The Diary of Raoul Grincheux

Part 40

In which our heroes explore a mausoleum and take on the Abbot’s undead cronies in an attempt to thwart a summoned evil…

Godsday, Deathweek, Seaseason, 613 – dusk

So the gate opens az the Sun goes down ‘cos it looks like the Abbot’s ded scared ov the Sun – an’ he shood be, I reckon. The toffs dunt wanna go in till we’z shaw the patrols ain’t gonna see us so we’z got sum time to take a gander at fings.

Just the uvver side ov the gate izza sort ov forest ov black pillars, a bit like them in the graveyard only bigger an’ blacker. But they wunt always black, they’z look like they’z bin burned by all ‘em Sunspears. The toffs call it a ‘necropolis’ but I fort that woz that big Azraeli city cross the oshun. Looks like it’d be easy to hide in there but then mebbe sumfink’s alreddy hidin’ an’ waitin’ for us? Makes yer fink!

Way off to the rite, at the far end ov the pillars izza big domed bildin anna tower ov white stone wot the toffs reckon izza morzleeum ov albaster. That dunt look burned at all, bout the only fing wot aint.

Then onna hill beyond the forest ov pillars, mebbe 350 yards away, iz Hrum Abbey, wots all big, black an’ shadowy – I dunt wanna go there ‘cos it’z bodin’, know wot I mean?

Tween the Abbey an’ the forest ov pillars iz a stretch ov bare land but wiv towers scatterd bout, all 2-3 stories high an’ all burnd black like the ground.

But rite close, just a few yards from the gate, izza a big black pillar, wot the toffs sez iz an oblisk. It’s pretty grubby but it looks like it’z got words writ in metal onnit.

The toffs reckon the forest ov pillars woz a Heliot graveyard wunce ‘cos it’s got all these paths frew it wot look made for chariots.

We keep a sharp lookout for them patrols an’ we reckon there’z 4 riders wiv javlins an’ sheelds, each wiv 3-4 ghool-dogs. The toffs wanna try for that morzleeum but they’z worried we mite get stuck in the open at dawn, wot wood be a bugger ‘cos ov Helios Sunspearin’ evryfing bout then evry mornin’.

The shaman ain’t shaw how long the gate’ll stay open but Sieur Alphonse reckons we cood take cuvver in the morzleeum if that ‘appens. But then Lady Samal reckons the gate iz open all nite enyway.

Shaman Madrina’s gonna cum wiv us wiv Venique an’ Rennick but she won’t go near the Abbey – she sez it’z ded evil an’ she dun’t fink we shood go there eyver.

The uvver two ravens iz gonna stay back wiv Lord Henri, Lady Samal, Spathi, Seth an’ Jethro. But they’z gonna be reddy to cum in if we needs ‘elp. Lady Samal givs her earins to Eliza in case we need to spred Power round for spells an’ she casts Cordnayshun on sevral peepl – but not me ‘cos it dunt make that much diffrents to me an’ I reckon we dunt wanna fro too much spells round wot won’t be no use in two minits, know wot I mean?

So we goes in, Sieur Thomas an’ Sieur Alphonse leadin’, me an’ Eliza in the next rank follerd by Stella an’ the ravens wiv Blen at the back.

First off the toffs wanna read that oblisk – turns out that the words iz in that tarnished gold wot Lady Samal’s so keen on but the toffs dunt like it much. I can’t read it but the toffs sez it’z a foonral prayer to Helios an’ sez the pillar forest woz bilt by Baron Drovath of Hrum. Stella reckons the gold’s wurf bout 50 shillins but she finks the tarnish wood knock that down a bit ‘cos no Heliot wood touch it. I gotta say, I never fort gold cood look manky but this dunt look nice.

So we heds for the morzleeum, evrywun tryin’ to stay hid amung the pillars but I reckon Eliza’s lookin’ a bit obvio. Sieur Alphonse drags her down behind a pillar but then Sieur Thomas dun’t like hidin’ case it turns out he’z ambushin’ ‘cos Helios told him that’z a no-no.

Turns out wun ov the patrols mite ‘av seen sumfink ‘cos a rider goes to the morzleeum an’ looses hiz dogs in the pillar forest. But just when we all reckons we mite avva fite the dogs lose intrest an’ leave. The patrol moovs off but the rider keeps lookin’ back. Sumwun reckons he’z got shinin’ yeller eyes – looks like the Abbot’s turned sum ded monks into unded! The toffs dunt like that – an’ I’z not an’ ‘appy rat!

So wunce we reckon the way’z clear we get moovin again an’ we gets to the edj ov the pillar forest. It’z wide open to the morzleeum but it’z dark so Sieur Alphonse sends me to recce to see if we can get in. I casts Shimmer, just in case, an’ scurries over, no trubl.

The doors to the morzleeum iz huge! Big enuff for a chariot to drive frew, mebbe twelv foot wide an’ at least that high, maid ov bronz I sees ‘andles on the doors so I waivs to the toffs an’ they all sprints cross. Me an’ Sieur Alphonse pullz on the farver ‘andl an’ get the door open – it looks like it shood shreek a bit but the ‘inges dunt make no sound at all, like they’z new! Wunce it’z open a crack we all squeezes in.

Inside izza passij, az wide az the door anna bit shadowy. Cross it iz four big statyoos ov ‘orses ov that orangey brick stuff toffs call terri-cotter but they’z all like shadders ‘cos it’z so brite behind ‘em – turns out just the uvver side izza big round room wot’s ded brite, like it woz in sunlite, even tho it’z nite outside – the toffs reckon it’z a permnant Sunbrite!

Wow! Them Heliots reely splash the cash on they’z ded peepl. If we’z lucky we rats get buried out ov site, or mebbe floated off down a sewer out the city, most like we’z put in the compost. (In Heliopolis we feeds our ded roonlords to the gators.) But them Heliots reely go to town on they’z ded! I’z gobsmacked!

Rite behind the ‘orses izza chariot, wun ov them big wuns wot can take three peepl. It’z made of reel posh wood wiv gold bits an’ polished ded brite.

Then cross from that izza statyoo ov Helios. In front ov the statyoo iz an altar, I reckon. I’z so welmd I’z just walkin’ bout wiv me mowf open – it’z all so posh! I get a weerd feelin’ az I passes the ‘orse statyoos but I dunt reely notice. The uvvers iz lookin’ proper but I just gawps at evryfing.

Sieur Thomas an’ Sieur Alphonse reckon the chariot iz an old wun from Moon Age. They spots a badge wiv the Helios sunburst on the flat bit at the front ov the chariot an’ there’s them sheelds down the sides wot show it blonged to Baron Drovath.

Then Stella cums in from lookin’ at the ‘orses, sez she reckons she ‘eard sumfink moov inside wun! The shaman an’ her ravens dunt look too ‘appy an’ they’z stayin’ out ov the Sunbrite, ‘cos they’z Darkness worshippers.

Then Sieur Thomas an’ Sieur Alphonse look at the altar but they reckon it’z a beer on wot they’z burns they’z ded – looks like it’z bin used but not a lot but then they spots an urn tween the statyoo’s feet wot’s the ashes ov Baron Drovath. Madrina sez there’z a spirit sumwhere there an’ Sieur Alphonse finks it mite be a spirit ovva harth but I dunno wot that iz. (Reckon I needs a few more lessons on Spirit Lore, mebbe?)

I ain’t reely bin lookin’ but the toffs gets intrested in the doors – there’s four ovvem but they goes for the first wun left ov the chariot az you go in. It’z a wooden door, kinda maid to fit in wiv the walls but it’z obvio a door, not secret at all.

Inside iz a weerd-shaped room wiv anuvver beer but this wuns bin used a lot an’ it’z got a vent over it to take all the smoke outside. Eyver side ov that iz two chests an’ by the curvy wall to the rite iz a duzzin more foonry urns, all wiv difrent names.

The toffs wont to get the chests open ‘cos they’z after trezhur so I looks ‘em ova an’ I reckon they’z trapped ‘cos they’z got these wax fings round the joins where they’z open wot I fink triggers sumfink inside.

That dunt bovver Sieur Thomas who tries to pick the lock wiv hiz dagger but then we ‘ears this boomin’ voice outside wot makes us all jump, yellin’ “Introoders, wot iz you doin’!” Turns out it’z a spirit ov a Heliot wot’s all in flames. Sieur Alphonse asks if he’s Baron Drovath but the spirit sez the baron’s gon on to Heliot ‘eaven an’ he’z just a gardin’ spirit.

The Spirit reckons sumfink bad ‘az ‘appened ‘cos it feels ded angry all the time. So the toffs tell it all bout the last few ‘undreds of years, that sumfinks crupted the monks, turnin’ ‘em unded, an’ that Helios iz so narked he Sunspears the place each mornin’!

Sieur Alphonse tells the Spirit he’z a rellie an’ Sieur Thomas asks if the Spirit’s got enyfing to ‘elp beat the riders an’ ghool-dogs. He sez the trezhurs of Hrum are ‘ere but dunt say wot they iz.

Stella asks wots in the ‘orse statyoos an’ the Spirit sez they’z Baron Drovath’s faithful steeds. She asks if they’z still live an’ the Spirit larfs an’ sez they’z bin ded sentries so probly not. Then it points out the ‘orses iz not in the Sunbrite so iz not in the proper morzleeum even tho they’z in the same bildin. Mebbe wot made the monks unded az made ‘orses unded too! Merde!

Next iz the tower wot the Spirit sez iz not part ov the morzleeum. The door opens in a round room wiv a hole in the floor. Left ov the door there’s steps goin’ down an’ onna rite they goes up, folwin the wall. In the middle ov the round room izza hole wot looks like a well but it just goes down to the next floor where there reely iz a well – dunno why they bilt it like that when they cood ‘av just ‘ad the well on the ground floor an’ dug it deeper, know wot I mean?

So we takes the stairs up an’ find the next floor azza bench an’ tables ov stone, looks like a dinin’ room for solders. Floor above that’s got stone bunks an’ the wun up from that’s sort ov a guardroom, I guess. There’s ain’t much in eny ov these rooms so we finish on the roof, wot’z got them stone teef called crannili… crennerls… battulmints. We can hide behind them an’ look out.

Sieur Thomas reckons he can see a bunch ov monks cummin down the road from the Abbey, hedin’ for the gate. He reckons wun ovvem iz bout eight foot tall wivva big bent staff – must be the Abbot! We can see three patrols wiv a duzzin dogs tween us an’ the Abbot an’ all, like they’z protectin’ the bâtard.

Stayin’ hid, we sees the Abbot an’ hiz monks get to the gate where we came in an’ start doin’ a rityool! They’z closin’ the gate gainst us? Quelle Merde! While hiz monks iz doin’ that the Abbot stands by the oblisk an’ stares at us in the morzleeum.

Then we sees the gate iz all black an’ shadowy – I means even shadowyer than you get at nite. I looks reel ‘ard an’ I reckons I can see stars! But that’s barkin’, I’z lookin’ down an’ there aint no stars down there! Then Sieur Thomas sez he reckons it’z a gate to anuvver dmenshun an’ Stella sez the stars ain’t like ours!

I’z not an ‘appy rat!

The toffs get Madrina to cum up the tower – the Spirit givs her a challenj but she sez no. She reckons the monks in’t reel, they’z just weak shadders maid by the Abbot. She finks they’z got reel low Power. But she reckons the riders an’ the ghool-dogs iz reel. She reckons the Abbot’s callin’ sumfink nasty from sumwhere else. Argh, putain! Sieur Alphonse sez we’z attackin’ the Abbot ‘cos we gotta stop him callin’ wotever it iz out the gate.

So back in the morzleeum Sieur Thomas asks the Spirit if it’z got eny majiks to ‘elp beat the Abbot. The Spirit asks why we’z all cum so Sieur Alphonse tellz it bout the pome an’ stuff. The Spirit finks for a mo an’ then sez the toffs can use the chariot an’ the ‘orses wot iz in the statyoos. This dunt sound good to me but Blen says wotever’s in the statyoos ain’t unded so Sieur Thomas taps wun wiv his sword hilt.

Now when Stella did that nuffink much ‘appened but when Sieur Thomas duz it on wun statyoo all four break up an’ four wite ‘orses maid ov albastr step out. The Spirit sez only the toffs can touch the ‘orses which iz fine by me. It sez they can put Power in the badge an’ it’ll cast Sunbrite for 2 minits. Cor! That’ll be good gainst the unded!

Madrina casts Countermajik on us ‘cos we dunt wont the ghool howls to get us. I knows me Shimmer can’t be used wiv that so all I casts iz me new Mobility but Sieur Thomas izza luv an’ casts Bladesharp on me knife an sword in return for me power. I dunt cast Ironhand an’ lets me ratty hed go ‘cos I won’t be bitin’ no unded, know wot I mean?

So we frow the gates open an’ Sieur Thomas drives out wiv Sieur Alphonse next him in the chariot an’ the rest ov us runnin’ after. The chariot iz lit up wiv Sunbrite an’ we all keeps in the lite, wot frites ghools, but the ravens take off an’ fly outside the lite, ‘cos they ain’t keen.

We dives in the pillar forest but the ghool-dogs howl an’ cum after us wiv the riders. We gets shots off az they cum in. Me arrer sticks in a sheeld but Stella shoots the lead rider’s hed rite off! Good on yer girl!

Az they cums in the Sunbrite, the ghool-dogs dun’t look so mean but there’z more ovvem so they still cum on, frited or not. Stella chops a ghool-dog’s leg off an’ it falls ova so they’z not az ‘ard az sum unded.

Four ghool-dogs go for the chariot; Sieur Alphonse hacks wun in the hed an’ puts it down while anuvver bites hiz sheeld. Sieur Thomas hacks anuvver dog down an’ keeps ‘em from bitin’ him wiv neat footwork.

Then a dog cums for me – I blocks its teef wiv me sword an’ stab it inna neck wiv me dagger wot rips it’z hed clean off! Wicked! That Bladesharp makes a difrents.

Two dogs go for the ‘orses wot’s a big mistake ‘cos they’s stone an’ wun ov the dogs gets its skull crunched by an ‘oof. We ain’t bin touched but there’z only three ghool-dogs left an’ now they ain’t got the numbers they run like rats to get outta the Sunbrite.

But the riders iz still wiv us, flingin’ javlins, an’ they ain’t put out by the dogs runnin’ scared. Sieur Thomas flings a javlin at a rider, takin’ hiz leg off, but wun frone by Sieur Alphonse bounces off armour wot we din’t know they had. Merde! The toffs bofe block the rider’s javlins wiv they’z big sheelds.

Meanwhile Stella dodges a javlin an’ wacks a rider wiv her axe – she near takes hiz hed off! He’z left wiv hiz hed hangin’ down hiz chest from a bit ov gristle. Corss, he’z unded so it dun’t put him off.

Then me an’ Eliza team up for the uvver rider. She ducks a javlin an’ takes hiz uvver leg off, (he lost wun from Sieur Thomas’s javlin) so now he’s lookin’ a bit wobbly wot makes it easy when I grabs him wiv me free ‘and an’ flings him off hiz ‘orse. He bounces off a pillar an’ lies on the ground. He’z unded so he’z still crawlin’ but the chariot’s headin’ for the gate again so me an Eliza leave Mr Legless an’ run for it.

I’z feelin’ pretty good – much better than before, like we’z winnin’ easy. But then it all goes sowf. Mon Rat Dieu!

First, I spots a claw cum frew the gate – an’ it’z big, like man-size – Abbot size! An that’s just the claw. Argh, putain!

But worse, Stella’s still battlin’ her rider wiv the dangly hed an’ he smacks her wiv hiz sheeld sumfink crool an’ I ‘ears her arm go crack. Merde, ‘orrid sound! An’ she falls in a heap.

Eliza goes for the Rider wot’z gon after the chariot but I scurries over to Stella, finkin’ mebbe I can drag her, but then the chariot moovs away an’ sudden-like we aint in the Sunbrite no more – an them ghool-dogs ain’t frited an’ I’z facin’ the three ov em’! Zut alors!

But sudden two ravens swoop down an’ they takes a ghool-dog each, leavin’ me standin’ over Stella facin’ the third wiv me dagger…