by Bob Nailor
So this is how Azre was able to disappear so quickly, Jewyl thought.
Jopab stopped and slammed a clenched fist onto the wall. "There," he said. "That should stop them." The last glimmer of light disappeared.
"Unless they know how to open the door." Chardo leaned against the wall, catching his breath. "Which I'm sure they do."
"This escape is not known by very many," Jopab retorted. "I doubt even Lord Azre knows of its existence. He fled out the side entrance and nearly knocked me down."
Jewyl suddenly felt awkward. Who is this man? Her mind raced. How does he know so much about secret tunnels within this castle?
"It's dark in here," Chardo whispered in jest. "Oooooh."
"Knock it off," Jewyl jabbed an elbow, making contact with Chardo’s chest. "My eyes can see some things, so it isn't totally dark." She scrutinized the walls. "Is that a glow?"
"Yes, and fortunately it isn't that strong so we are safe. Follow me," Jopab whispered. "We need to get moving. This was a secret passageway, but since they saw us go in, they will figure it out sooner or later."
Jewyl's brows knitted together. She was reluctant to allow another to take charge, but relented. "Okay, lead on. Still, what I want to know is how we're going to get out of the city once we get out of the castle?"
"I agree," Chardo chimed in. "You're dressed as a guard, Jopab, but we're going to stick out as terribly obvious. I'm a man in a woman's dress and Jewyl is practically dressed for marriage."
"Enough!" Jewyl's voice echoed in the passageway. "The garment is not white, and the gems are not rubies."
"Lower your voices. There is more to this passageway than meets the eye," Jopab replied as he slowed and his fingers played on the wall.
"What's going on?" Chardo asked, bumping into Jewyl.
"Ah, there it is," Jopab replied, and stooped down.
"What is?" Jewyl asked before tumbling over Jopab in the darkness as Chardo pushed forward. "By Rorc's ass!"
"Profanity is unbecoming of you, Jewyl." Chardo gazed at Jewyl and Jopab on the floor. "What are you two doing down there? I don't think we really have the time for that."
"It was your buddy's fault," Jewyl replied. "Trust me, I'm not interested."
"I had to read the instructions to know where the release mechanism was located. It is here on the floor." Jopab scrambled about, his hands playing across the stone floor. "I had it just before she fell over me. Ah, here it is."
The sound of a stone being moved grated loudly in the darkness.
"Help me," Jopab said. "Push against the wall."
The wall moved and light glowed around the section.
"Another good push!"
Chardo and Jewyl grunted as they pushed. Jopab peeked around the edge of the hidden door.
"Good, the room is empty," he said.
"Where are we?" Jewyl asked.
"This is what they call an Exchange Room." Jopab strolled into the room, picked up the candle on the table, and held it to the flame of the dimly lighted lantern above them.
Jewyl and Chardo followed Jopab into the room.
"Would you mind? We need to put the door back into place." Jopab nodded at the gaping hole.
Jopab and Chardo leaned against the large stone door. The section grated back into place, moving much easier than when opening.
"That doorway hasn't been used in a long time." Jopab shook his head. "At least, now we can rest here and not be bothered." Jopab leaned closer to the hidden doorway and placed his ear against the stone. "This should confuse anyone who is lucky enough to follow us."
Jewyl quickly surveyed the room: a table with the candle, four chairs, an overhead lantern, a shelf with a couple of jugs, some wrapped packages, and an array of mugs.
Chardo knelt before Jewyl and fiddled with the metal anklets she wore. "I should have these off in less than–" The metal fell to the floor. "Picking locks isn't really all that hard."
"Why are you helping us?" Jewyl stared at Jopab.
"Please," Jopab whispered while placing an index finger to his lips. "Keep your voice low so we may hear if we're being followed." He reached and pulled a jug and three mugs from the shelf. "Drink?" He poured wine into three mugs. "Why am I helping you?" Jopab reiterated, his voice barely a whisper. "First, Chardo helped me get out of that dungeon. Of course, the main reason is simple. I've been searching for you, Jewyl."
Chardo raised an eyebrow.
"You're searching for me?" Jewyl repeated. "Why?"
Jopab smiled then sipped from his mug, watching. "Did you not say that you are Jewyl of Shiyula? The princess? Let me put it this way – the Princess of Shiyula?"
Jewyl sat in a chair and sipped her wine, coyly watching him. She placed the cup on the table and idly traced her index finger around the lip of it. "I can't deny my heritage." She lifted the mug to her lips.
Jopab lifted the small loaf of bread as a question to the group if they wanted some. "Are you not also known as The Emerald?"
She choked, sputtered, almost dropped the cup and stared at Jopab.
"You dare to call me, a princess of Shiyula, an assassin?" Jewyl stood up and grabbed the sword against her hip.
"Hush," Jopab said. He again lifted a finger to his lips. "You must learn to keep your voice down. All walls have ears in this castle. I only repeat that which I've learned. If you are truly The Emerald, then my search is over."
"What need do you have of an assassin?" Chardo asked, coming between them. "What do you offer?" He glared at Jewyl. "Business first, m'dear. Pleasure later. Now, put the sword away."
Chardo pulled a chair out and seated himself, stretching out to put his feet onto the table top.
Jopab suddenly raised one hand and placed an index finger to his lips. He cocked his head toward the hidden door they'd come through.
"I can hear them," Jewyl replied. "They're certainly noisy."
"Where does the passageway end?" Chardo asked.
Jopab smiled, his eyes sparkled. "No place. There is about another twenty or thirty feet beyond this entrance. It is a dead-end passageway if you don't know where to find the trips to open the doors." He pulled the bread apart and offered a piece to Jewyl.
"They figured out how to open the first door." Jewyl took a sip of her wine before continuing. "I'm sure they'll figure out how to find the entrance to this room." She bit into the bread expecting it to be old and hard. "This is pretty fresh."
Jopab nodded. "The bread is probably from yesterday, perhaps today." He pointed to the stone doorway. "Since each tripping location is different in appearance and location, maybe they'll figure it out, maybe not." He held up his hand as a muffled sound issued from the passageway. "They've come back, a wise decision."
The three sat quietly in the hidden chamber listening to the guards stumble back toward the original opening.
"A wise decision?" Chardo queried.
"The doors don't remain open forever." Jopab nibbled on the bread. "They close automatically, some sooner than others."
"Who thought this whole thing up?" Jewyl whispered. "There seems to be no pattern to this plan."
Jopab sat down and solemnly placed his hands on the table, palms up in meditation. He inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly then stared at them for a few seconds.
"The Elder Priests built this structure before Dianiya existed." Jopab spread his fingers on the table top as he spoke. He glanced at Jewyl. "This place existed before Shiyula came to be." Jopab closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "This originally was a temple to She Who Cannot Be Seen." He smiled slyly. "In the fulfillment of time, She Who Cannot Be Seen fell from favor and Shiyula came into existence. With it came Chaos and chaos must be upheld."
"Hagontha?" Jewyl whispered, her eyes wide with surprise. "The Goddess of Chaos?" She paused. "This place was built before the goddess Hagontha existed?"
Jopab eyed the two, calculating, then with a small nod, acknowledged Jewyl's question.
"With the loss of She Who Cannot Be Seen, the prie
sts at the temples moved forward in the acceptance and adoration of chaos. Now the followers are many," Jopab said. "We must go to Bashiwa for all to be revealed."
"Are you saying the priests of Hagontha want to hire an assassin?" Chardo leaned over the table to scrutinize Jopab.
"I can say no more," Jopab replied. "The answers are in Bashiwa."
Jewyl stood up. "I don't like this, Chardo." She began pacing the room. "He tells us a little, but never what we ask. We want to know who you are and who wants to hire an assassin."
"Ah," Jopab replied. "You won't even admit to your identity, yet you want me to gush forth with my information." He held his arms apart and his hands open, palms up to them as if performing a benediction.
"You wanted assassins?" Jewyl held up the dagger and quickly moved it to beneath his chin. "You've got them."
"I am Jopab, a priest of Hagontha," he said. "We must leave quickly for Bashiwa."
"Do you think the passageway is safe?" Chardo asked.
"It matters not." Jopab offered a sly smile. "Do you prefer water or land travel?"
Chardo looked to Jewyl and shrugged. "Your call."
"Water," Jewyl replied. "At least from here at first. Water surfaces make it a tad difficult to track, and may help to keep us hidden from them for a few days. At least, that is, if we make the river without being noticed."
Jopab nodded his head ever so slightly. "No problem."
Chardo stood and headed for the wall with the hidden door they'd come through.
CHAPTER TWO
The Escape
Chardo knelt on the floor and scrutinized the seam between floor and wall. There has to be a mechanism of some sort to open this door, he thought. I’m not a thief worth my weight if I can’t find it. He glanced nervously at Jewyl and Jopab to see if they were watching before allowing his fingers to softly trace a path along the seam, wandering a little above it onto the wall and straying an inch or so onto the floor. He inspected each fault and pebble.
"It has to be here," Chardo mumbled.
"Let me know if you find it, my friend." Jopab grinned. "But don't trip it. We need to do a few things first before we leave. Plus we'll need to move this table." He offered a sly smile at Jewyl.
She watched him and waited. Jopab, she felt, was enjoying being in control. She didn't like situations where she was at someone else's beck and call.
Jopab placed the mugs back on the shelf along with the jug of wine and the partial loaf of bread. He took a copper coin from his belt and placed it on the shelf before removing two wrapped packages.
"Where does all this come from?" Jewyl waved her hand to encompass the shelf. "Somebody has to keep the oil going, replace the candle, the wine. Who does it?"
"An assigned priest of Hagontha." Jopab placed the packets on the table. "I know not who he is. It is his duty to check the Exchange Rooms and make sure everything is always ready."
"Rooms," Jewyl repeated. "There is more than one? Why do you call them Exchange Rooms?"
Jopab ripped the wrappings away from the first one, ignoring her question. "Ah, we have some bread and dried meat." He pulled the wrap from the other package. "And some clothing. Very good."
"Clothing?" Chardo turned to glance at the contents strewn on the table's top. "Almost anything would be better than this silly dress I'm wearing. Jewyl? Would you like it? After all, it will cover more than that half-ass wedding regalia does."
"If I must," she replied. "Although I would prefer leggings, tunic and a pair of solid leather boots." She pulled the garments out to review what the package hid. "This I could wear." Jewyl held up a long, woolen tunic. "A belt around the waist and I'm set."
"I'll take the vest and pants." Chardo snatched the items from the pile. "I guess we'll stay in our sandals." He gave the shelf a glance. "Don't see any boots."
"What do you two think," Jopab queried. "Do I stay in the guard's clothes or change to match your apparel?"
Chardo removed the dress, and stood naked looking at his companions. "What?" He put the breeches on.
"Your modesty, as usual, is overwhelming." Jewyl rolled her eyes at him before slipping the long tunic over her head. Her hands moved beneath the fabric and the belted harness fell to the floor.
Jopab's face reddened. "Perhaps it would be best I remain a guard."
"They will be looking for a guard." Jewyl looked up and saw Jopab's awkward stare. "You should probably change to match us." She pulled the jeweled top out the sleeve and played with the intricate thin gold filigree attached to the front of the garment. "These gold wires and gems could serve us." She threw it at Chardo. "Here, dig out the jewels so we can use them and not have to carry that damned thing around."
Jopab looked at the remaining garments: another long tunic but with a hood, another vest, and a long skirt. He wrinkled his nose.
"I guess I will be wearing the hooded tunic." Jopab sighed and began to remove the heavy breastplate and the other accessories. He stood there in the red tunic of the guard's uniform.
"Put on the vest." Chardo nodded at the garment. "Wear it over your tunic and nobody will realize the tunic was a part of a guard's uniform." He paused. "At least, not without a more thorough investigation of the fabric."
Jopab smiled, as relief washed over him for not having to strip before them.
"Of course..." Chardo narrowed his eyes and gave a sly grin. "To see you change into the other tunic could have been interesting." He leered at Jopab and snapped another gem from the garment.
"Chardo!" Jewyl scolded. "Leave him alone.
Jopab scowled and knitted his eyebrows in thought. A smile slowly curled the ends of his lips. "A simple tunic and that—" He pointed at Jewyl's forehead. "That gold circlet and huge emerald is a perfect accent."
Jewyl grabbed the fine gold crown and yanked it from her head. "More gold and another gem." She casually tossed it to Chardo.
"I saw you leave a coin." Jewyl gazed at Jopab and nodded toward the shelf. "We will leave a few of the stones to assist your goddess and the priest who takes care of this place."
"Your kindness will not go unrewarded." Jopab slipped into the vest which covered the top of his tunic. "We should finish." He suddenly looked around nervously.
Jewyl noticed the sudden change. "What is the problem?"
"We need to get about our business," Jopab said. "Even though the oil indicates we have time, we may have dallied too long and the priest may come to check on this room."
"That would be a bad thing?" Chardo asked. "The priest can't see us?"
"You forget, this is a sacred room of Hagontha," Jopab said. "Chaos must be maintained. If the priest discovers us, we must either kill him, or he must kill us. So, let's be on our way."
"Why must that be the action?" Jewyl frowned at Jopab.
"Only the Holy Father knows who the priests are to freshen the Exchange Rooms. They remain anonymous to protect them." Jopab looked at the two who stared back at him. "These rooms are used for purposes of stealth. If the priest were to discover us, his tongue may slip and reveal our actions. By killing us, none will learn of us for he cares not who we are. If we kill him, none will learn of us, for the next priest to come will not know who killed him." He paused. "And he can't mention the dead priest, not even to the Holy Father."
Jewyl considered Jopab's words before nodding in agreement. "We must go."
Chardo gathered the gems he'd removed from the garments and ripped a square of fabric from his old dress to make a pouch. Jewyl gathered the remaining garments and piled them on the shelf for the coming priest to use along with a few jewels to add to their treasury. Jewyl assisted Jopab in making sure everything was ready.
"Now, we must move the chair," Jopab said.
Chardo started to pull the chair across the floor.
"No!" Jopab yanked the chair from Chardo's hand. "There is a pattern in the chaos that must be maintained in this room. He pulled the table back to its proper place. He moved a chair to one side near the tab
le, taking the time to align it properly, then reached under the table, his fingers fumbling, exploring.
Chardo leaned down and watched Jopab search for the mechanism. He saw it and moved Jopab's fingers to it. Jopab pushed it. Chardo heard the click of the tripped devices in the legs' feet.
"Very interesting." Chardo stood and appraised the situation. "Exactly what does that do?"
Jopab lifted the table, tilting it on an invisible hinge to lean on the chair he had so carefully aligned earlier.
"Ah-ha!" Chardo said. "Ingenious, actually quite devious."
Jopab smiled. "You think so? There is just enough stickiness on the edge of the table so when the table returns, the chair will follow and be leaning on the table when the floor is closed again. If you were stumble upon the scene, would you look for a trap door under the table?"
"All well and good," Jewyl replied and nodded toward the gaping hole. "Where does this lead us?"
"To the river." Jopab reached up and took a gem from the shelf. "Listen." He dropped the jewel into the hole. There was a slight hesitation then the sound of splashing water echoed up the tunnel. Jopab smiled. "It is an underground stream which leads to the river."
Chardo frowned. "I know of no such thing. A river under the castle? I'm sure the Thieves Guild would have known of that."
"Chaos," Jopab replied with a smile. "There is a method to every madness. Thieves don't know all the secrets. Praise be to the goddess."
"You make me want to be a believer of Hagontha." Chardo slapped Jopab on the shoulder and winked. "Always a chance."
"Let's get out of here." Jewyl leaned over the hole to inspect. "Ah, a ladder."
"And a boat at the bottom, secured with a rope to keep it from floating away," Jopab said. "Let me go first and I will make sure you can step into it. Follow me" He slipped into the hole and started down. "Chardo, carefully pull the table back over us, making sure the chair remains attached. When it closes, we'll be in the dark but we will be able to see a little." He paused. "There will be a small green glow."