Snippet #2476923

[Co-written with VindicatedPurpose]

93rd Day

Solaria

Palace of the Sun

The queen allowed her to leave. Alleara turned to face the closest delegate.

“I would like access to any information that you have compiled already. I wish to know everything about the queen’s illness. Walk with me please.”

She walked out of the room, expecting him to follow. Alleara did not think her in charge, in fact she didn’t give the request much consideration other than she needed to leave and needed to talk to him.

“I would like to hear all the events leading up to the three weeks before her death. Can you have any documents or other evidence or anything physical sent to my home please? I would also like to have access to the most recent victim, attempted victim and his servant. Oh and any information about the other deceased parties.”

Alleara paused to look at the delegate, waiting for a response to all her questions. Lord Faeran was rendered speechless by her sudden upstart pompousness as he looked to his fellow delegate for a word. The Vaul said nothing, he kept his eyes pinned on the young lady as she left. Faeran huffed a frustrated sigh, as his reddened face somewhat subsided.

Alleara gave a small frown of confusion at the man's sigh. "I am sorry, is there a problem? The queen asked me to look into this and in order to do so I need to know everything that has been found out so far as well as talk to people who are involved. If you can't do this for me perhaps I should as the queen who might be best suited to help me."

It wasn't a threat, Alleara was simply stating a fact if this man wasn't able to help her there had to be someone who could.
Faeran cleared his throat and straightened his tunic, he was still a delegate, first and foremost. He a duty to the city and the queen.

"No, none at all. Please follow me to the Custodians of the Dead, they will have more information regarding those that already passed. We will also have to meet with the timekeepers as they have kept records regarding queen."

Alleara smiled and nodded. "Oh good. I had hoped it wouldn't be an issue. For a moment I worried that you might tell me that there were no records or something like that. I am happy to hear that is not the case."

She turned and began walking down the hall once more. "Now then, where shall we go first? Also did any of you see the queen in the days leading to her death? What about the most recent victim?"

Alleara glanced over her shoulder at those that were walking with her. She had no idea where she was going and hoped that they would lead her on as well as tell her what they knew. They were advisors and delegates whose loyalty was to the crown, it meant they knew a great deal more than most and likely had people working as servants who might overhear things they shouldn't. She would never be so bold at this moment as to inquire about such things but she filed the notion away for later.

"No, she was bedridden for the week leading up to her death. Not necessarily bed-ridden, but confined to the palace," the brown feathered delegate replied as they walked.

"Confined to the palace? For what reason? Was her illness that bad? Who had access to her during this confinement?" Alleara looked over her shoulder at him. His eyes still gave her chills. She couldn't shake the feeling that they could almost look through her, as if he could see her very thoughts.

"At the behest of Lady Khundis, the servants advised the queen to stay within the palace, and perhaps within her quarters. Only they had access to her."

Alleara frowned. Lady Khundis. Interesting.... She said nothing aloud but nodded in understanding. It seemed strange to her but she hoped the records would give her some clue as to what led to the illness.

"Before her illness did the queen go any place out of the ordinary? Attend any function or meeting?"

"If she did, it probably would have been in the confines of the Palace," Lord Faeran added.

"So there will be records of everything she did in the weeks before her death? Did any of you see her or have business with her before she grew sick? Do you know of anyone in particular who might have sought audience for a specific complaint?"

Alleara realized that they were likely to brush her off, stating that the records would hold the information she sought but she knew as well as anyone that records were not always accurate. Things were omitted, items missed whether on purpose or not. It was just as likely that something happened in secret that caused rumours as it was that something official occurred. What she hoped was that any of the delegates who had knowledge that would help the investigation would state it in an effort to help the investigation. It did not escape her that they might attempt to hinder her more than help her though.

In a word, Faeran denied with a single 'no'. Whether this was the truth, or he was harboring something private remained to be seen. The Vaul returned to silence.

Alleara took a slow breath though inwardly she sighed. So this is how it is going to be....
-
Once they departed the Palace of the Sun, they continued on through the Imperial Quarter to the Temple of Jeytelh. Within the temple, there was a department known as the Custodians of the Dead. They were were responsible for the last rites and interring the remains of the deceased, and they kept records of how they died. On occasion, they worked alongside the Sunfires in the investigations of murders. Usually retribution was swift as the Sunfires were nearly everywhere, and they would detain suspects within a day. A tribunal consisting of Solar Matriarchs would judge the fate of the defendant based on the evidence given. The subject was guilty until proven innocent.

The Imperial Quarter was defined by a single dominant architectural form. The Temple maintained the same elaborate folds and weavings that the Palace of the Sun had, and it was just as ornate, if not moreso than the Palace itself.
Alleara felt tense as they approached the Temple of Jeytelh. So much happened in it halls, death, investigation and trials. Much of what she needed, the records and such would be in there and it was as she walked inside that Alleara realized she had nothing to back up her new task save the word of the delegate at her side. Her heart raced. What if he says I am a spy? What if I end up in the hands of the tribunal? I wish I had been smart enough to ask the queen for a letter or something. Now I have to go on his word and I am not sure I can trust him.

Her eyes drifted sideways to look at Lord Faeran.

His long and dreadful face provided no comfort, and his somewhat portly size made for some jokes among the common folk. One would never hear these circulating among the nobles though. He walked ahead, paying no attention to the lady. The Vaul kept up behind, watching the skies, zipping about as was the nature of his avian kind. However, he was different from most other Vaul as he was a bit more controlled and tempered as it appeared.

Lord Faeran's countenance provided Alleara with no bolstering to her confidence. Behind her the Vaul delegate also offered no comfort for her situation. Really should have thought this through... She swallowed hard and followed.
Then, just as they were about to reach the entrance, Faeran stopped, paused in the middle of his tracks.

Alleara stopped just short of running into the man. "Is something wrong Lord Faeran?" Her hands went to her stomach. Her tone was cautious. What now? Thank the stars I have a better head on my shoulders than my mother, I swear she'd have had two heart attacks by now.

He looked to her with a pair of sharpened eyes, lips mute. He cleared his throat, "Nothing at all." Then he continued ahead.
Alleara's stomach was in a knot. "I should hope there won't be any issues. I would hate for the queen not to get the information she desires." She tried to sound confident and calm though she was beginning to heavily doubt the man in front of her. I need a plan if he tries anything. Her mind worked quickly trying to think of all the possible scenarios and what she might do.

Dangling the queen's sword. The delegate was startled by her tactic, but he knew that it was by the queen's decree, and he had everything to jeopardize.

"No. There won't be any."

Somehow his words failed to reassure her. Alleara inhaled slowly and walked on. "I admire that we have such good record keepers. It is a testament to our desire for knowledge and facts to keep such detailed history of Solaria and its people."

The noble simply nodded, perhaps he was begrudging Alleara for intruding on matters that were out of her rank and station.

Now she was simply making small talk in an effort to ease her own nerves though it too was not really helping. Her hands remained on her stomach and her cheeks had lost some colour as thoughts of death and trials flooded her mind.

"The records may very well be the key to tracing the queen's illness back to the point of origin and from there we can figure out who administered the poison."

"We'll have to meet with the dead first, before we can access any records."
-
The Temple of Jeytelh

Alleara was tense as they approached the entrance of the temple. The figures that stood guard were not exactly intimidating on their own but add them to the architecture and stillness of the temple and Alleara was significantly on edge. She followed Lord Faeren's lead though she worried that he might do something to hinder her. Without him though she could get no where and it would mean returning to the queen assuming she could leave here freely.

She was too afraid to say anything. Her eyes moved, taking in everything around her.

The two male Jeytahs at the entrance were dressed in knee-length chitons of a tan colored fabric. They wore orange head scarves, and gleaming amber rings hung on theirs arms as they welcomed the high ranked officials with revering bows and welcomed them into the temple. The two servants pushed the giant doors inward to allow them through. Once the three were in, the doors were pulled back and sealed. The temple composed several different quarters separate from halls where the shrines were kept and the Solar Matriarchs and Jeytahs performed their daily rituals. They walked through the main hall where the braziers and torches had been quelled the previous night, and the only light was that which was filtered through the openings throughout ceiling and the walls that coned ever upward. Tall golden support columns lined the walkway through which they passed.

Each of the quarters were separate departments of the Temple, and one such department was the Custodians of the Dead. The clergy believed that once a soul passed beyond the mortal realm, that soul belonged to the Sun Lord. And it was the responsibility of the Faith to handle matters such as rituals over the dead.

The doors to the Hall of the Custodians were giant giant doors emblazoned by a darkened silver sun at the very center. The two Custodians at the door were dressed in full armor similar to the Sunfires, but theirs was a variation of the armored battle dress. Darkened silver similar to the sun on the door, and long dark capes running to the floor. They wore visorless helmets, similar in design to the Sunfires, but different colored. The helmets covered their cheeks, leaving only their mouth, chin, eyes, and nose uncovered. The two Custodians barred the door with their pole arms angled.

"What is your purpose here?" the Custodian on the right said with a simple yet firm tone.

"I am Lord Faeran, delegate in charge of the investigations behind the late queen's murder as well as the recent deaths that happened during the days of her funeral."

The Vaul spoke for himself, "I am Representative Gavri Aureliar of the Vaul Quarter."

Faeran then gestured to Alleara "And this is Lady Delegio of House Delegio, attaché on special assignment for Queen Bitava. We request access to your records and the morgue containing the bodies of the fallen that have not been interred."

The guard looked to his brother-in-arms, the two retracted their spears and pulled the iron doors open.

Alleara's body was tense as the guards asked their purpose and Lord Faeran answered. She was relieved to hear him state that she was there on assignment from the Queen. He could have stated it in another way thus leaving it open later to have her removed. One door down but how many more to go. She wanted to work with everyone involved but she knew when it came to the crown, power and politics people tended to resort to underhanded tactics to get ahead rather than work for the betterment of everyone. Remarkably different from science. Unfortunately Alleara had more experience in that world than this one.

The doors groaned as they were opened and she couldn't help but think they reminded her of a great creature ready to swallow her and the others into the depths of the morgue.

Head high, face placid in an effort not to show her nervousness Alleara followed Lord Faeran past the iron doors and into the new area.

She made note of the Vaul's name. That was more than she had heard him speak yet.

Their footsteps echoed slightly on the floor as they walked towards where the dead were kept.
-
As they entered, they reached a central desk where several scribes were recording notes. The desk was dark iron just like the doors and the armor of the custodians that preceded it. Records upon records were stacked on the table, as the scribes dabbed their quills in black ink and continued to carve out words upon the thin sheet made from Grelb skin. On the corner of the desk was a device that was supposed to be a light source. Two Solarian crystals of different sizes and shapes sat within rings that were connected to a central metal ball that turned. And as the ball turned, so too did the two crystals in a set revolution around the sphere. Other scholars proceeded to retrieve what scrolls had been completed to catalogue and index them along shelves that lined the walls.

Beyond the central desk was the crypt itself, where hundreds of other custodians wandered among the rows of the dead, updating their records. The two lords saw a group of Sunfires and custodians examining a body at the other end of the long hall.

One man met them at the entrance and immediately nodded to the portly delegate, "Lord Faeran."

Lord Faeran felt the need to speak on behalf of the group because he was there self-appointed representative, "Magister Olue."
The Magister was the Master of the Custodians, a tall and gaunt man. His grave eyes had sunken. He had a pair of dark iron shoulder pauldrons from which his long white cape was tied from. The shoulder guards themselves were chained across his chest with an ornament. He dealt with death on a daily basis and he took his duties very seriously with every ounce of professionalism he had.

"Representative Aureliar," Olue noted.

The Vaul replied with a nod.

He gestured to Alleara as she was an unfamiliar face while the other two had become regular visitors to the hall.

"Queen Bitava has assigned her to the cases. Apparently she believes that the string of murders are somehow related to the queen."

"Oh is that so?" the Magister raised his eyebrow toward the young noblewoman.

"Very well, I suppose you'd like a look at the first victim."

They approached the group of Sunfires and Custodians, Greks and Vallon were there, they both nodded to Alleara.

On one hand she was happy to have Lord Faeran do all the talking. He knew the people here. On the other hand she wished she was more sure at that moment to open her mouth and introduce herself. Alleara stood tall and tried to look calm and confident under the Magister's gaze but the whole place gave one the sense that they were very small, very insignificant. It wasn't knowing the people around her were dead it was the atmosphere, the reverence those that worked there had for the dead and their work.

"I thank you for showing me. There is reason to believe that all the recent murders are connected and connected to the former queen's death as well."

Alleara gave a nod of respect back to those that stood in the group.

"Can you please tell me all you know about the first victim? Leave out no details please about their death. I am a scientist not a lady sitting over her tea. The details are important."

Despited her confident tone of voice Alleara was acutely aware that she was in a very precarious spot. Such an honour the queen has given me... Her thoughts were sarcastic in nature. Though she wanted the puzzle solved she was not sure if it was worth all this tension. You don't belong here. You belong in a lab, with books and scrolls and...

Her thoughts were not apparent on her face as she looked to the Magister for the information about the first victim.

"Go ahead," the Magister nodded to the scribe who managed the record.

The scribe cleared his throat and began, "Ixtoth Karlein of House Karlein. Advisor to the late queen, and seneschal of the Palace. Aged 39. He has no children or spouse. Time of death was a quarter past midnight. Victim was found hanging from his own balcony by a rope. He died of suffocation by strangulation. The rest of his physical body was untouched."
Greks interjected, "Witnesses say that they saw him still out before midnight. The servants had departed his estate before then, according to their testimony."

"We have no motive," the Magister said.

"Nor any leads," Vallon added, "The killer was skilled, that much we know, because he left no evidence or traces behind."

Alleara worried her lower lip. "Was there any sign that he fought the attacker? What evidence is there that the man did not kill himself? What is the timing of his death in relation to the queen's illness and death?"

"Ixtoth was a very close servant of the late queen, it would hardly seem in line for such a person to commit suicide," Faeran replied.

"Tis true," Magister Olue added, "As the seneschal, he was very much part of the queen's inner circle, if she had one that is. Oft I saw him alongside Lady Khundis and the late queen in the Palace."

"With regard to an attacker," Vallon postulated as he tried to turn the head of the deceased to the side, "We inspected his neck, and it appears that he received a blow there."

He pointed to the lightly bruised spot, a purple coloration, "It's possible that the assailant knocked him unconscious before proceeding to hang him from the balcony."

"According to the Sunfires on patrol, he was found dead the night of the queen's funeral," Greks said.

She was not surprised to hear that the killer was skilled, that there was no trace. The queen's poisoning had gone undetected due to knowledge and skill. The other deaths, under the strong assumption that they were linked would be perpetrated by the same skilled or at least a group of skilled hands. She wanted to rule out suicide, feeling that to ignore the possibility was to ignore all possible options and that just would not do.

"I do not think he killed himself I just wish to definitively rule it out. I believe we have a killer or a few working together to target the former queen and her people. He is the first and with no family and a high position it makes him the easiest to eliminate."

"But at the moment we have no motive for Karlein's death, much less the others. And if this was all a concerted effort on part of a group of assassins, we still have no connection to the queen's death other than that they all perished around the same time," Lord Faeran stated.

Alleara looked thoughtful for a moment. "Tell me about the second victim."

She knew there was a pattern, there had to be. There was something that connected all the victims with the queen in a way that made it important for them to be eliminated. Even if it was as simple as they had been the ones to administer the poison in the first place and those they worked for wanted them to be taken care of in order to ensure no one accidently let it slip what they had done. They knew something, were involved with something that warranted their deaths. It wasn't just coincidence.

The group came to the second body, this time it was a female.

"Pala Biurin, low born. Servant of the late queen. Aged 31, her spouse was Audhul Biurin, also a servant in the capitol. Time of death, approximately around midnight. Victim was mutilated. Internal body parts were strewn throughout their dwelling."

"The husband was the first to discover his wife's body on the ground and he immediately called for aid. We found her in a pool of blood on the floor." Greks said.

He turned to Alleara, "She was the one I said that looked as though she drowned in her own blood."

"It's startling that there were no witnesses," Vallon folded his arms as he stared at the woman's body, which was draped completely from her feet up to her neck in a white cloth to hide the gruesome wound. Her hair was dark and her face had paled into a bland ashen-gray color, with her blood permanently dried on her face in maroon form.

"Quite so, especially considering that they resided just outside the Imperial Quarter, and yet the sentries and guards on duty saw nothing that night," the Magister said.

All this time, Representative Aureliar stood quietly apart from the others, observing the bodies. Some thought he might have been squeamish, and offered to escort him out of Hall, but he refused, insisting that he was fine. Nobody could really tell though, for he was a Vaul and nobody really knew if their sort could be squeamish.

Alleara inhaled very slowly as she listened to the facts. She nodded to Vallon. "It is quite intriguing that no one heard or saw anything. That level of brutality..." She placed a finger to her lips. "Such a difference between them. I wonder if it is to throw off a trail or it is a message."

She frowned and lost herself in her thoughts for a moment. Mutilated. Not poison, not hanging. Why? Why was she so brutally attacked? A servant. Hoping not to bring attention to the other murders? She looked up from the body. "The former queen's servant, what exactly did she do? Chambermaid? Lady in Waiting? Cook? Food taster? What was her job? How often did she see the queen and in what circumstances? Would she have come into contact with Advisor Karlein?"

It was bothering her that there were so many pieces and she couldn't quite figure out how they all fit together. She knew they did, it was like an itch that needed scratching. Alleara just needed to find the right spot and it would all come together.

"She was an herbalist, she worked in the Royal House of Healing. With regard to her presence around the queen..." the scribe peered to his overseer, Olue, before continuing, "We have no information regarding that."

"What would a murderer want with an apothecary? And why...?" Vallon wondered aloud.

"Perhaps it is to throw us off their trail, if there is one," Greks, despite all that had happened, maintained a level of open-mindedness, "Perhaps there was a reason as to why he wanted to...maim...her so."

"Her spouse, her husband where was he before he found her? Also what is his job? Servant yes, yes I know that, I mean specifically." Alleara held up a hand and gave a slight waving motion as if she anticipated the answer of servant already as it had been stated for her once. She wanted details, not surface information.

Although Lord Faeran would have put in a word reminding Alleara of her position as an oversight and not as the head of the investigation, he decided to keep quiet and watch how long she could carry on and how far her antics would take her.

The Sunfires and Magister Olue turned to the scribe, who searched though what notes he had regarding the woman.

"Her husband, Audhul, is a royal scholar. Beyond that, we do not know."

"Might I speak?" Aureliar interjected with his talon.

"Certainly, delegate," the Magister affirmed.

"May I add that the possibility of a new kind of murderer has joined the ranks?" he professed at a distance from the rest.
His comment drew glances from the group.

"What do you mean?" Lord Faeran shifted to his fellow delegate, perplexed.

"Some people," the Aureliar sharply turned, "Kill for the sake of killing."

"That's-"

"Madness?" he paused, "Not quite so. Motive, still eludes us. Their modus operandi follows no logical pattern, whether by purpose or by fault...we know not. One person he hangs, the next he disembowels." Aureliar's black eyes trailed off into the dead woman's grey face.

"That's a possibility," Greks said.

Alleara frowned. She disliked the idea that there might simply be someone out there who was killing for no reason. She was well aware that there were those that enjoyed it, the taking of lives but they were hired to do their jobs most times. The very concept that the murder might be random left a sour taste in her mouth.

"It might also be the work of more than one killer. Different methods but same motive. I feel like they were targetted though I cannot quite figure out why. I know it has something to do with the queen. It has to."

"Lady Delegio, perhaps you should not depend too heavily on the idea of a greater conspiracy at work when you have so little to support it at the moment," Lord Faeran dismissed.

She looked over at the delegate. "I hope for all of us that there is a reason and not someone simply killing those they choose. For someone's mind to be so broken..." She shivered a little.

Nods from everyone affirmed a general consensus.

"The third victim?"

The record-keeper of the third victim breathed a sigh, "We...her body..." he turned to the Magister.

Magister Olue began, "By far the most brutal of the deaths," he said this with some hesitation.

The nature of the case was no less tragic than the others, but the cause of death certainly set it apart from the others.

"Jain Valire, also a common born. A mechanic who worked among the machinery in the airship hangars, aged 28. Her father and mother had long passed. She stayed in the home of her aunt. Her body was found between the cogs of machinery.

"We can not rule out the possibility that this could have been a tragic accident," he further pined.

"We need to send out word to the families of the deceased soon," the Magister told one of his aides.

Alleara took a slow, deep breath. If there was something more brutal the second woman she needed to steel herself for the details. "Odd. This one has no connection to the queen then? A mechanic...she would not have had any obvious dealings with the queen. What of the others? The first and second victim? Friends?"

"None," Greks said flatly.

She was disturbed by the idea that the woman had been found in the machines inner workings. Alleara could only imagine the pain and agony. Her eyes went wide for a moment. "Was there any sign on the body of other wounds? Those not consistent with the machine cogs? What of signs of a struggle? Was anyone with her in the hangar that night?"

"Well, due to the...circumstances...of her death, whatever evidence that was present on her body is now gone," the Magister stated.

"However," a scribe added, "We do know that she was the only one present at midnight, our records show that she often worked the late shift in the hangars."

There was a chance that this victim had nothing to do with the rest, that she was simply an accidental death though a horrible one nonetheless.

"Another cold trail," Lord Faeran muttered.

Alleara couldn't figure out how things fit. She was missing something important, she could feel it.

"What of the queen's death?"

Perhaps the clue that would put it together lay with the queen. She was the only thing that tied two of the victims as well as the man who survived. The woman, the mechanic didn't fit the puzzle as far as she could see it at the moment but perhaps something would come to light in the future. When unsure go back to the source. "The queen is the link for the first two victims. Tell me of her death."

"Would you perhaps like to look at the last victim, before we continue prodding your theory?" Lord Faeran snidely suggested.

"I was told three deaths and one survived. There was a death I was not informed of?" Alleara looked to Lord Faeran. "Three deaths, the queen and one man attacked but saved by his servant."

"Four," the delegate corrected her with a sideways glance, "Four deaths aside from the queen."

"The queen's other advisor...the fourth. The fifth is the poisoned nobleman. Two servants, two advisors and one nobleman...."
She shook her head slightly. "Forgive me I miscounted the number of advisors involved."

Alleara nodded slightly, "Thank you, this is why I prefer to make detailed notes so that nothing is ever miscounted." She looked back to the magister. "The fourth victim?"

They approached the fourth body, which was mostly intact compared to the previous two that they examined.

"Michael Lyk, you already know he was an advisor to the late queen. Victim was found lying in the street in a pool of his own blood, presumably a suicide by jumping. Witnesses supposedly saw the man jump from the fifth story of a tower in the Imperial Quarter. However, all accounts say that it was too dark to tell around the time."

"Aged 30, no children or spouses. He was a head of the scholars," added a scribe.

"It's possible that he committed suicide," Greks examined the bruised corpse, bruises that were earned when the man's body met the ground.

"Yet, we have no reason as to why," Vallon said.

"Lyk was appointed as head of the scholars during the late queen's reign. And he maintained that position until her death earlier this year," Lord Faeran said.

"I remember that he told me that he would resign following the queen's death, citing that a new regime would need new people," Magister Olue recalled, as he stared at his deceased acquaintance.

The man had a battered countenance and fluffed white hair, common among many in the desert.

"Master Lyk, was he a native born of Solaria?" Aureliar asked, drawing the eyes of his fellow delegate, Faeran.

"Quite so, delegate, he was not from Solaria. However, the position of scholar could be attained by anyone of learning," Olue said.

"Explain," the Vaul representative pressed the Magister, beak thrust upward.

"Master Lyk had proven his exceptional abilities in the fields of learning, from astronomy to medicine and healing. That's as far as I know regarding the man."

"Tell me," Aureliar asked the scribe standing beside him, "What records do you have of Master Lyk's history? Before he came to Solaria."

The scribe searched through the scroll, which was barely filled, as there was few information regarding the victim, "Not much, lord delegate. All that we know of his past, is that he came to Solaria approximately six years prior."

Alleara looked thoughtful, "So a man with little past held a place in the court. He excelled in his area of knowledge but no one wondered on his history? Did he seem like the type to kill himself instead of simply retiring from his position as advisor?"

"It did seem strange, but Master Lyk was a studious and friendly fellow. Approachable anywhere, always offering words. Even in court, which was praised by the late queen."

"Both advisor's, were they particular favourites of the late queen? What of the servants? Did any of them spend an odd amount of time with the queen, outside of normal expectations?"

"Well, I would say Master Lyk spent a good amount of time with the queen" the Magister said, "But then again I was never in the palace that much to know."

"What are you implying?" Faeran stared at him, "Do not tell me that you are buying into Lady Delegio's claims that the queen was murdered."

"I am not implying anything Lord Faeran, nor have I bought, as you would put it, into her claims," Olue gestured at Alleara,
"However, as the Master of the Custodians, it is my duty to be impartial to all possibilities."

"What investigation is there? We have a killer on the loose, and the queen died of natural causes. Hardly grounds for some grand conspiracy."

Alleara looked at Lord Faeran, "How do you explain the blue arches on the queen's nail beds? They are the signature of a very specific poison. How do you explain her illness leading up to her death? Someone poisoned her and it seems very likely that some of those closest to her, perhaps those involved, those that figured it out or those who knew a secret were all killed to help clean it up. She was poisoned. I saw the arches. Death doesn't do that but chemicals, natural or formulated do."

She looked to the Magister, "I thank you for being a logical man. There are other possibilities than natural death and I appreciate someone's impartial views and input. It means that the information you give will not be clouded and you are less likely to overlook a detail simply because it does not fit your idea of what occurred." She bowed her head in respect.

Alleara inhaled slowly. "Perhaps all the deaths aren't related, perhaps they are but we owe it to them and it is now a duty given to me by our Queen to thoroughly investigate. Shall we discuss the former queen and the time leading to her death as well as observations made upon her death."

She was calm and ready to hear more. She knew it would not be settled today, there was still information missing and more questions she wished to ask but Lord Faeran seemed annoyed so Alleara decided moving forward was less likely to cause him to want to leave.

The Magister returned the bow, though he would not partake in any continued jabs, as he perceived, at Lord Faeran.

"Natural causes," the portly delegate firmly answered after the Magister finished.

"Blue arches?" he shook his head incredulously.

Through the four deaths, he still could not believe how the noblewoman could conceive of such a naive idea. From the court chambers until now, she still clung to it blindly, he thought. The delegate decided it was time to end this farce.

"What blue arches? As we searched the body, we saw none of the so-called 'blue arches' that you claimed. Our investigators made no such discoveries. I might also add, for everyone else who was unaware, your little 'discovery' was made by probing and defiling the queen's body as she lay in her casket."

This solicited silence from everyone present.

"But go on then, and show us your chemicals. The burden of proof lies with you now. Proof as to whether or not the queen perished by poison and not natural causes," Faeran said.

Alleara glared at Lord Faeran, "Did the investigators think to look for chemical markers? Perhaps they didn't find them because it didn't occur to them or they were told not to look for them. The arches appeared in her nail beds. If they did not think to look that is not my problem but I know what I saw and that it was poison. Only a poison does that. There is one in particular that leaves that signature. As for proof, you know very well the queen's body was burned and with it the physical evidence. All that is left is the records of her last days. That will help us trace back when it was given to her and perhaps how and by whom."
She crossed her arms. "Tell me Lord Faeran do you or the investigators have a great deal of experience with chemicals? Have you worked in a lab? Read up on chemical markers and properties? Did you think to look for signs of poison? Did you personally inspect every inch of the body? Was it checked more than once? Some chemicals do not settle into the tissue for days. Did you know that? That a body should be inspected at least a day or two after to make sure that chemicals and other indicators have settled?"

He had tried to embarass her in front of the other men. "I had the sense to look, yes by inspecting her in the coffin but when else would a scientist have had access to the queen's body? I had a theory, something you and the investigators should have thought of and I acted on it. At great risk to myself but the Queen seems to deem it worth looking into. Scoff all you want and if I am proven wrong I will apologize to you for questioning you but until then we must look at all the information, ignoring nothing. If you wish to end this go explain it to Queen Bitavia. I await her decision. In the meantime I wish to hear about the queen's final days."

Faeran scoffed, "We shall see."

Alleara was livid but tried to keep her composure. She was also scared. All she had was a theory and her notes from what she saw on the queen. With the body gone she had no physical proof. It was only by the queen's graces that she was even investigating. Had to solve the puzzle, had to stick your nose into it... She was not impressed with herself at that moment.

"Her records are with the timekeepers," Vallon said.

"Very well. If there is a connection it begins with the queen." She looked at Vallon, thankful that only Lord Faeran deemed it necessary to cause a scene. "Thank you Magister."