by Annie Seaton
As the light shone from the dirigible, Dougal had looked down and seen the blonde tress fall from the observer’s helmet at the same time the automatons had moved out of the shadows. He waited for the Leader to speak, but the Five watched silently.
Dear God, please let it be too dark to let them see me pick up the glove. His jaw ached from the effort of keeping his face emotionless.
The cogs whirred and with a loud click, the automaton closed his chest plate. The Leader of the Great Council stood and stepped to the centre of the platform. Dougal held his breath, his heart thudding slowly as he kept his gaze locked on their leader without breaking eye contact. The cold eyes of the old man stared at him for a full minute before the Leader turned away and addressed the men assembled.
“We need to select another to join the Earl of Rothmore. Is there one among you, eager to co-operate in the venture to achieve our goal?” He looked across the small gathering and his gaze rested on Edward, the young usher who had assisted Dougal to set up the Hall.
“I will, your Lordship.” His voice was eager.
“It will no doubt be dangerous,” replied the old man. He stroked his long white beard and considered the young man for several moments.
“Is there no one of greater years who wishes to join?” He paused and looked solemnly at the men.
To Dougal’s surprise, none met his eye. No one else stepped forward.
The Leader held both arms out, pointing to the young usher and to Dougal.
“Come, my Lords.” Turning, he reached for the jug of wine, poured earlier by Dougal from the vat he had collected from the Inn, and waited as the two young men made their way to the table. The Leader ushered them to the middle of the floor and stood between them, reaching up and placing a gnarled, veined hand on each of their shoulders.
“The Order of the Lunar Temple has decreed we have attained the forty first degree of perfection. Our chapter has been entrusted with an extremely significant mission. The most important task assigned to a Knight Templar for hundreds of years.’
He looked at Douglas and Edward, his eyes like flint.
“Your presence in this castle tonight is testament to your valor as a knight, either through deeds or through hereditary bloods. You will be initiated into the next chapter. Are you prepared to take on this task so that we can fulfill our quest and attain the Unutterable Degree?”
He paused and looked from one to the other. “Think long and hard...if you fail in this task, your mortal life will end.”
Dougal stood straight, keeping his expression somber as he nodded at the old man.
“You old fool,” he thought. “My father left me a near impossible task and you have handed hand me the means to achieve it ten years before I ever imagined it would be possible. He looked across at Edward. The blood had drained from the younger man’s face and perspiration beaded his brow. As Dougal watched, Edward nodded to the Leader. The old man filled two goblets and spoke to the assembled gathering.
“Lift your goblets while we complete the libations.”
He handed a goblet to each of the young men and then looked up to the high domed roof of the Great Hall as he chanted the toast.
“To King Solomon, our Ancient Grand Master.”
“King Solomon,” the men held their goblets high and repeated the words after him, before sipping the wine.
Again, Dougal wondered if this was all part of an elaborate trap as the acrid liquid hit his throat and his breath caught.
Or was it simply, poor quality wine from the Inn?
By the time they finished the fourth libation his eyes were streaming. The old man continued to look to the heavens as he started the final toast.
“Young Lords, the fifth libation is taken in a very solemn manner. It is emblematic of the bitter cup of death, of which some of us may sooner or later taste. “He paused and looked down at each of them. “However, if you succeed in this quest, each knight in this room tonight will gain immortal life. Repeat the Templar vow after me.”
He reached out and took each of their right hands in his and linked them together as he led them through the vow. They repeated his words solemnly in front of the assembled men.
“If ever I willfully violate this, my solemn vow, as a brother of the Knights Templar, may my skull be sawn asunder with a rough sword, my brains be consumed by the scorching sun. If ever I willfully deviate from this my solemn obligation, may my light be put out from among men, as that of Judas Iscariot was for betraying our Lord and Master.”
As the Leader moved onto the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and piety, Dougal fought a smile. He was acquainted with each knight in this room, either through business or society. He could confirm with little trouble not one of them was pious, chaste, poor or obedient. The most decent man in the room was young Edward standing beside him, taking this ridiculous vow. Dougal closed his eyes.
I am following the good. I will not have to keep these vows.
Warmth stole over him as he thought of his father and the final words he’d spoken on his deathbed. He had promised his father he would end the reign of these men and their political and spiritual power, even if it took him his lifetime.
Now that he had been inducted into the inner circle he would have no trouble embarking upon his own personal quest. He looked up and smiled as he stared deep into the eyes of the Leader
The old man smiled down at the two young men, although his expression remained cold. “So be it. After our ceremony has concluded, I will meet with you both in the Solar.”
The Leader raised his hands and looked over the men sitting in the room. “Go in peace, my Lords.”
AN HOUR LATER, THE candles dimmed and the knights left to make their way back to their respective homes. They shuffled out of the Great Hall of Castle Dean, their quiet footsteps muffled by the clicking of the mechanical men on the stairs above them. The Five resided in the castle as per their rank in the Council. Dougal and Edward stood quietly in the shadows, not speaking as they waited for permission to enter the Solar.
“Come,” said the Leader. “Follow me.”
They climbed a twisting staircase and stepped out into a large open room. The full moon was rising and a shaft of silver moonlight illuminated the small room. A manservant scurried around and lit the brass sconces on the wall with a taper from the fireplace. The cheery fire crackled in the hearth and the atmosphere was much warmer and welcoming than the cavernous Great Hall below.
The candle light reflected on the large Gothic rose windows at the end of the Solar. Dougal glanced across and noted the two automatons flanking the window. Even though they had been under his control on the expedition to Vienna, he was still unnerved by their grotesque appearance, now enhanced by the flickering candlelight on their brass extremities. Edward’s eyes were wide, his gaze fixed on the mechanical men.
Dougal smiled grimly to himself. Obviously Edward was unfamiliar with the technology outside Scotland...it seemed he had not seen anything of this nature before. It was essential Dougal turn Edward to his way of thinking before he accompanied him on his quest. They had spoken briefly on a number of occasions about their allegiance to the Knights and Dougal had sensed Edward was a doubter as well. Hence his surprise when he had volunteered to join the quest earlier in the night.
They sat around a less formal table in the Solar and the leader called his manservant to bring refreshments. While they waited, the silence became uncomfortable but Dougal was reluctant to break the quiet. Young Edward seemed nervous and drummed his boots on the wooden floor until the Leader looked across the table and stared him down.
It was not difficult for Dougal to guess the tenor of the Leader’s thoughts for he made no effort to be amenable. Everything about him, from his posture to the set of his mouth, spoke of mistrust. Poor Edward appeared increasingly nervous as the minutes passed. The flames crackling in the fireplace was the only sound to be heard. The first words spoken by the Leader after they had partaken of refreshments i
n absolute silence confirmed Dougal’s suspicion.
The Leader of the Five fixed Dougal with a steely glare.
“Your father was not devoted to our quest.”
The safest response was to plead ignorance.
“My Lord, I had no knowledge of the quest until this evening. I have been inducted into the petitions of the lodge and am learning more about the charters each day,” replied Dougal with his head bowed in an attempt to appear compliant. When he finished speaking he lifted his gaze to meet the hawk-like stare of the older man.
The old man nodded, before turning to the younger man.
“Edward of Kilmarnock, I will allow you to accompany the earl as I know you to be loyal to our quest.” Dougal almost choked on his ale; by implication the Leader was telling him that he was not fully trusted.
The old man stared into space and spoke in a deep sonorous tone. “Four hundred and two score years ago...”
For thirty minutes, he regaled them with the history of the Knights and their quest for immortality through deeds. He explained each of the forty-five charters in great detail and by the time he reached the description of the Unutterable Degree, Dougal’s eyes were heavy and he stifled a yawn.
Suddenly, the Leader brought his goblet to the table with a loud crash as his voice rose. “I will not let that woman in Vienna destroy the work of four centuries.”
He turned to Dougal and his voice was hard and cold as he questioned him about the events in Vienna.
“Are you certain, you were not able to see who was awaiting the delivery at the station?”
Dougal held the dark gaze as he lied.
“No, my Lord. It was dark and the observer took flight as soon as they escaped the clutches of the automatons.”
“Could it have been a woman?” the old man asked tersely.
“I do not think so, my Lord. “The strength required to pull away from the mechanicals would surpass that of a woman.”
“So be it.” The old man stood and pushed his chair behind him and his manservant ran across the room to assist him but took a step back when the Leader shook his head. “Now, it has come to my attention that the research in Vienna is close to completion and that will threaten our entire existence.
The lieutenant sitting across the table from Dougal raised his hand. “My Lord, may I speak?”
The Leader nodded.
“What about the sister in Cornwall, is she also a part of this research in Vienna? It is of concern as her husband is now in the employ of Queen Victoria.”
A peculiar smile spread across the face of the Leader and Dougal shivered. Evil emanated from the old man as he smiled at the three men at the table
“He is no longer in the employ of Queen Victoria.”
The lieutenant looked confused. “I beg to differ, my Lord. It is only three days ago since we fed the information about the cargo to Lord Lorca and ensured Captain Thoreau would receive it as Sheriff of Cornwall?”
“Oh...” replied their Leader. “ Captain Thoreau is still the Sheriff, however he is no longer in the employ of the Queen.”
He looked across at them as a satisfied smile lifted his pallid lips and his dark eyes gleamed.
“You may not have heard the sad news from England. Queen Victoria died earlier to-day. I believe she was poisoned.”
Once the shock of his announcement passed, Dougal’s mind worked furiously.
You evil bastard...you are obviously behind it. You are a much greater player than I gave you credit for. Edward and I will have to be on our guard. I need to know more.
He bowed to the Leader.
“My Lord, may I seek further information? If I am to achieve our quest—” he turned to Edward and inclined his head, “—the Earl of Kilmarnock and I shall need to know more detail of the two sisters and how their work is threatening the Knights?”
For a moment, Dougal thought his question was to be ignored.
After a lengthy silence the old man spoke. “Very well.”
He looked to his manservant and the man assisted him back to his chair.
“Many years ago, one of Queen Victoria’s leading botanical scientists was financed by the realm to undertake research around the globe to discover the healing properties of plants which would enhance the health of her majesty’s subjects.”
He paused and took a sip of his ale.
“Unfortunately, Professor de Vargas was a little too successful and discovered a plant high above the snows in the Austrian Alps with properties that—shall we say—conflicted with our spiritual goals.”
He smiled coldly, his bloodless lips set in a thin line. “Professor de Vargas unfortunately met with an untimely end in the Amazon jungle about twenty years ago.” He raised his brows and his smile grew. “I believe he was killed by bandits.”
I’m sure there is more to it than that, Dougal thought.
“The professor had two daughters. Indigo de Vargas y Irausquínno, the elder daughter is married to the Sherriff of Cornwall, Captain Thoreau She traveled with her father to the Amazon and after his death she continued his research into the passionflower. It is of no consequence and is used merely for its medicinal properties.”
He frowned and looked from Dougal to Edward. “The second daughter by a later marriage, Sofia de Vargas, is a couturier of note in Vienna.”
“Captain Thoreau and his wife have a holiday complex in Cornwall where research is also carried out, and they have four children. The cosmecuticals she plays around with are merely a product for vanity and pose no threat to us. We have a loyal, if foolish, member, Duke Lorca of Cornwall, who keeps us informed of the doings of Madam Thoreau.” He paused and took a long draught from his goblet, before turning to the men listening to him. “She is of little concern to us. However, we have received intelligence that the de Vargas sister in Vienna is close to succeeding in the research she leads. Ten years ago, we were advised she had retrieved her father’s notes and we have observed her activities closely since that time.”
Dougal watched with fascination as two bright red spots flared on the papery cheeks of the Grand Master contrasting with the his pale face and white robes. The older man placed his goblet on the table with a resounding thud.
“And you know what that will mean for us.”
He turned to the automatons. “That fool, Lorca played right into our hands by sharing the information we fed him. The imbecile almost broke his skinny little legs in his enthusiasm to help our cause. He has a vendetta against Madam Thoreau and the Sheriff.”
Dougal interrupted. “But with all respect, my Lord, there is no evidence it was Madam de Vargas at the station?”
The Leader glared back at Dougal and his voice shook as he replied.
“It was her at the station...it had to be. Now we just need you to destroy their laboratory and all research notes and kill Sofia de Vargas. It is but a simple task for you and the Earl of Kilmarnock which will prove your allegiance to the order and assist you to begin your spiritual growth.”
The Earl of Kilmarnock raised his hand tentatively. In a trembling voice, he asked naively.
“My Lord... if...if we take the life of another...will that not condemn us to hell and end our spiritual growth?”
The Leader looked across at the red-faced young man and smiled. “Our spiritual growth culminates in immortality and if it is necessary to kill to preserve our order, it will move you through the petitions even more quickly, my son.”
He stood and gestured to his manservant before turning back to the two young men.
“We will not allow non-believers access to our quest for immortality. Dabbling in the physical sciences is sinful. It will end our quest and it will end our lives.” He moved across and stood between Dougal and Edward. “Can I trust you, gentlemen, to undertake this task?”
Dougal and Edward stood and bowed to their Leader.
They both replied. “Yes, my Lord.”
Chapter 4
A soft tap at the door of her boudoir
informed Sofia the first clients for the day had arrived and were waiting downstairs in her salon. She twisted the final silver ringlet with her hair steamer and it fell gently to the shoulder of her tunic. Glancing in the mirror, she frowned at her reflection. Her silver white curls accentuated the pallor of her cheeks and she reached for her pot of rouge. She was a little heavier-handed than was her norm and applied more color to her cheeks.
A week had passed since the incident at the railway station, the cargo being safely delivered to the flower stalls in the Naschmarkt as had been arranged. Johann had strolled past the markets situated on the roof of the Wienfluss and purchased his usual bouquet from the stallholder on his way to the University. The cargo for the laboratory was secreted in the bouquet amongst the white tulips, bellflowers, and snowdrops. Once the shipment had arrived at the laboratory, Sofia and the professor had spent the past few nights deliberating on her plan to visit the Alps.
Ernst had shaken his head. “It was only one instance, Sofia, and it was obviously a trap. However, I believe we should continue with the train and the flower market for the delivery of the flowers.
“No. I believe it is fraught with danger. We are too close to success to risk both losing the cargo and being discovered. It is time to sit quietly and bide our time.”
“Johann and—”
Sofia cut him off. “Ernst, it is decided. I have deposited the funds for Johann and Genevieve to embark on their trip. I expect you will keep writing up your research. She looked at him intently. “It is imperative you take care of things at the University.”
“And what about you?” he asked, his beetling eyebrows almost meeting as he frowned at her.
“What about me?” She laughed. “Madam Sofia de Vargas has a spring showing in her salon to organize. She has three dirigibles arriving from the colonies over the next week full of New York mamas and their eligible daughters to outfit for the upcoming season. I shall continue to be a doyenne of European society. When the show is finished, I will travel to Cornwall to visit my sister and collect my two scallywag nephews and take them on a wonderful holiday, skiing in the Austrian Alps.