The Wrong Scapegoat: A Mythic Fantasy Novel (Ravens of the Morrigan)

by Cornelius Flynn

  She picks up papers from the desk. “Have you studied these?” She waves them at Wildcat.

  “Yes. I’ve studied them. I prepare carefully for every job, they just get more interesting when things go wrong.”

  She winks at Gwen who tosses the papers back onto the table with an exasperated look.

  “Where do we meet Lindy?” Piper checks that the two small throwing daggers are seated firmly in the sides of his boots.

  “I just know I am going to regret this.” Gwen watches the two of them secrete more weapons about their bodies.

  After an uneventful trip across the town, the pair arrive just north of the postern gate, on the river bank.

  They wait for the signal from Lindy as Wildcat remonstrates and explains various other ways they could enter the castle.

  “Why don’t you talk a bit louder? That way those crows up there will be able to hear exactly what you’re saying and fly back to tell their masters all about it.”

  Wildcat frowns and looks up. “What masters? What are you talking about Piper?”

  “Feel them. Reach out and feel them.”

  He moves to allow her to see the birds.

  Wildcat relaxes and spreads her senses in the same way that she contacts her allies. Her mouth opens into a round O.

  Piper nods and hold his finger to his lips, ducking back in the bushes. They stay like this until they hear the rat-tat-tat of the signal they’ve been waiting for.

  Checking nobody is looking, they lightly run up to the open gate. Lindy closes it, signals for silence and points to the side door to the kitchens and cellars.

  Shutting the cellar door behind them, they make their way through the cold stone chambers towards the kitchen. Lindy signals to stop and talks to them in a whisper.

  “You know the layout, William. There’ll be extra guards and you may have to deal with the healers too. We need you in and out without being seen.”

  “Which is why you should be sending me.” Wildcat hisses. “This great clod hopping oaf will be visible every step of the way. I could be there and back by now.”

  “You don’t know the way. William does.”

  “That didn’t stop me in the temple, did it? Seriously, let me go.”

  “I appreciate the offer, my dear Wildcat, but in good conscience I cannot allow you to do this.” He shakes his head. “I’m the one charged with this crime and I have to prove my innocence.”

  “Why bother? It’s not like you can stay here afterwards, with all the questions since they searched your house. What does it matter whether they think you’re innocent or not?”

  His eyes flash. “It matters to me. It matters that they’ve accused me of things I didn’t do. I’ll find out who falsely accused me, and who put fake evidence in my house, and then they’ll all suffer, slowly and painfully.” He relaxes his clenched jaw. “Then perhaps I’ll leave.”

  “Now, that’s more like the Piper we know and love.” Wildcat smiles wickedly. “I still say I could get in and out faster.”

  Lindy signals for silence and listens carefully. “The fact is that you’re here to back him up and, as I recall in the original instructions from Gwen, to not kill anybody.”

  “What is it with all this not killing business? It’s not like there’s a shortage of bad people in the world. Who’d really miss a few?”

  “We’re trying not to draw attention to ourselves until we can understand what’s going on and who’s behind this.”

  Lindy turns to face Wildcat, her expression stern. A flash of red light crosses her face. “No killing. No accidental killing. No maiming, and do not be seen. Is that clear enough for you, or do I need to make you stay down here and send William in on his own?”

  Wildcat rolls her eyes and nods.

  They move towards the main hall and the access to the upper storeys of the castle. The silence amplifies every sound they make and their progress is further slowed by the desire for total secrecy.

  The Ravens are about to enter the great Hall when Lindy holds out her hand and stops, them pointing instead to the rear of the kitchens. Piper frowns and looks at Wildcat who shrugs as they watch her head in seemingly the wrong direction, signalling them with her left hand.

  “The servants have their own stairs.” She whispers as they reach her. “Sorry, I forgot to mention it. I thought William knew his way around and then realised he’s always been a guest, not a servant.”

  His mouth opens and closes, wordlessly.

  “These will bring you up by the rear arches of the prince’s personal quarters. I’d suggest that Wildcat waits there for you. If you have to leave quickly, head down as fast as you can and use the root cellar we passed earlier.” She mimes playing a pipe. “It has a grate that William will be able to access which leads back to the riverbank. I’ve left some things in there so you can jam the door shut while you leave.”

  Wildcat nods approvingly. “That sounds like a good way to get Piper out if everything goes horribly wrong.”

  “I appreciate your confidence in my abilities, old girl.” He pulls a face and makes his way up the stairs.

  “How does this mirror thing work?” She stays one step behind.

  “I thought you weren’t listening. We really should try to be more quiet up here and not have conversations, you know.” He stops. “It’s a Moon Mirror, not a ‘mirror thing’. It has to do with the way it was magically created and how it traps the light of the moon inside itself. When you breathe on it, it collects poisons, storing the essence of them.”

  “So how does that tell us what’s wrong with him.” Wildcat frowns.

  “I’m afraid it doesn’t, old thing, since neither you nor I can interpret it. That’s why we do this, get out again and return it to Gwenny at the Tavern.”

  “I still say it’d be easier to just kill all the temple people, and their stupid knights, and be done with it.” She stands waiting for him to move.

  “And that, right there, is why you’re not in charge of making the plans.” He chuckles and continues to ascend.

  The two guards outside the prince’s personal quarters are alert, awake and taking great care in their duty.

  It’s only a few minutes since the captain paid them a visit. It wasn’t an arduous duty since both of them had served the prince for years now, and actually liked him.

  Unlike leaders in other regions, Prince Llewellyn had always treated them well and earned their loyalty rather than demanded it. Those taking turns at guarding the inner castle were hand-picked because of their allegiance to him. This ensured they would do their duties conscientiously.

  Faint music sounds along the landing causing them to look at each other in puzzlement.

  Who would be up playing music at this time of night?

  It was a strange tune. The notes moved up and down, staying quiet, and the musician out of sight. They don’t want to make any noise, so lay their weapons and shields either side of the door and walk along the corridor, seeking the source of the tune.

  It comes from a room by the servant stairs so they enter and find the musician, watching as the notes swirl in the air around them. Two plush chairs wait for them to take their place. Sitting, they enjoy the music and watch the light show it’s creating.

  Wildcat steps from the shadows and moves over to them, waving her hand in front of their stupefied faces and getting no reaction.

  “That really is a neat trick, Piper. How long until they come out of it?”

  “They should be enjoying the concert for another quarter hour. I do hope they remember to leave a tip.”

  He winks at her and they exit the room together.

  The pair slowly open the door to the prince’s chambers, listening for any other occupants.

  “Wait here.” Piper whispers to her. “If anyone notices the guards are missing they’ll run in here, and we’ll have to make ourselves scarce.”

  Wildcat nods and takes up a position by the door. She holds it open just a crack, to observe the stai
rs.

  Piper moves through the quarters to the prince’s bedchamber and sees the man who calls him ‘friend’ lying, still as death, on the crisp linen sheets. He pulls out the strange, thin oval mirror and glances into it, puzzling over the unusual way it reflects his image, as though something stands behind his shoulder, indistinct, vague, but there.

  “Time to get on with this, old boy. No dropping into reverie.” He moves over to the bed, whispering. “Hello Llewellyn. Events have taken quite a turn, haven’t they?”

  He leans closer examining the stricken prince. At first he thinks he may be dead. Feeling around his neck for a pulse, he can’t find one. Just as he is about to conclude that Llewellyn is deceased, a slight movement shows that the body just exhaled.

  He searches more carefully for a pulse, shocked to discover it’s less than a tenth of his own heart rate.

  “Well, that explains why you’re not dead yet. This might take a minute or two longer than I thought.”

  He holds the mirror in front of the prince’s mouth and drops his weight onto his right knee as he waits for it to work, feeling a strange, magical tingling through the floor.

  “That can’t be good. It seems, my dear prince, there are powers at work here outside of our own.”

  He leans in to watch the surface of the mirror, knowing he must wait for its to turn completely black before the job’s done.

  “I’m in quite a pickle you know, old friend. I’d love to just wake you up, ask who attacked you and hunt them down. It seems they’ve done something downright nasty to you and blamed me for it.”

  He checks the mirror once more and sees the surface darkening with each breath. Unfortunately they’re almost a minute apart, which is why he thought him dead in the first place.

  “Hopefully, we’re going to get you out of this and back on your feet.” He watches the mirror. “I have friends helping me but it would be easier if we knew who we’re up against. Still trying to work that part out, my dear chap, but I can assure you, as soon as we know, we’ll be on them like wolves on deer.”

  The mirror finally blackens.

  “Well, that should be it, Llewellyn.” He stands and bows to the unconscious man. “I wonder what you’d say if you found out I was your ancestor centuries ago? I guess we’ll never know, will we, old boy?”

  He strides out of the bedchamber and into the room where Wildcat is waiting for him.

  “Time to move, my sweet. Time to move quickly.”

  She arches an eyebrow at him. “What did you do?”

  “Nothing. Someone else did it, and they know we’re here. I felt something when I knelt by the bed. A magical trap or alarm.”

  “Like the one I found in their cellar?” She examines him.

  “No. Nothing nasty like that. It was more a web that tingled when I touched it. Whoever was on the other end of it is on their way here now. We ought to get moving.”

  “Did the mirror work?” She asks opening the door, checking the corridor towards the stairs to the main hall.

  “Well, it did exactly what Gwenny said it would to do. I expect we’ll know more once we get back.” He stretches his arms and moves closer to her. “Ready when you are.”

  Wildcat exits the room, and they shut the door behind them. Running lightly along the corridor towards the servant stairs, they hear the pounding of feet below and realise that time really is now of the essence.

  They’re halfway down the first flight when shouts echo above them.

  “Where are the guards? Sound the alarm! To arms!”

  They sprint the stairs, taking them two at a time as they rush to the kitchens. Lindy waves them towards the root cellar, pulling the main door open and stepping through it, blocking the way in.

  “Faster, Piper!” Wildcat hisses over her shoulder as they run full pelt and slam the door shut. They can hear voices outside. Lindy feigning surprise and asking what has happened, as she delays the guards’ entry to the kitchens.

  Wildcat uses the broom handles left by Lindy to jam the door, then follows Piper to the garbage grate she told them about.

  She wrinkles her nose at it. “We really have to go down there? Couldn’t we just make a run for it out of the gate, the way we came in?”

  Piper laughs and reaches inside his shirt to produce the strange, ivory boned chanter which is the mark of his trade, and his power. “Do you think they won’t be guarding that when the whole castle is on alert, my sweet pussycat?”

  She punches him in the ribs. “I am nobody’s pussycat.”

  He flinches and jumps back, rubbing his side. “Did you want me to get us out of here?”

  “Get on with it. We can bicker later.” She draws a lethal, two foot dirk from a sheath by her side. The edges of the thin steel blade reflect the light from the candle sconce on the wall. “If you take too long, I might have to kill someone.”

  She faces the door to guard their retreat as Piper plays his music. The rock around the grate softens in the same way as in his original escape from the prison cells.

  Someone tries the door. It doesn’t open. This is greeted with shouts from outside and a loud thump as a shoulder is applied to it. She can hear other footsteps approaching and hisses at Piper.

  “Hurry up.”

  Bracing his back, he pulls the metal upwards through the now gloopy cellar floor.

  “Time to leave old fruit! Drag that grate down behind you.” He drops into the hole, hurtling down the stone chute that sends all the waste to the riverbank, where it’s devoured by scavengers.

  She sprints across the cellar floor as the door bangs and shudders with the efforts of those outside. Leaping nimbly into the air, she grabs the bars of the grate and pushes with her feet against the stone sides of the chute to pull it down behind her.

  She hangs from it, looking distastefully at the piles of rubbish that litter the slope below her as the metal sinks through the softened stone. As soon as it’s back where it belongs, she allows herself to whizz down after Piper, hearing the sound of splintering wood above.

  “Shouldn’t you play the music to make it go hard again?”

  “No time, old girl, we need to get out of here quickly. It will set itself again in ten minutes or so. We’ll just have to hope that they don’t give it a tug.”

  It’s taken the guards only minute to break the door down and enter the root cellar, to find it empty.

  It was jammed shut from the inside, but a careful search of all the corners and containers reveals no sign of anyone.

  “So they just vanished into thin air again?” The lieutenant asks, looking around the room.

  “I can’t rightly say, sir. You can see yourself, someone were barricaded in here. This stuff didn’t fall behind the door on its own.”

  He examines the iron grate which set into the floor, squatting beside it to look down the chute. It’s littered with cabbage leaves and onion skins from the morning’s preparations. He bangs on the bars with the hilt of his sword listening to them ring out.

  “Was anything taken?”

  “Nothing seems to be missing from anywhere, sir. Were they after the prince?”

  “They were certainly in his rooms, sergeant. Other than that, I can’t say. The healers will examine him shortly to see if he’s come to any harm.” He stands up and looks around again. “I don’t understand how these people keep getting out of locked rooms.”

  “We found the guards, sir.” A young soldier announces as he enters. “They was in a storage room near the servant stairs.”

  “Dead?” The lieutenant asks.

  “No, sir.” The guard looks puzzled. “They was sat in two chairs. Just sitting there, like.”

  “Were they tied up?”

  “No. That neither. They was sat there with stupid grins on their faces staring at the wall like they was watching something. We had to slap ‘em a few times to bring ‘em out of it. Right queer, sir.”

  The lieutenant inhales and exhales slowly.

  “Have someone
check the riverbank and see if anyone was there recently. Also, bring all the kitchen staff into the great Hall — maybe one of them saw something.”

  He walks out of the cellar signalling the sergeant to follow him.

  “The captain’s not going to like this. He’s not going to like this one bit.”

  Chapter 18

  The Queen of the Fae sits in her private chambers surrounded by nature’s beauty.

  Tree roots and vines provide natural walls and the canopy of the trees of the forest, her roof. Her throne lies elsewhere, here she sits half reclining in comfort, expressing annoyance.

  “If it’s important enough for them to be bothering me now, Lord Froud, then it should have been important enough a week ago.”

  “Majesty, if we bothered you with every little trouble that occurred in the world of the humans then you would have no peace. I can assure you we simply wish to appraise you of the facts and to allow you the opportunity to have your say upon this matter - to examine it for yourself.”

  “So what is so important then, my lord?”

  “There is no point in telling everything twice, Majesty so, if you will permit, I shall invite those concerned to attend?”

  She waves her hand. “Yes, yes. Bring them in. At least then I will finally know what it is you’ve all been whispering about.”

  She laughs at the Lord Protector’s consternation. “You didn’t really think that you could have secret meetings here without my knowing about it, did you?”

  His face and skin perform the Fae equivalent of a blush as he bows before her and goes to fetch Lords Phineas and Ether for their audience with the Queen.

  Once the funerary rites are over the three dignitaries make the return trip, passing the crowds who still line the roads outside the temple now cheering their Regent as he passes by.

  As they near the castle they can see a consternation up ahead, a crowd of soldiers gathered around the gate. David quickly identifies the cloaks as belonging to the Temple Knights and turns to Captain Yovvan only to find that he has already appraised the situation and has his own armed guards rushing towards the scene.