Ghosts of Gauntcliff: Chapter Six

[ewancummins]

A BOY AND HIS SHADOW

The others are so busy trying to help those in need that no one seems to notice Jürgen unhitch and lead away the two mules to carry his boat.
The mules are uneasy near Dark One, but the boy is able to get them under control. After securing his rowboat, Jürgen heads south, leaving Dorgio, Everline, Benn, and the others to do the hard work of search and rescue.

…
As he walks down the beach to the south, a dull throb builds in his jaws. A nasty, salty taste fills his mouth. He feels queasy.

Jürgen stops a moment and coughs out the salty taste in his mouth. "D-Dark One..... My jaw hurts and I don't feel good at all." The lad tries to find someplace to lean or sit. He tries to see how far the chateau is from his position.

Juergin can see the chateau's roof in the distance, past the dunes.

''You are sick, boy? You need a healer?"

[steveflam]

Jürgen spits out some more of the salty taste from his mouth. "It tastes like salt....... and I feel as if I was seasick which never hurts. And my jaw hurts. I don't know if I need a healer but I need to get back so I can lie down. I think the people injured from the boat are more in need of a healer than I am. Let me just try to get back to the Chateau, Dark One. Stay with me, ok?"

[ewancummins]

Dorgio and the girl from the sea


Dorgio leads the mule, while the young woman rides. The slim girl hasn’t spoken yet, but just sits on the animal’s back, wrapped in her blanket, staring at Dorgio with big green eyes. Even with his back turned, he can feel her intense gaze.

The exiled priest crests a grassy dune. From the top he can see the inland hills, the long strand and the misty ocean. Looking south, he picks out the chateau clearly, standing out against the grey fog on its hilltop. Not far now…

“Thank you.” The voice, a little raw and weak, comes from behind him.

[ewancummins]

A BOY AND HIS SHADOW

Jürgen spits out some more of the salty taste from his mouth. "It tastes like salt....... and I feel as if I was seasick which never hurts. And my jaw hurts. I don't know if I need a healer but I need to get back so I can lie down. I think the people injured from the boat are more in need of a healer than I am. Let me just try to get back to the Chateau, Dark One. Stay with me, ok?"

''I am your shadow. You are my boy. "

[ewancummins]

EUSTACE, PRIMEIRO, AND AN ENRAGED SERVANT IN THE EAST HALLWAY-


Primeiro knocks the broom out of the footman's hands.

The servant scampers away down the hall.

[steveflam]

A BOY AND HIS SHADOW

Jürgen spits out some more of the salty taste from his mouth. "It tastes like salt....... and I feel as if I was seasick which never hurts. And my jaw hurts. I don't know if I need a healer but I need to get back so I can lie down. I think the people injured from the boat are more in need of a healer than I am. Let me just try to get back to the Chateau, Dark One. Stay with me, ok?"

''I am your shadow. You are my boy. "

The boy nods and tries to get to the chateau as fast as he can.

[ewancummins]

A BOY AND HIS SHADOW

Jürgen spits out some more of the salty taste from his mouth. "It tastes like salt....... and I feel as if I was seasick which never hurts. And my jaw hurts. I don't know if I need a healer but I need to get back so I can lie down. I think the people injured from the boat are more in need of a healer than I am. Let me just try to get back to the Chateau, Dark One. Stay with me, ok?"

''I am your shadow. You are my boy. "

The boy nods and tries to get to the chateau as fast as he can.

''What about the boat? Will you take it to the chateau?''

[steveflam]

A BOY AND HIS SHADOW



''What about the boat? Will you take it to the chateau?''

Jürgen coughs up some more salty spit and clears his throat. "Yes I'll take it back to the wharfs/docks then head for the chateau."

The boy take the fork in the path to the docks and deposits his boat there, tieing it up. He then heads back for the chateau, still feeling awful.

[ewancummins]

....

Jürgen arrives at the chateau, coming round the front where the path is less steep, an easier walk in the rain. He enters the foyer, hacking and coughing. Standing in the foyer, he hears voices coming from the west wing, maybe the parlors.

[steveflam]

Still coughing and uneasy, the boy asks Dark One "Go see what is going on, I will follow you."

[ewancummins]

Still coughing and uneasy, the boy asks Dark One "Go see what is going on, I will follow you."

The shadow leads its boy into the bright, warm front parlor, where a couple of maids tend a wood stove. Dark One slides round Jürgen to hide from the humans.

The two women look up at Jürgen. The older, heavier one exclaims,
''Oh! Your poor child, you're soaked to the skin. Come over here and get warm. Susanna, fetch some hot tea for the boy, yes and some biscuits too!"

Dark One, nestled on Jürgen’s back whispers,
‘’Biscuits are good for a growing boy.”

[steveflam]

Jürgen blushes a deep red as the women fuss over him. He is only accustomed to his mother fussing over him and that has been a while. He listens more to Dark One then the old biddies and moves over to where they are near the fire and sits on a chair, coughing, jaw aching and still feeling over all rotten.

He does have the right mind to ask, however "Excuse me, coff coff, but would one of you be seamstresses? I have some clothes that need to be made for two of my friends."

[ewancummins]

Jürgen blushes a deep red as the women fuss over him. He is only accustomed to his mother fussing over him and that has been a while. He listens more to Dark One then the old biddies and moves over to where they are near the fire and sits on a chair, coughing, jaw aching and still feeling over all rotten.

The older woman wraps Jürgen in a warm, dry blanket. She begins patting his hair with the edge of her apron.

''A sweet boy like you oughtn’t to be gallivanting about in this unnatural weather. ''
Presently the other woman, Susanna, returns with a plate of buttered biscuits and a steaming mug of spiced tea.

''Here you are, young master'', she says as she offers the food and drink to Jürgen. The pleasant smell cuts through the nasty taste in his mouth; his tummy rumbles.

[ewancummins]

He does have the right mind to ask, however "Excuse me, coff coff, but would one of you be seamstresses? I have some clothes that need to be made for two of my friends."

The older woman turns to dry her apron by the warmth of the wood stove.

'' I'm a fair hand at mending. Lucy, who works in the back shops, now she's a proper seamstress. Just you get warm and dry, and I'll fetch her for you.''

[steveflam]

"Coff coff, thank you. I heard voices. Is everything all right in the Chateau? Mmmmmm.... this drink is nice, thank you. And...... mmmmmffff ,, mffffffffffff.... so are these biscuits..... munch ..... munch......" Jürgen didn't realize how hungry he just might be considering the previous ordeal he had been through.

"Thank you about Lucy, milady, I appreciate it. I think I am hungry, my tummy seems to think so too it grumbled at me."