The Light Beneath the Cauldron Read online

  Mary and Lenny were in a small attic space that Lenny had spotted when they came to the top of the stairs within the Cathedral. Olocher had missed this when he came in and looked around but there were a few scary moments when he looked up and they thought he might see them. Now they lay on their bellies above Alderman James. Mary could see Olocher too from her vantage.

  “The only person who put your father in Newgate, was your father himself. You do understand that he was guilty don’t you?” James said speaking to Olocher, “His crimes were terrible indeed.”

  “I don’t care about that,” Olocher said, “Because of you I will never know my father.”

  “Perhaps that would have been no bad thing,” James conceded. “If he had lived and you came to visit him prison he could have talked you out of this madness you’ve embarked on.”

  “Madness?” Olocher laughed, “You think this madness? Have you no idea of the work and preparation to goes into these things?”

  “Murder?” James asked flatly. Mary saw Olocher’s head tilt slightly but he didn’t answer the question. Instead, he asked one of his own.

  “What is it with Edwards and you?” he asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “All of this plan of his has been to impress you. Why is that?”

  “I have no idea,” James said. Mary heard the falter in his voice and saw his face fall at the question, however. It was as if some great heavy burden had just been placed on him. “That is all irrelevant now, anyway,” he said regaining some of his composure. “There are men in pursuit of Edwards who will not let him get away unscathed. If I had to guess I would say your mentor will be lucky to survive the day.”

  “He’s not the only one who won’t survive the day!” Olocher shouted suddenly, leaping across the gap and stunning James with a hard right hook that sent him reeling. Though he didn’t fall, he came close to going over the edge. Mary gasped and Olocher’s head jerked up to look where the sound had come from. Their eyes met but James recovered and he swung hard for Olocher’s face taking his attention back.

  James swung once more but Olocher saw it coming. The younger man dipped and then shot a hard blow to James’ chest winding him. James teetered on his feet, the air gone from him. Olocher lifted a foot to kick him off the ledge and Mary had no choice but to act.

  Letting go of the wood struts that supported her she dropped down on top of Olocher and knocked him over before the kick landed.

  “Mary!” she heard Lenny's voice shout after her. She rolled over and felt the edge of the stairs at her side. She jumped to her feet to find that Olocher was already on his. He kicked hard at her and she doubled over in pain.

  Lenny dropped now too but Olocher was ready and he charged the sailor before he’d even landed his feet. Lenny went over the edge and Mary screamed. James grabbed for his hands but missed and Olocher landed another blow to his face that sent him to ground, hard.

  Mary's eyes darkened and she rushed at Olocher and jumped on him like an animal, digging her nails into the flesh of his cheeks. He screamed in pain and over his shoulder Mary caught sight of Lenny hanging on the ledge where Olocher had been standing before he came over to fight James. He was still alive!

  Olocher thrust his hands between himself and Mary and sent her thrashing to the ground. He wiped his face and saw the blood on his fingers.

  “You’ll pay for that, you bitch!” he said taking a menacing step in her direction.

  “No!” James shouted and Mary saw him barge into Olocher’s midriff and both men went spiralling off the ledge and out of sight. A moment later, there came a thud and she rushed to the edge to see what had happened.

  “Mary, stay back,” Lenny said just managing to pull himself up on the ledge at last after a short struggle.

  Olocher and James lay and moaned on a narrow shelf still high above the floor below. Each was groaning as they attempted to get back to their feet. All it would take was one push for either man to plummet to his death. Mary glanced up at Lenny as if for some idea what to do. He was gearing himself up to make the jump back over to where she now stood. He hesitated and looked down at the ground. That was a mistake she thought, and now she knew she couldn’t wait any longer, she would have to save James herself.

  Mary saw in Lenny’s eyes his shocked and terrified understanding in the moment she made her decision. He didn’t have time to say a word but he jumped to try stop her at the same moment Mary left the ledge. He landed hard on his chest and he cried out as she fell.

  Olocher was on his feet now standing over James who had managed to get to only a half kneeling one.

  “It’s over, Alderman,” Olocher said panting. He raised hand to strike the blow that would see James fall the aisle below.

  Mary saw this from above, lifting her knees to brace herself for the impact.

  The blow never fell.

  Mary crashed hard into Olocher’s back and there was a horrible snap and he howled in agony as they both toppled off the ledge and fell all the way to the floor below. A sickening double thud filled the air and then there was silence.

  Chapter 54

  It was full dark when Muc and Mullins rode up to the gates of Wild Boar Hall, their horses exhausted and their bodies stiff from riding hard. They looked at the house and then glanced at one another before making for the path that led to the house.

  As they moved, however, six men emerged from the darkness of the trees that lined path. Three from either side.

  “You can’t come in here,” the lead man said, “This is private property.”

  “Who’s property?” Mullins asked.

  “That is not the business of the likes of you,” the lead man answered and his cohort laughed. Muc looked at Mullins waiting for his lead on this. Mullins knew what Muc wanted to do but he wanted to be sure to get to Kate in some condition to give Edwards a sound thrashing. Perhaps they should just ride through the men he thought. But then the decision was taken for him.

  “I’ll look after this, Mullins,” Muc said climbing down off his horse slowly.

  “Get back on your horse and leave here,” the lead man said again. His voice was still confident. Mullins knew it wouldn’t be for long.

  “Now lads,” Muc said turning to face them, “One at a time, or melee? I don’t mind either way.” Mullins smiled as he saw the uneasy looks between the men but the leader remained steadfast.

  “Get back on your horse or you’ll regret it,” he said.

  “Well, that’s enough peaceful negotiation,” Muc said pleasantly as a wooden bat dropped from his sleeve and into his hand. The men only got a moment to see this before the leader was on the ground clutching the underside of his jaw and crying out in pain. One man ran away at once heading back into the trees from where he’d come and two more stood in fear or shock while the others moved on Muc. It wasn’t long before these two men were also on the ground rolling in the mud and groaning. Muc wasn’t even out of breath.

  “I don’t think these two men are going to try to impede us anymore,” he said looking at the two remaining gatekeepers. They both shook their heads and stepped out of the path. Mullins nodded in thanks to Muc and started up the path while the brawler got back up on his horse. He smiled widely at the men as he passed and they never took their eyes of him, fearful of a swing of his bat all the while.

  “They disappointed you a little, I think?” Mullins said when Muc drew alongside him.

  “They did,” he admitted, “Especially the first fella, it seemed like he had a bit of life in him at the start.”

  Up ahead a carriage had been drawn up outside the house close to the main entrance. There were skid marks in the earth and the carriage was askew. It had raced up here and came to a sudden halt.

  “That’s not the carriage Edwards was in leaving Dublin,” Muc said. None of the descriptions they’d received of Edwards' carriage matched what was in front of them now.

  “Who owns this then?” Mullins said.

  “Perhap
s Olocher,” Muc said though he didn’t think so.

  “We better tread carefully in here,” Mullins said, “God only knows what’s in store for us.”

  At that moment, there came the noise of a door opening hard to the outside world and both Mullins and Muc looked up towards the roof of the building.

  “You can’t hide up there, Edwards!” a shouted voice came and then there was a scream and the door slammed shut once more.

  “That was Kate!” Mullins said leaping from his horse.

  “They’re on the roof,” Muc said, “And it sounds like someone else is here for Edwards just like us!”

  They sprinted through the door and towards the first stairs they saw, throwing all caution to the wind now. Mullins raced to save his wife and Muc raced to make sure no one got to Edwards before he did.

  The house was deserted from what they could tell and there were signs of a struggle all over the halls and landings. Tables were turned over, mirrors broken and vases toppled to the floor. They ran around like fools for some time, unable to find the route that would lead them to the roof. Finally, Muc grabbed hold of Mullins’ arm,

  “Come one, let’s use a window and climb up; we’re wasting precious time here!” Mullins thought for less than half a second and agreed. They went through the first door they came to on the second floor and made for the window.

  Muc poked his head out and felt the freshly falling rain and saw a way to climb up. He nodded to Mullins and then clambered outside. Mullins gave him a few seconds and then came after him.

  The rain was heavy and their shirts stuck to them almost at once. It also made the gripping of hands and feet all the more difficult. They had to climb up towards a plinth that held a bust of some creature Mullins did not recognize and they used up a lot of strength just holding on between grips.

  There was banging coming from above and when they were close to the ledge they heard the door someone had been pounding on give way.

  “There you are, my dear Edwards!” a voice said in a mocking tone.

  “What are you doing here?” Edwards asked.

  “I came to settle an old score with you,” the man said.

  “I take it Halter is dead?”

  “Not dead,” the man said, “Only in captivity.”

  “Well played,” Edwards laughed and then as though catching himself said, “Where are my manners, introductions.”

  Mullins grabbed Muc’s arm and they stopped. He wanted to hear this before they went up on the roof, wanted to know who they were going to have to contend with. Edwards went on,

  “This fine lady is Kate O’Hara; I know you have met before but were not on first name terms. This Kate, is your former attacker, ‘The Shadow of the Dolocher’ also known as Dr Adams formerly of His Majesty’s Army.”

  Chapter 55

  Kate could not believe what she was hearing. The first thing that came into her mind was not that this man had tried to kill her one evening after Mullins threw her out, but that Mary had been right.

  “Spencer wasn’t the killer?” she said stunned.

  “No, Spencer was sent mad by this fellow and it was easier for all concerned to pin the murders on him at that point.”

  “He’s dead because of all this,” she said.

  “Plenty of people are dead in all of this,” Edwards shrugged, “Besides; Adams here will attest that Spencer was no saint in his time in India.” Adams nodded at this but it still seemed so horrible to her. Spencer and Mary had some kind of relationship Kate didn’t understand and it made it much worse to know for sure now that he was an innocent man.

  “You killed all those people over the last few years?” she said looking at Adams.

  “I’m afraid not,” Adams answered, “Edwards here found me out and made me leave the city in exchange for his silence.” Kate shot a look at Edwards but he was still looking at Adams.

  “As you can see, however, the doctor is not a man of his word,” Edwards said coolly.

  “I see that you are completely in the dark about many things,” Adams said addressing Kate, “Perhaps I should fill you in on more of what Edward's here was up to?”

  “What else could there be?” Kate said already appalled beyond measure at what she’d heard.

  “I think there has been enough talk for now, Adams, don’t you? Why did you come here?”

  “I came here for you.”

  “You’re the one who has been thwarting my plans?” Edwards asked.

  “One of them.”

  “Madame Mel is the other.” Edwards said sounding sure of this fact.

  “Was the other,” Adams said with a dark smile on his face. Kate didn’t understand what he meant until Edwards said,

  “That’s a terrible shame; she was one hell of a good looking woman.”

  “You killed Melanie!” Kate squawked as tears filled her eyes and her throat seemed closed off all of a sudden.

  “Only after she tried to kill me,” Adams said as though it were nothing. It just got worse and worse Kate thought, surely this was the end of it.

  “She had a lot of admirers,” Edwards said, “People will be looking for you now on her behalf.”

  “That’s no matter to me. Once I deal with you I am off again and I doubt I’ll ever see Ireland again.”

  Edwards took a step closer to Adams but they were still far apart. The doctor was blocking the only way Kate could see back into the house.

  “Why don’t we make a deal,” Edwards said, “You let Kate pass and go down into the house and you and I settle our differences up here? She has been through enough and doesn’t need to see any more.” Adams shook his head.

  “I don’t like to fail, Mr Edwards,” he said, “Thanks to you, she got away from me once but she won’t get away a second time.”

  “You’re an animal!” Kate said angrily spitting on the ground in front of Adams. His only reaction was to laugh.

  “You’re some woman,” he said, “You’ve escaped three of the worst killers in the history of this city over the last five years or so, that has to be some kind of singular achievement. If only Thomas Olocher and now his son had a go at you, that would be all of them!”

  “Thomas Olocher’s son?” Kate said, she had not heard of this before. Who was he? Did he mean Gaspard? No, that didn’t make sense.

  The sound of Edwards’ sword being drawn from its scabbard took her attention back to the present moment.

  “Shall we?” he said.

  “I’d rather use my hands,” Adams said, “Does that suit you?”

  “My sword suits me,” came the reply.

  “Coward,” Adams said drawing his own sword.

  “I hope for your sake, your blade cuts deeper than your words,” Edwards scoffed.

  The two men moved closer to each other in the centre of the roof. Kate was too concerned with the impending fight to think about trying to get away for a moment and too late, she saw she’d lost a golden opportunity.

  “Calm,” she told herself, “Another gap will open when they start fighting.” She prepared herself to run.

  Edwards moved in first and Adams parried but only just. Kate had never seen Edwards move in such a way and she was begrudgingly impressed. Adams looked the rougher and stronger of the two but perhaps in swordplay Edwards had the upper hand.

  Edwards jabbed again and then with a flick his blade sliced up the outside of Adams arm. Blood flowed from the wound but eased up almost at once. Adams made no sound that indicated he even felt it. The men circled some more and Kate inched towards the door.

  “If you try to run, I’ll cut you down,” Adams growled at her and he moved back the way he came, making sure her route was well within his reach if he needed it.

  Edwards took this opportunity to lunge again and this time he cut into Adams’ lower leg. Adams grunted in pain but with the low angle of the sword, he grabbed at Edwards’ shoulder and pulled him in close, dropping his own sword in the process. Edwards was too close to do anything with h
is own blade now so he brought the handle grip down hard on Adams head.

  Adams cried out but didn’t let go of Edwards, he squeezed hard and Edwards had to drop his weapon and try to push away with both hands. It was to no avail; Adams was the stronger of the two by some way. They inched closer to the edge and she was sure Adams meant to throw Edwards off.

  Kate saw her chance and made for the door but just as she did, she was shocked to see the furious visage of Lord Muc coming towards her shouting,

  “No!!!!”

  She turned as he passed her and saw him grab Adams from behind and pull both men back from the precipice. Strong arms wrapped around Kate and she jumped before feeling their warmth and knowing they belonged to her husband. She looked at him,

  “I’m fine,” she said, “I’m not hurt.” He kissed her on the forehead and then moved past her to where a three-man brawl was now taking place.

  Edwards kicked at Adams while Adams did his best to stop Muc getting to Edwards. It was pandemonium and Mullins didn’t know where to start. He weighed in with a heavy punch to Adams that sent the man to the ground. Muc moved for Edwards but Mullins put a hand on his friend’s chest and said

  “Let me first. You can finish?” Muc looked at him and then to Edwards who was bending to retrieve his sword,

  “Agreed,” he said kicking up hard into Edwards face and sending him back on to his backside away from his weapon. Muc then turned to deal with Adams.

  Adams was back on his feet and he thrust a closed fist at Muc’ chest. At the last moment Muc saw there was a knife in his hands and he deftly palmed the hand away from his chest and then gripped the forearm before snapping the bone in two. Adams roared in pained anger and dropped the knife clutching his broken arm into him. Muc pushed forward hard taking Adams by his shirtfront and forcing him back until he was leaning back over the edge of the roof. If Muc let go he would go crashing to the steps of the main entrance below. And there was only going to be one outcome in that scenario.