by Bob Nailor
A knock at the door broke her reverie. She lowered her voice. "Who's there?"
"Britha. May I come in?"
"Come in," Jewyl replied in her own voice. "I've been waiting for you."
Britha opened the door. "Oh!" She stepped back in surprise. "Jewyl? I hardly recognized you. At first I thought you had another person in your room." Britha entered the room, leaving the door ajar. She gently touched Jewyl's vest. "This is a very good costume."
"Ah, good." Jopab poked his head through the open door. "You're ready. We must make haste."
Jewyl grabbed Britha's hands. "I will make this very short. Your father loves you dearly and fears you will leave him for a life of adventure with us."
Britha's eyes widened, and she smiled. "I'd love that. May I join you?"
"I can't take you with us," Jewyl said. "We are hunted, and any who travel with me are also hunted. If you traveled with us, your life would be forfeit."
"But, I don't want to spend my life as an innkeeper." Britha pouted. "I'm bored."
"You needn't worry about that." Jewyl smiled. "In another year or two some man will come along and make you his wife. That will be much more exciting than the life I lead. I envy any woman who can stay at home, have children, and a loving husband."
"Do you think so?" Britha gazed hopefully at Jewyl. "Somebody would want to marry me?"
"A lovely lass like you?" Jopab smiled. "I, myself would ask your hand if I weren't a cleric in the service of Hagontha." He paused. "And, I’m too old."
"May your plans go smoothly, and Hagontha be appeased within the chaos," Britha said.
"Come." Jopab grabbed Jewyl's hand. "We'll slip out the back and none will be the wiser of our departure. We should be able to reach the temple in a short time and finish our deed."
Chardo appeared at the door.
Jewyl laughed. "Somebody really should have closed the door."
"I'm sorry," Britha replied. "I guess I should be on my way. May Hagontha smile on your endeavors."
"Aren't we the swordsmen?" Chardo asked as he strode into the room. He dusted off Jewyl's shoulder, lifting the aqua-colored fabric attached there, draping to her leather wristlet. "Our costumes are perfect." He lifted his arm with the yellow-colored fabric. "Do you think we should have a name? I've been thinking about it."
"A name," Jopab echoed. "An excellent idea. Britha?" Jopab swung his arm, the orange-colored fabric rippling in the air.
"I have no idea." Britha lingered by the door, watching. She giggled. "The addition of the fabric to the costumes helps draw the attention from your faces." She leaned in. "Here, let me attach a piece of fabric from the other wristlet to your ankle." She stepped back to admire her work. "Aqua and yellow. Yellow and pink. Pink and aqua." She giggled. "If you were truly a sword-fighting team, it would be quite colorful to watch." She placed a hand to chin in thought. "A name. Hm? I’m not sure."
"Well, I have a name," Chardo said. "I thought perhaps we could name ourselves Hagontha's Blades of Chaos for this situation." He stood and struck a stately pose with his feet a bit apart and the sword pointed directly at the door. The yellow fabric draped dramatically from the lifted arm." He gazed at his opposite leg where the pink fabric draped along the side.
Jopab shrugged. "A good as name as any, I suppose."
"I think it is a delightful name." Britha nodded approvingly at Chardo.
Chardo stuck the tip of the sword into the wooden floor and leaned on it. He placed one hand on his hip. "You agree?" he asked.
Jopab glanced at Chardo’s disgusted look and realized he had hurt him. "Please, Chardo," Jopab said. "It is a very good name, although none will ever see the group. Remember, all this is strictly for the purpose of getting into the compound of the temple."
Jewyl stretched to ease the bindings about her chest. "You mean I went to all this trouble, for nothing?"
"An excellent disguise, Jewyl," Jopab said. "Excellent. They are looking for two men and a woman. We will face the world as three men. Shall we go?"
"No." Chardo's chest swelled. "We shall face the world as Hagontha's Blades of Chaos." He pulled the sword from the floor and lifted it in a grand arc to the ceiling.
"You'd best be on your way." Hvar huffed into the room. "Guards are filling the streets even as we speak."
"Ah, Hagontha," Jopab invoked. "We greet your chaos in blessed thanks. Within your swirling skirts we will stride to fulfill our destiny."
"Enough with the chaos," Chardo muttered. "Let's go."
Hvar and Britha ambled down the front stairs to the inn's large room where Vico hurried from table to table in service. Jewyl, Chardo and Jopab quickly and quietly slipped down the back stairs to the kitchen and escaped out the door.
"Should we amble one by one into the street or go as a group?" Jopab asked and nodded toward the lone guard standing at the end of the alley.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Temple of Hagontha
"We have our swords," Jewyl replied. "We might as well approach the guard and prepare for the worst. This will be a test of our costumes."
"Let's go." Chardo started toward the street. "The mobs await us."
Jewyl glanced at the mass of people milling in the street before them.
The guard turned and scrutinized them. "What are you three up to?" He stepped toward them.
Chardo placed a hand on his hip and sashayed three steps in the guard's direction.
"Well, handsome." He batted his eyes and minced even more. "We were looking for a discreet area. Would you like to join us for a little fun?"
The guard stepped back from the encroaching alley into the safety of the open-air street and sunlight.
"None of that here," he barked. "Find another place. The Dancing Dragon is on the other side of town. Be on your way."
He turned and hurriedly stomped away.
Chardo turned to his companions and smiled proudly. "Well, that took care of what could have become a messy situation."
Jewyl laughed. "Perhaps we should do as we were told and be on our way."
She led the group from the alley to the street, turning the opposite direction the guard had taken. They were quickly met with a group of party revelers and a small parade.
"Give way for the followers of Hagontha," a voice bellowed. "Chaos rules."
Gaudy banners flashed in the bright sunlight above the multi-colored dressed revelers.
"Join in the festivities," the voice said. "We go to Hagontha's temple."
"Perfect," Jopab whispered to his companions. "We'll mingle with this group until we get to the temple."
"Then waltz inside, do our job, take our money and leave," Chardo added.
Jopab frowned at Chardo and Jewyl elbowed her companion. He realized he had spoken out of turn.
The three were quickly engulfed in the mire of people and joined in the cheering and songs. The throng wove a chaotic path to the temple of Hagontha, growing in size with each block they passed.
Jewyl stared up at the spires of the temple. The towers careened skyward in a full outward assault of building rules. Jewyl felt dizzy as vertigo wrapped its arms about her. She leaned in toward Jopab. "The temple — I didn't realize Hagontha had such a large following," she whispered. "Are you sure we can accomplish our mission?"
"With chaos there is change." Jopab placed an arm about each of his companions. "Come, Chaos has spoken yet again." Jopab shoved Jewyl and Chardo out of the mainstream and toward a clutter of stones and a wall. "This is easier than I had hoped." He leaned down to the base of the temple wall.
Chardo fumbled with his costume, nervously arranging his sword. Jewyl tried not to show any concern and watched as Jopab re-arranged the stones. She never let her hand stray from the hilt of her sheathed sword. Jopab's movements intrigued her and could see no meaning to the stack of the stones.
"We must move quickly when I say," Jopab said. "This wall only moves the slightest amount. You may need to squeeze in."
"You're going to op
en it now?" Jewyl asked. "Here? In front of everyone?"
Jopab smiled and silently nodded. "In front of Hagontha herself."
"How?" Jewyl asked.
"I will push this in with my foot," Jopab explained. "When I do, the wall will move approximately an arm's length toward us."
"It will?" Chardo asked.
"We will appear to walk around the corner and disappear," Jopab said. "Only those who are to our left would be able to see what we are doing, and there are none to watch. Hagontha is smiling on our mission."
"If you say so." Chardo skeptically kicked the ground with his sandal.
"Now," Jopab hissed. "Follow me."
The priest scurried around the corner and disappeared into the aperture that opened. Chardo felt the stones crumble beside him.
"Hurry," Jopab said. "The door is going to close.
Jewyl slid into the opening and felt Chardo pushing against her as he came in.
"Not much space here," Jewyl muttered
The wall closed.
"Stuffy. Dark," Jewyl said. "Stuck between solid stone and two men. Every woman's dream."
"Not for long," Jopab whispered and a spark glistened in the darkness. "Here," he added. "A torch." The lone spark burst into flame along the stick Jopab held.
"Chaos seems to be pretty well prepared." Jewyl gazed about the area. "Not as small as I originally thought."
"Come," Jopab ordered.
"So, where are we headed?" Jewyl whispered. "I mean, where inside the temple?"
"Almost seems like a sacrilege with what we are about to do." Chardo gazed back at the closed entrance and saw nothing to indicate it was an opening.
"Think about that, Chardo," Jopab said. "We are not only intruding, but we will be committing a major desecration against the goddess. You should feel awkward. I do. Follow me."
Jopab headed down the tunnel. Jewyl and Chardo stumbled quietly behind in the dimness of the torch Jopab held aloft.
Jewyl glanced up and noticed the intricate carvings on the ceilings. The torchlight played on the glistening multifaceted angles and curves. Muted colors played and moved, shifting in the flickering flames.
"Jopab." Jewyl reached out to touch him on the shoulder. "Exactly what is that on the ceiling?"
Jopab jumped. "It would be best that you avert your eyes from that view. I can say no more at this time."
Chardo looked up.
"By the shadows of Rorc," Chardo exclaimed. "It almost looks like the ceiling is moving."
"Avert your eyes," Jopab commanded. "Keep your focus on the torchlight or on the back of the person before you and stay close to the torch. I've warned you."
"Warned?" Jewyl grabbed Jopab's shoulder to hold him. "You'd best be explaining. Are we safe?"
Jopab glanced upward then quickly averted his eyes. "If we continue to move and move quickly."
"Get going," Jewyl demanded with a glance at the ceiling. "Chardo is right. The shadows move above us, something is alive and I don't think I want to know what it is."
In the small hesitation of Jopab answering Jewyl, she'd heard the sounds from above: a raspy, sliding sound mixed with faint repetitive patting or thumping.
Jopab stopped abruptly and fiddled with the wall. The sound of a few clicks echoed in the long tunnel then the tedious sound of stone grinding against stone. Blinding light assaulted them as the door opened into the chamber. There were other sounds but they came from above.
"Inside," Jopab yelled. "Now." He pushed Jewyl and Chardo into the room.
Jewyl bumped against Chardo, losing her balance to stumble against the wall and unceremoniously plop to the floor. She glimpsed a long item dangling in the passageway beyond the closing door and noticed something that skittered in which Jopab quickly kicked back into the darkness of the tunnel.
"What was that?" Jewyl asked.
"You saw it, too?" Chardo's eyes were wide in surprise. "Whatever it was, it was vile appearing. Jopab?"
"Guardians," Jopab replied, and took a deep breath before leaning against the stone wall. "Mere guardians of the temple."
"You kick your guardians?" Jewyl struggled to stand up. "I find that hard to believe."
Jopab doused the torch. "Any entrance that connects with the outside has guardians. They are unique creatures which only exist within the temples of Hagontha. You saw them slithering on the ceiling and that which I kicked was an offspring."
"An infant?" Chardo asked.
"A female is capable of producing from one hundred to five hundred offspring," Jopab crossed the room. "Those that survive not being consumed, they have the opportunity to breed. They are cannibalistic creatures eating their young — as well as anything else they can find. They have voracious appetites."
"I'm confused," Jewyl said. "They slither and skitter? The little one appeared to be a fur ball and what I saw dangling had to be over twenty feet long. They're related?"
"The pliocas are similar to snakes but have small legs which help them to move about and cling to things and also to keep their skins shiny. When they first hatch, they're covered with silky hair-like appendages."
"Hair-like?" Chardo asked.
"They are actually covered with legs, very soft legs which can barely carry them," Jopab replied. "The legs bend under their weight and hence appear to be skittering when they move. Only as they age and the body elongates do the infants start to resemble the parents." He smiled feebly at the two. "As the body gets longer, the legs are aligned and resemble a centipede."
"We don't have to go back out there?" Chardo pointed at the hidden entrance. "Not that I'm scared, but they appear to be somewhat awkward to kill."
"Consumption is their only means of death," Jopab said. "To slice one would allow it to become two pliocas. If we'd not made it to this point..." Jopab shrugged.
"How many people are able to find, let alone open, these little portals?" Jewyl asked.
"Don't know." Jopab again shrugged. "Don't care. We're safe."
"Well I do care," Jewyl said. "I don't like all these little surprises you seem to have forgotten to detail in our plans. What other snags will be awaiting for us around the corner?"
Jopab reached up and grabbed a jug and tankards from the shelf. "As you can see," he said. "This room is supplied much like the one at Azre's castle." He poured water. "I think we all need a chance to regain composure before we go on."
Jewyl reached to her side and the sword sliced through the air to stop mere inches from Jopab's hands, barely a hair's breadth from the table's top.
"Trust me, my composure is regained," she said. "Now tell me what I want to know. What other secrets are lurking about?"
Jopab slowly raised his eyes to meet Jewyl's gaze. He sat down and motioned for Chardo and Jewyl to join him.
"First." He lifted the tankard. "You need to trust me. Second." Jopab played a finger across his lips. "The worst we will meet from this point on will be another priest." He looked about. "Still, there are the strays."
"Strays?" Jewyl echoed. "What strays?"
"Pliocas that somehow escaped the chamber hallway we were in." Jopab smiled wryly." He lifted his tankard. "Drink. Refresh yourselves."
"You mean we can still run into those things?" Jewyl sat down to face Jopab.
"Usually only one or two will escape," Jopab said, placing the tankard down. "Normally as an infant. If they are able to feed on rats and other creatures of the darkness, they grow. They seldom have the opportunity to breed."
Jewyl shuddered, reached for a tankard and drank deeply. She was amazed at how thirsty she was. Chardo followed suit, finishing his first and slamming the vessel back on the table.
Jopab smiled and his eyes narrowed. "You will sleep now. Just rest and I will be back shortly. Remember, stay here."
"Sleep?" Jewyl asked. "I'm not tired." Her eyes blinked once, twice, and lingered when they closed. She pushed back in her chair and forced her eyes open, staring. "Sleep? You drugged us?"
"You..." Chardo sli
pped to the floor.
Jopab watched Jewyl's eyes cross just before the lids closed for the last time. She slumped forward and Jopab caught her head and gently laid it to rest on the table..
"No need to hurt yourself," he whispered.
# # #
"Chardo?" Jewyl called. "Wake up." She slapped her companion's face. "C'mon, friend," she whispered. "You have to wake up."
"What?" Chardo slurred. "Hey, stop hitting me." He waved an arm in Jewyl's direction in an attempt to push her hand away.
"You had me worried there."
"By Rorc's ass." Chardo crawled up onto the chair. "What did he give us? I've never felt like this even on the best celebration night."
"Get your wits about you," Jewyl said. "Jopab seems to be calling all the moves. You're a thief, so get us out of here."
"I'm so thirsty," Chardo said.
"Damn your thirst," the red-head yelled. "We need to get out of here, so do your job. Get us out of here!"
Chardo wiped the drool from the side of his face. "How long have we been out?"
Jewyl scowled at him. "Let me see ... nope, no windows. How would I know? I'm hungry so we've been out for more than a couple of hours. That much I'm sure of."
Chardo ambled to the wall and started fingering the cracks and crevices. "This is where we came in so maybe I can find the mechanism to open the door."
Jewyl shoved the table aside and then pulled up the small rug it had stood on.
"Well the table moved and I don't see anything that appears to open downward," she said.
"There has to be something to trip," Chardo said. The exasperation in his voice blatantly obvious. "Just wait until the Thieves Guild finds out about this." He shook his head.
"You may not want to share this information." Jewyl moved items around on the shelf, checking everything carefully.
Chardo leaned back against the wall and drew his knees up.
