Ghosts of Gauntcliff, Chapter 3

[ewancummins]

Everline's room


Now that Jeurgin has left, Charlotte closes the door and locks it.

"The boy, Jeurgin, he means well. He's obviously worried about you."

Benn's wife goes through Everline's closet and picks out a suitable outfit for the day.

"Let's get you back to looking like a proper young lady.''

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Thanks fer the help," Everline says. Wincing, she goes to her knees and pulls a mithril breastplate out from under the bed. "I feel like I aged fifty years in one night," she grumbles as she straightens up and unlaces her traveller's shirt. Underneath, rather than the usual linen tunic or lacey things favoured by noblewomen, is the padding needed by those who habitually wear armour. In deference to Everline's womanhood, however, it is cleaner than such padding usually is. "Have ye ever helped anyone on with armour 'afore, Charlotte?"

[ewancummins]

"Thanks fer the help," Everline says. Wincing, she goes to her knees and pulls a mithril breastplate out from under the bed. "I feel like I aged fifty years in one night," she grumbles as she straightens up and unlaces her traveller's shirt. Underneath, rather than the usual linen tunic or lacey things favoured by noblewomen, is the padding needed by those who habitually wear armour. In deference to Everline's womanhood, however, it is cleaner than such padding usually is. "Have ye ever helped anyone on with armour 'afore, Charlotte?"

"No, but I've helped big women get into little corsets. I worked for a tailor before M. Sancerre hired me. "

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline drops her traveller's shirt on the bed, and presses the armour against her chest with one hand.

"Never wore one'a them, I have ta admit," she says. "Anyhoo, there's belts on this thing, yeah?" Using her free hand, Everline flaps one of the 'belts' up and down. "Jus' pull 'em across me back an' fit 'em in the loops opposite. They dun' need ta be too tight, jus' tight enough so the armour can't shift."

[ewancummins]

Everline drops her traveller's shirt on the bed, and presses the armour against her chest with one hand.

"Never wore one'a them, I have ta admit," she says. "Anyhoo, there's belts on this thing, yeah?" Using her free hand, Everline flaps one of the 'belts' up and down. "Jus' pull 'em across me back an' fit 'em in the loops opposite. They dun' need ta be too tight, jus' tight enough so the armour can't shift."

'So, it's actually a lot like a corset. Don't worry, I won't make it so tight."

After the armor is fitted, Charlotte helps Everline get dressed.
"I picked this." She holds up a loose, lightweight cotton robe, dyed dark blue. "With a high collar or a ruff added, it ought to conceal your armor. I suggest you don't wear anything under it but that padded shirt and the armor- otherwise you'll sweat too much."

[Ken of Ghastria]

The Terrace-

"Oh, Dorgio, you were always good with the young ones. Later , I'd like to pick your brains for ideas about a children's party. At least three of the families are bringing their young sons and daughters." A wistful smile forms on the big man's florid face. "It will be good to hear the laughter of children again." With that, Denys steps through the door.

Primeiro's face freezes in mid-bite as Denys speaks. Then, as soon as Sancerre leaves, he says softly but excitedly to those still at the table, "Children? There are children coming possibly as soon as tomorrow?! Can we afford to let the mystery at the ruins linger for another day if children may soon walking around this island?"

He says to Dorgio, "I may not understand spellcasting, but I know that, yes, you'll need to prepare for tonight." He looks at Benn, Thom, and Eustace, "What say you, gentlemen? Shall we tackle this spirit today?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Ah well, y'see, there are a few things I'll need," Everline says, as she pulls something else out from under the bed. "It's why I wear the sleeves an' the skirt a bit... wide, y'see."

Buying a leather harness is not illegal. Many workers wear one, to hang tools from in the field. Of course, those workers don't buy two, then fill every loop on the armour with a dagger, no matter how workmanlike it may be, and then spiral them around their arms the way Everline is trying to do. The morningstar, which she hangs from a belt about her hips after doffing the travelling hose, is just not fashionable however you look at it.

"This is one'a those finicky bits I'll need help with," Everline says after her third failed attempt to get one of the harnesses around her arm.

[ewancummins]

"Ah well, y'see, there are a few things I'll need," Everline says, as she pulls something else out from under the bed. "It's why I wear the sleeves an' the skirt a bit... wide, y'see."

Buying a leather harness is not illegal. Many workers wear one, to hang tools from in the field. Of course, those workers don't buy two, then fill every loop on the armour with a dagger, no matter how workmanlike it may be, and then spiral them around their arms the way Everline is trying to do. The morningstar, which she hangs from a belt about her hips after doffing the travelling hose, is just not fashionable however you look at it.

"This is one'a those finicky bits I'll need help with," Everline says after her third failed attempt to get one of the harnesses around her arm.

Charlotte chuckles as she assists Everline with the harnesses. "You know, if there is some sort of trouble, you'll probably have to tear off your gown to really fight. That will be quite a sight- a bare-bottomed girl armed to the teeth. "

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline shrugs. "Skirt's got a slit in it, so I can pull out Ole Trusty," she says, patting the morningstar -- carefully. "Don't catch the eye none. Thank goodness fer riding skirts, wot? An' I got more ta 'ide up me sleeves. Would ye gi' me the box from under the pillow, please?"

[ewancummins]

Everline shrugs. "Skirt's got a slit in it, so I can pull out Ole Trusty," she says, patting the morningstar -- carefully. "Don't catch the eye none. Thank goodness fer riding skirts, wot? An' I got more ta 'ide up me sleeves. Would ye gi' me the box from under the pillow, please?"

"Sure."

Charlotte does as she is asked.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Ta," Everline says, and extricates from the box -- two wands, which she hides about her person. "Oh, righ'," she says, as she pulls another knife out of the box.

Everline closes her eyes, visibly focuses -- and flips the dagger in her hand so that the hilt points forward. "Gettin' better," she says with grim satisfaction. "Slowly, but a li'l better. Now. This one's for you. Strap it to yer arm an' 'ide it up your sleeve, or else put in in yer belt. Jus' make sure no-one sees it afore ye need it."

[ewancummins]

"Ta," Everline says, and extricates from the box -- two wands, which she hides about her person. "Oh, righ'," she says, as she pulls another knife out of the box.

Everline closes her eyes, visibly focuses -- and flips the dagger in her hand so that the hilt points forward. "Gettin' better," she says with grim satisfaction. "Slowly, but a li'l better. Now. This one's for you. Strap it to yer arm an' 'ide it up your sleeve, or else put in in yer belt. Jus' make sure no-one sees it afore ye need it."

''Oh, thanks. "

Charlotte hides the knife under her skirts.

"Everline...If something attacked you in your dreams, can any of this really protect you?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline shrugs. "Dunno. But I figure if somethin's attackin' in dreams, maybe there's a dreamer. The ogre what... attacked me said I was in 'is dream, so who knows? An' if there's a flesh-an'-blood dreamer, e's got a good length o' steel comin' fer 'is eyeballs. Or whate'er other balls I can take it to."

Everline's merry smile is just slightly marred by the dark look in her eyes.

"Anywho," she says, shrugging again to dispel the awkward moment, "there's this clever bloke at the University o' Dementlieu who thinks ye end up in dreams wit what yer thinkin' ye should have on ye. So I put on me kit, so I won' be without it."

[ewancummins]

''What, you plan to sleep in all that? Presposterous. Besides, if it only matters what you think you ought to have on you, wouldn't thinking about all this stuff be enough to do the trick?"

Charlotte shakes her head.

"As for this idea of yours, that there is some man on the island, sending you evil dreams...I'm not sure what to say. Are you suspicious of the servants? The other guests? I mean, there aren't all that many people here. Or do you think this enemy of yours is hiding someplace? " She sits down on the bed. " Listen to me, I sound just like my husband. Hmmm...Isn't it possible that you just had a very bad nightmare?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"'s Easier ta think of somethin' when ya know -- A-hem, do please excuse me..."

Everline's accent goes from 'comfortably common' to 'imperially high society' by ways of a brief "Mi, mi, mii~".

"I do find it much easier to visualize a concept if that same concept has, indeed, been experienced and ingrained into one's being," the young woman continues.

"As for my having had a simple visit from the dark horse -- I have never, in my entire life, experienced such a horror as invaded my dreams last night. But I have suffered attacks to my health. I am positive your husband must have spoken of our shared experience with the 'Devil's Horn'-fungus. And I assure you, my affliction is not just mental. It is also physical.

As for suspects: I have heard mention of a restless spirit, somewhere on this island. It is a place to start, if no other presents itself."

Everline's blue eyes gaze into Charlotte's. "As you can imagine, I am well aware that not everyone is as harmless as they may appear." In emphasis, Everline pats her hip, where the hilt of 'Old Trusty' lies hidden beneath a fold of fabric.