Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy Part 3

It all started to make sense to him. Jagang's men, digging the pits, had uncovered ancient catacombs. They must have used those tunnels to get up into the palace.

"They got up into the palace and captured you? Is that what you mean?"

Nicci nodded.

But if they had gotten up into the palace, then why would they still be working on the ramp? He realized that if the catacombs were anything like the ones in Caska they would need more than those tunnels to get an army up into the People's Palace. It would be like trying to force sand through an hourglass.

It could also be that the ramp was a diversion to buy them time to do just that.

Diversion or not, Jagang might have gotten spies up into the palace through the catacombs. If there was a way in, there was no telling the damage such a breach could cause.

It had to be Sisters who had snuck in. It would have taken Sisters to have captured Nicci. With their powers weakened by the spell of the palace, he knew that it would have taken more than one.

"The crews digging dirt for the ramp discovered catacombs," Richard guessed out loud to Nicci. "Sisters went through the catacombs and found a way to get up into the palace. That's how they captured you."

Though the trembling and pain, Nicci squeezed his hand in confirmation.

Richard leaned close to Nicci. "Does anyone up there know that Jagang has a way in?"

She rocked her head from side to side. "Gathering inside," she managed.

Richard's heart missed a beat. "They're gathering men inside to attack the palace?"

She nodded again.

"Then we'd better get in there and warn them," Bruce said.

"Adie," Richard said to the old woman standing right beside the wagon, "did you hear all that?"

"Yes. The general be right here. He heard as well."

Richard looked out from under the tarp. Off in the distance to the right a little he saw a pit where there were no lines of men and wagons.

Richard pointed out from under the tarp. "Look there, around that pit. There are men standing evenly spaced around the entire area."

"Guards," General Meiffert confirmed.

"That has to be where they found the catacombs-down in that pit. Look at the way they've halted all digging between there and the plateau."

"Why would they do that?" the general asked.

"The catacombs would be ancient. There's no telling what condition they might be in. They don't want to risk caving in any of the tunnels running in under the palace."

"It must be so," Adie said.

"How are we going to get down into the pit?" General Meiffert asked.

"If we had more royal-guard uniforms we might be able to get down in there," Bruce suggested.

"Maybe," Richard said, "but what about Nicci and Jillian?"

Bruce didn't have an answer.

"They certainly couldn't walk in there," General Meiffert agreed, "and a wagon going down into a guarded pit would obviously be cause for suspicion."

"Maybe," Richard said, thinking out loud. "Maybe not."

General Meiffert looked back over his shoulder. "What do you have in mind?"

Richard gently shook Nicci's shoulders. "Are there books down in the catacombs?"

"Yes," she managed.

Richard turned back to the general. "We could tell the guards that, with all the trouble in the camp tonight, the emperor wants to bring a load of important books back to his compound to be sure that they're safe. He sent this Sister along to see to getting the books he's concerned about. You tell them that you need them to organize a contingent of guards to escort the wagon back to the compound."

"They'll want to know why we didn't bring guards with us."

"Because of the trouble," Bruce suggested. "Tell them that with the rioting the officers didn't want to risk any guards taken from the duty of protecting the emperor."

Richard nodded at the idea. "While they're busy going off to gather us some men, we slip down into the catacombs."

"Not all the guards are going to leave the site to go gathering up men for you," Bruce said. "It would sound awfully suspicious if we even suggested such a thing. Any men left in the area will see the two women- especially since we'll have to help Nicci.

"Don't underestimate these guards. See their uniforms? These are men the emperor trusts. I know what these men are like. They aren't fools and they're not lazy. They don't miss much."

"That makes sense," Richard said as he considered Bruce's advice. He frowned in thought as an idea came to him. He turned to Adie. "It's windy out tonight. Do you think you could help the wind?"

"Help the wind?" Her completely white eyes gazed at him in the dim torchlight. "What be your idea?"