Clues to Prince Rolim's Murder

TLC 01/4

Retrieved from memory images several days after his death.

Prince Rolim was holding a pin with the family crest. How did you get in here?” The prince demanded. “Who helped you? Who are you?” The prince pocketed the pin, making a series of small motions, fiery symbols appearing in front of him. They formed a large ball that showed images of the man in front of him, crossing over into this world. "You’re trying to steal a relic from my world.” I’m an archaeologist, by trade. Translates to finders keepers in my world,” “You’re a common thief. You’ve taken a powerful relic from this room. It belongs to me, return it at once,” “I can’t do that. I’m going to need it,” Bill said, nervously. “I’m on an assignment and this pretty necklace will need to go with me. I’ve waited much too long to prove this world exists.” “Give me the pendant in your pocket,” Prince Rolim ordered, holding out his hand. “You can’t take it from me, can you?” Bill’s voice was relieved and delighted. “I have to give it to you. Well, well. So, you have rules too. Good to know.” The prince gestured and a dagger flew to his hand. “Hold on now,” said Bill, the nervous smile returning. “No need to get touchy. I get it. It’s your plaything. No reason we can’t both walk away feeling like we got something, is there?” He had both of his arms up, as if he was trying to let the prince know he was harmless. Somers began to twitch. His anxiety was clearly growing, making him dangerous and unpredictable. Leira watched helplessly, as she took a step forward to try and stop what she could see coming. But a wave of light pushed her back. Bill offered to give back the pendant, bargaining for something else in the room. “What about a different stone? A magic crystal?” he asked, reaching into his pants pocket with a shaking hand. “Something that can do a little levitating. Or, how about a pretty one that can help me read minds. You have something like that?” The prince stayed where he was, his hand outstretched, his anger clearly growing. “Humans are all the same. Selfish. Nothing in this room belongs to you,” he spit angrily. “These aren’t trinkets you can steal and then justify it all later. Give me the rock and we’ll deal with how you got here. And who helped you.” A braided gold necklace slipped out of Bill’s pocket. Dangling from the end was a piece of lavender rock, held in place by gold prongs. “That necklace,” said Leira. “I saw it on the prince’s body.” “It’s a similar stone that was there in a display case. Another relic. We put it on him for a reason. Objects can take on energy from traumatic events,” Objects can take on energy from traumatic events,” Having this one on my son’s body has helped make the memory stronger. It might even buy us time, if we need it.”

“I know that kind of rock. I’ve seen something like it before,” said Leira. 
   Somers dangled the necklace in front of his chest, his arm close to his body, a sheen of sweat on his face. Leira's eyes swept the scene, taking in every detail.

The archaeologist kept talking, buying himself time. He snuck glances at the door as if he expected someone to rescue him. “He has an accomplice,” Leira said, softly. “Even with all your magic, we’re not that different. A crime plays out pretty much the same way.” The prince lunged forward to grab the necklace out of Somers’ hand. Somers held the necklace against his body and stepped back, losing his footing. He fell against a display case, knocking another relic loose. The prince saw his chance and pulled at the thick chain. Somers’ eyes widened and he pulled back, shoving the prince with his other hand as he tried to regain his balance. The prince pulled on the necklace, and Somers stumbled into him, struggling to hold onto the necklace, grabbing the prince’s arm with his other hand. They struggled, twisting and turning, making it hard for Leira to see exactly what was happening, until it was too late. The prince staggered back, the dagger deep in his chest. The anger drained from the prince’s face, replaced by surprise and pain. He looked into Bill’s eyes, still clinging to the necklace. “What? No!” Somers looked down and saw the blade of the dagger buried to the hilt in the prince’s chest. He let out a startled cry, still holding on to the prince. Prince Rolim tried to pull away, to lift his arm, as if that would help. He opened his mouth to speak but only a gurgle emerged, followed by a thin stream of silvery blood. Somers panicked and pulled the knife out in one swift motion, pushing the prince back, watching him teeter for a moment before falling. He fell to the floor barely alive, his eyes still open, staring up at the sky. The pendant still in his grasp. A shimmer of light surrounded him, growing dimmer. Somers stood for a moment, turning his head to see if anyone was coming. He never called for help. “No, I didn’t mean to,” he said with a shudder, as he panicked and stepped over the Prince’s body. He reached down at the last moment and tugged the relic from the prince’s hand, pocketing it. There were tears in Somers’ eyes as he moved toward the door. At the last moment he turned and snatched some of the smaller artifacts in the room, filling his pockets. He looked back one last time and muttered, “Sorry, I never…you shouldn’t have...” and fled. Leira, wonders how Somers found Oriceran, and realized that someone would have betrayed them. Did the traitor want to bring in a thief or a murderer? There was no magical trail once he left Oriceran. Who would gain? No one. There was no other heir yet, but the queen can still bear more children. Light Elves do not reach outside of their lineage for someone to sit on the throne.” “Someone was buying time,” said Leira. “Someone wanted at least a century of time. What is it about this particular time period that makes all of this so valuable?”