Ascended

Winey had been killed fast.

I had been expecting a lot of blood like there had been with Val’s sister, but if you hadn’t told me that he was dead, I might have thought that the old man was just sleeping, draped over the bar.

Narder was sitting in a chair at one of the tables with Fyga while Gili was hovering behind Master James. The old Bokor was poking the body and looking around the room.

For a bar, it wasn’t much. There were three tables to the left. A wall length bar across the back wall and a door on the right that was either a closet of stairs to a room downstairs.

“Was there anyone with a grudge against him?” Master James looked over at the assistants.

Narder had blood on his hands and it looked like he had wiped some of it on his clothes. The blonde man shook his head. “Winey had found a way to cure Zombies. Everyone thought he was a hero.”

“Even the Wranglers?” The Bokor walked around the bar and pulled Winey’s shirt up to reveal a slit a little above the researcher’s right hip. I leaned on the bar so I could look at it better. The cut was about as wide as two of my fingers, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to slip a finger into the stab wound. Someone had used a very thin blade and knew exactly where they were stabbing.

“Wrangler’s be glad to stop risking their lives.” Gili spit on the floor, “Guards too.”

Master James looked up at me. “What do you see, Byler?”

I looked over at the two assistants, Gili, and at Helru, who had just walked in. “Now?”

“If one of them was the killer, then I’m sure they’d love to hear what we know.” He smiled

“I would never..!” Narder slammed his fist on the table

“Don’t ya…” Gili puffed up her chest.

Master James just had to clear his throat to silence both of them. He was the law here now, which was something that Val and I had forgotten to emphasize earlier.

“Master Byler…” Tingles ran up my arms and down my spine hearing him call me Master. “...Has done many investigations.” Master James looked at me. “I’d like to know what he sees.”

I didn’t have as wide of a range of vision with the bandages on, but I could see what I was looking at just fine. I thought about telling him about the wound, but he didn’t want to know that. That was easy to talk about.

“The bar is clean.” I looked at the two assistants, “Where was he brewing the solution?”

“There's a lab downstairs.” Fyga nodded at the door. “It’s where he brewed everything.”

“Can we see?”I nodded at the door.

“Lightstones only!” Gili reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the green stones. Its soft glow was barely visible with the natural light coming in through the front windows. “I don’t care who ya are. I won’t have ya blow up this place cause ya brought a torch down there.”

“I can handle the light.” Master James ‘ hand began to shine. The light was much brighter and more focused than the glowing green stone.

“Fine, but no fire.” The old guard shoved the stone back in her pocket.

“Where’s Val?” Master James came around the bar and opened the door to the downstairs.

“She is waiting outside with the experiment.” I thought about elaborating, but didn’t want to say more in front of the people. The Bokor were supposed to show strength to the people. Pointing out that Val was still grieving her sister wouldn’t be a good look.

Master James looked at me for a moment and I thought he might order me to bring her in. That’s what Master Bran would have done. But he must have seen something in my face that told him it wasn’t defiance keeping her out.

“Let’s see what’s down there.” Master James turned and walked down the stairs.