The Blue Moon - 23. Chapter 23

Josel

It was still dark and several hours before dawn when Josel Sandkan awoke in his bed. Their room in Castle Cache was completely silent. Josel decided to keep quiet, not wanting to wake Zdain, who must still need a lot of sleep after being sick for so long.

It still felt strange to think of Zdain as a friend. But without a doubt, they were. Josel just couldn't quite place Zdain in the same league as his other friends. Somehow the two of them had a different kind of relationship. It had gone from feud to friendship and was perhaps developing into something special, or so Josel hoped. They had been through so much together. There were things that only Zdain understood in the same way he did.

On the other hand, Zdain didn't seem to let Josel get close to him. Monteilon had a secret he didn't want to share with him. Whether it had to do with his parents or something else, Josel was determined to find out what was gnawing at Zdain. After all, they were friends.

Zdain Monteilon was not the only thing that had changed in Josel's life. It was still hard for him to grasp how much had happened in such a short time. Would he ever see Paidos or his old friends again? It was far from certain. Thoughts of home made him sad.

Fortunately, Dad was back with him. That made it easier to cope with the upheavals he had faced. It had felt so good when Dad had suddenly stood in the courtyard and hugged Josel. At least there was something permanent and safe left in the world.

Otherwise, the days in the castle had been pretty sleepy. The adults had made it clear that Josel and Zdain had no business on the streets of Five Hills. So they had been forced to stay within the castle walls. Though the castle was large, it had been quickly scoured. Especially when the cursedly vigilant Blue Moon prevented them from exploring the most interesting parts of this fortification.

Josel was a restless person who needed things to do to amuse himself. At least they were not forbidden to play sports. He had managed to persuade Zdain to join him in the weightlifting gym where the guards of the castle kept their bodies in shape. Lugas Bahrall had also taken the boys to practice archery in the castle courtyard. It had been fun, although Josel was a little annoyed that Zdain was a far more accurate marksman than he was.

Josel didn't like to lose to Monteilon, but the smile that lit up Zdain's face helped him to bear the defeat. A happy Zdain was much more fun to watch than a sad one, Josel had mused, still amazed at how much he enjoyed the other boy's company.

Suddenly there was a rustling sound coming from Zdain's bed. Josel lay still and listened. Yes, Zdain was awake and getting dressed. Getting dressed? Where was he going in the middle of the night? Hardly to the lavatory, for it was right next to the room, and they used to sneak in there in nothing but their underwear.

Josel suppressed the urge to tell Zdain that he was awake. Maybe he could play a trick on his friend and scare him a little. Watching slyly from under his eyelids, Josel could just make out the other boy's slim figure in the dim light. He was now tying his shoelaces. Zdain was clearly going somewhere!

As Zdain carefully made his way to the door, Josel was already planning his next move. As soon as the door clicked shut, he jumped out of bed and fumbled in the dark for something to wear. He left his shoes on the floor, but put on pants and a shirt before heading outside.

The corridor was dim and Zdain was no longer in view. However, the faint sound of footsteps indicated the direction he was heading.

Josel sprinted after him, grateful that he had set off in his socks. With shoes on, the stamping would have given him away immediately, but the soft woollen socks were quiet and warm for walking on the stone floors of Castle Cache.

He got close enough to see Zdain. The boy walked with hurried steps, glancing furtively as if afraid of being caught off guard. It made Josel even more confused. Where was Zdain going? Certainly not to his favourite spot on the balcony of the staircase. The kitchen was in the other direction, so even hunger hadn't driven him out of bed at night.

They met no other people along the way. It seemed as if the whole castle was asleep. Zdain glanced at a piece of paper under a wall lantern, as if to check the directions. It confused Josel, but he had no choice but to follow. Having come this far, he wouldn't let Zdain out of his sight.

The boy descended the stairs, each step taking him further down. At some point, Josel noticed that they had entered the underground levels. The corridor smelled different, damp and a bit like a root cellar. It was then that Josel realized where they had arrived: the cell block of the castle.

It was easy to figure out who Zdain had come to see in the dungeon. They both knew only one prisoner, if there even happened to be any other prisoners at the time. Whatever Zdain’s intentions were, he wanted to keep them secret from Josel.

Now Josel felt less guilty about shadowing his friend. Plinkinenkak must have been the thing that had darkened Zdain's mood these past few days. Perhaps it was time to find out why the dwarf had upset him so.

Zdain walked forward along the cell corridor, glancing uncertainly to his sides. There were no guards anywhere, which puzzled Josel. Whatever Zdain had planned to say to Plinkinenkak, he could take his time. Indeed, Josel decided not to reveal himself just yet and hid in the shadows before the corridor made a bend.

It wasn't long before he heard Plinkinenkak's shrill voice from around the corner. "Coward, I knew you'd come," she said to Zdain.

* * *
 

Zdain

"Shut up," Zdain snapped, knowing he sounded weak.

He truly was a coward. He hadn't dared to defy the ultimatum he had received on a piece of paper. For all it would have taken was another piece of paper slipped into Josel's pocket and Zdain's secret would be revealed. That would have been the end of their friendship, and Josel would have hated him with all his heart.

But Zdain didn't want to lose Josel. His only friend. That's why he had obeyed the orders in letter and followed the instructions to go to the cell block at night.

In addition to the directions given, the envelope had also contained a key. With it Zdain would soon open the door to Plinkinenkak Tikienkuu's cell. Even though he felt a deep hatred for the dwarf.

"Shut up? Nah, I enjoy chatting with you, pretty boy," Plinkinenkak replied.

Zdain didn't even bother to get angry. Let the dwarf babble on, Zdain would no longer care about her cruel insults. Soon he would be rid of the villainess once and for all. According to the letter, the guards had been distracted from the cell block for the night. They were alone.

Plinkinenkak stroked her white hair and said: "Did you tell Josel boy both your secrets? Of course not, hee-hee! You'd rather be blackmailed by people like me than tell the truth about yourself. You are a coward in that respect too. I don't know what Ade saw in you besides a nice ass."

Zdain clenched his fist so quickly that the key fell to the floor with a clink. The dwarf standing on the other side of the barred door laughed wickedly as Zdain bent down to pick up the key.

"Don't look so angry," Plinkinenkak continued. "What can I do about the fact that you like to please men with your mouth and your butt? Have you already gained popularity here in Castle Cache in that department? Naam keoon xee halkaan, linkai pexebbe!"

It was too much, and Zdain could no longer keep quiet. "Stop it! You don't know anything! What pleasure do you get from insulting me?"

The woman giggled before she said in a more serious voice: "All right. I've had my fun. Now open the door."

Zdain said nothing, but stuck the key in the lock and turned it. How he wished he hadn't. There was an unpleasant squeak as the barred door opened. Soon Plinkinenkak was standing in the corridor in front of him.

There were still bruises on Plinkinenkak's face. Otherwise she seemed to be in good shape, despite having spent several nights in a cold and damp cell.

When she looked at Zdain, her expression hardened. "I promised you I would tell you Ade's whereabouts. And I will. I don't break my promises, unlike you. You swore your love to my brother, but after you were caught, you claimed he forced you into everything you did together. I despise such treachery." Plinkinenkak almost spat her last words at Zdain.

Again, the allegation Zdain had already heard in Princess' cargo hold. "I didn't..." he began, but stopped there.

Father! Yes, of course. Zdain shivered and felt nauseous. So Dareis Monteilon had lied to his face, delivering the final blow to destroy their family relations. What kind of a father could do this to his own son? Zdain felt an inexhaustible rage, and was on the verge of screaming at Plinkinenkak how wrong she was in her claims.

But something held Zdain back. The dwarf, already hostile to him, wouldn't have believed it anyway. So he asked in a choked voice: "Where is Ade?"

The dark woman wrinkled her nose to show how much she despised Zdain. "Ade was in Dimalos the last time I saw him. He has a room in a five-storey building with a tavern downstairs called The Laughing Doorman."

Zdain nodded at the information. It was unlikely that he would get to Dimalos for a long time, tied as he was to the plans of Zal and the Blue Moon. Besides, he didn't want to face his parents in the capital of Andiol, especially after what he had just learned. But he vowed to visit Ade one day. Zdain wanted to explain everything to him, to correct the misunderstanding of his own treachery.

How much evil Father had done with his lies! Actually, Zdain no longer even wanted to acknowledge Dareis Monteilon as his father. The man was dead to him - forever.

Plinkinenkak was about to leave, but turned back to Zdain. "You silly boy, you shouldn't have come here. The prison guards have been lured away just long enough for me to escape. They'll catch you red-handed and you'll soon find yourself before the council charged with treason."

For a moment, Zdain felt as if his heart had missed a beat, and then it immediately jumped into his throat. Of course this had to be a trap. Why had he imagined anything else? Zdain's shoulders slumped helplessly. The dwarf had tricked him into freeing herself and then gracefully sent him to his doom.

It was as if his legs had been paralyzed on the spot. Zdain could no longer force himself to run. He would be captured and brought before the Great Council. Maybe locked up for the rest of his life.

He couldn't think any further because suddenly there was a noise nearby. Guards! They were already here. It was all over.

Zdain turned his head and groaned when he saw a figure step out from around the corner. It wasn't a guard, but a boy with golden hair. The one Zdain would have liked to see at all other moments of his waking hours, but not right now.

Josel stopped in front of Zdain. Now he's gonna hit me. Telling me how much he despises such a flawed faggot. And he never wants to speak to me again, Zdain thought in misery.

But Josel did nothing of the sort. He just looked at Zdain seriously. But Zdain didn't want to meet the blue eyes, to know how deeply Josel hated him.

So he avoided his gaze and said softly: "Why did you have to follow? To hear all this..."

Then Zdain turned frantically to Plinkinenkak, who seemed pleased with the turn of events.

"You filth!" roared Zdain. "You knew the guards were coming, but you kept on dawdling, teasing me. You did not want me to escape. Now both Josel and I are trapped. You fucking midget!"

Despite the insulting tirade, a smile remained on the little woman's face. "Linkai tookee! I'm a shade commando, not a do-gooder. Blame yourself for your foolishness in luring Josel after you."

Zdain's eyes turned black. He probably would have attacked her if Josel hadn't grabbed his hand.

The blond boy's touch was enough for Zdain to let go. Beating Plinkinenkak to death was not an option - or at least Zdain was not capable of it. Besides, there was a bang from far above that made all three of them flinch. Guards!

Zdain had no strength left in him. He no longer cared. At least it was all over now, if it hadn't been a moment ago.

But Josel hadn't given up. "Help us!" he whispered desperately to Plinkinenkak.

"Why should I help? I can barely escape myself."

"We helped you in Ipalos," Josel reminded her.

Zdain hated the situation, but the treacherous dwarf was their only chance. Alone, he and Josel would never survive the clutches of the guards.

The white-haired woman's eyes darted from Josel to Zdain and back again. "All right," Plinkinenkak replied, moving in the opposite direction from where the bang had just come. "Follow me, quickly!" she urged, and was on the move.

In no time, they were at the far end of the cell corridor. In front of them was a thick iron door. Plinkinenkak yanked it, but nothing happened. The woman beckoned the boys to help. They pulled together, but the door didn't move.

"Can you pick the lock?" Josel whispered.

Plinkinenkak shook her head. "No. It's not locked. I think the door is barred from the other side."

The boys breathed heavily in unison. Dead end - they had reached a dead end.

Just then, voices were heard from the other end of the corridor.

"Guards!" Plinkinenkak hissed under her breath. She tossed her head from side to side, clearly trying to think of some last resort to save them. Then something crossed her mind: she pointed to the nearest empty cell, its solid door ajar.

Plinkinenkak, Josel and Zdain hurried into the cell and crouched on the floor. The cell smelled musty and the darkness made it frightening. Zdain knew that hiding wasn't much of a solution, but there was no other option. All they could do was wait and hope for a miracle.

The voices of the guards could be heard closer. Listening carefully, Zdain could make out what they were saying.

"Munks, go see if the dwarf is still alive. I think it's time to feed that rat again."

There was an affirmative grunt and the sound of lazy footsteps. Zdain held his breath.

He didn't have to wait long before the man called Munks roared: "Dwarf! The little shit has escaped! Come and see."

"What the fuck!" the other guard shouted and rushed over to Munks.

"See for yourself," Munks growled.

"I don't understand... how..." his partner said, sounding horrified. "If they find out we were in a brothel and the dwarf escaped in the meantime, we'll be in a jam."

"They won't know. We'll find the prisoner before they do. Let's check the other cells first. Maybe the bastard is hiding."

Zdain closed his eyes. He didn't want to see the moment when the prison guards would open the cell door and the unfortunate hiding place would be revealed. It wouldn't take long, as the footsteps of the guards drew ever closer.

"Empty, empty..." muttered Munks as he opened the cell doors.

He was almost at their hidey-hole when suddenly a dull tolling echoed through the air.

"What?" Munks exclaimed, stopping in his tracks.

"Listen!" his companion grunted, and both men fell silent as they listened to the bells.

"Four... four... four," Munks counted, and Zdain could too hear the bells toll in sets of four.

"It's a fire bell!" the prison guard shouted. "There's a fire in the castle!"

"Damn it! We have to run to the fire-fighting positions. You know your position, don't you?" Munks said.

"Of course I do. The hydrant next to the grey storeroom on the second floor. I guess you just couldn't remember your own position," another guard sneered.

"I don't. What is it?" Munks asked, sounding embarrassed.

"Same as mine. Now hurry up and get there!"

"What about the dwarf?"

"Screw it! We blame the fire for her disappearance."

Both men rushed down the corridor.

Plinkinenkak was amused by the situation. "Well, well. That was convenient," she murmured in her shrill voice. "Now it's easier for me to vanish without a trace. Very convenient indeed. "

Zdain took a deep breath and stood upright.

"Can we go now?" Josel asked.

"Yes, but be careful," Plinkinenkak replied. "I'll go ahead and you follow a little further. We'll separate at the top."

Zdain was about to leave, but the woman hadn't yet finished. "One thing: despite what that cursed Zal Fizol says, I'm not a Fallen and never will be. Know that and go now, perhaps our paths will cross again."

It was impossible to see the dwarf's expression in the darkness. Nevertheless, Zdain didn't think he could discern the truth from the face of a devious shade commando. Fallen or not, he hated her nonetheless.

As the bells continued to toll, they slipped out of the prison section, Plinkinenkak in the lead, Josel and Zdain behind. They made their way to the upper floors without incident, and at some point the boys discovered that Plinkinenkak had vanished into thin air. Zdain was convinced that she could take care of herself and escape from the castle. Maybe he would never have to see the woman again.

They headed for their room. The tolling had stopped, so the fire was probably not that big. It looked like they would be able to get back to bed safely after all. But Zdain was no longer sleepy. He was terrified of what Josel was going to say. Tension prickled his skin and the silence boded ill.

At some point, a familiar-looking servant met them in the corridor. "Boys, did you also leave because of the alarm? Right back to bed! It was false, there is no fire. I'm off to bed too."

They thanked him for the information and slowed their pace. There was a conversation waiting in the room, one that Zdain Monteilon dreaded more than anything that had happened all night.

* * *
 

Renn

The bells had echoed long enough. Renn pulled the wax plugs out of his ears - he didn't need them anymore to protect his hearing. Then he ran down the bell tower. The corridor outside lay silent as he swiftly continued his course away from the tower's vicinity, blending into the shadows of the castle. At some point, someone would begin to wonder who had rung the fire bells. By then, Renn would be long gone.

He had been forced to quickly improvise a fire alarm after seeing young Josel Sandkan follow Zdain Monteilon into the cell block. The whole plan to catch Zdain with the help of the guards and declare him a traitor had to be buried in an instant. Under no circumstances should Josel be captured like Zdain. That had been Morth Lefretz's order.

Renn was actually pleased with the turn of events. He still had a chance to conquer cute Zdain. It was going to be enjoyable. Renn knew he could be charming when necessary. After all, he was handsome, intelligent and a good talker. Zdain wouldn't resist the temptations of the flesh for long.

As long as golden-haired Josel doesn't get in the way. According to Little Girl, Zdain was madly in love with his friend. That could complicate matters.

Unfortunately, Renn had no chance of getting rid of the Sandkan boy, because the leader of the Shadow Cross wanted him in good health for one reason or another. Renn's job was to keep Josel Sandkan out of harm's way and then, when the time was right, deliver the boy to Morth Lefretz.

It wasn't quite time for that yet. Josel had too many guardians around him: his father Andreuz and old Zal with his minions. But inevitably, they too would meet their fate. The time would come when even they would have to bend their knees to the Darkness. As the Black Flame flickers across the Inhabited World, all would fall before it, praying for mercy. And those who resist the surge of the Darkness would be destroyed. May Blahaazsa have mercy that this day may come soon!

* * *