Ghosts of Gauntcliff, Chapter Seven

[Adam]

Benn grabs her shoulder and pulls her back. "Stay here! Help Everline with the crowd! I will see to him!"

He runs to the window, bashing out any remains of the broken glass before climbing out.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline grunts, seizes Charlotte by an arm and holds on as best she can. She starts making her way towards the two unconscious maids, and punches any of the running crazies that get within range in the face, in hopes of knocking them out.

[Adam]

Benn waves for Everline to toss him the illuminated morningstar, then turns out into the night, following whatever fresh tracks he can spot in the grass and shouting for Jonas.

[ewancummins]

OUTSIDE, THE GROUND WEST OF THE CHATEAU

Benn grabs her shoulder and pulls her back. "Stay here! Help Everline with the crowd! I will see to him!"

He runs to the window, bashing out any remains of the broken glass before climbing out.

The drop on the other side is only three feet; nothing Benn can't easily manage.


''Papa! Papa!"

His son calls to him from someplace downhill, where the mists are thicker.

Benn hears pounding feet that way, receding quickly...

[Rock of the Fraternity]

Everline feels the chill and snarls without making a sound. "Please," she says to Charlotte, pointing at the supine maids. "Wake? Coward got them. Filthy, filthy coward!"

[ewancummins]

THE BALLROOM

Everline grunts, seizes Charlotte by an arm and holds on as best she can. She starts making her way towards the two unconscious maids, and punches any of the running crazies that get within range in the face, in hopes of knocking them out.

Charlotte sobs and tries to pull away.

''I have to go to Jonas! I have to help Benn!"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"No," Everline says, as gently as she can. "You. Good person. But not. Not warrior. You go out. Benn. Breaks." Everline's purple eyes beg Charlotte for understanding. "You. In danger. Too. Benn breaks."

[Adam]

Bennedict runs toward Jonas, holding the mace up high to illuminate the way.

[ewancummins]

The ballroom

"No," Everline says, as gently as she can. "You. Good person. But not. Not warrior. You go out. Benn. Breaks." Everline's purple eyes beg Charlotte for understanding. "You. In danger. Too. Benn breaks."

Charlotte stops. She turns towards the fallen maids.

''I...okay, okay, let me see..."

She kneels down between the women and checks each one in turn.

[ewancummins]

Outside

Bennedict runs toward Jonas, holding the mace up high to illuminate the way.

Benn runs downhill in the fog, tripping and sliding on loose stones.

He hears Jonas cry again-

''Papa!!!"

And he also hears mad laughter and feet pounding the dirt, sounds that recede with the boy's screams for help...

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"You! Do something!" Everline snarls at the people huddled together. "Trip some! Do some! Thing! Many! Against one! Now!"

[Adam]

Benn stands back up, cursing in a particularly ungentlemanly fashion as he runs along. Periodically, he smashes a nearby sapling or bush with the Shillelagh as he runs past, leaving a trail for the others to follow.

[ewancummins]

THE DARKEST OF THE HILLSIDE THICKETS

Benn stands back up, cursing in a particularly ungentlemanly fashion as he runs along. Periodically, he smashes a nearby sapling or bush with the Shillelagh as he runs past, leaving a trail for the others to follow.

Benn jerks to a stop before the edge of a steep defile, three feet across and who knows how far down—mists hide the bottom.

On the other side, Denys Sancerre stands facing Benn, mists swirling around his legs. In his arms, the big man lifts Jonas.

''Papa! Help!"

Denys speaks in sleepy, distorted voice-
"It has to be this way, life for life, blood for blood."

He tosses the boy into the ravine!

[ewancummins]

The ballroom-

Everline sees the shadow rise before her, but too late to do anything more than scream. Madness overtakes her.

[Adam]

Screaming, Bennedict leaps from the ravine, hands stretching out to grab hold of his son.