Kultus Read Free Page B

never been one for puzzles, this one seemed plain enough. He scanned the rest of the paper just in case. If he was wrong about this he would end up ‘procuring’ the wrong key, and that could never be good. But there was nothing, no mention of a key anywhere else in The Chronicle .
    Once he had determined that this was the object of his task, he read further:
     
    Duke Darian Hopplite, fortune hunter and explorer, heir to the House Hopplite fortune and eligible bachelor, has decided to show his recent procurement – The Key of Lunos – at the Manufactory’s Repository of Unnatural History. The Key, unearthed by Duke Darian on a recent expedition to the Moon, is an item of great value, and the subject of intense scientific and theological debate. Some say the Key is a vessel for the Almighty, while the scientific community argue the veracity of this, stating that the Key of Lunos is an item of “undeterminable extra terrestrial import”.
    Duke Darian has declined to become involved in the debate, himself stating that the item: “Looks dashed nice on the old mantle”.
    The Key of Lunos will be on display for one week, starting Thrivensday.
     
    Thaddeus sat back in the small wooden chair that still leaned against the wall and rubbed his stubbly chin with one calloused hand. This could be difficult. An item owned by a duke of the Noble Houses. Not only would it mean a hanging offence thieving such an item, but now it was to be displayed in the Repository of Unnatural History. Everyone knew security within that monolith to all things weird and weirder was almost as tight as the Chambers of the Sancrarium. The place was full of dangerous flora and fauna, and the near impregnable aegis was there as much to keep the exhibits in as to keep the light-fingered out.
    There was nothing else for it, he needed advice. First of all he needed to know exactly what he was dealing with. What was this bloody Key and why was it so important? The rest he would figure out as he went. After all, how hard could it be? The Repository’s safeguards might be considered insurmountable by its custodians, but then again they had never tried to stop Thaddeus bleeding Blaklok!

CHAPTER THREE
     
    Castor Cage walked with purpose. He neither rushed nor tarried, but there was a definite sense of resolve to his long stride as he moved down the dank passageway. The High Priest had seemed almost feverish in his eagerness to get the ritual started, and Castor was very keen not to disappoint the High Priest.
    With two other acolytes at his shoulders, the three of them cloaked from head to foot in scarlet satin, Castor felt his confidence rising. Soon the ritual would begin, he and his fellows would be gifted with a boon undreamed of, and he felt almost as keen as the High Priest for this to be underway.
    At the end of the torch-lit passage stood a heavy steel door and, as he reached it, Castor pulled a rusted iron key from within the confines of his flowing robes. There was a small grille set in the centre of the vast portal and Castor could see nothing but blackness through it. Soft whimpers emanated from within and he felt a sudden pang of pity for the cell’s occupant. Castor was by no means cruel, but he understood that he and the other acolytes might sometimes have to perform acts of cruelty to attain their ends. It was a burden he was more than willing to bear.
    He slotted the key into the lock and turned it. Despite the age and condition of the rusted metal door, the lock itself was well oiled and the key turned easily, sliding the bolt mechanism inside with a resounding click. Castor pulled the door open and allowed the light from the wall’s bracketed torches to bathe the cell, revealing the wretch within.
    ‘Earl Beuphalus,’ said Castor with a smile. ‘The time is now. Please come with me.’
    The Earl cringed in one corner. Dried blood stained his torn clothing and he looked gaunt, two hollow eyes staring from within a pallid face. At first