Ghosts of Gauntcliff Chapter Four

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"The gentleman has introduced himself as Fragonard, Monsieur Denys' barber and physician," Everline replies.

[Ail]

At Everline's answer, Eustace nods in the direction of the man. Then he looks to see if Denys Sancerre confirms the name.

[ewancummins]

Sancerre shakes Fragonard's hand. He tells the leech, "Good to see you already at work.What is your opinion of Charlotte's condition?"

Fragonard shakes his head. "Not good, Monsieur Sancerre. Her mind is agitated. She needs to rest. The girl here"--he tilts his head towards Everline--"insists that no one must go to sleep. She tells me that some kind of black magic is at work, something about evil spirits. Is that true?"

Denys nods. "Yes, I fear it's true. I don't want to alarm the staff, so please keep it secret."

Fragonard replies, ""As you wish. " He chops his hand towards Dorgio. "For all her objections to my professional advice, the young lady allowed that gentleman there in the armchair to sleep. She certainly made no attempt to wake him. Curious."

[Ken of Ghastria]

Fragonard replies, ""As you wish. " He chops his hand towards Dorgio. "For all her objections to my professional advice, the young lady allowed that gentleman there in the armchair to sleep. She certainly made no attempt to wake him. Curious."

"Yes," says Primeiro pleasantly, who begin walking toward Everline, "Mademoiselle Vaughn elicits a thrilling amount of curiosity.

"But perhaps, mademoiselle," he continues to Everline, now standing next to her on the other side of the room, "you tax yourself with your vigilance. You've done enough for the moment. Perhaps some fresh air would be welcome...?" He leans in and whispers to her, "Notes, building designs... on the terrace. Go see." He lingers a moment longer than perhaps necessary. Then he continues normally, "Please. I'll watch over things here and consult with Monsieur Sancerre on the best options."

[ewancummins]

Thom and Petrie, in the hills-


Bruno leads Thom and Petrie to a spot near the hole he had been digging. There, under the shade of a mulberry bush, the men see a coffer of walnut reinforced with bronze bands. Inside the small chest they find twisted or cut pieces of silver jewelry, loose coins, and dozens of deep red crystals.

[ewancummins]

"Yes," says Primeiro pleasantly, who begin walking toward Everline, "Mademoiselle Vaughn elicits a thrilling amount of curiosity.

"But perhaps, mademoiselle," he continues to Everline, now standing next to her on the other side of the room, "you tax yourself with your vigilance. You've done enough for the moment. Perhaps some fresh air would be welcome...?" He leans in and whispers to her, "Notes, building designs... on the terrace. Go see." He lingers a moment longer than perhaps necessary. Then he continues normally, "Please. I'll watch over things here and consult with Monsieur Sancerre on the best options."

Denys takes a moment to observe Charlotte. He leans close to her and asks in a soft voice, "Charlotte, do you know me?"

Her only reply is to murmur Benn's name over and over again.

Denys looks around the room. He mutters "Beneath the Grim Bastion." Sancerre now turns back towards Fragonard. "For the Lady's sake, take Charlotte out of this room. She's seen something horrible here. It can't be good for her to remain. Stay with her and tend to her ills as you may. I'll send for you if I need you again."

Fragonard bows.
"Of course, Master."
He takes Charlotte by the hands and leads her from the room.

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio startles awake with a chocking noise, as if he were brought back to the world in the middle of a scream. "Gods' breath, it really was a dream then? How did I fall asleep, was I really so tired?"
He seems to be asking himself more than the others in the room.

"No, no, it was my own doing," he tells the physick. "Too much to drink, likely, and yet the things I saw..."

"I saw spirits, ones which often haunt my dreams," he explains. "They said the children need our help...could it be the children on the boat, are they still sailing to this island? Another said that the darkest road would lead us to the truth...what could that mean?"

While he is pondering these mysteries aloud, he nods at Denys' suggestion about Charlotte. "Yes, best to give her care away from this room...so there is still no word on Benn?"

[ewancummins]

Denys waits till Charlotte is gone and the door is closed, and then tells Dorgio,"No, there is nothing. I've gone over the plans of the chateau, the better to direct a thorough search. Thus far, my servants report no sign of Benn or of either boy. I don't believe they are here at all. That hole, or portal, or whatever it was, took them to another place--or it devoured them."

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline leaves close on Charlotte's heels without commenting to Fragonard's words. She accompanies the distraught woman long enough to know where she is kept and to ensure that she is given proper care -- and then dashes to the balcony and starts going through Sancerre's notes, provided she can find them and no one is there to observe or stop her.

'Darkest road,' she thinks while she scans the papers. 'Sounds like we're going underground again.'

[ewancummins]

Everline

Everline leaves close on Charlotte's heels without commenting to Fragonard's words. She accompanies the distraught woman long enough to know where she is kept and to ensure that she is given proper care -- and then dashes to the balcony and starts going through Sancerre's notes, provided she can find them and no one is there to observe or stop her.

'Darkest road,' she thinks while she scans the papers. 'Sounds like we're going underground again.'

Fragonard leads Charlotte upstairs and down the hall to his office. There, he washes and dresses Charlotte's fingers. He tells Everline. "Run along now, girl, I have work to do. I'll let you know if her condition improves."

Everline dashes past a servant carrying a wooden box and onto the open terrace. The tables are clear; no cups, no platters, and no papers.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Hissing with annoyance, Everline doubles back and seeks out the servant with the wooden box. "Excuse me!" she says, raising her voice as she hurries to catch up. "Are those the blueprints for this resort?"

[Ail]

"Could it be the two boys that have gone missing, Dorgio? Jonas and Juergin?"
Eustace suggests.

[ewancummins]

Hissing with annoyance, Everline doubles back and seeks out the servant with the wooden box. "Excuse me!" she says, raising her voice as she hurries to catch up. "Are those the blueprints for this resort?"

The servant, an old man with a hawk nose, turns to face Everline. "Private things, miss. ''

[ewancummins]

Benn's room

"Could it be the two boys that have gone missing, Dorgio? Jonas and Juergin?"
Eustace suggests.

Denys says, ''Well, they are both children. They are the youngest people on the island, if they are still on the island. "

[RocEter]

Thom and Petrie, in the hills-


Bruno leads Thom and Petrie to a spot near the hole he had been digging. There, under the shade of a mulberry bush, the men see a coffer of walnut reinforced with bronze bands. Inside the small chest they find twisted or cut pieces of silver jewelry, loose coins, and dozens of deep red crystals.

"Well, well, Bruno." Thom says. "Seems you and Vincent had gotten yourself an excellent little score here." He says pointing to the buried. "To be honest I don't care to know how you two came by this, all that matters now is that we will be taking off your hands. After all you wouldn't want to wind up on the gallows for piracy, now would you?" He says closing the lid to the coffer.

Reaching back into his purse Thom pulls put out five more gold coins and places them in Bruno's purse. Pulling the tie strings so the purse closes tight, he tosses into air and catches it. "Listen close Bruno, I don't want to see you or your friend around here again. You got that? If I were you, I would take the coin I found here and find me a nice place with a good looking woman and start a new." He says tossing the coin purse at Bruno. "I would suggest you do the same. Oh and nice doing business with you." He says.

Thom looks at Petrie and smiles "You can carry the coffer and we will talk about how to split it later." He says.