by Bob Nailor
"He does?" Ballec questioned. "Follow me, please."
Percho and Klajany stood to follow.
"Just him." Ballec pointed to Klajany. "You will wait here while we talk."
Ballec placed his arm about Klajany and guided him to his private bed chamber.
# # #
Percho paced the room, waiting.
The door opened, and Ballec entered the room. Klajany followed.
"I accept this priest as one of my new attendants," Ballec announced. "Thank you, Percho, for locating one with such interesting attributes and talents. He will serve my needs quite well."
Percho smiled, bowed, and backed out of the room. Klajany followed the young priest to the door. Klajany winked and smiled at Percho before closing the door to Ballec's chamber behind Percho.
The plan worked. Percho tried not to frown as he remembered Klajany's face, and the disconcerting smile. Why the smugness?
"Ishnat," Percho called the priest forward. "Notify our guests that all is in place."
# # #
The stone entrance from the hallway with the pliocas opened. A priest hurried in then shoved the stone shut, a small, dark ball scurried in. Ishnat quickly stomped on it causing a loud squish followed by an oozing from beneath his foot. He turned and faced Jewyl and Chardo who had drawn their swords.
"All is as desired," Ishnat choked, his eyes wide with fear. "Klajany now guards Ballec."
"Was that a plioca?" Jewyl asked, a shiver tracing a cold finger down her spine as she pointed to the mess on the floor.
"Again, an infant," Jopab replied. "Nothing of concern since it could do little harm to any of us, alone. Now, if there had been a group…" He left the sentence unfinished and turned his attention to Ishnat, rubbing his hands together. "Good, we will now proceed with our plans."
Jopab climbed onto the table. "Ready? Up we go and through the passages to Ballec's chamber."
"Finally!" Jewyl leaped onto the table beside Jopab. She glanced at the mire of green and black on the floor then smiled at Jopab. "Today, Chardo and I will prove our skills." She grabbed the rope and scaled into the darkness above.
"Please." Chardo motioned to Jopab. "You next, I'll follow. Ishnat? Will you be coming?"
The priest shook his head. "I will attend to things here." He glanced at the dead plioca. "I will join you later."
Chardo glanced up to see Jopab disappear into the opening. He scaled the rope quickly and Jopab pulled the rope up and pushed the stone to close it.
"This way," Jopab said. "We only need to move approximately fifty paces, a tunnel will lead to the left, another thirty paces and we will be at Ballec's chambers."
"Lead on." Jewyl stepped back and leaned against the wall to let Jopab take point.
"Remember." Jopab placed an index finger to his lips. "We must remain quiet as we approach Ballec's chambers. Klajany and I heard you both out here when you came to my chambers. These may be stone walls but even the slightest of sounds is magnified."
"So that is how Klajany was able to hide," Jewyl said.
"My dear," Jopab replied. "We could hear the two of you stumbling, even before you attempted to find and open the gateway."
"Then be silent," Jewyl hissed. She was sure Jopab could see her disdain in the low lighting from the walls.
A few minutes later Jopab held up his hand as he slowly crept forward. He spread his fingers out and pressed them against the wall, turned his head and listened. He frowned.
Jewyl eased close. "Is there a problem?" she whispered.
Jopab raised his hand and shook his head negatively. He stood and raised his index finger then leaned down and there was a click. The wall opened.
Jewyl blinked in the bright light that glared from the room and raised one hand to shade her eyes.
"Who dares to enter my chamber?" Ballec demanded.
"Pardon," Jopab said and stepped into the bright light.
Jewyl drew her sword and could hear Chardo doing the same. They entered the chamber behind Jopab.
Ballec stood on a raised platform beside his bed. Curtains hung down from the ceiling at the corners of the bed. Ballec had his hand on a silk drape beside him. A sneer of a smile crossed his face. There was an air of confidence.
"Enter, traitorous Jopab!" Ballec stood tall and didn't cower. "Guards!"
Chardo leaped forward and charged at the smiling man. Ballec laughed aloud and stepped aside. Jewyl moved to the side to stop Ballec. Klajany pushed back the curtain hiding him and stood beside Ballec, his sword pulled in defense of the Holy Father.
"You?" Jewyl yelled. "Klajany, what have you done?"
"Just assuring myself a place." Klajany raised his sword toward Jewyl.
"This is your doing, Jopab," Chardo yelled and charged Klajany.
The blades rang loudly in the first strike between Chardo and Klajany.
The room became a flurry of chaos. Priests, some with swords, some with make-shift clubs charged into the chamber to attack. Jewyl parried and thrust, trying only to maim the guards and make her way to Ballec. The deal had been to kill Ballec. Nothing had been said about the possibility of killing innocent priests. She looked for Chardo, he was still locked in battle with Klajany. She questioned the amount of time Chardo spent trying to subdue Klajany. She remembered his charge which was definitely not one to echo memories of some tryst or romantic ties between them. Suddenly, a burst of pain on her left wrist shocked her as a staff clipped it. She dropped her dagger. Jewyl raised her right arm to strike with the sword, and felt the staff hit her right rib. She yelled in pain. This attacker was from behind, while another kept her occupied from the front. The odds were against them. Her sword dropped and she felt the assailant's arm go around her neck while his other hand grabbed her right wrist to constrain her. She glanced again at Chardo. Her yell had caught his attention and in that split second, Klajany had disarmed him. Chardo, too was being held captive.
"Fine," Ballec yelled. "Pull the traitors to the center. I wish to see who my adversaries are. I know of Jopab, Percho and I'm very sure there are other priests involved." The man paced nervously on the raised bed platform. "Klajany, my newest," he called. "Come here and tell me who I can trust and who I can't of those you see before us."
Klajany strutted silently to the platform and looked out over the four prisoners and the gathered priests who held them. He studied the group.
"Two who hold Percho are not to be trusted. There is one each with Jewyl and Chardo. I don't recognize any who hold Jopab. Along that wall," Klajany pointed. "There are two more and the one on the end over there. The others, I'm not sure." Klajany turned to Ballec and bowed. "As you wished, my lord."
"Thank you," Ballec said and motioned for guards from the back to move forward. Klajany turned to smile at the prisoners.
"All the traitors are to be killed," Ballec ordered. "Starting with the worst." He lunged forward and shoved the small dagger into Klajany's back between the shoulder blades, directly into his heart. Klajany's eyes widened before he crumbed to the floor.
"No," Chardo yelled, and pulled away from those that held him. He moved to Klajany and grabbed the dying man’s sword.
Jewyl broke away from the grip the one guard on her left hand. She recognized the one on her right. He let go immediately. Her sword was only a couple of steps away.
"We come to arrest Ballec," a voice commanded at the door's entrance. Four of Azre's soldiers entered the room. "What foolery goes on here?"
Jewyl stabbed the priest closest to her. Azre's henchmen drew their swords and joined in the fray. Soldiers. Priests. Assassins. Again, mayhem befuddled the priests, and suddenly Jopab was beside her.
"Quick! Follow me," he hissed. He moved toward Chardo who had retrieved his sword. Percho was behind them.
Jewyl followed, her sword slicing through the air at the priests, any who ventured near. She glanced at Klajany, he lay in a heap on the platform. He was dead, she knew that.
Suddenly they were in the darke
ned chamber and Jopab was closing the stone door.
"Follow me," he said and raced down the tunnel.
Jewyl, Chardo and Percho followed.
She couldn't see the priest, but could hear him as his sandals slapped against the stone floor of the tunnel. The small amount of light from the fungus was barely enough to see in.
We must be running north or south, Jewyl thought. It has to be since the light is so dim.
"Here," Jopab shouted. "Quick, inside."
A room opened and Jewyl led the group in.
"We will only have a small moment of reprieve before somebody discovers us," Percho said. "I have cast my lot with you, if you will have me."
"Well, I'm not exactly sure where we will be going next," Jewyl said. "But offhand, I'd say all the plans we made, together and separately, have gone astray. There was enough chaos in that room to keep Mother Hagontha happy for the next few days."
"Taunt not the goddess," Jopab whispered. "In her wisdom, she has allowed us to escape."
"I know my talents offer you nothing," Percho continued. "Although, I do have some knowledge of the other temples." He looked at Jopab. "Of course, so does Jopab."
Jewyl straightened her hair, pulling it back and wrapping a small piece of cord to hold it. She leaned back on the table. "If you wish to toss your lot with us..." Jewyl shrugged her shoulders. "I have no problem with that."
"Are you aware Ballec will be headed to Zornal?" Percho asked. "I do have some knowledge which I can share. With Azre wanting to arrest him, I am sure he will flee in that direction since he has already made plans to go there tomorrow."
"What would one day's difference be?" Jewyl questioned. "Besides, why does the mighty Lord Azre want to arrest his brother, Ballec? What am I missing?"
CHAPTER NINE
To Zornal, Maybe
"Perhaps the dragon has awakened and finally figured out the chaos of his court is being caused by Ballec," Jopab said.
A door opened and a priest peeked in, hugging tightly to the door.
"What goes on?" he demanded. "Are you the ones who Ballec seeks?"
"You have two choices, Rane." Percho grabbed the young priest and pulled him into the chamber. "Join us, or become our prisoner."
"Father Ballec demands if anyone knows of your whereabouts—"
"Bind and gag him," Jopab said, cutting off the young man's words. "We've no time for this."
Rane moved to leave, but Chardo was behind him. The priest fell to his knees. Disabled, Rane sat quietly gagged in the corner. His eyes were wide with fear, but he listened to all that was spoken.
"We will leave here and head for Lord Azre's castle," Jewyl said.
Chardo frowned then caught Jewyl's quick eye movement at Rane.
"When we get there we will sneak in via the method we got out, using the tunnels and secret passageways," she continued. "Ballec seems to be having his own problems and I am sure he will not be headed in that direction. We'll let Azre deal with his brother."
Jopab, Percho and Chardo nodded in agreement.
"Since we all agree," Jewyl said. "Let's get a move on. This priest has found us, it won't take long for another to follow. Which way out of here?"
"Down," Jopab said. "The table. We'll take the supplies here." Percho and Chardo reached up and grabbed the bags of foodstuffs and jugs of wine. Jopab turned to Rane. "You will be sure to notify the priests when you are released to replace all of this?" He hesitated. "Need I mention you shouldn't repeat what you've heard?"
Rane vigorously nodded his head.
Jopab opened the trap and looked into the darkness. "Follow me to our freedom." He jumped into the opening and disappeared.
Jewyl, Chardo and Percho followed.
# # #
Jewyl followed Jopab through the catacombs. She could hear Chardo and Percho following behind her. They weren't too far, yet they seemed to be lingering, and she could hear whisperings.
"How many are aware of these tunnels?" Jewyl asked Jopab.
"Most of the senior priests know all the different tunnels so that would be… perhaps maybe seven or eight," Jopab replied. "Of course, Ballec knows all of them, and obviously more than the senior priests." He paused. "The initiates only know of the major ones for escape, perhaps another twenty-five."
"So, about thirty-five, total," Jewyl stated.
"The novices are unaware of any secret passages," Jopab added.
The group walked in silence for a few minutes when Jopab stopped. He held up his hand in the low light, barely visible. "Listen," he whispered. "We are not alone."
"So," Jewyl said. "Our chances are extremely slim of meeting another within these tunnels and now we get lucky to encounter somebody?"
Jopab waved his hand and then pushed Jewyl against the wall.
In the distance Jewyl saw the flickering light on the distant wall, revealing an opening of this passage to another. A torch came into view and the sound of marching sandals preceded the five soldiers.
"Stop the grumbling. Lord Azre says we are not to return until we have found evidence of Ballec's escape, or we have captured him. The same holds true for the elusive red-head, Jewyl. He wants her alive. Ballec, he doesn't care whether he lives or dies."
"There is a tunnel to your right, sir."
The group stopped and the lead guard ambled closer to the tunnel where they hid.
"Small opening, obviously a tributary to this main tunnel. We'll search it on our return." He motioned the other four to continue on in their search. The torch light faded in the distance.
"All is as chaos designs," Jopab said with reverence. "We now may move forward safely, I think."
"Blessed chaos," Percho murmured.
Jewyl sighed, and continued to follow Jopab in silence. Suddenly, she butted him when he stopped abruptly.
"We are near the exit," he hissed. "We could be ambushed when we leave the tunnel."
"We what?" Jewyl asked. "How many exits are there? Why would they be guarding this one?"
"There are only two escape routes from that particular room," Percho said moving in closer to the three.
Jewyl noticed the smirk on Chardo's face. It bothered her, but she didn't know if it was why he smirked, or the fact she could see it so bluntly in the hideous green light.
"Percho, do you really think Rane has kept silent?" Jopab shrugged, and smiled at the group.
"He is one who was of my equal. Since we've not been followed, it appears he hasn't revealed our secret. Still..."
"Fine," Jewyl huffed. "My sword is ready to see more action." She lifted it before her.
"Careful," Jopab said. "I only said there could be an ambush, not that there was an ambush planned."
Jewyl glared at the priest. Why phrase it that way? she thought.
"You said there was another exit?" Chardo asked. "Why didn't we take that one?"
"Two reasons," Jopab replied. "One. The other route escapes into town. Two. This route is away from our misguided and highly anticipated direction."
"There was a way to get into the temple from town?" Jewyl dropped the guard on her sword. "Why didn't we use it?"
"It is an escape out." Jopab lifted one hand in an attempt to appease her. "There is no latch to open it from outside."
"A wise decision," Chardo said. "Otherwise every thief in town would be using it to access the gold of the temple."
"Tell them the truth," Percho said. "The full truth."
Jopab leaned against the wall of the tunnel and sighed loudly. "The other way would lead to what appears to be a dead end. If one knows the correct latch sequence, which I do know, then a secret passageway is available."
"So what is the secret?" Jewyl said.
"Pliocas," Jopab said. "It is a long walk through hundreds, perhaps thousands of pliocas."
Jewyl shivered at the thought of walking a long, dark tunnel of moving, shifting creatures. She remembered when one of the infants ambled across her right foot and she almost screamed.
"We've dealt with them before." Chardo swelled with authority.
"As I said, the distance is great," Jopab said. "The pliocas can be confused with one, maybe two bodies running the tunnel. A group of this size stumbling their way to freedom is but a meal to them."
"I've been in the tunnel," Percho said. "Jopab speaks the truth. The floor is riddled with the bones of their victims."
"Do you think Ballec used it?" A wicked smile crossed Jewyl's lips. "Maybe the pliocas have done for us where we failed."
Percho snickered. Jopab sighed.
"I know I mentioned the pliocas were specifically brought to the temple," Jopab said. "In doing so, they were ingrained with a fear of the head priest."
"They what?" Chardo exclaimed.
"Whoever is a head priest," Jopab said. "All our blessed fathers of Hagontha's can walk safely among the pliocas. The creatures are the pets of the father priest."
"So we were forced to this exit." Jewyl sighed. "Nothing like playing into their hand. Let us be ready for the ambush since there is obviously no hope, otherwise."
"There is always hope," Jopab said. "Chaos gives us that. Follow me into the light and freedom."
"Light?" Chardo asked.
"Within our very grasp," Jopab said. "Do you not see the difference in the distance before us? We will turn this corner and you will see the opening."
"Be ready," Jewyl whispered. Be ready for the worst, she thought
She lifted her sword and the group gingerly approached the opening.
"We'll not come out without a fight," Jopab yelled.
Jewyl jumped, startled at his words.
"Why let them know we are here?" she yelled.
"Why not?" Jopab said. "These corridors echo even the slightest of sound."
"For the glory of chaos," Jopab said and stepped into the light. He raised his hand to ward off the bright sunlight.
Jewyl leaped out from the tunnel. She swung her sword in a full arc, all the while taking in the surrounding area.
Chardo followed suit and Percho ambled out.
