Page 83 of Rise of a Fallen Man

Madam Trela pressed her hands in orange lace gloves to her chest, looking lost for words. Her cheeks glowed brighter as she curtsied to the queen.

“It’s a tremendous honor, Your Majesty.”

The queen smiled kindly. “The honor is mine, madam. Today’s execution wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for you and your women. It’s only fitting to express our gratitude publicly, so the entire court can join me in thanking you.” She swept the room with her gaze. “I am looking forward to seeing you all at the palace tomorrow.”

It sounded like a dismissal. The meeting was over. Everyone bowed, expressing their gratitude for the invitations and looking ready to leave.

But I didn’t come here for a medal.

“If I may ask for a favor, Your Majesty,” I said with a bow.

The queen blinked, her eyebrows rising again. She clearly didn’t expect me to speak.

“A favor?” she asked. “Is there something you wish for? Well, as the hero of the hour, I suppose you can ask. What is it you want, young man?”

“Not for myself. I would like to request an investigation into the fun houses where Das worked in the past five years.”

I might be the only person left who knew Das before he became a murderous monster. I owed it to him and to others who might still be suffering to find out what horrors he’d gone through before he started inflicting the same horrors onto others.

“Who is Das?” Confused, the queen glanced at Lerrel and Madam Trela for explanation.

Madam Trela cleared her throat. “The killer we executed this morning, Your Majesty. His name was Das.”

“The killer? But what is there left to investigate? He was found guilty beyond all doubt. You caught him in the act, didn’t you?”

The queen stared at me, as did the princess. Ari clearly didn’t know until today about my part in apprehending Das.

“I did.” I said. “I stopped his attack on Madam Einna, the merchant from the Tresed Queendom. I wish I was there to stop him from murdering his previous victims too. But Das was not born a murderer. His past must’ve driven him to it.”

“You want us to look deeper into his past?” Madam Trela asked.

Ari shifted uneasily. “Are you sure it’s a good idea?”

She must be worried about how much ofmypast such an investigation might uncover. But I had to risk it.

I looked into Ari’s eyes, now speaking directly to her. “I saw Das’s face up close. The scars like his can’t be a result of a single accident. Someone inflicted injuries to his body regularly, with various weapons or instruments. The people who did it are still out there, possibly hurting someone else.”

Ari nodded with understanding.

“Madam Trela.” She turned to the Head of the City Guards. “Why did you never include the killer’s scars in the description that you gave us?”

“I didn’t?” The woman looked flustered. “I’m so sorry. It must’ve been an accidental omission.”

“How could you ‘accidentally’ forget about the suspect’s most unique feature?” the queen wondered.

“It’s rather of a disturbing nature, isn’t it?” Madam Trela cleared her throat nervously. “I didn’t want to upset Your Majesty or Her Highness with such a grizzly detail.”

“Details like that could mean life or death, Madam Trela,” Ari reprimanded gravely. “Please don’t omit them in the future. Do you know how he got his scars?”

Lady Etah spoke before Madam Trela had a chance to answer. “Could it be that a man like him thrived on violence way before he chose murder as an outlet for it? I’m sure he got into fights more than once during his turbulent, misguided life.”

“If that’s the case,” Ari said, “it’d be easy enough to prove, wouldn’t it? We’ll just need to talk to the fun house where he worked before his last place of employment.”

She glanced at me, and I nodded, letting her know it wouldn’t put me in danger. I hadn’t worked with Das for many years.

“Well,” the queen intervened. “The purpose of our celebration tomorrow is to honor the good, positive things happening in our queendom. If there is a need to investigate the past of an executed murderer, I trust my guards will identify it.” She extended me her hand in parting. “Thank you for expressing your concern. I’m looking forward to seeing you tomorrow.”

Lerrel tugged at my sleeve firmly, signaling it was time to leave.

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