Chapter 12
Mahntra’ Bhu ducked around a corner of the building then stopped, glancing back to make sure he hadn’t been followed. It was dark out and only the glow of the street lamps provided light. He’d kept to the shadows and alleys as much as possible. Whenever he saw anyone walking about, he’d gone way around to avoid them as well. He’d been correct in assuming that his followers relaxed their vigil some at night incorrectly thinking he wouldn’t venture out, but they’d been wrong.
It was an easy matter to slide out of his home under cover of darkness and pass through a side entrance of his grounds he hardly ever used. Making his way through the city without arousing suspicion of the other posted guards, was a different matter. He was not practiced at skulking through the city at night, but so far he had gotten to where he needed to be . . . Near the palace.
Having been the Chief Keeper for so many years, he was familiar with all the entrances to the palace, even the ones no one else knew of. It was to one of those he made his way. He moved as fast as he could. Your age is showing, old man, he thought to himself. At last he came to a section in the palace wall that looked innocent enough, but Mahntra knew the key. Quickly he ran his fingers along the surface as high as he could reach, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure no one was watching.
There! He found the small indentation and pressed hard. A section of the wall pivoted open hanging on delicately balanced hinges that made the heavy section swing easily. Mahntra ducked through the wall into a heavily planted section of the inside gardens surrounding the palace, and swung the wall back into place. It secured itself with an almost inaudible “click” and was smooth once more to all but the most critical inspection.
Now that he was inside the grounds, he needed to make his way to the next entrance, this one leading down.
Glancing through the shadows of the lush growth of the gardens, he watched for guards marching along their routes. There were more than usual and these men were loyal to Tranthra’ Joh, not the Princess. If he were caught, it wouldn’t go well.
Seeing the break in the pattern, he moved as quickly as he could and still keep silent across the broad path to the shadows of the greenery against the palace itself. Then he slunk alongside until he came to the sheltered spot he was looking for.
Again he brushed his hands across the surface of the palace wall, finding the small indentation. Pressing hard, he heard the welcome “click” of the latch being opened, and the passageway opened.
He stepped into the dark hallway, feeling his way to pull the door shut again. He wanted to feel around and find the glow sphere he was sure was held in brackets somewhere just above his head, but he didn’t want to draw any attention to himself. Instead, he’d memorized the layout of the paths he wanted to take through the passages below the palace, and knew he could find his way mostly through feel alone. That didn’t help the suffocating feel of the darkness as it closed around him. He fought back the feeling and moved down the hall, keeping his right hand in contact with the wall of the passage so he’d know as soon as he came to the first intersection.
There. His hand lost touch of the wall. Here was the first turn he needed to take. Carefully he eased back until he found the wall again then moved directly to his side to find the other wall on the left. The left branch is what he needed to take. Finding the wall, he moved forward again, slowly, until he came to the corner, and turned. This time he moved forward with his left hand along the wall. The next turn wouldn’t be for a while, and he could feel from the pressure in his legs he was heading down, deeper below the palace. On track so far . . .
Finally he reached the next intersection and repeated the process, only this time taking the right intersection. And still down he moved, the air taking on a more musty smell the deeper he got. Faintly ahead he started to make out a dull glow. He was coming to his destination.
Slowing his walk, he crept forward. It would be disastrous for someone to find him here, especially if what he suspected were true.
The next turn to the right, the light grew brighter, so he could faintly see the corridor he was stepping through, but still he had a couple of more turns. He hoped he’d chosen his route carefully enough, staying to what he’d supposed would be unused corridors.
He moved ahead, around one corner, the hallway growing brighter again, and at the next corner, he stopped, taking a few deep breathes to calm himself.
Crouching so he wouldn’t be at eye level if someone were just happening to look in his direction, he eased his head around the corner to see what he could.
He was glad he’d been so careful. He was looking at the entrance to the cells below the palace. Guards were posted everywhere. This was extraordinary in and of itself. It’d been years since there were any prisoners held beneath the palace, and then only captured prisoners from the constant strife that had existed between cities. The criminal element of the city was held in separate cells, further out in the city. Why would there be guards posted here if the cells were empty?
Because they’re not empty!
Mahntra had come to see for himself. His fears were confirmed. If the cells were being guarded, that must mean that there were people in the cells that Tranthra’ Joh didn’t want anyone to see. Perhaps I know now where the missing nobles really are.
It could also mean that the Princess and his daughter are not really gone from the city. Could they be here too? Would Tranthra’ Joh really stoop that low in his grasping of power?
Mahntra was afraid of the answer. He knew what it was. I have to be sure, though.
He carefully looked back around the corner, crouching even lower so as not to be noticed. He didn’t draw back, but instead looked carefully around the areas he could see. Yes, the cells are filled. Squinting his eyes, and inwardly cursing his aging sight, he tried to see if there was anyone he could recognize. There . . . There . . . and yes! That’s Mourhas’ fi! All nobles who were supposed to be on a delicate mission for the city. The delicate matter is that they surely would stand in opposition to a takeover by Tranthra’ Joh.
Perhaps now it is time to enlist the aid of others.
As carefully as he came, he made his way out through the tunnels and back to his home. He made it back safe and unobserved. When he climbed into bed since it was deep in the night, but sleep was a long way from coming.