Return to Canifis

“But what about any marks upon them?” Sally asked. “The tailor’s daughter had a birthmark upon her chest.”

Birthmarks? Ebenezer thought, suddenly angry. A monster comes from across the river and steals children with birthmarks. Is that the best link we can come up with? How Papelford will jeer.

“We need more than blasted birthmarks,” he said irritably.

Sally stood abruptly. Ebenezer felt her cold stare.

“Very well,” she said quietly as she left the room. He saw the accusing stares of his two young accomplices.

“Well, we do… don’t we?” he asked in a conciliatory tone.

Take command. Quench their doubt. Impress them with your strength. Inspire them.

“Let us return to the beginning then,” he said firmly. Take command. “The Wyrd left hints of this prophecy-that I know you don’t believe in Reldo-but let us assume for the moment it is true.” Quench their doubt. “We know she comes from Morytania. Therefore, if she is working toward this prophecy, then the Salve must be involved somehow, as it bars that land from ours.” Impress them with your strength.

He stood suddenly.

“Therefore, can these murders and kidnappings be in any way linked to the holy river itself?” He felt a triumphant smile on his face. Inspire them.

Then his knees buckled. His grip on his walking stick slipped and his wrist twisted in pain. As the black dots shot holes in his vision he stumbled and fell awkwardly back into his chair. He wheezed painfully.

Inspire them.

But the laughter he expected never came. Lord William’s face was ashen.

“I remember now,” the nobleman said in little more than a whisper. “I was on the terrace, overlooking the Salve when Kara went across to test the blood mark. When she came back everyone else went downstairs to greet her, but I waited and watched the ravenous that tried to kill her. It stepped onto the bridge, which was supposed to be impossible. Drezel made it quite clear that he thought me mistaken, but I wasn’t. I know what I saw,” he said firmly.

“You mean the Salve isn’t as strong as you thought it was?” Reldo asked.

“It doesn’t matter what I think of it, but Drezel was wrong about it. The ravenous walked upon the bridge- which Drezel said was impossible, so perhaps the Salve is being affected somehow.”

Could there be a link here? Is that what this is about? For the prophecy to be true the Salve would have to be circumvented somehow.

He was about to speak when a great cheer went up from outside.

“What is it?” he asked Reldo who stood nearest the window.

“I don’t know, but there is great deal of celebrating.”

Could it be that word has come of the embassy? Have they perhaps escaped?

The cries grew louder as Ebenezer staggered to his feet. Lord William took his arm and together they left the room as quickly as his aged limbs would allow.

Moments later, with Reldo ahead of them, they stopped at the top of the great staircase. Below, a throng of yellow-clad soldiers surrounded a man who was dressed in little more than rags, his grey shoulder-length hair dishevelled, hiding his face. Yet when he raised his arms Ebenezer saw that both his hands were missing.

No. No, that can’t be him. Not here.

“I am Sulla,” the beggar roared in triumph, his head thrown back. Ebenezer saw the scarred face he had seen only once before, in the heat of combat at Saradomin’s monastery. “I have brought King Roald the greatest of gifts. I have slain the Wyrd.” Someone taunted him from below but Sulla laughed. The yellow-clad guards forced their way through the press, dragging Sulla with them. “I am a hero now,” he shouted. “A hero!”

The madman’s words faded as he was taken forward in the direction of the dungeon.

“It’s true,” someone in the crowd yelled. “The body is outside in a cart. This man Sulla really has done it.” Ebenezer could not believe what was being said.

What is happening to the world, when a man like that enters Varrock a hero?

Outside, the bells of Father Lawrence’s church began ringing out in victory.

“Do you wish to go downstairs?” Lord William asked.

Ebenezer shook his head.

“No thank you. I wish to return to my bed. I fear I must be experiencing a nightmare of sorts, and I would prefer to be there when I wake.”

With a grumble, he turned himself about and made his way back to his room, a great deal slower than when he had left.

If it was a nightmare, then Ebenezer couldn’t wake from it. Hours later his mind was still too fraught to focus on the murders, and no small part of him wondered if it was even necessary any more.

If Sulla had slain her, then what would be the point?

He has beaten us today. My friends are imperilled in a foreign land, and Sulla has done what they couldn’t. He has won.

Lord William appeared at the door.

“Captain Rovin wants to know if you wish to talk to Sulla,” he stated politely.

“Why?” he said without thinking, and the young lord turned to leave.

But I do have questions for him, in fact. A lot of questions.

“Wait, William,” he said, motioning. “I do wish to see him. It was just unexpected.”

The young man helped him up, and together they began their journey.

“Where has Reldo got to?” the alchemist asked.

Inspire. Quench the doubt.

Sally has deserted, and Reldo is gone, and now one of our greatest enemies turns up a hero. Truly something to be added to the history books.

“Reldo is examining my suggestion about the link with the Salve. He is not convinced that even with the Wyrd dead, the danger is passed.”

“So she is dead then?” Ebenezer asked. “Sulla did it?”

“She is most definitely dead,” William acknowledged. “Her head sits atop a spike on the palace wall even now, and a host of people throng the square to cheer Sulla’s name.” Lord William gave him a sidelong glance. “I am afraid people have very short memories. Personally, I won’t cheer him in any way.”

“But he did do it? You are sure of that?”

“He led a band of mercenaries, apparently. They are well-known names in Varrock. But it was his instigation and plan.”

He continued as they moved down the corridor.

“Sulla is no longer in the dungeons,” he explained. “He has been moved to his own apartments. Lady Anne has been charged with seeing to it that he has everything he needs for now.”

Everything he needs? He should be hanging from the gallows tree.

“Here we are,” Lord William said as they neared a half-open door. Outside two guards waited, and Ebenezer saw more at either end of the corridor.

He is still a prisoner, then. That at least is something.

“…I will need a wife soon. You look rich. And of high birth. Think I’ll take you.” The words were spoken with a disgusting arrogance and were followed by a sick laugh.

“I wonder how Lady Anne will react to that?” Lord William said with a slight smile.

“Hopefully she’ll cut off his-”

“Or I might take your friend, perhaps,” Sulla continued. “The one with the gap between her pretty teeth.”

“Right!” Lord William strode in so quickly that Ebenezer nearly lost his balance. The beggar Sulla had become looked at them with interest reflected in his one good eye. His lank hair was unclean, his beard a mess, and he stank.