Spring 84: oops

Most loved Zann,

Lord Clear strode down through the staircases and corridors of Comet Halls, with me tagging along behind. We were soon far underground. He didn’t speak to me, even to ask me the way. Which was fortunate, because I had never been down in this part of the building before. We were passing strange vaults and chambers, archways that beckoned and oubliettes that lurked. Lord Clear never hesitated, knowing exactly where he wanted to go. Sometimes I had to skip into a run to keep up.

I hadn’t even tried to keep track of where we were or how to get back. We were moving too quickly through too much unfamiliar ground for that. I had counted staircases, though, and knew we were seven storeys below ground. Lord Clear stopped.

The corridor we were in was about to turn to the left. There were no doors near us. The only light was from one of the tiny glowing glass balls set into the wall every twenty feet or so. I almost asked him why we had stopped here.

“Corporal Ybel.”

“Lord.”

“Stand in this corner, an it please you.”

I did so.

He drew his sword, and pressed its sharp point to my forehead. Blood trickled into my eyes.

“That you are a Rosolla Guard I know. That you are a friend of Ellewen I also know. But otherwise, what kind of man are you?”

I was cold with sweat. “I’m a. I’m not a very good kind of a man, lord.”

“No? That’s a shame. But tell me this. Are you an obedient man? Are you loyal to those who command you?”

I didn’t have to hesitate. “I am, lord.”

“Are you sure? Think carefully. A truthful answer is wiser for you here than a pleasing one.”

“Yes, lord. I am both truthful and loyal, lord.”

“Well.” He sheathed his bloody sword. “I shall hold you to that. Follow.”

He continued down the corridor. I followed, pressing a handkerchief to the cut in my forehead.

Our destination wasn’t much farther. It was a little side passage off a much wider corridor. It led, with an occasional jog to the left or right, about twenty feet with a slight downward slope, to a grille. “Look inside,” Lord Clear said.

“I can see nothing, lord, it’s too dark.”

“I suppose that’s true. Just a moment.” I could tell he was reaching into a small satchel at his side. “Here, take this, and unwrap it.” He passed me a small object wrapped in leather.

I slipped off the leather bag around the thing. It was a wooden box, larger than my hand. The hinged top opened easily, and inside was a large brass key, glowing green.

“Now look,” he said.

Holding the key up, I peered through the bars of the grille. There was a large chamber beyond, with its walls all covered by protective symbols that reflected to me in the green light. And there was a large pile of something against the far wall. “There is something there,” I said. “I can’t see what it–wait, it’s moving.”

It was moving. It was some kind of great animal, that had been sleeping, but the touch of the green light on its back had roused it. It turned and growled, low. Stalked toward the grille.

It was a vast pig, covered in gray fur, swelling in size as it approached us until its back threatened the ceiling. It had four heads and dozens of legs. The stench of its breath staggered me. I didn’t need Clear to name it for me; I had seen enough images of it since I had come to the city.

“It’s the Beast of Crideon!” I said. “How–“

“Oh, you know it. I was wondering if you would. Now do what I say.”

“How does it come here? It was bound centuries ago! It–“

“Yes, very good, Corporal, I’m not here for your questions. Attend. My people cannot do this. Only a man of Crideon. I cannot touch that key, nor command the Beast with it. Do you see?”

“Yes! Yes!” I would have said anything. The great boar was smashing at the grille with its tusks, charging at it. The grille held, but I seemed to feel every impact. Lord Clear was undisturbed.

“Hold the key up–not like that, like you’re brandishing it. You must say this with some force, some charisma. None of this trembling. Better. Now, hold the key up, and say the following. ‘In the name of Kutor the Hunter and Valo of Walls…'”

“In the name of Kutor the Hunter and Valo of Walls.”

“…I call forth the Boar of the Cridiy…”

“I call forth the Boar of the Cridiy.”

“…to visit destruction on all men and women who would rebel against their lawful lords the greenfolk. Be free from your bonds!”

I stepped forward and threw the key through the grate. It passed harmlessly through the body of the Beast and tinked against the far wall. The Boar continued to gnash against its magical cell. I thought that the whole building was shaking from it.

“Oops,” I said.

Lord Clear’s hand was on my throat, leading me away. “Corporal. I’m disappointed in you.”

“Lord.”

“You have told me falsehoods–“

“Not really.”

“–and created a great deal of additional work for me. The first part of which is, how to dispose of you.”

Love,

Ybel