The Long Road to Ruin Ch. 28

It was almost all too easy.

But first she had to make it to the state room unnoticed. It all depended on that. She figured if it was being used that there would be guards and they would not be wet-behind-the-ears novices. They'd be some of the most elite the Dhorn had. After all, the King's Guards that used to occupy such a position for her father were the best of the best. She bowed her head momentarily and whispered a few soft words, honoring the brave souls that had fought so valiantly even when no hope of repelling the Dhorn remained. One day, she vowed, I shall avenge thee.

Leaving the cellar level behind, she sprinted up one of the many back staircases the castle servants used to make their way from floor to floor and headed towards the north tower. She hugged the stone wall, staying in the shadows as she passed by a few patrolling guards decked out in their red and black plate mail. So far, so good. None of them had seemed to notice her. She breathed a sigh of relief. The torchlight here seemed dimmed and muted. And it worked to her advantage. It allowed her to hide in plain sight. She smiled as she crept past two soldiers who'd stopped to talk in one lonely section of hallway. She paid no heed to their conversation, moving as swiftly and silently as she could. She needed to reach one final back staircase and as she rounded a corner, she came face to face with another soldier.

Shiloh stifled a squeak of surprise and threw herself back against a wall, hissing low under her breath as one of her elbows impacted the stone wall. The soldier stopped for a moment and removed his helm, feeling along the wall and the space surrounding him. She cautiously took a few steps back, staying out of reach of his seeking hands. She watched as he frowned deeply and rubbed his eyes. He replaced his helm and went back to his patrol route. Shiloh breathed a sigh of relief and tumbled swiftly down the corridor with a resolve to be more diligent when she came to the next corner. Then she ducked through a guarded doorway and made her way to the stairway she sought.

She cursed silently when she came to it. Damn it all!! Damn those Dhorn! The stairway had been blocked by stacks of crates and boards covering the opening. It would take time to move the crates plus she was sure there was no way to do it silently. Shiloh crouched along the wall, staying within the dark edges, and examined the dilemma before her, one she didn't have a solution for. Of all the staircases, why was this one blocked? She certainly didn't understand that.

Frustrated, she punched a crate and tumbled out of the way as the stacks swayed from the impact. She'd have to pick an alternate route. Damn and double damn!!!! Standing up, she took off in the opposite direction from the way she came and backtracked. This was bound to take precious time she couldn't afford to spend. She knew every minute she spent within the corridors hastened her chances to be caught. She had to make it to that vault and get the hell out of here! She found a lonely stairwell and headed down a floor, skirting what had once been the grand ballroom. Her cheeks burned with indignation as she peaked inside it, noting it was full of siege equipment and training dummies. Even the magnificent crystal chandeliers were no longer hanging from the ceiling. Those had been replaced by simple torch brackets on the walls and braziers lighting the corners. A hiss slipped forth as she fondly recalled the good times she'd had within this room. Royal festivities during the Yule season had always been momentous events. The grand balls, the dinners of state, and the chance to mingle freely with other families of noble birth. She remembered the courtier who'd taught her to dance like a lady. He was almost too handsome to be a man. And she smiled as her thoughts skimmed over a few girls that had been her own age that she would occasionally see. And though those girls were from the better half, she chuckled over how easy it had been to preen before them as she showed off a new gown, a luxurious fur cloak or a pretty new bauble she'd been gifted with for simply being the Royal Princess.

Sneaking past the ballroom, she dashed to a stairwell that lead up to the throne room. It was dark and cold. Shiloh shivered as she entered it, feeling a chill breeze waft over her exposed skin. It had to be the restless spirits of those who had been murdered here, for this part of the castle had never been known for draftiness. She closed and barred the double doors, striking a tindertwig against the stone wall and lighting a torch she pulled from her pack. A harsh gasp slipped from her lips as the light touched all but the darkest corners. Large patches of dried blood covered the tiled floor. Tears welled in her eyes, threatening to spill. Heart-wrenching sobs wracked her body as she dropped to her knees. So much death surrounded her, permeating her very being. This had to be the place where her parents died along with many of the King's Guards, her father's courtiers and her mother's ladies in waiting.

Shiloh forced herself to get up and move on, wiping away the tears as she walked every inch of the room. She let out a horrified squeak as she came upon a pile of decaying headless bodies in a far corner. She backed away quickly when she realized the beady red eyes that glared out at her from within the pile were rats feasting upon the remains. She chucked her torch at the pungent mound of decomposing corpses and watched as the tattered remnants of their clothing ignited. Then she scrambled away, retreating to the center of the room where her father's throne lay toppled on its side, and rounded it as she dashed to the large tapestry of her family's royal crest. Tearing back the tapestry, she slipped between it and the wall, locating the secret door. It took mere seconds to trigger the pressure plate. As the panel opened before her, she glanced over her shoulder at the burning pile, watching as the rats scurried away from the flame. Let the Dhorn deal with the fire, she scoffed as she stepped into the passageway and shut the panel behind her, making sure to bar it from the inside.

The very narrow corridor would take her to the state room. She squeezed her way through until she reached her destination. At this panel she stopped to listen, hearing muffled voices. Her heart began to pound harder. This mission was getting even more dangerous. She sucked in a deep breath and slid the panel open. She ventured to peak past the tapestry that hid the door, carefully scoping out the scene before her.

Around a long wooden table were at least six Dhorn, one of which she recognized. It was the blond haired 'lonely' man Mando had set her up on a date with. Arto Benthur, she whispered to herself, whom she'd led to break his marital vows. She knew she had seen another one of the men around the table. It was the gray haired Captain who'd broke down her door and invaded her room. He'd given the order to kill Shira. She now noticed how heavily decorated his armor was and figured he'd risen in rank since the coup here within the castle. Shiloh vowed to remember his face. She vowed to have her vengeance against him and Benthur and every single Dhorn who occupied her city. Sooner or later, the streets would run red with their blood. Her family would be avenged. She wouldn't give up until she reclaimed the throne in her father's name.

Squinting her eyes, she focused on the map that lay upon the trestle table. It was of the city and the Great River that eventually led into Dhorn. She noticed figurines of ships and what looked to be a small village near the border. Standing perfectly still at the edge of the red woven tapis, she listened to their conversation carefully. They seemed to be discussing the upcoming shipment of from the Royal Treasury to the Emperor and how to avoid being attacked by pirates who'd pillaged and sunk the last two vessels. Something told her Drago would know the details on that and this information would be worth its weight in gold to him if he knew their plans.

"What if we send a decoy ship to lure out the pirates and once they're dealt with, send the real ship in its wake?" A man with black hair, cruel eyes, a strong jaw, and a receding hairline spoke up. "We send a frigate disguised as a merchant vessel, pretending to be slightly crippled, and have a battalion of our best soldiers waiting in the hold. When the pirates attack, thinking they have an easy target, we turn the tables on them and take their captain into custody. We make him watch us kill every man on the boat. If he doesn't talk, we bring in the Inquisitor. He'll get answers. We find out who's behind the stolen goods and where to find them."

"This could very well be what we need to take down the crime organization in this wretched city. Find out who they are, where they're located, their numbers, assets, the whole kit and caboodle." Another dark haired man spoke up. "We know they are aware that we're onto them, otherwise all our investigators wouldn't be ending up dead."

"There is one they haven't silenced yet. One who hasn't made a move yet." Arto spoke up, "Although, I'm not so sure we can trust this fellow. The information he's given us has led to wild goose chases and empty warehouses. I may have to tighten the noose on him soon."

"Next time you plan to meet with the mole, take him into custody and show him why it's hazardous to play these games with us. He'll start talking once we start chopping off his fingers and toes." Shiloh caught sight of the man's eyes. She stifled a gasp. They were colder than Vico's had ever been.

"But do we have a solid plan for dealing with the pirates? I need to know so I can outfit the frigate appropriately."

Arto rubbed his chin before speaking. "It's a solid enough plan. I recommend we double the cannons on the gun ship. We have to present a solid front. I'll lend my special units for use on this endeavor."

"Very good, Commander. I was going to ask permission to include them on this. I suspect they are getting restless only dealing with recalcitrant peasants and petty thieves."

Arto chuckled, "Very much so. It'll be the first real assignment they've had since the coup on the castle. They're itching for blood. They'll be more than ready."

"And when you do propose sending out the decoy ship?"

"Give me three days and the frigate will be ready to deploy," the man with the cruel eyes spoke. "Will you be joining your men, Commander Benthur?"

"Of course, they'll need a strong lead to follow. I'll greatly enjoy ridding this world of those foul pirates." Arto grinned, "The sooner we get this wretched place under absolute control, the sooner I can go home."

Once their topic of conversation switched to other matters of military action, she slipped from one tapestry to the next until she reached the final one which concealed the secret door to the spiral stair she sought. Little did she know that one of the men standing at the far end of the table noticed the ruffling of the tapestries and when she activated the pressure plate, it let out a squeak. She shoved the panel open, causing cold air to hit the cloth and balloon outwards. Loud shouts rang out from the men who'd noticed, halting the conversation for the moment. She slipped inside the stairwell and barred the portal from the inside and engaged the clever sealing solution her father had put in place for such emergencies. Her heart pounded in her ears as she could hear the sounds of their heavy boots approaching the wall.

"What in the name of the hells was that?" A stern voice questioned as he touched the concealing cloth.

"Rat, perhaps. I thought I saw something behind those wretched tributes to the dearly lamented King," another voice added.

"Check them all. We could have an intruder." Shiloh recognized that deep voice. It belonged to Arto Benthur. The sound of fabric being ripped down echoed through the stairwell. She knew they were close. Yet she wasted no time sticking around. She nimbly dashed down the stairs, going down what she knew was at least three full floors until she reached the deceptively marked section of wall that concealed the back door into the vault in question. It took her a few long seconds to trigger the hidden latch, ever vigilant as she listened for noises coming down.

It was still silent, though. The only sound being her breath and the pounding of her heart that seemed to echo in her ears. Once inside, she scrambled over a mound of golden coins carelessly tossed to the back and made her way to the center of the vault. Here she pulled out the portable hole Dalino had given her and began emptying crate upon crate of ceremonial weapons into it. Next came chests of the crown jewels, including the ruby and diamond encrusted tiara her mother had only worn at certain state events. She knew this piece's history to date back to the founding of Betancuria well over three hundred years before. Next she scooped the mounds of golden coins into the extra-dimensional space followed by statues, scepters and robes encrusted with even more priceless gems.

Shiloh didn't stop until the entire vault was empty, leaving nary a single coin, jewel or priceless artifact of the Aurelius legacy. She smiled to herself as she folded the portable hole back into the tiny square of cloth and hid it within the bodice of her new armor. Careful not to touch the crystalline lining of the vault, she triggered the pressure plate that reopened the secret entrance and headed back into the stairwell. Then she securely closed it behind her and opened another hidden door in the wall directly across from the one she'd came out of. This she knew would take her back to the cellars where she could gain access to the sewers.

Swiftly she moved, sprinting down the rough hewn tunnel that she knew had to be at least a 1000 feet long until she came to a dead end. After knocking layers and layers of spiderwebs that had accumulated, she stood before an old gate which looked rusty with age. Surely it hadn't been opened since she was a child. She fondly recalled racing through these tunnels when she was no more than seven or eight years of age, a precocious girl who liked to play hide and seek with her nanny. It took her several minutes to force the gate open. It hadn't been locked, but swollen shut from years of neglect and the dank dampness that lingered here. She knew exactly where she was and exactly where she needed to go to get back to the sewer entrance she used to get in.

These cellars were largely unpatrolled and she moved freely through them, escaping the castle the same way Vico had smuggled her out that night so many months before. She breathed a sigh of relief and did a happy dance as she finally reached the hideout. Bursting in, she dashed over to Rhys, bounding into his arms, a shriek of utter joy that she had completed her task on her lips. She kissed him fiercely, wrapping her long legs around his waist. He embraced her lovingly, holding her to him. "I did it!" She exclaimed as he let her down, setting her gently to her feet.

"Then I'm happy for you. You risked everything, though. I hope you are aware of that, my sweet," he smiled as he fondly cupped her face in his hands and planted a kiss on the top of her head. "Who would've thought a royal brat would become a master thief?"

She slugged him playfully in the stomach. "Brat, huh?"

His smile widened, "Sometimes." He winked at her.

Stepping away from Rhys, she walked over to Dalino and removed the black square from her bodice and threw it on the floor. Then she climbed down into the space it expanded into and removed the statue in question, handing it over to him. He gave her an incredulous stare, stammering unintelligently as he held it in his hands.

"You're welcome, Dalino." Shiloh beamed a bright smile at the merchant, who finally managed to overcome the shock.

"I truly didn't think you'd succeed. I figured you'd get caught," he replied. "So what else did you gather?"

She allowed him and everyone else who was in the guild house to peer down inside at her family's most valuable treasures. "It's my legacy, and I'm going to find somewhere safe to keep all this," she simply stated. "That statue is one of my father's spoils of war. For that reason I don't mind parting with it. And I give thanks to you, Dalino, for this opportunity to stick it to the Dhorn."

As everyone drifted back to what they were doing, Shiloh glanced around the room, finally aware that Shanna was nowhere in sight. "Rhys, where's Shanna? Don't tell me she's with Vico!"

"No, she's resting on one of the bunk beds in the other room. I wouldn't have allowed her to go anywhere with him, even if it meant fighting his fool ass again."

She nodded, "Come with me. I need to inform Alfons of something and I'd like for you to hear it." She headed into Alfons's office and smiled at him fondly. He reminded her of a great big teddy bear, despite the fact he growled like a grizzly sometimes. She curtsied respectfully and then gave him a big hug. The look of surprise on his face spoke volumes.

"Yes, Shiloh? That was rather unexpected," he quipped, cocking a curious eyebrow at her.

"I know, but you should learn to expect the unexpected from me," she quipped before pulling the portable hole back out and throwing it to the floor, allowing it to open fully.

"What's the meaning of this, Shiloh?"

"I snuck into the castle and looted my father's most wondrous treasure vault and I have information I know you will find quite valuable." Her grin said it all, how proud she was to have accomplished such a coup.

"You do realize just what a foolishly perilous undertaking that was. You could have been caught. You risked everything for... treasure?" His face was a tumultuous mix of anger and disbelief. Anger because she risked going into the castle and disbelief that she managed to pull it off. "Why would you do such a thing?"

"I was asked to retrieve a precious statue from the vault by Dalino and since I was in there and since it's part of my family's legacy I took the rest of it. The Dhorn have been stripping the royal vaults of its treasure and shipping it off to the Emperor. That bastard doesn't deserve my family's belongings. Plus there are places the Dhorn are not aware that exist in the castle. I grew up exploring the nooks and crannies of its stately walls. There is a whole network on secret tunnels. I used those to get into the vault. However I had to go through the throne room and the state room and was almost caught by a group of Dhorn officers, including one by the name of Arto Benthur. The very same Arto Benthur who Mando had me meet and find out information about. I over heard them discussing their plans to send the remaining treasure to Dhorn. Their last two ships have been attacked and looted by river pirates. Now I'm hoping that Drago had something to do with that and the Family is in possession of that loot. I figure the vault they have recently opened is the one that's going to be shipped soon. They may change their plans due to the fact that they nearly caught me, but they had planned to make a frigate heavily loaded with cannons and Benthur's Elite Units look like a merchant vessel as a decoy so the pirates attack it and not the actual ship carrying the goods. Now they'd planned for it to go down in three days. Plus they are still hunting our happy little family organization here. They hope their little set-up will net them individuals who'll tell them all about who we are and where to find us."

Alfons's brow furrowed, an angry gleam flickered in his eyes. "I'll make sure Nathan is aware of this. Excellent work, Shiloh. No wonder Nathan is constantly bragging about you."

"No one hates the Dhorn more than I do. I am always happy to help out." She beamed a wide smile, "Though, I recall overhearing my father and his chief advisors speak of a hidden vault which housed even more precious royal heirlooms than these from the days of the founding of this city. I think I might know where its located and how to get to it, but it'll be an extremely dangerous undertaking. I'd gladly volunteer for it, but you'll have to send some heavy duty muscle in with me, just in case it turns ugly. Legend has it that the first King of Betancuria placed his greatest treasures in this subterranean vault deep below the castle proper and placed a fierce guardian to watch over it for all time. When I overheard my father speaking of it, he and his advisors were discussing whether or not to move the contents of the rest of the vaults into that one for safekeeping in case the city was ever attacked. Now this was several years ago during one of my father's many attempts to wage war and expand his power base, far before he ever got it in his fool head to take on his closest ally."