The Mapkeeper and the Rise of the Wardens (15 page)

The map grew warm in her front pocket. Images of the Wardens and the murdered guards flashed across her mind’s eye.

“Sir Wigginsworth, come!” she demanded.

The cat meowed and pranced across the bathroom tile to her side. She slammed the bathroom door shut and leaned against it, adrenaline pumping. Her mind raced—
am I alone in my room? Is one of my guards working for the Wardens? Is the queen safe? Are Mack and Luke safe? Where is Cadmus?

The solitude she had been enjoying a just moment ago now terrified her. But the thought of surrounding herself with people was equally unnerving. The possibility that anyone could be a traitor eroded her confidence in her alleged allies.

Her heart continued to pound, threatening to leap out of her chest. Now more than ever, she was thankful her brothers had accompanied her to Praxis. At least she knew she could trust them. Reason prevailed over her whirlwind of emotions and she considered her options.
I won’t be able to escape my room without the guards tailing me.

Remembering the laundry chute Queen Oleksandra had shown her, Lucy summoned her courage and acted on an impulse plan. Scanning the room again, half-expecting to discover someone watching her, she pushed open the hidden entry to the chute and slid inside. It was dark and steep. Holding her breath and squeezing her eyes shut, she folded her arms over her face to protect herself and let go, sliding into the blackness below.

She shot down the chute like a toboggan on ice, eyes closed and heart racing. Seconds later, she popped out of the chute and skidded to a stop along a dark stone floor, her landing cushioned by a mound of dirty laundry that clung to her as she slid.

Breathless, she wrinkled her nose at the sour smell, but disciplined herself to remain still. All other senses deferred to her hearing as she listened. Her heartbeat drummed against her brain and her eyes took their time adjusting to the darkness. Somewhere in the room, the splat of a drip was steady and soft. Nothing else stirred. She counted to sixty as she lay in stillness, willing her thunderous heartrate to subside and anticipating the noise of an enemy close at hand. None came.

Thump. Thump. Thump.
The thudding of her heart was the only noise vibrating her eardrums.

At last, her vision accommodated the darkness and she slowly pushed herself to her feet atop the pile of dirty laundry. As far as she could tell, she was alone. A small set of steps led up to a barred and bolted wooden door wrought with iron bars. Based on its positioning, she assumed it led to the outside. Against the adjacent wall, three large woven baskets brimmed with balled-up sheets and clothes. Next to them were six smaller baskets stacked with neat, folded linens and garments. Lucy crept across the room to the wall opposite the wooden door, where an open arched entryway spilled indistinct gray light into the space.

Based on the amount of time she’d spent sliding down the chute, she guessed she was either on the main floor or beneath it. Despite an innate fear of the unknown and her surging adrenaline, she hoped she was in the dungeon beneath the castle. Whoever painted the sinister message on her bathroom mirror was no friend, but curiosity still gnawed at her. Lucy wanted to know what secrets the dungeon held. Cadmus had mentioned that his predecessor was imprisoned there, but aside from that, she knew nothing about what may await her should she stumble upon it.

Edging up to the arched entryway, she peered around the corner. A dim, empty service hallway stretched in both directions, a closed wooden door sealing each end. She decided to try the right side first. She crept down the narrow passage and twisted the cold iron knob. It was locked. Tiptoeing to the opposite end, she was rewarded when the second door opened at the slightest touch.

The door let out a loud creak, which reverberated through the torch-lit stone tunnel beyond. Lucy froze. Her heartbeat in her ears was thunderous in contrast with the hollow silence that followed the creak. Certain that someone would appear at any moment, Lucy braced herself. The seconds ticked away and she found herself alone with the flickering torchlight.

She moved forward into the cold tunnel, unable to make out how far it stretched ahead. A carved hollow in the stone wall materialized on her left side, opposite a torch. She gathered her courage and peered into the deep recess. It was a barred cell.

“You must be Lucy Barnes,” a low, scratchy voice rasped from within.

Lucy jumped back in surprise, squinting into the hollow to discern the prisoner. He made it easier for her by scuffling from the back of the cell up to the bars. Gripping one bar in each skeletal hand, the man ogled her with chilling black eyes and a yellow-toothed grin. His black hair was matted and thin, and his face was sharp-edged with bones and bristling with mangy scruff. Lucy cringed at the sight of him.

“I thought I might be meeting you soon,” he continued.

“Who—who are you?” Lucy asked, finding her voice. She glanced left and right. There was no one else in sight.

“The guards are probably off sleeping somewhere,” the gaunt prisoner muttered. “Lazy, worthless dimwits. Ah, but how rude of me.” He grinned, tucking his chin in mock humility. His crazed black eyes seemed to swallow her in their soulless scrutiny. “I am Fagen Swiltering, the rightful leader of the people of Praxis. I’m sure by now you’ve met Cadmus, the imposter who my foolish people appointed as their leader following my wrongful imprisonment.”

“I know him,” Lucy stated, taking a step back to put more distance between her and the dreadful man.

“You see, I was accused of conspiring against Praxis. In reality, I am the only one with the sense to do what’s right for Praxis. I have a vision I call Pure Praxis, where all evil is eradicated and the people can live in harmony with nature.” He raised a claw-like hand. “You’ll notice that the other clans do nothing but cause problems for the humans. I was the first leader of the people to stand up for our clan! I had a plan to make Praxis a beautiful place where we never had to live in fear again…” He trailed off, his eyes unfocused, as if contemplating some far-off vision.

“I see,” Lucy murmured, uneasy. “Well, it was good to meet you Fagen. I must be going now.” She started to turn.

“Wait! There’s more. You would be very, very interested to meet the man imprisoned just over there.” He pointed to the cell next to his, breaking into a wide grin and letting out a maniacal laugh. The throaty cackle echoed off the shadowy stone walls, reverberating down the tunnel and back to her ears, overlapping with previous echoes. The auditory effect was unnerving.

Shuddering, Lucy indulged her curiosity and peered into the cell beside Fagen’s. It too was shrouded shadow. She could make out a larger figure huddled in the back corner. “Hello?”

“Hello,” a deep voice replied. The man stood and lumbered to the front of the cell, stepping into the flickering torchlight. He was tall and thick, with tree trunk thighs and hands the size of bread loaves.

“Hello.” Lucy’s reply was meek and felt insubstantial as soon as it left her lips. Fagen had stopped laughing, but she could still hear his raspy breathing. He was listening. “My name is Lucy Barnes, and I’m the Mapkeeper of Praxis. I was told you might be of interest to me.”

The prisoner’s glossy eyes were deep and sad, and his face was vaguely familiar. Noting his broad, hairy arms, another memory was triggered. She was sure she’d seen this man before.

“Oh, nice to meet you,” he intoned without emotion.

“Um, well, may I ask who you are?” she prompted, wringing her clasped hands. The feeling of utter vulnerability was creeping over her, leaving her nerves on edge.

His look of dejection deepened. He stared at the cold, rocky floor as though contemplating the answer to her question. “Well, I guess you could say I am Aodhan Orman.”

“That’s it! You were the thirty-fourth Mapkeeper! I knew I recognized you from the wall of portraits. But doesn’t a Mapkeeper have to…” She trailed off, unsure of how to phrase her question.

His glazed, chestnut brown eyes met hers. Like an unstitched cloth puppet with some of its stuffing yanked out, the man’s build was smaller and less brawny than it had been in the portrait.

“Die before turning over to a new Mapkeeper?” He finished her question and sighed. “Yes, that is true. That’s why I am only “kind of” Aodhan Orman.”

“I’m confused,” Lucy admitted with a clipped, nervous laugh. She glanced left and right, paranoid that someone might pop out of the shadows and attack her.

“Understandable. I guess you’ll want the whole story, then.” He seemed to possess a peculiar lack of emotion.

“If you don’t mind.” Unlike Fagen, Aodhan did not frighten her. She found herself pitying him.

“I am not the original Aodhan Orman. The original Aodhan Orman is in fact, deceased. He passed away in your world, as I’m sure you have been told. I am a replica of him. His genetic double.”

Lucy’s mouth fell open in surprise. “You’re his clone?” Her brow furrowed and the man nodded. “But how—”

“I don’t know how it happened. My head was bagged and I was dragged straight to this cell. I couldn’t tell you who did this, or how. Or why,” he added, his brown eyes sincere. “All I know is what I’ve overheard.”

“Oh, wow,” Lucy whispered. Fagen let out a high-pitched giggle. “Do you share Aodhan’s memories?” she ventured.

“No,” he replied. “I am a shell of a person,” he stated in his matter-of-fact way. “While I have found that I possess the education and knowledge he had, I do not share his memories or emotions.”

Lucy took a moment to let this revelation sink in. “If Aodhan was cloned, there may be others…” she thought aloud, scratching her head.

“I’ve had the same thought. I can tell you that as far as I know, the crazy man in the cell beside me is the only other prisoner in this dungeon.”

“Who are you calling crazy?” Fagen barked. Lucy ignored him. Her instincts told her that Aodhan’s clone was trustworthy.

“Hey, when did you slugs become so chatty?” a deep voice called from the darkness down the tunnel. Lucy whipped around and sprinted back the way she’d come, away from the voice.

“Ooh, the guards are coming, the guards are coming!” Fagen chanted, dissolving into a hysterical fit of giggles.

Lucy didn’t stop to look back. Heartbeat racing, she sprinted back to the laundry room and up the stone steps, yanked the brace bar off the door and threw her shoulder against it. In an explosion of dust, the door shuddered open and she spilled out into a patch of dirt.

The sun glowed crimson on the evening horizon. Coughing, she picked herself up and shoved the door closed before running across the grassy field toward the front of the castle. The disturbing blood-red message on the mirror wouldn’t stop running through her mind:
“Everything is not as it seems. The dungeon holds the answers you seek.”

The next afternoon, Central Square was abuzz with people and creatures. Shops were adorned with strings of bright flower buds and paper lanterns clung to lamp posts and eaves. The happy humming of conversation and laughter resonated throughout the town.

“The weather cooperated,” Cadmus remarked, smiling up at the cloudless sky.

Lucy stood in the midst of it all, absorbing the cheer of the Blossom Jubilee. A group of fiddlers and an accordionist harmonized a cheerful jingle outside Emil’s Clothier Shop. Women flitted to and fro wielding woven baskets brimming with tulips, offering the long-stemmed flowers to anyone who crossed their paths. Red, yellow, crimson, pink, and white flowers were everywhere.

“They’re beautiful!” Lucy gushed, accepting a handful of stems from a grinning curly-haired woman she recognized as Bernie Schuman.

“I guess the Blossom Jubilee is pretty cool,” Mack admitted.

Arnold Brawne and his son Fritz had set up a stand outside their butchery, where they were cooking delicious-smelling meats over an open grill and selling skewered meat lunch plates. Lucy’s mouth watered at the tantalizing aroma, but they’d already eaten lunch at the castle before coming to the festival. The queen had insisted, saying they couldn’t chance someone trying to poison Lucy. Lucy was incredulous that she was in such imminent danger, but the queen wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Now they wandered Central Square flanked by six armed guards. Lucy wasn’t sure she’d ever get used to their constant presence. She’d decided to wait until after the Blossom Jubilee to tell her brothers and Cadmus about the message on the mirror. It wasn’t a conversation she wanted to have in a public setting.

“Look, they’re playing a game.” Luke pointed to a group of children tossing a ball to one another in a circle. Beyond the children, Lucy saw Odessa and Auriel enter Central Square, their height making them impossible to miss. They were arm in arm, deep in conversation. Mack’s attention was diverted right away. Lucy grinned to herself.

“There’s Auriel and Odessa.” Cadmus pointed. “Let’s go see how Odessa is recovering. I’d also like to hear what she has to say about yesterday.”

“Agreed.” Lucy nodded.

As they made their way across the cobbled courtyard flanked by their entourage of guards, Odessa caught sight of them and redirected her sister to meet them.

“Odessa, how are you?” Cadmus reached out to give her a warm hug.

“Much better, thank you Cadmus.” She had a raw slash across one cheek, and bruising that peeked out from under a scarf tied around her neck. Lucy noticed a smattering of bruises on her forearms as well. “Yesterday’s events must be kept private, if you would be so kind. Just don’t tell anyone who doesn’t need to know. In fact,” she murmured, “let’s go to the edge of Central Square where we can speak with privacy.” The Bellaux sisters led their group to the edge of the courtyard.

“That’s better,” Odessa continued. “I’m sure you are wondering what happened yesterday in the forest.”

“We were pretty concerned,” Lucy replied sincerely.

“Yeah,” Mack chimed in, glancing at Auriel.

“To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what attacked me or how I ended up in Abodox,” Odessa confessed. “I have a vague memory of the kobolds guiding me, but I was so weary… so out of it… one moment I was walking along the edge of the forest, and the next I woke up at the entrance to the cavern.”

Cadmus frowned. “You’re sure you can’t remember anything else? Not a single detail about what attacked you or how? I ask because we were attacked yesterday, too.” Odessa and Auriel’s expressions were grave but unchanged at the news.

“We heard,” Odessa replied. “Zadok and Axel backfilled me after you left. I ended up spending the night in Abodox because by the time I had my wits about me, it was after sunset. And we all know you can’t travel in the woods after dark.”

“Did you get a glimpse of whatever attacked your group?” Auriel asked.

“They were dark hooded figures—I saw at least four of them, but there may have been more. They killed six of our armed guards and their horses. We escaped to the centaurs’ cavern where Zadok offered us refuge.”

“Wow…” Odessa whispered. The sisters appeared ill at ease.

“I thought Bellaux didn’t go near the forest?” Luke asked the question that had been gnawing at Lucy’s mind.

Odessa and Auriel exchanged an uncomfortable look.

“In general, we don’t,” Auriel affirmed.

After an awkward pause, Cadmus asked the obvious question. “So were you doing anything that may have caused you to be targeted, Odessa? I don’t question your motives, I only want us to work together to defeat whatever is lurking in Doldrums Forest. The more information we can compile, the better off we’ll be.”

“I know.” Odessa brushed a silken lock of brown hair back from her fine cheekbone. Her clear blue eyes were troubled. “I was just out for a walk, enjoying the scenery. I know I shouldn’t have gone near the forest, but I did.” She glanced at her sister with guilt. “I’m sorry for it. It won’t happen again.”

“All the Bellaux are on edge,” Auriel continued. “Odessa and I came to town not just for the Jubilee, but to see you and discuss what happened. We want to work together to defeat whatever those—things are. The others have been directed not to leave the Tree of Virtue.”

“Well, I’m glad you came, and it’s good to see you are doing better, Odessa,” Cadmus replied. “You were in bad shape yesterday when we saw you.”

“Hello, all!” Enzo approached the group with a one of his fellow gnomes. Lucy noticed Odessa freeze, a flash of apprehension crossing her eyes before she forced a smooth, relaxed expression.

“Hello, Enzo. Hello, Bartimus.” Cadmus greeted them.

“Ms. Barnes, brothers of the Mapkeeper, Cadmus, Odessa, and Auriel, good day to you all.” Enzo appeared to be in a much friendlier mood than he had at the Council of Clans. “What brings you all together for a sideline discussion?” he quipped, grinning at Odessa.

Lucy and Cadmus’ eyes met, alarmed that Enzo seemed to know that something was wrong with Odessa.

“Oh, just talking about what a great day it turned out to be for the Blossom Jubilee,” Auriel fibbed.

“Oh, is that all?” Enzo pried, clasping his stubby hands behind his back and feigning innocence.

“Yes, that was all.” Cadmus crossed his arms, frowning.

Something wasn’t right between Enzo and Odessa, Lucy decided. She would talk that over with her brothers and Cadmus later. Glancing around, she caught a glimpse of Rhys skulking across the courtyard. He sported his usual ill-tempered grimace. No surprise there.
But why does he keep glancing over his shoulder at us?

“We must be going now,” Odessa muttered, staring at the ground. “It was nice to see you all, as always. Enjoy the Jubilee.” Arms still linked, the beautiful sisters disappeared through an alley beside Alewife Inn. Mack scowled.

“Well isn’t that a shame.” Enzo’s observation reeked of sarcasm.

“What’s your issue with them?” Mack challenged the leader of the gnomes.

Enzo’s eyes flashed as he whipped to face Mack. “None of your business, boy! Just know that many things are not as they appear to be in Praxis. More to the point, many
people
are not who they appear to be,” he corrected himself. “All I know is that the gnomes will fight tooth and nail against whatever dark forces are stirring.

“Everyone knows that beyond the Dour Mountains, the Dark Sea stretches on and on, and a distant shore has never been discovered. And beyond the meadows to the south lies the driest of wastelands, its endpoint unknown. Praxis is the only fertile, habitable land that we know of in our world. We must protect our homeland.” He pounded a thick fist against his palm. “Cadmus, when the clans unite, count us in.” He whipped around, clapped Bartimus on the back, and the two creatures strutted away on their stubby legs.

“Arrogant little guys,” Mack observed, irked.

“That is for sure,” Cadmus agreed. “But at least they’re on our side.”

“That’s the most important thing right now,” Lucy agreed. “If we’re fighting each other, how can we fight the Wardens if they have, in fact, returned?” The thought sent chills down her arms. “Let’s go mingle with the townspeople,” she suggested, hoping to lighten the mood and enjoy herself for a bit.

“Just when I thought the quality of our company had gone downhill,” Mack commented as they caught sight of Bade and his smirking sidekick marching toward them.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t the wonderful new Mapkeeper and her devoted entourage,” Bade leered, pulling his cape close to his body as he joined them. His little companion chuckled. “They don’t look too happy to see us, do they, Hobart?”

“No, they don’t!” The short, freckle-faced man grinned.

“It’s time to stop playing games, Cadmus.” He looked right into Cadmus’ eyes, his thin clumps of gray hair blowing in the light breeze. “You are ill-equipped to lead our clan if you think the best way to defend Praxis is to go around to the other clans begging for assistance. Further, your reliance on this girl’s ability to wield the powers of the map is disturbing. It’s time to grow up and face the facts.” Bade leaned closer, eyes locked on Cadmus. “If you don’t start taking a serious approach, there will be consequences.”

“Are you threatening me, Bade?” Cadmus shot back, not backing down.

“I will do what needs to be done to protect our clan. And if you won’t, so be it.”

Bade whirled around and stormed off, his cape cascading around Hobart and tenting the little man inside. Hobart clawed at the silk, ripping it off his head and shaking his mop of curly red hair, trotting after Bade. The odd pair disappeared into the crowd of people.

Lucy struggled to control her anger. “Those two are infuriating!” She balled her hands into fists.

“I know,” Cadmus agreed. “But don’t let them get to you, Lucy. There’s no point. We have our allies. Whatever Bade and Hobart are planning, we can’t let it interfere with what we need to do.”

“Yeah, and I bet Bade is just trying to scare us because he’s jealous of Cadmus,” Mack agreed.

Lucy tried to allow the music and sunshine to warm her mood, but dark thoughts and uncertainty plagued her mind. They wandered Central Square, attempting to enjoy the afternoon. No one noticed Luke was missing until nearly sundown.