A House of Cards

by Douglas Bornemann

  Released from whatever had been binding it, the flywheel once again spun freely. Moments later, the platform settled amid the scattered books. Helena threw herself into Alphonse’s waiting arms. The instant she stepped off, the platform shot upward. It was several feet in the air before Dona had the presence of mind to leap. She landed in an ignominious heap.

  Alphonse dashed to her aid. “Are you hurt?”

  She brushed herself off. “I’ll live.”

  “My sewing kit,” Helena cried.

  “Don’t worry,” Dona said. “We’ll retrieve it once the counterweight arrives.

  “You’re sure?”

  “Here it comes now. Alphonse, would you be so kind as to remove some of the ballast?”

  “Let’s have a look.” He strode off toward the counterweight’s expected destination.

  Once he was out of earshot, Helena touched Dona’s arm. “What’s that thing around his neck?” she whispered. “And where’s Alexi?”

  “I presume Alexi is waiting for us across the fallen bridge. Isn’t that right Alphonse?”

  Alphonse nodded. “It was all I could do to keep him from trying his luck with the rope. He got a bit agitated when you missed your deadline.”

  Dona perked up. “He did?”

  The counterweight planted itself on the cavern floor in front of him. “I didn’t mean to imply it was in a good way. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him quite that upset. You might want to tread lightly for a bit.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind. Now, if I can persuade you to unload some of those rocks, we can retrieve Helena’s sewing kit and be on our way.”

  “Happy to oblige,” Alphonse said. “Maybe while I’m doing that, you could tell me where you’ve been?”

  “The women’s dormitory is somewhere up there,” Helena said. “The platform comes to rest beneath the garderobe. Dona figured it out and asked me to come help. So, what exactly am I helping you do?”

  Alphonse removed another rock, and the counterweight heaved “Could one of you hold that down, please?”

  Helena sat on its edge.

  Alphonse removed a few more rocks. “All right, try hopping off.”

  The counterweight began to rise.

  “We can control it, then,” Dona said. “That’s a relief.”

  As before, the mechanism seized when the platform was about halfway down. A few nudges to the flywheel got it moving again until it landed safely amidst the chains and books.

  Helena climbed aboard and began gathering.

  “What are you doing?” Dona asked.

  “Getting my things,” Helena said. “Why?”

  “It’s not quite that simple. If you don’t take it all at once, the platform might rise again when you step off.”

  “Perhaps if we all three gathered and stepped off at the same time?” Alphonse suggested.

  She examined the mechanism with a critical eye. “Maybe—but there’s got to be an easier way.”

  “We don’t have much time. The bursar isn’t doing well, and if I don’t show up soon, Alexi may try something rash.”

  Dona pulled back a stout lever with both hands. “I bet this is it. Now try unloading.”

  Helena stepped off the platform, and it didn’t budge.

  “Excellent,” Dona said. “Let’s gather and go.”

  Moments later, the heavily laden trio arrived at the bridge. Across the gorge, Alexi, bathed in the glow of his sword, rose stiffly to his feet.

  “He looks mad,” Helena said.

  Dona huffed. “He’ll be fine. After all, I found us a way out, didn’t I?”

  “What is that thing he’s holding? It looks like no lantern I’ve ever seen.”

  “We’ll have plenty of time for explanations later. Right now, we have sick and injured people over there, and we must find a way to get them over here. Can you use your kit to craft a harness?”

  Helena frowned. “I’ll have to think about it. I’ve never tried anything like that before. Under normal circumstances, I’d use hemp instead of twine and fabric. How many people are we talking?”

  “Just Alexi, the Monsignor, and the Bursar.”

  Helena’s jaw dropped. “Monsignor Goodkin?”

  “I’m afraid so,” Dona said, “so you’ll want to make it sturdy. Alphonse, do you think you could find a way to get some of that firewood over to them? It’s got to be better than bridge slats for keeping them warm.”

  “I’ll tie it in bundles with the twine,” he replied. “Maybe I can hang it from the rope across the chasm and Alexi can pull them over to him. I’ll also reinforce the rope with twine.”

  “Good plan. If it works for the wood, maybe we can pull the others over here in a harness in the same way. See if you can get a bolt of fabric over to them too. They can use it as a blanket.”

  Alexi’s voice echoed across the chasm. “So nice of you to drop by.”

  Dona sighed. “I’m sorry I’m late, but I found a way out. We need to get the three of you over here as quickly as possible.”

  “So, you didn’t have time to let us know about that, but you had plenty of time to check in with your girlfriends?”

  “We can fight about this later. Right now, we have people relying on us. See if you can help Alphonse get things over to you. Helena’s trying to make a harness to ferry people across.”

  Alexi’s eyes flashed. “Whatever you say, Mistress, but first, allow me to alert the rest of the rabble you have arrived and will deign to see them shortly. It’s the sort of thing polite people do.”

  “He’ll come around,” Alphonse said. “You had him pretty worried.”

  “Clearly.”

  Although Dona assisted Helena’s harness efforts, the set of her jaw informed them that she was in no mood for idle chitchat. Alexi, who emerged a short time later to work with Alphonse on rope reinforcement, was equally dour.

  When they were finished, Alphonse hung one of the bundles of wood on the rope using a twine loop. He tied another length of twine to the bundle, then tossed the end over to Alexi, who tugged the hanging wood over to his side. Although the process was slow, all the wood made it across long before Helena finished her harness. A bit later the Monsignor ventured out, still pale, but in high spirits.

  “Miss Merinne, thank you so much for your timely efforts. Mr. Brent’s condition has improved, and I’m feeling much better myself. Alexi tells me you’ve found a way out of these caves?”

  “I have. It’s not far, but we have to get you over to this side. It takes us back into Exidgeon, though. I hope that’s not a problem.”

  “Is there any chance of avoiding the Inquisition? I’d hate for all of this spelunking to have been for naught.”

  “The passage leads to the women’s dormitory. So far, the Inquisition has left them alone.”

  Helena chimed in. “The Inquisition is leaving Exidgeon anyway. Last we heard, they struck a deal with the Crown to evacuate the college.”

  The Monsignor raised an eyebrow. “Leaving? I wonder how they got Isrulian to agree to that?”

  “Finally.” Helena held up a complicated network of twine, leather, and bright floral fabric. “Who wants to try it first?”

  The Monsignor squinted across the gorge. “What is it?”

  Dona caught Alexi’s dubious expression and snatched the harness out of Helena’s hands. “I will.”

  Helena frowned. “But, weren’t we trying to get them over here?”

  “We’ll need a test first, and I’m the lightest. Besides, they’ll need help from someone who isn’t hurt.”

  “If they need help, I’ll go,” Alphonse said. “There’s no need for you to risk it.”

  Dona wriggled into the harness. “Not true. They are going to need your help on this end to pull them up. I’m not big enough to do that. Helena, could you help me get this on the rope?”

  “Sure,” Helena said. “This wide leather strap here hangs over the rope. Now we tie it securely through the grommets with several thicknesses of
twine and it should give a smooth surface for sliding over the rope. Here, let me sew through it a few times with some cord to make it more stable.”

  Alexi could contain himself no longer. “Don’t you dare risk yourself in that thing.”

  A satisfied smirk crept across Dona’s face. “The time to volunteer has passed.” She handed Alphonse the pull cord and stepped out over the gorge.

  She bounced several times as the rope took her weight, sliding partway across until she found herself suspended over rushing water.

  As he had done with the twine for the firewood, Alphonse threw the weighted end of the pull cord across the gorge over to Alexi. He hadn’t anticipated how difficult even Dona’s weight would be to drag across the rope, and ultimately, it took the Monsignor’s help to pull her the rest of the way.

  Once she was safely across, Alexi rounded on her “What do you think you’re doing? You could have been killed, and for what?”

  “For this, silly.” She threw her arms around him and kissed him deeply. “There,” she said. “I think it was worth it, don’t you? Now, put on your harness. In the meantime, I’ll see to our friend the Bursar.”

  She was already gone before Alexi could respond. He turned to gape at the Monsignor, as if seeking an explanation.

  The Monsignor politely pretended not to have noticed. “Need any help with that harness?”

  . . . . .

  The funerarium had been transformed since Dona had last seen it. The brazier held a cozy fire that cast dancing shadows on the rough-hewn walls. Broad swatches of colorful fabrics had been spread across the floor—the spot seemed almost inviting, at least to someone whose teeth were still chattering. The biggest change was the presence of a new archway in what had previously been solid wall. In the darkness beyond, she thought she caught a dim flicker.

  And then it hit her—the Bursar was missing.

  “Mr. Brent?”

  An echo was her only answer.

  “Mr. Brent, are you all right?” Had he awakened disoriented and wandered off by mistake? She stepped through the arch. “Mr. Brent? Are you in here?”

  Ahead she heard the clink of metal against stone and a muttered oath. She sprang toward the sound. “Don’t move, Mr. Brent—I’ll be right there.”

  For an instant, a dim red glow reflected off the wall. She squinted against a brief gale of musty air, and as it died, darkness enveloped her.

  Dona scrambled backward, but the archway was gone. From behind, measured footfalls approached. A lantern flared. She blocked its glare with her hand.

  “Mr. Brent?”

  “Your timing is impeccable, young Mistress, and most unfortunate.”

  “Maybe we can pound on the wall to let them know we’re stuck. Even if they can’t hear us, where else could we have gone? All we have to do is wait for the Monsignor to use the Morgatuan again, and we’ll be fine—I’ve found a way out.”

  “So I heard, but I’m afraid the Monsignor will not be coming to your rescue. You see, he no longer has the Morgatuan.”

  The pieces came together. “The red glow. You stole it.”

  “Not so fast, young Mistress. You’ll recall that, according to our agreement, I was to receive the Morgatuan in return for my assistance. Now that we’ve come to the exit, it is mine by right. I never promised to accompany them beyond that point.”

  “Well, I’m not out of here.”

  “No, but you were. Once that happened, my end of the bargain was fulfilled.”

  “Then if you would be kind enough to open the passage, I’ll just be on my way.”

  “You know I can’t take that chance.”

  “What chance? All you have to do is open the passage, I’ll leave, and then you can go off and do whatever you want—even take the Morgatuan with you.”

  “I think you even mean that, but so long as the Monsignor commands the swordsman and the sorceler, I can’t trust him. Do you really think if I opened the arch that he could afford to honor his side of the bargain?”

  “I don’t think he would have made a promise he didn’t intend to keep. Besides, Alphonse is already on the other side of the gorge, and the Monsignor is probably helping Alexi across as we speak.”

  “I doubt it. Not once they noticed the disturbance from sealing the arch.”

  Dona’s mind raced. “Isn’t keeping me here a bigger risk? After all, maybe the Monsignor intends to honor his promise to keep this place secret. But if I’m lost, Alexi won’t let him rest until they mount a rescue. Would you really prefer having the entire Inquisition down here?”

  “That would have been a better threat if you hadn’t been fleeing the Inquisition when we met.”

  “That was just a misunderstanding.”

  “Well, we certainly don’t want any of those. In fact, why don’t we just take this opportunity to clear the air? Let’s start with the real reason for your visit here.”

  “You just pointed it out yourself—we were fleeing the Inquisition.”

  “Or making it look like you were fleeing. Was that part of your plan to encourage my cooperation?”

  “We really were fleeing. The Monsignor was traveling incognito. We couldn’t have known you would offer to help.”

  “So, you expect me to believe that of all the doorways in all the world, you just happened to wander through mine, conveniently pursued by the Inquisition and carrying the Morgatuan? What kind of fool do you take me for?”

  Dona shook her head. “Mr. Brent, at this point all I want to do is get out of this cave. I couldn’t care less about whether you go your own way or whether you take the Morgatuan with you.”

  The Bursar regarded her thoughtfully. “If that’s true, you must have already gotten what you came for. But what could that be? You are quite the enigma, young Mistress.”

  “Why does everyone keep calling me that?”

  The Bursar laughed. “At first I thought you might actually be the Mistress, returned to us to fulfill Chervil’s Promise. Who else could have retrieved the Morgatuan and conscripted both a Monsignor and a heretic to her cause? And maybe that is who you really are, but if so, you are either a very convincing liar, or you’re completely unaware of it—I eventually dismissed the whole idea. Now, given the Vismort’s reaction, I’m not so sure.”

  “Chervil’s Promise? What are you talking about?”

  The Bursar regarded her for a long moment. “All right. I’ll play along. Chervil’s Promise is the reason for this Ossarium as well as the countless others that were built and hidden away over the years. You see, unlike the Church, which holds that the soul is eternal and eventually passes to a better place after death, Chervillians believe the soul is fragile and easily lost if not preserved.”

  “Isn’t that the same thing?” Dona asked.

  “On the contrary—it’s the difference between eternal life and total annihilation. Chervillians believe that the Church, through a tragic misunderstanding of the nature of the soul and a perverse elevation of faith over common sense, systematically exterminates its own followers.”

  “You mean Chervillians don’t believe in an afterlife?”

  “Actually, that’s the essence of Chervil’s Promise—which is that if the souls of the dead are preserved long enough, the faithful will eventually acquire the means to restore them to life.”

  “But isn’t that every bit as far-fetched as the Church’s position?”

  “Is it? I may not be expert in the intricacies of Chervillian dogma, but I found the Vismort’s little demonstration quite convincing.”

  “The Vismort?” Dona said. “Are you saying he used to be dead?”

  The Bursar nodded. “So it would appear, and judging by the date on the coffin lid, I’d say he’d been dead for a good long time.”

  “But I thought he was supposed to be some sort of demon?” Dona protested. “Isn’t that what the Monsignor called him?”

  The Bursar snorted dismissively. “And just what exactly do you suppose a daemon is?”

&nbs
p; “I guess now that I think about it, I’m not really sure,” Dona said. “But I thought they were all supposed to be wretched and evil. Yet, if what you say is true, almost anyone could end up a demon.”

  “That’s precisely the point. The Mistress offered the Chervillians of Exidgeon hope that the Pledge could actually be fulfilled in their lifetime. But of course, given that the Church would view such individuals as having been denied an oh-so-glorious afterlife through the application of dangerous heretical practices, is it any wonder they paint them as wretched and evil? For that matter, isn’t that exactly how they characterize Chervillians?”

  Dona’s eyes widened in sudden realization. “And Dreamweaver too.”

  Brent paused, adjusted his spectacles, and leaned forward with the lantern for a closer look. After an eternity of scrutiny, he smiled. “It seems we are not so naïve after all.”

  Dona silently cursed her inability to keep her mouth shut. “Why do you say that?”

  “Let me see. On the one hand, you profess your ignorance of the Pledge and are mystified as to why someone might confuse you with the Mistress, and yet, by some miracle you are familiar with her alias, which I am quite certain I have never once mentioned.”

  “Well, isn’t she the obvious suspect any time someone brings up a mysterious woman who traffics in daemons?”

  The Bursar raised an eyebrow. “The obvious suspect, even to a young lady who professes to be nothing more than an eager young college student? I think it’s time you told me who you are and why you’re really here.”

  Dona bristled. “Are you sure you can afford to take that tone with whoever it is you think I might be?”

  The Bursar sighed. “Let me put it this way. If you really were the Mistress, you wouldn’t be relying on me to let you out of here.”

  Although he said it with conviction, Dona heard something wistful in his voice, perhaps a twinge of doubt, a tremor of disappointment that made her feel that he would have liked nothing better than to be wrong. An idea took shape, and out of desperation, she seized on it.

  “So, you are willing to take the risk she didn’t send me? I suppose it never occurred to you that she might want an assessment of whether now would be a good time to continue her work on the Pledge. Think about it. That would explain my uncanny resemblance, not to mention my possession of the Morgatuan.”