Dragovar descended towards a stone manor house, on the outskirts of the town. The walls and outbuildings were of the golden stone too and were evidence of wealth. As we followed Dragovar down, many servants came rushing out of the buildings. Our arrival had evidently caused a great deal of consternation. A plump, apple-cheeked, grey-haired woman wearing good quality but severe clothing came bustling out of the main house. She had an air of authority, and many of the servants clustered behind her.
"Sir Tasseder, Miss Elinne, is there anything wrong that you arrive home this way?" she enquired, bobbing a brief curtsey to Sir Tasseder.
"Dragovar, Castamir and Chessina, this is Mistress Kettle my housekeeper, as you can see Mistress Kettle, my guests are wizards and Chessina is Castamir's apprentice," Sir Tasseder said in introduction. “No, nothing is wrong."
Mistress Kettle curtseyed to us and we nodded to her. As Mistress Kettle rose, her eyes travelled to Chessina's face. Mistress Kettle's hands rose to her mouth and muffled her scream.
"By the gods, Shareen, it's Shareen," Mistress Kettle cried, eyes wide in shock.
"Mistress Kettle was Shareen's maid," said Sir Tasseder in explanation. “Come within to my study and I shall explain."
Sir Tasseder led the plainly shaken woman indoors followed by Elinne and Chessina, so very similar in looks and yet so very different in gait, poise and dress. Dragovar and I rolled up our rugs and carried them firmly. Neither of us wanted any venturesome servants to experiment with them.
As we entered Sir Tasseder's study, he was trying to calm Mistress Kettle.
"She looks like Shareen, but she can't be. She's only a few years older and Shareen disappeared so long ago," the housekeeper wailed.
"Miss Brockwyn," I said as I turned to her, "I would be grateful if you would organise some tea for this poor woman."
Elinne nodded and left the room.
"Mistress Kettle," I said as Sir Tasseder gently eased her onto a chair, "we believe that Chessina may indeed be Shareen, but we know that she is under a curse and remembers nothing of her early life. We are here to try to discover more about the curse, and to try to cure it. You may well be able to help."
"Help?" Mistress Kettle said in puzzlement. “How can I help?"
"We believe that Shareen's brother Agravar had something to do with Shareen's disappearance. Anything you could tell us about his relationship with Shareen would help."
"Oh, him," the housekeeper almost spat the words. “Shareen thought the sun shone out of his fundament, and he did nothing to disabuse her. Always ready to take notice of Shareen he was, and she would do anything for him, but I didn't like him. I didn't like the way he looked at her when she wasn't looking and the way he would touch her, I didn't like that either. It was far too familiar a way for a brother to touch a sister. I was glad he had his own household and didn't live here."
"I knew nothing of this," said Sir Tasseder.
"You were just a little boy," said Mistress Kettle. “I did once tell the old mistress, your grandmother, but she told me not to be foolish, so I never said anything more. I made sure though, that Shareen was never alone with Agravar thereafter. He used to tell her stories of what he was doing at that wizarding school and Shareen was fascinated by them."
At this point Elinne returned, followed by a maid carrying a tea tray. As tea was being poured I turned to Dragovar.
"Wizarding school, I didn't know there was one," I remarked.
"There was although I never went to it, being apprenticed to the old Royal Wizard," he replied. “It was shut down later and some ugly rumours about it were circulating at court. Wizarding schools fell out of fashion after that. I'll check in the archives when we get back to the capital."
"I'm wondering," I said, "if the rumours involved an area of study beginning with 'D'."
"Quite possibly," Dragovar commented. He turned back to the housekeeper, as the maid had just left.
"Mistress Kettle, did Agravar ever mention anything about the old temple near here?" asked Dragovar.
"Yes he did, not long before Shareen disappeared," the housekeeper answered. "He said he thought there was something there that could really help him in his studies."
"Sir Tasseder, who owns Agravar's old house now?" I asked.
"The family still owns it," Sir Tasseder replied, "although it's boarded up. The night Agravar was killed there was a terrific storm. I remember the demon that killed him was struck by lightning and he revelled in it, laughing."
"You must have been a very skilled warrior and had the favour of gods to kill him," said Dragovar. “Tell me, was the blade you used old?"
"Yes, my grandfather brought it back from one of his voyages," Said Sir Tasseder.
"I would like to see it, sometime. It probably carries enchantments," said Dragovar. “I'm sorry to interrupt you, professional curiosity."
"The storm created a massive sandbank in the middle of the harbour, so that the large merchant ships could no longer enter," continued Sir Tasseder. “The town started to decline when efforts to dredge the sandbank proved fruitless and many people moved away. Agravar's house was made weather-tight but nothing else was done, and is only visited rarely to check for structural decay."
Dragovar and I looked at each other.
"That storm and its result does not sound natural, Sir Tasseder," I said
"I agree," said Dragovar. “This needs to be looked into."
"After, however the investigation of Agravar's house and the old temple," said Chessina firmly. “Please keep your minds focussed, it's important for wizards."
oOo
We set off for Agravar's house shortly thereafter. We were accompanied by Sir Tasseder and his daughter Elinne. This last had been a bone of contention as Sir Tasseder had wished to keep his daughter safe at home, despite her protests.
"I would strongly suggest, Sir Tasseder," Dragovar had said, "that your daughter should accompany us. There is magic in the family, and even if your daughter never wields it, she should at least understand it."
Sir Tasseder had finally acquiesced and the party set off. The streets we passed through were in an area that had been well to do and were mostly deserted. Many of the fine brick and stone houses were unoccupied and showed signs of dilapidation, their gardens neglected wildernesses. When we arrived at Agravar's boarded up property Dragovar gave instructions to Elinne and Sir Tasseder.
"Please remember that we are dealing with very unpleasant magic," Dragovar said. “Don't touch any books, scrolls, letters or other writings but point them out to us. Likewise, don't touch anything you are not sure of, or anything you think in any way suspicious. We know how to tell if something is magic and to have some idea of the dangers. You don't."
Sir Tasseder opened the padlock that secured the hastily repaired front door, which swung awkwardly on its hinges. The smell that issued from within was musty, not that of damp or mould although there was the hint of something unpleasant and unnatural. I wondered if this was only discernible to wizards.
The dust lay thick upon all the surfaces, broken here and there by confused footmarks that were themselves dust laden.
"The servants are supposed to check all the unoccupied properties two or three times a year to see if there are any problems," said Sir Tasseder. “I don't think they are always scrupulous about this house though, it has a bad reputation."
"We can't work with all this dust here," I said. “I know a quite useful spell for this."
I intended to conduct a little experiment. I did know a dust banishing spell, but to banish the dust and dirt in an entire house would be exhausting. I wondered if I could use the tower to provide the energy for the spell rather than myself. If the experiment didn't work however, there would be no real harm done. I gripped my staff firmly and felt for the tower, it took a moment but I was sure I had it. I murmured the words of the spell and the dust vanished accompanied by a brief red flash from the staff's head. I could feel that the dust had vanished over the entire hou
se. I had done it! I had intentionally drawn on the tower! True, I needed the staff currently, but I was sure that eventually I could do without it. I was on the way to truly being the master of the tower. I couldn't help a big grin breaking out on my face. Chessina smiled back and Dragovar looked at me with a slightly puzzled expression. I don't think Sir Tasseder or Elinne noticed, being too distracted by the disappearance of the dust.
"That's better," I remarked.
The removal of the dust displayed the room in all its decayed grandeur. The wall hangings, though now dust-free, were faded and moth-eaten. Some had rotted from the sunlight and pieces had fallen to the floor. The centre of the room was dominated by a large carved oak table having expensive turned legs, surrounded by four chairs. The chair behind the table was also of carved oak, high backed and with arms. Closer examination showed it also had footrests so that anyone sitting in it appeared taller. Conversely the three chairs in front of the table were somewhat low and backless. A bookcase with several leather-bound volumes was easily visible from the low chairs. There was an armillary sphere on a stand with another high-backed wooden chair with arms, tucked into the corner behind it. Charts and diagrams now faded almost into illegibility adorned one wall. I walked forward to examine them more closely.
"What room was this, Sir Tasseder? asked Chessina.
"I believe it was the receiving room," Sir Tasseder answered.
"That would make sense.” I then added, “These charts are just to impress the gullible. They contain real magical, astrological and alchemical symbols, but they are all mixed together in a meaningless jumble."
"I think these books too were just here to look impressive," said Dragovar from the bookcase he had gone to examine. “The only book on magic is the collected works of that old fool Pontichook. His crackpot theories were debunked over a century ago."
"The armillary sphere is useless for astronomy master, it's mounted at the wrong angle," said Chessina, having examined it. "I don't like chair behind it though master, it smells very nasty."
"You can smell magic?" asked Sir Tasseder.
"Yeess . . . to an extent," replied Chessina.
Dragovar and I joined Chessina to examine this chair.
"The wood it's made of is black. I don't recognise it," I said.
"It's duskwood. It only grows in the far south," Dragovar responded. “It takes enchantments well, although some say it has a preference for evil magics. That's just old wives' tales though."
"I've seen something like this before," said Chessina, "the carvings at wrist and ankle will move to grasp and hold someone sitting in the chair. The carvings on this one are of skeletal hands. A variety of unpleasant things can then occur to the one trapped depending on the particular enchantments on the chair."
Dragovar rapidly cast several analytica spells.
"The unfortunate inmate of the chair could be subjected to pleasure, pain, weakness, sleep and weakening of the will. This is a rather powerful, if unpleasant, enchanted item," said Dragovar. "I wonder where Agravar obtained it. Do you know if anything like this has been in your family Sir Tasseder?"
"Not to my knowledge," he replied.
"Where are the candle sconces, father?" Asked Elinne. “Were they removed."
I spoke up before Dragovar could make a sarcastic comment, Elinne was, after all, going to be a relative in the future.
"A wizard would use spells that create light," I answered. “The light can be varied in brightness and colour at will. Which would impress people not used to magic, as most are not."
Elinne gave me a small smile.
"What room is through there, Sir Tasseder?" Asked Chessina, indicating the other door in the receiving room.
"The parlour, I believe," he answered.
We all followed him through the door.
The parlour was much more opulently decorated than the previous room. As well as wall hangings there were drapes that had originally softened the outline of the room. There were actually carpets on the floor as well as on the side table, itself a testament to the turner's and cabinetmaker's craft. All had suffered badly from time and the attention of various small creatures making this room seem much more decayed and pathetic than the receiving room.
Dragovar glanced around this room with an expression of faint surprise on his face.
"Father, how could Agravar afford to have carpets on the floor?" cried Elinne in consternation.
"That is a question that puzzles me also, Sir Tasseder," Said Dragovar. “Do you know how your uncle supported himself?"
"As far as I know, as well as paying for his tuition, my grandparents gave Agravar a small allowance," Sir Tasseder replied.
Dragovar, Chessina and myself uttered various expressions of incredulity.
"All we have seen was not paid for out of a small allowance," I said, with finality.
"I imagine that whatever Agravar did to get the money was not pleasant," added Chessina.
"Doubtless we will find out as we continue our search," said Dragovar.
The other furniture in the parlour was a settle and two comfortable looking chairs by the fireplace with some cushions on them, now much the worse for wear. A search revealed nothing further.
Chapter 16
The parlour's other door led us back out into the hallway at the other side of the house to the front door.
Dragovar looked around again looking increasingly puzzled.
This part of the hallway was wider than that near the front door. As well as the stairs to the upper story there were a number of doors. Judging by the remains of the hinges one door must have been bodily wrenched off. This opening was roughly boarded over.
"That leads down to the cellar," said Sir Tasseder, indicating the boarded-up doorway. “That's where my uncle was killed. The demon came up from the cellar and ripped the door off its hinges. It then burst through the front door, out onto the street. Then the slaughter started."
Sir Tasseder stared at nothing with an expression of distress on his face. His daughter came over to him and held his hand.
"I think we can leave the cellar 'til last," I said, "it's doubtful if the demon left anything intact down there, even had there been anything to begin with."
"Why do you think there was nothing there Towermaster?" asked Sir Tasseder.
"When summoning creatures, it is considered good practice not to have anything around that can be thrown at one, or that one can be hit with," I replied. "In case they object to being summoned, which most do."
"Might we dispense with all the titles, please?" asked Chessina. “It wastes time and we are mostly family."
"If that does not displease you ap . . . Chessina," said Tasseder.
Chessina glanced at Dragovar and I, and we nodded obediently.
"Where does that door lead to?" asked Chessina, pointing at the one nearest to the parlour door.
"That's the back door," replied Tasseder.
"And the next?" repeated Chessina.
"That's the pantry," he replied.
"Then we shall investigate that next," announced Chessina.
As she led the others into the pantry, Dragovar motioned me to hold back.
"Castamir, did you clean the entire house with that one spell?" He asked, looking perplexed.
"Of course," I replied.
"How did you manage that?" Dragovar asked. “You should have been collapsed on the floor gasping after such a casting."
I turned to him and smiled enigmatically, then followed the others into the pantry. It was rather crowded so I contented myself with remaining in the doorway. Dragovar merely put his head round the door. The shelves in the pantry were festooned with piles and mounds of mould of various shapes and sizes in a coruscation of colours. Dragovar muttered a spell, shook his head and shrugged. Chessina hearing the muttered words had turned and followed his gestures.
"Nothing here then," announced Chessina. “Is the kitchen next door?"
"Yes," replied Tasseder.
The kitchen was of course, dominated by the large fireplace with its pots, kettles and spits. The large, sturdy table in the centre of the room, had a variety of knives, cleavers and other kitchen implements upon it, all showing the effects of rust. Dragovar muttered once again.
"There appears to be a dearth of magical kitchen implements," he stated, "and a kitchen is a bad place to store parchment, paper or any other written materials. Does the other door lead to the dining room?"
"Yes," replied Tasseder.
His face still bore a haunted look and his daughter Elinne stayed protectively near.
The carved wooden table and its surrounding chairs dominated the room. However, my eyes were drawn to the cup-board which displayed what appeared to be large black metal disks. I checked that there was no magic associated with them and picked one up. The black colour appeared to be a surface discolouration, on rubbing the shine of silver was revealed. These were Agravar's pieces of plate. This house must have a fearsome reputation for them not to have been stolen before they tarnished into unrecognisability.
"A carpet on this table too, and like the others, ruined," sighed Elinne.
"Do not worry Elinne," said Chessina. “I can mend them. It is for family after all."
Elinne gave Chessina a grateful smile at that.
"Good Tasseder, there is something that I have been wondering," said Chessina. “The family was almost bankrupted due to the compensation payments. Why weren't some of Agravar's possessions sold to defray at least some of the cost?"
"We didn't know what was here," replied Tasseder. “Agravar would often visit us, but never invited us here. He always said visitors would disrupt his magical workings. After . . . after Agravar was killed, and what was left of his body was removed, my father had the house made secure. Then there was the aftermath of the storm to deal with and the silting of the harbour. The entire family was shocked and horrified by the events. Then came the news that I was to be knighted by the king. It was only later, after the shock was over that people came with claims of compensation. No-one ever claimed that Agravar had left a will, so no inventory was made and all his property devolved on my father. There were just too many other things to worry about."
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