Michael Sullivan: The Crown conspiracy

The archduke crumpled the note in his fist and glared around at the numerous faces in the crowd wondering if whoever wrote it was watching him. His heart began beating faster, and he stood up slowly trying not to draw attention to himself.

The lawyer caught sight of his movement and gave him a curious look. Braga dismissed his concern with a slight wave of his hand. He left the court, forcing himself to walk slowly and calmly. The moment he passed out through the chamber doors, and out of sight of the crowd, he trotted through the castle halls, his cape whipping behind him. In his fist, he held on to the note, crushing it.

It wasn't possible, he thought, it couldn't be! Hearing footfalls approaching rapidly from behind, he stopped and spun, drawing his sword.

"Is there a problem, Braga?" Archibald Ballentyne inquired. He held his hands up defensively before the point of the archduke's blade. Braga silently threw the crumpled note at him and resumed his march toward the dungeon.

"It's those thieves, those damned thieves," the Earl of Chadwick called out as he ran after Braga. "They're demons! Magicians! Evil mages! They are like smoke, appearing and disappearing at will."

Archibald caught up with Braga and they descended the stairs to the detention block where the door guard dodged aside just in time to avoid the archduke. After trying the door and finding it locked, Braga hammered on it. The warden promptly left his desk and brought his keys for the red-faced archduke.

"My lord, I-"

"Open the cell to the prisoners Wylin's men just brought in. Do it now!"

"Yes, my lord." Fumbling with his great ring of keys, the warden moved quickly to the cell hall. Two castle guards stood watch to either side of a door and promptly stepped aside at his approach.

"Have you two been here since the prisoners were brought in?" Braga asked the guards.

"Aye, my lord," the guard on the left replied. "Captain Wylin ordered us to stand guard and to allow absolutely no admittance to anyone except him or you."

"Very good," he said. Then, to the warden, he added, "Open it."

The warden unlocked the door and entered the cell. Inside, Braga saw two men chained to the wall, stripped to their waist with gags in their mouths. They were not the same men he saw the night of the king's murder.

"Remove the gags," Braga ordered the warden. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"M-m-my name's Bendent, your lordship, I'm just a street sweeper from Dock Street-honest-we weren't doing nothing wrong!"

"What were you two doing in the sewers under this castle?"

"Hunting rats, sir," the other one said.

"Rats?"

"Yes, sir, honest, we was. We was told there was a big event here in the castle this morning and the castle kitchen was complaining about rats climbing up from the sewers. 'Cause of the cold, you see, sir. We was told we'd get paid a silver tenet for every rat we done killed and brought out-only…"

"Only what?"

"Only we never seen no rats, your lordship."

"Before we found any, we were knocked out by soldiers and brought here."

"See? What did I tell you?" Archibald told Braga. "They took her already. They stole her right from under your nose just like they took my letters!"

"They couldn't have. There's no way to get up to Arista's tower. It is too high, and it can't be climbed."

"I'm telling you, Braga, these men are skilled. They scaled my Gray Tower well enough, and it is one of the tallest there is."

"Trust me, Archibald. Arista's tower can't be climbed."

"But they did it," Ballentyne insisted. "I didn't think it was possible when they did it to me either, not until I opened the safe and my prize was gone. Now your prize is gone, and what will you do with that crowd out there when you have no princess to burn!"

"It's just not possible," Braga repeated, pushing Ballentyne out of his way. "You two," he said to the guards still standing outside the cell as he walked out, "come with me and bring one of those gags. It's time the princess came down for her court appearance!"

Braga led them through the castle and up six flights of stairs to the residence level. The hallway here was empty. All of the servants were gathered with the others, listening to the proceedings of the trial.

They passed the royal chapel and continued up the hallway to the next door. "Magnus!" Braga shouted, throwing the door open. Inside a dwarf with a braided brown beard and a broad flat nose lay on a bed. He was dressed in a blue leather vest, large black boots, and a bright orange puffed sleeved shirt that made his arms appear huge.

"Is it time?" the dwarf asked. Hopping off the bed, he yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Is there any chance someone could have gotten up in her tower and stolen Arista out of there?" Braga asked urgently.

"None whatsoever," the dwarf said with a tone of total confidence. Braga looked back and forth between Ballentyne and the dwarf, scowling.

"I have to know for certain. Besides, she needs to come down for the burning anyway and I must get back to the trial. Archibald, go get Wylin, my master-at-arms; he's stationed at the castle gate. Tell him to come to the royal residence wing and provide assistance guarding the princess. I need tight security on this girl. Do you understand me, tight!" Braga now turned his attention to the dwarf. "You'll have to fetch her. Take these guards with you, one of them has a gag. Make sure they use it before bringing her down." To the guards the archduke added, "The princess has been corrupted by dark magic; she's a witch and can play tricks with your mind, so don't let her talk to you. Get her and bring her to the court." The guards nodded and the dwarf led them down the hallway in the direction of the tower.

"I'll do as you say, Percy, but I'm sure she is already gone," Archibald insisted. "These bastards are incredible. They're like ghosts, and they have no fear at all. They work right under your nose, steal you blind, and then have the audacity to send you a note telling you what they have done!"

Braga paused in thought. "Yes, why did they do that?" he asked himself. "If they took her, why let me know? And if they didn't, they must have suspected I would immediately check to…" He glanced over his shoulder in the direction the dwarf had gone. "Get Wylin up here, now!" he shouted at the earl and shoved him on his way.

Braga ran up the hallway, following the dwarf and the two guards. They were just entering the north corridor, which led directly to the tower when he caught up to them.

"Stop where you are!"

The dwarf turned around, with a puzzled expression on his face. The guards responded differently. The larger of the two pivoted, drawing his sword, and moved to block the archduke's passage.

– 4 -"Time to move, Royce," Hadrian said, casting off his helm. The standard issue sword of the Melengar guard felt heavy and awkward in his grip.

Royce removed his helm as well, as he moved past the dwarf, running quickly down the hall.

"Stop him, you fool!" Braga ordered the dwarf, but he was too slow to react. The thief was already far down the hall and the small dwarf ran after him. Braga drew his own sword and turned his attention to Hadrian.

"Do you know who I am? I know we met in the dungeon recently when you were hanging in chains, but are you aware of my reputation? I am Archduke Percy Braga, Lord Chancellor of Melengar, and more importantly, the winner of the title of Grand Circuit Tournament Swords Master, for the last five years in a row. Do you have any titles? Any ribbons won? Any awards bestowed? Are there trophies shelved for your handling of a sword? I have bested the best in Avryn, even the famous Pickering and his magic rapier."

"The way I heard it, he didn't have his sword the day you two dueled."