Deck of Cards

by Johnson, ID

  When she did at last, she began to cough and wheeze. The air was musty and stank of rotten flesh. Upon fully opening her eyes, she could see very little. It seemed a torch lit the hall outside of whatever room she was in, but she couldn’t tell how far away it was or how bright. The air seemed to hang around her like a shroud. Then, she realized, it wasn’t the air at all. It was in fact, a shroud, a burial shroud. Her burial shroud.

  It had worked—her plan—or at least, it was working. Leopold and Philip must have thought she had died, that she was poisoned. Why she was here and not on her way home to Placidia she was unsure, but the fact was, they believed her to be dead and she was not. Now, all she needed to do was figure out where she was and find her way back home to Caleb.

  She felt it must be safe to stretch and yawn since her movement had not alarmed any of the other bodies in the crypt. While she found it both disgusting and melancholy to be laying here with so many former residents of Castle Graden, she found their company reasonably more appealing than King Leopold’s and would have rather stayed with them than face the possibility of running in to her abductor. But, in order to reach Caleb, she would have to leave this crypt and venture back in to the land of the living.

  Her movement had brought the shroud down off of her face and she slowly began to sit up, pulling it off as she went. In the dim light, she could barely make out the body next to her. She could tell that it was a man by his attire and she thought it a bit odd that he was still relatively warm, considering where she was. He was certainly dead, there was no debating that but she did not think it could have been too long since he met his demise.

  She was encumbered by the elaborate gown she was wearing and it was difficult to pull herself down from the marble-topped table she was laying on. She considered the possibility of finding something else to wear, though the idea was both morbid and revolting. Still, it might make it easier for her to get about. And, if this gentleman next to her had only just died, perhaps his clothing would not be as vile as some of the other inhabitants.

  Her first order of business was to make her way to the door and ensure that it was not locked on the outside. Why anyone would feel the need to lock dead bodies in a crypt made little sense to her but she would not put it past Leopold to do something so odd and unexpected. She was relieved, however, to find that the door, while heavy and creaky, was in fact unlocked. She was able to push it open and make her way into what appeared to be a winding stone hallway.

  The torch on the wall burned low and she knew she wouldn’t have much time to determine where she was and how to get out before she was lost in the pitch black. As she reached up to remove the torch from it’s holder, her dress became ensnarled on a splinter of wood from the door, almost knocking her over. “That settles it,” she thought. “Let us check out the gentlemen’s attire.”

  Grabbing the torch and venturing back into the darkened tomb, she found her way back to where she had been lying. At first, the light just illuminated the royal blue velvet of the man’s formal breeches and tunic. She thought his heavy brown shoes may be way too big for her feet, so she would have to make due with the slippers she was wearing. She believed she could make the rest of the outfit work. It didn’t appear to be stained at all, nor did she see any worm or insect holes. As she moved the torch up to his shirt, surveying the potential there, the light fell on his face. She gasped in recognition. Though his face was contorted in pain, she could plainly see that it was Philip. Despite all that he had done, the torture he had inflicted on Matthew, attempting to kill Maggie, terrorizing her for weeks, she was distraught to see him lying there, so far before his time. “Rest in peace, King Philip of Clovington,” she whispered. Then, finding the closest holder for the torch, she went about the undesirable business of stealing the dead king’s clothes.

  ***

  Joan had every intention of returning to Katey just as soon as possible. After she had overseen the dressing of her body, the blessing of the priest, and watched as she was placed in the king’s family tomb beneath the castle, she had been called upon to return to Katey’s room and determine what to do with her things. She had insisted that they be returned to Nichole but Leopold would not hear of it so she was watching as everything was placed in trunks. It seemed as if Leopold were in an awful hurry to get rid of every trace of the dead queen.

  By the time she had finished and was on her way to return to Katey’s side, the castle was in an uproar. This was not the first time Joan had witnessed a siege in the last few months and she was well aware of exactly how this would proceed. Yet, the other nobles and dignitaries were doing their best to escape the clutches of the enemy as they prepared to swoop in. Many of the members of the aristocracy were attempting to make their way onto the hillside beyond the castle to the north. She was ordered multiple times to join them but she knew she must locate Katey and see that the queen made it safely out of the castle.

  Just as in Castle Blackthorn, Castle Graden had several tunnels beneath the castle that provided escape routes and, presently, the narrow stairwell that led down to the catacombs was clogged with Gradenians attempting to use it to escape. It took quite some time for Joan to even reach the stairs. Once she did, the line of people seemed stagnant. That is, until a barrage of cannon fire hit the castle, causing a noticeable shake. With this, the panicked residents began to move more quickly, perhaps trampling each other, perhaps their urgency increasing.

  Joan was confused by the cannon fire, however. It was her understanding that Caleb would not fire on the castle until he was sure that Katey was no longer inside. She knew he was expecting word that Leopold had sent Katey’s body to Nichole, word that simply would not come. Yet, the fact that he was willing to fire on the building where he believed his wife was currently located, did not make a lot of sense to Joan. As she slowly made her way down the stairs, she began an internal debate. Should she try to find Katey and get her out of the building or try to let Caleb know that Katey was in the tomb? As the line began to wane again, she decided to try her luck with Caleb. She left the stairs and headed back out towards the front of the castle.

  ***

  As Caleb’s men approached the castle, he sent word to James at least half a dozen times, requesting information as to whether or not Katey’s body had been received. Though James was in constant contact with his sister Nichole, who now fully understood the plan and was expecting to hear word that Katey was dead, nothing had been sent indicating that Katey was on her way back to Placidia.

  It wasn’t until Caleb could fully see just how sadistic Leopold truly was that he began to panic. The closer the invading forces drew to Castle Graden, the more cannon Leopold’s men turned, toward their own fortress! He was literally bombing his own home to protect it from falling in to Caleb’s hands. Unable to believe his own eyes, Caleb sent word to his troops to start taking out the cannon, though he was aware that there were others on the backside of the castle that he could not reach at this time. He also notified James of what was happening and began to gather together his most capable warriors for a raid on the castle. If that fortress were to fall with Katey inside, he would be there as well.

  Chapter 14

  Katey stumbled around in the dark wearing her newly procured outfit, wondering how in the world she was supposed to find her way out of this labyrinth. Though she still had the torch, for now, she couldn’t seem to figure out which direction would actually take her out. It seemed every passage she took ended at a stonewall or another turn, which looped around, leaving her just where she had begun. She could hear the muffled chatter of hurried voices off in the distance. She could also feel the building shake from time to time, and she could only assume that it was cannon fire. She was running out of time, out of light, out of patience. She needed to find her way out of this maze and back home to Arteria before she ended up buried in the rubble with Philip for all time.

  At last, she stumbled upon a hall she was quite sure she had not seen before. This one seemed to b
e filled with empty cells, each containing a different torture device. As she continued to walk the windy path, she began to hear noises, some of them sounded like people, others like caged animals. She couldn’t be sure, but, perhaps, there were prisoners in some of these chambers. The light of the torch was diminishing, and, certain she was about to be plunged in to total darkness, she began to run.

  She rounded a corner, seeing two more passages in front of her. One appearing to lead up, the other back down further into the catacombs. As she hesitated, debating which way she should go, the torch gave a final flicker and then snuffed out. “No!” she whispered, giving it a shake. Of course, that did no good, so she cast it aside. She heard it roll into the metal bars of one of the nearby cells. Though she was angry, she realized it may be useful to her again at some point and she bent down, attempting to locate it. Her fingertips brushed against it. Taking another step forward, she turned slightly and bent down to pick it up. Just then, a hand came flying through the bars of the cell, grabbing her around the throat. She could tell this individual was desperate, but weak, and she was able to work herself free without too much difficulty. “Who’s there?” she asked.

  The answer was almost not understandable. It sounded like the person speaking was holding her tongue—or missing her tongue. But Katey was very good at figuring out meaning when there was little communication. “Say that again!” she demanded in to the darkness. This time, she was able to understand the utterance. “Rose?” she asked. “Is that you?”

  “Es! Es!” was the reply she got and she knew that she had stumbled upon her imitator.

  “My God! What have they done to you?” she asked, feeling for the prisoner in the darkness. She could easily figure out, however, that they had removed Rose’s tongue or else she would be able to speak. “Is there a way to unlock this cell?” Katey asked, knowing that, if she left her there, she would surely die.

  This time when Rose grabbed her, Katey allowed it. She had her by the arm and she seemed to be gesturing in the direction of the wall ahead, where the two passages split. “Is there a key?” The answer was the grunt that seemed to mean, “Yes.”

  As Katey stepped forward in to the darkness she continued to ask yes or no questions. Was it on the wall? Was it high? Eventually, with Rose’s guidance, she was able to locate a small, rusty key, hanging on a ring near what felt like a torch stand. Then, following Rose’s voice, she was able to return to the cell and, eventually, work the key in to the hole, releasing the filthy but thankful prisoner, who responded by giving her a grateful hug.

  “Now, do you know how to get out?” she asked.

  Rose had been in the dungeon for several days now, ever since Philip had cut her tongue out upon her arrival. She was extremely observant and she watched as the guards and others came and went. She believed she knew how to get out but it wouldn’t be easy in the dark. She was hopeful that they would find another torch somewhere. For now, she took Katey by the hand and began to lead her towards the path that led up.

  ***

  Caleb had assembled his strongest men. Noel, Dale, Gordon, as well as James and his most trusted guards had joined together just outside of the castle gates. The twelve of them would be under heavy fire the entire time as they attempted to infiltrate the castle, locate Katherine, and bring her out. Caleb had given no orders, simply made a request. “Will you ride with me? Will you help me find Katherine?” Every man had irrevocably said he would be honored to do so.

  At this point, much of Leopold’s forces were scattered. They were either retreating, attempting to reform behind the castle, or part of the cannon barrage firing at Castle Graden from behind. There had been no sign of Leopold or his King’s Guard and so Caleb believed he had either escaped or he was waiting inside of the castle for them. As for Philip, he would not be surprised if, realizing his mistake the time before, he had fled days ago.

  The main force of the army was still fairly far off. They required significant coverage from the archers and support from the cavalry as well. As they began to work their way through the courtyard, bands of attackers worked their way towards the king and his men. Most of them were on foot and the riders were easily able to defeat them. However, as they approached a small copse of trees near the center of the garden, a volley of arrow fire came at them. One of James’s men did not get his shield up in time and he fell from his saddle, an arrow in his neck. There was no time to grieve, however. The men, led by the king, rode on.

  Closer to the castle, the mayhem increased. Caleb’s artillery had not yet eradicated the cannon fire coming from the sides of Castle Graden. Each time artillery fire hit the fortress, pieces of stone and splintering wood exploded, throwing debris into the air for yards around the point of impact. There were several fires in the upper chambers of the castle, sending plumes of smoke in to the air, which mingled with the dust from the debris. It was difficult to see and, with the explosion of cannon fire, difficult to hear. Caleb relied on hand gestures to keep the band of men together.

  Upon reaching what would be the front entrance, if the large oaken doors were still fully intact, they were attacked by a group of the King’s Guard pouring through the holes in the mortar around the doorway. Though it was not a large group, it was enough to slow the king’s party down considerably. In order to engage them, they had to dismount. The ground was uneven and littered with large chunks of stone and wood. At one point, Gordon was wounded, receiving a deep stab to the arm. His assailant was quickly taken to the ground on the end of Dale’s sword but the injury was significant. Rather than take the risk of sending him back throw the foray in his condition, Caleb found some clothe to wrap it and they continued on their way.

  The castle seemed almost completely abandoned at this point, save a few terrified civilians scurrying about, attempting to find loved ones or the closest exit. At the sight of the invaders, most of them ducked for cover. The castle continued to rock with the continuation of cannon fire, particularly on northern portion, where Leopold’s artillery had been all but unscathed by the invaders.

  “Where do you think she could possibly be?” James asked as they made their way down the hallway.

  Caleb was beginning to think she must not be here. Leopold must have discovered her plan and taken him with her. “I don’t know,” he said, shaking his head adamantly.

  Just then, they saw a woman, covered in soot and ashes, round the corner at the far end of the hall. Even in her disheveled state, James recognized her instantly. “Joan!” he yelled, running to meet her.

  Joan was so happy to see him, she burst in to tears. “Prince James!” she cried. “Thank the Lord! Please, hurry, help. There’s not much time!”

  As the men ran down the hall to meet her, stepping over piles of rubble and debris as they went, she began pointing and shouting directions. “Katherine is in the crypt. He thought she was dead so he buried her down there. I haven’t been able to reach her.”

  James had his arms around her but Caleb was certainly in charge. “Show us where!” he demanded. She led them down the hall as quickly as she could over more piles of debris and a few fallen bodies. Eventually, they made their way to the staircase that led down to the dungeon and catacombs. The people were gone but so were some of the steps and the floor they were standing on seemed as if it might collapse at any moment, blocking the exit and possibly entrapping anyone who might be below.

  “It’s a labyrinth,” Joan explained. “I’m not sure how long it might take to find her.”

  “When did she take the sleeping potion?” Caleb demanded.

  Joan didn’t have time to think and she wasn’t exactly sure. “Yesterday—early in the morning.”

  Caleb nodded, “Then she is probably awake by now,” he said as another hale of cannon fire rocked the building. It was close this time and it sent the dust flying into the air along with several pieces of debris. The men wore metal helmets, which protected their eyes somewhat, but Joan had no protection. Noting this, Caleb ordered, �
�James, take Gordon and Joan and get them to safety. The rest of us will locate Katherine and get her out.”

  “No,” James said without hesitation. That was not a word that Caleb was used to hearing so it caught his attention. “I’m not going anywhere without my sister.”

  Caleb could see that he was serious so he did not argue. “Very well then, send one of your men.”

  James assigned one of his officers to escort Joan and the wounded, but adamantly willing to stay, Gordon, back the way they had come in. This left nine men with extremely sketchy directions, ready to enter blackened catacombs in search of a sleeping princess.

  “We’ll need torches,” Dale noted. The king agreed and they looked around. There were a few on the walls nearby though most of them had been extinguished by flying debris. They were able to find one that had not gone out and relight the remaining so that they had several to carry with them. They began to make their way into the darkness, praying that this was not the perfect trap set by Leopold himself, whom still had not been seen or heard from.

  ***

  Katey and Rose continued to pick their way through the darkness for what seemed like hours. They were in the pitch black, their hands feeling along the walls as Rose tried to determine which path to take. Finally, they rounded a corner and saw a bit of light gleaming from around the passage up ahead. They began to run towards it, hopeful that it was a torch.

  As they approached the turn, Katey put her hand out to stop Rose, peeking around the corner first. She saw no one, so she stepped out and plucked the half-burned torch from its holder. “Alright,” she said, “This will do nicely for a while!” she said. Rose looked around and made a determination as to which direction they should go next and they continued on their way, getting ever closer to the sounds of cannon fire.