Frankengeld Pt. 42

Previously on Frankengeld. The rescue team, Damion, Helena, Monifa and Lord Philip have done their nighttime reconnaissance of the Asylum. Elodie is being held there, drugged, and ready for an Abbot to indulge his licentious nature. Damion and Philip have paid their dues to Lyra. Now it is morning, and time to rescue Elodie.

Now read on...

27th June in the year 1784.

"Yes Lord Philip," said Helena. "We are ready to go."

He had changed his clothes this morning. Last night he was dressed in grey and black. This morning it was scarlet frock coat, military trousers, white shirt. He led the way downstairs and we left our travelling bags with Lyra, she would have them put into the coach while we were up the hill. I kept my medical bag, it will help with the task ahead, and by dint of moving things around I was able to hide my small crossbow inside. Philip blew Lyra a kiss and she nodded at us with a serious expression as we left the tavern. I hoped we could trust her, it would be dreadful if his pillow talk had compromised this rescue.

The climb seemed shorter in the light, and the fact that we have travelled that way before, which always somehow makes journeys seem shorter. Nobody interfered with our progress. We tried to look like pilgrims, though I suspected that Gelenberg Abbey was not on the pilgrim trail. As far as I knew there were no holy relics to view here.

As we passed down the side of the building, that we now knew to be the Asylum, our little party split up. Helena and Monifa to stand by the side door, and Philip and I to tackle the front door to the building. I took a deep breath and Philip loosened his sword in its scabbard, then we pushed the door open and strode in. Two brothers were working in the light and airy hospital. One in the middle of the ward, and one at the desk at the far end. And we could see the door to the Asylum to the side of that desk. We passed between the rows of beds, just a few of which were occupied, and approached the brother by the dark door.

"I am Damion Von Frankengeld," I said, "And I demand to see my sister, Elodie, who is currently in your Asylum."

"I know of nobody by that name here, my lord," replied the brother, but his expression of panic, and his eyes rapidly flicking from side to side, revealed his lie.

"Is there no rule in your order to tell the truth!" I shouted. "I know she is here. I am her brother, and her doctor, and I insist!"

"She is not to be disturbed," the brother changed his strategy. He opened his mouth to say more but found himself looking at the sharp end of Philip's court sword.

"So villain, she is here! You lied to us!" Philip was enjoying this. "I am English, and we are a barbaric people, much inclined to duelling with liars." He pulled back his coat to reveal his two pistols, then chuckled, "Perhaps we should go outside and settle this?"

I decided the brother was suitably distracted and pushed past him to the Asylum door. It was similar to the side door, solid oak and iron, but with the bolts on the hospital side. Clearly it was designed to prevent the inmates of the Asylum from entering the hospital in an emergency. The bolts were drawn back, so I grasped the ring and opened it. The second monk in the hospital was studiously caring for an elderly monk who appeared to be in his final days of life. He looked far too scared to intervene, but the brother by my side turned to prevent me.

"You can't go in there... I shall fetch the Abbot."

Philip grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him away from me. "You just do that!" he roared, stabbing the man in the chest with his finger. "We're going through to see his sister."

The brother ran down the ward and out the front door. We had a few minutes and did not waste them. A short passage took us to the open area surrounded by the six high status cells and, as we expected, there was a monk there. He was distracted. On his table was a large tray containing wooden bowls of what looked like gruel. Gruel has been described, by some of my contemporaries, as a cheap food that prevents death by starvation but does not have enough nutrition to allow full life. There were a dozen bowls and he was adding a powder to the greasy looking sludge and stirring it in. Probably a mild opioid, to keep the inmates sedated and calm. I pointed at Philip and then at the monk, and then touched my chest and pointed at the keys on their hook. Lord Philip got the message.

"What have we here?" Philip enthusiastically asked, shocking the monk who was so engrossed in his task he had not heard us approach. "And what is it that you do here, brother?"

I was unsure if it was an English tradition that aristocracy visiting a location should ask what work each person does but it was done with such slick confidence that the monk started to answer before he realised something was amiss. And by that time I had stolen the keys and was inside Elodie's cell. As I flung the door open I glanced down the corridor to see that the side door was already ajar and that dear Helena, and little Monifa, were stood by, ready to help.

Elodie lay on an iron framed bed that had been covered with the minimum of padding. Her shift was grubby from the dirt in the cell and nobody had bothered to wash her face or comb her hair. This, I suppose, was a strategy to make her look insane and, if I had been a casual visitor, it might have worked. But I could see the sister through the grime. She lay in a deep sleep. I checked her pulse and breathing. As Monifa had said, this was not a natural sleep, she was drugged.

There was no time to treat her. I lifted her from the bed and brought her out of the cell. Philip was acting the 'mad Englishman' now, arguing with the monk, pretending not to understand our language, and talking slowly and loudly in his own tongue. I moved into the corridor and handed Elodie to Helena. Monifa slipped shoes onto my sister's feet, though I doubted she would be walking soon, and gestured for me to close the cell door. I did so, and locked it. Monifa took a long look at Elodie, as if studying her appearance, then waved her hand at the cell and spoke a single word, "Ushabti".

I left Helena and Monifa to help Elodie from the building and went back to join Philip, putting the keys back on the hook. The conversation had run its course and the monk was stood, very still, with Philip's sword touching his substantial belly. Then the Abbot arrived. He swept into the guard room with some sort of under-Abbot by his side. He came to a halt, disconcerted, when he saw me.

"Who is offering violence in this holy place?" he demanded.

"That would be me," replied Philip. "Scunthorpe, Lord Scunthorpe, nephew to Earl Cardigan, second cousin to the Prince Regent of England."

I had no idea if what he said was true, but it certainly gave the Abbot pause for thought. I took advantage of his hesitation to make my feelings clear without, I hoped, revealing that Elodie was already on her way back to the tavern.

"Lord Abbot," I said. "I believe the Carlsbruck Chief of Police may want to question you about the events at Durishaus the other day."

"I am a cleric of the true religion and may only be judged by my peers!" he blustered.

I lent in close so that his guard and second in command could not hear and whispered, "And what will your peers do if you bring shame upon them? For I know your involvement in an attempted forced marriage, an orgy, and the abduction of my sister. I am here to take my sister home."

"You cannot take her away, she is mad. Have you examined her?"

"Yes. She appears to be drugged. An assessment of her mind cannot be undertaken until those drugs wear off. Are they the same that were used at Durishaus to make attendees compliant for the orgy?"

I raised my voice slightly for the last four words, and got the desired effect. His guard and his sub-Abbot companion both reacted. I had heard that clerics were as ambitious a group as any other profession, and that juniors would betray their seniors in an instant to gain promotion. I judged the Abbot would not want to provide ammunition.

"You must leave... now! You have no authority here!" the Abbot drew himself up and used his bulk to intimidate us. Most of his bulk was fat not muscle so this ruined the effect, however I judged that the ladies had been given enough time to get a head start.

"Come Lord Philip," I said. "It is time to leave. I will return to visit my sister tomorrow, my lord Abbot, and every day thereafter, until I am satisfied she is getting proper care."

The Abbot moved to the cell and glanced in the window in the door. I braced myself for our subterfuge to be revealed but whatever he saw in there caused him merely to grunt in satisfaction. We left and when we were outside Philip turned to me. "What now Damion?" he said.

"Now Philip, we run!"

As we made good speed to catch up with the ladies he looked puzzled. Asking, "Why... did he... not... raise... the alarm?" He looked puzzled as we trotted away from the Abbey buildings.

"I think... Monifa put a glamour... a spell... on the cell... or perhaps on something in the cell. He clearly saw what he expected to see."

We had arrived at the stairs and there, a short way in front, were Helena and Monifa supporting Elodie between them. We quickly caught up with them and Philip lifted Elodie over his shoulder. We ran on together, down the stairs and through the village, with quizzical faces watching our progress. Then shouts could be heard. I looked up and could see brothers, wearing grey habits instead of the brown of the Abbot and his monks, starting to descend the stair.

"Lay brothers... servants," I informed my friends. "I doubt they will baulk at violence if they have been told to stop us at all costs."

We pressed on and I risked another glance back. We were now at the edge of the village and the tavern was in sight. But our pursuers were now at the bottom of the stairs and I could see they were armed with cudgels. The church has long had a tradition against its clerics spilling blood, but Bishop Odo, the brother of William the Conqueror of England went to war with a mace and I was confident he slew many Saxons. Just because you are not carrying a sword does not mean you cannot take a life. If they caught us then concussion, broken bones, or worse, would be our fate. The blood spilled would be inside our bodies so acceptable to clerical warriors.

We covered the last few yards to the tavern, opened the door and slipped in, slamming it behind us. All the customers looked up from their breakfasts in alarm. Lyra glanced over from the bar and immediately came to join us. She opened the door, took one look outside and then shouted for her husband to attend her.

"Go through the back," she waved us towards the bar. "There is a private way through to the stables. I asked my husband to prepare your carriage. Take the poor dear and go. I will hold them off."

Her husband beckoned us over and guided us through the kitchen, pantry and then, by a back door, into the stables. As we left the tavern bar I saw several of the stronger looking customers move over to support Lyra at the door. When we entered the stables Philip's carriage was ready and we lifted Elodie up and placed her on rugs on the floor between the seats. Philip took up his driving position and Helena joined him before I could even think of climbing up to the driving bench.

"You are needed inside to care for Elodie. I will help Philip, after all," she winked at me. "He has taught me well."

There was no time to argue, the tavern owner threw the great doors open, I boarded the coach, and Philip set off at speed. I knelt on the floor next to Elodie as he slewed it into the main road and, glancing out of the door window, I saw Lyra blocking the tavern door with her arms spread wide. She was remonstrating with the brothers and they were trying to push past. We swept past the scene and, before the lay brothers could react, we were past them, though there was a clatter of thrown cudgels on the side and rear of the coach.

I fumbled with my medical bag, the sooner I started to remove the effects of the drug the better. If the Abbot were to contact the authorities I wanted Elodie awake and able to tell her own story. And who knows what damage this drugging was doing to her? The problem was I believed we were dealing with two different drugs here, one that made the victim compliant, and in larger doses to put them into a deep sleep. The other to raise the libido to levels where it overcame any social inhibitions so that she would accept the Abbot's advances and, perhaps, be happy to do so with an audience. Asylums have, ever since Bedlam in London, supplimented their income by allowing visitors, for a few coins, to view the 'mad people'. I would not have been surprised if the Abbot planned to show off the Nymphomanic Woman to his guests. And even allow them to participate in the exhibition of her symptoms.

I thought carefully. Pairs of drugs often reacted to each other, creating deadly side effects. And here I was proposing to add a third drug into her system. In the end I decided a simple mild stimulant would be the safest option and I had a phial of a suitable drug, distilled from a succulent plant's leaves. I gave her half.

I cradled Elodie's head and looked up at Monifa, "Tell me, Monifa," I asked as I worked to help Elodie. "What did you do at the cell?"

"I put an Ushabti in the room."

"What on earth is one of those?" I asked, baffled.

"They are usually represented by pottery figurines but a spell will do as well. An Ushabti is a servant for the tomb. Put there to do any work that the deceased might be asked to do in the afterlife."

"So what did you do?"

"I put an Ushabti in the cell to do the work of sleeping for Elodie. It is a simple illusion, good against sight, but not touch. Someone must have gone in and tried to touch it."

"Ah, I see," I said. "So that's why the alarm was raised."

"Yes, I am sorry."

"Don't apologise, it gave us valuable minutes," I said. "And at least we are now away from them."

Monifa concentrated for a moment, then, "Not quite Damion. There are two men, big men, riding horses. They follow... and are gaining on us."

Philip's coach had four horses, but was heavy. A man, riding hard, would eventually overtake us, though it would take some time at the rate Philip, or possibly Helena, was driving his team. Monifa and I swapped positions and I lowered the door window and leaned out. At first, with the curves in the road, I could see nothing but I had learned to trust our little sorceress' visions so I persisted. Then, when the road straightened, I could see them maybe half a kilometre back. Riding like the very demons of hell were behind them!

I shouted up to Philip, "We have company, and they don't look as if they're going to invite us to tea."

I'm not sure why I made a joke of it. Perhaps there is some ancient need to make light of dangerous situations, where violence is all around, to lighten the mood and show we were still human. To allow us to marvel at our capacity for self sacrifice, kindness, and laughter, even when disaster looms.

Philip glanced back. "I see them," he shouted. "Please send them my compliments but I am a little busy at this time."

I prepared my crossbow and leaned out of the window, waiting until the nearest horseman was in range. The problem was I had no idea how far a bolt fired from this weapon would go. From one side of my laboratory to the other, or across a few metres in a courtyard, was the only test so far, and I really didn't want to let the lead rider get that close. So I waited and details resolved themselves, a grey habit flapping furiously, and a no less furious expression on the rider's face. Teeth bared, eyes narrowed, as he pushed to overtake us. This man was a fanatic, probably - like a crusader - promised a prominent place in heaven if he could bring our coach to disaster.

I levelled the crossbow and waited while the rider slowly, oh so slowly, caught up with us. What was the phrase? 'Wait until you see the whites of their eyes!' Eventually fear overcame my martial spirit and I started to fire. Eight shots later and he was still coming, though I think I might have hit him with one. Or it might have been wishful thinking on my part.

Above my head came the sharp fizzle and crack of a pistol shot. Philip was out of the driver's seat, his feet on the side of the coach. He was leaning out using the luggage rack bars as a handle to hold onto. The shot sped by the power of gunpowder towards the lay brother who sped towards it at the speed of a galloping horse. The man and bullet came together in his upper chest and he involuntarily pulled at the reins, the horse - obedient to the end - swerved, fell, and the pair rolled over. I saw the horse get up, apparently unharmed, and trot off but its master lay still.

"No!" said Monifa fiercely. "I know what you are thinking. That we will stop and you will treat that man."

She was right. My first thought was to see if I could treat his injuries. And my second thought was... who was driving the coach if Philip was hung over the side taking potshots at our pursuers? I had a vision of Helena, holding the reins, with that look of determination on her face, flushed with the effort of controlling the team. It was quite a stimulating thought and I shook my head to clear the fantasy.

"Did you see that?" shouted Philip. "Perhaps I should have stayed in England and taken the duel with the Duke after all!"

"In that case you would not have been here to save us today, my friend," I shouted back.

Philip took aim at the second rider as he approached but, to our dismay, the first shot had been a lucky one. He emptied his pistols at the lay brother, dropped them into the luggage area on the roof, drew his sword, and swung himself up. I lost sight of him. Was he intending to ride on the roof of the coach and trade blows with our foe?

We were climbing now towards the Gorbo Pass and the road was running up a ridge with a severe drop on each side. I pulled myself back inside, found a supply of bolts, and started to reload the cylinder of the crossbow. Easier said than done with the swaying of the vehicle. A heavy thump on the back of the coach got my attention and I put my head out to see what was happening. A few metres away I could see a riderless horse, slowing now without its master to goad it on, and the flapping of a grey habit as the owner of the horse climbed steadily up the back and onto the roof of our coach.

My body went cold with fear, he intended to take control of the reins, and if he were a fanatic then he would not think twice about steering us over the edge of the cliff. It would only take seconds. He would be sure of his place in the afterlife. And he would have stopped us. Undoubtedly the Abbot would tell the authorities that we had taken Elodie against his advice and the poor woman, in her insanity, had wrestled with the driver and taken everyone to their deaths. Such a sad accident.

The thumping sounds moved onto the roof of the coach and Monifa and I were treated to a pattern of tap noises on the roof that resembled an energetic form of country dance. I leaned out of the window trying to see what was happening. I could hear Philip and the lay brother grunting as they grappled and struck out at each other. Then, suddenly, Philip dropped on his front and ended up looking down at me over the edge of the coach, with the brother trying to push him over the edge.

"A little help here would be useful," he gasped, as the brother grabbed his hair and tried to bang Philip's head against the rail of the parcel rack to stun him. Philip was still holding his sword in his right hand, but his left hand was free. I passed him the reloaded crossbow.

"Thank you kind sir," he managed.

Our English friend twisted in the brother's grasp, I heard the crossbow twang, and there was a grunt of pain. But who had been hit? We were now approaching the turn off to the Lawyer's castle, should we seek help there?

It was very tempting, but then I thought about the consequences if the lay brother saw the Lawyer or his other Bride - I remembered Alicia saying she was called Gina - and escaped to tell the villagers of Gelenberg that they had vampires nearby. Secrecy was their best defence against the mob. No we should continue on this road, soon we would be entering the forest of Urbaffwald and the precipitous drops to either side would lessen, and eventually go altogether, to be replaced with deep, dark, forest.

More thumps and grunts above us showed that the fight was not yet over. Then, with a slam Philip hit the side of the coach. I could see him through the door window, looking in at us with an alarmed expression, and swaying from side to side. I leaped to help him by extending my arms through the open window and grabbing him firmly around the waist. Looking up I could see that he was hanging from the luggage rail by one hand, and the lay brother was leaning over and prising his fingers off, one by one. The brother had an evil grin on his face as he slowly bent back the fingers, evidently taking great pleasure in the act. Philip was down to two fingers left when the lay brother suddenly lost his balance. He jerked forwards, fell off the coach, bounced once on the road, and rolled down the slope to drop into the chasm with a long, terrified, cry. The fear in that cry made me think that, perhaps, in the end, his confidence of receiving a place in heaven had faltered.

The coach was slowing down now, then came to a halt, the horses laboured breathing, and the jingling of the tack, the only sound until Philip spoke, "You can let go now, old chap."

I released him, and he dropped the short distance to the ground, and started to dust himself down. The door at the other side of the coach opened and a breathless and flushed looking Helena looked in. My fantasy of earlier made flesh, she did indeed look infinitely desirable at that moment.

"Are you all safe?" she gasped.

"Yes Helena, we are."

"Oh Damion... I had to push him off the coach... another few seconds and he would have been rid of Philip, and coming for me. I let go the reins, trusted the horses to keep to the road, crept up on him, and pushed his arse."

"You did right, Helena," I assured her. "He would have tried to kill us all."

She burst into tears so I got out to comfort her. And, as we hugged, a wagon carrying logs came from the Carlsbruck direction and the driver, seeing our distress, pulled on the reins and stopped. A convenient wolf howled in the distance as he picked me to address.

"Mine Herr? Right are you all? Can I assistance give?" he said in the rather old fashioned speech of the denizens of the Urbaffwald.

"Our horses bolted. Frightened by wolves," I lied, trying to sound as if we had not just been engaged in a life or death struggle with a fanatic, but had merely had an unfortunate incident. "We are unharmed. But thank you for your concern."

"Many packs here. It happens. If safe you are I farewell bid you," He made a clicking sound, flicked the reins, and continued on his way, his weary looking horse plodding along. Eventually his slow progress would bring him to the lay brother Philip shot, if he really was dead, but we could not worry about that now, we needed to get on the move again.

Philip had collected the miscellaneous weapons from the luggage rack on the top of the coach. It was designed to keep items secure despite the swaying and lurching that could be expected during a journey and had done a good job, we had lost nothing. The pistols went back into their holsters, the court sword was sheathed, and my crossbow was handed down to me. We set off again and I heard Philip ask Helena to drive whilst he reloaded his pistols.

When I re-entered the coach Monifa was cradling Elodie's head and seemed to be singing a quiet lullaby to her in her native tongue. I occupied my time, at first, in completing the reload of my crossbow and, when that was done, took Elodie's vital signs which were good. The rest of the journey was quiet. It seemed that the Abbot had sent only two fanatics to chase us down. As we descended the final couple of kilometres into Carlsbruck, Monifa who, despite me offering to take my turn had sat on the floor of the coach holding Elodie all the way, called out to me.

"She moves. Is she waking from the lotus sleep?"

I checked her pulse, which was the strongest I had felt so far, measured her breathing, and opened her eyelids to look at her pupils. I was rewarded with a squirm from Elodie, as she brought a hand up to shade her eyes.

"Gerroff," she said. Just one word but, at that moment, the world to me.

"Drink this dearest sister," I proffered the remainder of the mild stimulant. "It will help you recover."

She looked puzzled but drank it down and settled back into Monifa's arms. I looked at them both and saw two young ladies, of an age, but what a difference in background and culture. There was literally three thousand years between them. I wondered if they would be friends.

As we entered Carlsbruck I suddenly panicked. In all our planning we had not decided where to take Elodie. Surely Philip would not take her back to Durishaus, and hand her back to her abusers. Would he choose number 34? But he had clearly given it some thought and steered the coach through the streets towards his own house. When we got to the gate he leaned out and struck a bell with his coaching whip. Servants hurried to open the gate and he deftly steered the coach the short distance up the drive.

Monifa and I helped Elodie out and I watched Philip giving Helena a hand down from the driving bench. He leant close to whisper in her ear and I felt a pang of jealousy. He was so gallant a man, how could any woman resist his charms? Then I came to my senses. Helena was not a foolish young thing whose love moved from person to person like the changes in the wind direction in Spring. And it was none of my business what attachments my servants made.

"Well done Helena," I praised my assistant. And then, trying not to sound to interested, "What did Philip say to you?"

She smiled with a knowing look on her face, "I am, apparently, a natural at driving a coach at excessive nay, dangerous, speeds. And, if he ever has a bet with the Earl of Monmouthshire, I am requested to be his second driver."

I felt better at that, despite the evident danger if she ever took up Philip's offer. She had acquitted herself well.

We helped Elodie into the house where she was placed in a guest bedroom that had been hurriedly, and incompletely, prepared. There were sheets still over some of the furniture. It seemed likely to me that invitees to Philip's house usually slept with him. I checked Elodie's condition and this time she was alert enough to say a few words.

"Where am I, and what is the time? I have had the strangest dream."

I put on my wisest and most reassuring bedside manner and voice, like a wizard or wise man from the stories.

"In the house of Lord Scunthorpe, and it is around three in the afternoon," I replied. "You have had an adventure but it is over now, you can rest."

"In my dream I was naked and lusty," she replied. "And there was a purpose to it but I cannot recollect what it was. Then I was clothed but cold, and it was dark. I am tired, even though I feel like I have slept for a lifetime."

"Then sleep now, dear sister. Lord Philip's people will guard you."

The Englishman, observing from the doorway, nodded in acknowledgement. We left Philip with his charge and set off for home, after asking him to attend tomorrow for the journey north. His servants, some of whom had obviously come with him from England, conducted us to the gate and closed it firmly behind us. Kurt, or the Abbot, would not enter there without a lot of resistance.

We walked arm in arm across the town. Occasionally Monifa would skip, with a childlike pleasure at being out in the evening sunshine. I put up with the tugging on my arm for I was happy that, at least for the moment, we had frustrated my father's plans.

We arrived at number 34 and entered. The expressions of worry were replaced with relief and Helena, Monifa and I were received into the house as conquering heroes. Food and drink were set out by Una, who seemed to have taken over the kitchen, and then we were exposed to the stay-at-home's demands for details.

I told the tale, and Monifa and Helena added their comments. I realised half way through that I would have to repeat it for Poppy, she would be able to make an exciting story of what had been, to me, fairly constant anxiety. Ooohs and aaahs accompanied the tale and, when Helena described having to push the lay brother from the top of the coach, there was a cheer from our audience. She again sought reassurance for her actions. Despite her fierce determination to defend me I felt that violence was foreign to her nature.

"Seems to me, lass," said Anya. "He gave you no choice. Deal with him, or die with him."

We revealed where we had taken Elodie and assured them that she was recovering. Then I sent everyone to an early bed. For tomorrow we start our pursuit of my Father.

28th June in the year 1784.

After a quick breakfast I almost dropped into my chair in my study. I was very tired but there was no time to relax. We must pursue my Father and deal with him.

At least I did not have to worry about Elodie. I was confident that Lord Philip's staff would care for her and it was unlikely that the Abbot would even be able to guess where she was concealed. I would get Yani to send a message to Erik from the Ritter Kaffeehaus. He, perhaps, could visit so she had a familiar face to talk to.

I wondered what had happened to Gerda when she rose from her coffin. Did she bless or curse my decision? At least Alicia will have been there to support her, complete with a supply of my not-blood tonic. If we can get her started on that harmless drink it may stave off the blood lust that Alicia told me so often overtakes a vampire freshly risen. I tried to imagine the undead Gerda. That magnificent bosom but on a woman with occult powers to seduce, a deadly combination.

I wrote some letters, sealed them, and then wandered into the kitchen. There I made a list of my companions, dividing them into those I believed should accompany me on my quest, and those who should stay in Carlsbruck to defend what we have here. After just a few minutes of writing I had an audience, my staff anxious to help. The list prompted more letters, which I hastily wrote.

Durishaus I put under the authority of Bruno, urging him to care for my brother and keep all the servants safe. I didn't think my Father would return there so soon, but it was possible he might try to reclaim deeds and documents from the Red Room. Gerda and Mother, I instructed, should be coffined and placed in the mausoleum until I return, then we can arrange suitable funerals. I added that the lids of the coffins should not be fastened down at this stage.

The excuse I gave was that mourners might want to view the body, but the real reason was to spare Gerda the problems of getting in and out of a sealed coffin. I was sure that a vampire could achieve this, perhaps by turning into mist, as I had seen the Lawyer do in our laboratory, but it seemed so undignified.

I suspected Alicia would have already impressed on Gerda the need for discretion, but also that she was the only supernatural force at Durishaus that had the power to oppose my Father if he returned to complete his destruction of my family. If she still loved my brother then she might need to defend him.

I tried to put number 34 under Helena's direction but she would not accept this, insisting she would be travelling with me. In the end we agreed that Una would take charge of the Doctor's House and explain my absence to patients as 'family responsibilities' which, given that everyone in the town had probably learned of the murders by now, would be understandable. She would provide repeat prescriptions for patients where she was able to do so. Anya and her sisters would keep a watch for danger. I told Yani he was now the man of the house, which seemed to please him and he vowed to protect the ladies. Then he departed to hand deliver my letters around the town and one to Bruno at Durishaus.

I would have liked to have Sophie or her brother with us on the expedition but they were too far away to communicate with them and, I suspected, the delectable Sophie was still preoccupied with ensuring that Victor's new man was not a danger to mankind. However unlikely, he might have survived the fire in the windmill, and you do not get to be a successful werewolf hunter by making assumptions that your quarry is no more, just because you have not seen it for a day or so. She would be seeking proof of his demise.

The team to head north and deal with my Father was therefore Freida, for her tracking skills, Lord Philip, for his fighting ability, Alicia, for her vampiric powers, Monifa, for her magic, and Helena and I. This made six of us and I had asked in my letters that they join me at number 34, we were to depart as soon as practical.

When, a few hours later people gathered in our kitchen, there was one more person for our team. Poppy had come along too. Like Helena, she had insisted on following her love, the English Lord, into battle, but at least she'd not brought the useless dog. That made seven of us, seven misfit heroes, which - strangely - seemed exactly the right number.

We had decided earlier, at one of the Mystery Club meetings, that we would go on foot to the ancient Frankengeld Castle where we believed Kurt would seek sanctuary. Lord Philip's coach wasn't big enough for all of us, and anyway horses would need to be fed, watered and protected. On foot would be slower but it would be easier for us to sneak up on our target. If my Father wasn't at the castle then we would have to think again, but some sort of plan is better than no plan at all.

Each of us was suitably armed. Lord Philip, of course, had his silver sword. I had my ancient dagger, gifted me by Lord Mutunus. And Helena carried the crossbow and a supply of bolts of the three different kinds. Alicia had learned that her talisman would permit her to add silver claws to her costume that were jointed and covered her fingers. Poppy had a silver handled cane that looked as if it had been in her family for a long time. Freida had a neat silver bladed dagger. And Monifa, she declared that she could deliver the bane of silver through touch alone, as long as she was in contact with the metal. We bought her a silver ring, one for each hand as a precaution.

After making our farewells we started off well. We left Carlsbruck along the road we had taken to the place where Kurt's wolfwere women had abducted the old doctor, and killed his daughter. We found the ancient road north with only a little difficulty and good progress was made during the latter part of the afternoon. When the light faded, Monifa cast a spell on our eyes so that we could see in the dark. We kept going and camped only when we finally ran out of energy. Then we set watches, and snatched a few hours of sleep on the uncomfortable ground. The talisman that Monifa had gifted to Alicia did its job of protecting her from sunlight and allowed her to clothe herself in more subtle colours, but I noted that she still seemed to be more relaxed in the dark.

29th June in the year 1784.

Today we continued to travel the neglected road through the Buchenwald forest. The darkness was oppressive amongst the ancient trees and I was constantly on edge with the sounds of wild creatures and unsettling movements in the undergrowth. Several times we disturbed birds near to the path that took to flight with a clattering of wings and loud cries, shocking me. My heart jumped every time this happened even though I swore each time that I would not react to the next one. But it was impossible for me to keep my composure, so sudden was the noise and movement, and so tense was my body. We slept in a small clearing with a fire burning all night.

30th June in the year 1784.

Today we continued north and entered a hilly area. The forest was less dense here and we caught glimpses of the high hills and mountains in the distance. We talked quietly about what tactics and strategy we should adopt once we arrived, but most of the time the effort of walking made conversation impossible. I mused at how unfit I had become. I walked miles when I was young, exploring the fields and woods around Durishaus, with seemingly little effort. I resolved to do more to improve my fitness when we came back from this expedition. Assuming we survived.

1st July in the year 1784.

Today we left the Buchenwald forest and the north road behind, turning east to enter the long valley that led to the ancient Frankengeld Castle. From time to time we came across the ruins of an ancient road and this helped us make quicker progress. As the day wore on we thought to take advantage of a paved open area near the road to stop and make camp, until Monifa looked about in alarm.

"This is a place of death," she said. "I feel much suffering here."

I could see nothing, but I knew our little sorceress was very sensitive to these things. Freida, Alicia and Lord Philip cast about and soon they were identifying holes in the paved area.

"I believe these are the recesses for stakes," Freida declared. "Perhaps this is the equivalent, for your family Damion, of putting the heads of criminals on spikes over the city gates. Those that approach the castle will see the remains of people who have fallen foul of the law."

"Or just earned the ire of my family," I suggested. "Which I feel is more likely. These date back to a much more lawless time, I would guess, when my family made the rules for this region."

We decided not to camp there, but moved on for another hour before settling to rest.

2nd July, in the year 1784.

We left our camp to climb the mountain before us, aiming for the castle high on the ridge. There was a road that wound its way up the slopes but it was so deteriorated that it was no more than a track that animals might make. We were worried that an observer in the castle might notice us approaching so we spent much of the time walking amongst the low bushes and shrubs that had invaded the road over the years, using their cover. Following the track was better than going straight up the rocky slopes but it was still not easy. The steepness of the slope and the rough terrain slowed us. Philip judged it would take most of the day to get to our next hiding place.

Our plan was not to go directly to the castle but to camp overnight in the watchtower a mile to the west where we hoped we could get shelter and, perhaps, spy upon our enemy. At lunchtime we hid away in a nearby copse and ate in silence. Afterwards, before we set off again, I asked Monifa to see if she could get a feel for what awaited us.

"Monifa," I said. "Are you close enough to use your powers to spy upon the castle?"

"It is not just a matter of distance," replied the sorceress looking around at the trees that concealed us. "It is a question of seeing the target. I can do better if I can clearly see it, or if I have visited the location. And we are still too far away for me to send out my Ka to observe them. This would have to be a spell of sensing and it would be better if I can look upon the building I am trying to scry upon."

"So here, hiding in the trees, it is harder," I tried to clarify. "Is that right?"

"Yes," she said.

"If you were higher," said Alicia, quietly. "And could see the castle clearly. Would that make it better?"

"Oh yes," replied the Egyptian girl.

"The top of that tree?" said Alicia, pointing up at a nearby pine of immense size.

Monifa nodded and Alicia took her around the waist and then changed. No longer a woman but not fully a bat, she became a half way shape with large wings. There was an obvious tension in her body. Perhaps holding herself half changed was painful. Perhaps revealing something monstrous about herself was embarrassing. She flexed her legs, which now had clawed feet, and leaped straight up into the air. Three beats of those great wings later she had placed Monifa high in the branches. She perched nearby and steadied her friend.

It all happened so quickly that I was confident no observer from the castle would have noticed them. We stayed quiet below, and gazed up, trying to see what was happening. I knew that Monifa would often show no signs of her magic, simply tipping her head to one side and then making her pronouncements. There was no point in looking for dramatic gestures or fizzing fragments of power but we all looked nontheless. After ten minutes she was brought back down by Alicia.

Our vampire friend shook herself, like a dog that has been splashing around in water, and returned to her usual, beautiful, self. Back in her more human form Alicia looked at us all. It was an expression that feared, nay expected, us to reel in horror.

Philip was the first to speak, "You never cease to amaze me, my dear."

For a moment I foolishly wondered why Alicia had not used that power to rescue Victor from the windmill. Then I understood. If Alicia had transformed there she would have done it in front of a hundred witnesses. Townsfolk who were already shouting 'monster' and who would have not been charitable. She would have had to leave Carlsbruck and probably hide for years from those who might hunt her. She looked me in the eye and, I think, read my thoughts.

"I could not do this earlier. I would have lost you, my friends," she confessed in a quiet voice. "And that I could not have... could not bear..." She went very quiet, and three women almost simultaneously hugged her. Philip and I stood back and watched as she was encompassed by the love of Helena, Freida and Poppy.

Little Monifa stood to the side ready to make her report seemingly unconcerned by this group hug. When the ladies finally released Alicia I took her by the chill hand and looked into her eyes.

"You will never lose us as friends, Alicia," I said. "Even if we have to go into exile with you. For we have seen you escape your life in the shadows, cry over the death of an innocent child, face your fear of the mob to save our Chief of Police, and laugh at the pleasures of the summer fair."

"Hear hear," said Lord Philip. "You are well loved, Countess. I am honoured to call you my friend. And I hope you forgive me my rudeness when we first met."

The dread mistress of the night wiped a tear from her eye and, to save her embarrassment, I asked Monifa to give her report, "What could you see?"

"It was a feeling rather than true seeing," said Monifa. "When we get closer and I can sleep then I will be able to send out my Ka to view their lair."

"Oh," I replied, hoping the knowledge would still be valuable after Alicia had endured pain and possible humiliation to lift her to her vantage point.

"There is a strong pack feeling in the castle," Monifa declared. "I believe the wolfwere women are there. The male is nearby, he possibly has separate quarters, but I feel he is still within the same building."

"That is useful to know," said Lord Philip.

"The watchtower is abandoned and reeks of centuries of neglect, but it is not empty. Things are in there that are ever watchful, but hidden from me, as if they have thrown up a cloud of smoke to my mind's eye."

"Then we must deal with them," said Alicia.

"Perhaps they will leave us alone," said Poppy. "If we do not seek to harm them."

We all smiled wryly. Poppy was someone who still had a naive trust in the world. But then I thought about Alicia. If I had not extended trust to her, on the doorstep of number 34, then we would have missed out on a good friend. I, for one, would enter the watchtower without preconceptions.

The remainder of the journey was just a slog, a grinding hike across stoney terrain that was less and less green as the bushes gave way to nothing more than tiny plants lodged in crevices between the rocks. The hard climb was not something you associate with heroic tales, at least none that I had read. We were rising all the time and I noted that above the castle the mountains were treeless and higher, covered with snow. A bare unwelcoming vista, hard and unforgiving, with sharp rocks and deadly chasms. One careless step, or trip, and you would plunge to your death.

Why did my family choose this place for their primary fortification? They could have chosen a rocky outcrop over a deep and lush river valley much lower down like many French or German castles. Unless they decided to forgo a pleasant location for one with natural defences, or even supernatural ones.

The castle loomed large in our vision before we located the path that led to the watchtower. I was fearful that someone on the battlements would spot us and raise the alarm, but the castle stood looking utterly abandoned and no signs of life could be seen. Kurt might be powerful but he was also arrogant. He probably believed that we had neither the courage to pursue him, or the knowledge to know where he went. In his supreme self confidence, I thought, he may not have set guards.

Now we approached the watchtower itself. Set upon a pinnacle of rock, overlooking the valley to the west, it could only be entered by a narrow stone bridge that arched over a drop of some fifty metres. The bridge was intact, thank goodness, but at our end there were two broad plinths that were decorated with statues of snarling wolves.

They were depicted in a pose that suggested they were about to attack, head low, mouth open, eyes focussed on a point a visitor would have to pass as they entered the bridge. And the artist had great skill, you could see the tension in the muscles of both beasts flanks as they prepared to leap. My mind went back to the strange two-headed hound that had guarded the hunting lodge, and I stopped suddenly, convinced I had seen one of these statues move.

To be continued...