The Verge Of An Empire

10

I lifted my head and looked at the ceiling, sooty and cracked plaster.

- This is just a sketch, every step of the killer will be confirmed by the army of forensic scientists that Wolfeld will overtake here. Looking back at the corpses, I allowed myself a smile. “Torsh, Wayne, do you know what I like about myself?

The subordinates looked with polite attention. Among the netencris there was an opinion, quite fair, that the gentlemen of the Voice love everything in themselves. Confidence in the superiority of his own species over all others fills tenkris from a very young age, he carries this confidence throughout his life and, dying, passes it on to the next generation.

“I can quite successfully put my mind off the dead and devote myself to studying the details. What do you think, is it because I am a soulless creature, spitting on other people's life tragedies?

Polite silence, feigned misunderstanding on their faces and about the same in the emotional background.

- No? Hmm, in the military they didn't like me for that. But they appreciated. Therefore, let's forget about the corpses and think about what exactly killed them. Rolled necks and cut throats are, of course, interesting in their own way. They speak of strength and composure. You and I know what strength and skill are needed to kill like that. But the wounds inflicted on men are like a crushing blow from a red-hot, not burning, namely, red-hot iron stick. The wounds are charred, no penetrating character, the clothes are also charred, but they are not burned. I don't know of a weapon capable of inflicting such wounds. To anyone? No? I think forensic magicians will confirm the presence of magical emanations. By the way, why isn't the Department of Magical Crimes here yet?

- They're on their way. - A man entered the room, bending down so as not to touch the lintel with his forehead.

To properly describe it, one would have to use too many words "perfect". A tall, stately, well-built gentleman, dressed in a perfectly clean gray cloak, dark-haired, perfectly combed and shaved, with perfectly clean pince-nez glasses on a perfect even nose. Perfect posture, perfectly detached expression of a thoroughbred face and pale green eyes. In his left hand is a cylinder, in his right is a shiny black bag.

– Good afternoon, Mr. Varzov.

"And the same to you, Thane el'Moria," he nodded.

- What kind of wind? Directions from above or personal interest?

“Personal interest and instructions from above, mitan. Out of the corner of my ear I heard that an interesting murder had taken place here, and decided to look into the light. Children or adults?

- Children - quite ordinary, although it is not clear why they were killed. The most interesting thing here, please come to the table.

Antonis Varzov went busily to the table and began to examine the scorched wounds. I preferred to squint my eyes and watch Sebastina. A curious phenomenon, almost like an elevator, only when we ride the elevator, she giggles, and when Antonis comes into view, my unflappable and determined maid suddenly turns crimson and begins to stagger from side to side. Most of all, at this time, she resembles a shy schoolgirl. I don't know why this amuses me when I should be worried or jealous? Although, if you think about it, Varzov is a male copy of Sebastina, with the addition of the fact that he is a man, but she is not.

In fact, it is normal for Sebastina to be who she is, and it is good that the vast majority of those around her take her for a person. But Antonis Varzov, being a real person on the outside, inside is something much less... It's hard to express, but when I can't feel the emotions of a rational being, I understand that far from everything is in order with this creature. Varzov has no emotions, only their pitiful half-dead shadows. If you do not pay attention to this fact, then he seems to be an extremely curious person.

Antonis Varzov holds the position of senior cleaner of the Imperial Palace, only the staff of ordinary palace servants has hardly ever seen their colleague in person. And all because in addition to the usual palace servants, who really clean up the dirt and bring food, there is a second, unnamed service that removes unwanted elements and ensures personal safety. Simply put, he is a state assassin. Individuals are sometimes born among people who are by nature prone to violence more than everyone else. These individuals are extremely lucky in life if their work allows them to satisfy their thirst for violence, making them less ... unpredictable. In Antonis's case, I must say it's lucky for Starkrar that this man is under relatively strong control, and even manages to serve the state.

Varzov put the bag on the table, took out a pair of disposable gloves, and then proceeded to a thorough study. Subsequently, he took out several more items from his bag, tweezers, a ruler, tweezers, containers for tissue samples, a notebook with a pen. I don’t know how much and what exactly he carries with him, but I’m sure that Varzov can at any second take out a pair of butcher’s cleavers and at least a sharply sharpened surgical saw from his bag. He has an M.D. in Surgery, by the way.

- Let's not interfere with Mr. Varzov to enjoy his work, we will examine the district.

“Thank you, tan el'Moria,” muttered Varzov, without looking up from his work, “interesting specimens become less and less with time. The last more or less worthwhile case was a month ago, and it turned out that a rat crawled into the mouth of a sleeping homeless man. He suffocated, but she nevertheless reached his stomach and died there. It was quite interesting to find a rat corpse in his stomach at autopsy.

"A charming story, isn't it, Sebastina?"

“Yes, master,” my maid murmured.

Are you blushing, is it hard for you to breathe? We go for fresh air. Or do you want to stay?

"I'm coming with you, master," she replied without hesitation.

The sky brightened to the end, but remained gray and dreary. My favorite sky over Starkrar.

“Master,” she said when no one was left within earshot, “I must remind you…”

“I haven't forgotten anything, Sebastina. I just missed it.

“The owner doesn’t trust Torsh or Wayne?”

“Master trusts no one in Starkrar but you and himself. “Hmm, I got excited. “And Yves, Incivalue, and even Kymenriya. But more than just the two of us.

- The owner thinks that the family of these people died through our fault?

“You are perceptive, Sebastina. But I'm sure these people were doomed anyway. At least the old man and his son-in-law. The young one delivered something in that big box to the de Moranjakov house, and then the high accuser died. And what should be done with the performers of important tasks, Sebastina?

- Destroy.

- That's right, performers do not live long. True, there is a possibility that the family would not have been touched if I had not noticed the old man. But since things have already turned out this way, there is nothing to think about it. After all, who counts the corpses!

“You are quite right, master. As always.

As a child, Eve taught me that lying is not good and that only bad boys do it. Oh, Eve, I hope you don't find out what a bad boy I've become, because I've seen such terrible scorched wounds before, which I lied so shamelessly about. More than seven years ago, when I was crawling through the jungles of Maldiz, I saw people and tencris being hit with something blunt, red-hot, which burned their insides and boiled their blood. Then, from the regimental magicians, it turned out only to shake out that the blows were inflicted with the help of strong combat magic and nothing more. Years have passed, Maldiz belongs to Mescia, that war is still very well remembered, but its veterans are no longer carried on their hands. I've been off the gun for seven years, and this came up, here in Starkrar.

- Curious. We did not know who beat our soldiers then, but the moon gave us a chance to find out now. Isn't it wonderful?

“If that sounds wonderful to you, master, then it is.

Torsh promised to show me the bodies of our agents who did not survive last night. Based on his tone, I was hoping to see something out of the ordinary. And saw. So tearing a person to shreds is not given to every creature!

“Suggests of a pack of mad butchers. Do you think a lups could disembowel a man like that?

- No, master.

- Quite right. Lups never kill unless they are going to eat, and there are a lot of scraps, but nothing ... - I looked more closely at the blood-drenched snow under the wall of someone's hut. No, nothing has been eaten. All internal organs were removed, but not removed from the bodies. So, collect them in bags and take them away! Sebastina, be sure to remind me to send letters of condolence to the families and arrange for pensions.

“Certainly, master.

In a good way, I would have managed only with pension payments, but people attach too much importance to condolences.

“Torsh, I suppose the owner of this house didn’t hear anything at night?”

“Nothing, my thane.

“Then he’s either very fast asleep, or he’s lying.” Or our man died suddenly, without resistance. A blow to the back, a blow to the throat. If such blows are delivered discreetly, the victim is no longer... I need autopsy reports... About the search of the contents.

Night Watch agents in calfskin gloves were gathering the scraps into a bag.

“Mitan, please look here.

I approached, examining the imprint of a narrow foot next to a kidney lying alone in the scattered snow.

“This is the print of my maid's boot… Although…” Vague doubts pulled their paws to my brain. You can't be so self-confident! “Sebastine, come on over.

After a little experiment, my hypothesis was not confirmed.

- An imprint of someone's foot, a pointed boot, a medium-sized heel, judging by the depth and shape - female. Make a cast and attach to other case materials. There was a woman here, gentlemen, and although I don't see how it can help us, it's important! By the way, don’t take the bodies far away,” I told them. “Let Varzov take a look.

“Mr. Varzov has already examined them,” answered the subordinate.

"Mr. Varzov is out," Sebastina said in a slightly trembling voice.

Antonis stopped on the dirty, trampled snow, impeccable as usual, aloof and utterly alien to the whole world around him. I think if this man had a natural habitat, it would be either the bloody filth of a slaughterhouse or the sterile cleanliness of an operating room.

– What do you think, Mr. Varzov?

“I think I found something interesting that will keep me busy for a while.

– Add these wounds to your collection?

“Not before I can classify and reproduce.

As I said, many tenkris and netankris have hobbies. Sometimes not even normal. Antonis Varzov collected various types of wounds, and therefore was considered a professional of the highest class in this field of forensic science. And these talents invariably served him in the field of staging accidents.

- And how do you like my dead people?

“They were just severely cut down.

- But only?

“Does it really take a lot to cripple a simple human body well?” He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at me. It seemed to me that he was mocking, but thin lips did not tremble even a millimeter. - Good physical preparation, sharp weapons, speed, dexterity and endurance. And more cruelty.

- Your truth.

“Most likely they were not killed with the same weapons as the children, it was something more substantial. And yet, the killers were evil.

“I dismiss personal scores at once,” I snapped.

- Not necessarily personal accounts. Is it necessary to be with someone personally familiar in order to hate him in absentia? Of course not.

“And again you are right, Mr. Varzov,” I said, smiling inwardly at his casual presentation of this controversial point of view. What about the coal in your mouth?

“I don't think they put it in there themselves.

I smiled, although I understood that Varzov was not joking. Sometimes he voiced obvious things without realizing it. This happens to people who do not have and never had a sense of humor.

“Mouths full of charcoal are a kind of message. Coal does not matter, it could just as well have been earth or clay. But a clogged mouth means punishment for a snitch. When prisoners in hard labor catch an informer, they first kill him, and then stuff something into his mouth. Rag usually.

“I am familiar with the circumstances of the de Moranzhakov case,” said Antonis Varzov. “The constable reports say you stopped the collier and questioned him. I came to the conclusion that you might have been followed.

“So we came to the same conclusion, Mr. Varzov,” I smiled. “I think the killer, or the one responsible for the death of the de Moranjaks, was still there and was watching us closely. Who ordered you to take up this case, Antonis?

“How many superiors do you think I have, Thane el'Moria?” He answered a question with a question. Antonis Varzov never addressed anyone with "you" or at least by name. He did not tolerate familiarities and my address by name, albeit to “you”, endured solely because of my origin.

“I understand,” I nodded. “Then, if you undertake to write a report, write down that the body of a young man will be delivered to the death chamber of Scoalt Yard in an airtight cold store. I'll even have a guard posted to keep it there, and it'll stay there until Thane el'Rumar returns from vacation.

“You, thane, probably do not know that he has returned.

- Is it true?

- Two days ago.

“Then I'm going to Scoalt Yard immediately with the body. As long as it's fresh and el'Rumar is still fresh.

Do you hope the boy will tell you something?

- He was a performer, therefore, he knew something. And now I beg your pardon.

Four carriages and a cargo steamer with the coats of arms of Scoalt Yard pulled up. Aberlein headed for the house first, followed closely by Toomes and the forensic wizards.

“The house is at your disposal, gentlemen. Full examination, check on all layers of the universe, special attention to the body of the old man!

“My thane, you are already here!”

“Yes, Aberlein, the Night Watch is on the alert, that’s why they are night guards. Do you want with me? I'll try to get Thane el'Rumar to work.

“But how…

“Aberlein, you can rush inside and watch the gang murder of a family with small children. You can try your luck and find what I overlooked. Maybe your All-Father will guide you. You can also come with me and see the work of Tromgar el'Rumar himself. Are there many people among your acquaintances who have seen how it works?

The young inspector hesitated a moment.

“In our carriage or in your carriage?”

- Correct answer. And where is our dear Inspector Wolfeld, who is really the Chief Inspector?

“I’m afraid I have nothing to say to you, my thane.

The way to the Tower is long and boring, but for me the flow of time seems to have accelerated. A greeting from distant Maldiz, a pendant, two destroyed families and a desire not to miss a chance were spinning in my head. El'Rumar returned to duty, it wouldn't last long, two weeks at the most, and then he would be exhausted again and disappear for several months. This thane is too valuable to overwork him much, and the authorities know this, which proves the luxurious salary and excellent living conditions provided by the treasury. And if so, then you need to seize the moment and put a fresh corpse on his table, until someone more efficient did it.

“The bodies of de Moranjac and the family…”

– My thane?

- How curious! I exclaimed. “I don’t think it matters, but I just realized that we have a case in which two capital families have completely died. The very top and the bottom of society were united by the same crime.

"I didn't think so," Aberlein admitted.

- But it's so obvious! That's just, speaking of the de Moranzhaks, we are talking about the victims of a terrible crime, and speaking of the Ghans, we are talking about minor collateral victims who were brushed away by chance, in passing. I allowed myself a hint of a smile. “I love a world with such a gap between classes. And now to what I was going to say first. I looked at the results of all kinds of examinations, except for a full magical autopsy. Has it already been done?

– Alas, my thane, in order to carry out the procedure, I had to snatch permission from the next of kin. I think very soon...

“Those idiots are slowing down the investigation. If I had my way, I would just put them before the fact.

‘That’s impossible, my thane, they are aristocrats, worthy of better treatment.

"They're only human, Aberlein!" - I said too harshly. – I hope you didn’t take this remark as vidistic [ Vidism   is a set of views based on the position of physical and mental inequality between representatives of different intelligent species. Most often, this essentially neutral scientific term carries a negative connotation, as it is used to assert the superiority of some intelligent species over others in order to please them. For example, the superiority of tenkris over all other intelligent species.].

– No, my thane.

- Of course, I am a convinced videographer, but in this case I would have ordered the tencris to be gutted too, if this would help the investigation even a little. I'll just remind the mages of my existence and that we have one and only employer for all, when we find Thane el'Rumar.