The Adventure of the Twisted Truths

By Cole Phillips

It has been five years since the feared serial killer known as the Grand Reaper stalked the streets of the city of Lundon, the greatest metropolitan city in the world of Tera, five years since a cabal within the Lundon government and Lord Supreme Judge Questus Darkclaw covered up a shocking truth about the shadowy killer. But when young law student William Tudor is made the scapegoat in the murder of an investigative journalist, Professor Hershel Pendragon realizes he needs to solve the Grand Reaper case once and for all.

Enlisting the aid of renowned private detective Francis Foresight, the professor flies to the City of Mandar. His mission is to hunt for clues about a mysterious individual known as the Dragon Lord whom the professor believes holds the key to solving the mystery. Back in Lundon, William is making a name for himself as he fights in court to uncover the secrets of the Grand Reaper.

But there are those in power who do not wish for the truth to be revealed, and they will stop at nothing to silence their foes. Forged evidence, hired assassins, and a corrupt Ministry of Justice are just a few of the roadblocks Will faces. In order to survive, Will must rely on the help of his friends: the loyal Emily May, the sharp-shooting Robert of Locksley, and a strange individual named Vigilant Justice, whose face and origins are shrouded in mystery by the mask he always wears. But will their help be enough to unravel the government's twisted truths? Or will agents of death silence them first?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Feb 28, 2024
• ISBN: 9798891305960

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The Adventure of the Twisted Truths

Cole Phillips

ISBN 979-8-89130-595-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-89130-596-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2024 by Cole Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Prologue

A Time of Turmoil

Chapter 1

A Strange Case

Chapter 2

The Trial Begins

Chapter 3

Calamity in Court

Chapter 4

A Job Offer and an Assassin

Chapter 5

The Sherwood Community

Chapter 6

Another Murder Case

Chapter 7

The Grand Reaper Case

Chapter 8

The Investigation

Chapter 9

The City of Mandar and Stella Stargem

Chapter 10

Trials and Tribulations

Chapter 11

The Autopsy Report

Chapter 12

Stella Stargem's Testimony

Chapter 13

Inquisitor Gisborne's Confession

Chapter 14

A Girl Named Luna Stargem

Chapter 15

Nighttime Attacks

Chapter 16

The Temple of the Dragon Lord

Chapter 17

Questus Darkclaw's Mission

Chapter 18

Memories

Chapter 19

A Talk with Vigilant

Chapter 20

Stella Stargem's Past

Chapter 21

Luna's Mysterious Origins

Chapter 22

The House of Grim Wurman

Chapter 23

The Reunion

Chapter 24

The Beginning of the End

Chapter 25

Investigating the Study

Chapter 26

A Closed Trial

Chapter 27

The Witnesses Testify

Chapter 28

The Missing Page

Chapter 29

The High Court of Justice

Chapter 30

The Truth Revealed

Chapter 31

Ending Darkclaw's Reign

Chapter 32

A Final Revelation

Epilogue

Happily Ever After

About the Author

Prologue

A Time of Turmoil

The City of Lundon was the crown jewel of the world of Tera. A city that combined Victorian architecture with the amazing new steam technology of the century, it was also the largest metropolis in the world.

Nearly six million people resided in Lundon, which covered an area of nearly fifty square miles. The outskirts of the city were the home of the poorer classes, while the more central the city became, the wealthier the people got. In the very heart of the city was the famous City Center, a collection of government and public buildings that were on both sides of the famous River Tames.

The Royal Palace was undoubtedly the largest and most beautiful building, made of marble and gold with elaborate statues and pillars, but there were many other buildings that rivaled it. There was the Laboratory—a massive tower that was the headquarters of the Ministry of Science, the Temple of the Scales, which housed the Ministry of Justice and the High Court of Lundon, the Treasury, the City Archives, the Lundon Historical Museum, and many other buildings.

Part of why Lundon was the largest city in the world was due to its location. Lundon was located near the very center of the world and, as such, was a major airship stopping point to refuel and refresh supplies. The River Tames was also a major trading river for steamships from many other cities, which paid tolls to pass through the city. In addition, nearly a dozen steam locomotive lines ran through the city from all over the world.

Yes, Lundon was truly a sight to behold.

But as with every city, one did not have to go far to see the darkness that resided within the shadows.

On this winter day, snow was falling thickly onto Lundon Streets, and not too many people were out. Lundon Guards were out on their usual beats, and a few children were playing in the white wonder that was piling up on the ground, but on the whole, most people were sitting inside their warm houses, huddled by their fireplaces with family members and enjoying the beautiful scenery that was outside their windows.

But deep in the heart of the High Court, in the office of the Lord Supreme Judge, a serious and secret meeting was being held by the powers-that-be.

One of those in the meeting was the Lord Supreme Judge himself, Questus Darkclaw, a tall and broad-chested man with a face of steel and a countenance that would strike fear into the most hardened criminal. Although only in his forties, the man's hair, which was waxed in the shape of a horse's mane, was white as snow, and his forehead was lined with more wrinkles than a man of his age should have. Dressed in intimidating black and red robes, the Lord Supreme Judge carried a golden walking stick with a lion's head as its handle.

The second of the four was a short and scrawny man with a sniveling face, wire-rimmed glasses, and white hair that had come naturally with age, unlike the hair of the Lord Supreme Judge. A white lab coat, black tie, and black pants were his outfit, for this tiny man was Dr. Auchie, the Chief Mortician for the Lundon Police and a very important man in Lundon's government bureaucracy.

Third in the group was High Inquisitor Elenore Nottingham, highest-ranking member of the inquisition, which was one of the two branches of the Ministry of Justice. A tall and graceful woman with straight black hair and stern blue eyes, she was dressed magnificently in a purple-and-black uniform with golden shoulder pads, a gold-laced purple cape, and a dress sword at her side.

The fourth and final person in the group was a middle-aged man with graying brown hair, a mustache and sideburns, and a constantly dour expression on his tanned face. He wore a green trench coat that was faded from years of wear and a black bowler cap. A Repeating Flintlock pistol was tucked into his belt at the waist, and he carried himself like a man ready for action. For this man was Chief Inspector Tobias Smith, head of the Lundon Guards and of equal rank with the High Inquisitor in the Ministry of Justice.

Together the four stood in a square, within the office of Questus Darkclaw, as they discussed dark matters.

Now I think you all know why I summoned the three of you here, Lord Supreme Judge Darkclaw said sternly. We are the only four who know the truth of what happened and why this disaster almost completely overtook our city. If the public should find out the truth of what transpired, anarchy would break out, and our government itself might be toppled. We must have absolute secrecy on this matter. Do I make myself clear?

Three heads bowed in assent.

Good. Then, in that case, I think we can adjourn this meeting.

But what about the blasted press and the reporter who claims he unearthed a massive scandal? asked Smith. A story like this is sure to thrill the masses, and the reporters are not going to pass up their chance to cover a big story like what he's claiming.

Lord Supreme Judge Darkclaw's eyes narrowed.

It will be easy enough to silence the reporter. High Inquisitor, I trust that you know what to do.

Yes, my Lord.

Then, with that, this meeting is adjourned.

Five years later…

Chapter 1

A Strange Case

The atmosphere in the defendant's antechamber of the Precinct Court of Lundon was stifling to William Tudor as he nervously shifted from one foot to the next, sweating bullets, blue eyes darting back and forth. Not quite twenty, the young law student had not imagined that he would be standing so soon in a courthouse and as a defendant no less.

William ran a hand through his wavy blond hair and tried to calm himself. He honestly was not sure what was going to happen. He did not even have a lawyer, and he was being charged with a crime he had not committed. If only…

Excuse me, might you be William Tudor, the defendant in today's trial?

William jumped at the unexpected voice and turned quickly to see who had spoken. Standing before him was a tall and athletic gentleman dressed in a waist-length black coat with a high collar and a tall top hat of the same color. He wore black dress pants and black calf-length boots, a contrast of practical and fancy that somehow worked and made him look all the more gentlemanly. To say that he was handsome would have been an understatement as the man's tanned face paired well with his hair that was caramel-colored, and his keen eyes were piercing and bright blue in color. A slight smile twisted the corner of his lips upward, and in his hand was a simple black walking stick with a red handle.

Will was so surprised at the visitor he nearly knocked over a candlestick on a nearby table. He recognized the man, for his visitor was none other than Professor Hershel Pendragon, a professor of debate and logic at the very university he attended, Lundon School of Law.

Dr. Pendragon! Will said, jumping stiffly to his feet from the bench he had been sitting on. It is an honor to see you here!

Professor Pendragon smiled. Relax, William, he said quietly. I am confident that we will uncover the truth of what happened in court today.

It took several seconds for the words to sink into Will's brain, but when they did, he could hardly believe them. You…You…You mean you are going to be defending me today?

The professor smiled. Yes. I do not believe that you murdered that reporter. The professor's smile disappeared and his poker face came back. I must warn you that it will be an uphill battle, however.

What do you mean? Will asked nervously.

Everyone seems to already think you are guilty. After all, the circumstances are pretty bad for you.

Will groaned. I know, I know. But I promise I didn't do it!

That's all I need to hear. I am confident that we will uncover the truth today.

Professor? May I interrupt for a moment?

Will and Hershel turned to see who had spoken. What Will saw made him blink and look twice, for the trio who had arrived were as strange a trio as he had ever seen. The one who had spoken was a woman who looked to be about the same age as Hershel Pendragon, in her mid to upper twenties. Curly red hair that was tied back in a twisted braid fell down her back, and intelligent green eyes peered out from a rosy and pretty face. She was tall, slender, and dressed in a light blue dress that reached her ankles, as well as a round, wide-brimmed hat of the same color. Wrapped around her waist was a thin leather belt, and tucked in it was a small Deringer pistol that held four rounds.

Standing slightly behind the first woman was another young lady, who looked around Will's age, which was twenty. This young woman was dressed in a purple skirt and blouse with baggy sleeves and a necklace that contained a single gemstone hanging from a silver chain. Her dark eyes were bright and filled with a mischievous sparkle as they twinkled in her bronze face, and her midnight-colored hair was combed back to fall to her shoulders, save for two strands which dangled by her temples.

The third member of the party was male, tall, and slender. Other than that, almost nothing could be made of his features, thanks to the black hood that was pulled over his head and the silver mask that covered his face from nose to forehead and contained a pair of thick goggles. He was dressed in a black skintight jumpsuit that covered his body from the neck to the ankles, and his feet were shod in black calf-length boots. Tight gloves that encased his hands from fingertip to elbow were held in place with silver straps, and a lightweight silver breastplate strapped to a backplate protected his torso. Twin curved daggers hung in boot sheaths, and a Repeating Flintlock pistol was holstered at his hip, ready for action. Will swallowed as he glanced from the silver mask to the weapons.

This man looks like he came straight from a book.

Will was not sure if it was his imagination or not, but he could have sworn that the masked man was glaring at him beneath the mask. Will gulped and tried not to dwell on that thought too much.

Maybe he just has an eternal grim and angry face, Will thought to comfort himself. Maybe he ate something sour this morning. Maybe—

Will was jarred out of his thoughts by the professor speaking to him, William Tudor, meet some friends of mine. The professor gestured to the first woman and bowed his head slightly. Ms. Francis Foresight, a private detective whose work has been of great value to the Lundon police on countless occasions.

Francis Foresight gave a slight curtsy to William, who bowed back. It's a pleasure to meet you ma'am, he said nervously, under the intelligent gaze of the detective.

And this is Ms. Foresight's assistant, Emily May, Hershel Pendragon said, giving a wave to the young lady who was Will's age. The young lady smiled broadly and clapped her hands together as she gave a deep and fast bow. It's a pleasure, Mr. Tudor!

Um, the pleasure is all mine! Will said nervously as he bowed back, a little baffled by the young woman. Why had she bowed instead of curtsying like other women? Though from her attire, he guessed that she was from a foreign city and not Lundon.

And this, the professor said, turning to the hooded and masked man, is Vigilant Justice, a good friend of mine who has assisted me countless times in the past.

Vigilant Justice said nothing but bowed deeply and slowly to Will with great respect.

Um, hi? William half-asked, half-said nervously.

Good luck today, William Tudor, Vigilant Justice said quietly. I mean it.

Th-Thank you, sir! William said.

Professor, may I have a word with you? Francis Foresight said softly.

Of course, Hershel Pendragon said, tipping his hat. Will, please excuse us for just a moment. With that, Hershel and Francis withdrew to a corner of the room.

I brought you the case materials you requested, Francis Foresight whispered, pulling several papers from the brown leather bag at her side.

Thank you, Francis, the professor said quietly, glancing through the papers. These will be of inestimable value throughout the trial.

Hershel, I hope you know what you are doing, Francis said quietly, glancing over her shoulder at Will. You do know who the prosecuting inquisitor is today, don't you?

Yes, I am well aware that Inquisitor Pain from the Ministry of Justice is leading the attack on William Tudor, which makes me all the more determined to get to the bottom of this all. Why is such a high-profile Inquisitor like Pain prosecuting what appears to be a simple murder? And as you are aware, I also have a personal stake in this trial.

Yes, I know, Francis Foresight said tenderly. You were acquainted with Ralph, weren't you?

Only slightly, but yes, Ralph and I knew each other from our school years before he went on to become a reporter and I to study law. We hadn't seen each other in years, but I followed his work closely. He always had a desire to find the truth of stories and was not afraid to anger those in power, unlike so many in his profession. I worry that he stumbled upon something big and had to be silenced. Of course, I don't have any proof of this.

Well, I wish you the best, Hershel. If you ever need anything, anything, mind you, I am here.

Thank you, Francis.

At that moment, two court guards entered the room.

Defendant and Defender! The trial shall commence in five minutes. It would be best if you make your way to the courtroom at once!

In that case, we had better take our leave, Francis Foresight said. Good luck, Mr. Tudor. I wish you the best.

As do I! Emily May said enthusiastically. Go get 'em, Professor!

I will certainly do my best, the professor said with a slight smile.

Vigilant Justice said nothing but gave a low bow before disappearing.

Hershel Pendragon placed a hand on William's shoulder. Let's go, Mr. Tudor. Let us uncover the truth behind this mystery once and for all!

William took a deep breath. Yes, sir!

Chapter 2

The Trial Begins

The courtroom of Lundon's Precinct Court was grander than Will had imagined. Public galleries that could seat several hundred people were raised on the walls, allowing viewers to look down on the trials that took place within the sacred halls. The judge's chair was at the back of the room, and above his bench was a massive golden statue of Lady Justice, sword in one hand, and the Scales of Justice in the other. Directly below and in front of the judge's bench were six seats behind a long bench where the jury, composed of randomly selected citizens of Lundon sat. To the right of the jury box was the inquisitor's stand, while to the left was the defense's stand. Between the two stands and directly in front of the jury box was the witnesses stand.

As William stood beside Professor Pendragon at the defense Bench, he felt as though the very air would crush him. The atmosphere was oppressive, and he felt depressed. Knots were twisting and tying his stomach into a mess, and he was glad he had not eaten that day. He was so nervous he could not stop his eyes from darting back and forth or his limbs from shaking.

The public galleries were filled with the common masses, all ready to watch whatever might ensue before their eyes. In truth, many of them were just there to catch site of Inquisitor Pain, who was rarely seen in court save when the vilest of criminals were to be prosecuted.

Bap!

Will nearly jumped when the presiding judge brought down his gavel.

Calm yourself, William, Hershel Pendragon whispered.

In the name of His Majesty the King, I declare this court is now in session! The judge was an old man with a long white beard, a powdered wig, and a small pair of glasses perched on the brim of his nose. Dressed magnificently in scarlet robes, he signaled authority seated high on his chair. I ask you, Inquisition and Defense. Have you prepared your cases?

It was only then that William caught site of Inquisitor Pain, less than twenty feet away at the inquisitor's bench. Shivers went down his spine as he watched the tall and muscular man dressed in a black-and-silver uniform spread his hands out on the desk and take a wide stance.

The inquisition is ready, Milord.

Will wanted to sink to the ground in terror. Inquisitor Pain's voice was as cold and merciless as the man's face, and he spoke with a cold confidence. But Professor Pendragon answered calmly, The defense is prepared as well, Your Honor.

Good. Now I ask you six fine citizens of the jury of good sense and sound mind, are you prepared to deliver a fair and just verdict?

We are indeed, Milord, the jury foreman said calmly. We will see to it that justice is served!

Good. Then in that case, the trial of William Tudor shall commence. The defendant is hereby charged with the heinous crime of murder, for which the harshest penalty is reserved. Defendant, are you aware of this?

Y-yes, Milord! William said nervously.

Very well, then in that case, Inquisitor Pain, you may begin your opening statement.

Gladly, Milord, the inquisitor said, a smirk crossing his face as he glanced at Professor Pendragon.

Hershel said nothing but looked the inquisitor in the eye with his poker face in place. William wondered if there was something here that he did not understand. Perhaps there was some backstory to these two. Or maybe he was just imagining things.

Today we are gathered for the trial of William Tudor, the young student you see before you, Inquisitor Pain said. He is accused of murdering the victim of this trial, a journalist by the name of Ralph Doe Rupert. Yesterday, at exactly 10:46 a.m., the victim was dining at a small restaurant called the Soup and Steak when fellow patrons of the place heard a single shot ring out. When the eyewitnesses looked over, the journalist was slouched in his chair and the defendant was standing behind him, holding a gun. The defendant was quickly apprehended by the waiter on shift at the time and held until police arrived to arrest him properly.

Pardon the interruption, Inquisitor, but was the cause of death determined? Professor Pendragon asked.

Inquisitor Pain nodded. Yes. Here is the autopsy report, written by the Lundon Police's coroner. It states here, and I quote, ‘Cause of death: gunshot to the heart. The bullet entered the victim from the front and lodged itself in the heart with no exit wound.' With Milord's permission, I shall file it as evidence.

Does the defense have any objections? the judge asked.

No, Your Honor.

The judge dropped his gavel with a bang. Then, in that case, the autopsy report shall be submitted to the court record as evidence.

Also with Milord's permission, Inquisitor Pain continued, I should like to call forth my eyewitnesses to the heinous crime of murder. With their testimony, I feel sure that the esteemed members of the jury will soon reach a just and fair verdict.

There were eyewitnesses? William whispered. But that's impossible! I didn't do it, so they must be liars!

Calm yourself, William, Hershel Pendragon said, poker face still spread across his features. You have nothing to fear. I believe in you, and if these witnesses lie, I will expose their lies for the world to see.

Man, I wish I had his sense of calm, Will thought.

Bap!

"Very