by Jeremy Dwyer
“Let’s test this with two (2) of us walking on it, to be more confident,” Romana said, looking up to everyone still on the ship.
General Joshua climbed down the rope ladder and joined her. He was primarily concerned with making sure that Romana didn’t fall in to the rough waters, or meet some other fate. They were, after all, in the middle of the Trerada Ocean. When he stepped onto the seaweed walk way, he found it to be strong and stable, and was somewhat surprised at this. He was wearing a moderately heavy armor, which meant that the walk way was very strong, indeed.
Seeing that the walk way was strong enough, Emerond climbed down the rope ladder, stepping onto it. He was followed by Lady Ismene, Nathan and then Judith, who stood back only to watch and record what was occurring. Even with all of them standing on it, the walk way remained stable.
Prince Emerond and Lady Ismene walked to the front of the line, as they had been here before. They proceeded to walk into the cave, and looked around.
Lady Ismene drank deeply of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean she carried in a vial on a chain around her neck, and she was thereby energized. She could feel the spiritual powers here, and was able to sense the presence of the Spirit Sword within the castle. She pointed the way through the maze of caverns until they found their way to a rocky formation, which was perhaps one hundred (100) feet tall, in the middle of the mountain. There was a winding path up the formation, and they followed it.
On the way up the road, they encountered an area of darkness, a dark patch in the air like before, and Lady Ismene could not see through it, but could use the spiritual connection she had with the castle at the top of this rocky formation and just trusted the way ahead was true. Previously, they had a light scout, who drank the waters of the Lujladia Ocean, which enabled him to create and bend light and see through the darkness, and he guided the way. She was confident, then, that the way ahead was safe. However, in the darkness, she tripped and sprained her ankle and had to be helped up and along. General Joshua reached down and took her hand, and the group moved slowly through the darkness. However, they suffered no other injuries and were successful.
At the top of the rocky formation, they saw a great castle, and Judith was fascinated by this discovery. It had been deliberately placed inside of a mountain. The castle was surrounded by hundreds of large statues of warriors, each perhaps one hundred (100) feet tall. Some of these looked human, others were winged and had the faces of gargoyles. The ceiling of the mountain rose up perhaps another three hundred (300) to four hundred (400) feet above the top of this rocky formation where they now stood.
“Even here, in this secluded place, we find the colossal statues. The war, for which they were supposedly positioned, was never actually fought. The fact that this place was to be a battlefield likely means that that someone in the Jenaldej Empire knew of this castle,” Nathan said.
“Unless they were moved here after the fact,” Romana said.
“Unlikely, as the effort would be too great,” Nathan said.
“I wouldn’t underestimate Duke Hagan’s abilities, and I wouldn’t put it past him to rearrange things to conceal a secret,” Lady Ismene said.
Hearing this, Judith then realized the significance of this place – this was the castle of Duke Hagan, who died over twelve thousand (12000) years ago, and whose castle was never found. She knew very well that Duke Hagan was an architectural genius, a legend even in his own mortal lifetime, having died at age eighty-one (81). Many structures in the modern world – bridges, towers, temples, aqueducts – were expressions or re-expressions of his architectural ideas. Her own father, who was an architect by trade, studied Hagan’s works, and many replicas were on display in Emeth in the Eleventh (11th) Hall.
Now, Judith had the record of this place, and the directions to find it, albeit learned under confidence, so there would have to be a delay in the release of the information. Still, she was enjoying this new knowledge, and was determined to learn all that she could. She drank the waters of the Ursegan Ocean which she kept in a vial she wore on a chain around her neck, and this energized her further. Judith could slow the flow of time around her, so that she could observe fast moving events and have ample time to record everything into her book.
“Why would he move the statues? The effort involved would be high, especially to move them into this awkward location. What would be the benefit?” Nathan asked.
“To gain an advantage in war, or to conceal a terrible truth,” Romana said.
“Some secrets are too dangerous for humanity to know, especially those of the spirit world, and there is a strong connection to there from this place,” Lady Ismene said.
“Let’s enter the castle, shall we?” Emerond asked.
They walked along a road to the castle ahead, and along the road were stone obelisks, twelve (12) feet in height. On each was inscribed a single number, and the numbers formed a sequence: 1,5,15,35,70,126,210,330,495,715,1001,1365,1820,2380,3060,3876,4845,5985,7315,8855 . Judith recorded all of this, and Romana and Nathan both looked at it, as did Emerond.
“These obelisks weren’t here before,” Emerond said.
“This place is alive. It changes. I am not surprised,” Lady Ismene said.
However, after passing the first seven (7) obelisks, Nathan became confident of what the sequence was and that it wasn’t likely another sequence with the same first few terms. Nathan started predicting the next one correctly. After passing the obelisk with the number two hundred ten (210) inscribed upon it, Nathan said: “The next one will likely be three hundred thirty (330).”
“How did you do that?” General Joshua asked, when they all saw that Nathan was correct.
“Mathematics, General,” Nathan said. He was a small man, but had a very sharp mind, which was energized further by drinking the waters of the Medathero Ocean. He did so at the beginning of their voyage, and was ready to approach simple or complex puzzles alike.
“The next one will be four hundred ninety-five (495),” Nathan said. This was verified after walking the short distance to the next obelisk.
“So what’s the mathematical sequence?” Romana asked.
“The number of ways to choose four (4) elements from a set of a certain size, disregarding order and disallowing repetition of choices. This last was from a set of nine (9) elements,” Nathan said.
“Alright, then the next one should be ten (10) choose four (4), which is seven hundred fifteen (715),” Romana said. The short walk to the next obelisk showed that she was correct, having been trained in mathematics in the academies of the Jenaldej Empire.
Nathan recognized the pattern before she did, and he would have seen it sooner, but was considering other sequences that might also fit.
“Then the next should be eleven (11) choose (4), which should be one thousand one (1001),” Emerond said, as he also had combinatorial understanding, being raised in the Jenaldej Empire and receiving their mathematical training. Also, Emerond had a good grasp of the combinatorics of crystal structures, and the relevant mathematics, as we was capable of bending crystals into any form, when he had been energized by drinking the waters of the Kazofen Ocean.
They reached the castle and found the main entry door to be locked. There were, however, five (5) stones on it, and each one was on a circular groove on the door, and there were ten (10) circular depressions along each groove. Nathan considered this and said: “I think these stones are meant to indicate a number, by moving the stones to indicate its digits. This may be the locking mechanism. According to the sequence of numbers along the road, if they are related, as the last number was eight thousand eight hundred fifty-five (8855), the next number would be ten thousand six hundred twenty-six (10626).”
“This door had a different locking mechanism, last time. Someone wants to test the wits of those who would enter, and make sure the test is a new challenge,” Emerond said.
“We’re not alone here. You know that,” Lady Ismene said.
“I know,” Emerond sa
id.
“You’re going to position the stones to write out that number?” Romana asked.
“That’s one interpretation of what we can see,” Nathan said. He then started moving the stones, from the outermost to the innermost, but nothing occurred.
“There are two (2) ways to order the numbers: the highest digit could be the outermost stone, or the innermost stone. Further, there are ten (10) ways the positions along each ring could have their zero (0) digit placed, and that is assuming that it is the same positioning for each ring; otherwise, the number of combinations grows further. Still, then, there are two (2) directions in which the numbers could progress from there: to the right or to the left. Hence, there are forty (40) possible ways to indicate this number, assuming it is the correct one. I shall try until I succeed,” Nathan said. After several tries, he did succeed, and a mechanical sound was heard and then the door opened when he tried it.
CHAPTER 17: Venture through Castle
Lady Ismene drank anew of the water of the Zovvin Ocean from her vial. She was thereby energized and ready to face the spirits she knew were waiting within the castle. She walked through the castle’s main door ahead of the others and saw spectral beings floating about the large room.
“Walk slowly. The spirits are active here,” Lady Ismene said as the others followed her in.
The spectral beings spoke a warning that everyone could hear as one of the spirits said: “Beware, mortal! Dangerous knowledge brings the soul to ruin.”
“We come to visit the Duke,” Lady Ismene said.
“Stay back, old woman,” one spirit said.
“I assure you, we are not minions of the wicked ones. We seek the good, and a way of opposing that which is wicked. See my spirit, as I know you can,” Lady Ismene said.
At this, two of the spirits flew through Lady Ismene, and she felt a stinging and burning pain; yet, she lived. She had been through such a thing before, and knew it was a test of pure intentions.
“You may pass, mortal woman,” one of the spirits said.
“My companions must come with me. Yet, they should not be put to the test. I stand for them in this place,” Lady Ismene said.
“Their offenses will fall upon you,” the spirit said.
Emerond, Romana, General Joshua, Nathan and Judith saw and heard this, but said nothing, as they were afraid.
However, Judith heard a voice within her: “Fear no spirits. You are protected by a greater power.” This was the voice of her Guardian Angel of the Chronicler’s Oath. His name was Ondothel, and he was with her, always, even though she did not know him. Judith believed in God, because of Romana’s words, but she was not familiar with Guardian Angels. She was comforted by the voice, and her fear, as small as it was, went away completely. As recorders of truth, Oath-taking Chroniclers must never be harmed, which is why each of them was under the protection of a Guardian Angel. Judith recorded all that she saw into her book, including the ghosts and their words, but not the voice of reassurance that she heard, because she knew it was only speaking to her.
With Lady Ismene in the lead, they walked further into the room and then climbed up a circular stone staircase, leading to a door at the top. They found the door to be unlocked. After opening the door, they found a room filled with bookcases along all the walls and thousands of old books on the bookcase shelves.
“While someone wanted to turn us away with the puzzle at the front door, they seem to want to invite us in here, judging by the unlocked door – to reveal something in these books, perhaps,” Nathan said.
“This isn’t over. We’re not there yet,” Emerond said.
Judith looked at some of the books, and found them to be historical in nature, referencing ancient kings and lands. Some of the information was unfamiliar to her, which meant that it was worth recording some of the knowledge and returning to Emeth with it. She wrote down the titles of all of the books into her book – twelve thousand one hundred sixty-seven (12167) books in all, in under ten (10) minutes. This was partly due to the shorthand notation that she, and all other, Chroniclers of the Oath used. This was partly due to the fact that the flow of time slowed down around her, by the power of the waters of the Ursegan Ocean that flowed through her.
“Did you get all that?” Romana asked.
“I wrote the titles of all of the books,” Judith said.
Then, Judith opened up one of the historical books, and quickly transcribed its entire contents in another twenty (20) minutes. She looked at four (4) more, transcribing only some of their contents in another ten (10) minutes.
“I know you have the authority under the Chronicler’s Oath to look at what you want, but we don’t have all day. Most of us live less than one hundred (100) years, so can we please move along here? If you want to stay here, that’s fine. The rest of us really do have to get on to more pressing matters. This castle has more to show than some old books,” Emerond said.
“Everything, no matter how small, has some importance,” Judith said.
“It is true. The answers we seek could be divided into many parts, and these books could tell secrets that lead to those parts, and how to assemble them,” Romana said.
“Perhaps, but we don’t have time to read all the books in their entirety for ourselves, and we’re not allowed to read her summary writings until they’re all revealed, which will be after we’ve all moved on from this world. The Oath doesn’t allow her to share her writings to help us do the research, because that would be interference,” Emerond said.
“None of what I have written here is in confidence, except for your confidence, so it is not a secret from you, and you do not need to wait for its revelation. Further, you may, for verification purposes, read that which I have written about regarding the present moment,” Judith said, to correct his understanding.
“So, what’s there in these books that interests you so much?” Emerond asked.
“This is not Duke Hagan’s Castle,” Judith said.
“Alright. Now I am interested,” Emerond said.
“The spirit of Duke Hagan is present here, my dear. How is this not his castle?” Lady Ismene asked.
“The castle was owned by the Ahitan Empire, and used by some of their minions to perform demonic sacrifice rituals. The Hidden Paladins, according to my reading, found this location and killed the demon worshippers within it one hundred eighty-three (183) millennia ago. The record of what occurred was written by a Chronicler named Serfex-Paveden-Agrotto who observed the battle. There is no sign the castle was occupied again until a time over twelve (12) millennia ago, when Duke Hagan discovered this mountain was hollow and found the castle inside,” Judith said.
“You’re revealing things to us that we should have to find for ourselves. I thought it was interference, against the Oath, to do our research for us,” Emerond said.
“The Oath is of truth, and, therefore, does not serve demons or keep their confidence. It serves the Creator of Truth. I cannot interfere, but I can share some things, and speak truth against demonic powers,” Judith said.
In this, Judith was acting according to another tenet of the Chronicler’s Oath.
The Tenth Tenet of the Chronicler’s Oath: Serve no demon or minion thereof, keep not their confidence, and speak truth against them.
“This is frightening, and puzzling. Do the books tell you why the spirit of Duke Hagan is here?” Lady Ismene asked.
“To prevent the demonic rituals from being repeated. That is the reason why Duke Hagan constructed the complex locks: it was to keep out all but the most determined and clever explorer,” Judith said.
“Evil people can be quite determined, and clever,” Romana said.
“True. But so can the good. I’m determined to get anything useful out of this castle – no matter who the castle really belongs to – and use it against the Ahitan woman. That’s why we came here,” Emerond said.
“Proceed if you wish. I will not interfere,” Judith said.
“I wish,” E
merond said, and he started moving some of the books out of the way, placing them gently onto the floor. There was an opening behind the bookcase, as he remembered from his previous visit, and he started moving the very shelves of the bookcase. Someone had obviously restored the displaced shelves in the room, placing the books back on them, since the last visit. But the way forward remained the same, and moving the books revealed it.
Emerond then stepped through the opening in the bookcase, and the opening in the wall behind it. Nathan, General Joshua, Lady Ismene, Romana and Judith all followed.
They walked down the hallway and found a room with a large door that was locked. “This is the bedroom chamber, the resting place of Duke Hagan,” Emerond said.
“There is a strong spiritual presence here that I recognize from our previous visit. He is there, but I don’t know that I would call it rest. He is guarding secrets, and quite awake,” Lady Ismene said.
The door was locked and had a small empty picture frame on it. There was a stone table in front of it, with a set of blocks of various shapes.
“This is another puzzling locking mechanism. Perhaps placing the blocks correctly into the frame will unlock it,” Nathan said.
“Lead the way,” Emerond said to him.
Nathan proceeded to place the various blocks into the frame, trying different positions and rotations, until they all fit. It took him several minutes, perhaps twenty (20), as different configurations almost fit, but not quite. He finally found a way and the door unlocked.
Judith recorded this puzzle and its solution in her book, much as she did the solution to the puzzle at the entrance to the castle.
