Chapter 16: Revenge

Fortunately Samvel’s arrival, attack and imprisonment has only been witnessed by a handful of guards and slaves employed at Wadi Halaf. It won’t take long for rumours of Samvel’s imprisonment to spread among the other guards and slaves, and there is a risk that the caravanserai’s guests may hear about what has happened. The loyalty of those working at Wadi Halaf is put to the test, and I’m delighted that I receive unwavering support.

Ramiro and Amina quickly devise a plan to mislead anyone who hears rumours, and starts enquiring about the whereabouts of Samvel or his dead guards. Samvel’s love of sneaking about and conducting secret meetings works in my favour. Even Samvel’s most trusted servants won’t know about his activities beyond seeing him depart his house with two robed guards earlier this morning. Having witnesses observe two robed guards accompanying a man in Samvel’s clothes leaving Wadi Halaf will misdirect any inquisitive minds.

My half-brother, Hugo, is the same size and build as Samvel. He puts on Samvel’s robe, while two of Wadi Halaf’s guards don the dead men’s robes. The three of them leave on a wagon carrying the two dead henchmen under a tarpaulin. They keep their hoods covering their heads, discouraging any close inspection by passers-by. Nevertheless, enough people in the street will notice them leave the city by the south gate. The gate guards normally make a thorough check of the identities of the travellers into and out of the city, along with the contents of their wagon. Again the aldermen’s self-serving rules work in our favour. The gate guards have standing instructions to allow aldermen to travel through the city gates without hindrance. At the sight of Samvel’s distinctive red and white robe, the gate guards wave Hugo and the guards on their way without any check.

Once clear of the city the wagon is taken to the edge of some woods, a short distance off the road. The guards return their robes to the dead henchmen, who are left lying beside the wagon as though they are the victims of an ambush by bandits. Hugo and the Wadi Halaf guards change back into their own clothes, and the horses are unhitched from the wagon. The three men circle back to the city, arriving through the west gate. Two days later, a trader reports discovering an abandoned wagon and two dead men in the woods, not far from the south road. Ramiro leads a troop of his soldiers to investigate. They recover the wagon and bury the dead henchmen.

By now, the other aldermen have noticed that Samvel is missing. They give the city guard the task of looking for him. Since Samvel periodically disappears for days at a time on secret missions, nobody seems unduly worried about his absence. The city guard give the task a low priority. Consequently, after three days of searching, the only clue the city guard gather is that Samvel passed through the south gate on a wagon with two robed guards a few days ago. The city guard lose all interest in following Samvel’s trail. Investigating matters outside of the city boundary falls to the warlord to investigate. Consequently the aldermen reassign the task of finding Samvel to Ramiro.

Meanwhile Samvel is languishing in a cell in Wadi Halaf’s dungeon. With his robes borrowed for Ramiro’s subterfuge, Samvel is forced to wear a slave’s loin cloth. His initial confidence at being rescued within a matter of hours has given way to a tirade of empty threats and rambling monologues. I’m still uncertain what to do with him. I strongly suspect Samvel was behind my father’s murder, but without evidence the other aldermen will likely support Samvel’s claims of innocence. But I have a bit of time to consider what to do. Ramiro has been successful in spreading the story that Samvel’s wagon was attacked by bandits, his guards killed, and Samvel kidnapped. Surprisingly, there is little enthusiasm from Samvel’s extended family to mount a rescue. Samvel’s business interests are being managed by his nephew, who seems content for things to remain that way.