Chapter 439: The Baron’s Whiskey

Chapter 438: The Baron’s Whiskey

The next place to which they proceeded to was Baron Redwick’s chambers.

Sir Aldous made his introduction to the guard stationed without — Cade, by name — and informed him of the nature of their visit.

Cade listened, his expression composed throughout. Then he inclined his head.

"I shall inform his lordship at once," he said.

Corvin scoffed immediately at this.

"The very same excuse, once more," he said. "I am entirely certain you intend nothing more than to forewarn your master, precisely as the previous guards intended before you. You mean only to ensure that whatever evidence exists might be concealed before we are granted entry."

Cade paid him not the slightest heed. He turned and entered the chamber, closing the door behind him.

Corvin’s voice rose in protest, but the door had already shut fast, and his objections fell upon no ears but those of Sir Aldous and the accompanying guards, none of whom appeared in the least inclined to intervene upon his behalf.

It was not a full minute before Cade returned, opening the door wider that they might enter.

They proceeded within.

Baron Redwick sat at a small table near the window, his spectacles perched upon his nose, which he adjusted as they entered. It was plain enough that he had been roused from his rest — his hair somewhat disordered, his eyes, though sharp as ever, carrying that particular heaviness peculiar to one newly woken.

Sir Aldous bowed.

"My lord," he said, "I am Aldous Greaves, Captain of the Royal Guards. There have been reports of certain candidates having broken the rules of this competition, and your lordship is numbered among those named."

He produced the parchment and held it forth for inspection.

Baron Redwick regarded it a moment, then waved a hand dismissively.

"Get on with it, then," he said.

Sir Aldous nodded and signalled to his guards. They commenced their search, moving quietly through the chamber, precisely as they had done in the chambers preceding this one. Cade, at a gesture from Baron Redwick, lit several additional candles, that the room might be the better illuminated for their purposes.

Baron Redwick, meanwhile, poured himself a measure from a decanter upon the table. He took a slow sip and observed the proceedings with an expression of the mildest disinterest imaginable, as though the whole affair concerned him not in the least.

Corvin cast him a look of considerable judgement, which caused Baron Redwick to lower his glass somewhat.

"Would you care for one yourself?" he asked, entirely at his ease.

Corvin huffed.

"I am engaged in an investigation," he said. "I have no time whatsoever for such frivolity."

Baron Redwick merely shrugged.

"As you wish it," he said, raising the glass once more to his lips.

Corvin turned upon the guards.

"I shall conduct this search myself," he announced. "You may cease your efforts."

The guards exchanged a glance, then turned towards Sir Aldous, who gave a nod. They ceased at once and drew back, leaving Corvin the sole liberty of searching unassisted.

He searched everywhere — wardrobes, boxes, chairs, beneath the bed, behind the curtains, within every drawer he could discover. He huffed and puffed as he went about it, his frustration mounting with every passing moment. But, as had proven the case with every search preceding it, there was nothing whatsoever to be found.

Nothing at all.

Baron Redwick watched him throughout with quiet amusement, taking another slow sip from his glass.

Corvin’s frustration only grew the greater for it.

He searched again. And again. And still nothing presented itself.

Baron Redwick lowered his glass once more.

"Are you quite certain you would not care for a drink?" he asked, his tone perfectly even.

Corvin paused.

He looked towards the decanter, then towards Baron Redwick.

Then, to his own evident disgust, he gave a nod.

"Very well," he said.

Baron Redwick poured him a measure of whiskey.

Corvin took it, downed it in a single swallow, and quitted the chamber directly, without another word to anyone present.

Sir Aldous bowed to Baron Redwick.

"I thank you for your time and cooperation, my lord," he said.

Baron Redwick inclined his head in reply.

Sir Aldous and his guards took their leave, and the moment the door closed fast behind them, Baron Redwick allowed himself a light chuckle, evidently well pleased with how the whole affair had transpired.

---

Corvin and Sir Aldous proceeded next towards Duke Thorncrest’s chambers.

The guard stationed without — Aldric, by name — listened to their introduction, his countenance calm and measured throughout.

"You may enter," he said. "But I must give you fair warning — His Grace possesses rather unusual habits when he sleeps. You would do well to take the greatest care not to disturb his rest. Even the slightest sound may rouse him, and not, I assure you, in the manner one should ordinarily suppose a waking person to behave."

Sir Aldous nodded.

"It shall be duly noted."

They entered the chamber, Aldric following close behind. The room lay dim, lit only by a single candle upon the bedside table. The windows stood shut fast against the storm without, and the fire within the hearth burned bright and steady.

Upon the bed lay Duke Thorncrest, sleeping soundly.

Corvin did not wait upon ceremony. He took command of the search at once, his voice raised loud, entirely unconcerned with the guard’s caution.

"I shall conduct this search myself, also," he said. "None of you are to lend assistance."

The guards merely nodded and said nothing further.

Corvin himself proceeded to the wardrobe, wrenching open its doors and rifling through the contents within. He was thorough — or as thorough as a man of his particular paranoia could manage to be — and cared not in the least how much noise he made in the process.

He had scarcely reached the rear of the wardrobe when a shout arose from the bed.

It was loud, sudden, and entirely without warning.

Corvin startled violently.

His foot caught upon the edge of a rug, and he stumbled badly. He reached for something, anything at all that might steady him, but his fingers closed upon nothing but empty air, and so he fell.

His backside struck the floor with a resounding thud, and for a long moment he merely sat there, quite stunned, his legs splayed before him, his expression one of complete and utter bewilderment.