The Grim Conspiracy

by C. Craig Coleman

  “What has happened west of the city?” the mob yelled. “What would cause such a violent storm in just one spot?” The frightened people looked to each other for some hint of support.

  The high priest waited for the panic below to blow off some of their fear and uncertainty. Then he raised his arms high and wide turning this way and that. The crowd turned as one to look up at Ickletor’s reassuring if patronizing stance. His imposing figure showered confidence like a calming wave over them. The clamoring started to die down.

  “My people… you must calm yourselves. That was Yingnak’s way of letting you know he hasn’t forgotten you. You have let foreigners into your lands. You fail to adore your god. He is still angry. You grumble about your temple taxes showing Yingnak you don’t appreciate what he does for you. If you are not careful, Yingnak will not protect you though I will do my best in your interests, of course.”

  The high priest scanned the crowd. They looked to each other once again as the words took hold. In the silence, a new fear arose. Seeing it, Ickletor fanned the flame.

  “The foreigners among us perceive our weakened condition. I fear they have passed along our vulnerability to those cities surrounding us. With your support, we must convince the king to strengthen our walls. War is coming! Invasion is imminent. They will overrun us and wipe out our culture. Turn again to Yingnak. He will stand firm against our enemies and their false gods!”

  Again he raised his arms to the heavens and scanned the mostly subdued crowd.

  “You have seen Yingnak’s power this day. Go to your homes and don’t grumble about your temple offerings and the king’s taxes. We will make weapons to keep you safe and secure if you bow to Yingnak’s will!”

  For the third time, Ickletor scanned the plaza watching the people disburse. He turned back and descended the stairs to his apartment in the center rear of the mound.

  Sestec, standing in for Toda, ushered in the wealthy woman who’d bought her way into the king’s inner circle.

  “You did well today, Ickletor. The king was fearful as the crowd grew restless in the plaza. I’ve warned him; the more educated they become; the more violent they make their demands. Ignorance cowers.”

  Ickletor disliked the pompous woman who failed to see what a fool she made of herself. Still, she did have that much right. In general, the more she raved, the more foolish she appeared.

  “You’re too kind. Please convey my appreciation to King Jornak. You are so compelling. Why don’t you share your wisdom? Proclaim to the people education is an evil thing unsettling our traditions. Convince them they should crush those meddling in science. They must not question their faith. The stupid people will fall at your feet in adoration.”

  The woman beamed at his words. She swayed like a seductress bathing in his perceived lavish support.

  “What an excellent suggestion, High Priest. I think I shall carry your very words to the king right away.” She turned and rushed out the door, her brittle, overworked hair streaming behind her.

  Ickletor sat down at his desk, “Sestec, admit no one else. I’ve much to think about.”

  “As you wish, Your Worship.” Sestec took Ickletor’s headdress and cape and hung them up. “It seems to me those people were much more fearful than they were when I was a boy. They seem to think our society is under attack. I hear them grumbling as I pass through the plaza.”

  Annoyed, Ickletor glanced up at Sestec. “Oh really, so now you’re an authority on the civil order. I’m so glad to learn I have a learned counselor among my staff.”

  Sestec grinned before looking toward the priest whose flushed and frowning glare gave him chills.

  “Oh no, I didn’t mean to tell you your business, Master.”

  “And what institution of enlightenment did you acquire such knowledge from?”

  Sestec bowed profusely, “I’m sorry for meddling. I’m just an ignorant fool.” He grabbed items to put away elsewhere and headed for the door.

  Ickletor calmed slightly into a stone-like state. “Educational institutions indeed. The institutions these days are all about their fees. They don’t care much about teaching. They turn out arrogant fools with little knowledge and unrealistic expectations. That crazy woman will do her best to convince the people learning is a bad thing. Maybe then the masses will tend their farms and shops and leave governance to their betters.”

  They are both right about one thing, he thought. Ignorance opens weak minds to fear. Fear and desperation are the parents of submission and blind obedience. Those children open the doors for their savior to fill the void!

  Today I witnessed the birth of opportunity. I’m not one to waste such luck.

  19: The Purple Mountains

  Malladar and Toda avoided all contact with others the rest of the way to the foothills of the Purple Mountains. There, their path ended at a small farming community. Stopping at a stall selling produce, they replenished their supplies and inquired if there was someone in the village with knowledge of ancient places in the mountains. The vendor was happy with his sale and more than willing to share what little he knew on the matter.

  “So you gentlemen, y’ain’t from around these parts, I see,” the portly vendor said. He wiped his hands on his apron and looked up with a jolly face, “What is it that you be looking for in them mountains? They ain’t to be trifled with I can tell you.”

  Toda stepped closer, “We’re looking for a sh ”

  Malladar turned sideways quickly knocking the fruit Toda held out of his hand, distracting him. “We just like to talk to someone about old sites to visit in the mountains.”

  The shopkeeper scratched the thin hair at the back of his balding scalp and looked at the far mountains to the left of his stall. A gleaming look filled his eyes.

  “I remember my grandmother said long ago a seer was living in a cave up on the dark side of the mountains. She were a strange, scary sort, and won’t no learned woman, but she knowed all about the goings-on in the old murky places in them there highlands.”

  “And where might she be found?” Malladar asked.

  The man stood up straight as his expression turned somber. “There’re plenty more sites to see in the mountains, just follow the road going west there. It’ll take you to some find mining towns with minerals.” He beamed again and leaned forward, “Some has gold!”

  Pouting, Toda stepped just ahead of Malladar. “We’re not looking for gold. We want information about the interesting mountain lore.” He gave Malladar a smirk.

  “I see you gents have your minds made up,” the vendor said. “Won’t be on my head if you lose yours. There’s robbers in them out-of-the-way places on back trails, you know.”

  “We’ll take out chances,” Malladar said.

  The man shook his head. “Follow that road there heading west out of the village. It’ll take you through the foothills. Turn off at a narrow, crooked road going to the left around the first mount. Once up in the mountains themselves, there’s a grand waterfall that comes over the lip of a black mountain beyond. I heard tell the old woman lived in a cave above the falls. Mind you, that were a long time ago.”

  “Thank you for your help, sir. Might you know what her name was?”

  “Can’t say as I do, young feller, but I’ve heard her called The Seer. You be careful. That can be a dangerous place. Some says them what enters the dark places off the main road in them mountains don’t never come back out.”

  Malladar tipped his hand to his brow, “Thank you again for your help, sir.” He started walking out of the village.

  Toda raised his spear to indicate farewell and followed the prince up the road.

  “What did you hit me for? You made me lose the first piece of fruit I’ve had since we left Octar.”

  Malladar handed Toda a fresh piece of fruit as he walked. “You were about to answer we were looking for a shrine. These people are superstitious for sure. You ask about shrines and seers, and they’ll lock uptight as if you were the king’s tax colle
ctor.”

  Toda was wiping his fruit on his sleeve and admiring it before taking a bite. “Hadn’t thought of that.”

  “No, well, you need to be more careful about what you say to strangers. We might well get robbed if we stir up too much curiosity.”

  Toda gulped swallowing the mouthful of fruit he was chewing. “Robbed!” He looked all around, “Hadn’t thought of that either.”

  “After that run-in with the shape-shifter, I’d have thought you’d be more cautious.”

  Malladar walked on noting a wiry man in tattered dark clothing watching them from the shadows of an alley across the road.

  *

  Toda stood with the fruit stuck in his mouth and his hands on his hips, staring at the prince who continued up the road.

  I’m almost old enough to be that boy’s father, he thought. He treats me like his child. He thought a moment more before taking another bite of the fruit and started striding to catch up with Malladar. I hate it when he’s right. I must admit out in this wilderness he is the more knowledgeable. What am I doing out in the sticks anyway? He shook his head and hurried on.

  *

  The trail leading off the main road twisted and turned and soon became a single-lane path, more of an animal trail. As they trekked along, weeds and scrub trees were reclaiming the way from both sides. Tall trees and cascading webs of vines began blocking out the light.

  When they reached the real mountains’ edge a couple of days later, the afternoon shadows advanced over them. The cooler air though fresh had the first hints of smoke. They climbed around the initial mountain and found a little clearing with the trail leading into the dark opening of a tunnel. Malladar scanned the surroundings and first noted a faint whiff of herbal smoke. “

  “It’s getting late,” the prince said. “Perhaps we should camp here for the night at the edge of this stream.”

  Toda threw down his pack and tossed aside the spear. “Thank Yingnak! I was certain you’d decided to walk clear over the mountains through the night. My feet are killing me. I’m not used to walking on rocks and pebbles.”

  “Poor Toda, I hate that you suffer so. Would you like me to massage your feet? Would that make it all better?”

  Toda sat on a boulder and took off a sandal. “Well no, Your Highness, that won’t be necessary, I’ll just sit here~”

  “Whap!” a balled-up cheese pouch smacked Toda on the side of the head. He jumped up, rubbing the spot then hopped holding up his bare foot.

  Malladar grinned, “Get your poor old butt about, and collect some firewood if it wouldn’t inconvenience you too much.” He chuckled and went back to unpacking the cooking gear.

  Toda wandered around hobbling. He glanced at Malladar from time to time who didn’t appear to notice. When it didn’t get any sympathy, he gave up the sham and walked normally. Clutching his small cluster of sticks, he returned and dropped them beside the stone fire circle the prince had assembled.

  “This is a lovely spot, isn’t it?” Toda said. He stretched as he admired the cozy scenery.

  Malladar came over and stood next to him but didn’t look around to admire the site. “Keep your knife handy,” he mumbled, keeping his back to the tunnel across the clearing.

  Toda looked at him with raised eyebrows.

  “Don’t look behind us. I noted a single puff of white smoke drifted out of the tunnel.” Malladar said.

  Toda’s head cocked slightly, “Forest fire here?”

  Malladar whispered, “Robber in the tunnel.” He dropped to his knees to start the campfire.

  Toda squatted, pretending to help, “Are you sure?”

  “He’ll attack in the night or when we come out of the tunnel tomorrow on the other side. Keep your hand on your knife handle. I hope there is only one.”

  Malladar rose and retrieved some of the fresh vegetables they’d brought from the stall in the village. He got water from the stream and kept an eye on the tunnel entrance as he chopped the vegetables for a stew.

  Toda had tensed but tried not to appear so. “Good thing we brought the dried meats.”

  They stayed alert through the evening. Eventually, the last of the sticks went onto the fire, and the two men had to try to sleep. Toda slept first while Malladar kept one eye on the tunnel.

  Late in the night, the prince shook Toda who continued to recline, but awake, kept watch on the tunnel. He had inadvertently started to doze before the first light of dawn. A foot slipping off a loose rock just beyond them awakened both men at once.

  Toda sat up, raising his knife hand with the blade aiming at the attacker. Malladar bolted up both hands on his war club facing the oncoming man about to crash down on top of them. The assailant held a club of his own over his head swinging it down to crush Malladar’s skull. Malladar swung his club up to block the attack. Toda stuck out his foot between the thief’s legs tripping him. The club flew out of his hands as he tried to catch his balance. He slipped once more and fell forward cracking his head on the overhead boulder and collapsed dead beside Malladar. Malladar instantly turned and braced for another attack from the tunnel. When none came, the two travelers stood gawking at the body for a moment before either spoke.

  “I got him,” Toda said, “I tripped him.” He looked aside to Malladar, his grin quivering as it faded.

  Malladar nodded… “Yes, you did. You get to bury him.”

  “What?”

  Malladar began to roll up his bedroll. “He’s your trophy; go bury him.”

  Toda stepped over quickly to Malladar stooping to look the prince in the face. “I’m not very good at these things.”

  His tone even, Malladar said, “Practice makes perfect.” He returned Toda’s stare. “The way things have been going so far this won’t be the last body we bury.”

  Toda stroked his chin and looked at the corpse. “I was thinking… perhaps we shouldn’t bury him. Maybe we should push him over into that fissure there beside the tunnel entrance. It would look like he fell. You know… an accident, and then we wouldn’t have to explain anything or that we knew anything about it. What’da you think?”

  Malladar’s nodded, his lips curling up. “Your laziness is a credit to you, Toda. That’s actually a good idea. When the others come looking for him, and undoubtedly they will, there won’t be a murder to blame on us.”

  Toda’s eyebrows popped up. “Others… others coming to look for him?”

  “Come on, let’s move him and drop him in the cleft and get out of here.”

  Toda moved alongside Malladar to the body. “You said others.”

  They raised the dead man and started shuffling over to the drop-off.

  “Someone may be many in the village, knows he followed us out of town. I’m sure at least one knows what he was up to. The produce seller knew where we are heading. They will be coming after to find him.” Malladar looked up, “and us!”

  Toda dropped the man’s legs in the dirt. Malladar saw his bulging eyes over the hanging jaw. Then Toda grabbed the dead man’s legs again and rushed to move the body to the crevasse. “Let’s get out of here.”

  They slid the man over the edge and cleaned up the camp burying signs of their fire and scattered the stones. Toda brushed out most of their tracks. Malladar used the man’s boots to make a single set of tracks across the clearing to the boulders beside the fissure. He threw the boots in the void, and they hurried through the tunnel and on up the faint trail not stopping until nightfall on the side of the next mountain.

  They camped that night again by a pool where spring water ran down a rock face.

  Malladar had thrown a rock and hit a rabbit to the surprise of both. After collecting it, he handed it to Toda who looked at the creature, blood dripping from its nose. Toda’s eyes swelled as he looked at Malladar without extending his hand to take it.

  “What do you want me to do with that?”

  Malladar shook the rabbit. “I want you to clean it for our dinner.”

  Toda arched his back and drew back
. “Wait, you killed it shouldn’t you clean it?”

  Shaking his head, the prince lowered the rabbit while the contest developed. “I did the hard work; now you should clean it.”

  Toda then leaned forward just slightly, “Oh, but when I killed the robber, you assured me that since I killed him, I should bury him. Isn’t that right? Isn’t that what Your Highness said?”

  Malladar chuckled. “I see why Ickletor saddled me with you, you clever trickster. I’m going to have to pay him back one of these days.”

  Still shaking his head, Malladar walked away to clean the rabbit and prepare it for a stew that night. After they ate, he handed Toda the empty pot. “I cooked; you clean the pot.”

  Toda’s face scrunched. He rose without speaking and took the vessel to the pool at the base of the spring’s waterfall. As he cleaned it, he grumbled, “I always end up with the dirty work. I’m just an unappreciated, abused kitchen slave.”

  Chuckling, Malladar rolled himself in his blanket. “Poor Toda, nobody loves him.”

  Pouting, Toda ambled back to his bedroll by the fire and curled up, facing away from his prince. “Have your fun. Dump on me; it doesn’t matter.”

  Malladar grinned unseen. “Okay, you can prepare breakfast. Oh, and do be sure the chocolate is hot before you wake me.”

  In a flash, Toda rolled back over to glare at his perceived tormentor who had just called him on his sulking.

  Malladar pretended to snore.

  20: Eva Comes Home

  As Nokmay, Eva, and Rasa hiked to the top of the hill overlooking the Tigmoor Plain; they stopped to rest. Eva looked down on the massive temple and royal palace pyramids and palaces of the nobles of Tigmoor. It was still a day’s walk to the city gates, but the view was awe-inspiring.