Chapter 27 – Sanctum Breach
As the sun continued to lower, the compound transformed. SJ watched from her perch as guards moved through the central area, lighting lanterns hung from poles to keep the darkness at bay. Lantern light began to appear in the various buildings, its warm light escaping the many windows, allowing deep pools of shadow to form where it didn't reach. The area was becoming the perfect environment for SJ, an ideal hunting ground.
"Are you going in or just going to stay here all night?" Dave asked, sounding bored.
Is there any reason to rush? I may as well wait until there are fewer guards around. Although the numbers weren't large, patrols were constantly walking around the compound. As SJ had watched them and traced their movements, it became clear that they kept to a perimeter circuit. The private dwellings of those inside, with their inner walls, were left as private sanctums. The guards didn't breach their space.
The sound of clattering hooves and creaking wheels reached SJ's perch. A coach appeared on the track, heading towards the compound. It wasn't the chief's coach, and as it neared the gate, again they were opened without hesitation as it moved inside, heading towards another of the large, impressive homes. From where SJ was, she couldn't see the being who climbed from its interior clearly, as the coach blocked her line of sight. Only its back was visible, and it wore the colours of the tower as it walked up the steps to the front of the building.
I wonder who lives there? SJ thought. The buildings were all stone and large, with open garden areas and paths leading to them. SJ had been to her old boss's house back on Earth. He had lived in a gated community in the suburbs of Surrey; it didn't have guards, but the exclusivity of the setting was no different.
"Whoever it is has to be wealthy," Dave said.
That doesn't narrow it down, considering the number in Asterfal that are.
The front door was opened, and the being who entered was greeted with a bow before disappearing inside, while the coach's driver unhitched the horses and walked them around to a stable area. As night arrived and the sun dipped below the horizon, the number of patrolling guards decreased. There was what SJ assumed was a barracks building, and she could hear laughter rising from within. Smoke rose from several chimneys, and the wind dragged the smell of cooked meat towards her through the damp breeze. Her stomach rumbled in an answering cry. The patrols made their way back towards the guard post, the smell of the cooking like a signal drawing them back in. She hadn't eaten all day, having forgotten to bring rations. Mentally kicking herself, she decided it was time to move.
The chief's home wasn't in darkness; lanterns had been lit, indicating someone was still inside. Looking at the way the other being had been formally met, she bet there were housekeepers or similar.
I can't get spotted. Whatever happens, the last thing I need is a witness. I can't afford to have to deal with anyone. Her thought anchored her as SJ lifted from the branch. She didn't fly directly over the wall, instead using the darkened shadows of the forest to arc around the compound towards the chief's inner sanctum.
SJ changed direction as she flew deliberately towards the building, the imposing spiked wall looking like a serious threat to anyone who might attempt to breach it. The rear of the building held a garden. Even in the darkness, SJ could see the perfectly manicured lawn; a fountain stood in its centre, the water thrown back skywards against the falling rain.
She felt a tightness in her stomach, nervous tension building as she flew low over the grassed lawn, stopping at the edge of the fountain. She landed, peering around at the rear of the property. The cold, damp stone surface was rough against her hand where she rested it, and she leaned to look around its edge. Her pulse quickened as she watched.
The warmth of lantern light pulled her gaze as it moved from window to window across the building's first floor. There must be a corridor that runs along its rear. SJ could see a balcony that would allow beings to rest on better days, looking out over the garden, a table and chairs tilted, resting against its surface, preventing rain from forming on the seats. Whoever maintained the building took great care. It didn't surprise SJ, considering they were probably fearful of the chief, as anyone else would be.
SJ was about to move when a rear door opened. A being walked from the rear carrying a sack, whistling cheerily as it held its hand over its head, ducking from the rain before crunching across the loose gravel path and depositing the sack in what SJ believed must be a fire pit. It hurried back inside, stamping its boots off before the door closed again.
Rain formed on the edge of SJ's cloak and dripped unceremoniously onto her nose; she rubbed it off as it tickled, almost making her sneeze. Even in her miniature form, she didn't want to make any unnecessary sounds.
I'm heading for the balcony, SJ thought as she slowly and deliberately flew. Watching constantly for any signs of movement from within. The balcony was in darkness as she landed gently on its smooth stone surface. She made no sound as she moved towards a large double door leading inside. The windows were equally spaced along the outside of the building, and the balcony did indeed open onto a corridor. There were no signs of open windows, and SJ couldn’t check whether it was unlocked without growing.
She moved to the edge of the door, where the solid wall hid her as she grew. The muffled sound of voices could be heard from within, but there was a light on this floor. Cautiously, she leaned forward and gently tried the handle. There was a soft scratching sound of metal as the handle was pushed down, her pulse racing, and she froze momentarily. Then, with care, she attempted to pull the door open; the hinges showed it opened outwards. It didn't move.
Damn, SJ cursed as she shrank.
"I can't see anywhere open," Dave said.
In the darkness, every slight change in her adaptive vision was making her pulse spike. The constant potential of being discovered was ever-present. SJ took off again, lifting into the air towards the roof. The building had two large chimneys: the one on the side where SJ believed the kitchen was, pumped out thick smoke into the night sky, and the one on the left, from where she was, was silent. She flew towards it, landing on its lip and looking down. Absolute darkness met her gaze; even her night vision could not penetrate the gloom at first. It took a while, and then she spotted a faint light deep within the blackness.
"Are you really going down the chimney?" Dave asked.
I don't think I have any other choice, SJ replied, gently hovering and beginning to lower herself into the interior. The thick smell of soot entered her nostrils, almost choking her. She didn't think this chimney had been cleaned in a long time. As SJ lowered herself, her wing muscles burned from the deliberately slow movements; a twitch threatened her control, and she carefully made sure her downstrokes didn't disturb the soot. She desperately concentrated, focusing on every beat. The last thing she needed was a cascade of soot falling below, announcing her.
She focused on the faint light below as she drifted down.
Eventually, she reached the opening where the light entered. She must have gone all the way to the ground floor as she softly landed on a thick rug that surrounded the large fireplace. The room was in darkness, with only light coming from under the door. The windows in the room that looked out at the building's rear showed no light.
"Be careful about leaving traces," Dave said nervously. "You're a little dirty."
SJ glanced at her hands; they had a layer of soot on them as she had flown down the chimney. She hadn't touched the sides once. Immediately, she lifted off the rug, checking that she hadn't left prints or signs of her landing. Wiping her hands on her dress, she removed the soot, knowing its self-cleaning ability would remove any traces.
The room was large, stretching across four windows. A large table stood at one end with several candelabras, and where she was, near the fire, various elegant-looking chairs were positioned. A small table sat to one side, with a crystal decanter on its surface and a fine goblet beside it.
Footsteps sounded from outside, and SJ scanned the room, panicking. She moved towards where the curtains hung by the window and landed behind them. Silent and motionless, she listened to the footsteps continue down the corridor outside the room, and she heard a door open and close.
I wish I knew the layout, SJ thought.
After a moment, once she was sure there was no more sound, she again looked around the room. There didn't appear to be anything of interest; it was clearly just a dining area and lounge, nothing more. SJ moved to the door, may be able to squeeze under the gap at its base, and landed lying flat on her stomach as she tried to squeeze under it. It was no good; her wings caught the lip, preventing her from fitting underneath.
She cursed, moving back out again. The only way she could check was to grow again. SJ held her breath as she quickly grew; her transformation speed took only moments, and she immediately reached for the door handle, gently trying it. It moved smoothly, with no creaking metal, only a soft click as the latch freed from its housing. Cautiously, she listened. The corridor was silent; light came from the right, and two small, hooded lanterns cast a soft glow along the corridor. She spotted the door further down, where she had heard someone enter. Doors led off the corridor on the facing wall. She wasn't sure which way to go.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, SJ thought as doubt started to creep into her mind.
"There has to be something here that can help," Dave replied, his tone nervous.
SJ slipped through immediately, closing the door and shrinking. The time felt like an age as she shrank, taking off and lifting towards the ceiling, and where an architrave offered her some cover from the soft hooded lantern light. The walls of the corridor held tapestries and several paintings, its luxurious feel clear.
The door handle sounded before SJ heard anything else, and the man who had walked past walked from the room. He wore a white linen shirt and brown breeches, his sleeves rolled up and muscles bulging from the weight of the barrel he carried. He kicked the door closed with his heel and walked down the corridor below SJ. She watched frozen as he passed underneath her, her breath caught in her chest, as he continued to the door at the end, before using his elbow to move the handle and open it. As the door opened, light flooded the corridor, and SJ could see an open foyer.
The man attempted to shut the door behind him, grunting from the weight of the barrel, and gave up, continuing his journey. SJ took advantage and immediately flew towards the opening.
The foyer was open and expansive; it wasn't as ostentatious as Otherlisar's, but it was still substantially luxurious compared to many homes. The foyer's floor was a mosaic of black-and-white marble tiles. A wide set of stairs sat immediately on the left, leading up to the first floor, which had a landing halfway before turning again to the house's rear. The corridor appeared to run down the middle of the building she had left; it stretched about forty feet from front to back.
I'm heading upstairs, SJ thought as she flew through the gap and up towards the darkness above. There were no apparent signs of light coming from the first floor, bringing her respite from the nervous tension she felt as she entered the gloom.
"I'll get another one," the man said as the door he had entered opened again below, and he crossed the foyer again, disappearing down the same corridor.
I'm glad I didn't stay there, SJ thought as she allowed her night vision to adjust to the upstairs gloom. The only light reaching the interior came from the windows along its length and the weak moonlight that fought against the bleak, dreary skies outside. Rain ran down the windows, and the pitter-patter of its sound on the glass covered any sound SJ's wings may have made.
The corridor ran across the rear of the building, as SJ had observed, watching the being carrying a lantern. They had come from her right as she had watched, and she turned left instead, where she spotted a set of large double doors. They were the only double doors on the floor. She flew directly to them. The corridor was carpeted, which was another luxury many couldn't afford, and she landed on the soft pile, her feet sinking into the thick material before she grew.
She grew each time, feeling exposed; her miniature form gave her the security she strived for. Listening one last time, she tried the handle. It opened smoothly, and she quickly stepped inside, closing it behind her and immediately shrinking again, the added security of her smaller form relieving some of her pent-up tension. She waited again as her vision adjusted to the light. The room was large and open, with a writing desk facing the double doors, two large sofas on each side and a table nestled between them, providing seating for those meeting the chief.
This was her inner sanctum; there was a tingle of residual mana in the air, her power even remaining when she was absent. SJ's heart skipped a beat, immediately changing her view. As she took in the room's contents, several areas carried the deeper glow of mana, and another set of double doors led off into what SJ could only assume was the bedroom. She quickly checked the areas where the mana was stronger; the items were imbued with mana, but none of them appeared helpful to her, and she didn't want to leave signs she had been there by taking anything. The furniture was luxurious, and the chair at the desk was softly padded. She flew to the desk, landing on its surface, and began scanning the documents covering it.
She needed to grow; she couldn't check the documents properly in her miniature form and dropped to the floor before growing. A muffled call came from below, and she froze, staring at the door. A voice replied, and then silence again. SJ quickly returned to the task at hand. There were several ledgers and parchments, and as SJ sifted through them, she began to understand the reach the chief held. So, many interlinked areas, beings and business dealings. Her tendrils stretched far and wide across Asterfal. SJ recognised several councillors' names from the tower. Businesses she had seen on her wanderings in the city. Her touch was present everywhere.
The dark elf not only held power but held secrets beyond what any individual being should have. The depth of her dealings was vast; everything from market influences to loan sharks to corrupt guards. The lists were never-ending. It was obvious that the chief never expected anyone to steal into her sanctum, given the evidence on display.
"This is unbelievable," Dave said, almost in awe of the dealings.
Tell me about it, SJ thought. Her mind reeled at the revelations. She even found a note with Carlito's name, and she held her breath as she read it. It was a summary of assumed work he may have performed; the notes were precise and measured. There was no emotion in any of the writing; it was all just business.
The rain outside had increased, no longer light as it struck the room's windows, adding to the tension she felt. It was the flash of lightning that almost made SJ's heart stop, followed by a loud clap of rumbling thunder. It pulled her from her analytical musings.
She had so much information now that it was crazy, and quickly scribbled several notes in her pad, which she always carried. This information could be invaluable to the chancellor in continuing his mission to weed out the city's corruption and provide the evidence he needed to challenge those involved. It was as SJ was about to move from the desk that she realised it had a drawer. Opening it, she quickly shuffled through the parchment it contained, and she paused as she read an entry.
Target confirmed, District 12 market square. The compound has been secured. The attack will take place in three days, SJ read.
I wish I knew when this was written, SJ thought. There was no date on the parchment. Had this been the initial explosion that occurred in District 11 when the guard had stopped the cart, or was it a separate, planned attack? She didn't know. What it did confirm, though, was that the chief was involved.
SJ closed the drawer again. She would have to let Alec, Wystria and General Crawford know. The chancellor was still on his way back after leaving Killic and wouldn't arrive for another three days.
She moved over to the other double doors and opened them. A large bedroom met her gaze. A four-poster bed, the centrepiece with several large wardrobes, and a beautifully crafted dressing table, its surface covered in small vials and various other items. Whatever the chief was, she took pride in her appearance. SJ flicked her display over again, and a brighter mana glow appeared from a small box on its surface. SJ moved straight to it and opened the lid. That was when her world changed. As a high-pitched screeching sound pierced her ears, it felt like a physical pain as her palms flew to her ears to protect them, and her teeth vibrated. She heard a shout from below as her mind reeled from the screech's pressure.
