Mirror Gate

by Jeff Wheeler

  Cettie licked her lips, thinking about the situation. “He did the same at the dormitory. He made it through the Leerings there, which should have stopped him.”

  “Indeed. The Leerings that protect the abbey grounds are even stronger. Yet he continues to subvert them.”

  “When he attacked me,” Cettie said, “his eyes began to glow silver. The Leerings obeyed him when that happened.”

  The Aldermaston nodded. “Yes, Lord Fitzroy mentioned as much to me in a letter. Mr. Creigh spoke of it too. I am familiar with this practice. Before Empress Maia took her crown, the world was under the sway of a group of men who used amulets capable of controlling the Leerings. That twisted form of magic hasn’t been practiced in centuries, and it is not something we teach in the school. No Aldermaston would dare share the knowledge of how it is done with a student for fear of igniting their curiosity. Yes, that would explain how he can get Leerings to obey him. But my authority here is paramount. I hold the key to this abbey. It can only be held by one man at a time. This man’s dark power should not be able to thwart it. Yet it does. How?”

  Cettie was equally baffled. “I don’t know.” Worry for Adam and Anna pulsed through her.

  “Don’t be troubled, Cettie. The Mysteries warned us of the danger for a reason.”

  She looked at him worriedly. “But they didn’t warn you that you would be injured. They didn’t warn me that there was an intruder in my dormitory.”

  “You misunderstand their purposes, child,” he said patiently. “While they can prevent suffering, they rarely do, in part because of what we learn from experiencing those difficulties. Cettie, I am a new man because of my injury. I have had visions of the suffering of the people who live in the Fells. Most of all, the Mysteries . . . the Medium . . . the Knowing—they will not supersede our innate gift of choice. They cannot. And when they nudge events in a certain direction, they do so for a greater purpose, a larger good that we can neither see nor understand.”

  “You’re right,” Cettie said, shaking her head. “I don’t understand it.”

  “I have found, more often than not, that clarity comes with hindsight. By looking back at an event much later. That is when I see the guiding influence best. In the present, I am like a blind man groping, but my eyes have been opened, Cettie. I am acutely aware of the suffering of our people. The grievous slavery of deeds we have imposed on the populace of our world. We have committed a horrible crime, and the natural consequences of it are playing out in our lives.”

  His words triggered something in her. A memory from her encounter with the kishion. Had she shared it with Fitzroy? She couldn’t remember if she had. It was like a ray of light shining in from a slit in a curtain.

  “Aldermaston,” she said uneasily.

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t think I have told anyone about this. Or maybe I have, but I’ve forgotten. The man who attacked me, he was a kishion, and Father told me what they are. Well, this one, he . . . he had a ghost inside of him. A ghost that I recognized. You see, it’s been haunting me my entire life. A ghost with no eyes.”

  He stared at her, caught off guard by her words. His eyes bored into hers as his splayed fingers touched each other just over his massive beard. Silence stretched between them, making her feel more and more uncomfortable.

  “Tell me more of this ghost,” he said solemnly. “When you first came here, Minister Fitzroy told me that you had been plagued by them in your childhood. That you could even see them.”

  A dark shard of fear, buried deep in her heart, began to throb. You’re abnormal. Wrong. You attract dark things. Bad. “I’ve always been able to.”

  “They cannot come into this manor,” the Aldermaston said firmly, “unless I permit it. And I do not.” He lowered his voice. “Normally, I make a point of not speaking of them. To do so invites them for reasons you will soon understand when you take the Test. But tell me of this particular ghost.”

  Cettie swallowed and nodded. Just thinking of it made her cold. “I’ve always been able to sense them and see them. Even when I was very little. I don’t remember feeling threatened by them until after I was eight years old. I think that was around the time. I noticed that they never bothered little children, so I used to surround myself with the little ones to keep them away. But there was always one . . . one that would find me again no matter where I went. It even found me at Fog Willows because Mrs. Pullman let it in.”

  “It is persistent. That’s not a good sign. You mentioned it has no eyes?”

  Cettie nodded. “But it could still see. I don’t know how to explain it. I could sense a difference between it and other ghosts. It was taller and more powerful than the others.”

  She saw a little crinkle in the Aldermaston’s brow. “Ah,” he said gently. Then he murmured, under his breath, “That kind does not go out but by vigil.”

  “But what does that mean?” she asked.

  He nodded his head. “The meaning will become clear to you soon enough. It is troublesome that this creature has marked you as its victim for so long. And it used this man, this kishion, to get closer to you.” Then he smiled. “But do not fear, Cettie. You will be taught to defend yourself.”

  “I am cursed,” Cettie said with a shudder.

  The Aldermaston shook his head. “Quite the contrary, my dear. It is singling you out because you are a threat to its kind. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be trying so hard. No, Cettie, you are full of promise and goodness. Beings of darkness cannot abide bright light. It seeks to smother yours, that is all.” He leaned forward, his face calm and peaceful. He didn’t look frightened by her in the least. “As a child, you experienced something very rare. It’s quite uncommon, but it is not unheard of. I’ve heard of other instances of the sight. One of your parents, maybe even a grandparent, might have been especially sensitive to the Mysteries. If there is evil in your family, perhaps you have been chosen to break the mold. I’m not sure. But it is not a curse. Please believe that.”

  Did he know what the kishion had claimed? Once again, she decided it would be best to be straightforward. “Did my guardian tell you that the kishion claimed to be my father?”

  The Aldermaston nodded. “He did. It may be a lie. It may be the truth.” He pointed at her with both index fingers. “But whoever your father really is, whoever your mother is, you—Cettie Saeed—have a choice about who you will be. And from what I have seen of your character, you are an honorable young woman who will do great things.”

  She looked at him with tenderness. He had always made her feel safe and appreciated.

  “I’m still frightened,” she said. “I don’t want anything to happen to the people I love. I . . . I can’t help feeling they’d be better off, safer, without me.”

  “That is always our deepest fear, I think. But remember, this second life is not the end,” he said, shaking his head. “Why, it is only a mirror gate, as it were, to a much larger existence. What is the chief tenet of the Mysteries of Thought? What do we read over and over in the books you’ve studied? Fear not. A strange injunction, don’t you think, in a world overflowing with violence, poverty, and despair? But, my dear, where else would we be able to practice that tenet but in such a place as this?” He winked at her.

  His words did make her feel calmer. So did the conviction in his eyes. He truly did intend to take action. Wasn’t it unfair, though, that the ones who were taught such things were rarely forced to confront those very evils? The gulf between the two worlds could not have loomed larger for her than it did in that moment. She was grateful to have learned at Muirwood, but so many others needed—and deserved—that same chance.

  “So,” he continued with a sigh, “you are plagued still by a creature that has long hunted you. You are stalked by a trained killer. Your companion has left you to fight for a throne she may never sit on. The odds seem risky indeed, don’t they? But I would put my trust and faith in your future, Cettie Saeed. You came to this world to do some good. I am certain of that.”r />
  “Thank you, Aldermaston,” she said.

  “And you are not without benefits. Your guardian, your father, is Brant Fitzroy. Your sister Anna cares about you. And so do others here at the school. You are apt when it comes to the Mysteries. I’ve not seen your equal in this school.” He paused, then added, “I’m grateful we had a chance to speak.”

  So was she—everything he’d said rang of truth—but she still couldn’t shake her worry for Adam and Anna.

  He raised his cane and tried to stand, but his legs were trembling so much he couldn’t. Cettie rushed to him and gripped his other arm to help him up.

  “Thank you,” he offered, breathing heavily and wincing with pain. “I am starving. Some broth would do me good. If you can help me to the table?”

  “Of course,” Cettie answered. With her help and that of his cane, he made it there. She quickly arranged for a servant to bring a bowl and spoon and set about serving the Aldermaston when the sustenance arrived.

  “My mind is cast back on a memory,” he said wistfully as she worked. “There was an Aldermaston who served here long ago by the name of Gideon Penman. I read his tome when I was much younger. The man had a fascinating mind, and he lived in dangerous times. Back then, the mastons were outnumbered and hunted, but he had access to a device called a Cruciger orb. It could lead to something that was lost. Something hidden could be found. I wonder . . .”

  She could see an idea sprouting in his mind as he gazed absently out the window. She set the bowl of broth and a heel of bread before him.

  “Is it lost?” she asked him.

  “Hmmm? The Cruciger orb? No. It can only be used by someone who is very strong in the Mysteries. I believe it’s being kept at Billerbeck Abbey. Perhaps this is part of the solution we need. It was the use of such a device that helped Empress Maia hunt down the kishion of the past and eradicate their order. Approval must be given by the privy council, of course, but perhaps the Cruciger orb can lead us to him. And if we capture him, perhaps we can learn where he comes from.”

  Cettie heard the noise of steps coming toward the study. The Aldermaston was about to take a bite from the bread when a knock sounded on the door. It opened before Cettie could reach it, revealing a soldier.

  “Aldermaston,” the man said with a foreboding countenance. “The intruder was on the Serpentine. The captain was drugged and is being revived. He took Lord Fitzroy’s daughter. We have men searching the woods now. That young doctor is with them.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CRUCIGER ORB

  Commotion at the abbey increased tenfold following the latest attack. Word was sent to the teachers that a dangerous man was afoot on the grounds. Students were hurried back to their dormitories to wait for the crisis to pass while the Ministry of War responded to Anna’s abduction. News was sent to Fitzroy immediately, as well as to the privy council.

  Cettie stayed at the manor, worried sick about her friend. Her aunt had been brought to a guest room to be treated, but she refused to settle long enough for the doctor to examine her. Although she had a large bruise on her forehead, she was spoiling to join the hunt for her abducted niece.

  “Now, if you’ll be patient, ma’am,” Doctor Redd said, trying to smooth away her hair to see the bruise better. Cettie had managed to coax her into a chair, but she was jiggling a leg impatiently.

  “Patient, Doctor?” Juliana said. “My niece has been taken by a vile man. How can you expect me to be patient?” She swatted his hands away.

  Cettie knelt by her and took her other hand. “Do you remember anything that happened?”

  “Like how you got that bruise?” the doctor added, looking into her eyes, one at a time.

  “I remember falling after a hand clamped over my mouth with some noxious odor. Before I could do anything, my legs gave way. I don’t remember hitting the floor, but I clearly did. He left me there in my cabin.”

  “You are fortunate to be alive, Captain,” the doctor said. “He could have killed you. Do you have any other injuries?”

  Juliana stretched out her arm, testing her muscles. “No. Are we done yet, Doctor? I want to get back out there. I refuse to sit here idly while Anna is in danger.”

  “I think it might be wise if you did,” Doctor Redd said. “The ministry is—”

  “Hang the ministry,” Juliana snapped. “I’m going back out there. Every set of eyes will be useful. Now stand back, sir.”

  The doctor, seeing the pointlessness of arguing with her, retreated a few paces. “A blow to the head can be dangerous, Captain.”

  “I know. I’ve been hit before, Doctor. The dizziness was caused by the cloth. I’m feeling much better. I don’t know how he got on my ship without me knowing, but I intend to find out.”

  “He got into my room the same way,” Cettie offered. “The Aldermaston said he can blind the Leerings. Do you think . . . do you think he might still be on board?”

  “I hope so,” Juliana said angrily. “It would entitle me to give him justice. I’ve wasted enough time as it is. I’m going.”

  “I clearly cannot stop you,” said Doctor Redd with a sigh.

  “No, you cannot. Cettie, come with me.”

  Cettie cringed. “I don’t think the Aldermaston would—”

  “Hang the Aldermaston!” Juliana barked.

  Doctor Redd covered his eyes, shaking his head worriedly. Cettie felt conflicted, but she couldn’t deny the urge to look for Anna . . . to do something. She obeyed her aunt’s order, and the two left the room. The hall was crowded with people in uniform, teachers, and even a few students. It was mayhem. The bulk of the crowd was gathered outside the door of the Aldermaston’s sickroom, down at the other end of the hall. Juliana gripped Cettie’s arm and pulled her in the direction of the front doors.

  “Should we be doing this?” Cettie asked worriedly.

  “The longer the delay, the harder it will be to find her. If that villain takes her off the grounds, he probably has a sky ship waiting.”

  “But it’s not her that he wants. It’s me.”

  “I know. I’m not going to trade you, Cettie. You’re my niece, too, no matter who birthed you. But if he is this desperate to take you, he’s clearly not above murdering someone to get what he wants. We must make sure that doesn’t happen. If the entire Ministry of War possessed more than an ounce of brains collectively, they would have found him already. I’m not afraid of facing that blackguard up close. In fact, I’m looking forward to it.”

  It was rash and reckless. Cettie was just as worried about Anna as the rest of them. But charging into a situation without thinking it through seemed more than unwise. It was foolish.

  Then, through all the fussing and shouting and murmuring that filled the hall, she heard a sound off in the distance—almost as if orchestra music were being spouted from a Leering. Only this was different. This was the music of the Mysteries, and it compelled her to seek it out.

  “Wait,” Cettie said, touching Juliana’s arm and stopping. She let her senses drift a bit, and then she was able to feel where it was coming from. The sound grew louder, and the strange music changed timbre.

  “Cettie, it will be all right,” Juliana said.

  “No, it’s something else,” Cettie replied, trying to place the source. “This way.”

  She led Juliana down another corridor that was less crowded. The commotion in the hall behind them began to fade. The music continued to gain strength as Cettie rounded another bend in the passageway. As they went down the hall, one of the panels of wainscoting suddenly opened in front of them. Juliana started in surprise as several men stepped out of the secret passage, one of them in a soldier’s uniform.

  One that was not in uniform wore the coat and vest of the gentry. He was tall and strong, and the sound of the magic was coming from him. In fact, it emanated from a pure gold sphere he cupped in his bare hand. It was a curious-looking device, the likes of which she had never seen before. There was some sort of ornamentation on the top, a
nd gold stays that converged to that point. It was about the size of an orange, and it radiated power like a potent Leering. But whereas Leerings tended to emanate a single tune—one that could summon light, or water, or fire, or what have you—this device was a nexus of some kind, one that drew upon multiple powers at once.

  “Who are you?” Juliana demanded of the men in the hall.

  Cettie’s gaze had been riveted on the orb—clearly it was the Cruciger orb the Aldermaston had told her about. How many hours had passed since the Aldermaston had told her of it? Was this the man who had been summoned from the distant abbey in the north? How could he have arrived so soon?

  “Pardon me, ma’am,” the officer said in a disgruntled tone. “But what business is it of yours?”

  Cettie gave the newcomer a closer look. He didn’t look like someone from the Ministry of Thought. Most vicars performing their office wore a fringed gremial beneath their waistcoats; this man was dressed in browns and greens, but he did have a gold ring on his right hand. He was probably thirty years old, a little younger than Aunt Juliana, and his thick, dark hair had streaks of copper in it.

  “I’m Caulton Forshee, at your service,” he said, addressing Juliana respectfully and bowing his head.

  “Oh, you must be the captain of the Serpentine,” the officer said with a huff. “I haven’t met you yet. I’m Captain Harrowgate.”

  “You’re Forshee, then,” said Juliana, ignoring the officer completely. “That sphere in your hand. I’ve never seen a Cruciger orb before. Are you the one who can use it to find my niece?”

  Cettie didn’t know the lore about the device. Some Mysteries were tightly controlled by their respective ministries, and people were only introduced to them on an individual basis. If this orb could help them find someone who was lost, however, it was powerful magic indeed.

  He gave a modest frown and shrugged. “Perhaps. I came as soon as the Aldermaston sent for me.”