The Last Citadel

by Kevin Ashman

  ‘The accounts!’ said Pelosus numbly.

  ‘Yes the accounts, you are no more to her than a ledger entry. I’m sorry, Pelosus but you have to focus here. The prize is life for all in the Citadel, not an impossible relationship with the Governess of the Courtesans.’ He placed his hand gently on the old man’s shoulder. ‘Now, let’s look for this door.’

  ----

  Many of the walls within Pelosus’s chambers were clad in beautiful carved panels and they concentrated their efforts there, seeking any sign of a loose panel or hidden doorway that may conceal an entrance. They even removed the scrolls from their alcoves to search behind them, all to no effect. When they finished examining the walls, they turned their attention to the floor, searching for a trapdoor in the flagstones, again with no luck.

  ‘Told you,’ said Pelosus, ‘no other entrance.’

  ‘Let’s think about this,’ replied the clerk, ‘where were you when you became aware of her presence?’

  ‘Sitting in this chair,’ he replied.

  ‘Right, you were sitting there, so we can be pretty certain she didn’t appear from anywhere in front of you, you would have seen her, right?’

  ‘Correct!’ said Pelosus.

  ‘Therefore she must have come from this quarter of the room, somewhere near the door.’

  ‘Perhaps she’s got her own key.’

  ‘I don’t think so, for the simple reason you would have heard the door opening.’

  ‘Fair point.’

  ‘So we can assume the entrance is in this area,’ he said throwing his arms wide, indicating the wall containing the door.

  ‘We’ve already checked,’ said Pelosus with a sigh.

  ‘Well, we will check again,’ he answered before they both resumed the examination, this time in minute detail, the clerk on his hands and knees checking out every crack or mark on the floor. Suddenly he called out.

  ‘Pelosus, come here,’ he said, ‘Look at this.’ He pointed at mark on the floor, curving about two foot into the room.

  ‘What made this mark?’

  ‘It’s just where the bottom of the door rubs on the floor when it’s opened.’

  ‘It can’t be,’ said the clerk.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘It’s too far out; it is at least two inches past where the arc of the door edge would swing.’

  Pelosus opened the door to check and sure enough, the mark on the floor was two inches further in to the room. He took a pencil from the table and continued the fragment of the circle toward the doorway, careful to keep the arc as true as possible. When the arc had been drawn to its natural conclusion, it met up with the inside of the doorframe where it met the wall.

  The clerk laid his head on the floor examining the bottom of the doorframe.

  ‘It’s not bedded in,’ he said. ‘There is a tiny gap. I think this frame was meant to move.’

  ‘That doesn’t make sense,’ said Pelosus. ‘Why would the frame move? You wouldn’t gain anything.’ They opened and closed the door a few times, but the frame remained solid in place. Opening the door again, they examined the passage leading through the wall from the corridor to the doorway. Like all other doorways, the walls were over four foot thick and built from solid granite blocks. Again, the clerk tried to move the frame without any success before Pelosus, who had been watching in silence, spoke up.

  ‘Shut the door,’ he said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Come back in here and shut the door,’ he said again.

  The clerk did as he was bid, and they both stood looking at the inside of the solid door. The clerk thumped the palm of his hand against the door in frustration. ‘I know it’s here.’ he shouted, ‘but where?’ He turned around, surprised to see Pelosus standing with a smirk on his face.

  ‘What are you smiling about?’ he asked before adding, ‘you’ve worked it out haven’t you?’

  Pelosus nodded.

  ‘You were right,’ he said, ‘in fact we were both right. There is only one door, yet there are two doors.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said the clerk.

  ‘I believe the frame does indeed swing into the room, though as yet, I can’t see the purpose,’ continued the Stargazer, ‘all we need to do is unlock it.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘With your key.’

  ‘Enough,’ said the clerk, ‘you are teasing me now, please explain.’

  ‘It’s simple,’ said Pelosus, ‘the door is locked, but we have the key. In fact, we both have keys. We’ve always had the keys.’

  ‘I only have the key for my own room and for that lock there,’ answered the clerk.

  ‘The one lock has a dual purpose,’ said Pelosus, ‘if I am right, the door contains one bolt that locks the door to the frame, and another bolt that locks the frame to the wall. It is this bolt we need to disengage.’

  ‘With you so far,’ said the clerk.

  ‘If I am correct,’ said Pelosus, ‘we have to first lock the door into the frame, and then unlock the frame from the wall.’

  ‘What good will that do?’ asked the clerk, ‘it will still open into the same corridor.’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Pelosus ‘but there is one way to find out.’ He walked to the door and placed the large mortise key in the lock, turning it securely into the locked position. He looked at the clerk. ‘Here goes,’ he said and pushed the key further into the door with a resounding clunk! The clerk’s eyes widened in surprise, he hadn’t thought of that!

  ‘Let’s try again,’ said Pelosus, and turned the key the opposite direction. Surprisingly it turned easily and it was with some satisfaction that he heard the faint sound of internal mechanisms falling into place. ‘Try it,’ he said.

  The clerk needed no more invitation and pulled gingerly on the handle of what should have been a securely locked door. Not only did the door respond easily to his pull, but the frame came as well, the whole assembly swinging smoothly and silently inward, released from its usual fixing to the solid stone reveal.

  The two men stared unbelievingly at the sight before them. It was obvious now, that the door frame was also attached to the bottom half of the panelling which covered the wall adjacent to the doorway, and as the whole thing swung inward, the lower panel also swung in, revealing a waist high opening carefully formed in the substructure.

  ‘Ingenious,’ gasped the clerk.

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Pelosus. ‘All this time, and we never knew.’

  ‘Why should we?’ asked the clerk, ‘our lot is to work and to serve. Who knows what untold secrets are known by the council?’

  ‘Where do you think it leads?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ he said, ‘but, we are wasting our time standing here, bring some candles.’

  ‘Wait,’ said the Stargazer, ‘let’s not be hasty. Petra or anyone else could be in the tunnel or around any corner and despite what we believe; the council still has the power of life or death.’

  ‘What are you saying?’

  ‘At the moment, we have the advantage here, we are aware of the tunnel, though not where it leads. Let’s not lose that in some rash action within the first few minutes. We should consider carefully the most opportune moment, when any council member are unlikely to be in this passage.’

  ‘Actually I agree,’ said the clerk, ‘and I know just the time.’

  ‘When?’

  ‘After the next council meeting. They usually stay long after the proceedings have drawn to a close, sharing the best that each of their towers can produce. The best wines, the sweetest cakes, the choicest cuts of Narwl steak, all are reserved for the council.’

  ‘What about Petra?’ asked Pelosus already dreading the answer.

  ‘Let’s just say, she arranges the entertainment.’

  ‘I don’t believe you.’

  ‘Believe what you want, I have seen it with my own eyes. They summoned me once in the middle of the night to answer some outrageous wager that was going on. I am no prude
Pelosus, but what I saw in that chamber that night made me blush. Anyway, the fact is that they often stay in the chamber until dawn the following day. If the meeting finishes at ten bells, that gives us at least eight hours to investigate the tunnel. What do you say?’

  ‘Agreed,’ said Pelosus, ‘though I still think you are wrong about Petra. She is far too classy for that.’

  The clerk’s eyes rose to the ceiling in mock frustration.

  ‘You are obsessed man,’ he said. ‘Now, let’s close this door before someone comes along.’

  ----

  Though Amber hadn’t realized it, she had spent several days in the tunnels and had been close to death through thirst and hunger. Over the next two days, she spent most of the time in Leona’s room as the young woman nursed her back to health. One morning, Kenzo came back from visiting his father and was pleased to see Amber up, dressed and drinking warm brew with Leona.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ he asked as he walked into the room.

  ‘Great,’ she said, ‘much stronger.’

  ‘We’ve been for a walk this morning,’ said Leona, ‘twice around the keep.’

  ‘Twice round the keep,’ said Kenzo feigning astonishment, ‘that must have taken hours.’

  ‘Ok, funny guy,’ said Amber, ‘don’t get smart. Do you want a beaker of brew?’

  ‘I’ll do it,’ he said.

  ‘No, please,’ she said, ‘I want to,’ and stood to put the pot back on the fire.

  Kenzo and Leona exchanged glances. Except for when she had first awoken, Amber had not mentioned her experience in the tunnels at all and they were getting worried. It was not healthy to keep it all boxed up inside.

  Amber made three fresh beakers of brew and they all sat on Leona’s bed sipping the warm liquid. Leona’s father had moved into a lady friend’s rooms for a few days, his journey eased by a few coins and a visit from Pelosus’s representative.

  ‘Should be able to go back home tomorrow,’ said Kenzo.

  ‘She can stay as long as she likes,’ said Leona. ‘I am quite comfortable in father’s bed for the time being.’

  ‘No, it’s okay,’ said Amber, ‘it will be good to see the rest of the gang again.’

  Silence fell again.

  ‘Amber?’ ventured Kenzo ‘There’s something we need to talk about and it may be a bit difficult for you.’

  She put her beaker down.

  ‘I’d rather not talk about it,’ she said.

  Kenzo took her hand.

  ‘I know it is difficult,’ he said, ‘but I need your help. All I want to do is ask you some questions. If it gets too hard we’ll stop but, it’s just that Leona and I want to get married and the only way we can afford it,’ he paused and looked at Leona before continuing, ‘the only way we can afford it is to find the body of your friend.’

  ‘Who, Crispin?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘There is a reward for finding him and if we can return his body then we will get five crowns. That’s enough to get married, buy a small place and set us all up in business.’

  ‘You want to sell his body,’ she said incredulously.

  ‘No, it’s not like that; our aim, my aim,’ he said, correcting himself, ‘was always to find him alive, but you always came first. When I found you, I had no idea he was anywhere near. Even if I did, it was probably too late.’

  ‘Why can’t we just leave him in peace?’ she asked.

  ‘Because there are others that are seeking him too,’ he said. ‘Nobody but us three knows he is dead, so the search goes on, but whatever happens, he will not be allowed to rest.’

  Leona interrupted.

  ‘From what I can gather, Amber,’ she said, ‘you are the only one who showed him friendship. I’m sure that given the choice he would rather you profit from this than anybody else.’

  ‘I am not going to lie to you, Amber,’ said Kenzo, ‘the money will be very welcome. But I am also intrigued as to why there is such a price on his head. Why was he so special that the Watchers and the council are so keen to find him?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Amber, ‘I just know that he was different.’

  ‘These are strange times, Amber,’ said Kenzo, ‘there’s martial law in Bastion; the reduction in water level has revealed a second city we never knew of and now the death of this strange boy. Somehow I think they are all linked and if the council and Watchers are so interested in Crispin, then I believe he may be the key. Perhaps if we find Crispin, even though it is too late for him, he may still be able to give us a clue as to what is going on.’

  ‘But how?’ asked Amber, ‘even if I knew how to find that horrible place again, you said it was under water. How could you get to him?’

  ‘Well, I have made some enquiries,’ he said, ‘and if I am correct, the water will soon fall again. When it does, the water in the tunnels will also recede and we should be able to find his body.’

  ‘When?’ asked Amber.

  ‘Moon-day,’ answered Leona, ‘in two days’ time.’

  Amber sipped her brew again and thought for a few minutes before replying.

  ‘I can’t tell you where he is,’ she said eventually, ‘it is too difficult to explain, but I can show you.’

  The statement sank in slowly.

  ‘I can’t take you back in there, Amber,’ he said, ‘it is too dangerous.’

  ‘You have no choice.’ she said, ‘I am the only one who knows where he is.’

  ‘But you were lost for days, why do you think you can find your way back.’

  ‘I got confused on the way out, I was panicking, but when Crispin first carried me into the tunnels…’

  Leona interrupted.

  ‘Crispin carried you in to the tunnels?’

  ‘Yes, I’ll explain later, but anyway, when he carried me in, I made a mental note of the twists and turns. I think I should be able to remember where he took me.’

  They fell silent one more time.

  ‘I don’t think you have a choice, Kenzo,’ said Leona eventually. ‘There’s no way you will find him in that maze. At least, Amber can take you to the approximate area, and then you will have a chance.’

  Kenzo stared at Amber.

  ‘Okay,’ he said, ‘we’ll do it, but this time we will go prepared.’

  ----

  Out in the city, the talk was of the forthcoming Moon-day. Though there had been rationing, it was not as bad as the people had feared and since the water had risen again, the feeling was that the worse was over and preparations were afoot for the monthly festival. Amber, Leona and Kenzo made what preparations they could for their journey into the catacombs, packing a rucksack with anything they may need. Skins of fresh water, a ball of string and a first aid kit in case of injuries, joined dried Narwl biscuits in the pack. Kenzo packed a thin blanket, explaining that if they found Crispin, they would wrap his body in the blanket to bring him back.

  ‘If his body has been underwater all this time, how will we be able to prove it is him?’ asked Leona when Amber was out of earshot.

  ‘The boy we seek has a hunchback,’ replied Kenzo, ‘I know of no other child in Bastion with such a deformity. If we find his body, I am confident the Watchers will meet their side of the bargain.’

  Finally, the preparations were complete and all they had to do was wait.

  ----

  Moon-day market went ahead as normal, though the atmosphere was distinctly more subdued than usual. Having had a taste of rationing, it seemed that everyone in the city had the same idea and tried to buy quantity rather than quality. The cheaper cuts of meat and the carts of biscuits were quickly cleared, while the more expensive wines and even some of the ales sold slowly. The Bakers in particular, struggled to sell their wares, with the luxuries they excelled in, virtually untouched on their carts as people planned their spending carefully.

  Amber and Leona rose late on Moon-day and sat by the window watching the gymnasts and acrobats of the artists going half-heartedly through routines that would n
ow, not be used. For the first time in living memory, the council had cancelled the carnival. Even after the dark days, when the rape of two teenage artists by a gang of drunken bakers started the three-day tower war, the carnivals continued. It was the one regular release from pressure that the populace enjoyed and the decision had not gone down well in the city. Finally, Kenzo appeared from the barracks and entered the room.

  ‘Well,’ he said, ‘we have waited long enough. Shall we go and find out?’ The three left the keep and walked down to the gates to see if the water had receded, only to find them shut and guarded by two soldiers.

  ‘What’s happening?’ asked Kenzo as he approached, ‘why are the gates shut?’

  ‘Fatman’s orders,’ said the soldier, ‘nobody allowed outside the city.’

  ‘But why, we only want to see the submerged buildings,’ said Kenzo. ‘Surely there’s no harm in that.’

  ‘Submerged buildings?’ laughed the guard. ‘You guys in the keep are really out of the loop aren’t you? It’s not submerged anymore, Kenzo, the water covering the buildings has gone.’

  ‘Gone, ‘he replied, ‘what do you mean, gone?’

  ‘Disappeared completely. Apart from a few pools, the buildings below the causeways are dry, and have been since this morning.’

  ‘How far has it fallen?’ asked Kenzo, ‘I mean, outside the towers, has all the water gone?’

  ‘Oh no, the sea is still there, but much lower than last month. The word is that the Hunters can only just about reach the sea to hunt the Narwl.’

  ‘Can we have a look?’ asked Kenzo, ‘after all, I am a guard.’

  The soldier considered carefully before answering.

  ‘Fatman said nothing about soldiers,’ he said, ‘you can go, but they,’ he indicated Leona and Amber, ‘will have to stay here.’

  ‘Ok,’ said Kenzo, he turned to the girls. ‘Wait here, I won’t be long.’ They nodded their agreement and sat on a nearby bench to wait.

  The duty guard opened the gates quickly.

  ‘Don’t be long,’ he said, ’you’re not exactly Fatman’s flavour of the month at the moment.’