Shadow Gambit (21 page)

“Holiday for what?” I asked.

The gardener shrugged. “Beats me, ma'am. Said that there would be a grand spectacle later today. A once in a lifetime event. Everyone should prepare themselves, he said. Sounds loopy to me. But the mayor has always been off kilter.”

I asked, “Do you know if the mayor's assistant is still inside?”

“You missed him. Drove off with the mayor a short while ago in that huge white buggy of his.”

“Know where they went?”

“Sorry, not a clue. Hopefully they went to find a new mayor.”

We thanked the gardener and drove on.

“Now where?” Fairfax asked.

“Let's try the mayor's house as a start. We may get lucky.”

The mayor maintained a residence in White Cliff, a rich part of town. Fairfax knew of the mayor's mansion and took us there.

As we drove I touched on the facts of the case. “So Blythe uses his connections to put Winimar on the payroll of the museum. Blythe manipulates him to give information on the items arriving. He learns of Gunther's Stone Talon this way and gains access to the museum. Blythe then casts a sleep spell on Winimar, opens the vault - probably with another spell - and takes the trunk with the Talon in it.”

Fairfax said, “Spells Winimar to sleep but doesn't kill him. Why?”

I shrugged. “In regards to family Blythe might have a conscience. So he has the Talon but can't use it. He becomes aware of the Mad Scribe's book with the reversal spell in it. At first he tries to buy it from Rousset.”

“While wearing women's make-up,” Fairfax said with a shake of his head.

“True. A bad disguise but it was to cover up his birthmark which would have made him easy to identify with Rousset's description.”

Fairfax coughed a laugh. “That is an awful disguise if you consider it.”

“Yes, but it kept us from making a direct connection to him,” I said.

“Here it is,” Fairfax said as we drove past a large beautiful mansion. A driveway pulled up to the front doors with the huge white buggy parked out front. We kept on going.

“At least they are there,” Fairfax said. “I'll park up ahead and try and get an angle on the place.”

Thankfully, the mayor's mansion was near the base of a hill. We drove up the hill, turned around and parked. From our vantage point we could see most of the building.

After a few minutes of no activity below I continued with my fact list. “Unable to purchase the book Blythe then approaches Elicia with the promise of money if she would steal it from the shop. She does, and he uses its spell to reactivate the Talon, binds it to himself and turn her to stone.”

“And Oswall?”

“Well, by this time Oswall had quizzed Pasha Hubertus about Winimar's job while the man was asleep. Pasha must have revealed Winimar got the job because of Blythe. Sensing a potential angle Oswall then followed Blythe around which takes him to Rousset's store. After Blythe leaves, perhaps the next day, Oswall went in to talk to Rousset but he was at the auction. Oswall talks with Elicia, what is said I can only guess. In regards to Blythe's earlier visit or, as you say, he was looking for a date.”

Fairfax said, “Elicia probably mentioned Oswall to Blythe. She'd have been anxious as she just stolen the book or was going to.”

“Yes, when Blythe learns Oswall had spoken to Elicia he panics,” I said. “So Blythe calls into the Constabulary and anonymously tells Oswall that he has information about the burglary, and to meet at the bridge at Muddy Shore.”

“And there Blythe turns him to stone.”

I nodded. “And he even had the gall to return to the scene while we were there surveying it.”

Fairfax scowled. “And then to come to the Constabulary later on.”

“To sneer at us,” I said. The hot flush of anger sparked in my gut.

“Well, when I get my hands on him he'll wish -” Fairfax said before I interrupted with a shout.

“There he is!” I pointed.

Sure enough, Davon Blythe had exited the rear of the mansion and was making his way along a path into the forest which crowded around the property.

“What the devil is he doing?”

We watched as he vanished into the woods.

“He's leaving is what he is doing,” I said and opened the buggy door. “Quick, we mustn't lose him!”

Fairfax did not argue the point and got out.

“How do we follow him without announcing our presence?” I asked, looking at the terrain.

Fairfax said. “The trees are thick here. Let's try to approach from this way.”

I grumbled but did not protest. We stumped our way through the foliage. After a few minutes I started to worry. “Two nature hikes in one day. How are we going to find him in this?”

At that moment we broke through the forest to look down on a small valley. And there, clear as day, was Blythe walking along a path at its bottom.

Fairfax crouched and pulled me down with him.

Blythe walked up to a cave with a grate across it. No, not a cave, I realized. A sewer entrance. Blythe took out a set of keys and unlocked a padlock on the grate. He looked around to see if we was being followed.

Fairfax pulled me down lower, which was a near physical impossibility at this point.

Blythe then opened the grate, entered and closed it behind him.

“Winimar worked for the sewage department. Blythe must have gotten those keys from him.”

“The same sewers that lead to your back yard,” Fairfax said. “I'm up for a trip through the sewers. What about you?”

“If it helps us put an end to this monster, I'd swim through the sewers of Hades itself,” I said.

“I'll take that as a yes,” Fairfax said, and we descended to the valley bottom.

We came up to the grate and peered inside. Only a yawning darkness could be seen. Fairfax pointed at the padlock. “Do you think they will help this time?”

I checked inside my satchel. The clasp was wooden. “No, not this time. Perhaps we should -” I said but stopped as Fairfax picked up a large rock.

“What are you doing?” I said.

“This,” Fairfax said and hit the padlock with the rock. The lock shattered.

I sighed. “You realize that not only are we trespassing on private property but you just committed breaking and entering?” I don't know why I felt the need to tease him at that moment.

Fairfax dropped the rock and clapped his hands clean. “I'll be sure to bring up those points with the Chief during my next review.” He grinned. “Now please tell me you brought rock lights.”

For a moment I considering lying and turning us back, but Blythe was so close now. He had to be stopped if for no other reason than to keep him from turning another victim to stone.

“Yes,” I said. “I came prepared.” I dug through my satchel and pulled out two small rock lights and gave one to Fairfax. They winked on at our touch.

Fairfax pushed the grate open and produced his pistol. I did the same with mine.

“Are you ready?”

“Always,” I said. But I was not sure I meant it.

We entered the sewers.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The tunnel which led from the entrance was long and winding. If not for the rock lights in our hands we would have been in total darkness. Our footsteps and breathing echoed against the concrete.

I was thankful there had been no rain that day or we would have been up to our knees in water and filth. Now the water was just a narrow trickle under our feet.

“How far does this go?” I asked. My legs ached, and I cursed my old bones.

Fairfax pointed, “There is a junction ahead.” He looked at me concerned. “Do you need help?” He offered an arm.

I waved him away. “I'm fine. Just not keen on dark cramped places.”

The tunnel ended in a t-junction with branches going left and right. And there before us was a huge engraving on the wall.

“The Mark of Quantiqtl,” Fairfax said.

It was greater in height than Fairfax and more detailed than the others we had seen. Its long tentacles outstretched with an opened beak-like mouth between them.

“Well, Constable,” I said. “I believe we are on the right track.”

“Yes, but which way?”

I peered in both directions. A faint light could be seen further down the right one. “I see something, Fairfax. This way.”

We walked toward the far light. As we got closer the light became bright enough we doused our own rock lights.

The tunnel ended at a wide archway, and beyond it appeared to be a chamber. Fairfax motioned me to stop, and tip-toed ahead. Hugging the wall he peered through the archway.

He turned to me and shrugged. “No one there,” he said in a hushed voice. Mindful of potential danger we stepped through.

The chamber was huge with dozens of rock lights ensconced along the walls. The ceiling so high it could not be seen.

Fairfax looked to our left and let out a surprised shout. I looked, too, and my breath caught in my throat.

A large statue of a squid sat at one side of the chamber. It stood more than three times the height of a horse and was as wide as my house. Long stone tentacles reached outward in a frozen roiling mass as if searching for food. Two large sightless eyes seemed to glare at us, angry and wild. The bulk of its body extended behind it like a train car.

“Quantiqtl,” I said.

Fairfax and I stared in amazement. The bright rock lights enhancing its shadows making it appear almost alive.

“Incredible work,” Fairfax said. “It must have taken years to carve.”

A thought hit me which sent shivers down my spine. Wide-eyed I grabbed Fairfax's arm and pulled him backward, away from the statue.

“That is not just any statue, Fairfax,” I said as the full horror of realization struck home.

“That is the smartest thing you have ever said,” came a loud voice from behind us. We whirled around pistols at the ready.

Sigwald Archambault and Davlon Blythe emerged from a side entrance. Both wore black robes with the Mark of Quantiqtl on their sleeves. Blythe pointed a pistol at us. Archambault held what looked to be a long narrow bone sharpened to a point. I realized it was the Talon.

“Mr. Mayor,” I said with dripping sarcasm. “Why am I not surprised you are behind this?”

“Retired Detective Beeweather,” Archambault said, returning the sarcasm. “Of course I am behind this. Who else can bring about the dawning of a new era?”

I regarded Blythe who was sneering. To him I said, “So Davlon, the responsibility of wielding the Talon was too much for you? You shifted the binding over to Sigwald because you lacked the courage to keep using it?”

Blythe's sneer turned to anger. “He is the chosen one! I am but a tool for him to wield on his journey to rebuild the world.”

“You are most certainly a tool,” Fairfax said.

“Shut up!” Barked Archambault. He waved the Talon around. “Blythe did as commanded. He follows the same calling as me in our service to the one great god. And soon, we will all serve him, or perish.”

I glanced at the huge tentacled statue. “You mean -”, I said before Archambault cut me off.

“Do not speak of the great one while in his presence! You are unworthy of such an honor.”

Fairfax said, “What do you mean in his presence?”

Keeping my pistol aimed at the mayor I said, “That statue
is
the Quantiqtl. The real one from long ago. Turned to stone by Gunther.”

Fairfax blanched at the implications.

Archambault grinned. “Yes, now you realize the true import of what I am trying to accomplish. This is the great and mighty Quantiqtl! Betrayed in battle by that ungrateful wretch, Gunther. But soon his crime will be corrected and the entire world will rejoice!”

“This raving lunatic is boring me,” Fairfax said. “Can I shoot him now?”

My curiosity got the better of me and I asked, “What is it you think you can do?” Asking questions of the mayor fed his giant ego and might buy me time to devise a plan.

Archambault's eyes widened, and he smiled. “Why, to resurrect the Great One and restore him to his rightful place as the ruler of the universe!”

My eyes went to the Talon in his hand. Again, I was struck with a terrifying realization. “You've used the spell from the book to reverse the Stone casting ability of the Talon,” I said. It was a statement and one that chilled me.

Archambault laughed. “Now you know, foolish woman! Yes, and I will undue the Stoning of the Ancient One and return him to life! And our mighty god will reward me beyond my wildest dreams!”

I arched a brow at these two idiots. “If you cannot use the Talon to turn one of us to stone then it's no threat to us. So it is our two pistols to Blythe's one.”

Archambault's reverie faltered. He seemed to realize that the situation was not as much to his favor as his ravings had led him to believe.

Blythe tensed, his pistol moving between me and Fairfax.

My pistol remained on Archambault. He could not be allowed to use the Talon. Not for what he intended to do. “Drop the Talon, Sigwald. Otherwise I will be forced to shoot.”

Archambault's face contorted in an expression caught between sanity and servitude to his chosen God. In an instant he made his decision.

The mayor turned the Talon toward the huge statue. I fired my pistol, hitting the mayor in the shoulder. But as I did so Blythe fired at me with a scream of rage.

At that moment, Fairfax jumped in front of me, grunted in pain and knocked me down.

A loud and terrifying roar shattered the air causing the chamber walls to vibrate. I looked knowing full well what I would see, but did not want to.

Quantiqtl was alive. The huge squid raged and thrashed its long tentacles about smashing against the rocky chamber's walls. The impact shook the room and a loud cracking was heard above us.

I grasped at Fairfax to see if he was alive. He groaned in pain but looked at me with concern. “Winged me, the lucky grubber!” he said to my relief.

Archambault lay on the ground clutching his wounded shoulder, but he did not care. His face was one of reverence as he looked at Quantiqtl.

Blythe had lowered his pistol and stood in a dazed stupor, eyes locked on his now living God.

Quantiqtl roared again and pulled itself closer to us. The motion of something so huge and frightening paralysed me with fear. Man was not meant to gaze on such evil and stay lucid.

The beast flailed wildly and hit the walls again.

This time the ceiling high above cracked even louder. Huge chunks of concrete and stone fell from above.

“Look out!” Fairfax cried and threw himself over top of me. The noise of the crumbling ceiling was deafening. Within a few moments it subsided and Fairfax and I looked.

Thick dust choked the air and a large mound of rubble now took up most of the chamber. Blythe and Archambault had been under the falling rocks and were  buried.

The collapse only agitated the Ancient One even more, and it pulled itself forward, huge eyes locked on us. A tentacle lashed out at me and Fairfax moved in its way.

The large man was cast aside like a toy and landed in a heap on the other side of the chamber.

“Fairfax!” I cried. As I tried to stand up to go to him, the squid moved closer and shrieked, its beaked mouth opening wide showing rows of sharp teeth.

For a moment I was transfixed by the great being, and the sight of the surrounding carnage. The creature pulled itself forward again and raised its vast tentacles preparing to put an end to me.

I did the only thing I could think of in that terrifying moment. I reached into my satchel and touched the knitting bag's clasp.

A cat jumped out of the bag. Then another. Followed by another. And another. Soon cats poured out of the bag like water from a hydrant. Dozens, then hundreds and even thousands. Each flying out with such an amazing speed they blurred past my vision.

Quantiqtl shrieked in confusion and retreated. Cats flew through the air, ran along the ground, and swirled around the giant squid like a feline maelstrom. When the Ancient One thrashed out its tentacles the cats avoided them then resumed their assault.

Stunned, there was nothing I could do but stare. So many magical cats in one place. Before I had never seen more than one at a time, now it appeared to be a near infinite number of them. And they were all here to aid me.

I smiled.

The torrent of cats from the bag suddenly ended, and I looked at its dark opening. It was pitch black within, a void without limits.

Then a paw emerged, and another. With calm purpose a cat pulled itself out of the bag.

This cat was unlike any other. It wasn't one color. It was every color. From its flat snout to the end of its long bushy tail, its fur was a vibrant rainbow of multicolored hues. It turned its head to look at me. Its eyes did not have irises and were completely white which glowed with an inner energy.

I stared in amazement at this incredible creature. No, not creature. This being was far more than that.

“Hello,” I said.

The cat blinked at me and from within its eyes I sensed an old soul, older than anything I'd ever encountered before, or ever would. And I realized at that moment what this cat was.

Quantiqtl's roars now turned to shrieks of fear. It did not know how to deal with this enemy.

The cat then turned from me and sauntered over to the rubble under which Archambault was buried. On the rock strewn floor rested the Talon. With its mouth the cat picked it up, then walked over to me. It sat down, looked at me, and waited.

Its eyes spoke to me, at a place deep within my soul. There was a magic there I could not hope to fathom. But I knew then what it wanted me to do.

I took the Talon from its mouth, and felt its binding shift to me. I pointed it at Quantiqtl.

The great squid must have sensed what was about to happen and roared in defiance one last time.

Guided by the inner whispers of the special cat I called for a magical incantation from a secret place within my soul.

Quantiqtl shrieks ended in an instant. The Ancient One was turned to stone once again.

The swirl of a thousand cats subsided and each flew to the knitting bag to stream back inside. As they zipped past my face I caught the multicolored cat sitting and staring at me with its glowing white eyes. I knew how special this encounter was and it filled my heart with joy.

When the last cat vanished back into its home the multicolored feline stood. It regarded the stoned version of Quantiqtl. Then it made a light sneezing noise.

The huge stone Quantiqtl shattered, and crumbled into a million pieces. The remains looked no different than the rock and concrete which filled the chamber.

The cat then walked over to the knitting bag and without a goodbye look, it was gone.

My heart beat against my chest for I knew what that cat really was: an Ancient One.

From behind me I heard a groan.

“Fairfax!” I cried and hobbled over to him.

He was missing his cap and his hair was tussled. He leaned up and rubbed at his head. I saw his arm was bleeding from a bullet wound.

“Are you okay?” I was worried for him, perhaps in more ways than I wanted to admit.

He blinked at me and said, “I think it knocked some sense into me.” He smiled, and I nearly fainted with relief.

“Can you walk?” I asked.

“I'll walk out of here,” he said and pulled himself up to his feet, favoring his left arm. He looked around. “Took care of it did you?”