Feeling somewhat recovered, I turned to the floor by the desk and examined the flag stones individually. Before long I found what I was looking for: two small flecks of wax, and a streak as long as a finger. This is where the candle fell. Just a few feet from where the constable’s body was found. My strange vision linked the two. Perhaps the candle was a conduit of sorts; a means of triggering the constable’s grisly fate. And the dizziness it caused me could have been some remnant of that sorcery. Either way, the vision suggested the candle was of some significance. In all my years, they had yet to fail me in that regard.

There was also one other important, troubling aspect of the fallen candle: someone had returned it to the top of the desk.

Victor had made no mention of doing so, and I had no reason to doubt the boy. That left the mayor and his men, and of course anyone who entered the constable’s office without my knowledge and prior to my arrival. That was not a comforting thought.

Reluctant to touch the candle with my bare hands and risk triggering the dizziness again, I put on my gloves and cast around for some suitable container. In one of the drawers I found a pounce pot of good size and, sitting squarely on the chair, transferred the candle to the centre of the pot. The lid would not fit fully, but it was secure enough not to spill the pounce’s fine powder all along the street; I planned to inspect the candle thoroughly in the relative safety of my room.

*

On my way back through the streets of Drekenford I made a resolution to face something I had been putting off: a visit to Fort Seeben. It would be easy to tell myself I had been too busy to go, that the investigation took precedence, but it would be a flimsy veil for my cowardice. In reality, the fort was an important part of that investigation.

I had so far thought it fortunate the pox had not spread from the fort to the town. Now I wondered if there were darker forces at work, either deliberately or inadvertently keeping Drekenford safe. If the pox itself was sent by witchcraft to afflict the King’s Dragoons, perhaps the same sorcery stopped its transmission to the civilians living in the town? I had never heard of such a control of disease or pestilence. But then there was much about this case that, despite my years, gave me the feeling of treading new ground. If only I had Ignatius’ library at my disposal… Instead, I endeavoured to see the fort, and the extent of the pox’s ravages, for myself.

I made for the alley behind the inn, and then the stables. I passed a few awkward minutes as the stablewoman readied Tabitha; she refused my offer to help, having come to the correct judgement that I was less than capable with horses. Despite my insistence it was unnecessary, she walked me out of the alley. I did not give her the satisfaction of looking back.