LIGHTNOVELONLINE Book 3 Ch 14: Julian - The Easiest Target
Julian used [Scan] to detect the poison. His [Silent Guard] allowed him to cast his abilities without saying them aloud - an important perk to have when monster hunting.
Once he’d identified the waurg, he ran a finger over the arrow and collected a sample. The entire procedure had to be meticulous, using a [Barrier] to siphon off enough for proper evidence.
“Wait! It’s poisoned.” Gerda the Bridge Troll told him, her voice worried. It was enough to make Julian resist a small smile.
Julian simply pulled his hand away and droplets of the waurg hovered above the arrow in a controlled barrier shaped like a sauce bowl, and into an empty bottle in his storage ring. Why did he have empty bottles in his storage ring? Because he was a monster hunter, of course.
“I am not a fool.” He gently chided, neutralizing the rest of the poison on the arrow with [Divine Heal]. It wouldn’t do for evidence to injure anyone who handled it. “I’ve taken care of the waurg.”
Gerda snapped her mouth shut and frowned, bowing to him as his station demanded. “As you say, Your Grace.”
She was so different from last night that he didn’t know what to say, and didn’t have the time to ponder it. Julian couldn’t stow the arrow into his storage space or risk losing the trail, so instead, he held the arrow as he turned to address the audience.
The battle had come to a complete stop when a stray arrow whizzed over the stands and almost hit someone. Candace and Cimor were now standing at attention in their opening placement, and the unnatural quiet of the crowd felt like it would break at the slightest movement.
Everyone remembered the warnings from Madame Potts, but a single arrow was not the same as ‘fireworks’. The arrow wasn’t even on fire.
He would’ve been nervous himself, if he didn’t know for a fact that an entire battalion of soldiers were already working to secure the area.
“Our people are investigating, and an explanation will be issued in due time.” Julian called out. His voice carried over the silence, though from the onset of whispering he wasn’t sure if everyone actually heard him. “There will be a ten minute intermission before we resume, starting now.”
Everyone erupted in conversation all at once. Julian turned back to Gerda who still had her head lowered.
For some reason, that irritated him more than it should.
“Gerda the Bridge Troll.” He spoke to her at a normal volume. “Meet with me after the match.”
“Is there a problem?” Henrietta, the queen of the Dark Enchanted Forest demanded. She was an unassuming young woman with brown hair and brown eyes. Behind her, Rufus and the bard from last night stood as well. Henrietta normally blended into the background with very little presence, but she was supporting Gerda with a fierce determination that rippled out around her. It was aura, laced with sword intent.
“I simply wish to speak with her.” Julian reassured the Dark Lady. “Somewhere more private, and after I am finished overseeing the event. You may accompany her, if you wish.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Gerda still didn’t look at him, but she did face Henrietta and smiled at the human. “You wanted to take Lady Amy to see the hall of inventions after this. I can meet you there. It won’t take long.”
Henrietta wavered, “Are you sure? I can represent you.”
“I am simply going to take a statement,” Julian said. For some reason, that made Henrietta shoot him a look full of suspicion, so he added, “and confirm her safety.”
Henrietta paused, probably remembering the list that they’d both received the previous evening. Sensing his win, Julian concluded, “Now, I officially apologize, Miss Gerda, on the attack you’ve received while attending our event. You will be informed of any outcome to our investigation. See you after the match. Your Majesty.”
He added a nod to the queen before turning and leaping back across the arena.
Julian’s strength stat was his highest attribute at 49, and allowed him to launch himself across the distance with ease. To control his fall, he activated [Light Foot] and landed gently on the ledge of his box seats, jumping down the last step with practiced grace.
As far as Julian was concerned, there wasn’t any skill as useful as a travel skill.
John was waiting for him with a black-robbed figure trussed up and gagged. Lord Johnathon Thomas, the human rogue in Julian’s party, was very good at his job. He was silent, he was observant, and he was professional. If he didn’t get drunk every once in a while and sob uncontrollably about missing his daughter back home - the man was a dedicated family man - then everyone would have assumed he was as cold and standoffish as he appeared at work.
But that was exactly what it was, work. And Johnathan was good at it.
“Twenty-three year old Ellanora Green, human assassin registered with the Peldeep Assassin Assembly. 5’6, brown hair, purple eyes, pale complexion. She had a contract on Gerda the Bridge Troll.” John listed off with a calm monotone, before he frowned. “I have taken her officially into custody because of three reasons; Gerda the Bridge Troll is a citizen of Nilheim and both North Sumbria and Nilheim hold contracts to only allow assassinations on members of the governing class; Her daggers are not Assembly standard issue Pettle Pommel Steel; and she was in possession of this.”
The shocked grunt from Ellanora made it obvious that John must have stolen the sheet of paper without her knowledge. The human went from silently waiting in the corner to struggling. Julian and John left her to it.
John was a master of his craft, and a monster in his class.
“Blackfog spy?” Julian asked, though he knew the answer as soon as he read over the list of names of the page.
MADAME POTTS
Necromancer Chloe Watercress
Commander General Rufus of Nilheim
Grand Duchess Callisto of North Sumbria
Countess Julia of North Sumbria
Gerda the Bridge Troll
It was almost time to resume the fight, and the announcer was calling people back to their seats.
Julian crouched down and pulled loose the gag on the spy, who was shooting him a look of fear and determination. He asked, “I only have one question, why did you attack Gerda first?”
Whatever she was expecting, that didn’t seem to be in. Instead of denying anything or proclaiming her silence, the assassin shrugged, “She seemed like the easiest target.”
He nodded and then pulled the gag back in place. Standing up, he waved John to deal with transporting her away for questioning and walked over to his place at the cast crystal.
“Contestants! Are you ready?” His voice boomed out over the crowds. Candace and Cimor saluted each other. In the stands, Gerda the Bridge Troll was distractedly tapping her finger against her chin and staring off into space. Julian said, “Begin!”