13. The Mist Thickens, Part 2

* * *

Rosalyn had returned to the apartment, only to find it, shockingly, empty. There was a note on the wooden table.

Heading to Southern Docks for a meeting.

Will be back later.

Cat

Gripped by curiosity, Rosalyn had made her way to the Docks. I have to speak to Deerin. the Detective thought as she passed down the cobblestone street leading back to the harbour. I know Catherine said security’s tight, but she has to be able to get me in! He’s the only one who knows Elliott. If I want to truly solve this, I have to talk to him.

Rosalyn arrived at the Southern Docks to see that the usual commotion had restarted - cargo being loaded and unloaded from large tankers, people stumbling into the Misty Sea, and Mr. Vimes’ yelling had returned. Although Vimes’ yelling didn’t have the same soul in it.

Eventually, she spotted Catherine. Standing in her full Police Chief armour, standing in front of a large tanker that stood out from all the others. It too was plated in heavy armour, same sheen as Catherine’s, and it had a cavalcade of massive cannons aiming over the side of the ship. She was standing at the base of it - with Henry at her side.

“So I’ve changed up the lamps. The old wavelength was designed to repel them, but in my research I also found a wavelength that attracts them.” Henry explained as Catherine nodded intently. “They’ll be swarming you in no time.”

“Catherine? What are you up to?” Rosalyn asked nervously as she approached behind Catherine. Chief Ahab slowly turned around, with a guilty expression on her face. She didn’t look happy to see her.

“Oh! Roz… what are you doing here?” Catherine asked.

“I uh, I just saw you’d be at the Southern Docks. Just wanted to check in, see if you were okay.” Rosalyn answered nervously.

“Yeah, yeah I’m good actually. Just in the middle of an appointment, so I’ll meet you back at the apartment, okay?”

“What are those cannons up there for?” Rosalyn asked. “And what are you talking about attracting?”

Catherine blushed, a look of guilt starting to appear as her eyes averted from Rosalyn’s. At least now there was some actual colour in her face. Then, after an awkward silence, Henry piped up. “You don’t need to be ashamed, Chief. These things are dangerous, remember? This is what’s best for Fogport.”

Catherine sighed. “Roz, I know you’ve been wanting me to focus on ‘healing’ and ‘keeping the peace’, but I need to do my job. And right now, my job is… well the Ghost Whales have to go, Roz.”

Rosalyn stepped back. “You’re going to KILL the Ghost Whales? W-What about all that stuff with the Mysticet, you were the one saying you needed to keep the peace on the island, right?”

“Peace didn’t work.” Catherine hissed, before looking up at the battleship. “Now it’s time for justice.”

“Wait, you’re not going to wipe out ALL of them, are you?” Rosalyn asked. Then slowly, but assuredly, Catherine nodded. “You’re kidding, right? Catherine the Ghost Whales have been peaceful for decades up until now, they’re an important part of the Sea here! They guide fish through the Mist, if they’re gone then the fishing industry here could be destroyed!”

Rosalyn thought back to her vision on Communion Beach - the somber Whale, guiding her to the box on the beach. The story of the stranded calf, saved by the villagers… she remembered how she had wanted to see one on her voyage into the city. “You just… you can’t do that!”

Catherine turned back to face Rosalyn, and lifted an accusatory eyebrow. “Wait wait wait… you actually care about these fish?” Catherine laughed. “Have you not been paying attention? They killed Elliott, monsters like them killed my ENTIRE FAMILY!” Catherine screamed. “They’d do the same thing to you if they had the chance!”

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“One of them DID have the chance, Catherine!” Rosalyn said back. “I met one. On Communion Beach. D-Do we even know that it was a Ghost Whale attack? Could it have been something else?”

“Wait…” Henry interjected. “You SAW a Ghost Whale?”

“Well… kind of. It showed me a vision, on Communion Beach.”

“So you’re saying this just because you had a dream?” Henry chuckled. “Sorry, sorry Detective, I just… I’m sorry.”

Rosalyn fumed, before turning to Catherine. “What about the Mysticet? They’ll tear this city apart, it could be civil war.”

“Then I’ll tear them apart.” Catherine hissed. “If they want to stop me from protecting this city, then they’re with them, not us.” the Knight said, before looking Rosalyn up and down. “I hope you’re with us too, Roz.”

“Detective, I have many Mysticet friends. They have great culture, great food, great stories, but they truth is that they need to grow up.” Henry explained nonchalantly. “I saw the same thing back in Boraldra. They hugged their trees and clung to their traditions, trying to save every little Frostbear cub and Dire Wolf. But they were keeping themselves hungry and miserable, and when Goldpearl built that shipping route, the ones who were against it realized that it was for the best!”

“Mr. Wintour, all due respect, if you think that these people are just going to let you bulldoze over the Gods they worship, then you are not nearly as smart as I thought.” Rosalyn hissed, causing Henry to widen his eyes in offended shock.

“Why do you care about the Mysticet so much?!” Catherine shouted. “They tried to kill you!”

“BECAUSE!” Rosalyn shouted back. “Because… the Ghost Whale showed me something, on Communion Beach. Something I probably should have told you about earlier, but… I just didn’t know how.”

Catherine’s eyes widened. “What aren’t you telling me, Rosalyn?”

Henry scowled at Rosalyn as he stepped forward. “Yeah Rosalyn, if you’re going to come into this city and tell us how to keep it safe, I’d like to hear you’re reasoning, oh wise Detective.”

“Did they get their hooks into you somehow?” Catherine asked. “Why, Rosalyn? Why the Mysticet?”

That question: why why why rattled around in Rosalyn’s head until she couldn’t take it anymore. Catherine and Henry, closing in with their accusations. Until she burst like a cannon.

“BECAUSE ELLIOTT WAS ONE OF THEM!”

Catherine and Henry recoiled, the air ripped out of their sails. “At least… he was close.” Rosalyn continued, before shifting her gaze back to Catherine. “Mysticet faithful who want their love to be blessed bury things together on Communion Beach. I found a box buried there, after my dream - I mean, vision! It had one of Elliott’s rings in it, along with a Mysticet necklace.”

Catherine was stunned. “Someone stole Elliott’s ring?”

“No no! Elliott’s footprints were leading to the burial site, the ring wasn’t stolen. And I found a picture of the girl who the necklace belonged to - she’s a Mysticet Cleric, and based on what you told me… she’s exactly Elliott’s type.” Rosalyn continued, looking at Henry now. “That’s why Elliott was trying to leave Fogport, that’s why he was on that ship in the first place! That’s why he asked you about leaving Fogport, because he wanted to leave with her. I mean, that ceremony basically means they got married, I saw a painting of it in the Chapel.”

Henry recoiled, holding his hands up in a feigned display of innocence. “I-I just mentioned that in passing, Catherine! There’s no way Elliott ACTUALLY wanted to leave Fogport, I mean… he probably just got on that ship by mistake.” the inventor laughed.

Catherine was staring daggers at Rosalyn.

“This is what Deerin was talking about. He was alluding to this when we fought, but couldn’t give it away. Catherine, please, I-I know this might be a shock, but this is the only thing that makes sense. Elliott wouldn’t want you to-”

“Stop it Rosalyn. You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“Catherine, I know you’re hurting and you just want to hurt them back but I’m begging you, as your friend, don’t-”

BOOM.

Rosalyn stumbled backwards as Catherine held her Cannonhammer high in the air, smoke wafting off the muzzle. “GET OFF THIS DOCK NOW!” Catherine screamed, before dropping the Cannonhammer and pointing it at Rosalyn, shaking like a rabid animal. “NOW!”

Rosalyn gasped and scuttled backwards, regaining her balance before sprinting off in the opposite direction, tears starting to stream down her face as she fled the dock in terror. Ears still ringing.

Before she climbed back up the stairs into Fogport, she took one last look at Catherine. She was sobbing into the harbour.