Remembered (34 page)

“I think I should go with him,” Max said, “but Tol and Markum
won’t listen to reason.”

“This has been decided, Max,” Tol said firmly. “You are
needed here in case the house is attacked. If Markum is caught, he will end up
in a cell with his brother, which leaves only you and me to protect the girls.”

“But I was given a tour of the complex,” Max argued. “Few
civilians have ever seen the parts of the Citadom that I’ve seen. Markum has
already admitted that he has only seen the garden and Kellus’s room, which is
at the very beginning of an enormous basement.”

“I can’t risk losing both you
and
Markum,” Tol said.
“I’ll admit your knowledge of the complex could be valuable to Markum, but it’s
too much of a trade-off. If we can convince Danus to help, he can give Markum
details.”

Max threw up his hands, exasperated.

“Max has a point,” Annie said. “No matter how many details
Danus could give Markum, it wouldn’t be the same as someone who has actually
seen the inside of the buildings, who knows exactly where the prisons are and
how to get there.”

“Do you think that Max should go with Markum, then?” Tol
asked.

“No,” she replied. “I think
I
should.”

“No!” Max shouted. “It’s much too dangerous for you. Imagine
if you, of all people, were caught there.”

“You’re wrong, Max,” Annie shot back. “It’s the safest place
for me, and the best place for me to be caught.”

“What are you talking about?” Max asked.

“Think about it; if this house is attacked, I’ll be the
prime target, the living proof of foul play. If Lionel was to have us attacked
here, it will not be to arrest us; it will be to kill us. However, if I’m
caught in the Citadom, not only will the peacemen not kill us, but I will also
be living proof of foul play, but in a way that will prove Lionel’s guilt. It
will make this safer for Markum also. If he’s caught trying to free Kellus, few
will believe his claims of Kellus’s innocence, but if I’m with him, they would
have no choice.”

“She’s right,” Markum said.

“What if you’re discovered in the Citadom by Lionel?” Max
questioned.

“I think the odds are slim, but even so, Lionel will not
engage us in front of witnesses. It would be to his loss if he did. If we were
to encounter Lionel alone, then it would be two against one.”

“She
is
right,” Tol said. “I think she should go with
Markum.”

“I don’t like it,” Max mumbled.

“Listen, Max,” Annie pleaded. “If anything happens to
Kellus, I am as good as dead anyway. It makes more sense for me to take a risk
saving him, than to sit here waiting for my world to end. If Kellus dies, I may
go on, but this world would be no more than a prison, a hell.”

Max smiled sadly, squeezing Annie’s shoulder. “I know what
he means to you.”

It was decided that Markum would accompany Tol to the shop
the following morning. He would spend the day cleaning the windows, sweeping
the sidewalks, and doing any other chore that kept him outside with a clear
view of the Citadom. If he was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Danus or
Borm, he would approach them, tell them the plan, and hope that they would
agree to help.

Annie waited as patiently as possible for Tol and Markum to
return the following evening. She was desperate to know if they were able to
talk to Danus or Borm. The tension throughout the day was almost unbearable,
and the conversations non-existent.

When Tol and Markum finally walked through the door, she
knew immediately that something was terribly wrong by their grave expressions.

Markum looked at no one and busied himself untying his
boots, and then lifting things out of a bag that he carried. It was apparent to
her that he was purposely avoiding questioning eyes.

She couldn’t bear the suspense, but was severely dreading
more bad news.

“How is my son?” Sara demanded. Her patience had finally worn
out.

“Sit down, Sara,” Tol said solemnly.

“What happened?” she asked in a panicked tone, lowering
herself into the nearest chair. “I think we’ve all guessed by now that the news
is not good. Let us have it, Tol.”

Annie sat in the chair next to Sara’s, overcome with fear.

“Kellus is fine…for now,” Tol replied.

“Did you see Danus or Borm?” Max asked.

Tol nodded. “They came to us.”

“And?” Max pressed.

“And they are willing to help us,” Tol answered.

“But this is good news,” Zifini said. “Why do you both look
so troubled?”

Tol shot a worried glance to Markum, who quickly looked down
at the table. “It may be too late,” he said quietly.

The blood drained from Annie’s body. She felt cold all over.

“What do you mean?” Max asked.

Tol swallowed before answering. “Yesterday, when we thought
that Lionel would kill Kellus, I believed we had time,” Tol responded. “I
thought that Lionel would not act too quickly, that he would wait until the
incident with Kellus had died down. I thought he would wait until it was not
forefront on the minds of the men at the Citadom. I was wrong.”

“What do you mean?” Sara cried.

“It seems that Lionel grows more paranoid by the hour,” Tol
answered. “He fears that someone will listen to Kellus and recognize the truth.
He can’t risk keeping him locked up there for too long.”

“How is Kellus?” Cora queried.

“From what we have heard, Kellus knows this better than
anyone. He knows that his hours are numbered,” Tol answered in an anguished
voice.

Annie gripped Cora’s hand.

Heaviness seemed to settle over the room, a thick fog.

“How do you know this?” Max asked. “Who has spoken with
him?”

“Danus and Borm came to the shop to see me,” Tol said. “They
were confused by things that are taking place at the Citadom, and concerned for
Kellus’s state of mind. But more than that, Lionel is acting in a way that they
believe to be unethical.”

“What do you mean?” Cora questioned.

“Early this morning, Danus went to the prisons to visit
Kellus. A peaceman by the name of Merriclus was assigned to guard Kellus
through the night—he is one of the ten senior peacemen. Danus instantly thought
this odd; senior peacemen are rarely tasked with such tedious chores. When he
told Merriclus that he wanted to see Kellus, he was told that Kellus is
forbidden visitors.”

“But that can’t be,” Sara gasped. “Even murderers are
allowed—”

“I know, Sara,” Tol butted in. “It has always been the
policy at the Citadom that a man is innocent until proven guilty, and that even
the guilty are allowed to visit with family and friends. Kellus has been
stripped of all rights.”

Sara put her hand over her mouth, scrunching her eyes in
agony.

It took every ounce of strength Annie had not to scream.
Cora squeezed her sister’s hand tighter.

“So, Danus didn’t speak with Kellus?” Max asked.”

“He did, actually,” Tol answered. “He said that Merriclus
has always been a kind and fair man, and that the peaceman went so far as to
give reasons for the decision to keep Kellus from visitors.”

“What are they?” Zifini asked.

“Danus was told that Lionel called a meeting with the
remaining ten senior peaceman. Apparently, Lionel expressed to being in a state
of confusion as to how he should handle Kellus. He said that he wished for the
return of Nordorum as he was never instructed how to deal with such an unusual
crime.”

Markum began tapping the table with his fist, continuing to
look down as though he wanted to punch someone desperately.

“In all the centuries that the Citadom has been, there has
never been a murder inside the complex. Such an atrocity was thought impossible
until this week. Obviously, only a deranged being, a very dangerous person,
could commit such a heinous act.”

“That fucking bastard!” Max yelled out.

“Let me finish, Max,” Tol requested. “Lionel’s first request
to the senior peacemen was that they back him in a petition to Nordorum upon
his return. Lionel said that he would propose to Nordorum that Kellus also be
tried for the murder of Annella Derlyn.”

“What?” Cora screamed.

“Please, let me finish,” Tol begged again. “Seemingly, the
senior peacemen were opposed to this at first, knowing how Kellus suffered over
the loss of his wife, but Lionel gave a compelling argument.
‘The man
murdered in cold blood’
, Lionel declared.
‘he murdered an innocent young
man, an apprentice who upheld the rules of the Citadom beyond that of the other
apprentices. Loc’s only offense was that he was considerate enough to check on
Kellus after Kellus seemed distraught at dinner. Would a scoundrel like that
really be adverse to taking an innocent young woman as a lover, then disposing
of her after he’d had his fill of her? Didn’t Kellus admit that he was the last
person to see Annella alive?’
In the end, some of the seniors were
convinced that Kellus had, indeed, murdered his wife.”

“But why would they agree to deny Kellus his rights?” Max
asked.

“Danus was told that Lionel asked the peacemen to back him
on that decision, as well. Again, at first they disagreed; it just wasn’t the
way of the Citadom. But again, Lionel gave a good argument.
‘Had not Kellus
fooled every one of them, had not every man in the Citadom looked upon Kellus
with agonizing pity over the loss of his bride? It is apparent that Kellus is
not only a murderous fiend, but an accomplished liar, as well. Who knows what
tales he would spin to the other men?’
  Lionel claimed that he, as well as
the other senior peacemen, had a duty to protect every man in the complex until
Nordorum’s return. He begged their pardon if this was a misapplication of his
position. He said he would gladly make amends if Nordorum disagrees with him,
but until the Master’s return, he sees no other way. In the end, they all
agreed.”

“But you said that Danus
did
visit with Kellus,” Cora
said.

“Yes, it seems that he was able to convince Merriclus to
give him five minutes alone with Kellus. He was sworn to secrecy and promised
not to believe anything Kellus told him.”

“What happened?” Max asked. “What did Kellus say?”

“When Merriclus climbed the stairs, Danus sat on the floor
on the other side of the gate. He said Kellus looked utterly defeated, but not
as tortured as when Annie disappeared. This time he looked almost calmer,
resigned. According to Danus, Kellus looked him in the eye and said simply: ‘
I
will not live out the weekend, Danus. Any hour now, my executioner will come
for me’
. Danus argued that Kellus was talking madness, but Kellus insisted,
even accused Danus of knowing the truth deep down inside. Danus also informed
Kellus that there was talk among the senior peacemen that he had murdered
Annie, that he would be tried for her murder. He said that Kellus simply smiled
and said:
‘My Annie’s alive’
. At this point, Danus tried to reason with
Kellus. He tried to remind him that Annie was gone, but Kellus explained that
he’d spent the weekend in the arms of an angel. He told Danus that Annie was
with his family and that his father could confirm this. Danus tried to tell
Kellus that if this was the truth, then Nordorum would put it right. That’s
when Kellus told Danus that he believes Nordorum is already dead.”

Tol looked directly at Annie. He cleared his throat. “Kellus
gave Danus a message to pass on to you,” he said.

“What is it?” Annie asked, her heart aching.

“He told Danus to tell you that from the first time he saw
you, at your parent’s funeral, you have been the only thing he ever wanted, the
most beautiful thing he’s ever seen. He said that he had lived only to love
you, even if it was only for a short time.”

The tears flowed freely down Annie’s face and neck. She no
longer bothered trying to mop the deluge with her hands. Instead, she placed
her fingers on her throbbing temples and tried to sniff through the blockage in
her nose.

“My poor son,” Sara cried. She stood up and threw herself
into Tol’s arms, weeping.

After a long moment, Tol managed to calm Sara and get her
back into a chair. He cleared his throat again. “When Danus and Borm came to
see us, they said they feared Kellus had gone insane. But when I confirmed
Kellus’s story, it wasn’t hard to gain their cooperation. They are more than
willing to help us.”

Annie stood up to leave the table. She would lie down and
pray for sleep, pray that she never woke again.

“Where are you going, Annie?” Tol asked. “It’s not finished
yet. He’s still alive.”

Annie shrugged her shoulders. She couldn’t afford to hope
anymore.

“Annie,” Tol begged. “Please…he needs you. Don’t give up
yet.”

“I can’t…” Annie began to say something, but couldn’t find
the will to finish. She leaned up against the door frame. She wrapped her arms
tightly around her chest and felt a black chasm consume her.

“Grieve him any way you will, but wait until he’s gone,” Tol
pleaded. “Until then, we must find the courage to fight for him. Find the
courage, Annie, please.”

She shook her head, but Tol’s words had an effect. She had
to fight to find the strength to hope. She couldn’t give up on saving him yet.

“When your parents died, Kellus thought you were the bravest
person he’d ever seen. You left a mark on him. Was he wrong? I know this is
hard for you, but think how hard it is for me. I convinced him to go back to
the Citadom against his better judgment. I was wrong, and this is on my head. I
need your help, please.”

Annie took a deep breath and desperately tried to swim her
way out of the abyss. Cora came to her and gently coaxed her back to the table.
“What can we do?” she asked, reluctantly sitting down.

Markum spoke for the first time since he arrived home. He
wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands and looked directly at Annie. “We
got a lucky break. It seems that Borm is on duty tomorrow night, meaning it is
his responsibility to answer the main door should anyone call. We are to arrive
at the Citadom at one o’clock in the morning, exactly. I was told to knock
twice, then once, then twice again. Borm will let us in. He will be able to
claim that we over-powered him if it goes amiss.