possible. I’d like to rule out the mundane reasons first.”
“Who are you thinking for the job?”
Valek considered his agents. All could blend in, but it’d take longer to get the locals to trust them. “Trevar and Adrik.”
“They’re still in training.”
“Yes, but Trevar grew up in Castletown. He’s not a stranger.”
“But he’s been gone for almost a year.”
“He disappeared when we arrested all the black market dealers. It makes sense that he moved to another town to avoid being captured. The fervor has died down, and no doubt there is another set of dealers setting up shop. The best baiter in town has returned and brought with him a new friend.”
“He’ll be thrilled with the assignment.”
“Have them report to me.”
“Yes, sir. Anything else?”
