Coren was startled awake for the second time that day by loud banging on his door. He looked around the darkened interior of his wagon and guessed it was sometime in the middle of the night. Who could possibly want to see him now?
That thought triggered a memory of the first knock on his door that day and his blood ran cold. He was suddenly sober. There was only one reason anyone would be slamming on his door at that time of night, and that reason meant his death. He had left the
“Open up in the name of the Empire!” A muffled voice shouted through the door.
“Uh...just a…just a moment!” Coren called back. He looked around the wagon. He had left nothing out in plain sight, and his hiding space had fooled customs officials in a half-dozen kingdoms. He smoothed his hair and put on his best innocent face. There was no way they could link him to the desert man. Unless he had talked. Coren gulped nervously, then opened the door.
“Good evening, Captain,” he greeted the man in the blue and silver uniform. “How may I help you?” That was odd. These men were dressed in the uniforms of Imperial troops, not those of the Maruth constabulary.
“You are Coren Vishod?” the man asked.
Briefly, Coren considered lying, but there was really no point to it. They’d just take him in anyway and probably have him mind-probed. If he started out with a lie, it would only make him look guiltier.
“Yes,” he replied. “That’s my name. Can I help you?”
“In the name of the Emperor, I place you under arrest,” the Captain said. “Please step out of the wagon and accompany us.”
“Arrest?” Coren feigned shock. “On what charges?”
“Trafficking in illegal poisons, conspiracy, murder and high treason.”
The blood drained from Coren’s face. “High treason?” He had been arrested before and had faced charges of trafficking. Liberal bribes had gotten him out of some scrapes and a lack of evidence had helped him escape others. But treason? What the hell had the desert man done with that vial?
“Step down from the wagon and come peacefully, or we will take you by force.”
Coren stepped down, briefly contemplating a run. It would cost him his wagon, but his freedom was worth that. Unfortunately, there was no cover. Furthermore, he found the wagon surrounded. In addition to the men on the ground, he saw several griffins being tended by their riders. For whatever reason, they wanted him badly.
“On what basis do you charge me with high treason?” As he spoke, men walked up to him and grabbed his arms, binding his hands together behind his back.
“The evidence against you will be presented later, before a court of law,” the Captain replied.
“That’s not what I meant, Captain. You’re an Imperial soldier, not a member of Maruth’s or Dhekar’s constablary. On what basis do you charge me?”
“There’s been an attack on the royal family. That makes this an Imperial matter, rather than a kingdom one or local one.”
Coren stammered. “I…I want a lawyer!”
“That’s your right, sir. But for now, you’re coming with us.”
He was guided to a waiting griffin. Coren shied away from the large beast. It looked down on him with impassive, avian eyes. The large beak clacked and Coren cried out in fear. This brought some low chuckles from some of the men.
“Enough of that,” the Captain barked. “Let’s get mounted up and head back to the palace. Commander Donal wants to have a word with him.”
Coren was unceremoniously heaved up onto the griffin’s leonine back, then tied to the saddle. The creature’s rider placed one foot in a stirrup and vaulted up to sit astride the saddle lashed between its wings. The others mounted up as well. At the Captain’s signal, the great beast reared onto its hind paws and launched itself into the air, it’s large wings spreading to catch the wind.
Coren made the mistake of looking down. As the ground sped away beneath him, Coren Vishod fainted.
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