Maer has noticed a certain malaise afflicting the other crowned heads of Europe, a rot, a sickness that now borders on epidemic proportions. For a time, she thought it a weakness in the Norwegian royal family, but it is now clear something far more sinister is going on. In her own lifetime, she has seen a king and queen of Denmark die young, as well as two kings of Rus', a prince of Poland, and a king of Norway, to say nothing of the recent rash of deaths among NotHighChiefs. Maer is forced to consider the possibility that these weren't just accidents.
"This was
murder," Maer says steadily, having read through the list of the slain. Prince-Spymaster Loki looks at her uneasily. "Murder, foulest murder," she declares. "It was all connected."
"It wasn't," Loki says.
Maer goes on. "Who could be responsible for such reckless slaughter? Who could have stood to gain from their deaths?"
"Mom, you . . . ordered me to--"
"That's not important now," she breaks in. "What's important is that we figure out who's doing this and put a stop to it. Or else, who knows? Perhaps they could strike
here."
"I find that extremely unlikely."
"Detective Maer is on the case," she says, decisively ignoring him. "And what a case it is. This one is big. Anyone could be involved. I have a hunch it goes
right to the top."
"That seems much more likely."
"Come with me, kid. We need to talk with the old spymaster. I want to know why he was taken off the case."
"I'm right here," says Prince-Consort Faste. "You fired me because Loki came of age, and he had a higher intrigue score."
"A likely story," Maer sneers. "How do I know that it wasn't
you?"
"In fact, it w--"
"Don't change the subject. We're talking about a
murder here."
"Oh for fuck's sake."
"When you use language like that, it's like you're
murdering my heart. With
words," Maer shot back. She frowned, then grabbed at the cup in Faste's hand. "What's that?"
"That is vodka. I find it makes these 'intelligence briefings' altogether more bearable."
"Vodka! But, yes . . . of course." She begins pacing. "King Maftei of Rus always wanted the throne, but his father and grandfather were in the way. So he
murdered them."
"No, that was y--"
"And all those other people were
dicks, so he murdered them, too," Maer continues, whirling around and pointing at no one in particular. "Do you know what this means?"
"I'm gonna go with nothing," says Faste.
"Nothing, strong choice," Loki agrees.
"I was thinking 'next to nothing,' but I trust you guys' judgment," Thord confesses.
"YES!" Maer nods, "It means that the killer is still on the loose!"
"I actually agree with that," Loki says.
"There's no time to lose! We're going to Rus'!"
"What?" says everyone.
"Look at that smug bastard," Maer says contemptuously. "Thinking he's so great."
"His epithet is 'the Great,'" Faste points out.
"It was so obvious, all along," Maer goes on. "He used to be fighting ten of his dukes. Now he's down to five. He probably murdered them, too."
"You realize he's been fighting the same civil war all this time, right?" Thord asks.
"Civil
war? Or civil
murder?"
"Civil war," Loki confirms. "He's been at it for eleven years."
"Excuse
me for not remembering when his father died," Maer sniffs. "I wasn't the one who murdered him."
"That's not actually tr--" Loki begins.
"I'd like to let you finish that sentence, Loki, but that would interfere with my plans to not let you finish that sentence," Maer explains. "Now. We've got to stop Maftei before he kills again."
"Okay," says Loki, "but how?"
"I think it's time he got a taste of his own medicine," Maer smiles. "Or should I say . . .
murdericine?"
"You shouldn't," Faste answers. "But how are we going to do it?"
"Well," muses Loki, "Russians love to gamble, so I was thinking . . . "
"Of course!" yells Maer. "We'll bet him he's never been murdered, and when he comes to collect his winnings, we'll
get him!"
"That wasn't actually my plan," Loki said.
"You say that now."
"Now, and before, and several times during," Loki agrees.
"If you're so smart, I'd like to see you do it."
"Good god," Maer gasps. " Maftei himself has been
murdered. I wonder who could have done it?"
"It was me," Loki explains. "You told me to, then I said, 'I am going off to kill King Maftei,' then I paid a guy to poison his soup. Very easy."
"I guess we'll never know!" Maer sighs.
THE END
OR IS IT???