Jominac, Chapter 1—Theif

Written by Dronin Gammerson

My name is Jominac, battle commander number three senior intelligence officer. Loyal only to the King. The land we know is called Ashnuw and we know little to nothing about any land beyond. Our country is called Draldon, it is a city as well as a country. We live 200 feet under the ground. You might think it is quite dark down there but actually it is nice. We have a roof full of lumistone, a luminescent stone, to keep the city bright. Most of us never actually go above ground. Of course there are traders that leave to sell goods, and people visiting relatives on the surface.
Currently I am in my studies reading over the taxes that came in. This isn't actually my job but I still look them over for any unusual behavior. As senior intelligence commander the more I know the better.
There was a knock on the door “Come in,” I said.
A messenger walked in “Sir the King would like to speak with you.” I looked over my shoulder at him “Ah David thank you I will be right there.”
The boy's face lit up at the mention of his name. It is a useful skill learning someone's name after hearing it only a few times. It makes you a much more popular person to the average guard or messenger in this case.
Gathering up my papers to set aside for another time, I left my room and headed for the palace. Once I got to the gate I said “Jominac Battle commander number three senior intelligence officer.” As is the law when entering the gate.
The guards nodded and opened the gate so I could enter. I went to the King's palace with neither hast nor was I walking slowly.
Once I got to the palace I knocked on the door, a servant opened the door and ushered me in to where the King was.
“You requested my presence my lord?” I said politely.
“Yes, you see Dronin left to the surface to learn more about what is up there.” Dronin is the kingdom's senior surface strategist. “He will be sending us metal messages that I would like you to look through.” “Sure thing” I said.
“Thank you. Also there has been someone breaking in our city in various places and stealing large quantities of money and jewels. Kilimor is already looking into it but I would like for you to see what you can find out.” Kilimor is the kingdom's senior battle commander.
“Yes your majesty” I said already planning on what I was going to do.
I left to Rodrick the junior intelligence officer's house.
“You in there Rodrick?” I asked as I knocked on his door.
I hear footsteps and then, “Yes Jominac.”
“We have work to do,” I said abruptly.
“What kind of work?” Rodrick asked.
“Intelligence work, someone is breaking into our storage's with pinpoint accuracy and then vanishing. We need to find out how they are getting in and how they are getting out.”
“And how are we going to do that?”
“we are going to first search the areas that they have already stolen from and see what we see. Than work from there.”
We trudged off to one of in one direction, stopping to get directions from a soldier where the thieves had struck first. It was a warehouse in the northern side of town next to other warehouses and laboratories. The warehouse had been stripped of it's main product, compressed iron. A highly valuable material made of many iron ingots hammered and compressed into a single ingot. I is a very difficult material to make and worth a lot because of it.
As soon as we walked in I scanned the area looking for clues as to what happened. Immediately I noticed four empty boxes obviously broken open by force. I quickly assessed that they were destroyed by hand-cannons. A quick and silent way to open them up.
One of the guards came up to us, “Sirs,” He curtsied, “The thieves came four nights ago. We do not know when they came exactly just it was between the fifteenth and sixteenth, because that was when the watches changed and we checked the inside. They were silent and no trace of them coming was left except for these four boxes and the iron balls they used to destroy them with.”
“They must have left them for the the compressed iron,” said Rodrick “Thank you soldier you may return to your post,” I said. I would have asked him for his name so that I could memorize it, but my mind was a little preoccupied.
“They must have come from the inside.” I said coming to that conclusion.
“How do you know that?” asked Rodrick.
“Well there are no windows and the roof is unmarked so that leaves two options, the front entrance and the floor,” I said, “There were two guards on the outside alert for anyone and they found nothing. So that leaves the inside.”
“Makes since,” Rodrick said, “So that means there should be loose dirt somewhere here.”
“Exactly,” I said already looking around for it.
After a few minutes of searching I heard an excited exclamation from the other side of the warehouse, abandoning my search I raced over to find Rodrick staring at the ground that had obviously been moved.