The Scourge of Muirwood (18 page)

“
Good boy,” Lia said. She turned and faced the giant mountain, the
Abbey where Colvin and Ellowyn had come earlier and could not leave because of the Queen Dowager. She was in custody in Muirwood. Colvin and Ellowyn were in custody in Dochte.

She had the suspicion that it was not by chance that it had worked out that way.

Squaring her shoulders and striding forward, she approached the outer walls of Dochte Abbey and walked towards the nearest gate. After reaching into the pouch at her waist, she withdrew the orb. Who should she find first? Colvin or Martin?

As she stared up at the sculpted stone walls, the endless rows of shingles and chimneys and trees, she was awed by its presence.
The sight of Muirwood had always made her experience the Medium. It felt like home. Dochte Abbey was ancient and splendid. It dwarfed any structure she had ever seen, including the castles at Comoros. But there was no feeling of light and warmth coming from it. The feeling it exuded was one of utter blackness.

The entire hillside of Dochte Abbey was a maze of walls and an endless parade of stone steps that ascended higher and higher. Every time she passed through another arch, it would curl upwards again, another laborious ascent bringing her higher and higher within the grounds. Her legs burned from the effort and still she had not reached even the lower portion of the outer walls of the Abbey. There were fellow pilgrims everywhere, thronging the grounds and visiting shops and bakeries for food. There was cider in abundance. As Lia finished mounting one particular set of steps, she looked back the way she had come and could see over the outer walls far below and saw the rippling waves of the sea that now smothered the lowlands beyond, trapping her inside. From the vantage point, there were several tall sturdy trees spreading their foliage over the lip of the walls and offering patches of shade. The walls were cut of square stone blocks, forming guardrails and even steps, so meticulously laid that it seemed as though every portion of the grounds had been sculpted. Lia rounded the corner and started up again, trying to keep her breath. The pilgrims around her were marked with tattoos and she shielded her face with her cowl. Hawkers tried to sell pies or cider, but she waved them away.

The Cruciger orb was her guide, helping her maneuver the twists and bends as she ascended the heights to the Abbey proper. What she needed and desired was a secret way into the Abbey, one that would bring her past the eyes of the sentinels – the Dochte Mandar. She did not want to meet any more and hoped the orb would guide her to a safe entrance. It did.

Near the fifth level of the city as she walked down a long corridor full of inns and shops, the orb guided her to a secluded park set off by a wrought-iron gate that was not locked. It was rusty and squeaked as it opened, but she walked down a narrow aisle between two crammed buildings that opened to the park full of mature pine trees and stone benches. The inner walls were thick with rose trees as well that were interspersed and offered a splash of color and wonderful scents. There was no one in the garden, it seemed tucked away and hidden from the main ways she had passed. Lia rested a moment, trying to summon her strength, and then studied the orb again. The pointers directed her to the wall.

As she approached a dark hollow, hidden by the shade, an ominous feeling confronted her. It sent a rushing tingle down to her stomach and caused a swarm of conflicting emotions, which she recognized immediately as those caused by a Leering. She ground her teeth as she pushed forward and the sense of dread heightened so much that her teeth chattered and the urge to run nearly overwhelmed her. She reached out to the Leering with her mind and silenced it, but the feeling persisted, growing worse with each step. In the shade, she saw a symbol carved into the stone wall – two intertwined serpents. It was the symbol she had seen in her visions.

Seeing it caused a sense of dread and fear deep inside her. It was the mark of the hetaera, she realized. It was one of their Leerings. How would she be able to get past it? There was a password, she realized. Just as existed within the tunnels beneath Muirwood, there were Leerings that guarded her Abbey as well. Without the password, she would not be able to enter.

But what was the password?

Lia breathed deeply, staring at the twisting snakes defiantly. She had come too far to be thwarted now. When she had passed the maston test at Muirwood, there was a password she did not know. The Medium had whispered it to her. Confidently, patiently, she waited, pushing down the awful feelings of dread and instead she thought of Muirwood and how calm and peaceful it was. Closing her eyes, she thought of its beautiful grounds, the brilliant tendrils of fern, of flowers planted in sculpted stone boxes, of the laundry and fragrant sprays of purple mint. She fell inside herself, drawing deeper into the memories. There was the Aldermaston, Pasqua, Prestwich. From the core within herself, she sensed the Medium hiding, aware of her – unafraid of the surroundings but seeing if her fear would get the better of her. She would not let it. Gently, she bid it to assist her with the password, to teach her the command that would silence the Leering and open the hidden passageway beyond.

The orb glowed in her hand and she thrust her eyes open as a single word appeared on the surface. The Leering was tamed and the stone moved silently open, allowing her a way inside. Thanking the Medium silently in her mind, Lia ventured inside.

It opened to a narrow walkway, between a chasm of stone walls. One of the walls stretched up so high that she realized she was staring at the base of the Abbey itself. In her mind, she repeated the command. She wanted to find Colvin but in a place where she could meet him privately. If she could not go where he was, then she wanted to go where he would be. She judged that the orb could do this, as it has done it before when she sought him after Almaguer’s men had captured him. It would guide her on the safest course, not just the most direct course. The spindles spun and pointed and she followed the base of the wall for a good distance before it stopped at another section of wall that contained another Leering. She repeated the request with the Medium and again the orb flashed and the Leering obeyed. Once more she stepped beneath a short archway and found herself inside another garden. This one was enormous and sculpted, full of shade and fountains and trimmed hedges. There were stone paths winding in lazy circles and rows of flowers and terraced stone boxes. Some plants hung from iron chains in dishes. The cloying smell of star jasmine filled the air. There were small benches and cushioned seats arrayed for guests, though the park was empty. She was grateful to find a stand of plum trees that still were full of ripe fruit. She ate several and savored their sweetness then stowed some in her rucksack for later. As she looked past the screen of branches and leaves, she saw the citadel-like walls of Dochte Abbey loom above her and noticed windows set into the towers and small balconies. The view must have been breathtaking.

Lia consulted with the orb again and it led her to the outer wall of the Abbey. She crossed the grass and hedges swiftly, anxious not to be caught wandering there and she listened carefully for the sound of any intruders. There was a shallow alcove and a door and she reached for the handle and it opened without resistance. Within was a corridor completely engulfed in stone, as black as a tomb. She swallowed, staring at the orb once again, and it blazed with light as she entered and the door shut behind her.

Lia found herself within a maze of interconnected narrow tunnels deep within the Abbey walls. The passage was not straight, but went up and down, forking this way and that as it followed between the walls of the lower portion of the Abbey. It was designed for stealth and moving unseen. Without the orb she would have been completely lost. With it, she managed to find her way to a section that led to a winding stairwell ascending higher and higher. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she climbed the steps, the path so narrow that she nearly felt the walls rubbing against her arms. Higher she went until the orb directed her to a massive stone block set on hinges. There were metal braces set into it and she saw the place where a loose stone could be pushed from the other side to unlatch it. She put her hand on the wall, her breath nearly bursting.

Was Colvin there?

She waited, stilling her breathing until she was calm again. She tripped the latch and pulled on the stone wall, which slid soundlessly back and opened to the full view of a small, square bedchamber. The only light came from the orb and from a thin curtain covering the sole window. It was not a spacious room. It seemed more fit for a scullion than an earl. There was a small bed, a single leather-bound chest, and a chair. There was no changing screen, no garderobe, only a chamberpot. Lia stared at the room, wondering if the orb would lead her further, but as soon as she entered, the spindles stopped moving.

The walls were made of stone and very cold. There was a small brazier by the window, but it was full of white ash. Was this Colvin’s room? Her heart sank with the realization. The small, confined place was where he was being held prisoner? She walked to the bed and touched the thin blanket covering it, then leaned down and smelled it.

The scent was unmistakable. It smelled like Colvin and it brought tears to her eyes. There was a pillow and dusty velvet hangings from the square frame. It reminded her a little of Pasqua’s bed – narrow enough for only one person and high off the ground.

There was a small cup near the window with sprigs of desiccated purple mint. Lia parted the curtain and saw the windows were dirty, but there was a latch that allowed them to be opened, so she did and stared out at the vista. Iron shutters were recessed but open to the view. She could see the gardens below. The balcony was a decoration – there was no room for a person to stand on it. From her vantage, she could see the ocean stretching before her as well as the cusp of land known as the Spike. The air had a salty smell.

Lia went to the door and tested it, but it was locked. That gave her a measure of comfort that she would be able to hide if anyone came, for the key jangling in the lock would be her warning. She set about studying the room, looking at it with her hunter’s eye. There was no food, for example. It meant Colvin did not eat there. The leather-bound chest opened to her touch and there were several folded garments within. The leather tunic she recognized instantly. There were still blood spots on it from the battle outside Muirwood. She clutched it instinctively and smelled it, squeezing the leather as if it were him. There were linen shirts beneath, and she had memories of washing them. A sturdy pair of boots, a belt with star-stud designs were seen beneath. That was all.

Lia went to the window and pulled down the cup with the shriveled sprigs and smelled them. There was a hint of fragrance clinging to the brittle stems. She imagined Colvin holding the cup and smelling it, trying to remember what it was like to be free. Was it only a place where he slept? Where did he spend his days? What did he do to prevent the oppression from stealing his spirit?

The Cruciger orb had brought her to the place where she would find him. She knew she would have to wait for him to return.

A chilly sea wind came from the open window and she shut it, realizing that her long walk during the day had exhausted her and that she was very tired. The sun was beginning to sink towards the sea and she realized that other than the plums, she had not eaten much during the day. Opening her travel sack, she pulled out the apple she had saved from Muirwood and slowly pulled it free. It was firm and hard in her hand and she held it near her nose, breathing in its deep smell. She set the apple down near the cup.

Lia waited. The sun set and the room became thick with shadows. She waited until the moon cast squares of light on the stone floor. She waited and still he did not come. She was anxious, tired, and worried. Still she waited. There was no sound except her breathing and stony silence. It was cold in the room and she pulled the cloak more tightly around her, wondering what she would say to him. What would he think when he saw her again?

She waited.

There was no end to the waiting. Drowsiness finally won over and she found herself huddled on the floor near the bed, dozing. She was not sure how much time passed, but the moon shifted the squares until even they were gone and nothing but shadows remained. Dozing – waking. Listening – was that a footfall somewhere? A distant laugh? Nothing – nothing but stillness. Deep stillness and smothering darkness. In the dark she began to hear whispers in her mind. The Abbey lulled her to sleep.
Dream of me
, it said to her.
Learn of my ways. We are ancient. You are our sister.

The rattle of a key in a lock jolted her awake. Lia blinked quickly and was through the stone portal in a moment, pushing it shut but leaving it ajar so that she could see and hear into the room.

Torchfire illuminated the doorframe and she winced, shielding her eyes from the fierceness of the flames.

There were voices, a mocking tone, but she could not make out the words. Then the door was shut and locked again, the keys jangling as the door was bolted. Inside the room, framed only by a single taper, stood Colvin, looking exhausted, stern, and dressed in a rich outfit of Dahomeyjan style. He leaned back against the door a moment, sighing deeply, and then shuffled forward towards the bed.

The gleam of the taper was enough to illuminate his face. There was the scar at his eyebrow. The pucker of concentration, of barely controlled anger rumbling under the surface of his expression. He set the candle stick on the ledge by the window, next to the cup and the apple.