First Case, Part 1

First Case, Part 2

First Case, Part 3

Second Case, Part 1

Second Case, Part 2

Second Case, Part 3

Third Case, Part 1

A Sheriff of InTween

Third Case, Part 2: Faire Fowl Play

“Just what are you accusing me of?!” The farmer glared at the sheriff. “I don’t take kindly of baseless accusations. You don’t got any proof.” If looks could kill, Loran Lash’s glare would certainly do some harm to the sheriff. Dark blue eyes glinted menacingly from a weathered face.

“Questionin’ Mr Lash. I ain’t accusin’ you of anythin’... yet,” Edwin replied, grinning inwardly at Loran’s momentarily look of relief that curdled when he heard the last word. “All I’m sayin’ is that there were a witness that reported you and Thom had words this mornin’ that were a mite unpleasant.”

“Lies! Who’s this witness of yours?”

“No one you’d know.” Edwin groaned as Verin gave a very audible nervous cough from behind the pile of boxes he was leaning against. “Alright, maybe someone you’d know.”

Lash’s face curled, looking like a piece of leather in the sun. “Boy don’t know what he’s on about.”

An eyebrow rose on the sheriff’s face. “So you don’t deny that you and Thom had words then.”

The piece of leather flushed a muddy red. “Well we had words sure. That a crime Sheriff?” He heaped as much scorn as he could on the title. “You gonna arrest folk for debating and arguing now?”

Edwin smiled wryly. “Naw, that ain’t a crime. Just sayin’ you seem to have a history of sayin’ certain kind of words to folk. What’d you say at the Watering Hole last week when I was called out? Calling the dwarf a “cheatin’ thin bearded stump” or somethin’ like that?”

The leather flushed deeper. “He was cheating!”

“Maybe so, and he was about to break your legs and make you go stumpy yourself.” Edwin narrowed his eyes and the farmer gulped slightly. “You have a talent for upsettin’ folk with your words. Maybe more words were exchanged this mornin’ and you didn’t care to hear what Thom said.”

“Look, let’s not get too hasty.” Loran visibly tried to calm down, smoothing the front of his shirt as if pushing his anger down. “Me and Thom are friends, grew up as friends and never changed. Our families owned the adjoining farms and we kept them cause we like being neighbors. Hell, I can’t count the times he has helped me and I helped him. In fact he helped me earlier this year when my irrigation broke and I almost lost my crop of gooseheads.

“Besides, I was looking forward to beating him in the contest. We always compete for the largest crop grown every year. This was my year to win. Now that he ain’t participating anymore, I can’t beat him fairly.”

Edwin nodded reluctantly. “You didn’t think it’d be easier to win without someone competin’ against you?”

Loran growled, low and menacing. “I said fairly. I ain’t no cheat. You should know that much Sheriff.”

“Alright Mr Lash.” Edwin held his hands up, patting the air. “Meant no disrespect. Questions have to be asked. You can’t think of anyone that would want to hurt him though?”

“Nope, and if I did, then you’d be the first to know Sheriff. If I didn’t get a hold of them first that is. Now, is there anything else you want to accuse me of?”

“Only questionin’ like I said. That’ll be all for now Mr Lash. Don’t go too far though, in case I do have something to accuse you of.“ Edwin smiled blandly at the farmer’s snarl and watched him stomp off.

Verin’s head popped up from behind the crates, embarrassment written plainly across it. “Sorry Sheriff,” he mumbled. “I was only trying to help.”

“Don’t be Verin,” Edwin replied kindly. “It’s been my best lead yet. You did good lettin’ me know. Run off now, in case your Aunt and Uncle need your help. If you think of anythin’ else, let me know.”

The smile slid off his face as the boy ran off towards Thom and Jayne’s tent. The argument between the two farmers had been his best lead and apparently it had run dry. Having been banned from questioning Jayne by the mayor, which also meant he could not investigate the scene of the crime as he liked, he had little to go off of.

He had thought questioning Loran would provide some answers. Verin had told the sheriff about the argument and Edwin immediately went to find the belligerent farmer. The boy had not heard all of the arguement but it apparently had to do with the crops and the upcoming contest.

The sheriff had some interactions with Loran before, the incident at the bar being one of a few, but thefarmer never seemed like an overtly violent person. He had the knack to infuriate others with his language, but nothing that resulted in attempted murder.

Edwin walked around the crowded not-quite square lost in thought. He knew that if he wanted he could search Loran’s tent and stall. He was well within his right to do so as the sheriff investigating the crime. However he was loathe to provoke another confrontation with Hlyga. The dwarven mayor was still getting used to having him around and while he was following procedure as laid out by the town’s committee, she was still trusting her personal relationships with the citizens instead of letting him do his job without interference.

A scowl grew on his face as he resisted kicking the stall he walked past. He knew it would be difficult being the first official law enforcement officer in the town, especially one chosen from somewhere far away. He had hoped that the townsfolk would let go of their suspicion of him sooner rather than later. The idea of an impartial and objective law officer appealed to him but it seemed the InTween had avoided outside influences for so long, they were particularly stubborn about it.

“Now that’s a proper scowl.” A voice broke through his thoughts.

Edwin stopped and realized he had wandered back to Tila’s pie stand. He thought about smiling to hide it or wave away her comment but thought better of it. Tila was a shrewd woman and would easily look past his facade.

“Yeah, seemed appropriate.” He sighed. “Not really gettin’ anywhere in this investigation. There really doesn’t seem to be reason for the crime.”

“You don’t really believe his wife tried to kill him do you?” A thin black eyebrow rose over forest green skin as Tila gave him a look.

“Sometimes it ain’t about what I believe, it’s about what is and what isn’t.” Edwin shrugged. “I don’t rightly know them aside from the few times I walked past them in town. Can’t make an opinion of them, positive or negative.”

The goblin woman waggled her pie paddle at him. “Gotta believe in what you think. Isn’t that something a good lawman should do? Trust their gut?” She snorted at his sheepish nod. “Well I’ll tell you what I believe. I believe those two are as in love now as they were when they were kids and no way would she ever try to kill him.”

Edwin leaned against the stall, ignoring Tila poking him with the paddle to make him move.

“Well that’s fine and romantic, but beliefs don’t always stand up in court. What about Loran? He have any real problems with Thom or Jayne? Maybe they fought over her or some such?”

“Now who’s being a romantic?” She snorted as she flung the heavy iron door of her oven open. The heat from the oven made the sheriff wince but she did not flinch. “Loran never took a shine to Jayne, not since she wailed the stuffing out of him when they were young. Was always proper afraid of her. Another reason why he can’t be responsible either. Besides, he and Thom are as close as brothers.”

He watched her pull out the little pies from the oven. While not hungry, his stomach still grumbled with want at the deep fragrant smell of the freshly baked goods.

“Well great, back to square one then,” he muttered. “A proper square with four sides.” He grinned at Tila’s glare. “What’re in the pies going in now?”

“One of my favorites: bacon and potatoes and gooseheads.” Tila slid the last of the uncooked pies into the oven and gently closed the door with her paddle. “What’s that look for?” she asked.

“Not a lot of meat on a goose head. Kinda odd to use in a pie of all things.”

“Not a goose head. Gooseheads.” She shook her head with pity at the sheriff’s confusion. “I thought you were from a big city Sheriff where you see all sorts of things.”

“You see all sorts all over ma’am. Even here you see squares with three sides instead of four.” He took a step back as Tila pulled out a large bladed cleaver. “Whoa now, easy there ma’am! I’ll stop the joke if it means that much to you.”

“You sure jump to a lot of conclusions for a lawman,” the goblin retorted. She stuck the knife into the countertop and disappeared behind it, grunting with effort before dropping a large object onto it. “This is a goosehead. A goosehead gourd.”

Edwin leaned closer to look at it, whistling with wonder. It was a large vegetable, similar to a pumpkin in size and shape. The top of the gourd angled up and came to a large beak like stem. It was colored dark tan at the bottom and transitioned into almost pure white at the tip, but the beak like protrusion was colored orange.

“These things are vegetables?” Edwin asked. He poked it with a finger, almost expecting it to honk. “They grow right out of the ground?”

“Sure do and sure are.” Tila patted the gourd fondly. “These things were around since the town was founded. In fact, they helped sustain the folk that made the town. One day as their food supplies ran low, someone saw what they thought were a bunch of geese sticking their heads out of the earth. Wasn’t till they dug them out did they realize they weren’t real geese. Good eating and hardy vegetables, grows well.”

She cut the top off with a swing of her cleaver and for a moment Edwin expected a shower of blood to shoot out the top of the “neck”. “That sure does look disturbing,” he said with a wince.

“Are all city folk as soft as you?” Tila asked as she set the top of the vegetable on the counter. “You folk don’t butcher your own meat?”

Edwin’s reply died as he looked down at the top of the goosehead. He turned it and his eyes widened at the shape of the beak. Bending down he looked closer at the stem and when he rose a smile was on his lips.

Ella Sabertusk and Jayne looked up as Edwin walked into the tent.

“Hey!” Jayne shouted. “I thought the mayor told you to leave us be!”

“She said I wasn’t to question you without her and I ain’t going to,” Edwin replied. “However I am going to figure things out cause it’s my job. Hey Doc, do you have any identifying powder on you?”

The orc doctor raised an eyebrow. “For magical residue? I do, it’s standard to carry some in my kit.”

“Have you sprinkled any on the stuff that you pulled out of Thom?”

“No, I have not.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Jayne said hurriedly. Her face went bright red at the looks from the doctor and the sheriff. “I mean, it’s obvious that-“

“-that somethin’ is going on and if you won’t be so kind to tell us,” Edwin waited to see if Jayne would speak again but the woman shook her head, “then we have to figure it out. Go ahead Doc, if you please.”

Ella spread a piece of paper on the table and drew a diagram onto it. She then placed the filaments she had removed from Thom’s injury and deftly sprinkled a fine grey dust from a small glass jar onto it. The particles reflected the lamp light and they clung to the wooden objects. Placing her hand on the paper, she spoke a few words and the diagram flared at her incantation. The light traveled to the dust and the dingy grey became bright forest green.

“Nature magic,” Ella said as she looked at the glowing dust and circle. The diagram shifted slightly as the magic ran through it. “Specifically plant magic. Something invigorating?”

“A growth spell,” Edwin guessed and the look on Jayne’s face confirmed his words. “A spell to give plants a kick. Usually not good for food crops cause it sucks up all the nutrients, makes them less nutritious. Still, if you need to beef up somethin’ and fast, nothin’ better than a growth spell.”

The sheriff turned and looked at Jayne. “Ain’t that right ma’am?”

Before she could reply a low voice spoke, “Looks like the head’s out of the soil. We might as well confess.”

“Thom!” Jayne pushed past Ella and knelt by ther husband’s side. He looked pale, face twisted with pain but he breathed easily, clutching his wife’s hand and smiling sheepishly.

“How you feelin’ Thom?” Edwin asked, staying back to let Ella check on the farmer.

“More embarrassed than hurt.” He winced as Ella dabbed an ointment on his wound. “Okay, maybe embarrassed and hurt in equal parts. I’ll tell you what happened. Jayne, could you go get it please?”

By the time Jayne returned to the tent Hlyga, Loran, and Verin had arrived. Edwin had sent the boy to fetch the mayor and other farmer and everyone stared in amazement at the giagantic goosehead gourd that Jayne rolled into the tent.

It was massive. Edwin had seen wagon wheels smaller than the vegetable and he knew he would have trouble moving it around. It left a trail through the dirt with how heavy it was. When Jayne stopped rolling it it fell onto its bottom. The titular goose head on top was long and impressive, with the tip of the beak stained red with blood. The edge of the beak was not as smooth, in fact it looked like something within it caused it to burst apart, showing more jagged strands of the type they pulled from Thom’s wound.

“Let me guess,” Edwin said as he bent down to look at the “weapon”. “You were using growth powder on it up until the day you picked it or harvested it. Then you bent over to shift it and it still had a bit of powder on it. It kicked in and the beak kicked you with you holding it.”

Thom chuckled then winced. He tried to grab his stomach but Ella slapped his hand away. “That’s right Sheriff. We have the powder for the winter to use on flowers. Keeps the house bright and pretty. I’m no great magic user but the powder is easy to use enough. I used too much though and like you said, up till harvest.”

Loran whistled as he walked around the gigantic gourd. “This would have beat me. But,” he frowned at his friend, “you know you can’t use any magic for the contest. Why’d you cheat like this?”

A flush colored Thom’s face and it had nothing to do with pain. “Because you wouldn’t keep talking about how you were going to beat me this year! I had to wait to get my gooseheads in the ground cause I was too busy helping you when your irrigation broke! But you kept rubbing it in and I just wanted to shut you up.” He sighted and shook his head. “Still wasn’t right to try and cheat though.”

Loran shook his head shamefully. “No, you’re right. I’m sorry. I completely forgot that you lost time cause of me. I shouldn’t have made a big deal of it. Lost my own head.”

A look of surprise appeared on Thom’s face and he smiled. His smile turned somber as he looked back at Edwin. “I’m sorry Sheriff. I told Jayne not to say anything. She found me with that damn thing stuck in my gut. I told her to hide the goosehead and not to say anything then passed out. I was too embarrassed by it all. She ain’t in trouble is she? I should be the one since I cheated.”

Edwin noticed Hlyga’s look and decided to ignore it. “No sir, seein’ how things ended up I can say she ain’t in trouble.” He also decided to ignore the dwarven mayor’s look of, what he considered unearned, look of satisfaction. “I ain’t about to arrest you for cheatin’ in the contest, seeing how you confessed before the judgin’.” He looked down at the bloody goosehead and it’s eerie look of triumph. “If anythin’ I guess I should dispose of the ‘perpetrator’ here.”

“Wait a minute Sheriff,” Hlyga interrupted. “As mayor, I believe I have a say in the punishment of the suspect.”

Edwin hid a smile. “That is your right your mayorness. Do you have a suggestion?”

She smiled broadly. “I sure do, with Thom and Jayne’s approval of course.”

A few hours later Edwin leaned against Tila’s stall with an incredulous expression on his face. “I really can’t believe you folk sometimes.”

“I don’t see what the problem is.” Tila handed out another portion of steaming goosehead to a waiting person. Each chunk was baked with the rind on. The tan rind cracked with the heat and the pale brown insides steamed in the early evening air. “You like gooseheads in my pies don’t you?”

“That ain’t the problem,” Edwin protested. “I like them well enough but I ain’t eatin’ that one.”

“Thom and Jayne were kind enough to donate the goosehead to be eaten by everyone,” Hlyga said as she bit into her own portion. “You shouldn’t let food go to waste.”

“That gourd has tasted blood!”

“City folk,” Tila sighed shaking her head. “So soft. It’s just a plant Sheriff. A vegetable. It can’t taste anything.”

“Don’t say that around the dryads and other plantborne folk,” Edwin warned. “They don’t take kindly to that.”

“I’ll be sure to remember that. Here you go Sheriff. I saved the best part for you for your hard work.” The goblin woman slid a plate over and the top of the goosehead sat resplendent. The heat made the white top sparkle even brighter and the curved stem truly looked like a majestic and terrible goose.

Everyone laughed at Edwin’s expression as he pushed it away from him. “Let Thom have it, “ he said wryly. “It’s only fair he gets to eat the thing that tried to kill him.”