“Where did all the ghouls go?” Bido asked.

  We reacted instantly, pulling up weapons and looking in all directions for the ten ghouls that had taken Wilma and the students.

  But nothing happened.

  Removing herself slowly from Biff’s embrace, Wilma said, “The ghouls brought us here and then just left. The cultists threatened to kill the kids in front of me if I gave them any trouble. And during the battle, I was all out of casting points. Illusions were useless, and Mage Bolts only go so far and eat up casting points quickly.”

  “You don’t need to explain. You stayed with the students when you could have run away.” Simon said. “I just wish we could have gotten to you to help in time.”

  “There was no way. You were boxed against the pond, and the other heroes in the park were stuck by a tree. Actually, I think they were trying to climb it to get out of range of the skeletons. One made it pretty far up the branches!” she laughed.

  There was nothing of any significance found in the rooms. None of the cultists had treasure, and there were no notes or maps. It was just a hideout for necromancer flunkies.

  “Remember the way down here, and we will tell the Watch when we get topside.” I said, turning to Wilma, “Are you ready to go see the sunshine?”

  “You bet I am!” She exclaimed.

  We escorted the students back out of the sewers, taking the first exit we could find rather than the long way back to the bridge.

  When we emerged onto the street level, there were half a dozen armed City Watch with swords pointing at us. We had emerged just outside the Watch Keep. Once they realized that we were not undead and that we had rescued some students, the blades turned into hands that helped us all up the ladder and into safety.

  The AL whispered into my ear. Enchanter Gwydion earns a spell or skill point to be placed as desired for completing the Wilma! quest. Spell and skill points must be reclaimed at a guild hall or sanctuary. Additions and notes have been added to your Book of Quests that remain unread.

  My available spell or skill points were growing. I needed to find time to gain new spells. In addition to my plans with Alchemist Alexander later today, I had some books I could read for spells or seek out training. I had some ideas, but I needed to clean off the undead goo and sewer stuff before I settled down to do anything.

  After the dive into the sewer to rescue Wilma, we all agreed on two things. First, we would meet back together at the Double D for a well-deserved dinner celebration, and second, we all needed a bath. A very soapy bath.

  I had just completed my second full shower at the guildhall and planned to head to the warm baths and sauna available to me now that I was a journeyman in our guild faculty section, when an apprentice entered and announced, “Journeyman Istari, an officer wants to meet with you!”

  Apprentices were not permitted in; they just yelled from the doorway.

  I sighed. “I’ll be down in ten minutes!” I yelled back. “Please apologize for me that I am indisposed, and I will meet him in one of the lounges as soon as possible!”

  “Yes, journeyman!”

  So that meant no bath or sauna. At least the smell was gone. I think.

  Just for good measure, I rinsed off one more time quickly, before drying off and putting on a clean robe. It was not as nice as my trials robe, but that one needed to be professionally cleaned. I had not yet arranged to have the robe enchanted to keep it dry, warm, and clean at all times. I would make that a priority.

  I walked quickly down the stairs and looked into our guest meeting rooms that we referred to as lounges. I found an official-looking man dressed in a military style uniform that I did not immediately recognize.

  He had not been sitting when I came in, but had been browsing the room as if he expected to find something out of place. I did not get a good feeling about him.

  “Hello, I am Journeyman Istari. I understand you were looking for me?”

  The man turned and said in a self-important and officious manner, “Yes, twenty minutes ago.”

  “I sent along my apologies. I was showering. We had just spent time in the sewers and-”

  “Yes, yes.” He said dismissively. “Your apprentice was most forthcoming with the story of your heroic rescue of school children. I am sure their parents are happy. Now, if you can take a seat, I will get to the point of this investigation.”

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  I sat down at the table, and he went out of his way to take a seat directly across from me. “I am Marshall Delin. I am here to discuss the murder of your former master, Sundance.”

  “Murder?” I said. “I thought he was killed by the undead.”

  “Who told you that?” He asked.

  “Well, nobody. I mean, when we were hurrying to save Wilma, our friend, we came across the shop window broken, and a friend said he was dead. I just assumed with all that had happened that the undead entered and, and-” I could not bring myself to say it.

  “And what friend would this be?” He asked matter-of-factly. But his tone sounded more like he was searching for suspects.

  “Look, I want to know what happened to Sundance,” I said firmly.

  “Care about him, do you?” He asked.

  “Of course I do!”

  “Not enough to stop and see if he was okay or what had happened when you were walking by.”

  “We were in a hurry to save a friend and children from the undead!” I said heatedly, getting more defensive than I probably should have.

  He made a note in his pad. “And you cared so much about your master that after you rescued your friend,” he checked a few pages back in his notes, “Journeyman Wilma of the Illusionist guild,” and then looked back up again at me, “that you rushed right over to the store to check on your old master.”

  He paused for a reply, but seeing none from me, he continued. “But wait, no, you came back here for a leisurely shower first. How very odd.”

  I felt terrible, and he had to have seen the look on my face. He made another note in his book. “I forgot,” I said miserably.

  “You forgot.” He said. “Huh.”

  He scribbled some more in his book.

  The silence was long and very uncomfortable.

  I broke first. “So, how did he die?” I asked.

  “A very sensible question.” He said. “He was apparently robbed and murdered. He was stabbed and burned by some kind of acid.”

  “But why?”

  “You seem to be pulling yourself together much better, journeyman Istari. That is another very sensible question and one I would like to figure out myself. Do you have any theories about why he would be killed in such a way?”

  “No. If he were robbed, you would think they would take the jewelry and run. The city was under attack.”

  “That is exactly what a typical robber would do. But that is not what happened. I wonder why.”

  I looked at him, and he looked at me.

  “I don’t know, either,” I said lamely.

  He scribbled in his book.

  “Well, I’ve taken enough of your time. I may need to stop by to ask you some more questions later. Is that a problem for you?”

  “Well, no. Of course not.”

  “Good, good.” I’ll just see myself out.” He said as he walked to the door. He stopped at the doorway and turned to say, “Just one quick thing. How did you know jewelry was taken?”

  “What?” I asked.

  “How did you know jewelry was taken?” He repeated.

  “I guess I didn’t,” I replied.

  “Ah, but you did. Your exact words to my question about why he should be killed in such a manner were, and I quote,” he read directly from his notes. “If he was robbed, you would think they would take the jewelry and run. The city was under attack.”

  He looked up at me with a confused look on his face. “How would you know that jewelry was stolen?”

  I stared at him angrily. “I don’t know, maybe because it was a jewelry store?”

  “Did your former master have coins on premises?” He asked.

  “Yes, in the cash drawer and in his safe,” I answered.

  “Oh, so you knew about his secret safe, then.” He asked in a surprised tone of voice.

  “Of course I did. I was his apprentice. I lived there most nights.” I responded, trying to keep my temper.

  “I see, I see.” He wrote down more notes in his book.

  “Am I a suspect?” I asked.

  “Well, I’m just trying to ascertain the whereabouts of friends and family at the time of the crime, routine sort of things.”

  “He didn’t have a family,” I said sadly.

  “No. It doesn’t appear that he did. Just you.” He opened the door and stopped just before walking out. “I’ll ask that you refrain from taking any unexpected trips until this gets worked out. I’m sure you understand. Good day, Journeyman Istari, and I am sorry for your loss.”

  And he exited, closing the door behind him.

  I just sat there, emotions running all over the place. Who would kill Sunance? He was a gentle dwarf. And could it have something to do with the commission he was working on, which he would not tell me about?

  What was going on?

  The door opened again, and Master Glimmerblade entered.

  I wiped at my eyes that had started to tear up as I rose to meet him.

  “Sit down, boy, sit down. I am sorry to intrude, but I just heard that Sniffer was here talking to you.”

  I snorted. “Talking at me, more likely. He thinks I killed Sundance.”

  He looked concerned. “Did he say that to you?”

  “Well, no. But his questions. It was clear he thought I did it or was involved.”

  He came over and sat next to me. “The marshall has quite a reputation both for ruffling feathers and for finding criminals.”

  “You called him, Sniffer?” I asked.

  “It was unkind of me, but yes. I have been on the other end of his questions as well. He is called that because he has an uncanny ability to sniff out culprits.”

  “But what about the innocents?” I asked.

  “He is less concerned about them. But you have nothing to worry about. You were with everyone else trying to save the city.”

  “But master,” I said, “he suspects me.”

  “Why?” He asked, and I saw something in his eyes, but I could not tell what it was. “Why would he suspect you? You loved Sundance.”

  “Apparently not enough,” I said and teared up again.

  “Why do you say that?” He asked gently.

  I burst out in tears. “Because I forgot all about him after the sewers and came back here to shower!” I said, and just broke down and sobbed.

  Sundance was like a second father to me. He taught me so much, was kind to me, and we had talked about me becoming a partner with him when my journeyman time was over. We would set up a half jewelry, half enchantment shoppe.

  Master Glimmerblade was not the most affectionate of people, but he just put his arm around me and let me cry it out. He didn’t try to say anything; he was just there.

  When I had settled down, he said, “Go and wash up. We will walk over to the shop together if you like. Sundance has been removed, but there may be some personal things that should be picked up before looters get in there tonight.”

  I grew angry. “No looters will get in there tonight!”

  “Of course not. I was careless with my words. You go clean up, and I will go with you to the store. You can pick a few things up and spend some time with your friends. I think you all had planned dinner tonight, and you said that you were meeting with Alchemist Alexander for a lesson. Just do that, and then we will go from there. One day at a time.”