Mount Crith: The Messenger Series, #7

By C Amon Trant

Oddly timed earthquakes, amulets failing at exactly the wrong times, followed by the first warning: Confess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C Amon Trant
• Release date: Dec 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201258092

C Amon Trant

C. Amon Trant is a retired physician, son, brother, husband, and -as his granddaughter so eloquently puts it- "GaGa." 

Book preview

Part 1

I

That dream again.

Falling.

Except the floor stole his breath, bucked left, and smashed his nose.

Blood dripped on the rocking floor.

Through his window, the north tower leaned over and disappeared.

Cracks in the ceiling.

Bricks on his leg.

He thought of that open area just south of the castle and-

Wet grass.

Water fountained from the ground.

The south tower looked like one of those demolition videos. It swayed and telescoped into a dust cloud.

Silence.

Someone called out.

Toby found his feet. People stumbled out of the south entrance; one woman bled from her scalp.

Four Guards staggered from the south entrance, pale and eyes wide.

One saw Toby and said, Messenger.

You and you, Toby pointed inside the castle entrance. Start looking for the wounded and do what you can. If they can’t walk, don’t move them unless the area is unsafe.

He pointed at a third guard. You find Captain Fratus and tell him I’m going to the Council Chambers. John, you’re with me.

Toby’s gaze shot toward the western wing: no apparent damage. Let’s go.

An aftershock froze everyone in place but lasted only seconds.

Toby and John raced through the dark corridors of Dúnbarnaugh Castle. Toby found two more Guards with the same blank expression and gathered them in tow.

Besides a new coating of dust on the floors and plaster cracks, the main corridor looked intact, though it would take a while to restore every painting, display, and decoration.

The huge Council Chamber doors were open, one hung askew, and the Chamber was black.

John, find some torches, Toby said.

Toby thought of the azure diamond on the Prime, and the room took on a cool, icy tint.

Didn’t see any wounded.

Moments later, the chamber was half-lit, just in time for Council Leader Vaiden to stagger through the door.

You hurt? Toby said.

No, but his bloody nightshirt suggested otherwise.

Toby helped his elder to his chair-

What are you doing?

Sorry, sir.

Do you have a report?

The north and south towers collapsed.

No one has lived in the north tower for years. Your room was-

Toby nodded. Some injured near the south entrance.

Fatalities?

Don’t know. I left two Guards there to start first aid.

The large Council Chamber door creaked as Captain Fratus rushed in, followed by four guards.

Are ye hurt? Fratus said to Vaiden.

No. Have you located the rest of the Council?

Four. No major injuries. The other two are at the Keeper’s school for a conference.

Should I go there? Toby said to Fratus, his new boss.

Fratus looked at Vaiden and said, Sir?

Vaiden nodded and had to sit down.

Go, Fratus said. And if needed, the healers are setting up extra beds in the Hall of Heroes.

Aye, sir. John, tell him what we did.

Toby looked ahead to the Keeper’s school, about 15km to his east, and saw fire.

He ‘turned’ his gaze to the right.

Seemed clear.

He picked his landing spot, imagined himself at that spot, at this instant, and-

Nothing for three long seconds-

Shouting.

A bucket brigade tried to save the Head Mistress’s house.

Toby turned to check the red tower at the center of the school grounds.

Still standing.

A school building lost a wall and part of the roof but no fire. The barracks, family housing, and food services all seemed intact.

Have you seen Samantha? he asked the first person who ran by. She pointed into the Head Mistress’s house.

Toby was about to run inside when he saw a dark form appear at the doorway.

His Keeper was carrying something over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Make room, Samantha shouted in her distinctive Beauly brogue.

Samantha carried Head Mistress Tolar over her shoulder, and both women had blackened faces, especially around the nose.

Anyone else inside? he said.

Both women shook their heads.

What can I do? Toby said.

What happened? Tolar said.

Another aftershock answered the question.

The brigade got the fire out. The Mistress’s home was a total loss, for she only had a minor burn. One of the Keeper’s Guard had a broken arm.

Fratus said the healers have set up triage in the Hall of Heroes.

Toby looked at the Guard; her wrist made an ‘S’ shape.

Toby thought of the Hall of Heroes, right below his mother’s tapestry, and-

Nothing.

Is there a problem? Samantha said.

I don’t know. He looked ahead again.

Nothing.

I can’t see anything.

The castle?

I-

The image of his mother’s tapestry popped into view, right where it hung since before his birth. He turned his gaze left and saw at least a dozen cots.

I’m sure the Council, he said to the Head Mistress, will want the Keeper at the castle.

Mistress Tolar nodded. I need her back here as soon as possible.

Understood.

Samantha paled: she enjoyed shifting like a dog enjoys thunder.

Toby found the two council members: Madame Belangia and Mr. Kirklin, the newly elected representative of the annexed farmlands to the south.

Vaiden asked me to bring you to Dúnbarnaugh.

Toby looked at the injured guard, Don’t hold your breath.

Madame Belangia and Kirklin needed to sit, but neither threw up; not bad for their first shift.

The Councilors went on to the Council Chamber while Toby and Samantha hung back to help with patients.

When the volume slowed, Toby and Samantha went to the Council chamber.

Fratus had set up a command center to one side, with Guards running in with reports and out with orders.

Madame Strunk was at her usual seat, talking to two of the other Council members, making notes, and when she looked up, she gave Toby one of her grandmotherly smiles.

Vaiden rapped his gavel. Report.

Guards stopped and looked at Vaiden.

"Tobias, report.

One injured at the Keeper’s school.

And one dead, Samantha said.

The room went silent; all eyes turned to her. Two Troopers ran in to save some students when a beam fell.

Were we attacked? Vaiden said.

II

The Council ordered Toby to the dining hall to check for damage, as if he was a structural engineer.

Good morning, Mr. Messenger, said Insalaco.

Toby smiled at his great-uncle. Morning, Uncle. Did you have much damage?

Have you eaten?

Not yet.

He pointed to the serving line. First things first.

Toby grabbed a tray. Is that fish?

Insalaco beamed. I get a fresh delivery every morning.

But... The best fishery was off the west coast, over 200km away, and delivery by oxcart, when conditions were perfect, could only deliver salted fish. How?

Well, suppose I said Teacher isn’t the only maker of amulets. Did ye know that?

Yes, but that’s not common knowledge.

Did ye know there is a young man, about your age, living in the Western Kingdom, who not only has improved fishing dramatically but can deliver the catch by ─ what did they call it? Cloud amulet?

Toby concentrated on his food.

When I got the first delivery, I couldn’t help but notice something else.

Uh oh.

"That cloud thing looked so familiar."

Toby said nothing, didn’t look at Insalaco, and did his best imitation of I don’t care.

Come with me.

Toby grabbed his tray and followed him into the back office.

Vaiden’s son isn’t dead, is he?

What could Toby say?

How long have you known?

Um... No comment?

Insalaco moved to look Toby straight in the eye. He’s a murderer.

Toby said nothing.

Does Fratus know?

I don’t know.

Madame Strunk?

Don’t know.

But Vaiden knows.

Toby tried not to react.

Interesting. He shook his head. You going to tell Fratus?

I... I don’t... What would you do?

Insalaco stood up. Make a list of the damage.

Toby walked into Teacher’s room, and a combination of smells -like someone mixed 50kg of rotten garbage with liters of maple syrup- assaulted his nose.

Teacher turned his ruined face and leveled his milky gray eyes on Toby.

You need something? Teacher said.

I’m here to assess the damage.

So now you’re an engineer?

No, but thanks for asking. Any damage? Toby’s eye went to the crack at the top of the western wall: two centuries ago, someone made a mistake during amulet production and created a fire that burned sand. Any recent damage?

No, Teacher said, but thanks for asking.

Toby turned to leave, if only for non-toxic air, but...

Something else?

Insalaco knows about Dargan.

The fish?

More the delivery method.

He sighed. Can’t say I’m surprised. It’s almost like King Jon is rubbing Vaiden’s nose in it.

Toby had only met the King once; he was like most royals: the mixture of entitlement, absolute power, and generations of inbreeding. What could go wrong?

Insalaco implied I should report it to Fratus, but Vaiden already knows.

You are a guard now, Teacher said as he opened a scroll.

You don’t think I should be in the Guard.

I’m surprised this didn’t happen long before your time.

So, what’s the problem?

Teacher’s eyes narrowed, a sure sign of a coming eruption, but he must have pushed it down. "I don’t have a problem., Tobias. I have concerns. Are you the Captain of the Guard?"

No.

But that is the plan, right?

Fratus wants me to deal with all the political stuff so he can get back to police work.

You will be in charge. Is that what you want?

I... I think I can do some good there.

Teacher seemed impressed for a millisecond. Not what I asked. Does that mean Fratus works for you?

At some point.

And experienced members of the Guards should respect your judgment?

Well...

You’ve never made an arrest, been on a stakeout, or handled a domestic.

A... A what?

Teacher rolled his gray eyes.

Toby tried not to react to the insult, mainly because Teacher was never intentionally insulting; he just didn’t filter.

How do you know what a domestic is?

Teacher put on his ‘I don’t answer stupid questions’ face.

How long were you a Guard?

A year. The hours are tough, and the pay is scandalous, but I grew tired of being the enemy.

What?

Once you see it, you’ll see it everywhere. You’ll be running to some emergency when everyone else runs away from danger, and they’ll look at you as the threat.

Teacher rarely shared his past, so Toby remained perfectly still.

What is a domestic? Teacher said. "We were patrolling a rough section and heard a woman scream. We ran around a corner and saw a man hit her three more times.

I told him to stop, he didn’t, so we grabbed him and pinned him to the wall.

Teacher raised the sleeve of his left arm, which was one of the least damaged parts of his upper body.

He pointed to a long scar, I was tying up the assailant when the victim tried to take my head off with a shovel.

You were protecting her.

I was the enemy, and there isn’t a guard without a similar story, except you.

How am I supposed to get experience if they keep me in the office doing budgets and reports?

Excellent question. Teacher returned to his amulet making.

Should I file a report about Dargan?

Teacher looked over his glasses, then back to his work.

Another quake threatened Teacher’s glassware, but nothing shattered.

You are going to be late.

With everything going on, he’d forgotten about his training sessions.

He ran up the west wing back stairs to the rooftop garden, used primarily by his Keeper for training. To the south, the garden overlooked the south lawn (used for receptions and council events); and to the north sat a growing collection of tents and buildings unofficially called Coldtown because of the constant gale from the alpine glaciers.

Toby walked around the garden and, other than a new crack in the masonry, the structure looked good.

A westerly wind made an unseasonably warm day for this time of year, though not like August in South Carolina. The breeze was nice, except today is leg day: he’d be dripping sweat in no time, and best of all, he was wearing every stitch of clothing he owned, assuming he couldn’t salvage anything from the wreckage.

He started stretching.

Afternoon, Samantha said in her brogue.

Hello. Before I forget, when do you want me to take you to the Keeper’s school?

Maybe tomorrow.

Just say when.

She didn’t speak for a long moment.

You good? he asked.

She looked at him. I... I will be.

Toby had learned not to press. She will talk when and if she is ready, but probably not with Toby; it wasn’t their relationship.

When was yer last target practice?

Which weapon?

Amulet.

It’s been about a month.

She set up seven gourds. Ye know the drill.

His best was seven shots in three seconds, which left him with a headache for two hours.

He focused on the first gourd to the left, thought of the Prime just inside his tunic, focused on the blue stone, and-

He had to refocus.

Today, Tobias.

And then, by surprise, he fired seven blue beams, each slightly weaker, in less than four seconds.

Nicely done, she said. But don’t hesitate.

He rubbed the back of his throbbing skull. I didn’t.

What?

It’s... It’s probably nothing.

She set up the gourds again. Wide beam.

He scowled.

Problem?

No, ma’am.

I know it hurts, but it’s better than a crossbow bolt to the chest.

Yes, ma’am.

He pictured all seven gourds going down and-

Good, she said.

Eyes burned, like someone