The Grim Conspiracy

by C. Craig Coleman

  “I consulted Tingtwang. I’m sure you must know that. He said there were spells that intensify emotions and others that would make warriors invincible if their hate turned to rage. I need for you to locate such spells, Nokmay.”

  Reluctant but resigned, the witch scanned down the page, but she already knew such spells were there.

  Ickletor pointed to one spell, “Tingtwang seemed to take note of that incantation there. He had a nasty grin and chuckled, but he didn’t say what it does. Does it intensify hate?”

  “No, Ickletor,” she glanced over at him, “it’s a growth spell. You must have it confused with another invocation.”

  Ickletor’s smug grim faded. “Will it grow the hate, you know, fortify warriors for battle? Find me spells that will aid Octar in war, Nokmay. You’ve wasted enough of my time. There must be war before the population here turns on the nobility destroying Octar forever.”

  Nokmay closed the book and looked to Ickletor. “The spells you are seeking to use for the most part require a unique intermediary, a certain stone that fell from the sky millennia ago. It’s a unique thing called The Eye of Dindak. Those that wrote the book hid the stone for many ages. You can’t activate these spells without it.”

  Ickletor danced around the desk and looked up into Nokmay’s face grinning. “Yes, I’ve known about the mystical stone for some time. I sent that stupid boy, Prince Malladar to fetch it for me. That’s the mission I sent him on with my obnoxious assistant, Toda.”

  Nokmay’s heart skipped a beat. She felt nauseous and leaned back on the desk.

  “So that was his mysterious mission. You know the ancients wove protections on top of protections to prevent it from seeing the light of day again. There is little chance the boy and your useless assistant could find much less obtain it.”

  Eyes twinkling, Ickletor bit his lip, spun around, and clapped his hands, “Precisely my thoughts since he’s failed to return for so long, but then, Tingtwang informed me only days ago the prince is only a short distance from the city with this Eye of Dindak.” He patted the book releasing tiny puffs of dust. “All this power will be at my disposal in just days.”

  Nokmay’s jaw dropped, “If you release the power within this book, you can’t control it, and you can’t stop it.”

  “Enough of your threats, warnings, and fear tactics, witch. Open the books and show me the spells I need to ensure this war is successful.”

  “If you stir such hatred for your ends, it will consume you.”

  “Hate is the means to power, Nokmay. Now show me those spells.” Ickletor grinned and without looking down, flipped open the book on the desk. “Oh and by the way, can one combine spells for more specific, intense, or combined results?”

  44: Delivery

  ‘Keep up, Toda, we can see the farms surrounding Octar from the top of that hill,” Malladar said, gazing back at his companion. They trudged along worn out from a long walk that day. “The sun will soon set, and I want to see the walls of Octar before the light fades.”

  Wheezing and bent over, hand on one knee; Toda looked up at the prince. “I know, lord prince, I, too want to see the city but I’m worn out. We can’t make it home today. Couldn’t we camp here and rest? We will reach Octar tomorrow and sleep in our own beds tomorrow night.”

  Malladar came back and offered Toda a drink of water. “Very well, you set up camp. I’m going ahead to the top of the hill for a glimpse of the city. I’ll be right back.”

  He strode off up the road as Toda sat down on a rock. When Malladar topped the hill, Nain the Abkor stood tall before him. The prince stepped back, hesitated, and then bowed.

  “So you still insist on taking The Eye of Dindak to Ickletor in Octar,” Nain said.

  “It would seem we have little choice. A strange older man appeared a while back and said it was destiny. He said it was to be.”

  Nain eyes glowed in the hood of his cloak.

  “Destiny is not certain Prince Malladar. That older man might have painted a picture of the future, but that depended on which way you went with The Eye. Did you know that was the god of the underworld in human form?”

  “I’d no idea.”

  “You must not take The Eye to Ickletor. He will release things that should not see the world again.”

  “I thought you said before you weren’t supposed to interfere in the activities of men.”

  Nain began to fade, “This was your last warning, Malladar.” With that, he was gone.

  Troubled, the prince ambled back to Toda deep in thought.

  “I fear we’ve made a mistake bringing this sky-rock to the high priest.”

  Toda stopped scrubbing a pot and looked up.

  “What do you mean? I thought we decided we had to. There will be no place for us in this world if we fail in this mission.”

  “Maybe we’re expendable,” Malladar said. He took the stone out from his pack, examining it.

  “How can this simple hard rock be the means to so much misery?”

  Toda took The Eye of Dindak and examined it too. “I don’t know. No one has said much about it. All I know is we’re too close to home to turn back now. Where would we go anyway? No, we must go on to Octar and deliver this cursed thing.”

  “I may go back and see if perhaps the Abkor will come and tell me how and where I can bury it again. I think it must be too dangerous for Ickletor to experiment with it.”

  Toda slipped the stone in his cloak as Malladar blew on the smoking grass to ignite the cooking fire.

  Next morning, Malladar slept late. Toda failed to awaken him after their exhausting travel the day before. He looked to see if Toda was by chance cooking breakfast. No fire, no Toda. Then the prince noted Toda’s things were gone. Only then did Malladar check his cloak for The Eye and discover it was missing. He rushed to the top of the hill, but the priest wasn’t in sight.

  I can’t catch up with him before he reaches the city and gives The Eye to Ickletor, Malladar thought. Maybe it is destiny the stone should reach the high priest. How much harm can it do? Then his mind envisioned Nain and his warning the evening before. A lot more than I can fathom, he realized.

  *

  Toda could just make out the guards at Octar’s western gate when he ran into a dozen or so men in rags surrounding some traveler. They waved crude farm implements and knives, and the traveler cowered on his knees before them.

  Are things so bad that bands of brigands now attack travelers on the main roads within sight of the city, Toda wondered. He ducked down and looked back. Malladar will be along soon, and they’ll accost him as well.

  He started to turn back and almost ran into an older woman behind him. Leaning on her cane, she looked at the robbery in progress and began to tremble.

  “What shall we do, kind sir?” she croaked. “I must get to the city. My daughter is dying; I must get her this medicine.” She held up a tiny leather pouch presumably containing some herbs. Her hand shook badly.

  Malladar will see those thieves and avoid them, Toda decided. He took the old lady’s hand and led her behind a set of rocks where it appeared the highwaymen had hidden before rushing out to waylay the traveler. They rushed along faster than Toda imagined the old lady could walk.

  Strange one so feeble on the road is so nimble threading these boulders, he thought.

  Over another hill and out of sight of the robbery, the two slowed, but the old lady clung tighter to the priest as they made their way to the gate. When they reached it, Toda moved up the line of travelers entering the city to speak to the guards. When he looked back for the old lady, she was gone.

  Strange, he thought, she must have rushed ahead of me to get to her daughter.

  “Did you see an old lady with me a minute ago?” he asked the guard checking his papers. The soldier looked up, shook his head, and with his arm on Toda’s shoulder pushed him past and into the gate.

  *

  Malladar too came upon the brigands counting the loot they’d taken from the traveler
. The greedy men were so focused on ensuring each got his share; they failed to notice Malladar slip by. The prince overtook the dazed traveler who stumbled along in a daze. When Malladar came up behind him taking his arm, the man gasped and cowered.

  “Those men back there stripped me of everything I had! Have mercy; I’ve nothing left you can take but the clothes off my back.” The terrified man began to strip off his tunic.

  “I, too, am a traveler. Just the two of us can’t confront those men. I’ll send the city guards back to seize back your goods. We must hurry on before they see us again.”

  Malladar helped the traveler on to the city and told the guards they must retrieve the man’s goods. The guard’s leader called for reinforcements to send against the brigands. The prince left the traveler with the sentries and hurried on the Octar’s grand plaza in search of Toda. He found no sign of the priest.

  Toda’s lead and the traveler’s delay gave Toda the time he needed to reach the city and deliver The Eye of Dindak to Ickletor, he thought. He felt defeated.

  As he started to climb the steps of the temple pyramid, he noticed an older woman leaning on a cane in the shadow beside him. The toothless hag took a step forward and grinned in his face. “You’re too late, Prince Malladar.” Her image changed, and he recognized Cete before she faded away teleporting out of the plaza.

  Malladar rushed up the stairs two by two. Trying to catch his breath, he turned down into the internal staircase and along the corridor to Ickletor’s office. He entered just as Toda handed The Eye of Dindak to Ickletor who beamed.

  “It’s done, Malladar,” Toda said.

  “And so it is,” Ickletor said. He shoved the meteor into the inner pocket of his cloak. His victorious smirk shot fear through the prince. “Thank you both for all your troubles in securing this most critical, shall we say, tool? It will enable me to do great things for Octar.”

  Without speaking to Toda, Malladar left the temple mound and crossed over to the palace pyramid. He returned to his suite with a heavy sense of failure. Refreshed and dressed in courtly attire, he went first to report his mission details to King Jornak. Then he found Princess Kayla and told her of the travel encounters and his fears.

  “Something bad, maybe terrible will come of Ickletor’s use of that stone,” Malladar said.

  Kayla nodded, “I fear so, too. He’s an evil man, and he has ambitions.”

  45: Ickletor & Jornak Clash

  Ickletor stood on the platform in front of the great temple overlooking the plaza where people then seemed to avoid each other and even eye contact. A feeling of triumph came over him thinking about having just obtained the unobtainable Eye of Dindak. Finally, he could proceed with his plans to transform Octar and avoid a popular revolt that would end with his own heart beating in a bowl before the rock.

  He took a deep breath then frowned, noting not a cloud in the sky. The sun beat down without mercy. His gaze fell on the palace across the plaza and anger caused heartburn to dispel his sense of victory. There stood his deliverer and his impediment. Malladar and Kayla were laughing and chasing each other in games.

  That young man has outlived his usefulness here, he thought. A sacrifice to Yingnak would turn the people against me more. He’s too popular with the multitude. His death would instantly result in war with Tigmoor before I’m ready. No, I suppose he must live, but he must go and right away. The longer he remains here, the more Kayla will desire him. I must stop that now.

  Accompanied by temple guards, a necessity in recent times, Ickletor crossed the plaza and went to the palace where he requested a private audience with King Jornak. A short wait and the servant ushered him into the king’s study where he bowed low.

  “What is it, Ickletor?” Jornak asked, “As you see I’m very busy with all these petitions and trying to keep control of the state. I can’t control popular anger much longer. I hope you’ve come to tell me some good news, rain… perhaps?”

  “Majesty,” Ickletor said with rich tone and emphasis, sadly I’ve no good news to convey. I’m deeply troubled by the presence of Prince Malladar.”

  “Prince Malladar? Princess Kayla told me he just returned from some secret mission you convinced him to undertake. Why would he trouble you now?”

  Ickletor ignored the reference to the mission. “He plays with Princess Kayla all the time before the people on the plaza. Surely you must realize they see that a hostage is free to play while they scrape for a meager bit of grain or a root. They are so volatile. Such a sight could trigger resentment, and that would turn into riots before the very palace.”

  Jornak put down his quill and looked at the priest. “Those two have been playmates since childhood. The people love seeing them together.”

  “Do they? Majesty, innocent children playing is one thing, but those two are adults now. Everyone knows Princess Kayla must soon marry for the sake of the throne’s stability. That innocent play is now courtship. Do you intend the future king of Tigmoor, your vassal should rule in your place?”

  Jornak stood and walked to the window, looking down on the terrace where Malladar and Kayla played. Ickletor said nothing seeing the king pondering the dilemma. The king turned back to the high priest.

  “That is indeed an issue. I had requested a younger son of the king of Korkufin be sent here to live for a few years. I’ve received no response as yet. No, while Prince Malladar is a fine young man and loved here, it could be very volatile should he ascend the throne with Kayla. As consort, the people would see him as a foreign influence Octar’s queen.”

  Ickletor stepped closer to reinforce the king’s concern and further his resolve. “Perhaps Your Majesty could send the prince back to Tigmoor to be of assistance to his father and learn the ways of his people. My sources tell me there has recently been an earthquake there. Now would be an opportune time for the prince to go to the aid of his father and kingdom.”

  “That’s an excellent idea, Ickletor. The timing might be right. I shall give it serious consideration.”

  “Excellent! With your permission, I shall withdraw and leave you to those pressing matters of state.” Ickletor bowed and backed out of the king’s presence wishing to show maximum deference to the king he considered weak, inept, and too easily influenced.

  *

  The rest of the day Jornak worried about what Ickletor had brought up. He summoned Kayla to his study after their dinner.

  “My dear, you have become a fine you lady, and you are a princess, Princess Royal at that. It’s time you started putting aside games and began to pay attention to the issues affecting the kingdom. You must soon marry and rule this nation one day. I’ve asked that a prince of Korkufin come as ambassador to Octar. I want you to do your best to become familiar with him, show him all about the city. It’s likely you will marry him one day if he comes.”

  Kayla put down an object on the desk and looked into Jornak’s eyes, “Father! You must know I love Malladar! We will be married one day, soon I hope. I don’t want to marry some strange prince from beyond the mountains.”

  Jornak stiffened at the defiance.

  “You are Princess Royal. You will inherit the throne one day. The stability of this throne ensures the survival of the kingdom. You will marry whom I decide is the best consort to bring that stability.”

  “Please, Father, I love Malladar, and he loves me.”

  “Love is of low priority in a royal marriage, my dear. Royals marry for the good of the state. You must put aside your personal wishes and accept your royal responsibility.”

  “Why are you so against my marrying Malladar?”

  “Kayla, Malladar will be king of Tigmoor our vassal state. He’s here as a hostage to ensure King Agmar doesn’t attempt to throw off his yoke and conquer Octar. Malladar may be an innocent boy now, but he may become our greatest threat.”

  Kayla’s eyes reddened and grew moist. Her lips pinched.

  “High Priest Ickletor makes advances to me all the time, uncouth advances. I’ve tri
ed to keep him at arm’s length, but he gets more daring with every encounter. Shall I marry him should the Korkufin prince fail to materialize?”

  Jornak shot up so fast his chair fell over backward. “The high priest dares to make advances without asking my permission first… unwanted and uncouth advances?”

  “I’ve told you he did so before, Father.”

  Jornak felt the heat of rage on his face. “That will end now. You may go for the moment.”

  Kayla felt her father’s anger and left at once hoping to distance herself from what would ensue.

  “Guard!” Jornak said. “Guard! Take a squad to the temple and bring High Priest Ickletor here at once.”

  *

  Ickletor was looking at The Eye of Dindak when the palace guards burst into his study.

  “What is the meaning of this intrusion? How dare you come in here without being announced?”

  “The king sent us to bring you to him at once,” The captain of the guards said. “Come with us now.”

  Ickletor fumed then turned and locked the sky-stone in his strongbox. As he left, he told Toda, “Let no one in my study until I return, no one!”

  Ickletor’s rage grew with each humiliating step surrounded by guards. The people on the plaza stared, seeing the high priest treated like he was under arrest. When the guards thrust him into the king’s presence, and the study door closed, he was near foaming at the mouth. He didn’t wait for the king to speak first as was tradition.

  “What is the meaning of treating me like a common criminal and before the people?”

  Jornak’s face reddened as he rose from his seat, eyes boring into the priest. “How dare you speak to me in such a tone? You deserve no better treatment, Ickletor. I’ve said nothing about your consorting with little girls, sluts, and prostitutes even marrying that last one, but you will confine your foul ways to the dark alleys and not forget yourself when in this palace.”

  “Princess Kayla will marry a prince of Korkufin and soon. I’ll not have her soiled by the likes of you.”