As the Baron lunged forward, the Doctor stretched his arms out wide in a futile attempt to stop the deadly onslaught. The Baron raised the knife, preparing to strike the Doctor when he jerked sideways with a grunt. The Doctor, lowering his arms, focused his eyes & saw a long wooden shaft jutting out of Rau's neck. It passed directly through & out the other side. Blood began to ooze from the wounds as the Baron dropped his weapon & turned. With wonky steps, he made his way back to the altar, climbed the stairs & collapsed over the body of his lover. In the relative gloom of the chamber, the Doctor heard a faint, pleading voice.
"Tasia..."
It had only been a matter of seconds, but as the Doctor stared up at the altar top, it felt like minutes or hours. He was shaken from this reverie by Martin appearing at his side, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" he said.
"Yes...yes." said the Doctor, distractedly. "Thank you, another moment and..."
The hunter followed the Doctor's gaze & stared unhappily at the sight on the altar.
"I heard everything, why wouldn't he listen?"
Helping the Doctor up, Martin walked with him over to the altar. The Doctor quickly ascended the stairs & made a check of the Baron. He returned shaking his head.
"He just loved her." replied the Doctor, turning his head back up the steps. "Perhaps too much."
"To do all this for love?" said Martin with a shiver. "Love is a very scary thing sometimes."
The Doctor smiled bitterly at this & looked off into the distance of the room as he seemed to recall something.
"That is why most great love stories are tragedies."
"Sounds like a quotation." replied Martin.
"It is, from a book that hasn't been written yet, by an author not yet born. Like Monsieur Hercule Poirot, however, we've still got a task that requires clever usage of our little grey cells...come along Martin & leave them to their rest."
The Doctor indicated the two atop the altar with a tilt of his hatted head &, picking up his umbrella, made his way slowly out of the Deep Chamber. Martin, with a last, lingering glance at the altar, caught up with him.
Gor-Crow lurched forward from his kneeling position. Pain thrummed & throbbed it's way from his chest to the very tips of the fingers of his hands. Behind him, several of the Puppets twitched & croaked. Occasionally, a coherent word or sentence emerged from their frozen mouths before they collapsed to the floor. Some spasmed & jittered whilst others lay as still as the snow. Rising up to his feet, Gor-Crow's breath, laboured & ragged, slowly calmed as he clutched at his chest.
"Timelord...Doctor." he growled, ominously.
He had underestimated the man again! He had survived the Baron's traps, his phantoms & managed to kill the Baron. Gor-Crow clutched harder at his gnarled chest, green blood beginning to seep as he did.
Turning about, Gor-Crow examined what was left of his army. Just over half remained, the loss of the Baron had been a devastating blow, but not a crippling one. As he examined the grotesque parody of life he called Puppets, rage began to bubble & fester. He had let pride get the better of him & allowed the Doctor to run rings around him.
"No more!" he shouted.
He needed only a little time to recuperate from the blow, but once he did, the raised drawbridge would not stymie him. It was time to stop playing.
"We've one more threat to deal with, Martin." said the Doctor, climbing up the stairs & into the interior courtyard. "The greatest threat, Gor-Crow. He's vulnerable now, but he'll be boiling with fury at the loss of a significant chunk of his army. So, we've got to make a plan & it just so happens that I've got a good idea."
Emerging from the stairs, Martin saw the Doctor marching off in the direction of the first Tower & quickly clambered after him. Entering the ground floor, the hunter was surprised to find the stairs had returned to their normal shape. The Doctor continued to speak as he ascended.
"I'm going to do some tinkering & mixing with the Baron's chemistry set & see if I can't make up something that'll fix Gor-Crow. It'll mean vandalism again, but a place like this has too many bad memories to it to be left standing. If Ace were here, I could just borrow a couple tins of her Nitro-9. Of course, it'll mean destroying that beautiful tree." The Doctor added, sadly.
"What kind of chemical?"
"Something that, once we light it, will raise this castle to the ground & with Gor-Crow in it. Once he's dealt with, the remaining Puppets will collapse."
"How are we going to lure him into the castle?" said Martin as they reached the top of the stairs.
"Shouldn't take much, he'll be apoplectic with rage by now, I shouldn't wonder. Just in case, I'll use myself as bait whilst you lower the drawbridge. Once you're sure all of the Puppets have entered, you hit the quick release catch & hop over the bridge before it closes again."
"What about you?"
"As I said, I'll be the bait. Once they're all in, I'll make for the catacombs."
"It's very risky." said Martin, warily.
"Nothing we do now would be without risk." retorted the Doctor. "Anyway, it's me taking the risk."
The Doctor spent the next half hour pottering about with the Baron's chemistry station. Occasionally, a gout of flame would erupt from some chemical mixture he made, or a grunt of frustration would emanate from his direction when something presumably failed. Eventually, the Doctor beckoned Martin over & began filling several beakers & large containers with a red substance.
"All I need now is several lengths of candle wick & I'll have created a timed chemical bomb" he said, smiling.
"Why do you need so many?" asked the hunter, sniffing at the substance.
"I need so much because otherwise the explosion wouldn't be big or fiery enough. Now once we've gotten the candle wick, we'll need to come up with the best place to put it."
replied the Doctor, tapping his lips with the handle of his umbrella.
"I can answer that Doctor." said Martin. "Same place as the candle wick, the entrance hall."
The Doctor sat on one of the rungs of the staircase, snapping & cracking each candlestick that Martin brought to him. It had proven easy to gather up the still viable candles & now all the Doctor had to do was to tie them together.
"Won't the wick just burn out without the wax?" said Martin, sitting opposite the Doctor on the steps.
"Yes, that's why I'm soaking each strand in a little of the substance. Unfortunately, that's why the wick-fuse will have to be very long, otherwise it'd burn through far too quickly thanks to the chemical."
Ten minutes later, and the Doctor had finished his laborious task. They had placed the various glass container collections of the chemical in the alcove to the right, underneath the table & chair which sat by the wall. Dipping one end into the concoction, the Doctor stretched out the fuse to the back of the room.
"Leave your tinder box here & I'll light it when we're ready."
Doing so, the Doctor & Martin stood & made for the exit.
"Now remember, Martin, you make your getaway once all the creatures are inside. If all goes well, I'll be out the catacombs before you know it."
The Doctor stopped near the fountain in the courtyard & stood atop it. Martin gave the man a last, worried glance before breathing deeply & heading for the drawbridge control.
As he walked through the dark tunnel leading to the main entrance, a bad feeling began to well in Martin's stomach. Something did not feel right, but he soldiered on regardless. Entering the side-chamber, Martin found the hammer he had used previously & began to lift up the portcullis. After his task was finished, he walked cautiously over to the small window. Peering out into the falling snow, the hunter could see no sign of the Necromancer nor his legion. Wondering what to do now, he was about to rush back to the Doctor when a large shape sped from the protection of the forest.
Martin recognised the shape as Gor-Crow, his antlers easily noticeable. He also noticed that the creature was laden with something huge. With a roar of utter fury, Gor-Crow reached the gap between the stone bridge & castle & threw the large something with great force toward the closed drawbridge. A splintering, ear-splitting smash sounded & Martin, rushing to the chamber opening saw what had been thrown.
It was a fallen tree & it had bridged the gap beautifully, whilst also tearing apart the wooden drawbridge. The sight of Gor-Crow marching over the impromptu bridge, his puppets shuffling behind him, caused Martin to recoil back into the side chamber.
For what seemed like hours, but had truly only been minutes, the Puppets shambled in, groans & growls echoing in the small tunnel as they did. Eventually, the last of their number passed by & Martin came back to life.
He could no longer close the drawbridge, but he could still shut the portcullis. The only problem was that it would shut long before he could escape through it. Walking out into the passage, Martin saw the sheer size of the tree that the creature had hurled & a thought came to him.
"It's big enough that the portcullis would shut atop it & I'd still have enough room to crawl under. Then I would only need to climb onto the tree."
Deciding on this course of action, Martin returned to the side-chamber &, with a hefty blow, smacked the quick release catch on the portcullis. The tell-tale signs of it's release & it's connecting with the top of the tree echoed out. Hurrying back into the corridor, Martin quickly ducked under the lowered portcullis &, grabbing hold of a still connected branch, clambered up & on to the impromptu bridge. Reaching the edge, he ran to the far end of the bridge & looked back on the castle.
Now, it was all up to the Doctor.
The sound of splintering wood from the gate gave the Doctor a start. Something had gone wrong, or at least changed the direction of his plans.
"This always happens." he thought. "No matter how meticulously I plan, the enemy always finds a way to mess it up. Wasn't it a Prussian that said ""No plan survives contact with the enemy""?"
Thudding preceded the sight of Gor-Crow. Stooping slightly to make his way through the tunnel, he stood up now to his full height of nine feet. Even at his distance away from the creature, the Doctor couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
"Come no further, Gor-Crow." he said, his voice deep & loud. "I'm warning you now, leave this world, abandon your thralls & give them peace. Because woe betide you if you continue forward, that I promise you."
The Doctor had expected a laugh of disdain, but the huge creature remained silent. Behind him, the puppets filed out of the tunnel & began to spread about the courtyard. Defiantly, and not without a little trepidation, the Doctor fixed his gaze upon the dark sockets of the deer skull. Despite the lack of flesh & blood eyes, the Doctor felt himself scrutinised, even more so did he feel the wave of malice & rage exuding from the last & greatest Sanguis Plestia.
"My pride has cost me much these few nights, Timelord, but I shall falter no longer. This night you die in pain & torment, this I declare!"
"Well, it's always interesting to encounter an enemy who learns." said the Doctor, smiling as he took out his watch from his breast pocket. "But I'm afraid I haven't the time to continue talking. You see, I've lost my memory & need to get looking for where I left it. Goodbye, Gor-Crow!"
With that, the Doctor returned the watch to his pocket, doffed his hat & fled up the stairs & through the entrance hall door. Slamming it shut behind him, he hurried over to the wick-fuse & began to strike the firesteel & flint together. The first terrible bang on the entrance hall door sent a splinter of wood flying out & onto the floor. A second bang was accompanied by the talons of Gor-Crow, bursting through the wood. Seconds past and still the flint would not light. Panic began to set in as the Doctor struck & struck the firesteel & flint together. Looking over, Gor-Crow was almost through the door.
"Light! Light will you stu-"
A sudden spark halted the Doctor mid-sentence & he smiled widely as he watched the wick burst & flicker. The substance was keeping it alight, but it was passing over the wick far quicker than the Doctor had anticipated. Picking up his umbrella & pocketing the tinder box, the Doctor stood & ran for the stairs.
As he reached the half-landing, the doors burst asunder as Gor-Crow flung them open so hard that what little remained shattered & splintered upon contact with the walls. An high pitched shriek emanated from the deer skull as the Necromancer pointed a long, taloned hand at the Doctor. From behind him, the faster & fleet of foot Puppets surged into the Entrance Hall, their yellowy eyes fixed upon the Doctor.
Turning, the Doctor hurtled up the last steps & barrelled through the door to the Long Gallery. Slamming it behind him, he continued quickly. He had barely reached the halfway point when the door he had just shut crashed open & onto the floor. Glancing over his shoulder, the Doctor saw several, partially decomposed bodies rushing into the corridor, their snarls & howls filling his ears.
Reaching the end, the Doctor passed through the doors & fled up the stairs & immediately out into the Interior Courtyard. Heaving & sucking in huge lungfuls of air, the Doctor leaned on his umbrella as he panted.
"Don't...stop now...you silly old...fool."
Hearing a crash from the Back Hall, the Doctor felt his second wind & shot off in the direction of the Tower.
Gor-Crow stood by the fountain in the courtyard, still as a statue. He could sense something. Dropping to the ground, his long talons searched through the snow & ice. Eventually, he reached the exact centre of the Courtyard & laid his huge palms flat on the cold, cobblestone surface. A gurgling chuckle filled the night air.
"A gift." said Gor-Crow. "From the late, lamented Baron."
The few puppets that had remained with the Necromancer suddenly began to spasm. All dropped to the ground in unison as Gor-Crow, the courtyard filling with his voice, began to utter words in the language of the Sanguis Plestia once more.
The Doctor passed through the Tower ground floor & was about to push on through into the next courtyard when he stopped. An idea came to him as he looked at the hole created by the illusion of Urat. Smiling, he positioned himself by the doors & waited. The sounds of many feet, tramping & shuffling through snow & over stone, soon grew louder. The other doors pushed open, slowly & carefully, as the first of Gor-Crow's Puppets passed into the chamber. Whoever they had once been, there was little to recognise now. The former persons nose had seemingly been chewed off, as had their ears. The lips had pulled back, revealing several missing teeth. At various points, the Puppet's flesh had been bitten or chewed off, rendering discernment of gender impossible.
As it's yellowy eyes travelled the chamber, more & more of it's fellows entered the room, some in even greater states of dishevelment. Suddenly, all eyes landed upon the Doctor, who now stood with his left hand holding the lapel of his coat, his umbrella hanging in the crook of his elbow, & in his raised right hand, the Sonic Screwdriver held aloft.
As they shuffled forward, the Doctor squeezed the Sonic Screwdriver & watched as the floor pulled apart. The Puppets who had entered fell out of sight quickly, a cacophony of dwindling shrieks & moans the only sound for several seconds.
The many who had not entered stood now by the door, staring intently at the Doctor. Doffing his hat once again, the Doctor turned & left.
Martin had taken a few minutes to gather his energy & was intent upon reaching the catacomb entrance when he first heard the noise. The rustling of leaves & the crunch of snow from the forests direction made him stand up & ready his bow. As the seconds ticked by & the noise grew louder, the hunter realised how futile his endeavour would be if this were more of Gor-Crow's Puppets.
It was as he was wrapping the bow around him that he began to hear voices. Hushed, they were still audible &, against his better judgement, he called out.
"Who goes there?"
The answer came in the form of a hard-worn man riding a horse. The horse pushed it's way through the snow-covered foliage & undergrowth & was soon accompanied by many other riders, all bearing torches.
"Be you Martin the Hunter?" said the hard looking man.
"Yes."
"I am the Bailiff from the neighbouring town. We came as soon as we could."
"Wojeck reached you?" said Martin.
"Yes." answered the Bailiff. "His story was a little hard to swallow, but we've since seen the village of Singur, the ring of bodies. He said that you would be here with a Doctor, where is he?"
"Still in the castle, he's luring the Necromancer into a trap. This castle and all in it will be raised to the ground."
The man dismounted his horse & observed the castle.
"What of the Baron?"
"Dead." said Martin, doing his best not to sound guilty. "I cannot wait here with you, I must go to the catacombs exit!"
Thanks to the Baron's trap, the Doctor reached the Catacombs alone. Entering, he stopped briefly at the bottom step to take hold of a torch & began to hurry along the passage. The route he took with Yetta was still fresh in his memory & he quickly made his way through the dank & gloomy tunnels.
As he approached, what he believed to be, the half-way point, a movement to his right caught his eyes. Stopping, the Doctor peered into one of the many alcoves, in which the bodies experimented by the Baron lay. The body he looked upon could have passed for someone merely asleep, such was the lack of decay.
Peering closer, the Doctor lurched backwards as the eyes flickered open & the body lunged for him, snarling & scratching as it did.
"Gor-Crow!" growled the Doctor, backing away from the form thrashing & lashing on the floor.
Back up the corridor the Doctor had just taken, he could see murky figures pulling themselves free from their resting places. Without waiting, the Doctor turned & fled along the path to the exit. As he did, arms flailed from the alcoves, soon joined by spasming bodies thanks to Gor-Crow's energy flowing into them. At several points, the grabbing hands clamped around the Doctors leg or a wrist & he had to beat them off furiously with either the torch or his umbrella. Wading through increasing numbers of the undead, the Doctor was buoyed by the sight of the exit, the light shining through the hole. Reaching it, he felt his heart plummet to the floor.
He had forgotten that the ladder had been destroyed in his previous escape.
Turning back, the Doctor looked on in horror as the undead began to slip out of the inky darkness, bones cracking, slobber dripping from gummy, rotting mouths. He had steeled himself for the inevitable when he heard a noise from above him.
"Doctor!" shouted Martin. "Take my hand!"
Smiling, the Doctor jumped as high as he could & latched onto the hunters outstretched arm. Straining as he did, Martin pulled the little man up. As he ascended, the Doctor noticed several other men grabbing hold of him & hoisting him up. Below, the Puppets clutched at air & milled about the entrance, moaning & wailing as they did.
"What in the name of God are they?" said one of the unfamiliar men.
"The dead re-animated." said the Doctor. "We've got to get away from here, any minute now this castle is going to be blown sky high!"
All concerned needed no other telling. The group fled as far as they could, around 100 feet the Doctor estimated, when Castle Adanc erupted.
Gor-Crow stumbled through the flames & into the tunnel. What little power he had left, he used to fend the flames from his body. All around him, the Castle Adanc burned & crumbled. Rage & desperation kept him going. Rage at the Timelord's duplicity & cunning, desperation not to fade in the flames. Outside, he could still enact one final contingency. All he needed was to make it over the final obstacle...
The Doctor recovered first. Standing up, he recovered his hat & jammed it onto his head. Walking over to the prone form of Martin, he spoke cheerily as he helped him up.
"Up you get, Martin, can't be sleeping in weather like this."
The hunter brushed snow from his cloak & face as he turned to the little man.
"You're a very clever man, but you cut things fine, very fine indeed!"
"Yes, I do tend to." said the Doctor, gripping one lapel with his free hand. "I'd forgotten about the ladder, it's just as well you came when you did. I believe that's two I owe you."
The hunter smiled & placed a friendly hand on the little man's shoulder.
"My friend, you owe me nothing. Without you, the Baron & Gor-Crow would still be running amok."
The Doctor was about to reply when one of the strange men interrupted.
"We best go & speak to the Bailiff. He'll want to know what happened."
The Doctor's face fell at this & a worried look spread over his features.
"I don't like explanations." he said. "Well, ordinarily I don't mind, but this might be a little tricky."
"I'm afraid you'll have to soldier on, Doctor." said Martin, smiling as he ruffled his beard.
"Who are they?" said the Doctor.
"Men from the neighbouring town, Wojeck reached them & sent them along."
The Doctor sighed. It seemed the night was not yet over with.
They reached the Bailiff quicker than expected. The man was positioned near the main bridge to the Castle & was staring at it in wonder, the smouldering, flaming ruins of what had once been Castle Adanc, as the Doctor & co reached him.
"Hello, I'm the Do-"
The Doctor got no further. The rending of metal & a hoarse, gurgling roar shattered the relative silence of the night. From the direction of the bridge, Gor-Crow, little flames burning in many places across his body, hurtled forth over the log he had used as a bridge & stumbled over the stone bridge toward the assembled onlookers.
"Timelord...you have only delayed...not halted..."
The gurgling voice filled the night air & seemed to transfix all who heard it. Despite this, the Doctor was seemingly unaffected.
"All of you, bring your arrows, set them alight!" he ordered.
The assembled men shook their heads &, obeying the order mindlessly, nocked their arrows & took aim. Arrow after flaming arrow was sent into the body of Gor-Crow who continued to stumble forward, his arm outstretched toward the Doctor.
"You cannot kill me." came the gurgling, malice-ridden voice. "For I am the Lord of the Dead!"
Reaching the group, Gor-Crow, in one swift motion, impaled the nearest man on his flaming claws & flung him far. Still, the men continued to fire arrows into the now raging flames that made up the creatures body.
Another motion of the Necromancer's arm sent men flying before he halted & twitched. Slumping to his knees, Gor-Crow leaned back but failed to fall the entire way. Raising his eyeless skull to the heavens, Gor-Crow let loose a final, ear-splitting screech of rage as the fire consumed him.
From some distance back, the Doctor watched, his face unreadable, as golden orbs, standing out from the orange & red of the licking flames, drifted & bobbed in the air, before they began to float gently into the clear night sky.