Tiberius gasped, clutching his chest.

“I didn’t think any of the servants were supposed to be out here… Much less three of them.”

Tiberius bowed. “Our deepest apologies. You see, we’re not familiar with the castle. We’re new servants. I think we may have taken a wrong turn.”

The woman looked at them with bemusement. She held the silence, much to their great discomfort, for a minute. “Where are you all from?”

“Mutus, milady.”

She sighed. “I see it lives up to its name. I’ll inform the Count to reject any future servants from the north side of the county. Very well. Go wherever it is that you are supposed to be.” With another sigh, she walked through the door, and past them.

The three hurried through the door, and breathed a silent sigh of relief. They each split off into a different direction in search of the Chaodite.

Tiberius, along his way to the main court, picked up a broom, and went to a convenient spot to sweep. All the while, he kept his ears alert, listening for a foreign accent.

The court was a sea of life, bustling with servants and nobles alike, all moving about and gabbing. Even a blind man could tell the noble from the servant. The noble’s speech was full of haughty comments and exaggerated cackles; their every movement could be heard from anywhere in the castle with all their jewelry clinking together. The servants all shuffled silently along the floor, with not even so much as a single necklace to make a sound. Their speech was very plain to one another, yet flooded with formalities and an avalanche of flattery when speaking with their superiors. They used far less sophisticated words in their speech, aside from what few they’ve picked up from the chattering nobles.

The Count was away for the moment, but was soon to arrive at the castle from his long hunt in the woods. Most of the nobles with higher titles, what few there were, never bothered with going on hunts. Perhaps it was because they were too busy for such things, or maybe too disgusted by such things. For some, it was probably because there was nothing to hunt at this time of year.

The way some talked, it seemed that one of the Count’s most trusted advisors was gone, too. Some said, “I heard he was on special business to House Cibus.” Others claimed he was going to House Avarus to make a deal. The latter, to Tiberius, seemed unlikely.

Lucullus scoured several notable chambers within the castle. There were several places in which the Chaodite could’ve been. Lucky for him, the court of House Luctus wasn’t nearly as large as that of a provincial or royal court. The Count’s council of advisors and confidants all had rooms within the same wing of the castle, just as all of the noble guests had their rooms within their own wing.

He came across his final chamber to check; this one was locked. Of course it is. Figuring it to be the one he needed, he searched his scrip for something to pick the lock with. He pulled out a sewing needle and a small knife. Looks like the first aid kit will have to do. He took a quick scan around him. No one. He squatted down, and began fiddling with the lock. Each attempt was punctuated with him attempting to straighten his needle. I certainly won’t be using this needle for sewing. Every few attempts, he would glance up to check for any potential witnesses.

He picked locks once or twice before. But this was far more sophisticated, and that past experience was just the time he lost the key to his chest. That, and he had some help with that. The years have done much to dull his memory of exactly how to do it. Failure wasn’t an option. He couldn’t just give up and bash the door in. Even if no one was around to see him do it, that would still leave an unwanted trail. Got it! But it was only the first pin. He sighed, almost a bit too loud. If only all locks were as simple as the one on that old grain chest.

He never would’ve thought it possible to work up a sweat while wiggling a knife and needle around. After a battle of the ages with several more pins, the door cracked open. He sat back, and let the immense relief wash over him, like spring water flowing down the mountain. Putting away his makeshift tools, he carefully stepped into the chamber. His heart beat to the rhythm of a frantic horse fleeing battle. Not a soul was present in the room, except for Lucullus. With haste, he began searching every last speck in the room. Though he was a little frantic, he still made sure to put things back the way he found them, lest he draw unwanted attention.

Tucked away in layers of secrecy within the drawers, he found a stack of letters. He began to read through each of them, skimming for any noteworthy details. Much of the language used was far too abstruse for his understanding; many of the letters from the nobility were that way. A few of the letters stood out from the rest quite boldly. They were from some secret group:

To whom it may concern,

We have discovered some very hot items, with which we must be rid of before they make us the target of ruthless attacks. The dragons of the west already know of us; it’s only a matter of time before they find where we are. Come by the tunnels, and receive these items. They are much safer where you are than where we are. Although such is the case, still I warn you not to let anyone know you have these until the time is right to reveal all. I’ve learned that they have eyes and ears where you stay, but they seem to not know you, yet. Keep it that way.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

They seek the King’s support, and seem to have a dragon within his palace. Be wary. They are our only threat, and once they are gone, we will live in the lap of luxury for all of our days. Please do make haste on your journey. The longer we keep these items, the higher the risk of us being eliminated.

- FF

Lucullus studied the last letters, FF. Certainly, it was an unusual signature for a document. Then again, he’d seen far more cryptic things with Decimus’s letters. A thought came to him, and he immediately ruffled back through the letters, searching for ones signed with the ominous FF. Opening his scrip, he dumped the FF letters in it, and hurried to find Tiberius.

As Cato wandered the halls of the castle, in his intense focus on checking rooms, he never checked for anyone in his path. He collided with another passerby as he walked along. The passerby nearly fell to the ground, but was caught by Cato just in time.

“Are you alright, milady?”

She pulled herself up by his hand. “I think I shall live. But if you do that sort of thing to anyone else around the castle, you might not live.”

He bowed as the servants did. “I assure you, it will be the last time.”

As she was about to continue on her way, she paused for a moment. “You look familiar.”

“I’m sure many of the servants do.”

“I know the faces of every servant in this castle. But your face, I know not.”

“Then how am I familiar?”

She studied him for a moment. “You are the servant from Mutus. The one I saw with the other two, today!”

“Is that so?”

“I believe it is.” She took a long pause. “Though, you don’t look to be from such a place. I certainly find it suspicious that three Altum men could come from there, and be natives. The Acredo comprise the population of that village.”

“Why did you say nothing when you first learned of this?”

She chuckled. “I admit, I was still taking in that whole encounter as I passed. Part of my questioning was out of routine.”

“I assure you that I am from Mutus.”

She chuckled again. “Is that so?”

“It most certainly is.”

She rolled her eyes. “I find your conduct to be rather strange as well.”

Again with these observations. “How so?”

“Most servants spend most of their words in profound apologies. Often it borders on being annoying, and any slight they may have done against me is dwarfed by their incessant groveling. They don’t dare to speak as crudely as you have to me.”

“What are these accusations?”

“I can hear it in your tone, which, just to save you some trouble, is getting louder with each word that passes your lips. I suggest you bring your voice down, lest others hear.”

“You find me to be strange, yet I could say the same to you.”

She smirked. “You still don’t get it, do you?”

He shook his head. “Get what?”

She dropped to a whisper as she stepped closer to him. “I know you’re not really a servant of the Count, or of anyone else here.”

“Huh?”

She flashed a necklace with a large ruby in it. It’s distinctive dragon shape was almost impossible to miss.

His eyes lit up. “It’s you?”

She nodded. “You’re manners wouldn’t fool the Count’s dog. I assume this must be a foreign role for you.”

“You could say that.”

“I shall take you to my chamber, so that you will know where it is. Once there, I will await your return to it while you gather your two companions.” She noticed his baffled expression. “It doesn’t take a scholar to figure you out. Just be sure to act proper when you get them, and tell them that Lady Agustina requests their presence.”

He nodded.

She motioned for him to follow, and led him to where her chamber was. He struggled to remember all the twists and turns, despite there not being that many. Every hall looked nearly identical to the previous. The fine wooden doors and ornate torches that lined each wall were not much good for a landmark.

Lucullus moved his way through the crowds of servants and nobles, careful to not break character, and passed by Tiberius. He leaned over and tapped him on the shoulder. “Supply closet.”

Tiberius nodded, and ceased his sweeping to follow Lucullus. The two made their way through the hall connecting the great hall to the rest of the castle, and into the supply room.

Lucullus flashed the letters from his scrip. “I think I might have something.”

Tiberius kept a very low whisper, wary of anyone who may pass by. “What of Cato?”

Lucullus matched Tiberius’s whisper. “I haven’t seen him. He split from me after we finished the first hallway on one of the wings. I’m not sure exactly where he’s at, now.”

Tiberius pondered their next action for a moment. “He knows this is the best place to meet up. If he comes to find me in the great hall, he’ll have to pass by here. Wait here as long as you can for him to pass by. If you don’t see him pass by, come back for me, and we’ll look for him.”

Lucullus nodded. “Let’s just hope he didn’t get—“

The door swung open.

Tiberius cracked a sly smile. “We were wondering when you’d show up.”

Cato breathed a sigh of relief. “Likewise. There’s been a change of plans. Lady Agustina requests your presence.”

Both of them looked at him like he spoke a foreign language.

He sighed. “Just follow me. It’s a big cleaning job. And Lady Agustina is not one to be kept waiting.”

The two shrugged, and followed him down the halls.

Lucullus began to feel almost lost with the repetitive nature of the design. “Do you know where we’re going?”

“I think so. Her chamber isn’t exactly convenient to get to.”

Tiberius chuckled. “I hope she wasn’t expecting a quick response.”

Cato shrugged. “I’m sure she’ll understand.”