Miss Falfaren and the Golf Course
I
The elf Ireniana Falfaren was carrying her bag of golf clubs as she arrived at the third hole, much to the amusement of her friend Melissa Tarrsburough. Falfaren cursed as she was already behind her halfling companion by three strokes.
Melissa smiled as she placed her ball on the tee. She looked into the distance and spotted the yellow flag that designated the hole. “Halflings have a distinct advantage over golf as we were the ones who invented it.”
Falfaren also looked into the distance. Her elven eyesight that could see into the distance, gave her a clearer vision of the hole. “You also have an advantage because you have spent many years playing this game.”
The halfling whistled as she brought back her longnose club, then hit the ball. Both she and Falfaren stared in astonishment as the ball a few feet away from the hole.
“Years of experience indeed,” Melissa said as she began to walk towards her ball.
Falfaren sighed as she placed the ball on tee. Both she and her partner had been recommended Barebones golf course by Captain Nestor Rogers. Although she had never played golf, Falfaren would not pass up a chance to get out of Mauertain and try a new sport.
The elf let out a cough the moment her club hit the ball. She cursed as she watched it soar into the air and land in a sand bed that was close to a group of pinewood trees.
Falfaren rolled her eyes as picked up her bag and walked towards the sand bed. Melissa, who noticed where her friend’s ball had landed, walked over. “Ireni, it happens to everyone.”
Falfaren muttered another elven curse as she stepped into the sand bed. As she was reaching for her ball, she felt her foot hit something hard and stiff.
She quickly brushed away the sand, revealing a decomposing body of a female gnome. “Melissa, I think we may need to postpone our game for another day.”
The halfling stared at the body while Falfaren looked over the oval shaped bruises and dents on the victim’s face and arms. “The bruises, do you think she may have beaten to death?”
Falfaren ran her fingers through the victim’s auburn hair. She felt a lump at around the center. “My dear Melissa, I think we need to go back to the clubhouse.”
II
Falfaren and Melissa walked into the clubhouse, carrying their bags. The owner, a stout dwarf named Hartlin Ironspear stood at a wooden counter, surrounded by displays of golf clubs and paintings of friends playing golf. “Well ladies that was quick. Either you set a new record for completing the course , or you quit halfway through your game.”
“Actually, we came across a problem on the course-” Falfaren began before the dwarf held up his hands and pointed to the oak sign that read No Refunds.
Melissa shook her head. “Actually Mr. Hartlin, we have to speak with you about something. Earlier today, was there a young gnome maiden who came to the course? Or perhaps earlier this week?”
Hartlin scratched his beard, his voice tense. “Yes, her name is Agigale Wolfenshot. She usually comes in to practice. Did you end up crossing paths with her?”
Falfaren titled her head. “Not exactly, we actually came across her body at the sand bed on the third hole. It looks like she was beat to death.”
The dwarf was silent. The elf looked at some of the cherrywood clubs on display at the window when she asked. “I take it you were close with her.”
Hartlin shrugged. “Not very well, but I know that she was a fierce competitor. Agigale never liked it when anyone game into her game. I admit that it is a bit heartbreaking because she wanted to win the tournament.”
Falfaren and Melissa looked at each other as they both asked,” What tournament?”
Harlin looked at a sword that was displayed on the wall. “To commemorates my six month anniversary of opening the course, I am holding a tournament. You see, the tournament will be taking place on the same that that the Battle of Barebones took place hundreds of years ago.”
Falfaren raised an eyebrow. “The Battle of Barebones was a conflict between dwarves and ogres, or something like that?”
Melissa shook her head. “Actually, it was a conflict between the two merchants that settled in this region. Apparently there was dispute about payment and shares of treasure the merchants had found in a nearby dragon’s cave.”
Hartlin nodded as a beardless, muscular dwarf walked in. Behind him was a tall, male elf and a human woman wearing a red dress.
“Corin, what is this about?” asked the owner of the golf course.
Corin let out a breath. “I tried to keep them from coming up here Uncle Hartlin, but they insisted.”
Falfaren and Melissa stood back as the male elf stepped forward and said. “This course is unsanitary. You have gophers running around, digging holes.”
“And pixies coming from the forest, causing trouble. Look what they did to my arm,” added the woman, showing her wrist that was covered in scratches.
Hartlin shook his head. “Lord and Lady Winddelver, you have my deepest apologies.”
The elf addressed as Lord Windelver looked at Falfaren and Melissa. “I am sure these young ladies have also found this course to be atrocious.”
Melissa shrugged her shoulders. “Other than the dead body we found, I would say this course is adequate.”
Both Lord and Lady Windelver looked at each other. Mrs. Windelver said,” A body, this is worse situation than we previously thought.”
Lord Windelver nodded and looked at Harlin. “Mark our word, this course will be shut down.”
“But you can’t, not before the tournament,” Harlin objected as the couple was walking out of the club house.
Lady Windelver looked back at the dwarf. “If we have our way, there will be no tournament.”
Harlin sighed walked to his office as Corin went to the back of the counter. “This course has been open only for six months, and now it is going to be shut down.”
Falfaren kept her attention focused on the door. “Who was that?”
Corin leaned close to the elf and the halfling. “That was Zelawin Windelver and his wife Gretta. They are artifact collectors who come here to play. Whenever they have a problem, or just want information about the course, they come to me, although they have not been able to give me a moment’s peace for the last two days.”
Melissa examined a couple of the clubs. “It seemed the woman mentioned a pixie. Who would she be talking about?”
Corin tapped his fingers on the table. “Tormie is one of the pixies who live in the forests that surround the golf course. He and his people have a tendency of pestering us and our customers.”
Falfaren tipped her fedora as she looked at Melissa. “The crime scene, then we should see if we can talk to this pixie.”
III
Falfaren examined the bruises on the body and brushed some of the sand away while Melissa was looking around the trees that were four feet away from the sand bed. The halfling glanced at some notches that were scratched into the tree’s bark. She looked at the next tree and noticed the same type of notches. “I wonder if the pixies who lived in the forest made some of these, just like on the Windelver woman’s arm. Have you found anything?”
Falfaren traced her finger over the gnome’s forehead. “This feels like it was caved in, like someone hit her several times in the same spot.”
Melissa jumped into the sand bed and looked at the corpse. She stared at the arms, and saw two of the bruises had jagged indents in the center. “These could have been caused a club.”
Falfaren looked at the bruises. “But where is this club?. It is possible that the killer could have beaten Agigale with her own club and could have taken it.”
“Or hidden it somewhere,” added Melissa. She took another look at the tree and noticed a small and slender winged man sitting on a tree branch.
Melissa approached the man while Falfaren stood behind her. “Who are you and how long have you been there?”
Falfaren smiled and answered,” It is obvious that this Tormie. Unfortunately sir, but you are trespassing on an investigation.”
The pixie straightened his spiky blue hair and said. “Excuse me, but you are the ones who seem to be trespassing. These trees are the property of my ancestors.”
“And this golf course is the property of Harlin,” Falfaren argued before approaching the pixie with her putting iron.
The pixie held up his hands to try and calm the elf. “ Listen, my name is Tormie Wingspinner and I am the chief of the pixies who live in this forest.”
Falfaren pointed to the body. “I see, and Chief Tormie, you would not know anything about the death of Miss Agigale, would you?”
The pixie flew over to the sand bed and looked into it. “Not really, but I do know something about the life of Miss Agigale. She was not the easiest person to get along with on the course. She hated it whenever someone would interfere with her game.”
Melissa looked at the pixie and asked,” And how you know this?”
Tormie paused for a moment, then answered,” I watch things and hear things from the trees. On more than one occasion, this gnome would shout out loud whenever someone was moving too slow. The last time she argued with someone, they had to call Corin over.”
“And do you know Gretta Windelver?” questioned Falfaren.
Tormie let out a snort. “Of course I know that one. that old hag and her husband are always walking around like they own the course. They are not even good golfers, always hitting the balls into the forest.”
“She accused you of attacking her.”
Tormie flew right next to Falfaren. “Is that what she told you? Did she mention that she came at me with her grass driver. I could only fight back with my longnose driver. If you excuse me ladies, I have to see to my people. Perhaps you both should watch yourselves.”
As the pixie flew away, Melissa turned to Falfaren. “Windelver did not attacking him.”
Falfaren nodded and watched the pixie disappear into the forest. “He also said that he fought back with his club, not his hands.”
Just as they were about to lreturn to Agigale’s body, they saw Corin approaching them. The dwarf had a somber look on his face. “Ladies, I just found another body at the ninth hole.”
IV
Falfaren and Melissa spent two hours around the dead body of a slender half-orc that was six inches away from the ninth hole. The elf found similar bruises on the body while Melissa noticed small claw marks near the nasal and eye cavity.
“Do you think it is the same person who did this?” asked Corin.
Falfaren shrugged as she followed Melissa around the hole. “Who did you say this man was?”
“He was William Bloodclaw, one of the golfers who had sent us a letter saying he was going to enter the tournament.”
Falfaren raised an eyebrow. “How widely known was this tournament?”
Corin shrugged. “Harlin announced it three weeks ago. He sent letters to several inns around the region. “William was the third to arrive and officially sign up for the tournament.”
The elf smiled.” I take it the Windelvers were the first two to sign up.”
As Corin nodded, Melissa let out a shout as she reached into the hole and pulled out what appeared to be a metal tee. “I think we may have found something.”
The halfling brought it over to the dwarf. “It appears to be a small metal tee. Corin, do you sell these at the shop?”
The dwarf shook his head. “No, but I do recognize the tiny lightning bolt on the top. This is something that belonged to the Thunderspear orc tribes from the west, possibly a dart.”
Both Falfaren and Melissa looked at the dwarf before he added,” Before I came to work for Harlin, I was a member of the Lore Seekers.”
Melissa pointed her finger at the dwarf. “I have heard of them. They travel the world looking for historical artifacts.
Corin nodded. “Yes, but that was another lifetime ago for me.”
Falfaren looked around and said,” We may have to convince Harlin to close the course for a day or two. Just enough to give us the time we need to solve the murders.”
The dwarf shrugged. “I can talk to Harlin, but he is pretty stubborn. He wants to make sure the players get as much practice before the tournament.”
Falfaren looked at the body. “That is admirable, but if more bodies keep appearing there will be no competitors left for the tournament.”
The dwarf sighed and walked away, before muttering to himself.
V
At sunset, Falfaren and Melissa were approached by Harlin at the clubhouse. “Corin told me what you both had in mind. If closing the course for a night means these murders will be solved, then I will go along with it.”
Falfaren smiled and patted Harlin’s shoulder. “You will not regret this Harlin.
“If it helps, you can look around here. Just let me know if you find anything,” the owner said before walking out of the door. Melissa quietly walked behind the counter while Falfaren examined some of the putting cleeks. “Do you think the club could here?”
Falfaren shook her head as she examined a set of steel irons that were on display in the shop’s window. “Nothing I found seems to match the bruises we found on the bodies, though I think I may have to purchase a set of clubs before we are done.”
The halfling smirked as she opened a drawer and placed a stack of papers on the counter. “Sadly Ireniana, you will need more than the right set of clubs before you are able to beat me.”
“But having the right set does help.”
Melissa flipped through the papers until she noticed a crudely drawn map in the middle of the stack. “That it does, but look what I found.”
As she placed the map on the table, Melissa and Falfaren looked over the map. The elf traced her finger around several black dots on the map. “This resembles the golf course, except it has no boundaries of where the holes, the sand beds, or the lakes are at.”
Falfaren looked at the note and shook her head, remembering the receipt Harlin had written them that morning. “It is not Harlin’s handwriting.”
Melissa looked at her friend. “Could it be Corin’s map?”
The elf looked at the map once more, noticing two areas outlined in red ink. “There are a couple of areas that are marked. One of them is near where William’s body was found. The other appears to be on the path to the eleventh hole.”
Melissa put the map back in the drawer. “Then it is off to the eleventh hole, after some supper of course.”
VI
Falfaren and Melissa arrived at the hole just as the sun was going down. The elf was the first to find small wooden steaks planted into the ground. “What could these be for?”
Melissa walked six steps away from Falfaren and found a bent steak in the grass. “Whoever planted these markers here was looking for something.”
Falfaren nodded and grabbed the steak closest to her foot. As soon as she pulled it from the ground, a surge of electricity went up her arm and tossed it to the ground. “Whoever put these in the ground does not want them to be found.”
Falfaren walked towards her friend, but stopped as she felt a sharp tip penetrate through her coat and into her left shoulder. She bit her lip as she pulled the arrow shaft from her shoulder. “Someone knows we are here.”
Melissa reached onto her belt and pulled her dagger. She looked to Falfaren, who was holding her putter like a sword. When she noticed the halfling’s confused look, Falfaren rolled her eyes. “It can be used as a weapon.”
The elf turned to her left, barely avoiding the arrow that zipped past her head. Once the arrow hit a nearby tree, she noticed a figure dressed in black hiding in the bushes. “Six feet in front of me Melissa.”
The halfling looked past Falfaren and saw the shooter. She tossed the dagger towards the figure, who screamed as the dagger went through their hand. The stranger pulled the dagger from their hand, tossed it and their bow to the ground, then began running into the forest.”
Melissa ran towards the bushes to retrieve her dagger. “Should we follow them?”
Falfaren shook her head as Melissa approached her, carrying both weapons. “My dear Melissa, I think we best get back to the club house. I think we have one of the murder weapons.”
Melissa raised an eyebrow. “The bow?”
The elf showed her the wavy tip of the arrow that had struck her. “This arrow tip is what made the indent inside of the bruises on both William and Agigale.”
“Then we should get to the club house. Maybe Corin would know something about how these arrows were made.”
VII
When Melissa and Falfaren arrived at the club house, they found a perky blond haired halfling standing behind the counter, cleaning one of the clubs. When she noticed the elf and the other halfling, she shook her head. “Can I help you ladies?”
Falfaren waved her hand. “We are looking for Harlin. Who might you be?”
“I am Tara and I work the evening shift for Mr. Harlin. He left an hour ago, but he still may be wandering the course.”
The elf looked at her friend, then back at Tara. “You say he may be wandering around the course?”
Tara nodded as she placed the club aside. “Mr. Harlin likes to walk around the course and inspect it before he goes home.”
Falfaren was about to ask another question when Harlin walked through the door. The elf noticed the way he wiped his face with his sleeve. “What is wrong Harlin?”
The dwarf walked towards Falfaren and Melissa. “Thank goodness I found you both here. It is Corin. I found his body near the sand bed where you found Agigale.”
Falfaren looked at Harlin. “You found Corin’s body?”
The dwarf nodded. “It was full of arrows and scratches. And the bastard just left him there.”
Tara was speechless at the dwarf’s words. The elf looked at Melissa and said. “We have to go look at this. Harlin, you come with us.”
Harlin nodded, then looked at Tara. “You best protect yourself. The killers may be around here.”
“I have the dog Mr. Harlin. You best help Corin.”
That said, the dwarf followed Melissa and Falfaren out the door.
VIII
Falfaren and Melissa stared at Corin’s body while Harlin stood back, armed with two long-nose woods. Melissa was the first to notice the four arrows stuck in the dwarf’s back. Harlin turned around and noticed a group of six golfers watching Falfaren and Melissa look around Corin’s body. “Ladies, we have some company.”
The elf tipped her fedora and glanced at the crowd. “I heard them arrive Harlin. It is no use hiding it any longer. We will have to tell them of the dead bodies.”
Before Harlin could address the crowd, whispers filled the air. Harlin held his hands up, hoping to calm his customers. “Please folks, we only found these bodies today.”
Gretta Windelver emerged from the ground. “So we have more dead bodies, do we? Well Harlin, it seems you will have to shut down this abomination of a course after all.”
This brought shouts and cursing from the rest of the crowd. As they began to quiet, Falfaren looked at Gretta and said,” It is convient for you to be here, but I do not see your husband.”
The woman sneered at the elf. “Zelawin is taking care of some business.”
Falfaren smirked as Lord Windelver came through the crowd and stepped next to his wife. She glanced at the bandage he wore on his right hand and her eyes widened. “ Lady Windelver, I can tell you that there are three victims, but you know . The first two bodies have bruises However, they appeared to also have small puncture wounds where the bruises cover them. Yet Corin’s body displays several puncture wounds.”
Melissa walked over to the Windelvers. “May I have your clubs please?”
Zelawin reached into his bag and handed the halfling two of his clubs. Melissa glanced at them and looked at Falfaren. Lord Windelver smiled as the halfling stared at them. “As you can see, these clubs are clean.”
The halfling tossed one of the clubs to her partner. Falfaren looked them over and shook her head. “These were not the clubs you had in the clubhouse this morning.”
“They are back at the club house being cleaned,” Melissa realized. “Tara mentioned that a woman came in and insisted they be cleaned.”
Gretta went back and forth between the halfling and the elf. “Yes I brought them to the clubhouse. What about the pixie? He could have done this.”
Falfaren swung the golf club as it were a sword. “We spoke to Tormie and he said he attacked you with his club, not his hands.”
Harlin stared at the husband and wife. “You both have been trying to shut this course and tournament down, and yet you say you care about the tournament.”
Falfaren shook her head. “They care about the course, but only because is supposedly hides treasure from the Battle of Bare Bones. “
Zelawin stared accusingly at the elf. “How would I known about some treasure? ”
Falfaren said. “When you first arrived here, Corin told you about it. You and your wife could not stop leaving him alone, asking him for information.”
Harlin looked at Falfaren and Melissa. “That may explain Corin’s death, but what about Agigale and William?”
Falfaren set the club on the ground as if it were a cane. “They killed Agigale because she stumbled upon them digging up part of the course. Tormie told us about an argument Agigale had with someone at the third hole. That someone was you, and during the struggle, she scratched your arm up. When you saw Tormie, you attacked him with your own club.“
Melissa pointed to Gretta’s arms. “You said that Tormie attacked you, but those scratches are too big and too few in number for a pixie’s fingers. After you killed her, Zelawin brought her body back to the sand bed and shot her several times to make sure she was dead. And then you ran to the club house tried to accuse the pixies of attacking you.”
One of the golfers stepped forward and asked,” What about William?”
Falfaren looked at Zelawin and showed the pin she had found. “William must have caught Zelawin or Gretta digging. But rather than attack him, you persuaded him to play a round with you. You spoke of the history of a tribe of orcs, let him hold the dart. After he sank his ball into the hole and reached to pick it up, you struck him in the head your club only this time you did it with a wood.. Then you finished him the same way you finished Agigale. You dropped the tee in the hole and left it with William’s ball.”
Zelawin turned and looked at the crowd. “Arrow heads, and golf clubs as weapons? Where is your proof? Anyone could have these shot these victims from a tree.”
Melissa pulled out an arrow from her coat and showed it. “The tip of this arrow is jagged, like the holes in the bodies. This is also the same kind of arrow you used to attack us just a few hours ago.”
“That is until Melissa threw her dagger into your arm, or do you have another reason for the bandage on your arm Lord Windelver?”
Zelawin sneered before pulling up his sleeve. “I bruised my hand while hitting the driving range just before sunset.”
Falfaren walked over and looked at the bandage, finding no sign of blood. She looked up at Zelawin, who smiled wickedly.
Gretta looked at Falfaren and sneered. “As you can see Miss Falfaren, my husband could not have attacked you.”
Before Falfaren or Melissa could say anything, Tara came running up, holding a black and a light brown longnose club. “Lady Windelver, I have your clubs.”
Gretta and Zelawin reached out to the blond halfling, only for Melissa to run past them and snatch the longnose clubs from Tara. She tossed them to Falfaren, who pointed to two dents on the smooth side of the darker longnose club. “Interesting, how did these dents get here? You knew if the tournament was shut down, you would be able to dig through the course all you want.”
The husband and wife were speechless. Just as they were about to walk away, they were grabbed by two large humans. One of them leaned close and said,” William was a friend of mine. If you are guilty, you are both going to pay for this.”
Harlin sighed as he watched the crowd surround the Windelvers. “I will have to call the authorities to pick them up before the crowd tears them apart.”
Falfaren held up her hand. “I will make sure no harm comes to them for the moment. Well Melissa. It looks like the tournament is going to happen after all.”
IX
Two days later, Falfaren and Melissa watched from the sidelines as Harlin concluded his opening speech for the tournament. When the dwarf spotted them and walked over. “Ladies, I am grateful for what you have done.”
Falfaren shrugged and pointed to the white banner and read it. “The First Corin Idolspar Memorial Tournament.”
“It was nice for you to name it after him,” Melissa added.
Harlin smiled as he brought over a large keg. “Drink up ladies. After all, I paid a pretty copper to host this tournament.”
Falfaren nodded as the dwarf handed her a glass. “Opening and maintaining a golf course must cost you a lot of money.”
Harlin paused for a moment, then looked at the women. “It did at first, but I make enough from the course fees to keep it open. Also, when I first came here several years ago, I came across a cache of buried treasure and when I obtained it all, I opened up this place. If you excuse me, I a tournament to run.”
Both Falfaren and Melissa watched the dwarf as he walked over and spoke with some of the spectators. Falfaren looked to her friend. “Shall we watch this tournament Melissa?”
The halfling nodded as she grabbed a glass. “I think that would be a grand idea Ireniana. After all, you might learn something after watching these competitors.”
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