home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix
The trail through Black Pass has changed little since ancient times. It has always been an alternative trail, a trail for martyrs, mystics and outlaws -- people who don't want to use the well beaten roads that run through the passes north and south of Black Pass. It was starting to become a trail for artists and poets, but only for the most frivolous and foolhardy, because the trail is a struggle that adds a day to any journey from the valley, and passage can result in a lost purse as often as a new song.
The Baron and Gunther walked steadily up the trail. They had started early, and all morning the trail had been lonely, but about noon they were passed by three riders lead by a foppish dandy. Inwardly the Baron smiled. If there was bandit trouble lurking in the pass, this group was sure to flush it out. Then he had a thought.
The Baron turned to Gunther, "These wouldn't be yours, would they?" Gunther barely nodded as he huffed and puffed beside the Baron, "They'll keep a high profile until we come out."
As they climbed, the rock walls of the pass closed in on them. The ancient trees lined the walls of the canyon, seeming to hold hard rock at bay.
The Baron muttered, "These trees are ancient, tall and straight. Why hasn't this been lumbered?"
"Too steep and too political, I suppose. Who would risk a lumber mill in these parts? Who would you pay off... you know what I mean, pay taxes to?" answered Gunther.
"The Kalnichovs, I suppose, it's north of the river."
"The Kalnichovs don't have that much to do with this area, Baron, sure they claim it, but they don't do anything here."
"Curious... It surprises me, but I always learn new things on a journey such as this. Now I will have to investigate why the Kalnichovs claim this area so vigorously, but don't use it for anything."
Gunther and the Baron continued their climb to the church. The area was rich with wildlife. Some was animal wildlife that both the Baron and Gunther saw, some was magical wildlife that only the Baron saw.
These old woods had their fair share of nymphs and dryads, and the nymphs weren't shy, either. If they caught the Baron staring at them, they would smile and wave and spin about tossing their little skirts high up their shapely legs.
It was late in the day when Gunther said, "We should be at the church in about ten minutes." The Baron was happy for the news. The day had turned hot and quiet, and he had used up a lot of water and energy trudging upwards through the still, hot air. Also, the nature of the wildlife had changed. The mix of species changed. Where the valley below had held fat, pleasant deer, this pass area contained only thin, shy chamois. Life was harsher here, the trees gnarled and scattered. The little conies stood at the entrances to their rock burrows and barked warnings at intruders. The magical life, too, looked desperate and hunted. The dryads were gone, and the nymphs stared out cautiously at the passersby with glazed, sunken eyes.
Then he spotted the imp, the same imp which had stared at him during the board meeting. The imp was loitering by the sign that pointed out the path to the church.
"Gunther, there's a possibility of trouble at the church." said the Baron quietly.
"Somehow, I was thinking the same. We could stop for lunch, and wait for The Dandy to pass by."
"That might be prudent, is he a steady person?"
"He's one of the best I know, Baron. This project, in spite of it's small size, raises enormous red flags for me. I spared no expense on this one, as you'll find out when I submit my report."
"Good, is he familiar with our... local wildlife?"
"No, but he is worldly, a charlatan's tricks won't scare him off."
"Then, yes, let us take a break... in the shade... over there."
The Baron had studied the land around him carefully. He picked a grove of tall quaking aspen that stood between the road and a grove of ancient dwarf oak trees. The men set down their packs on the thick green grass that grew between the trees and broke out the wine, cheese and bread. The Baron wandered the oak grove, savoring the cool shade, as Gunther laid out the lunch. While he was in the grove, he quietly cast a powerful spell. So quietly that even watchful Gunther did not notice.
As they ate, the Baron discretely watched the imp, then one time he looked up and the imp was gone. "We should expect a surprise in about ten minutes." muttered the Baron. He kept eating.
Ten minutes later, Mr. Packar and Miss Booles came riding down the road from the church. They were smartly dressed in English riding attire, and following them came a small buggy being driven by a somewhat inexperienced driver who was, in spite of the heat, wearing a cloak and hood. They rode up to the Baron and Gunther. Along with them came the imp the Baron had seen before, and there were imps riding on the shoulders of Bob and Sarah. Bob and Sarah didn't seem to notice, which wasn't surprising.
"Why Baron, how good to see you here." said Bob Packar, "Sarah and I got wind you might be headed this way, and here you are!"
"Yes, here I am." said the Baron, "What brings you to these parts?"
"Our employer, Baron, Mr. Porter." Bob motioned to the buggy. Mr. Porter pulled back the hood he was wearing. He was a blond man with pale skin and little expression. His motion was just a little clumsy, but he smiled at the Baron.
"Baron Rostov. I'm honored. Welcome to our little corner of the world."
"Thank you, Mr. Porter. To what do I owe the honor of this visit?"
"First things first, Baron, a little hospitality. I was hoping you might join me for a small lunch at the church?"
The Baron looked around, "I think this is an excellent spot for lunch. Won't you join us here?"
Porter looked around, shrugged, got out and stood in the shade of the buggy. "Bob, Sarah, why don't you bring some of that lunch we prepared out here?"
Bob only hesitated for a second, "Good idea, Mr. Porter." said Bob, and the two rode off to the church.
Johanne moved to lean on the buggy wheel, but seemed uncomfortable. He tried sitting on the running board. He made the motions of sitting, but his frame never relaxed. He moved like a man driven. When he had settled as much as he was going to, he said, "Neutral territory, Baron?"
"Neutral territory, Mr. Porter. You have taken quite an interest in this railroad project, and now I find you here on Black Pass. I'm mystified, Mr. Porter."
"And curious?"
"Beyond curious, Mr. Porter, deeply concerned. You seem to have pulled the Kalnichov family from their dark reveries to take an interest in this project. Yet are you Kalnichov, or are you not? What power, what motivation drives you?"
"Motivation?" Johanne Porter got a wild look in his eyes, "Motivation! I have but one motivation, and that you will find out soon enough, Baron." Johanne motioned, and suddenly from the ground a dozen imps rose up. Six sprang upon the Baron, and six on Gunther. The Baron fended off the imp attack with a simple wave, but now Gunther had an imp at each hand and one perched on his shoulders. One imp was whispering in his ear. Gunther grinned, and pulled a wicked looking knife from an inner pocket of his jacket.
"This will protect us, Baron." he said, but it wasn't Porter he moved towards, it was the Baron! Before he had taken two steps, the Baron had frozen his feet to the ground. Gunther stumbled, looked surprised, the Baron looked shaken.
Johanne Porter chuckled without humor, "Human allies can be so fickle, Baron." but he relaxed a little more, and looked down the road leading to the church.
"Do you know the name of this church you are visiting, Baron?"
The Baron shrugged his shoulders, "The church of the Slaughtered Virgin or some other good Kalnichov name, I presume. I have to admit, Mr. Porter, I don't get to this part of the valley that often."
Mr. Porter nodded, "The current name is, as you say, 'Church of the Slaughtered Virgin' or some such. But you might find it's old name, original name, more memorable: Nom-dey-Nazadlan. Does that name mean anything to you... Ah, I see that it does. I see you Rostovs haven't given up completely on local history."
The Baron's eyes widened, "Nazadlan? Here?... Had I only known! Had any of us known!"
"Precisely. The near-legendary Black Castle, home of the Kalnichov family until it was broken, in the time of Raoul-al."
"The height of Kalnichov power. We Rostovs took up our role as guardians at the breaking."
"Sometime after the breaking, to be precise. Long enough after that you never did learn of Nazadlan's location. What barbarians your family were then. Hah! They came in to stand guard over what Pope Pious had broken. Your family, Baron, that's why I'm so happy to see you here. We Kalnichov's have proved more durable than the Pope. He scattered us, but we came back. We rebuilt. Now the time has come to undo the last of the Pope's smears on us, and restore our family name."
"What?"
Mr. Porter started looking fidgety, "Baron, I grow restless here in the heat. Let us proceed to the church." As he finished saying that, Bob and Sarah reappeared, leading The Dandy and his two men. Each was carrying an imp on his shoulder. The Baron looked at Gunther, but Gunther's face was a mask.
"You should release your associate. He won't harm you."
"What have you done to him, to all of them?" the Baron asked in dismay.
"I have convinced them that assisting me is in their best interests." Johanne said with some impatience, "Now, Baron, if you don't mind." Johanne waved the Baron ahead of him towards the church.
The Baron's pause for thought was brief. With a quick wave of his hand, the Baron released Gunther and began walking for the church. Gunther, looking sheepish, put away his knife and hustled up to walk beside the Baron.
"What happened?" he asked quietly.
"The evil swallowed you." replied the Baron matter-of-factly.
"You're letting me walk beside you. Do you trust me?"
The Baron chuckled, "Just as much as I did ten minutes ago, Gunther. I knew the power behind Johanne Porter was deep and dark. From the beginning I knew that Mr. Porter was showing himself because he wants something very badly. What that had to do with railroad, I couldn't tell, until now. It was a ploy to get me here. Now to survive, I must find out why having me here is important."
They walked in silence, then the Baron sighed and continued, "It's not good, Gunther. Revealing Nazadlan raises the stakes enormously."
Johanne Porter interrupted as if he was listening in, "Yes Baron Rostov. Nazadlan. Why would I tell you that?"
The Baron frowned, "Your master is very sure none of us are leaving the mountain?"
"Spare me, Baron. That's melodramatic, and unnecessarily risky. But that's your hope, isn't it? No, the truth is much, much worse."
The Baron stopped walking, "Why should I help you, Mr. Porter? If you're planning something worse than my death, why should I help you?"
Johanne Porter looked a little wildly at the Baron, then smiled, "Look at me, Baron. Look carefully. Come closer." Johanne Porter got stiffly down from the buggy, and held his hands forward for the Baron to inspect.
The Baron cautiously approached. His breathing quickened as he inspected those clammy white hands, then drew back -- eyes wide in fear. "You're no pawn, you are the power!"
Johanne smiled, it was almost the warm smile of a craftsman or artist showing off a masterpiece, but the skin just didn't stretch quite right, and it was a caricature instead. "I am the power. You can lead me in going to Hell, Baron, or you can help me bring about the final reconciliation of Kalchinov and Rostov, and unify all that has been divided for centuries."
home intro one two three four five six seven eight nine 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 appendix