Duncan woke the following morning determined to find more information about Christopher Wilson. If someone wanted to enter Valtheris without attracting attention, the Commoners' District was probably the easiest place to start. With that in mind, he headed straight for Stone Valley.
When he arrived at the Royal Tax Office, he found Nathaniel speaking with Lord Zayn Thornfield. Duncan frowned slightly before approaching them.
"Good morning, my Lord. Your Grace."
"Good morning, Lord Duncan," they replied almost simultaneously.
Zayn gestured toward Nathaniel. "I was just telling His Grace everything that happened. He already knows about Christopher Wilson."
"That's fine," Duncan replied with a shrug. "At least I won't have to explain everything again."
Nathaniel smiled faintly. "I've also instructed some of my personal guards from Aerathia to search for him. Unfortunately, it's as though the man simply vanished."
"That's because we're looking in the wrong places," Duncan replied. "Christopher Wilson is our next clue. We just need to find where he went."
The three men settled inside Zayn's office and discussed the investigation, but none of their theories gave them anything concrete. After nearly an hour, hunger began to distract them.
Duncan leaned back in his chair.
"Lucas."
"Yes, my Lord?" Lucas replied, bowing.
"I'm hungry. You know where to go."
Lucas smiled. "Of course, my Lord."
As Duncan watched him leave, a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
Alora.
He had completely forgotten about her.
The past few days had been consumed by the investigation, the poison attack, and the mystery surrounding Christopher Wilson. He hadn't even stopped by Stone Valley.
At least now that he was investigating there, perhaps he could see her.
His thoughts were interrupted when Lucas returned.
"My Lord..."
Duncan looked up. "What is it?"
"The bakery has been sold."
Duncan froze. "Sold?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"What happened to it? When did this happen? What about the workers?"
Lucas looked slightly uncomfortable. "I don't know, my Lord. That's simply what I heard."
Duncan abruptly stood, "What about Alora? Her mother and brother-where are they?"
Lucas shook his head, "I don't know."
Duncan ran a frustrated hand through his hair before forcing himself to sit again.
All he could think about was Alora.
Was she still in Stone Valley? Had she found another job? What about Irene's treatment? And William?
He suddenly realised how little he actually knew about what had happened to them.
"You may leave," he finally said.
Lucas bowed and stepped outside.
Across the room, Nathaniel and Zayn stared at Duncan.
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow, which man becomes that distressed over a bakery closing?
Zayn seemed equally confused.
Duncan glanced toward them and immediately realised how much he had revealed.
"I was... hungry," he said awkwardly.
Zayn nodded slowly. "Of course."
Nathaniel smiled. "I understand. Hunger can make a man emotional."
Duncan gave him an embarrassed look, "Exactly."
After a moment, he stood and signalled Lucas, who had returned to the doorway.
"Go to Alora's house," Duncan whispered. "Find out where she is and report back to me."
Lucas nodded before leaving.
Duncan followed the others outside, but before entering his carriage, he stopped in front of the old bakery. He stared at the building for several seconds.
Nathaniel noticed, he said nothing. A short while later, the three men returned toward the Noble District.
Nathaniel's carriage suddenly stopped beside a jewellery shop, he stepped down and entered.
Inside, rows of rings, necklaces, and bracelets filled the display cases. Nathaniel stared at them with genuine confusion, he had no idea what Maya liked.
He picked up one ring, examined it, and then another.
"She prefers the diamond."
Nathaniel turned.
Duncan stood behind him.
"You're here too?"
Duncan shrugged. "Apparently."
Nathaniel looked at the rings again, "Not too large?"
"Medium-sized."
Nathaniel picked up a delicate diamond ring, "This one?"
"She'll like it."
Nathaniel smiled and placed it aside before his attention shifted toward the flowers displayed near the entrance.
"What about those?"
Duncan glanced over, "Pink lilies."
Nathaniel followed his gaze, then noticed a purple crocus nearby, "She likes those?"
"No. But she'll probably like that one."
Nathaniel studied the flower before smiling, "Interesting." He picked it up. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Nathaniel paid for both items and returned to his carriage, as he settled into his seat, he looked down at the ring and flower.
A faint smile appeared.
"She'll love them."
But something about the encounter lingered in his mind. Duncan had been strangely familiar with Maya's preferences, perhaps there was more to their relationship than he understood.
---
Later That Evening
The investigation into Duncan's poisoning had produced nothing.
The tavern worker had been arrested after fleeing the night Duncan collapsed, but his explanation remained consistent.
"I ran because I was frightened," he insisted. "I didn't poison Lord Duncan."
The tavern was thoroughly searched, but no poison or suspicious substance was discovered.
With no evidence against him, the man was eventually released, and the tavern reopened.
Skender stood in the empty tavern, visibly frustrated. "Nothing."
Zayn folded his arms. "We searched the entire place."
"And found nothing," Skender replied bitterly.
Marion sighed. "Then we're back where we started."
Skender looked toward the entrance. "If Duncan wasn't poisoned in the tavern..."
He paused. "...where was he poisoned?"
For the first time, none of them had even a theory, and somewhere in Valtheris, whoever had poisoned Duncan was still free.