Lasgol, Eicewald, Camu and Ona meanwhile were waiting hidden among the vegetation, two hundred paces away.
“Now we wait for the signal,” Lasgol whispered to Eicewald.
The Mage nodded. “When this is over, we’ll have to talk about the little business of your companion from the Frozen Continent,” he said, indicating Camu, who was visible at that moment.
“When this is over,” replied Lasgol, who did not want to discuss Camu with the Ice Mage. He knew he wanted to study the creature, and he was deeply distrustful.
I can go in, Camu offered.
I know, but it’s very dangerous for you to go alone.
Danger not scare.
I know you’re very brave. It’s not that. We’ve got to follow the plan. It’s our best chance.
Camu resigned himself. Follow plan.
Thank you. Everything’s going to come out right. Stay with me and don’t fret.
Ona chirped affirmatively.
Ingrid, Nilsa and Gerd made their way to the harbor in the bay in front of the fortress. The southern part was in shadow, while the central and northern stretches were much better illuminated with torches and oil lamps. They spotted watchmen in the two towers of the fortress, which between them looked out seawards, landwards, and over the entrance gate. In addition, there were patrols in the harbor. It was clearly very well-protected. They stopped and watched the half-dozen guards who were patrolling near where they themselves were hidden among the rocks.
“First we count their paces, then we get ready,” Ingrid said, and Nilsa nodded.
The guard in that area of the dock was made up of half a dozen crab-men, who were walking with slow steps. The three of them waited to see what route the patrol took, so that they could move when their backs were turned. They watched them for three rounds, and by then they had mapped the pattern of the route. When the guard turned to the right in front of them, they waited a moment and then ran out behind their backs.
Astrid and Viggo, on the opposite side of the fortress, leapt up with the speed of lightning and the stealth of a snake behind the two lobster-guards. Instead of trying to stab them, they used something Astrid was an expert at: poison. There followed two faint clicks as the glass ampoules broke over the two watchmen’s heads. A moment later they fell dead. Astrid and Viggo held them up to stop them making a sound when their shells hit the ground.
“It worked perfectly,” Viggo whispered.
Astrid smiled. “You had any doubt about it?”
Viggo smiled. The look on his face said ‘of course not’.
The idea had been Eicewald’s. Lobsters and other kinds of seafood are killed with acid, such as lemon, so that they can then be eaten. They could try the same thing with the crustacean-men, he had said, but on a larger scale, and he had been right. Astrid had prepared a poison which was three-quarters acid. It would not have been used like that against humans, but it had worked perfectly with the two watchmen, who had died almost instantly.
Astrid and Viggo signaled to Lasgol and his group with the hoot of an owl to summon them, then they went on as far as the fortress wall, making sure they went unobserved by the watch on top of it. Then, as if they were two enormous black spiders, they began to climb the wall. Their destination was the battlements of one of the four, square towers.
Lasgol, watching beside the two dead watchmen, was impressed by his two companions’ skill. He himself would have had difficulty climbing the wall of the eastern tower, which was old and had not been repaired for a long time. There were points where a stone either jutted out or had fallen which they could use as supports. Even so, it was a difficult ascent.
He and Eicewald watched them as they climbed, making use of everything they had learnt in their training as Ranger Specialists in Expertise. They went up too fast and took too many risks for Lasgol’s taste. He was holding his breath in fear of an accident, but they reached the top without missing a foothold, grasping the projections with strong hands, putting their feet in any crack and cranny with the security only possible for a body which was perfectly-trained and capable of keeping perfect balance in the most hostile of situations.
They disappeared behind the battlements of the tower, and Lasgol breathed out in relief. He listened, but heard no shouts or alarm-calls. It looked as though they had not been spotted.
Where they go? Camu asked him restlessly.
They’re securing the area. Don’t worry.
I go?
Let’s wait a moment. There’ll be guards up there, and they’ll have to neutralize them before they can raise the alarm. It’s a delicate situation. They’re the specialists when it comes to this type of job. They’ll deal with it.
Agree.
Lasgol looked at his friend in surprise. I’m glad we agree, he transmitted, a little surprised by Camu’s reply. His friend seemed to be giving him his approval, which surely showed maturity. Could he be growing up? No, probably not. This was an isolated event. He hoped he was wrong, and that the creature was actually growing wiser.
Suddenly a long rope snaked down the tower wall.
They did it. Now then, it’s time to climb.
They reached the wall at a crouch.
“Are you
