The Doormaster's Apprentice

  * * * * *

  Thoughts of the Doormaster troubled Liam for the rest of the trip. Even pleasant weather did little to cheer his mood. Finally they arrived and Mica pulled up to the Doormaster's house. Before the cart had stopped, Liam hopped off.

  Hodekin popped out the door and danced down the steps clicking his heels. “'Bout time you showed yourselves.”

  “We'll drop off the cart and meet you back here,” Mica said. “Hold the fort hero.” He slapped the reins and drove off.

  “No problems?” Liam asked.

  “Surprise, surprise, I managed all by myself.”

  “That's not what I meant,” Liam said.

  “I know.” Hodekin led the way to the kitchen. “Fill me in on the journey.”

  It didn't take long for Liam to tell him about the trip. It was pretty uneventful. “How are things with your cousins in the potion room? Are they helping with the watch?”

  “They didn't find goblins, but they did find something.”

  “What do you mean?” Liam wondered what new danger they were facing.

  “Follow me.” The little kobold led him down the stairs to the cavernous spell room.

  Hodekin closed the door and stoked the fire in the pit. Light in the sconces flared up.

  Liam was relieved to see the room was empty. “So what did they find?” he asked.

  With a satisfied grin Hodekin skipped to the podium. Reaching up he tugged on the griffin head. To Liam's surprise, it came off in Hodekin's hands. A notched rod extended from the griffin's neck.

  “We've discovered the griffin key,” said Hodekin.

  “A key? To what?” Liam asked.

  Hodekin crossed to the fire pit. With a smug glance at Liam he inserted the rod into the open mouth of one of the gargoyles. It made a soft snicking sound as he turned the head.

  With a muffled grating noise the fire pit slid sideways revealing a dark opening. Liam took a hesitant step forward and peered down shadowed stairs.

  “I didn't know this was here hidden under the fire pit. Have you been down?”

  Hodekin shrugged. “Of course.” He handed him a fire globe. “Take a look. Nothing down there but an old door and some windows.”

  Liam took the fire globe and made his way down the stairs. He found himself in a long narrow chamber. As if waiting to be spelled, a door stood in the center of the room with a gaping hole where the window should have been.

  He raised the fire globe and light spread across the room. Stone shelves were stacked with wood framed windows, each the right shape and size to be mounted in the door.

  Liam moved down the rows of identical windows until he reached the last one. Looking carefully he noticed writing carved into the wood. Liam removed the window from the shelf. Painted in tall even script were the words PEAT TOWN CHAPEL. Turning it over he read HIGHLAND ABBEY.

  He almost dropped the window. This window was linked to his doors. Looking at the shelves of windows he recognized many of the names. He realized that each of them must be linked to a set of doors that the Doormaster had spelled. He replaced his window on the shelf; careful to leave it the same way he found it. Anyone who knew about this room could use any of the Doormaster's doors. By placing one of them in the empty door, it would become linked to the other two. Just like a master key. He climbed the stairs deep in thought and went out back.

  He was still sitting on the back porch when Mica and Willow came walking up the path. They had their heads together and were laughing at some private joke. Liam smiled. They made a nice pair.

  Mica looked up. “I thought you would be reporting to the Doormaster.”

  “Not yet. He is resting in his room. I will try later.”

  Hodekin popped out of the back door, boot heels clicking on the wooden porch. “Did you tell them about the room under the spell room yet?”

  Liam blanched. “Hodekin! This is not the place to discuss secrets.”

  Willow raised her eyebrows looking at Liam. He knew he would have to tell them about the room. “It's a nice evening. Let's take a walk down by the river,” he said.

  Liam's mind raced as they silently made their way down to a shaded place by the water. They sat on the grass and Liam felt the tension as they waited for him to say something.

  Liam looked at his friends. “What I'm going to tell you must stay between us. It would be dangerous for others to know about this.”

  Hodekin stopped throwing rocks into the river. “What's so special about an old door and some windows?”

  “That's just it. It's not just an old door. It's a key to every door the master has ever linked.” He waited a minute for the idea to sink in.

  Willow spoke first. “What exactly do you mean by a key?”

  “Well, if I'm right it would mean that this door is linked to all the other doors. A master door.”

  Willow narrowed her eyes. “How is it possible to add a link to the doors? Do not all the items, whether they be rings or doors, have to be linked at the same time?”

  “They were...in a way.” He looked around to make sure they were still alone, then continued in a lower voice. “When the master links a set of doors he always tests the potion first on a spare window. I never thought about it at the time, but now I believe he links the spare window to the doors. I think that the store room holds a window for every door the master has made. Place a window in the master door and it is linked to the other two doors.”

  Willow's eyes grew wide. “The one who controls that door could walk into a great many places.”

  “And cause a great amount of trouble while he was at it,” chimed in Mica.

  Hodekin’s face turned red. Standing straight with shoulders back he bristled with rage. “The master would do no such thing! Continue to talk that way at your own peril!”

  Mica recoiled with surprise. Before he could recover Liam stepped in. “Easy everyone, no one is accused of anything.”

  “However, if Liam is right the possibility to use this for evil is great,” Willow noted.

  Liam stood up. “I refuse to believe ill of my master without solid proof.”

  Gracefully Willow rose and placed a hand on Liam's shoulder. “Your loyalty is commendable and I trust your instincts, but my duty to my king requires me to follow any path that may lead to discover how our enemies are acquiring magical arms.”

  Mica spoke up. “We are already watching him for his protection. If he is false his mischief will out.”

  Hodekin sputtered, “You can watch all you want but my master is up to no harm.” He shook his finger at them and pointed at each one. “And I will be watching you.” He jerked his hat down tight and stalked back toward the house.