Millennial Mage novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: The King's Inspector

Vesk did not dismount in the mud.

He sat on the white horse in front of the Marshal's hall with a cold smile.

His guards fanned out until they had the whole yard.

Beside him rode a thin man in blue velvet with a gold seal on his chest.

"Marshal Corr," said Vesk, pleasantly.

"May I present the King's inspector, here to audit your stores.

I find you have already begun without us."

"Examiner," said Corr, from her cane. "You are four days early."

"I was told my Hall's quartermaster-general had been arrested on the word of a Dust-rank outsider. I came at once."

"Your cousin sold my army's food."

"My cousin is an old man with a poor memory.

The Hall's books will show the truth, as they always do.

Where are they?"

I was standing on the wagon with the Sallow Ford ledger in my arms.

Vesk's gaze moved to me, slowly.

"And there is the thief," he said. "Who walked out of my cell, with the help of a deserter."

A murmur ran through the camp.

"Inspector," Vesk said, "I have a warrant under the King's seal for this woman and for a man named Teo Kell.

Theft of a Hall crystal.

Desertion in the face of an enemy.

Slander of an officer of the realm."

"Slander is not slander if it is true," I said.

"Read it, then."

I opened my mouth, and understood the trap a second too late.

"Every one of those lines is in my hand," Vesk said, softly.

"And the Hall's records belong to the Hall.

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