Missing Pages

Writers: Emma, Vix
Date Posted: 28th October 2008

Characters: Royah, Benaran
Description: Royah and Benaran discover an "irregularity" in one of the Hold's records books.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 12, day 6 of Turn 4

"You wanted to see me?" A head was stuck around the office door. "I'm sure
that was what the message said."

Benaran rolled his eyes and shook his head. "We haven't a single drudge who
can carry a message without making a mess of it." He tapped a stack of hides
on the desk. "I asked if you would send the ledger that contains the eastern
regions' tithes so that I could finish these reports."

"I think Father might have that one still, but I'll check with him. It
could be with the Stewards."

The elder brother sighed. "It's difficult to get my work finished when I
can't even access the documents I need."

"Well the least I can do is chase it up for you since I already got dragged
away from duties. No sense in both of us losing track of things." That was a
rare offer from Royah, and he wondered if his brother would see it that way.

"While you're at it," Benaran continued, shoving another ledger toward him,
"see if you can figure out where the rest of this one disappeared to." He
opened the ledger to a place marked with a scrap of hide. "There are four
pages missing. Everything before and after is there, but not these."

"You're kidding? Who would do that?"

This brought a shake of the older brother's head. "I suppose someone who
didn't want us to have the information on the pages. Either that or someone
who doesn't care about accurate record-keeping."

Royah squinted as he came closer to look at the page. "Is that some writing
on the bit that's left?"

Benaran narrowed his eyes and studied the marks as well. "It seems to be –
and not matching the previous page." He ran his finger over the edge. "Torn
from the book quickly, not cut."

"Who had it last? Before you I mean."

The older man shook his head. "When I found it, it was atop the table just
inside the door of the records room. Whoever had used it hadn't even filed
it in place." He rubbed his finger over the writing on the missing page.
"The pencil used for this was very poor quality." He held up his hand. "See
how it marked my fingers?"

"Hmmm.... I've seen something like that before. Niaroy was scribbling with
one last restday."

"That's it!" Benaran snapped his fingers, making little sound with the dirt
coating the fingertips. "The children – they use this type of pencil for
their lessons."

"And they decided to scribble on a ledger for practise by the look of it."

"And the missing pages were so that they wouldn't be discovered," added the
elder brother.

"I'll check around the children's bedrooms later on. I think someone could
have some explaining to do," said Royah.

"It could as easily have been one of mine," Benaran admitted, "or another of
our nieces or nephews."

"Lets get them together later and see what they have to say."

"Good idea. If no one will confess, perhaps one of the others will tell."

Last updated on the November 1st 2008

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Missing Pages