by Sharon Gibbs
‘I wonder where that leads to, Christopher,’ he said as he pointed at the door. ‘Shall we have a look and see what mysteries lay beyond?’
As they walked across the wooden floor their footsteps echoed. Christopher stopped as he neared the door and retraced his footsteps before he walked forward again. He kept his thoughts to himself and he caught up with Peter as he unlocked and opened the door. Outside a staircase had been built that led to the ground below.
‘Obviously a second exit,’ Peter said. ‘Just in case there is a fire in the barn. I suppose, anyone trapped could come up here and leave by this door.’
‘Not a bad idea,’ Christopher said. Or another way to enter without being noticed. Christopher closed the door but he didn’t slide the bolt across to lock it. They returned outside to the others as the second door still needed to be hung and Christopher knew his uncle wanted to be home early enough to work on the swords that afternoon.
The group went back to work. They repeated the same process to hang the second door and finally the barn was finished. Christopher gathered his friends around while the older men chatted. ‘Lads, I’d like to meet back here late tonight,’ he said.
‘Why, what’s going on, Christopher?’ Adam asked. He felt Christopher had something important to share.
‘I can’t talk about it now. We’ll meet back here at midnight. Does everyone agree?’
The lads agreed and they packed up their belongings. Albert and Christopher gathered their tools and placed them into the back of their wagon. With shouts of goodbye they all head off home.
Christopher lay awake in his bed that night and waited for his aunt and uncle to fall asleep. He and Albert had worked until after dark and Albert had been exhausted. They’d sat down to a light supper before they’d retired for the night.
Christopher listened to the sounds in the next room. Albert had begun to snore and Rose no longer tossed and turned. Christopher gathered his shoes and slipped out of his room. The house was quiet, the fire had died down in the hearth and Christopher could just make out the shapes of furniture as he made his way to the back door and went outside. He pulled on his boots and then took the lantern off its hook by the back door and lit the wick. He shuttered the light so no one would see it and then he made his way to the road.
Christopher was late and wouldn’t reach the barn before midnight. His shoes crunched on the dry earth as he hurried along. The moon waned and hampered his vision but he refrained from opening the shutter on the lantern. As Christopher approached the crossroads he saw two figures ahead and he moved to the edge of the road to conceal himself.
‘Hurry up, Christopher. We’d thought you’d never get here.’ James and Peter had waited for Christopher. They walked over to where Peter had left the horse and wagon hidden in the trees.
‘Sorry, I had to wait until Albert and Rose were asleep before I could leave,’ Christopher said. James and Peter had waited for over an hour. That afternoon they hadn’t put the wagon away and it had made it easier to hitch up the horse and leave once their father had gone to bed.
They arrived at the barn a little after midnight and the others were already there. As they climbed out of the wagon, Adam Winters walked up to greet them. ‘So what’s going on, Christopher? Why did you want to meet us here tonight?’
‘Well, lads,’ Christopher said as he walked over to them, ‘didn’t any of you think it was strange how we’d organised to meet here today, yet our fathers already knew? And while we ate did anyone see my uncle and Jimmy leave and go around the back of the barn and return from inside?’
No one had noticed Jimmy and Albert re-emerge from the barn but they’d been surprised when their fathers had asked them to come along.
‘When Peter and I went into the barn to have a look around we climbed the stairs into the loft and up there we found another door with a set of stairs which gives access to the ground below.’
‘Yes, but the door was locked,’ Peter said.
‘Because they’d locked it before they came back down on their way out.’
Saul didn’t understand what Christopher had inferred. ‘What’s so sinister about that, Christopher, that you’d have us all meet out here in the middle of the night?’
‘It’s not so much about the door. The question is, why did they use the door outside when they could’ve gone in through the front.’
James piped up, ‘Probably to hide something when we were all busy with lunch.’
‘Exactly! Shall we take a look and see?’ Christopher then led them around the back of the tall structure.
‘Christopher, the door was locked from the inside when we opened it,’ Peter said.
‘Yes, Pete, but when I closed the door I didn’t slide the bolt across to relock it. With any luck no one else has checked it since then.’
They all stood at the bottom of the stairs. ‘Wait here while I check the door,’ Christopher said. He climbed the stairs and slowly turned the handle. It was still unlocked. He called them up and opened the door. Once they were all inside it was dark, too dark to see, and Christopher opened the shutter on the lantern to provide light for them.
‘Well I see nothing,’ Carl said.
‘Nothing seems different, Christopher. What are we supposed to look for?’ Peter could barely see his eyes hadn’t adjusted to the light.
‘It’s not what we can see, it’s what we can’t see. When we were up here earlier, Pete, I noticed my footsteps echoed on the floorboards, but when I reached about here,’ Christopher walked over and pointed to the floor where he remembered the change, ‘the echo ceased.’ He tapped on the floor with his foot to demonstrate the difference in the sounds the wooden floor made. They all heard the hollow sound his shoe made and then the dull thud the floor made on the side closest to them. Christopher had them search the floor for any loose boards that might give them access.
‘Over here,’ Saul said. He was in the corner by the door they’d just entered. ‘These boards may have holes in them but no nails.’ Using his fingers he tried to remove one of the boards, but it was wedged in tight. Peter removed his knife from his pocket and handed it to Saul. Christopher brought the lantern close to cast the area in the lantern’s light. The plank that Saul had tried to lift had small marks along its edge and it looked as if someone had prised it open before. Saul slid the knife between the planks and tried to gain some movement, but the board was wedged in tight. He wriggled the knife and tried again. This time the board moved just high enough for him to be able to grasp the end of it with his fingers and he lifted it from the floor.
When the plank was removed Saul could see sackcloth and he easily removed the next plank to expose something hidden in the floor. He pulled the sack and it folded back to reveal a brand new sword. Saul removed the sword and handed it to Christopher who recognised it to be the same as the ones his uncle had made recently. Saul removed another sword and handed this one to Adam. They couldn’t believe what they’d uncovered.
Christopher placed the lantern down on the floor and helped Saul remove another four boards. Before them, wrapped in old sacks, lay a cache of weapons which included swords, axes, knives, shields and long bows accompanied by sets of quivers. So this was what they’d been up to. The men of the village had set about to store weapons. But what for? What did they have planned? Christopher and his friends couldn’t fathom the risk these men had taken to stockpile these weapons. Everyone knew where the weapons had come from and who’d made them.
‘We better put them back,’ Saul said as he retrieved the weapons the others held. He wrapped them again in the sacks and returned them to the space beneath the floor. They sealed the cache so it was hidden once again and then they left the loft and headed back down the staircase. They hadn’t been able to lock the door from the outside, but if anyone asked, Christopher and Peter would say they had found the door when they’d looked around the loft.
They headed back to the wagon and the others who had walked there climbed in as
well. As they headed off they decided to stop at the grounds where they trained to plan their next course of action.
Peter secured the horse and wagon in the woods and they walked the rest of the trail towards the clearing. It was difficult for them to move through the trees and undergrowth led only by the light from the lantern.
‘What are you lads doing out here in the middle of the night?’ came a voice out of nowhere.
Christopher shuttered the lantern and they all froze in mid-step.
‘It’s too late now to hide. Haven’t you learnt yet to be quiet, so as not to give yourselves away?’ Robert Hurley stood at the edge of the clearing. He was out for the night and he’d heard them as they headed his way. Robert lived not far from the grounds where he’d built himself a small home within the woodland and at night he’d come out to hunt the trails.
When they’d recognised Robert’s voice, they relaxed and moved towards him.
‘We didn’t think anyone would be out here,’ Adam said.
‘Well lad, that was your first mistake, not thinking. Anyone could be anywhere, at any time,’ he said. ‘I thought you’d have learnt that over the years. Come on then,’ Robert said as he walked off. ‘You’ve already disturbed my hunt for the night. You may as well come to my place so we can have a chat that I think is long overdue.’
Robert always kept an eye on these boys. The men of the village discussed everything when it came to these young men who they knew weren’t happy to live under the Lord’s rule. Their fathers knew about their meetings and the plans they made. They walked in silence as they followed Robert home.
‘Come in lads and make yourselves at home,’ he said as he walked through the front door. They sat around the fire while Robert fetched them something to drink. He returned with mugs of cider and passed them around.
‘So, what brings you out here at this time of night?’
Christopher spoke up, ‘Well, Mister Hurley—’
‘Call me Robert. I’ve known you boys long enough for that.’
‘Robert, can we be honest with you?’
‘Of course you can, Christopher.’ Robert didn’t think he was going to like what he was about to hear.
‘We went back to Jimmy’s barn tonight. We’d been there earlier today and I was suspicious about something.’
‘Go on,’ Robert said as he sat there and listened.
‘We found weapons, hidden in the floor of the loft.’ Christopher waited for Robert to say something.
‘Well, lads, what do you think you’ll do with this information?’
The young men sat there and didn’t know what to say.
‘We’re not sure,’ Christopher said.
‘Maybe you need to speak to your uncle, Christopher, and you boys to your fathers and see what they have to say on the matter.’
‘Do you know what they’ve planned?’ Peter leant forward and placed his drink on the small table.
‘Yes I do.’
‘So you’ll not tell us then?’ Christopher wanted to know but he knew the answer before Robert even replied.
‘Christopher, I think this is something you need to discuss with them. It’s not my place to speak of it, until you have done so. All these secrets you keep from each other is dangerous. But let me just say, preparations have been made for the good of all. Other than that you’ll have to confront your fathers for more information.’
Robert finished his drink and placed his mug down next to his chair. ‘You lads need to be off home, before someone misses you.’ With that they finished their drinks and said farewell to Robert. As they left his home he called out to them.
‘Be quiet this time. You never know who you’ll meet out in the middle of nowhere. Take care, lads.’
The boys collected the horse and wagon and headed home. Before they reached the crossroads they’d each decided to approach their fathers and find out what they were up to.
It was late before Christopher slipped back beneath his sheets. The sun would be up in a few hours and he’d need to rise and work that day. He lay there and thought of what his uncle would say when he asked him about the weapons, until finally he fell asleep.
Chapter Eleven
Gerard stood in front of the Keep. He was overwhelmed by the sheer size of it. The stories he’d heard over the years and those told by Gustov on their way to Canistar rushed back to him as he stared at the monstrous building. Hierarch Jacob invited them inside. The Hierarch always showed the new students and their families around.
They walked through the two reinforced iron doors and stepped into the main entrance of the Great Keep.
‘Gerard, over here is the lobby and through there,’ the Hierarch said as he pointed, ‘is the dining room. These are the only two places visitors are allowed.’
Colourful rugs had been scattered upon the stone floor while chairs and couches were grouped together and allowed families and friends to gather on their visits.
The sun’s light radiated through large windows that ran from floor to ceiling, either side of the main doors. Lanterns adorned the walls and provided light to those who chose to read in private, while high in the ceiling large wheels constructed of steel hung on thick metal chains. These were lowered when the candles needed to be changed and were lit when the sun’s afternoon rays disappeared behind the mountains or on overcast days to provide light to those who congregated within the Keep’s interior.
Large fireplaces had been built on each wall within the lobby. Both Devon and Gerard were amazed at the interior of the Keep. This giant structure, which they’d thought would be barren and cold, was a warm and cosy place. To the left stood the great hall which was used as the dining room where rows of long tables and benches stood for the students and Wizards to sit and have their meals. It was also used as an assembly hall where the Hierarch made important announcements.
Beyond there were the kitchens and students were only allowed in there when they helped with meals for special celebrations. Hierarch Jacob showed Devon and Gerard through the Keep and pointed out the enormous stone staircase that stood in the middle of the lobby, directly across from the main entrance. They walked over to the stairs and climbed to the first floor. From the landing, the stairs continued on up to the next level. The first floor led to the student’s quarters, the Brothers’ residences, various study areas and the reading rooms. This would be the only time Devon would be allowed up in this area, so he could be satisfied that the room Gerard was to sleep in was comfortable and warm.
Hallways sprouted off in all directions on the first floor. The hallway on the left led to the students’ quarters. Devon and Gerard followed as the Hierarch led the way to Gerard’s room. As they walked down the winding hallway Hierarch Jacob spoke to himself.
‘No not this one,’ he said as he passed by a door on the left and they passed two more before he stopped at one further down on the right. ‘Argh, here we are young Gerard. This is your room.’
Hierarch Jacob opened the door and stepped inside. ‘This is the common room,’ he said as Gerard and Devon followed him into the lounge area. The area contained a hearth surrounded by comfortable chairs. There were rugs on the floor, while bookshelves and tables used for study were scattered throughout the room. Around the walls were several doors and the Hierarch walked over to one, on the right side.
‘This will be your room, Gerard,’ he said as he opened the door for them to look inside. The room was quite large and contained two beds, one on each side of the room.
Gerard’s bags stood near the bed on the left hand side. Devon was impressed that the room was large enough for two to share and was well lit by the windows on each wall near the beds.
‘We’ll leave young Gerard to unpack and have a look around for himself. I trust you are satisfied with the boy’s lodgings?’
‘Yes, very satisfied,’ Devon said.
‘Good, then I’ll show you around the grounds before you head back to the village.’
‘Certainly,’ Dev
on said and then placed his hand on Gerard’s shoulder. ‘Son, I’ll see you in the morning before I leave for home.’
‘Yes, father. I’ll meet you in the lobby.’
‘Why don’t you join us for breakfast in the great hall before you leave and spend some time together,’ the Hierarch said.
‘I’d like that very much,’ Devon said as he and Hierarch Jacob left Gerard to unpack his bags.
Outside the Keep the Hierarch showed Devon Antrobus around the gardens and introduced him to some of the Brothers of the Keep.
‘Don’t worry, Lord Antrobus. Gerard will be happy here and he can go home to visit whenever he likes.’
Devon was pleased with his visit to the Keep and after he’d strolled around the grounds with the Hierarch, he bid him goodbye and headed back to the carriage where Gustov waited.
‘All finished then, Sir?’
‘Yes, Gustov, back to the inn. I’ll be back for breakfast in the morning to see Gerard before I leave.’
Gerard was in his room. He hung his clothes in the wardrobe and placed some of his personal things into the drawers alongside the bed. When he’d finished he entered the common room and looked through the dozens of books on the shelves. The names on the spines he didn’t recognise but there were many copies of the same book. The door opened and four boys around Gerard’s age walked into the room.
‘Hi, you must be the new one they said would arrive today. I’m Eli and this here is Clarence,’ Eli said as he pointed his thumb in Clarence’s direction.
‘We’re Michael and Carl,’ Michael said and offered Gerard his hand in welcome and then as he slumped on the couch he dangled his legs over the armrest.
‘I’m Gerard.’
‘Oh, so I see you have Squatter’s old room.’ Carl couldn’t believe they’d filled his place so soon.
‘Squatter?’ Gerard said.
Clarence interrupted before Carl could reply. ‘Squatter Fairley used to share your room. He had to leave the Keep when his father died.’