Triple Strength

305. Imperials: Wiremu

A loud banging on the gate woke me the next morning, “Open up for the Imperial Inquisitor!” I only got a couple of hours of sleep. This is not my problem as such. I am to stay out of the way while Tabitha deals with the Inquisitor. My role is if everything goes bad, then I assassinate them. Then everything will get worse.

“Coming,” I heard Tabitha yell.

We were expecting a visit. I hope this is a routine inspection and not Snake setting them on to us. I armoured up. Ruku, Modrica and Umreti will be doing the same. Tabitha is there with Moja, Mbili, Tatu and three helpers we picked up. This will be the last act of the Famous Five before their contract ends. Getting past Imperial inspections is what Mbili sold to us.

The Inquisitors have a fierce reputation for seeing through lies. In my research in the Kingdom, I found out it is a specialisation of criminal investigation classes. Therefore, they all have some fighting skills but specialise in restraining people and discovering the truth of things. High levels in perception skills like Keensight and its more advanced tiers. Usually, some sort of truth or lie, sensing skills. The specialisation often gives status interrogation skills. Some inquisitors have torture skills like reducing pain resistance and healing so they can inflict more and continued pain. Other Inquisitors have the skills to seek hidden things. Some have mental persuasion skills, and some have Spiritual sensing skills. Some have various combinations of the above. There are probably Skills I have never heard of. The Lore Society records were far from complete on this class.

Then, a magpie flew into my senses range. Ooh, that's sneaky. It was a bond. I don’t know if it was bonded to Inquisitor Cooper or one of her helpers, but it was obviously there to give them a different perspective. I was one of the few who could sense the bonds. I suspect it was Coopers. The bond was a healthy one, so the bird shares a lot of traits with its partner. What did I know about magpies? Firstly, they are known to be very intelligent birds. That’s not good. They are aggressive to those nearing their nests. They like picking things that are not food, particularly shiny things. These are hint’s but are a start at understanding Cooper.

Inquisitors always have at least one squad of elite Imperial Troopers. Several when they are outside a town, but Cooper only has one with her now. Elite troopers have multiple specialities and master-level skills. They are probably like Ruku but without the affinity. Together, they are very intimidating, and that is an effect they use well.

Tabitha opened the gate dressed as a merchant. “Can I help you?”

The Guard who had knocked said, “Imperial Inspection under Inquisitor Cooper. Stand aside.”

“Happy to assist the empire,” as she stepped aside.

The troopers marched in. The Inquisitor was in the midst of them. The magpie was definitely her bond.

“You are importing live animals. Let me see your papers,” Cooper said. “Gather everybody in the compound by the wagons immediately.”

Tabitha started to move off to do that when she was stopped by a trooper, “Not you,” he said, “You stay to answer questions.” Then, the troopers moved through the wagons, rounding people up. I assume they were trying to unsettle her.

I was perched high in the rafters, having climbed up at the knocking. There were a number of bird cages hanging from the rafters. The birds in them will distract anyone looking up. It was Tabitha’s idea, and her Distract Skill is almost Master Level. The magpie was on the rafters above the cages.

Ruku, and the others were two doors down at a rented office we procured. I was in camouflage, which was only upper Journeyman level. It might not be enough. I carefully readied my bow.

“It says here you came into the city with thirty-five people, but I only see seven,” Cooper said. “Where are the others?”

“Gone their separate ways. Like these ones here, their contracts were only as far as Yelets.”

Cooper stared at her in silence with a look of disbelief on her face. The silence dragged out. Tabitha fidgeted nervously because she was a professional actress, and that is what a merchant would do.

I pulled out an arrow and readied my bow. The magpie was in the rafters on the other side of the warehouse, but hopping around.

“I will need a list of names.” Cooper finally said.

“I … I don’t have written names. It was only verbal.” Tabitha was exhibiting a lot of nerves and an answer that was not what was wanted. I would give her an acting award.

“I don’t believe you,” Cooper said. “You must report to the boss trader.”

“I am the boss trader, ma’am,” she replied.

Cooper stared at her in silence.

Tabitha said hesitantly, “The gate guards took a list of names, ma’am.”

Cooper knew that and probably had the list. “Tell me about these animals,” she suddenly said, changing the subject.

“Yes, ma’am. Which ones, ma’am?”

“The monster ones.”

“The Dire bear we raised from a cub, and is our company mascot, ma’am. He draws the crowd.”

The magpie hopped toward me by two beams. I might need to make a distraction. I am not getting any hint of Cooper's Skills. The magpie was a problem. We had a number of distraction scenarios planned. The magpie complicated them. Going simple is best, I think. I sent a feeling to Tāoke.

Tabitha was winding down her speel on Težka as I watched the Magpie hop to another rafter.

“I want to see the hidden compartment in his cage,” Cooper said.

“As you wish. We keep the most valuable things there for obvious reasons,” Tabitha said. She moved toward the cage, “The main Handler is not here, but he should be familiar enough with me to get him out of his cage.”

The trooper nervously fingered their weapons as Tabitha unlocked the cage and clipped a thin leash to his collar. Tabitha looked tiny, and the leash looked flimsy next to Težka. Tabitha started to coax Težka from the cage, and more than one trooper drew their weapon. Cooper looked calm.

Težka was reluctant, “Tatu, can you grab a snack for him? That might help.”

Tatu had the Animal Handling Class, and I am sure Cooper could see that. He looked at the nearest trooper for permission, and the trooper nodded yes and then followed at a signal from Cooper. He returned shortly with the entire hind leg of a large buck on his shoulder.

“Over there in the corner is best,” Tabitha said.

Tatu placed the leg on the ground and backed off. Težka’s interest picked up, and the whole reinforced wagon moved as he stepped out, and Tabitha led him to the corner. He picked up the leg in his mouth and settled down for his snack, where he could see everybody. Tabitha tied the pathetic leash to the wall. It was obvious to everybody the leash was not going to do anything to stop Težka.

Tabitha then turned her back to him and jumped up into the wagon. A trooper and Cooper followed her as she showed them the strong box.

My Hearing Aid started to pick up shouts outside. Three of the troopers also picked it up. The Squad leader sent one of them to investigate. Tabitha emerged from the wagon, followed by the other two.

“I am pleased you have demonstrated you can control the beast,” Cooper said. “You can put him back now.”

The trooper came back from outside, “There’s a fire, sir,” He reported to his squad leader, “But there is something strange about it. It is unnerving people who get close, making it difficult to put out.” I had got Tāoke to drop a couple of Phantasm grains to attract the attention of the Inquisitor. Nothing like a mystery to attract an Inquisitor. It was Tabitha’s idea.

“Ma’am?” the squad leader queried Cooper.

Cooper didn’t respond immediately but looked around. I am sure she was also communicating with the magpie as it took wing and squeezed out a gap in the roof.

“I am happy enough here,” Cooper said and then turned to Tabitha. “I know you are hiding things. You are more than the Merchant and Real Estate specialist I can see. I think you are another one of those merchant/thief combos, but better than the average. I am happy you are not a threat to the peace, but we will come down on you hard if you do anything illegal. Keep the beasts under control, or you will be evicted from the city.” She turned back to the Squad Leader, “Let's go take a look at this suspicious fire.”

I figured the magpie had confirmed the strangeness of it for her. As the troopers left, there were sighs of relief, but Tabitha wasn’t foolish enough to let her guard down yet. At least three of the troopers had high-level Hearing Aid, and the others had just as good senses in other areas. I still don’t know what Cooper had.

I shouldered my bow and dropped from the rafters. Tabitha raised an eyebrow at me. I moved to the far side of the warehouse next to Težka, and Tabitha followed. The noise was getting louder outside.

“She had a bond, a magpie. Best to warn the others.”

Tabitha nodded. “Good timing on the distraction. She was so close to finding the first level of deception. It would have complicated things.”

“I will head out and make sure they leave,” I said. I stripped off my leather jacket, put on a basic worker's shirt, and left my bow as I went out.

That went as well as it could. That was a surprise. I also got a level in camouflage. It was close.