by V M Jones
He shone his light around the room to find it was almost the size of the previous room but a little shorter. There were wooden shelves across the stone wall on the right. Lances, spears and swords were scattered about the room. Near the center of the room was a fire pit and tattered bellows. There was a large table at the other end of the room with several narrow sticks. A couple of shields were hung up on the stone wall.
“Welcome to the armory,” announced Dr. Ryan with both arms extended.
“Quite a mess in here,” observed Father Fahey carefully dodging the debris.
There were a few skeletal remains in tattered clothes. Aine carefully stepped around the maze of bone and metal on the floor as she flipped the switch on the DRD. The temperature in the room dropped dramatically and everyone could see their breath. They were used to the orbs following them around and were not alarmed at the drop in temperature.
“Please remind me to bring a cardigan on the next trip,” complained Aine as she rubbed her arms to get some warmth.
“Let’s make our way to the other end of the room,” suggested Dr. Ryan stepping around a shield.
“On the other side of this wooden door should be the gatehouse,” said Dr. Ryan. “Once we get there, we will have made a complete trip around the castle.”
The group made their way to the other end of the armory.
“Careful with your superhuman strength on the doors,” teased Dr. Ryan as Father Fahey took hold of the iron ring on the door and pulled it open with both hands.
Dr. Ryan squeezed through the door and looked in. The room was indeed the other side of the gatehouse. On either side of the room were the smaller tower stairwells that led to the upper floor and walkway.
There were several holes and cross slits in the wall just as they had seen on their first trip into the castle.
Father Fahey peered through the holes in the wall to get a glimpse of the entryway through the gatehouse. He could see the partially open metal gates on either side of the gatehouse.
Aine followed Dr. Ryan up the east tower stairs.
“It’s unbelievable that this castle is here and no one knows about it,” said Father Fahey in awe.
“Aye, tis hard to believe,” agreed Dr. McNamara with a nod.
The two walked over to the stairs of the east tower and followed Aine up to the next level. The upper room was a mirror image to the upper room on the other side of the gatehouse. The team could see down onto the entryway through the murder holes on the wall. The broken arrows and spears scattered on the floor of the entry in the gatehouse next to the skeletal remains told its own story of what had happened there.
“Aine, would you please record up the east tower stairway as far as you can go,” requested Dr. Ryan wanting to get as much of the castle recorded as possible.
Aine complied and made her way up the stairs. She went as far as she could before she was met by the dirt blockage near the top. She noticed that some of the soldiers had been buried alive from the landslide that had quickly buried the castle. She could see their partially exposed remains extending from the dirt on the stairwell. She couldn’t help but feel sad. She made her way back down the stairs. The group then made their way to the other end of the room.
At Dr. Ryan’s request she went up the west tower stairway as far as she could to record the tower. The scene there was similar. Dirt was pouring down from the top of the tower with a few partially buried skeletal remains. She walked back down to the top room where the others were waiting.
Dr. Ryan was excited to have traversed the perimeter of the castle. He now had a pretty good idea of its layout. With the data stored in the DRD, he would be able to get accurate dimensions of the castle. All that remained was exploring the other towers and the upper bedroom chambers near the great hall.
“Let’s start making our way back,” he told the others excitedly. “Now we can have a look at the rest of the castle.”
The group made their way down the narrow spiral staircase of the west tower and stepped out back into the armory. Dr. Ryan led the team back across the maze of debris on the floor and back to the small room in front of the southeast tower stairway. He patiently waited for the rest to enter the room.
He then led the team into the first room of the tower. It was a circular room which appeared to be a guard house with tables and chairs. There was also a small arsenal of weapons on the wall. There were cross slits and small holes in the wall.
“Since this is the east wall of the entrance to the castle, they would have used this room to help defend it,” explained Dr. Ryan.
While Aine was recording the room, Dr. McNamara decided to check in with Brody.
“Brody, can you hear me?” asked Dr. McNamara through the radio.
“Loud and clear, boss,” replied Brody.
“Just checking to make sure you weren’t napping,” said Dr. McNamara with a small laugh.
“We’ve made a complete trip around the castle perimeter without any problems,” reported Dr. McNamara dutifully. “We’re back at the southeast tower.”
“That’s good to hear. You’ve made good progress. I hope it stays that way.”
“I hope so too.”
“Up to the next floor,” said Dr. Ryan as he started up the narrow stairway.
The archway on the next level opened up to a room with a wall cutting off about three quarters of the circular room. In the middle of the wall was a wooden door with a small hole about shoulder high.
As Dr. Ryan shone his light into the hole in the door, he turned to the others and announced, “Welcome to the dungeon tower.”
Dr. Ryan checked the lock on the metal door and noticed that the lock was rusted through.
“Let’s see if you guys can use your super powers to open this door,” he said with a grin.
Dr. McNamara and Father Fahey both rolled their eyes.
Dr. Ryan noticed an iron spear pole on the ground. He picked it up and used the end of it to knock off the rusted lock. As the other two pushed on the door, Dr. Ryan shoved the metal pole into the crack that the two men had managed to create. He pushed with all his might. The door cracked and gave way.
Dr. Ryan entered the room followed by the others. Their headlamps uncovered a room with thick dust on the floor. There were two small windows in the room with bars through them. There was dirt trickling through the bars. Around the tower room were iron chains dangling from the walls.
There was one skeleton hanging from the wall in an upside down position. A large outline of an old stain on the floor lay directly below the headless prisoner. To the left of the door lay a pile of skeletons without skulls.
“Where are the heads?” asked Aine looking at the skeletal pile of bones.
“The king and the witch are truly evil,” said Father Fahey. He could not believe the cruelty he had witnessed on this expedition.
“This is why we are here,” responded Dr. McNamara shaking his head. “We can’t let them get away with this.”
“Let’s get moving then,” replied Dr. Ryan as he turned to lead the way.
“Is this where Tevan is in the netherworld?” asked Aine.
“I wouldn’t doubt it,” he replied.
He stepped back into the archway to the stairwell and walked up to the third level of the tower. The others followed right behind in single file up the narrow staircase. They exited the stairs to another room similar to the one they had just left. It too had a wall that cut off about three quarters of the round room. They faced the metal door leading to the dungeon room. The three men pushed on the door until it popped open.
Inside this room the wall had chains about a half meter high all the way around the room. The skeletons in this room were smaller in sitting positions along the wall. Father Fahey felt ill once when he realized these skeletal remains were the size of children. There were a few bigger skeletons in tattered dresses.
“Women and children?” gasped Aine, “Who are these people?”
The air in the
room grew very cold. Several orbs filled the room and hovered around the group.
“I can’t stay in this room any longer,” said Father Fahey as he staggered out of the room.
“I’m done recording and I’m out,” said Aine turning towards the door.
They all left quickly. As they descended the stairs, Dr. Ryan noticed how pale they all looked.
“What we have witnessed is another reminder of why we cannot let the king or Faelan escape from here,” he said solemnly.
“Never going to happen,” responded Dr. McNamara feeling his anger rising.
At the bottom of the stairs they turned left to the west door of the supply room. They passed through the door and back into the barracks.
“I can’t believe these people could be so cruel,” said Aine angrily.
“That’s why we have to stop them,” replied Father Fahey as he put his fist in his hand.
They made their way through the debris across the floor and over to the other end of the room. As they passed through the doorway, they all paused for a few minutes in the chapel area. Even though the king and the witch had tried to change the chapel, they could still feel the serenity of the room.
“Dr. Ryan, with your permission, may I remove the old tapestry covering the cross?” asked Father Fahey humbly.
Normally Dr. Ryan wouldn’t want anything touched until catalogued. Under the circumstances he consented. Father Fahey pulled down the torn material to uncover the burnt wooden cross. They all looked at the religious symbol. In a small way it was their act of defiance against the cruel acts of the castle’s evil occupants.
“Let’s go,” Dr. Ryan told the others as he turned to leave.
He led them through the doorway into the small room containing the entrance to the southwest tower.
“Let’s start at the top of the tower and explore the third level rooms first. Then we will make our way down to the second level,” suggested Dr. Ryan.
“Works for me,” replied Dr. McNamara.
Since Father Fahey was nearest the stairs, he started up the narrow stairway first. The rest of the group followed single file behind him.
He entered the dark room and shone his headlamp around its circular walls. A skeletal figure in a tattered brown cloth caught his attention. The skeletal occupant was sitting on the floor against the end of the bed. His boney hands were tied to the posts on the bed. The leg bones were shattered just below the knees. A wooden cross hung from the neck of the sitting skeleton. Father Fahey recognized the identity of the unfortunate man and let out a cry.
“Oh no, what have they done to you!” he exclaimed as he dropped to his knees.
The others hurried up the stairs to see what was happening. When they entered the room their lights shone on Father Fahey sitting on his knees saying a prayer in front of the skeleton tied to the bedposts.
“It appears not all of the clergy made it out of the castle alive,” said Dr. McNamara softly.
“Poor soul,” added Aine.
As Father Fahey sat silently in front of the skeleton, a bright round light came down from the ceiling and floated in the air just above the skeletal remains. Father Fahey’s breath could be seen as he exhaled. He also noted that the brown cloth had been torn just above the heart and slices could be seen on the ribcage.
“It looks like this priest was captured and tortured,” observed Dr. Ryan staring at the chained remains.
“It looks like his heart was taken as well, observed Dr. McNamara looking closely at the ribs but not touching the skeleton out of respect.
“What kind of people would do such a thing?” asked Father Fahey out loud.
“Dark, twisted ones,” responded Aine with a glare.
“We’ve got to get Tevan as soon as we can,” said Dr. McNamara standing up straight. “The sooner we get him out of these evil hands the better.”
Aine somberly made her recordings. Dr. Ryan and Dr. McNamara each put a hand on Father Fahey’s shoulders.
“I’m so sorry Father,” said Dr. Ryan quietly.
“Thanks lads,” he responded without taking his eyes off of the lifeless priest.
Everyone watched as Father Fahey lifted himself up from the floor. His countenance had changed. He had a determined look on his face.
“Let’s get this done and rescue the lad,” he told the others.
Dr. Ryan led the group past the stair archway and into a small room on the third level. On the wall facing them was an ornate wooden door. Dr. McNamara pushed open the door with his shoulder and stood back while Dr. Ryan entered the room. It was a large bedroom with ornate but tattered tapestries on the walls. There was a large four posted bed on the north wall covered with what looked like were once fine linens. On the east wall were a couple of shuttered windows. Under the windows were lavish tables and chests. There were a couple of large finely carved wooden chairs on the east wall. The bedroom was much larger and more furnished than the other bedrooms they had seen. A fireplace was in the middle of the west wall.
“I’d wager that this was the king’s bedroom,” said Aine as she turned on the DRD.
“Aye it is,” replied Dr. Ryan as he touched the bedpost.
“Pretty much what I expected it would look like,” commented Dr. McNamara with a sigh.
Father Fahey had stayed near the door. He was still contemplating what had happened in the adjoining room. The king’s room had only one entrance near the southwest tower. On the other side of the north wall of the bedroom was the vaulted ceiling of the great hall. Dr. Ryan walked over to the far wall. He noticed a few small slits in the wall where the king could watch what was happening in the adjoining room without being seen.
Dr. Ryan walked out of the room and started back down the tower stairs. Dr. McNamara, Aine, and Father Fahey followed.
He exited the stairs at the middle level and turned right. It opened into a circular room of the tower similar to the guestroom above it.
Aine finished recording the room and turned to Dr. Ryan. “So the west end of the castle is the sleeping quarters for royalty and guests,” she observed.
“That’s right,” replied Dr. Ryan with a nod.
He led the group out of the tower room and past the archway of the circular tower stairway. It opened up to a small hallway with a door to the left and a wooden door at the end of the hallway. To their dismay they noticed that the orbs that had been accompanying them left.
Dr. McNamara pushed open the door to the left in the hallway. It was a smaller bedroom similar in size and content to the ones on the lower level. Everyone except Father Fahey entered the small room to have a look.
Father Fahey leaned against the door post of the small room with his eyes fixed on the wooden door on the end of the hallway. He stood up straight and walked over to the door. Dr. McNamara noticed Father Fahey moving towards the other door.
“Something wrong, Father?” he asked.
“There’s something evil on the other side of that door,” he replied without stopping.
Dr. McNamara motioned to Dr. Ryan who followed him out of the small room. They entered the hallway just as Father Fahey tried to push open the wooden door. It would barely budge. He pushed against the door with his shoulder as hard as he could. A loud hissing sound escaped the room as the door gave way.
“What was that noise?” asked Aine as she exited the small bedroom into the hallway.
All four seemed to feel a rush of cold air escaping the room.
“This is the witch’s room. I can feel it,” said Father Fahey angrily.
He entered the room and shone his headlamp around the room. Dr. Ryan and Dr. McNamara entered the room behind him. On the walls were torn murals and pictures of strange animals and demons. The bed posts were draped with dark cloth and the linens were black. There had been lots of candles used in the room as there was soot on the walls and ceiling. There were several tables around the room. Each table had one or two skulls with a hole drilled on top of the skull to hold a candle.
Aine had entered the room and quickly turned away for a moment to regain her composure. She turned back into the room and started recording. Even with the floodlight the room still seemed dark and eerie.
“What a sinister room,” she commented feeling fidgety.
“Sinister indeed,” responded Father Fahey in a low tone.
There were no orbs in the room as if they dared not enter, yet the air was noticeably cold. At the far end of the room they noticed a dull orange glow from the eyes of one of the skulls on the table. The group instinctively huddled closer together.
“I’m about done with this room,” said Aine trying to record as fast as she could.
“Good, the sooner we get out of this room the better,” said Dr. McNamara feeling the chill down to his bones.
Father Fahey seemed drawn to the faint orange glow of the skull’s eyes on the table. He reached out to grab the skull just as Dr. McNamara shouted, “Don’t…”
It was too late. Father Fahey had picked up the skull. The faint orange glow seemed to shoot out of it and into the air. The orange glow started to grow until it filled the back wall of the bedroom. Aine, Dr. McNamara, and Dr. Ryan immediately stepped backwards with a stark remembrance of their experience of only a few days before.
Father Fahey fell back startled as he dropped the skull to the floor which shattered into a hundred pieces. The orange glow turned into a non-descript creature with a faint orange outline. He wasn’t sure whether he should turn and run or face the creature. He chose to stand his ground.
Immediately the four felt gloom and despair. They could feel all hope being sucked out of their souls. Dr. McNamara was the first to hit the button on his pulse device. A green shock wave emanated from the device and filled the room. The green pulse wasn’t quite as strong as what they experience from the shields but was still powerful.
Dr. Ryan hit the button on his pulse device. The green sound wave rippled throughout the room. The dark creature seemed to fade back into the north wall.
“Father Fahey, Get behind us now!” he commanded.
The priest quickly faded backwards until he was behind the group.
“Aine, leave the room quickly. Take Father Fahey with you,” he added gesturing to her.