Clockwork Chronicles of Zahn

12) While the Cat’s Away

Sir Markus was taking advantage of the distraction caused by the attack on the former street orphan. He made his way down some back alleys and other footpaths to a location he had painstakingly kept secret. All the while he was keeping an eye out to make absolutely sure he wasn’t being followed.

When he finally arrived at his destination, he reached into his pocket and took out a small key which unlocked the gate which led to a mausoleum in an out of the way cemetery fallen in disuse. He followed the short flagstone path leading to the front doors of the ancient crypt and retrieved a larger key from his other pocket and unlocked the doors.

When the doors opened, they didn’t squeak as one would expect of such an ancient structure. The doors were easy to open as well. He checked one more time to ensure there were no observers as he carefully closed the doors behind him.

He then proceeded down a long-wrought iron spiral stairway to a secret place far below the cemetery and the city. At the base of the stairway was an underground passage leading in two different directions. He took the passage to the left and walked about ten paces where he paused at a stone gargoyle face on the wall to the left.

He whispered a magic password and waited till he heard a muffled click then he continued on down the passage. Finally, he made his way to a pair of bronze doors with several symbols in relief on them.

He placed his left hand over his heart and his right hand a specific symbol then another and another until he heard the doors click and then swing open. This led to a large, gothic looking, chamber holding the Shadow Battalion waiting in neat rows and columns.

The chamber was dark save for a small area on the far side where there were two gas light lamps lit. The lights revealed a single disheveled looking person sitting at a drafting table busily scribbling notes on a sheet of paper.

Sir Markus walked past the rows of sentinels over to the work area and asked, “So have you made any progress Oliver?”

Oliver Curiosa jumped at the sound of Sir Markus’ voice and said, “You about gave me a death fright!”

“Hardly. You are not allowed to die until you solve our little problem.”

Curiosa looked at Sir Markus with a look which seemed like he was affronted. But then he shook himself and said, “Yes, Quite.”

Sir Markus asked again impatiently, “Have you made any progress Oliver?”

Curiosa said, “Always. Even with setbacks there’s progress. At least I know other ways that do not work.”

Sir Markus closed his eyes and mentally counted to ten to check his temper then said, “Stop making excuses and playing word games. I am not Lord James who thought too much of himself to realize he was being handled. I at least have an understanding, although basic as it may be, of the forces and mechanics we’re dealing with here.” He took in a deep breath and asked again, “So, have you made any progress?”

“Actually yes.”

“Alright, what then?”

“I have figured out the secrets to the original sentinels are hiding somewhere in the Wingdama Tomes. Which, unfortunately, we do not have.”

“Do you know where they are?”

“Of course, Sir Markus. They are locked in the restricted section of the Victoria I Library.”

Sir Markus closed his eyes again to check his temper and frustration then said, “And why haven’t you sent word to me so I could try to access them?”

“And how should I have done that?”

Sir Markus reached over to a wooden box affixed to the desk Curiosa was working at and flipped the top open to reveal a telegraph keypad, “Like I told you when I set you up down here, with this!” he snapped.

“Oh.” Curiosa said absently then a little louder, “Oh. So that’s why you haven’t been around because you were expecting me to telegraph you?”

“No, I haven’t been around because it’s dangerous right now. You have no idea what would happen to us if we are caught in this endeavor. What happened to High Lord James was merciful compared to what fate awaits us if we’re caught.”

Curiosa mumbled something under his breath then said, “All I wanted to do is follow the footsteps of the great Wingdama Aling. When I first signed on to High Lord James’ enterprise, I had no idea he was planning regicide and treason.”

Sir Markus shrugged and said, “Well then, simply explain to the judge, who will most likely be Her Eminence. I’m sure she’ll understand you just wanted to pursue academic goals.”

“Really?”

“No, you fool, she will order you up the thirteen steps after having you questioned by the likes of Colonel Cooper who will rip whatever information, as well as your mind, away from you!”

“Well, that’s hardly fair.”

“Life is not fair. Listen, if you stick with it and me for just a little while longer we can put ourselves in a position so we’ll be untouchable by the likes of Her Eminence or even the immortal Cooper.”

“He’s immortal?”

Sir Markus sighed and looked up in the air in frustration, “For someone so intelligent you lack the sense the creator gave a mouse.”

“Mice don’t have sense. They have more instinct and not sense…”

Sir Markus slammed the palm of his hand on the drafting table and said, “Stay on point here! Cooper couldn’t simply walk into the shadow’s lair single handedly destroy it and all within then walk away unless he were immortal.” He then threw his hands up in the air and asked, “Which tome? There are ten you know.”

Curiosa looked at Sir Markus and just blinked for a moment then seemed to catch up, “Oh, you’re talking about the Wingdama Tomes, right, right.” He shuffled through the pile of notes he had haphazardly spread about his desk and picked out a piece of paper scanned it and said, “It should be in Volume Two… or maybe Three. I’m not exactly sure.”

Sir Markus thought, ‘I hope he’s right, it’s not a simple thing to just go into the restricted section of the library and just check out a book.’ He asked out loud, “And if I am not able to bring the books to you what should I look for and copy down for you?”

“Well, it should be referenced under the codex base of sentinels or guardians. It should be obvious once you see it.”

“Right. Is there anything else you need?”

“Well you could have your minions start bringing a better variety of food. One can only eat so much vegemite.”

Sir Markus gritted his teeth to keep from snapping at Curiosa again and said, “I mean for the sentinels. You can tell them yourself. I told them to give you whatever you wanted for food.”

“Oh really?” he shook his head and said, “So I could have had beef all this time?”

Sir Markus thought, ‘As soon as this project is done and I have my army, I’m going to kill this man myself.’ Out loud, he replied “If there isn’t any thing else you need for the project I’ll be going. If you do think of something else.” He tapped on the telegraph box.

“Oh yes, right, right, you had that put in for me.”

On another side of town, among some dark alley ways and passages few dare to tread. Lord Joseph Asbury made his way to a destination of his own. He was dressed in old, rough looking clothes trying to cover his identity. However, his suit of clothes did little to disguise the fact of his nobility. He still carried himself as one who had people bow and scrape for him his whole life.

The occupants of this side of town still didn’t look intimidated by his carriage or manner, however. They would gut him and strip him of belongings in half a heartbeat if they were of a mind to. However, this wasn’t the first time he walked this way. The inhabitants knew who he was and why he was there, which made his disguise a moot point. They knew too he was under the protection of Her. None who lived there would even think twice about crossing Her.

The hidden were remnants of those creatures and beings inhabiting this land long before men came to this continent. Most thought they were all gone now, save the odd ghost story or two told around a campfire to test the courage of children. However, there were still those of the hidden who were left behind. Of course, the Fae were seen in the deep dark forests of the world by the hapless and unlucky travelers but the Fae were the least dangerous of the hidden. Of course, the rarer ones were once called by men as elves and such. But Her, now She was the last of Her kind.

Lord Joseph entered a shop with only had mythical and other esoteric symbols marking its door. No words of the writings of man were visible.

Behind the counter to the left of the door stood a rather bent and ancient looking man covered with warts and other unseemly growths. When he turned his head to look at Lord Joseph his wiry hair briefly revealed his pointed ears. His slate gray eyes seemed to miss nothing. It made Lord Joseph feel like his very soul was being examined.

The Troll smiled a crooked toothed smile and said, “She is expecting you my Lord.” And he motioned toward the back of the shop.

Lord Joseph went through the curtained entrance to the back room and every time he went this way, he felt as if he walked through a wall of ice that chilled his soul. Once through the curtains he followed a stone stairway down to a workshop of sorts where several beings whose appearance defied identification were at work on several projects including some twisted and obscene looking clockworks.

Once he passed through the workshop, he went through another curtain to a throne room. Sitting in the dimly lit room on a gothic and twisted throne was a woman with vibrant blue skin with tattoos of iridescent blue mystic symbols seeming to glow in the lamp light all over every area of exposed skin. Her shock of white hair on her head was echoed in her long cat like canine teeth that were visible when she smiled. Most people expect demons to have red skin and look all brute force and overbearing. Her appearance belied all of this.

She smiled and said, “Well Lord Joseph, you grace our presence again. And what may We do for you this time?”

Lord Joseph couldn’t help but feel unnerved by the display of her canine teeth. He often thought she did this on purpose. He gathered his thoughts and tried to not show his fear. He then bowed and said, “Actually, I am in need of two things your grace. First, I need a way to gain the admiration and love of the one I seek. The second I need a way to expend with an immortal.”

“Well Joseph, you don’t ask for much do you?” she said chuckling. Even Her chuckle grated on his soul. Much like fingernails on the chalkboard of Hell. She got a serious look on her face and she asked, “Are you prepared to pay the price?”

“Yes, I will do whatever I must.”

She pursed her lips and nodded and looked thoughtful. Even the look in her eyes as she seemed to calculate the cost made him uneasy.

As if reading his mind, she chuckled again and said, “Oh relax Lord Joseph. You are no good to me dead. So, I won’t be asking for your life. And since I already have your soul, I guess I will now require your blood.”

Lord Joseph thought, ‘Well, that doesn’t sound so bad’. Then he held out his hand took out his belt knife and cut his palm and held it out for her and said, “Here, it is yours.”

“No Lord Joseph, I don’t mean in that way.” She then stood from her throne and stepped down over to him. She moved with an otherworldly grace and fluidity which left no doubt as to her inhuman origin as She reached out and took his uncut hand and conducted him to Her chambers. “But the cut is a sweet thought.” As She took his other hand and licked at his blood.