Fable - Ask A Murder Most Foul

[Khari]

"Pardon me Mistress." Khari swept into place besides ichika with a sweeping bow of her head.

She kept her eyes towards the ground and her posture as submissive as possible. The act was unnatural to her as it was to Ichika, but she had done this often enough to be more steady than her companion. She remained in her hunched position.

"My sister is slow." The Daemonette explained. "Our father dropped her as a baby."

She sounded remorseful. "Lady Watanabe in her charity has seen fit to hire her on alongside me, allow us to make more money now that our father has passed."

The older woman opposite them seemed to look at Khari, and then let out a loud sigh.

"She is a charitable one."​

"Yes, Mistress." Khari said with all the deference of a slave. "If you pardon, you appear tired. Perhaps you can take a rest. We would be more than happy to clean Master Ojun's suite on our own."

There was a momentary pause, and then the woman seized the opportunity she was offered.

"Yes...Yes I think that will do. I have...matters to attend to, just be sure to tell everyone I was there with you."​

Khari did not answer, but simply nodded and bowed her head.

 

[Ichika]

"Yes, drop. Drop hard."

Although she had initially stared daggers at the demoness Ichika picked up on the ruse quick enough to play along. Once the head maid had stopped staring at them, and Khari had whisked her mentally slow sister onward, Ichika leaned in towards her co-intruder.

She kept her pace in line with Khari now, following her movements and when she was certain no one was in earshot she whispered, "thanks for that. Though did I really have to be 'slow'?"

A smile formed to indicate she wasn't serious as she walked onwards down the twist of halls, not really sure what the next best move should be.

 

[Khari]

Khari shot Ichika a smirk. "People tend to ask less questions when they have a reason to pity."

Something that she had learned early on. Playing the fool was good, but playing the victimized fool was even better. A lot of people simply...didn't want to deal with it, especially when it was to their benefit to ignore the situation.

Most people just wanted to get on with their own lives.

The two girls moved quickly through the halls, Khari taking the lead and shuffling as though she were not even lifting her feet. Eventually they wound their way through the estate, asking for directions only once until they found Ojune's suite.

"Good a place as any to start." Khari said as she grasped the door and slid it open.

 

[Ichika]

"I suppose that makes sense."

Most people couldn't be bothered to do more than the minimum requirement. In social interactions that meant feigning sincerity when met with someone they were 'supposed' to pity.

Ichika followed Khari's swift movements, remaining silent as she asked for directions, and marveled at how the daemonette moved. It was like water flowing downstream. Fluid but silent.

Once the door slid open to Ojun's suite the Tsuri woman's eyes glowed with anticipation. The suite itself was majestic though not obnoxiously so. The various cabinets were carved of a high quality marble, which was a rarity for Dornoch, but the rest of the room was in-line with what one would expect for a member of the nobility.

Modest unmade bed, modest desk with papers sprawled over it, a modest rug.

Her nose scrunched as she moved towards the desk, "nothing on the desk looks out of order, perhaps one of the drawers holds what we're seeking." A false bottom rang out as she slide the largest drawer of the desk open.

 

[Khari]

Khari stepped up behind Ichika, her hand running over the wall and knocking every few inches just to ensure nothing sounded hollow.

"How duplicitous." The Daemonette commented as Ichika discovered the false bottom. Some people used more clever tricks than that, but then again the man probably never suspected that anyone would actually break into his Suite.

She almost felt bad for him.

Knocking along the walls a few more times Khari eventually wandered over to Ichika, looking over her shoulder just as she began to dig through the papers that had been beneath the false bottom. Her lips thinned as she read a few words. "This is..."

Her lips thinned.

"I don't get it." The papers seemed to be recipes for cakes. "Why would he hide recipes?"

Khari, of course, did not realize that the papers were a code. She was an assassin, not a spy, and the difference in the two was showing.

 

[Ichika]

"They aren't recipes," she said gently as her eyes scanned the documents closer. It seemed to be a coded set of documents disguised as simple familial recipes for baking cakes. There were several of them though she could parse out exactly what they meant.

A frown formed and she offered, "Atsuya Ito may have to wait," Ichika doubted they'd find further proof here in the Watanabe estate and even if she decoded these documents they were far from 'proof' of anything outside of baking prowess.

They wouldn't even be able to decode the documents though as by taking them it would alert the Watanabe family that something was up. She also doubted they'd have time to make copies. It was a true conundrum.

But just as she was ready to give up something in her brain clicked. "Wait, these measurements don't make any sort of sense." Normally you'd list teaspoons or table spoons in single digits or possibly as quarter measurements. These recipes were calling for 22 spoons of sugar, 28 pinches of salt, and while that could be correct if they were large batch recipes these were for only a small serving.

"They're coordinates," she said aloud as it finally clicked in her head. Ichika grabbed a quill and a spare piece of parchment and began furiously writing down the numbers in the order they appeared. All that mattered is that she copied them precisely, in order, and then they could piece the puzzle together later.

They'd lead somewhere, she was certain of it.

"This will take a bit, can you make sure no one comes in?"

 

[Khari]

Khari was quietly glad that Ichika was here.

She was smart, at least she liked to think so, but she never would have caught onto the fact that the recipes were code. It wasn't in her training. She was an assassin, not a spy or an infiltrator. The jobs were different, but as Ichika pointed it out the realization dawned on her.

For a brief second the Daemonette just watched over her companions shoulder, glancing at the numbers as if trying to learn this new thing. When she spoke of time a nod quickly dipped her chin, and she pulled herself away from the desk despite the interest she had in the subject.

Her steps were silent as she moved over towards the door, glancing around in the hallway for a brief moment. "Clear for now."

She whispered in a hushed tone.

"But hurry." Voices echoed down towards them, a woman and a man. A feminine giggle touched Khari's ears, followed quickly by what sounded like a man speaking.

They had time still, so she did not yet warn Ichika.

 

[Ichika]

Khari moved to the door in a hush. Had Ichika been paying attention she'd have been in awe at just how silently the assassin could move. Her mother, Yuna, had made an excellent decision in pairing the two of them together. They complimented one another beautifully.

She simply nodded at the insistence she hurried.

One hand jotted the coordinates in order as swiftly as possible while the other hand waved over her scrawlings in an effort to dry the ink as fast as possible. Near the end of the mad dash to write it all down her waving hand shifted its duty towards massaged out the cramp that was forming up in her other hand. Once it was all written down she looked over the recipe and compared it to what had been scribbled.

It matched and she used both hands to fan the ink while gently blowing, aside from forming a few blotches the text seemed to be setting into the parchment.

"Got it," she whispered towards the demoness as she tucked the note into the front of her shirt.

One step was made towards Khari until the footsteps came closer. They sounded as if they were right outside of the door and she brought a hand up towards her mouth as she anticipated that the duo was about to be caught red-handed in the suite.

 

[Khari]

The moment the voices came too close Khari turned on her heel.

Without a word she dashed over towards the frozen Ichika and practically snapped her up and off the ground. With an unexpected strength The Daemonette pulled the other girl practically off of her feet and yanked her behind a thick screen.

A brush of wind trailed behind them, snapping the life of a candle away as they ducked behind the heavy paper and bamboo divider. As soon as they were there Khari crouched down, her arm still laced around Ichika as her free hand raised to her lips.

"Shh." Khari said quietly, her head turning to listen.

"You are so gorfgeous."​

A drunken voice resounded.

"That dress is lofely, but I bet....it would-hiccup- look better on my floor."

"Oh Ryuji you always have such clever lines."​

Khari slowly looked over towards Ichika, her face as blank as a marble statue. A slow eyebrow raised as she overheard a giggle followed by the sound of tearing cloth.

 

[Ichika]

Treebark eyes went wide at the sounds of giggles and tearing dresses. Ichika couldn't help but feel a lump of guilt in her chest as the two women were unwittingly subjects to whatever deviant acts were occuring just across from the thick bamboo-cloth barrier.

A smooching sound of wet lips on flesh lead to moans and other... more vibrant... sounds.

Her thin finger pointed towards a window that was left ajar. It was just outside of the safety of the barricade they had hidden behind. Ryuji Watanabe had a mistress and while she disagreed with it and while it may not be looked upon fondly by the Dynast or others in proper society she didn't want to eavesdrop any longer.

Without waiting for approval from Khari she bolted, a hand grabbing towards the daemonette. There was no hope in overpowering her but if the other woman allowed it Ichika was going to fling herself up towards the window and out of this place.

She couldn't stand to be here for another second.

 

[Khari]

The window was a solution that Khari could not disagree with.

As soon as Ichika pointed it out and made her move Khari went to follow, hand wrapping around her wrist and practically pulling her before she could even take the first step. The window made a single creak as it was pushed open, though the sound was lost in the throws of passion.

Two sets of feet struck against the ledge just outside the window, Khari turning her head slightly as she glanced around and then down towards the ground. "Go that way."

Khari hissed as she motioned down the ledge where the buildings roof top slooped and would allow them to crawl atop it. They had to make it over the wall, and her magic would be best served doing that from up high rather than below.

A loud moan echoed behind the pair as they began to run, Khari nearly vomiting off the side of the ledge and they moved.

 

[Ichika]

Ichika welcomed the fresh air of Dornoch like it was an old friend. The oxygen didn’t protest as it flowed over her skin and supplied her lungs with untainted, clean, air. It was a wondrous experience after what they’d just witnessed.

The Tsuri matron nodded and followed Khari’s instructions, headed straight for the drooping roof that would allow them to clear the wall and return to the safety of their cover as anonymous street vendors.

The wall loomed closer as their footsteps rang out on the roof tiles that made up the estate, by now the sound of clapping feet almost overshadowed the grunts and moans they had left behind.

Almost.

With a tinge of fear she called out to her companion, ”can we make it?”

She realized that in a few seconds the question would be answered, if not verbally by the daemon than physically by Ichika’s legs either clearing the jump or slamming into the ornate stone design.

 

[Khari]

Answering with 'well I can' seemed rude, but it was the only truthful answer that Khari could have offered.

She knew that Ichika had some physical ability, but the Daemonette was willing to wager it didn't match up to her own. That wasn't due to any less work on her part, simply another side effect of her patronage from beyond this realm. A frown flickered over her features, and then finally she answered. "I'll go first."

Her head turned, searching for anyone along the walls before she took a few steps back from the edge of the roof.

"I'll help you across after." Khari flexed, and then took a running jump. The Daemonette soared through the air for a moment, her body flipping, and then feet touching down on the edge of the tall narrow wall.

She turned quickly, facing Ichika.

A sma glow erupted on her fingertios as she motioned towards her companion. If the woman couldn't quite make it she could at least catch her and drag her over. Plus, she wouldn't splat on the other side of the pavement either.

 

[Ichika]

Right. Khari was experienced at this sort of thing, had done it probably a thousand times. Still, it was hard not to feel a small ping of embarrassment as she watched the horned woman gracefully leap from the rooftop to the top of the wall.

Ichika could do this. The jump wasn't that bad. Maybe a bit further than she'd normally think herself capable of clearing but seeing a spectacle as impressive as Khari's filled her with the confidence that she could make it across. Besides, she had a safety net in her investigation partner already being on the other side.

Breath in, breath out, and then sprint. Full speed towards the edge of the roof. It was simple. Wait until the last possible moment and then...

jump!

The thoughts ran through as she performed each action and for a second it looked like the short haired girl might cross the chasm easily. "Eugh," she groaned as her torso hit the lip of the wall and her fingers scrambled to grab hold to something. She found Khari's arm and tugged hard, kicking her feet against the surface to make it up the rest of the way.

She couldn't really tell if she had pulled herself up or if the daemon had done most of the work there. All that really mattered to her at this moment was that she was standing on both feet and looking over the edge towards the city streets of Dornoch.

"Let's go." The Tsuri matron didn't wish to dwell on that display.

 

[Khari]

Khari nodded, and then gracefully hopped down off the wall.

She landed so quietly that one might have wondered if she'd jumped at all. A second later she glanced around, waiting for Ichika to join her on the ground before quickly motioning towards the street to the west. Dusk had come now, and although the calm lights of the city streets ran on either side Dornoch was still dark.

Moving through the streets was more simple now, the quiet of the night hanging around as most people had either returned to their homes or set to drinking in the taverns. "My place or yours?"

Khari asked.

Most of her estate was still a ruin from when she had gone on her little...tirade, but it would be suitable enough for their purposes. Plus she had a dozen maps they could use to track down where the coordinates would actually lead them.

She had no idea about Ichika's home. Just that her mother likely wouldn't be all too welcoming.

 

[Ichika]

She landed with a huff and her feet hit the ground significantly louder than the trained infiltrator's had. Ichika used both hands to pat the dust off of her clothes and undid the scarf that was wrapped around her head. She brushed a loose hand to hopefully unmat some of her black hair. The Tsuri girl figured she could allow Khari to keep her straw hat until they were indoors. Maybe it was nice to hide her horns for a bit longer.

"Yours," she stated firmly.

Her homestead was likely secure. Likely. There were too many servants or guards to be completely certain and although the Tsuri family did an excellent job of vetting those they hired you never knew who would be susceptible to bribes.

But it was almost certain that Khari's home was more secured. Ichika wasn't judgemental but she assumed that an assassin raised by the Dynast had a less... opulent home.

"Your place is more secure. Do you have any roommates or anything?"

There were certain rules of etiquette to these things. She didn't want to just assume that her horned friend lived alone. Plus, if the other woman actually did have roommates maybe they could find somewhere else on the outskirts of Dornoch that was more secured.

 

[Khari]

Khari let out a laugh. "Only if you count retainers."

The Daemonette shrugged her shoulders. There were always guards outside, though most of the time they left her alone. The back rooms, where her bedroom was, were always left alone. It had not always been that way, but after one too many retainers had turned up tied up and hung from the rafters she had negotiated for that freedom.

"Mine it is." She told Ichika with a smile, flicking her hair back and dragging off the hat that had been covering her horns.

It had never been the most comfortable to cover them, and she didn't want to take the chance of getting an arrow in her and Ichika when they approached the Estate.

Her hand flickered in a wave as they reached the front gate. A retainer stood there, his armor the colors of the Dynast. "Hello Ike."

That was not the Guards real name.

"My friend and I are home, no need to get your hackles up." The man looked at Khari for a moment, then at Ichika. He said nothing, clearly knowing Khari's tirades better than most. He only reached over pulled open the gate.

"Ike is my friend." She told Ichika. "He just doesn't know how to show it."

A smile flickered at the man, and then she walked onto the garden path to her front door.

 

[Ichika]

Ichika took her hat back and placed it atop her own head. There was always a sensation of security when she wore it, born out of the comfort of habit. Retainers were fine, if Khari was comfortable with them then that was good enough for her.

”Great, lead the way.” The words weren’t necessary as the demoness started towards her home with Ichika in tow.

Last time she’d been to the Erdeniin Ordon had been at least two, maybe three, years prior. Her mother had insisted she come along for the Dynast’s approval as Ichika began to take over some of the day-to-day scheduling at the port. She’d done well enough in the meeting but what really stood out in her mind was just how lovely the jeweled palace had been.

This entrance was further from the wing the Dynast resided in. Less ornate yet still lavish and guarded by a man whose name, apparently, was, ‘Ike.’

”Thanks Ike,” she spoke with genuine sincerity. The Tsuri administrator never knew when she may need to be back and being on a first name basis with one of the guards could be useful.

They walked a short distance through the lush and perfectly manicured garden until they stopped in front of a quaint little building. It was still decorated in a royal manner, blending in well with the rest of the palace grounds even if it was technically just off campus. ”He seemed nice. I’m glad you have friends here. It seems like such an intimidating place to live.”

 

[Khari]

Khari let out a laugh.

"I think most of them would rather forget that I exist, Ichika." The Daemonette said with a shake of her head. "But he at least doesn't openly show he hates me."

Unlike some of the other retainers that 'guraded' her estate.

A frown flickered briefly over her features, but as she always did Khari suppressed those emotions and guided Ichika through a garden path that lead up towards her home. It was not a modest place, more of a palace built in miniature.

To the side of it lay a small pool connected to a stream, a patio built over half of it that had clearly been built for training. Beyond that lay the walls, and beyond that stood the Dynast's Palace.

Khari pushed through the scenery and through the front doors, throwing them open to reveal the clutter of destruction that had been left within the foyer. Several statues and pieces of plates lay scattered everywhere, no one having cleaned up the mess she'd left behind. "Excuse the chaos."

She told her companion.

"I got some bad news before I left." No need to explain what that bad news was, Ichika already knew of course.

 

[Ichika]

Ichika frowned and felt a rush of sorrow well up at the assassin's explanation. Khari must not have had any 'real' friends. If they emerged from this investigation unscathed she'd make sure to remedy that. Perhaps an invitation for tea or a night on the town or something. A normal evening with a friend without the duties the Dynast's office likely relied on Khari for.

The Tsuri family was wealthy, there was no denying that. But Khari's little apartment just off the royal grounds made Ichika's home look almost quaint. Part of that was by design, Yuna Tsuri insisted they live modest. Or at least, as modest as one of the most powerful families in Dornoch could live.

All of the disarray that greeted them in the foyer relieved Ichika of some of the insecurities about her own home.

"I love what you've done with the place, actually." She smirked and tip-toed around a pile of broken glass. "Don't fret. We're fixing it." Nimble fingers retrieved the note stowed away in her clothing and she sat it on a table lined with maps and other reference materials strewn about it. "Together."

The stakes weren't as high for Ichika as they were for Khari. If they failed it wasn't the gallows that would greet her but the shame that would accompany such a disappointment would likely give her family's rivals ammunition and the lecture she'd hear from mother would be unberable.

Although, if the plot to overthrow the Dynast was real and it succeeded then it was possible those same gallows would await Ichika too. Even if it was probably several years down the road.

Therefore, they couldn't fail, they'd solve this thing together. "Want to help?" Her eyes were full of kindness as she looked over the code again, trying to piece together how the coordinates fit together.

 

[Khari]

Khari smiled. "Sure."

There were few people in this world that cared about Khari, fewer now that her Tutor had been so viciously murdered. She thought that the Dynast herself had some love for her, genuine, but The Daemonette did not truthfully know.

One could hardly ask such a thing.

Adding Ichika to that scant list of friends would be a blessing, one Khari couldn't have wanted more if she tried.

With quick steps she moved over towards the table that Ichika had found. A dozen maps lay strewn about it, most of them of them seeming to be extremely specific portions of Dornoch itself. A few had a wider ranger, Part of Liadain and even the Ixchel Wilds, and one was of the whole of Arethil.

That one had circles all around it, marked with brief notes that read simply;

'Spine - Dragons? Want to see those'

'Rhagash - Whole city in the middle of a desert? That seems silly.'

'Vel Anir - Don't like non-humans, should probably hide horns.'​

Then at the very top, near the Gulf of Ryt was a city marked out by Khari's own handwriting rather than that of the Cartographers.

'Zles - Mom's home?'​

Khari flashed Ichika an embarassed smile, moving one of the other maps to cover that small spot. "Where do we start?"

 

[Ichika]

A knowing smile was carved into Ichika’s face as her daemonette companion covered the note. She hadn’t managed to catch the full message but the words, ‘Mom’s Home?’ were clear as day. She wouldn’t push for information there, if Khari had something to share she would do so.

”Well,” she sighed as she spoke, ”without the full ‘recipe’ it’ll be harder but not impossible.” Her left index finger tapped upon her lower lip while she thought and looked around, eventually grabbing a piece of graphite and a blank piece of rough parchment.

She scribbled numbers on the paper, checking back to the note they’d stolen away from the Watanabe Estate. ”There are only so many combinations of coordinates we can derive from the information we took.” Several more scrawlings followed.

”There.”

The graphite was sat down and the Tsuri administrator pointed at the mathematics she had worked out. ”Thirty-seven possible combinations,” she explained, ”and we can eliminate around fifteen or so as they won’t exist on the map.” Or they’d be in the middle of the ocean and Ichika was fairly certain this conspiracy wasn’t so large as to have a hidden base adrift at sea.

She showed Khari some of her notes and pointed up from the bottom of the sheet.

”Can you mark the coordinates from the bottom of the sheet, skipping over every other number. I’ll start at the top.” Once they narrowed down the twenty-two or so possible locations they could eliminate the ones that didn’t make sense, or they’d notice a location that was obvious.

It was the best plan she had for now, unless the marks spelled out a new clue, of course.

 

[Khari]

"Mhm." Khari said with a quiet nod, carefully paying attention to Ichika's instruction and then setting about their work.

She wasn't a codebreaker, but she wasn't a simpleton either.

Quickly the pair worked their way through the list, circling different spots on the map. A few of the spots landed over cities, some over towns, though many of them were outright in the wilderness. Khari didn't even look at the names until they were done.

When they finished the list a frown pulled at her lips, and she quickly set about eliminating the coordinates that were most assuredly not relevant.

What they were left with was twelve spots, all of them near or around Dornoch.

"Niami is loyal to the Dynast, even a hint of rebellion would be snuffed out." She crossed out that city. "Same goes for Tassamu, and Tashimizu...let's just say that problem disappeared a few months back."

 

[Ichika]

"Agreed." Khari's logic was sound although there was a lingering question around Tashimizu. Ichika suspected she now knew the source of the, 'Tragedy in Tashimizu,' and it likely wasn't rusted bearings. "We can scratch off Orochi, my cousins are close with that city's Bursar."

She made another note on the map and squiggled through another pin, "We can mark out Ichejiong too."

That city didn't need an explanation. The city was being ran by the Dynast's second-born daughter until the regency of the city's rightful bursar ended. That'd be years from now and it wasn't likely that the Dynast's own daughter would be plotting the downfall of their family's regime.

Seven locales were left. Four cities, two townships, and a national landmark of the Erdeniin culture.

With a grunt one hand met her chin as she thought aloud, "Nira's daimyo has been critical of the Dynast in the past. So has Aharnabi's chieftain." A slender finger traced the outline of the other locations on their radar. "The town of Shaali is a destination home for the Ito family. Maybe they're hiding something there?" Was this what they were going to be left with? Having to play a guessing game? They weren't going to have enough time to investigate every single lead.

"What are you thinking?" Perhaps the demoness knew something of the remaining places. Something that connected the Ito family with someone angry enough to have the Dynast murdered in a plot to seize the throne.

 

[Khari]

Khari bit her lip for a moment.

Aharnabi she remembered well enough. The Daemonette had visited it once before, chasing after a man who had tried to kill the Dynast's second cousin. At the time she hadn't quite understood the danger she'd put herself in, though it had become abundantly clear after a villager had discovered her horns.

"Not them." She said as she marked off Aharnabi. "They aren't the sort to send knives in the dark."

Something she'd learned thoroughly.

For a few seconds she stared at the boards, combing her memories before she slowly opened her mouth and added another tidbit of information. "Ito wanted political power, more pull. They're selfish."

That much the two of them had discovered.

"The Daimyo of Nari is..." Khari didn't quite know how to describe her. "More altruistic in her views."

She also had the support of many people, one of the chief reasons she had not yet met Khari's blade. "But would she use Ito to get what she wants?"

From what Khari knew, she would not have put it past her.

"She certainly has the strength to keep Ito safe." Even from the Dynast's own army if it came to that. An invasion of Nari would see the lost of thousands, potentially hundreds of thousands of lives. A battle that no one truly wanted.