Rise of the Tyrants – Session 4
SCENE 1
When: Morning. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
The rather painful encounter I’d had with Krateros left me with much to consider. Too many questions remained unanswered for me to heed his threats and give up my investigation entirely, but for the time being I would have to back off. I wondered in particular why the sorcerer had hired the Tuskans to kill me and then spared me when he could have finished me? One thing was certain; from now on I would have to be far more circumspect about my enquiries.
At breakfast a couple of days later, Philomena asked if she could speak with Cyrus, Thanos and I in private.
Once the four of us were alone, Philomena explained that after the unexpected death of the Guild Master, Darius, senior guild members from the Guild of Inn and Tavern Keepers, to which she belonged, had approached her and urged her to stand as his replacement. She had been both surprised and flattered by their confidence in her and, after much soul-searching, had decided to accept.
She had always maintained that one should stand up for the things they believed in, so she could hardly refuse, now that she was being asked to do just that.
The world of politics can be a murky one however and, though it seemed she was popular amongst the members of the Inn and Tavern Keepers guild, there would undoubtedly be other factions who would oppose her candidacy once it was announced. It might even lead to trouble for her and for Nerisse. She hoped we would be willing to pitch in from time to time, perhaps by keeping an eye on things or providing her with an escort if one were needed, for we had proven ourselves to be good men who she felt she could trust. She hoped it was not too much for her to ask.
Without hesitation we unanimously assured her that it wasn’t. Any time she needed our help she only need say.
She blushed and thanked us for our support.
SCENE 2
When: Morning. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
A short while later, as I was finishing my breakfast, Cyrus began getting worked up about how much danger Philomena might be in.
I had long suspected that the two of them had feelings for one another but nothing seemed to have come of it.
“What does she mean ‘unexpected death’?” he fretted.
“It’s probably nothing” I replied. “People die unexpectedly all the time.”
“Yes but in this case it sounds suspicious don’t you think? There’s no telling how much trouble Philomena might be getting herself into if her predecessor was murdered. I don’t like it. I don’t like it one bit”
I tried to reassure him that we would take care of her, but he continued to worry. Eventually I excused myself and left.
SCENE 3
When: Morning. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Around town, Gela, Sicily
While I was out, I hoped I might alleviate Cyrus’s concerns by looking into Darius’s death.
I asked around. From what I could ascertain, there was nothing particularly suspicious about the death itself, Darius had merely died in his sleep, but it seemed that afterwards the slave who had reported it had inexplicably disappeared.
More suspiciously I learned that this individual had only been working in Darius’s household for about three months, after a previous slave was killed during a mugging.
Perhaps there was some cause for concern after all.
Hoping I could find out more by speaking to Darius’s other servants and employees directly I went to his household, a tavern called the Saffron Pearl, but it was closed and nobody answered when I knocked.
On the off chance I might have better luck with one of Darius’s neighbours, I tried the seamstress’s next door to see if she knew anything that might help. When I entered I immediately felt somewhat out of place amidst the expensive and stylish clothes that were on sale and wondered if going in there had been a mistake. However Cassia, the proprietress, a most elegant and charming lady quickly put me at my ease. She was friendly and cooperative, expressing her regret at Darius’s passing, though sadly she knew little that was of any help.
Before I left she had sold me the finest tunic I had ever owned at a cut down price of eighteen silvers, making me promise to come back wearing it one day soon so she could see how it looked on me.
Had it been anyone else I would have felt that I’d been fleeced but Cassia was so pleasant and disarming that to consider such a thing was out of the question.
SCENE 4
When: Afternoon. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela, Sicily
On my way back to the Dock Ward I spoke to a couple more contacts, one of whom assured me that the Red Circle were behind Darius’s death.
I didn’t like the sound of that and hoped it wasn’t true.
Arriving back at the Captain’s Rest a short while later I found Cyrus and Thanos waiting outside.
“Oh good you’re back,” said Cyrus. “You’d better get ready. We’re escorting Philomena to the seamstress’s so she can buy herself a new dress.”
“What all of us?” I asked, slightly puzzled. “Isn’t that overdoing it a little? I mean obviously if Philomena wants me to come then I will but otherwise I’d think the two of you is probably more than enough.”
“Well I don’t know. You can’t be too careful,” Cyrus observed.
At that moment Philomena emerged from the tavern.
“Rhadamanthus” she sighed, sounding both surprised and a little irritated, “I suppose you’ll be coming as well then.”
“Well actually… I was just saying that I probably wouldn’t… unless you want me to of course?”
“Why ever not” she responded somewhat scathingly. I had the distinct impression her answer was directed more at Cyrus than at me. “The more the merrier. Perhaps there’s someone we’ve forgotten to ask?”
There was an awkward moment before Philomena added, “Come on then”. She pointedly bypassed Cyrus and took Thanos’s arm, setting off leisurely through the streets.
I quickly stashed my new tunic in my room and then Cyrus and I followed as Philomena and Thanos strolled ahead.
“Women!” grumbled Cyrus.
SCENE 5
When: Afternoon. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Around town, Gela, Sicily
When we eventually arrived back at Cassia’s I left the others to their shopping and went in search of Kalliope. I’d decided to ask her whether she thought the Red Circle was behind Darius’s murder, as she’d been the only one willing to talk to me about them.
I found her at one of her usual haunts in Market Square and proposed we meet up for another ‘business’ dinner that evening. She accepted and I went back to the others.
I still had to wait for a while but eventually Philomena and Cassia were finished and we headed off back through town towards the Captain’s Rest.
On the way I began to suspect that we were being followed, so I told Cyrus that I had some other business to attend to and that I’d meet them all later, back at the Captain’s Rest. Then I turned down a side street and circled around to come up from behind them again.
It wasn’t long before I spotted the man tailing them but, from behind, his general appearance was fairly non-descript and I didn’t see his face.
After a while he turned off. I followed him but somewhere along Fang Street he disappeared.
I went back to the Captain’s Rest and told Philomena and Cyrus what I’d witnessed in addition to what little I’d learned about Darius’s death.
Philomena wasn’t surprised. Someone had already informed her of the missing slave and his suspected involvement. She thanked me for my vigilance and said that she would be very grateful if I could continue to keep my eyes and ears open and pass on anything else that I learned.
I said that I would.
SCENE 6
When: Evening. Third day of Thesmophorios
Where: Captain’s Rest tavern, Gela
That evening I met with Kalliope as I’d arranged. She told me pretty quickly that she didn’t think the Red Circle were responsible for Darius’s death. She said, “They always leave a sign. When the Red Circle kills someone they do it to intimidate others. So they want everyone to know it was them. That’s the point. If there wasn’t a sign, they didn’t do it. It’s as simple as that.”
For a while after dinner we talked about nothing in particular. It seemed that neither of us was in a hurry to bring the evening to an end. Inevitably, I guess, the conversation got around to Alcmene. Perhaps I’d wanted it to. I hadn’t been able to talk to anyone else about it.
“After Alcmene died I thought about coming to see you” Kalliope admitted “but somehow I never did”
“It wasn’t a good time for me,” I observed, “I just wanted to be left alone back then. I don’t think I was all that easy to be around.”
“Who says anything’s changed?” she teased and then added more seriously. “I heard you took it pretty hard. I know she meant a lot to you.”
I nodded. I wanted to say more but was struggling to find the words. Painful emotions were welling up inside of me once again. Even now, some months after Alcmene’s death, I found it hard to deal with.
“I’m sorry” Kalliope said. “We should talk about something else”
“No. It’s OK” I responded. “I think maybe I need to talk about it. I’m just not sure how to start”
For a moment something like concern or sympathy flickered in her eyes but she quickly hid it with a smile.
“Tell me later. When you’re ready,” she said playfully, cocking her head in a way that somehow reminded me of Alcmene. “Come on. I know a place that’s a bit more lively.”
I let her lead me through the streets, and into a maze of back alleys that I’d never had cause to venture into before. Very soon I was hopelessly lost but my guide never wavered.
The sounds of music and drunken voices raised in bawdy song drew us onwards until we found ourselves in a small courtyard filled with rowdy revellers. Kalliope had friends there who welcomed us warmly. We drank and talked and laughed with them. Later Kalliope danced.
It had been a long time since I’d felt that way.
