“Hello, children. I'm Claw Shinkai. Do any of your relatives live close by?”
The bigger boy nodded. “My uncle and aunty.” He pointed to his left. “Two doors down.”
“The second house from this one or the third?”
“Third.”
“Good boy.” I looked over my shoulder at the knight who still stood by the carriage door. Our stares met. “Sir Vasren, could you please go down to the third house to our right and ask the occupants to attend us?”
Sir Vasren looked at the King. The King, just visible past the open curtains, nodded. Sir Vasren hurried down the sidewalk, veering around a gathering crowd of Chelli neighbors. They backed out of his way, staring up at the much larger man.
“Mama?” the younger boy called again. Neither had moved from where they stood.
“She's going to be all right. Is there somewhere we can sit down?”
The little one nodded and pointed behind him.
“Good boy,” I said again. “Your uncle and aunt should be here soon.” I looked down at the woman. “May I pick you up and carry you to a seat, madam?”
She sobbed harder. I took that as consent and lifted her in my arms. Chelli were small people tending toward thinness. With the difference in our sizes, she felt like a child in my arms. And she mourned like a child too, wailing and clutching at me. It was hard not to give in to sympathy and cry with her. But that was part of my penance. I had to be compassionate and strong.
I strode into the living room, leaving the door open for the relatives. Everything was Chelli-sized except for the house itself. This made the small home feel spacious. It also forced me to sit on the floor instead of the little couch. I did just that, cradling the crying woman.
By this time, the children had concluded that something awful was afoot, and they joined their mother in sobbing. This turned out to be exactly what she needed. Hearing the cries of her children, Mrs. Panne jolted up, eyes going wide, and turned toward the boys.
“My sons!” She climbed off my lap and ran to them. “Come here, boys. It's just us now. I'm so sorry. Your daddy is gone.”
“Gone where?” the smaller one asked.
I closed my eyes, seeking calm. I am a claw, not a monster. Just the tip of a beast. The sharp tip of the King's law, meant to pierce the confusion and pull forth the criminals to punish them justly. I can compartmentalize, but deep down, I still felt every loss. And the sorrow of children cut me the deepest.
Thankfully, this was when the boys' uncle rushed in.
“Vissa!” the man cried.
“Oh, Rulli!” Mrs. Panne continued to hug her children as she looked over at the man. “They found him. He's . . .” she looked at her boys.
“I know, Sister. I've been told.” Rulli rushed over to the reduced family and took them in his arms.
Meanwhile, I stood up and stepped back, out of the way and respectful of their grief. More family members were coming in—a woman and a little girl. The woman clutched the girl to her side and stared at the bawling group with wide eyes. I knew that look. It was a combination of grief, sympathy, and guilt. Not that she had anything to do with the murder, but she was relieved itwasn't her husband who was dead. A normal response, but when she looked at me and found me watching her, she flushed. Again, I understood.
I inclined my head to the woman. “I am Claw Shinkai. Could we speak?”
“No!” the man stood up and waved the woman over.
She drew the child with her and took her husband's place, kneeling into the grief circle. Meanwhile, Rulli hurried over to me.
He waved me toward the front door. “Please, Claw. Let's talk outside.”
“There is a crowd out there. Are you sure?”
“Yes. Better they hear this than my sister and the boys.”
I nodded and preceded him outside. As I turned to face Rulli, I caught the King staring at me through the carriage window. I ignored his sympathetic look. It was not helpful. It would only weaken my resolve. Rulli shut the door, glanced at his neighbors, then the royal carriage, and then at me.
“Perhaps we could go into your home?” I suggested.
Relief filled his face, and Rulli nodded. “Yes, please. This way.”
