The Grim Conspiracy

by C. Craig Coleman

  He turned back from his window, sat down, and called for his assistant.

  *

  “Do come in, Toda,” Ickletor said.

  “Yes, my lord?” Toda said when he cracked the door and stuck his head inside.

  “Have a seat there in the chair,” Ickletor said, pointing. His tone was sickly sweet and quite out of character. Creeping with his head cocked, eyes on the high priest, Toda approached the chair and hesitated before sitting down.

  Ickletor glared into Toda’s face freezing his target in place. “Toda, my dear assistant it’s high time I gave you a worthy assignment to prove your devotion to Yingnak and me, of course. I’m sure you wish to demonstrate your loyalty to me who has raised you up from the slums.”

  He’ll have no way out after that opening, Ickletor thought.

  “Thank you for your confidence, Master. What must I do to prove these things to you?”

  Ickletor stood and moved around to sit on the edge of his desk, closer, pinning down the twitching-eyed man before him.

  “Yingnak has revealed to me in my devotions there is a ritual I must perform to bring the critical rain. I have need of a certain item, a small thing actually but one that is necessary for success. You do understand, don’t you?”

  Toda slid forward in the chair drawn in as if transfixed. “How may I help? Am I to find and bring you this item?”

  “Actually, no, but you are to go on a little journey accompanying the illustrious Prince Malladar to secure the item. You will do his bidding whatever that will require. You do understand it’s important that the prince is in charge of the expedition. His status as heir to the throne of Tigmoor demands he be in charge.”

  “But Ickletor, he is barely a man. He has no experience beyond the estates of Octar. How can he lead a journey beyond?”

  Ickletor stood; he felt the heat rise in his face and knew it had darkened. Pinched lips and narrowing eyes dissolved the charming smile.

  “You question my decision yet again, Toda? Will you never learn? Must I replace you with someone who can follow orders?”

  Toda slipped out of the chair and crouched on his knees before the high priest, “Forgive my foolishness! Of course, I’d never question your wisdom. I shall go with Prince Malladar and serve him in every possible way. When do we leave?”

  “Be ready to leave before dawn two days from now. You must assemble supplies for a journey of perhaps a month or two. You will be traveling west to the Purple Mountains. From what little I know the trail is likely overgrown through thick jungle. There are rivers to cross, so take appropriate clothing and supplies for a substantial journey. And Toda, be sure you have weapons. One never knows what one will encounter in unfamiliar jungle.”

  Toda’s eyes bulged. “Jungle and rivers… I don’t have experience in those places. Are you sure I would be the best assistant for the prince?”

  “Toda! You question every word. If you are not committed to this venture, I shall replace you as both the assistant to Malladar and myself. You can hide here as a simple priest among the people beyond the city walls where you will feel safer.”

  “No, No!” Toda squirmed. “I shall have everything ready before dawn two mornings from now.”

  “I’m hoping I didn’t make a mistake entrusting you with this assignment. Have everything prepared at the back of the temple. The two of you will be leaving quietly. I don’t want people noticing your departure.”

  “Now go and find what you need so you can be ready on time. This mission is critical, Toda. You must return quickly before the god grows angry with your poor performance.”

  Toda jumped up, nodding profusely as he turned to dash out the door.

  Three down, one to go, thought Ickletor.

  *

  Ickletor found Eva sulking in her suite at Ickletor’s private palace just off the grand plaza.

  “Well my dear Eva, things didn’t work according to your plans last night, did they? I warned you to be cautious, but you had to throw yourself at the prince bringing disgrace on yourself and my name before the whole city,” Ickletor said as he burst into her bedroom.

  Eva looked up. A sneer flashed on her face and then she started to sob. She flung a water pitcher against the wall.

  “You here to gloat? Is this another I told you so?”

  “You’re too old for tantrums, Eva. I’m afraid you wore out your welcome in Octar after your public disgrace at the palace last night. The king will be quite angry; he might expel you from the city. I did warn you. I shall go to him at once and try to soothe his anger, but however it works out; you must leave the city as soon as possible. I’ve arranged for you to leave with your mother in the morning.”

  “With that foul witch!” Eva’s face flushed red, and then her body tensed before slumping.

  “As I was saying, you will go live in Tigmoor. Understand Nokmay will be keeping an eye on you. Behave yourself and stay out of trouble. This fresh start is likely your last chance to live a decent life. When you’ve settled in, she will introduce you to King Agmar. Once you have access to his court, for the sake of Yingnak, do be discrete and try to beguile the king without disgracing yourself there as well.”

  Eva stared for a moment, but Ickletor glared her down. She blinked, and her head hung. She slung another object from the table against the wall and then her head dangled as she nodded.

  “Be ready to leave in the morning at sunrise.”

  Ickletor left closing the door quietly. The sound of another vase smashing against the door behind him made him smile.

  13: Unknown Creatures

  The morning was chilly with a fog left as a parting gift by a cloud’s brief, teasing shower the night before. The mist would bring the people of Octar hope for rain until the merciless sun burned it off. The unusual mist made for a strange start of Malladar and Toda’s journey. A good omen or ominous one, even Ickletor couldn’t predict.

  “Take up your gear and leave quickly by the western gate before farmers arrive with their meager produce. Everyone seems to be harboring hostility towards the nobility these days,” Ickletor said.

  Toda looked up following a vulture circling overhead. The other two looked to see what had his attention. None spoke, but all knew the vulture should not be flying before the sun rose.

  *

  The first week of the journey to the Purple Mountains took the two men to the edge of the city’s western border. The jungle had gradually encroached on the trail, but there had been no alarming incidents.

  As Toda began brushing soil over the coals of the previous night’s campfire, a shadow slid over the spot, and he looked up. A vulture was circling once again.

  “I tell you this is an ill-fated mission, Prince Malladar,” Toda said.

  Malladar shoved soil on the last wisp of smoke. “You’ve been a harbinger of doom since with passed out of the city gate, Toda. You are frightened of your own shadow. Let’s get moving. The high priest said time was critical. We must not waste it trembling in fear all morning.”

  An hour later, a massive tree, shaggy with moss and vines made a thunderous cracking sound beside them. A huge crooked root snapped; its base and shot up. The two men jumped beside the trail as the crack sounded. The soil beside their feet quaked and erupted in a shower. The trunk toppled over smashing on the path farther along than they could see.

  “What could have caused that?” Toda asked. “Nothing hit the tree that I saw.”

  They both lay beside the trail for a moment waiting for something to happen that would explain the mysterious disaster. Prince Malladar stood first and immediately noted a small path was running off to the side of the main trail in a serpentine pattern like the passage of a snake.

  “We can’t possibly continue on this course as it is. Perhaps this path leads back to the trail or to someone who can tell us how to get there.”

  Toda stood, brushed himself off, and seemed to ogle the path. “I don’t know much about life in the forest, but that path doesn’t look
like it’s seen much use in a long while. Maybe we should stay here and see if we can get over the tree to the trail.”

  Three venomous vipers slithered out from what must have been their den among the roots. They slid up on the trunk and two coiled as Toda picked up his pack.

  “That’s not a good sign,” Malladar said. “We will continue up this winding path and see where it leads. If we don’t find someone or lodging in an hour, we’ll return here and try to climb among the limbs and vines to the trail.”

  As they proceeded along the way, it seemed to turn back in the direction they had come from. Vines encroached more across the trail catching their sandals tripping them. The tree canopy wove together tighter shutting out the light to dusk like darkness though it was still morning. It was Toda who first noted the sounds of birds and monkeys had ceased.

  “I think we should go back,” Toda said. “There’s something wrong here.” He swept the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand and flicked it away. “The air here has become heavy with moisture and carries a foul odor.”

  Malladar stood and scanned the surroundings. He wiped the sweat from his eyes, too. “We’ve only traveled a couple of miles. Let’s give it another half hour. If we haven’t found someone by then, we’ll turn back.”

  “There is something evil here,” Toda said.

  Malladar unrolled his map. He ran his finger along the line on the map. There were no landmarks as yet on the map. Strangely, the path as he rubbed it seems to fade. Not wanting to alarm Toda, he rolled up the drawing and stuck it back in his vest.

  “Let’s not allow our imaginations to frighten us. We’ll continue for just a bit further.”

  The increasingly crooked path took a turn into a boggy clearing. The puddles were black with an oily slick on the surface. The skull of a large creature sat half-submerged on the far side of a shallow pool.

  Toda pointed, “What kind of animal was that? Doesn’t look like anything I know. Those tusks are like those of a hog, but it has fangs, unlike anything I’ve seen.”

  Malladar looked at the cream-colored skull partially stained like tea by the tannin in the water. “Well, whatever it was, it’s dead now and has been for a long time.”

  “We should have stayed with the trail,” Toda blurted out.

  “Stop your whining, Toda,” Malladar said. The prince started walking around the edges of the bog, testing each step to be sure the soil could bear his weight.

  After hesitating, Toda rushed to catch up when one of his feet plunged into black muck. He yelled and fell backward to slow his sinking. Malladar came back and grabbed one of his arms. He pulled the shaken priest back onto the surrounding jungle.

  Toda was pale and shaking. “I could have been swallowed up in that hole.”

  “Come on, get up, and be careful where you step,” Malladar said. He tugged on Toda’s arm, but Toda refused to stand.

  “My prince, you don’t understand. I felt no bottom under my foot! That pit is bottomless. Had I not laid back the pit would have swallowed me completely down there.”

  “It’s just a nasty bog, Toda. We must keep moving. I think I saw some light up ahead. We might at least be able to get our bearings.”

  When they stumbled out of the vines and jungle onto the clearing, a small mud hut with thatched roof stood at the opposite end.

  “There, you see, we’ve found the man that uses the path. He can likely lead us back to the trail,” Malladar said hands on his hips.

  Toda looked around. “Maybe, but do you see that pile of bones behind the hut? That man eats a lot of meat.”

  Malladar shook his head as he started to cross the glade. “Toda, you are frightened of your own shadow.”

  “Maybe so but that might not be such a bad thing. At least my shadow doesn’t eat meat,” Toda mumbled scanning the open space. The priest stood up just as Malladar disappeared in front of him. He froze, staring down into a gaping hole. Waiting, he listened for some sound, any indication the prince was alive. A low moan rose from the pitch-black void.

  “My lord, are you alright?”

  He waited for a response, but there was only silence. His heart beats registered as drumming as he strained to hear any sound from the sinkhole… nothing. He dropped to his hands and knees and crept to the edge of the pit. Trembling, he peeked over the edge. No sign of the prince so far down as light pierced. There were only bamboo poles and dead palm fronds scattered among the craggy limestone of the pit’s edges. He leaned further over the edge and called to Malladar.

  Something grabbed his ankles, flipped him up as if he weighed nothing, and shoved him into the pit! He screamed as he grabbed at the edges, but he tumbled on down, unable to grab the stones of the pit walls. To him, it all seemed surreal. Time slowed as he fell and then he landed on something soft. A groan and Toda jumped up and back.

  “My lord, are you alright?”

  Malladar shook himself and turned his head. “I’m okay, Toda. That crushing massage did the trick. Thank you so much for mashing me into a paste.”

  Toda took care stepping beside Malladar to reach his arm. “Let me give you a hand up. Do you think you can stand?”

  Malladar shook his arms and legs, “I think so.” He raised his arm and let Toda pull him up gasping with the effort. The prince checked to be sure his ankles were okay before trying to move around. The two looked up.

  “That’s not good,” Malladar said. “We can’t climb up out of here. There is nothing to hold onto on those smooth walls. Someone fashioned this pit to catch unsuspecting victims.”

  Toda’s head jerked from looking up to staring into Malladar’s face. “Victims!”

  Malladar shook litter off his clothing. “That pile of bones behind the hut, it’s possible this is where the animals came from.”

  Toda’s voice deepened, “I’m older, tougher, stringier; you’d be a meatier meal.”

  “Thanks, Toda, I’ll keep that in mind. Let’s see where that tunnel over there leads goes. It may be a way out where the hut’s inhabitant drags out his prey. I was lucky. I landed on the palm fronds enough to break my fall. You used me for a soft landing.”

  “Oh Your Highness, I’d never do that intentionally. Do forgive my clumsy mistake. Someone or something flipped me in here.”

  Malladar began moving towards the tunnel that led into darkness. “Come on; we have no other option that I can see. Keep your knife handy. If someone comes through this tunnel to collect what fell in, it’s likely armed and ready to finish off any wounded animals.”

  Toda’s eyes swelled. He fumbled with his knife handle. “I only brought it as an impressive ornament,” he mumbled. “I guess the end sticking out of the leather sheath would be the handle.”

  Malladar was looking forward but grinned hearing Toda whining behind him. They moved down the tunnel through the darkness. When feeling their way around a turn, they saw the faintest light ahead. Even more worrying, someone was mumbling, and it wasn’t Toda. Worse yet, the tunnel was going deeper not up.

  “Who do you think it might be?” Toda whispered.

  Malladar didn’t answer but watched the opening as they moved closer to the light. He stopped, and Toda walked into him.

  An upright creature crossed the opening; there was some sort of a room. The creature had tusks and fangs. Whatever it was, it matched the skull up by the bog pit.

  The bog pit thought Malladar, this tunnel, and the room should be flooded if the groundwater level is so close to the surface. What’s holding back the water?

  Toda spotted the creature when it walked back across in front of the opening again. “This isn’t the way out! Bones, tusks, fangs… let’s go back and see if there is another way out.”

  “Be quiet, Toda.”

  “Whatever that thing is, it eats meat,” Toda mumbled. “You’re young, tender, meaty, and juicy; you go right ahead. Me… my stringy self is going back.”

  “Stay behind me, Toda. There is no way out back there. Whatever this thing is,
we must go through that room to get out. We need to stick together to tackle it if necessary.”

  “Wonder if it marinates its meat or just roasts it with a good sauce.”

  “Shut up, Toda!”

  The creature must have heard the noise in the tunnel. It came to the opening, looking up the tunnel holding a club firmly in its hand. The creature was a bit larger than a large man with a heavily muscled chest and arms. Its large fingers had thick, three-inch claws perhaps for digging out the tunnels and disemboweling large prey.

  Malladar backed up and bumped into Toda who grunted. “Move back.”

  The creature heard Toda’s grunt and started coming up the tunnel sniffing the air as it came. The two men turned and rushed back to the shaft where they had fallen in. Another of the creatures, a female, had lowered a tied-off rope and was beginning to rappel down the wall.

  Malladar pointed for Toda to take a defensive position on the far side of the shaft entrance. He raised his razor-sharp, obsidian-encrusted club with both hands on the near side of the tunnel opening.

  “Make a move, a noise, get his attention as soon as you see him in the passageway,” Malladar said.

  “Me! You want me to attract his attention. Oh, I beg the forgiveness of all the temple sacrifices now that I’m to be one,” Toda moaned.

  “Stop whining and do as I tell you!”

  Frantic, twitching this way and that, Toda grabbed a rock he could throw and peeked around the tunnel edge. He jumped back, his gaping face horror, and looked at the prince. “He’s here!”

  Malladar shot his arm out, pointing to the rock in Toda’s hand then again gripped his club with both hands.

  Terrified, Toda lost his nerve. He glanced at the female halfway down the wall only a couple of yards from him. He jumped out in front of the tunnel opening and threw the rock at the beast with all his might. He bolted to the far side of the shaft when the creature dodged the rock and emerged from the tunnel grinning.