Page 59 of By Mistake
Once more an Investigator, he was let into the courthouse and through to the file rooms without issue.There, he split the list with Greivs, and together they made quick work of collecting the needed files.He signed them out, and they headed back to the palace, stopping only for a snack at a food cart because divine though palace food might be, nothing beat street vendor skewers of chicken roasted in a sticky, spicy sweet sauce and sprinkled with sesame seeds.
When they returned to his room, it was to find the missing demons returned, sprawled out indolently in his parlor drinking a blood red wine.He stole Shimari's cup and took a sip."Going for the most expensive parts of my wine cellar, I see."
"Obviously."
Kressen stared through hooded eyes at Greivs, and Oresti was grateful he wasn't privy to that demon's thoughts.
"So are all zero class eyes red?"
"No," Shimari said."Kressen and I are the oldest of the five, by far."
"Especially you," Kressen retorted."Fucking ancient.You should see his true form.Absolutely decrepit."
Shimari rolled his eyes."At least I'm not all pointy and dripping and disgusting.Anyway, red is a sign of age.In another millennia or two my eyes will turn entirely black.The others have orange or yellow eyes."
"That makes it extra precious your little pet summoned him by accident," Kressen said."The older the demon, the more difficult to summon and control.Yet somehow he lies in repose from being the driving force behind summoning two of them.Be careful he is not taken to become a living power source."
"Not while he's under my protection," Shimari said.
"Well, I'll add that to my list of things to worry about," Oresti replied with a sigh, taking another deep swallow of wine before returning the glass.He fetched the files he needed from his locked desk, set them and the courthouse files on his worktable closer to the balcony.
Someone appeared at his side, and he turned to see Shimari holding a fresh glass of wine."Doing something nice for me?"
"Well, I am fucking you later, so I probably should."
Oresti laughed and took the wine, as across the room, Kressen rolled his eyes, and Greivs laughed before pushing off the couch he'd been leaning against and joining Oresti."I can do this.Don't you have a dinner to get ready for?I hope you're ready for marriage, because I promise, Coret's mother is already planning it.She's not letting her beloved favorite child squirm out of this opportunity.There's time enough to plan a spring wedding."
"Shut up," Greivs said."Have fun with your work, then.I'll see you tomorrow, unless you need my help with anything tonight."
Oresti waved him off."Shimari can help me.You focus on you, Greivs.This matter with Farthing will reach a boiling point soon enough.Until then relax.Go have dinner.Good luck with your future mother-in-law."
"Ha, ha, and ha," Greivs said as he departed, Kressen turning into a cat and slinking off behind him.
"Everyone is going to start noticing the influx of particularly nosy cats if you two keep this up."
Shimari scoffed."We can go about unnoticed when we like; doing it as cats is just more amusing."He fell silent, watching as Oresti worked, matching up files and marking where the depot copies had been altered.
Oresti was sick to his stomach, staring at the truth he'd already known so plainly laid out."There must be tens of these, if not hundreds.Could go back years and years.Who knows how many others are doing this, how many prisoners have simply been lost…" Oresti stopped, took several deep breaths to calm the rage.So many people misused, hurt, forgotten.Dead, when they should have been serving lighter sentences that wouldn't have hurt them.
Farthing and everyone else involved in this sort of abuse wouldpay."We have evidence of the prisoner sentencing being altered illegally.I still need to find the money, though.Without proof that Farthing himself is paying off the guards…"
"So we go to the guards," Shimari said, finishing his own wine and setting the empty glass down."The depot captain would have to be in on it, along with at least a few guards every shift changeandat least two of the office workers.That's at least…nine people, if you assume captain, two office workers, and six guards."
"Probably more like four guards per shift, so ten.All right.We start at the top then."
"Top of what?"came a sleepy voice.
They turned sharply, and even Shimari's face was filled with surprise."You're awake already."
"When should I have woken?"Andrus asked, only slightly snippy.
Shimari crossed the room to fuss over him in a way he would never, ever admit to doing."You should have slept until morning at least.Recall when you summoned me you slept for three days."
"Guess I'm getting better at collapsing dramatically," Andrus replied."Don't worry, I'll probably go right back to sleep.I needed to piss, and now I'm hungry.What are you two doing?"
"We were about to head off to take a closer look at some people involved in this whole mess.We'll be gone the rest of the day, more than likely."
"The ball is tomorrow.Just remember that, or your sister will kill all of us, including Shimari."
