Chapter 8

"So", said Argath. "You know."

"I do", said Jeraddin.

The General and the Princess stared at one another from opposite side of the desk that dominated the late King Sharan's study. They were like a pair of poker players trying to see what cards the opponent had by studying their facial expressions.
Argath was leaning forward, her scaly fingertips forming a roof. As for Jeraddin, he merely sat upright in his chair, arms crossed. Seated next to him was Risha, whose eyes were focused downwards, on the rich pattern of the carpet that covered the floor. The final person in the room was Lorenzo, who was standing behind his mistress.

"There is one thing I do not understand", Argath said, after a brief moment of silence. "Why stay here? Why didn't you and your family immediately sneak out the palace and escape the country?"

"If I did", Jeraddin said, "I knew that I would have to spend the rest of my life sleeping with one eye open. Not out of fear of my own life, but that of my wive's and children. That's why I'm in this room, Your Highness, to offer you a deal."

"And why should the Princess make a deal with you?" Lorenzo asked, a contemptuous snort coming from his nose. "We could easily take care of you and your family and lay the blame on the doorstep of the kingdom's enemies."

"I'll pluck out your remaining eye first, mongrel", Jeraddin growled menacingly.

"Lorenzo, hold your tongue", Argath said, admonishing the fox in a sharp tone. "Still", she mused, "he makes a good point. What will I gain from allowing all of you to live?"

Jeraddin swallowed, time to put the cards on the table.

"You will gain my unquestioned loyalty. I shall serve you just as diligently as I served your father. That is what I offer you."

Argath rubbed her chin with one hand, while the fingers on its twin tap-danced on the surface of the desk. Finally, after what seemed to both Jeraddin and Risha as an eternity, she spoke:

"Your offer is not without interest and I would be willing to accept it. However, there's one thing that has me concerned."

"What is that, Your Highness?" Jeraddin asked.

"Let us say that I allowed your family to leave the country and live out their days in peace, provided that they never again set foot on Vinolian soil; what guarantee do I have that you would still keep to your end of the bargain?"

"My word of honor, your highness", Jeraddin said stiffly. Though I doubt such a thing means much to you, he thought.

"How chivalrous", Argath said dryly. "Normally, I'd almost be inclined to accept such an explanation. Unfortunately, there's too much at stake here. I'm going to need something else to guarantee your fealty."

"I believe I can guess: You want a hostage, don't you?"

Argath nodded thoughtfully.

"Well, yes, that would be one option. There is another one, though."

Jeraddin's ears perked up.

"What is that?" He asked, leaning forward eagerly.

Argath smiled, showing of a set of gleaming white fangs.

"Why, killing another member of the royal family, of course", she said.

Jeraddin couldn't think of anything to say, he merely stared at the Princess in stunned silence.

"Such a deed would bind you to us", she continued. "Of course, it would have to be carried out in the presence of a reliable witness and involve a written confession. Anyway, whichever of my half-siblings you choose, neither should pose much of a challenge to a seasoned warrior like yourself, even if they're dragons. We're talking about an untrained youth  and a cripple, after all..."

"No!"

Risha had been quiet during the entire conversation between Argath and her father, but now, that one word, escaped her lips and it seemed to envelop the whole room in it.

"Dad, don't do this", she pleaded, touching Jeraddin's arm. "I don't want you to kill anyone!"

"My, what a naive girl", Argath said mockingly. "Do you really think that your father became the war-hero he is today without shedding some blood?"

"T-that was different", the lynx girl protested. "My father would never kill someone that couldn't defend themselves."

As she said those words, she looked pleadingly at Jeraddin, hoping that he would say something that would confirm her opinion, but he did not. Instead, when he spoke, it was to ask Argath a question:

"May I have some time to think about it?"

The Princess nodded assent.

"You may." 

She picked up a silver-bell which sat on the desk and rang it. Immediately, the doors opened and a servant entered.

"Escort the General and his daughter to their room", Argath commanded. "We shall continue this conversation in a bit."

Once they were alone, Argath turned to Lorenzo.

"There are guards posted in the garden, right?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Have a few posted below the General's window, as a precaution."

"It will be done. Princess, may I ask a question?"

"What is it?"
"Why allow the General and his family to live? Surely, we could have found a way to get rid of them without casting suspicions on to us?"

Argath did not answer immediately. Instead, she walked up to the large map of the world, which covered one of the walls. She stood there, her head tilted sideways, as if she was studying some great painting. Eventually, she motioned for Lorenzo to come closer.

"What do you see?" She asked.
"I don't understand, Your Highness" the fox said, puzzled. "Its a map of the world. What about it?"
"Its the reason why I prefer Jeraddin alive and serving me, rather than dead and buried. You see, though he does not know it, he will help me accomplish the second part of my revenge against my father."

"I don't understand; the King is dead, what else is there to do?"

Argath let out a soft chuckle.

"Taking my father's life was only the beginning. Its not only his death that I hungered for for so long, but to surpass him completely."

She  reached out and touched the surface of the map, allowing her fingers to glide over sea and land.

"I shall expand Vinoli's borders, making it a greater nation than it has ever been. When future historians mention the reign of King Sharan, it will be only as a footnote, to that of mine."

*****

As they followed the servant back to their temporary quarters, Risha found that her mind was overflowing with questions. Among other things, she wondered about Argath's remark earlier. Had her father actually killed someone in cold blood before? No, she couldn't imagine him being capable of something like that.

The Princess is just trying to get under my skin, that's all, she thought to herself. It was a comforting thought and she grabbed onto it like a drowning man would a lifeline. She also wondered what had become of Merees; she hadn't seen the younger Princess since that terrible scene in the dining hall. Was she still somewhere in the palace or had she left? Probably the latter, since every second she remained in this place meant that her life was at risk. Still, I would have liked to have seen her one more time, if only to say goodbye.

At last, they reached their destination. The servant excused himself and headed back. As soon as they stepped over the threshold, Risha and Jeraddin noticed that there was something different about the room from when they had left it. Or rather, the room itself was the same as before, but now, in addition to Nasari and Leorin, there was a third person there. Said person was wearing cape with a hood, which obscured their features.

"Who are you?" Jeraddin asked, positioning himself in front of his daughter. Neither Nasari nor Leorin seemed hurt in any way, so the newcomer was most likely not dangerous. Still, he was not about to take any unnecessary risks.
With a quick gesture, the stranger lowered their hood.

"Princess Merees!" Risha exclaimed joyfully.
While the two friends embraced each other, Nasari turned to her husband.

"The princess appeared just after you two had left", she explained.

"I'm sorry I didn't come before", Merees said, "but it took me a little while to find the room you were in. However, when I arrived, you two were gone. I heard from Nasari that you had left with my sister's henchfox." She turned to Jeraddin. "General, please tell me that you didn't make some sort of deal with her?"

"I did, I thought it was the only way to guarantee the safety of my children."

"So, what deal did you make?" His wife asked.

Jeraddin slumped his shoulders and let out a heavy sigh.

"She has agreed not to harm any of you, provided that one of you either stays a hostage...or, I kill one of the two remaining members of the royal family."

Upon hearing these words, Merees instinctively took a few steps back.

"General", she said. "Your children saved my life; without them, I would have joined my father and half-brother. I owe them a debt that I intend to repay, but I have no intention of giving up my life: I mean to live on so that I can one day take down Argath and make her pay for all that she has done. Do you really intend to take my life? Very well, but it will come at a cost."

Having said that she assumed a stance and began circling around the room, wisps of smoke coming out of her nostrils.

"Believe me, Princesss", Jeraddin said. "This is not something I wish to do."

Risha had positioned herself between the two and now she looked at Jeraddin beseechingly.

"Father, you don't have to do this", she pleaded. "I don't want you to kill anyone! If Argath wants a hostage, then she...." An audible gulp escaped Risha's throat. "....She can have me", she finished.

"No, she can't!"

Nasari, who previously had been sitting on the bed, now stood up in her full height, her eyes blazing with determination.

"I'm not leaving any of my children in the hands of...of her", she said, anger making her incapable of even speaking Argath's name. "That's why I will be the hostage she desires."

Upon announcing this, Nasari looked at Merees.

"Your Highness", she said. "You said you owed my children a debt, may I entrust you with their protection?"

"Absolutely" Merees said, solemnly. "You can count on me."

Jeraddin relaxed visibly and gave his wife a look of sincere gratitude. He felt an immense relief that he wouldn't have to take somebody's life, especially that of a person whom his daughter was obviously very fond of. Than, a thought struck him:

"How are you planning on leaving the palace?" He asked. "Our children should be able to leave through the gates once we've wrapped things up with Argath, but what about you, Princess? I doubt your sister is going to let you out of her sight."

"There's a tunnel which leads out past the palace-grounds", Merees explained. "It was made in order to allow any old people, women and children among the courtiers and staff to escape, in case it looked like the palace would fall to an invasion. As far as I know, its never been used, but I used to play in it when I was little."

"Or, we could sneak out through the garden", Leorin suggested, those being the first words he had spoken in a while.

He walked over to the window and peered down into the garden. When he turned back to the others, it was with a crestfallen look on his face.

"Never mind, there are two guards standing right below the window."

"They weren't there before", Jeraddin said. "Argath must have placed them there. I must hand it to her; she seems to think of everything."


"Let us hope she's overlooked the tunnel", Merees said and turned to Risha and Leorin. "I apologize if I sound callous, but I would prefer not to remain here much longer. Why don't you say good-bye and then we'll go."

"We already said good-bye.", Risha said, while glancing at the ring her father had given her.

Leorin nodded, trying his best to seem mature. Then, his true feelings took over and he rushed to his mother, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Good-bye, mom. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie", Nasari replied as she gently touched the tip of her son's ears. "You and your sister will always be my treasures."

Jeraddin nodded in agreement.

"And mine", he said.

"You won't be separated forever", said Merees. "That's another thing I promise you."

"Wait! Risha asked, looking at her mother. "If we return here and Argath finds out, won't that mean she'll..." She left the final words of the sentence hanging in the air, unable to pronounce them.

"Well", Nasari said with a wry smile on her face. "You'll just have to be careful and make sure she does not find out. Don't worry about me, children, your mother can take care of herself if it comes to that. Believe me, I'm tougher than I look."

"I can testify to that fact", said Jeraddin and planted a quick kiss on his wife's cheek, her whiskers tickling his nose, causing him to sneeze.

Having said farewell for the second time, Risha and Leorin took one last look at their parents and their old life, before following Merees out the door. Now, all they had to do was reach that tunnel and hope that luck was on their side.

Better Call Saul

Breaking Bad is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest TV-shows ever made and with good reason. Debuting in 2008, the show told the story about Walter White, a man who learns that he suffers from terminal cancer and so, begins to use his skills as a chemistry-teacher, to cook meth, in order to make sure his family wouldn't lack for anything when he was gone. During the course of the show's run, we followed Walter as he transformed from a loving husband and father, to a ruthless criminal mastermind, motivated primarily by ambition and pride. Bryan Cranston, who prior to Breaking Bad had been mostly known for his role as Hal, the bumbling father in Malcolm In the Middle, knocked it out the park as Walter, delivering one of the finest lead performances seen in a TV-series.
Breaking Bad wasn't just the story about Walter White's gradual descent into villainy though; like most worthwile works of fiction, it featured a terrific supporting cast as well. Among the most memorable supporting characters of the show was Saul Goodman, the criminal lawyer (as in, he's a lawyer who's also a criminal), whom Walt and his partner-in-crime, Jesse Pinkman, enlisted as their legal adviser. Despite being an unapologetic crook, Saul revealed himself as one of Breaking Bad's few genuinely likable characters and so, its small wonder that in 2015, the show's creator Vince Gilligan, released a spin-off centered around him: Better Call Saul.

Better Call Saul mostly takes place before the events of Breaking Bad (I say mostly, because we also get a few scenes showing us what happened to the protagonist after the end of that show) and focuses on Saul back when he was still Jimmy McGill, a struggling attorney operating out of the back of a nail-saloon, while also looking after his older brother, Chuck. Chuck is a partner in the respected law-firm Hamlin, Hamlin & McGill, but at the start of the show, has been confined to his house for a year, due to developing a case of (self-diagnoses) electromagnetic hypersensitivity.
Aside from Jimmy's quest to advance his law-career, the show also chronicles the rise of another character from Breaking Bad; Mike Ehrmantraut. A retired cop with a past he'd rather keep buried, Mike's skills soon makes him a person of interest to some of Albuquerque's less upstanding citizens.
Other important characters include Howard Hamlin, Chuck's partner, whom initially serves as Jimmy's nemesis during the first season. Kim Wexler, a lawyer employed at H.H.M. and Jimmy's possible love-interest. Hector Salamanca and his nephew Tuco, high-ranking members of a drug cartel and Nacho, Tuco's ambitious and cunning right-hand man.

These characters are all extremely well-portrayed by their actors and are, for the most part complex, with new layers to their personalities being revealed during the course of the series. Bob Odenkirk in particular shines as Jimmy, portraying the future Saul Goodman as a lovable huckster; a guy who genuinely loves his friends and family and, for the most part, means well, but who can't seem to help himself from taking the easy way out and who tends to be blind to the consequences of his actions.

One aspect of the show I find particularly well-made is the relationship between Jimmy and Chuck. I won't go into any details, so as not to spoil things for those of my readers who have not yet watched it, but suffice to say that it's one of the most interesting sibling relationships I've seen in any form of media.

Another thing I like about Better Call Saul is how accessible it is to new viewers, viewers who go into it without any previous knowledge of its predecessor. True, already being a fan of Breaking Bad was certainly the big reason for why I decided to watch BCS, but its not a necessity for enjoying the show.

In conclusion: Better Call Saul is an excellent series, more than worthy of the show it spun off from. I, for one, am eagerly looking forward to the third season.

Chapter 7

Six eyes watched Jeraddin as he paced around in a circle, arms on his back. Eventually, he stopped and spoke:

"Who else knows about this?" He asked, the question being directed to his first-born.

"I told Princess Merees", Risha replied. "I thought that maybe she'd be able to prevent the murder from happening. I think she was supposed to tell her brother, as well. The one in the wheelchair, not the one who was killed."

"Why didn't you tell your father or me about this?" Nasari asked.

"I tried to do that", Leorin protested in a frustrated tone, "but neither of you would listen."

Having said that, the small cat crossed his arms and turned his head side-ways, in a huff.

Nasari went over to her son, she sat down next to him and gently touched his shoulder. Then, she turned to her husband.

"What do you think is going to happen now?" She asked.

Jeraddin let out a sigh.

"Argath is going to find out who warned her sister sooner or later. Perhaps, she already has. She can't risk letting the truth come out, so whoever knows it will be in great danger."

At this, Nasari jumped up from the bed, she had been seated on, her tail swishing back and forth.

"If she touches a hair on my children's head", she said heatedly. "I will kill her, I swear it."

"Don't be rash", Jeraddin said. "The chances of you, or any of us, killing a dragon directly are highly unlikely. Besides, even if you were to succeed you'd end up being arrested and executed."

"I don't care", Nasari snapped, stretching herself up to her full height. "I would lay down my life for our children. Wouldn't you?"

"Of course I would", Jeraddin snapped back, he had not appreciated the somewhat accusatory tone in his wife's voice. He took a deep breath in order to calm himself. After all, there was no reason to be upset and besides, it wasn't as if he couldn't understand how Nasari felt.

"It won't come to that though", he continued. "I have another idea."

"What is that?" His wife asked.

"Simple, do you still have contact with those relatives of yours that emigrated to Leporia?"

"I haven't heard from them in awhile, why? You don't mean...." Nasari stopped, leaving the question hanging in the air.

Jeraddin nodded.

"Yes, my dear" he said. "I'm afraid that you and the children will have to leave Vinoli and not come back."

The tone of Jeraddin's voice as he uttered these words betrayed no emotions, but his ears lied flat on his head and there was a profound sadness lurking in his eyes.

Risha had listened to what her father had said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. Was she really being forced to abandon her old life and everything that she knew? It was so terribly unfair that she could scream, but she didn't, realizing that it wouldn't do any good. Instead, she just stared down at the floor and for a brief moment she wished that she and Leorin had remained ignorant about Argath's plan. Then, she realized that if they had, Merees wouldn't have been alive today and immediately regretted it.


"What about you, dad?" She asked. "Aren't you coming with us."

Jeraddin shook his head.

"I'm afraid not", he said. "I shall speak to the Princess and in exchange of my continued services and silence, I hope to persuade her to leave you in peace. However, in case that fails, I need you to be far away from here."

As he looked at his children, Jeraddin suddenly felt himself overcome with emotion. He crouched down and motioned for them to come closer. That was all the invitation Risha and Leorin needed and they both rushed into their fathers arms, where they were soon joined by their mother. For what felt like an eternity, the whole family remained pressed together, eyes shut. Then, with a deep sigh, Jeraddin let go, stood up and looked at his children.

"Children", he began and his voice was thick with emotion. "Whatever happens in the future, know that your father will always love you and that I know you will make me proud."

Having said that, Jeraddin removed the ring from his finger.

"Risha, this ring was given to me by my father. You are my first-born, so its only right that you should have it, as an heirloom."

With those words, Jeraddin gently grabbed his daughter's hand and put the ring on her finger.

"Remember to mind your mother and protect your brother when he needs it."

"I will father", Risha replied, wiping away a tear that glistened in the corner of her eye.

"Its time for you to go now", Jeraddin said.

He went over to the window, opened it and looked out.

"Its not a very high drop. You should be able to make it: Go to our house, take the money in the safe and charter a ship..."

"Wait!" Nasari interrupted.

Jeraddin turned and looked at his wife, her face was a canvas upon which conflicting emotions had been painted.

"What is it, my dear?" He asked, concernedly.

Before answering, Nasari grabbed her husband's collar and looked up at him.

"You've always asked me my opinion in all matters regarding the family", she said in a low voice.

"However, this time you didn't. What if I wish to stay by your side? Did you think of that?"

"You're right", Jeraddin acquiesced "I should have asked your opinion. I merely assumed that you wanted to go with our children, that is all."

Nasari turned and looked at her son and daughter with a tormented look on her face.

"Of course, I do, but I want to stay with you just as much. Oh, if only there was some sort of magic that could make me be in two places at once."

With those words, she buried her face in her husband's chest and sobbed quietly.

Risha and Leorin had looked on this scene with a feeling of unease. Their mother had always been such a calm, comforting presence in their lives and seeing her this distraught, caused their hearts to ache and they wished that they could do something for her. The empathy soon became too much for Leorin to handle and he began to cry his eyes out. Upon hearing this pitiful sound, Nasari's maternal instincts kicked in and she embraced her youngest child, stroking his head and whispering comforting words  to him in a gentle voice. While her brother was being comforted, Risha had been looking at the ring, which she now wore on her finger. As she gazed at it, she knew what she had to do.

"You don't have to come with us, mom", she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking.

"What are you saying, sweetie?" Nasari asked, looking at her daughter with saucer-wide eyes.

"I'm almost an adult. I can look after Leorin until we get to our relatives. So, if you want to stay with dad, that's not a problem."

"Oh, Risha..." Nasari began, looking at her daughter with both pride and remorse.

She didn't have time to say anything else, because at that moment, the doors flew open and Lorenzo stepped inside.

The fox's good eye scanned the room, before resting on the family, then he spoke:

"Excuse me for the disturbance, General" he said, greeting Jeraddin with an insincere tone in his voice.  "However, I'm afraid that Princess Argath wishes to have a word with  to your daughter. It has come to Her Highness's attention, that she may have valid information about our beloved King's murder."

She's only asking for Risha? Jeraddin thought. In order words, she's not aware that Leorin knows as well.

"I understand", Jeraddin replied out-loud.. "We'll be right with you."

"Um...the Princess merely requested for the girl to be present", Lorenzo said, somewhat taken aback.

"Too bad, I have things that I need to discuss with the Princess and believe me, its in her best interest that she listens to what I have to say."

Lorenzo glared at Jeraddin, his eye narrowing to a slit. Then, he shrugged.

"Very well", he said. "Shall we go? All three of us?"

"Its going to be alright", Jeraddin said reassuringly to his wife, before kissing her on the cheek. Then, he, Risha and Lorenzo walked out the door, leaving Nasari and Leorin alone in the room. Alone with their worries.

The Demon

Harry White, the protagonist of The Demon, is a man who seems to have everything going for him; he's a loving husband, father and son. He's a trusted employee and he's about to be promoted up another step on the corporate-ladder. Yes, Harry is sure leading a blessed life, at least on the surface. You see, the truth of the matter is that Harry White isn't feeling very good, emotionally and mentally. In the past, his solution to dealing with these feelings was simple: Find a married woman and have sex with her, the danger of being caught by her husband being part of the thrill. However, ever since he got married himself, Harry had decided that he was done with that sort of thing. Unfortunately, the little voice in the back of his head soon becomes impossible to ignore and Harry finds himself reverting back to his old habits, but what happens when mere adultery is not enough to keep Harry's inner demon in check...?

Hubert Selby Jr. was an American author most famous for his debut novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn. The Demon was his third novel and the first one of his that I've read. It took me a few pages before my brain had adjusted itself to Selby's writing style (he replaces apostrophes with the / when he doesn't and never uses quotation marks. Although to be fair, he's not the first author I've read who does away with the latter, Cormac McCarthy is another). Once I'd gotten used to Selby's quirks, though, I found The Demon hard to put down.

One thing that The Demon particularly excels at lies in its portrayal of its main character; Selby has a real knack for getting under the skin and into the mind of his protagonist, allowing the reader to understand and even empathize with Harry, even if they do not approve of his actions. Selby actually reminds me a bit of Dostoevsky in that regard.

The Demon is a compelling, harrowing look into a man's gradual fall into deeper and deeper depravity and the toll it takes on both himself and his loved ones. Its a great read, one that stayed with me long after I finished it and that I will surely re-visit in the future. I will also be sure to check out the rest of Selby's work in the future. If all his books are of similar quality, than he's an author worth getting further acquainted with.

Chapter 6

The chamber currently occupied by Jeraddin and his family was of the type usually reserved for guests whose stay at the palace was not intended to drag out. It was a medium-sized room, primarily dominated by a comfortable-looking bed. Aside from the bed, the room's furniture consisted of a small desk, upon which a few papers, a quill and a bottle of ink stood, a chair and a fireplace, currently unlit. A heavy silence filled the family's temporary quarters and had done so since they first stepped foot inside it. Nasari was the first one to speak up:

"What do you think will happen now, dear?" She asked her husband.

Jeraddin was leaning against the fireplace with his arms crossed. At the sound of his wife's voice, he turned his head in her direction.

"Honestly, I don't know", he said. "The Crown Princess seem to have things under control though."

"Yes, she did take charge of the situation quite quickly, didn't she?"

"Does that bother you, Nasari?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe a little. She didn't exactly come across as a grieving daughter, that's all."

"When you are in a position of leadership, whether you got there on your own, or inherited it, there are often times when you have to bury your own feelings and focus solely on the here and now. Our late king understood that and apparently, so does the princess."

Nasari was not entirely convinced by her life-mate's argument on Argath's behalf, but felt that it would be pointless to continue the discussion, at least at this point. Instead, she turned her attention towards her children, who were both seated on the bed.

"You two have been awfully quiet since even before all this happened", she said with a look of concern on her face. "You do know that if something troubles you you can always took to me or your father about it."

Risha nodded, she was just about to tell her parents the reason for their silence, when her brother piped up:

"We know who did it", Leorin blurted out, unable to contain himself any longer.

At once, both Nasari's and Jeraddin's eyes were focused on their youngest child. Then, Jeraddin looked at his daughter.

"Risha, is this true?" He asked.

"Yes, father."

Without answering, Jeraddin went over to the door. He was just about to open it when Nasari asked him where he was going.

"I'm going to request an audience with the Princess, of course" he answered, with the look of a man who felt that he was stating the obvious. "I'll tell her that my children know the identity of the person who killed her father and brother."

"Don't!" Risha and Leorin cried out in unison.

The two siblings jumped off the bed and rushed to the door, positioning themselves in front of their father.

"What's the matter with you?" Jeraddin asked, baffled and a bit annoyed by this behavior. "Why don't you want me to speak with the..."

He paused as realization dawned on him. The next word to come out of Jeraddin's mouth was a curse-word, which earned him a reproachful look from his better half, as she quickly covered her son's ears.

*****

Princess Argath sat behind the desk in the large, oval-shaped room which her late father had used as his office. Her claws drummed rhythmically on the polished surface of the desk, while frustration was written across her features.

One question repeated itself inside Argath's head: How? How had Keron and Merees manage to escape her trap? Could someone have warned them? Excluding herself, only two more people knew about the plot. One of them was Lorenzo and the Princess immediately erased his name from the list of suspects. The fox had proven himself many times in her service, his loyalty was beyond any doubt. Her second associate on the other hand...

Argath thought back, she remembered how she had given Lorenzo the task to stake out the kitchen in order to find a dissenter among the staff and Lorenzo had found the perfect choice; a person that was both ambitious and resentful towards Bureno. Recruiting this individual to her cause had been all too easy. Or had it? The princess could not help but wonder if she had been too candid with her other associate? Could it be that in the struggle between his greed and his conscience, the latter had prevailed?

Argath's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" She called out.

"Its me, Your Highness", a voice replied from the other side.

"Come in."

The door opened and the Captain of the guard entered. He did not come empty-handed, tucked underneath his left arm was a strongbox.

"My men found this hidden away in Bureno's room", he said, putting the strongbox on the desk. Argath stood up and looked at it, she already knew what it contained.

"Have you opened it?" She asked.

"Yes, your highness. We found a key hidden in a jar, it fit perfectly."

"Let me have a look at the contents."

The Captain opened the box, inside was a leather pouch and a letter. Argath picked up the pouch and weighed it in one hand, it was quite heavy. She undid the string on the pouch and turned it upside down, a cascade of gold coins rained down on the desk.

"Now for the letter", she said.

The letter read as follows:

My friend

I knew that despite our so-called king naming you head of his kitchens, your loyalty would always  remain with me. Please, accept this small sum as a token of my gratitude. 

Signed: Count Veracci

"Veracci", the Captain  said, "that name reminds me of something."

"It should, Count Veracci was a nobleman who secretly moonlighted as the leader of the gang of brigands that terrorized the countryside, robbing travelers and holding them for ransom, that sort of thing. Anyway, he was eventually exposed but being a shrewd fellow, he escaped abroad, before he could be arrested and brought to justice."

"So, was Bureno part of this gang?"

"No, he was simply Veracci's cook. At one point, the count invited the royal family to a dinner at his manor and I remembered that my late father was full of praise for Bureno's cooking, that's why, as soon as Veracci had disappeared, he snatched the, at the time, young chef up and appointed him head of the palace kitchen."

"Forgive me for being so candid, your Highness, but I must say that his majesty's generosity was misplaced."

"Well, you knew my father, he always wanted to see the best in everyone. By the way, where's Bureno now?"

"We dragged him off to the dungeon, kicking and screaming and there he'll remain until the trial. Though it shouldn't take long, not with such crucial evidence against him."

The truth of the matter was that Count Veracci had passed away and that the letter he had written to Bureno was a forgery. News of the Count's death had been on its way to Vinoli, but the carrier-pigeon in charge of delivering the message had never reached its destination and Argath had ensured that there would be no inquiry as to his whereabouts.

For a moment, Argath felt a slight twinge of remorse. After all, Bureno was neither a target for her vengeance, nor was he threat to her claim to the throne. Should I have involved him in my plans? She wondered. No, she decided, swatting this thought away as if it had been the mental equivalent to a pesky fly. Bureno was always grateful to my father and would surely have revealed everything to him. He had to be the scapegoat, its as simple as that.

"Thank you, Captain" she said out-loud. "That will be all."

Having dismissed the Captain, Argath turned her focus to a few documents lying in front of her. However, a slight clearing of a throat caused her to look up again, only to notice that the captain was still present.

"Yes?" She asked, a twinge of annoyance in her tone.

"Forgive me, Your Highness", the Captain apologized. "However, there's something I need to get off my chest."

"Very well, proceed."

"I'd like to tender my resignation, Your Highness. That is all."

"What for?"

"I've failed in my duties, Your Highness", the Captain said stiffly, his voice filled with self-reproach..
"Princess Merees warned me that there would be an attempt on the King's life. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to prevent it."

Upon hearing her sister's name, Argath felt her heart skip a beat.

"Did my sister tell you anything else?" She asked, taking care to have her voice remain as neutral as possible.

The Captain thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Not that I can recall, Your Highness. I'm sorry that I couldn't be of anymore help."

"I see....Thank you, captain."

"About my resignation, Your Highness?"

"I assure you Captain, no-one is blaming you for what happened."

"I blame myself, Your highness. I'm sorry, but my mind is made up."

Argath stifled a sigh. She really didn't feel like dealing with this at the moment.

"Very well, if you've made up your mind, I guess there's nothing I can say to persuade you. Do you have a replacement in mind?"

"I do."

"Good. I'd like to meet with this person when things have settled down. In the meantime, remain on your post and don't tell anyone about your resignation."

The Captain clicked his heels together and saluted smartly, before leaving the room.

As soon as the Captain was gone, Argath turned to Lorenzo who had been standing in one of the corners of the room, silently watching everything which had transpired.

"Bring our droopy-eyed friend here", she commanded. "I wish him to clarify a few things."

"Oh, that won't be necessary", the fox said.

"What do you mean? He must have told Merees, who else could it be?"

A sly grin appeared on Lorenzo's face.

"Well, when I was in the dining hall, I noticed that your sister left the room along with general Jeraddin's daughter. I didn't pay much attention to it at the time, but now that I think about it, its quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"Well well", Argath said. "Bring the young lady here, Lorenzo. I think she and I should have a little chat."

The Princess leaned back in the chair, with her hands behind her back. In her eyes, two flames danced ominously.

  

Comics That Should Be Translated: Le Cri du Peuple

Been awhile since I did one of these, hasn't it?
Hello and welcome to a new installment of Comics That Should Be Translated; a recurring topic on this blog in which I write about a comic that I feel deserves to be available to an English-speaking audience. Today's comic is Le Cri du Peuple (The People's Cry), by Jacques Tardi, based on the novel by Jean Vautrin. Tardi and Vautrin are both friends and the two have collaborated closely on this adaptation. As was the case with Ibicus, I am not familiar with the original novel, but if Vautrin's enthusiastic foreword is any indication, the comic is to be regarded as the more or less, definitive version of this story.

Le Cri du Peuple was originally published in French between 2001 and 2004. Recently, a translation was available over here in Sweden thanks to Placebo Press, who published the first two parts in one volume, with the conclusion to be released in the fall. Its this edition that I've read.

Le Cri du Peuple takes place in 1871, during the few tumultuous months in which the people of Paris, tired of the social injustices of the day and led by a small group of young anarchists and socialists, managed to seize power and drive the French government into a temporary exile. Using these bloody events a a backdrop, Vautrin adds the mystery surrounding the identity of a young woman whose corpse was found in the river Seine, holding a glass-eye, as well as the story of two men whose pasts are about to catch up with them. One of these men is Tarpagnan, a former officer in the French army, who has switched over to the people's side. Tarpagnan is head-over-heels in love with the beautiful Gabriela Pucci, who is also the unhappy mistress of a local gangster. The other man is the mysterious Horace Grondin, a police-spy, who is obsessed with tracking down Tarpagnan, since he believes that the latter was behind the murder of his beloved step-daughter many years earlier. A crime which Grondin himself was punished for, by being sent to the penal colony of Devil's Island.

Jean Vautrin has written a highly engaging drama, which reminded me in more ways than one of the sort of tales spun by 19th century authors like Hugo and Dickens. Real events, such as the toppling of the statue of Napoleon I and historical figures, like the journalist Jules Vallés, mix and mingle with fictional characters, from all parts of society. Overall, the cast is very good, containing many colorful and memorable characters, with the ruthless and obsessed Grondin being a particular favorite.
There were times when I found the dialogue to be a bit stiff, not sure if that's the fault of the Swedish translation or not. That's a minor nitpick though.

Tardi, of course, is one of the greatest living comic creators and his art here is of the high standard that one has come to expect from him over the years. After finishing the book, I found myself returning to particular panels, so that I could admire them further.

All in all, Le Cri du Peuple is a splendid read and I'm looking forward to get my hands to the conclusion. Hopefully, the second half will be as good as the first.

Beauty by Hubert and Kerascoët

I was introduced to the work of French illustrator Kerascoët (actually a pseudonym for married couple, Marie Pommepuy and Sébastien Cosset) via the comic Beautiful Darkness, written by Fabien Vehlmann. Beautiful Darkness was a comic that more than lived up to its title; a fairy-tale whose dark contents were depicted in lovely watercolors. Beauty, written by Hubert is very much in the same vein, although the greater length (three volumes in the original French, collected into a single one for the English edition) allows for considerably more room for fleshing out the cast of characters, as well as even more death and depravity.

Beauty is not the first title Kerascoët and Hubert have collaborated on. Previously, they created Miss Don't Touch Me, a comic which I've yet to read, but have heard nothing but good things about.

Beauty focuses on Coddie, a young girl whose life changes forever when she accidentally releases a fairy from a spell. Having previously been regarded as something of a pariah in her village, due to being unattractive and smelling of fish, she's now perceived as enchantingly beautiful, with every man in the village falling for her. Unfortunately, the men's lusts and the jealousy of the women, forces Coddie to flee the village. She's rescued by the local lord and becomes his mistress. For awhile, everything seems fine, but Coddie soon finds herself dissatisfied with her new lot in life and, influenced by the fairy Mab, begins to about an even brighter future. Meanwhile, the king's sister Claudine is worried about the influence her brother's new wife has on him and on the Kingdom. Having learned of Coddie's beauty, she sets a plan in motion to make her the new queen...

With Beauty, Hubert has crafted a very engaging saga, populated by a cast of memorable characters; from the brutish Northern king, to the cunning Claudine and others, they all manage to engage and propel the story forward. In the beginning of this post, I mentioned that the characters of Beauty are more fleshed out than those in Beautiful Darkness and this is true. While there are a few characters that remain the same true out, others grow and develop as the story progresses. Being the protagonist, Coddie is unsurprisingly, the one that gets the most character development and not all of that is of the positive kind. While initially presented as a sympathetic character due to her being ostracized, later events reveal more of Coddie's flaws, which may lessen the reader's sympathy for her somewhat, but serves to make her a more well-rounded character.
All the events of the story, good and bad, are lovingly depicted by Keracoët's highly appealing artwork.

One thing I found a bit odd is the fact that Coddie's beauty only seem to affect men. I'm guessing that there are no lesbians or bisexual women to be found in Beauty's world? There is a minor male character that turns out to be gay though.
Still, that's a minor quibble and doesn't really change the quality of this comic. If you're not familiar with either Hubert or Kerascoët, than Beauty is an excellent introduction.