Inside Job
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: AL, Avery
Date Posted: 8th January 2009
Characters: Corran, Zathris
Description: Corran talks to Zathris about another theft and his concern that it might be an inside job.
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 1, day 6 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentioned: Cyrek, Benaroy, Kelton, (indirectly) Benaroy's sons
Corran knocked on the door of the Assistant Steward's office. As he waited, he bounced up and down on the balls of his feet in irritation. There was something _wrong_ here, and it made him angry.
"Come in!" Zathris' voice carried easily through the doorway. When the guard entered, Zathris looked up from where he worked at the desk, pen pausing mid sentence. "Ah, hello Corran. What can I do for you?"
Corran entered and automatically snapped to rest. "I'm afraid I have some bad news." he said with a dour expression.
The admission made Zathris sit straight and he put his pen back into the inkwell. Great, more bad news to bring to Lord Benaroy. "Go on."
"There's been another theft. But this one is curious- it was in one of the storerooms accessible from the outside, rather than an outlying building such as a stable."
Zathris' frown deepened. "When did it occur? Have you narrowed that down?"
"Last night. And sir...it was on the shift of the same man who was on shift at the stables a few months ago."
His next question would have been who was on shift, but Corran had answered the question before Zathris' could ask. "I see. I can't say that gives me confidence in his honesty. Has he been questioned?"
"No." Corran said. "In fact, I argued against his being put on any night shift unpartnered."
"I shall report this to the Steward - I'm assuming you've talkd to the Captain?" Zathris wondered if it was the guard. Perhaps it was simply coincidence. But even so, things would have to be checked out. "I agree, he shouldn't be unpartnered."
"I did talk to him, and he was the one who told me that Jeltren was no security risk." Corran muttered.
Both of Zathris' eyebrows shot up. "Is that so?" He had to disagree, and Zathris had a feeling the Steward would as well. The assistant lenaed back in his chair, pondering. After a moment, he asked, "I shall speak to the Steward, but I wonder..."
"Wonder what?" Corran asked. he had his own suspicions, and yet he didn't quite want to voice them without some sign that Zathris was thinking like he was. It could also be that Corran was paranoid. But he didn't think so- he'd been well-trained in investigative work.
"Nothing." Zathris didn't want to say anything until he was a bit more certain. "But you certainly seem to have something on your mind. Please, share."
"Well, I happen to wonder what you're wondering." Corran rejoined, but lightly. His voice sobered again quickly. "It's just that the thieves must be getting more bold, and I'm not sure how they've slipped through the outer patrols. I think they're getting information about our schedules somehow."
"I think you're right." Zathris nodded in agreement, his hand running across his mouth. "I would think it would be through one of our own."
"I don't want that to be the case." Corran said honestly. "it would need to be someone with access to the guard schedules- that's you, the Lord Holder, his sons, Shadux and Cyrek, the Headwoman, and any guard."
"I don't like what that implies either, but it seems to be the case." Zathris knew he could trust himself, and to be honest he felt he could trust Corran. He doubted the man would come to him regarding the thefts if he couldn't. "But surely even the Captain would agree that an investigation must be done of the guard, especially since this happened twice on his shift. Supposedly anyway. Have you spoken with anyone else?"
"Not yet. I'm hesitant to tell anyone who isn't Assistant Steward or higher. I don't know who I can trust." Corran reported. "I _hate_ to think it's one of my men." he said quietly.
"I know, but someone who is familiar with how things work must be in charge of these thefts." It was a sour thought indeed, but Zathris couldn't see things otherwise. "I will speak to Steward Cyrek and Lord Benaroy. Keep your eyes and ears open until then and let me know if you find anything else. Also, refrain from speaking to the Captain regarding anything more. Come straight to me." Zathris certainly hoped the captain wasn't a part of this either.
Corran nodded. It went against his grain to go behind his leader's back, but he rationalized it as being necessary since he _didn't_ know who he could trust and since Zathris- who was higher than Kelton anyway- had ordered him to. "I..." He paused, not knowing if Zathris would grant him this much authority. Usually only the captain could hold investigations of this magnitude, unless he personally delegated it. "Would it be alright if I did some additional investigating off-shift? Nothing illegal, of course- just following Jeltren, or making my own personal sweeps?"
"I was going to ask you to do that very thing." Zathris nodded, smiling a bit to the guard. "But try to be discreet, don't let him know what you're doing."
"I won't. I don't even expect to be discovered, but if I have your sanction and I'm caught somewhere I'm not supposed to be, at least I don't have to lie about authorization- I just don't have to disclose whose."
Zathris just hoped it was all right giving his sanction in the first place. Still, the sooner there was someone looking into things, the better. "Thank you Corran. I appreciate your honesty and willingness."
"It's not a problem. I can't stand the thought of thieves and liars walking my Hold."
"Nor can I, Corran. Nor can I." Even worse, it was something else for their Lord to deal with and he wasn't in the best of health. "Let me know if you find anything. You'll probably be hearing from me soon enough as well."
Corran nodded. "I'd better get going. I'm cutting my lunch short to talk to you so that I wouldn't be missed."
"Good thinking." Corran seemed an industrious man. "Be careful." The draft he had been working on could wait. Zathris felt like he should go to the Lord Holder and Steward immediately. Perhaps the Lord Holder first.
Last updated on the January 10th 2009