The Magic Trick (The Card Game #2)

Ch 16 - For Spirits and Steeds

CHAPTER XVI

FOR SPIRITS AND STEEDS

An hour later, Viktor collapsed in his bed in the servant's quarters, soaked in cold sweat.

Roksana sat beside him on the bed and felt his forehead. "Should I ask where you've been?"

"The Ghosts are alive—in the dungeons," Viktor gasped. "I found the basement entrance—behind the chapel curtains."

Evenova and Roksana emitted squeaks. The twins, who had been doing strength exercises against the wall, simultaneously crashed into bedframes.

"What!" said Arseni. "Why didn't you get them? Can we free them?"

"It's not so simple," breathed Viktor. "There's a dungeons door—locked—iron reinforced. The padlock was huge. I doubt we could pick it, and we can't blow it apart. There are guards lurking around down there."

The questions began to flow, but as Viktor caught his breath, he began to flesh the story out. All points converged on the ironclad door, and all points rebounded off it.

"This is nonsense," said Roksana. "If we're ruling out every other possibility, how are we going to get past that door without a key?"

"That's what I'm saying—we can't," Viktor said.

"Fine. So we just get the key," said Evenova.

Everyone paused to glare at her.

"And how do you propose we do that?" Arseni asked.

"Take it from Bogatir," said Evenova. She looked around at empty stares. "Remember, the giant sergeant who got too lazy to escort us to classes. He carried a massive key ring. Ring any bells? ... He's about seven feet tall and he always looks like he wants to eat us."

"Oh, him," said Cappi.

"He always did look remarkably hungry," Dukker said reflectively.

"And thirsty," Evenova added.

Viktor leaned in. "Huh?"

Evenova tossed a hand in the air. "Red-rimmed eyes, constant indiscernible mumbling and bumbling about, an obvious lack of work ethic: Maybe he's not as bad as Charlotta's father, but Bogatir's a drinker if I've ever seen one."

Viktor slouched and lay back down, his head in Roksana's lap as he stared up at the stone ceiling. Could it be so simple? Was the Leopard arrogant enough to believe that his Ghosts were invulnerable?

"Brilliant idea—so we just get Bogatir drunk and steal the key?" Dukker asked.

"And sneak the Ghosts out and hand it back?" Cappi asked.

Dukker grinned. "You know, I'm starting to like all these sarcastic plans."

Cappi tipped his hat. "It certainly makes the large chance of failure a little less embarrassing."

"Well this time, no one tells Belch—not even a hint." Arseni took in a room full of nods. "And if we are planning to leave a bottle for Bogatir, it can't be cheap stuff. It's got to look like a gift. I could go to Kasta Way to get it."

Viktor was quick to volunteer to go along. It so happened that there were two other Gypsies in Kasta Way whom he wanted to question, and luckily and unluckily, both of those men shared Bogatir's vice.

**

If there was anything good about Staryi Castle, it was the food and the baths. A dinner in the servants' mess hall of hearty beef stew and potato salad put a spring in Viktor's step, and he felt remarkably clean as he and Arseni left the castle on a Friday evening to make for Kasta Way.