bouteillebleu | [Larpfic] Facets and Facetiousness, part 4

A bit more fic. Does not contain facetcat. Does contain some spoilers for mechanics of certain racial abilities in Maelstrom, but having said that so do all the previous things featuring facetcat...

The Reverend's presence in the house for the next two days is subtle. He joins the household at dinner on the second day by Aravina's invitation, speaks little during the meal, and asks if he might have a moment to talk to her after they are finished. Aravina suggests that her cousin might join them, and they find one of the more agreeable front parlours, while Emma is sent to bring coffee. Once Emma has left, Reverend Fenwick looks around the room, then takes out his sermon book, his expression set.

"Sera de Montfort, Ser de Bridgemont. Can I have your assurance that what we might discuss here will not leave this room?"

Aravina looks alarmed, and even Nicholas raises an eyebrow, saying, "This is rather sudden, Reverend. Has something happened in the household while you've been here that troubled you?"

"No, no, nothing has happened here. Not yet - and that is why I bring you my concerns, to ensure that nothing does happen."

Aravina, the alarm still clear on her face, takes a deep breath. "Reverend... I am not sure how best to ask this, but is this about Sera Potch?"

"Of course not. I would-" He stops, coughs, and continues with some measure of embarrassment, "No, it is not, although I now realise how it must have appeared. With regard to Sera Potch, she has a remarkable grasp of theology for someone who has only been studying for three months. She has expressed a wish to-" He stops again. "I must apologise. I am rambling, as what I have to say is somewhat unpleasant and I would rather not be the one to tell you - it concerns your cousin, Sera Olivia de Piedmont."

Reverend Fenwick stops, visibly uncomfortable. Aravina's face is set, and Nicholas looks grim as he says, "Go on, Reverend."

"She... there were recently some incidents in her area of the colony. Disappearances, thefts, violence. Father d'Alessio described the particulars."

"Yes, in thorough detail." Aravina is looking thoughtful. "What is it you are implying, Reverend?"

"There were accusations made by some of those involved that Sera de Piedmont was responsible for the disappearances - kidnapping, they claimed. Several of the families of those taken told us that Sera de Piedmont visited them that day to discuss matters of employment or of payment for renting land. She had also met that day with the jeweller whose wares were stolen, and even the couple whose quarrel turned to violence implicated her in their argument, though they didn't tell me or Father d'Alessio exactly what they blamed her for."

Nicholas sits back, shaking his head. Aravina, if anything, is sitting straighter than before. "And why did Father d'Alessio not mention this earlier, if I may ask?"

"I think he may have been concerned that the shock would have been too much for you, Sera de Montfort."

Nicholas's snort hurriedly becomes a cough, although Aravina's lips twitch slightly into a smile before she speaks. "Please tell Father d'Alessio when you meet him again that I'm indebted to him for his kindness and courtesy. And thank you for sharing this - I can understand why you would not want this spread. Have you spoken to Olivia herself about this?"

"Ah. That is part of the problem, you see - Sera de Piedmont herself is also missing. But, well, certain items were found in her home when we investigated..."

Once again, Reverend Fenwick looks deeply uncomfortable, and shifts slightly in his chair. Aravina nods her head for him to continue.

"A handful of small stones, warm to the touch, scattered on her writing-desk."

"Ah. Those stones that some of the Rukhi and Alkyonians have been selling as magical charms?" With raised eyebrows, Aravina adds, "I understand some of them may grow into one of the native races, but I thought that most were powerful but not dangerous."

"...No, not those stones, Sera Aravina. I'm afraid not. If it had been those it would have been less of a problem. These were..." He shudders, shakes his head, and takes a black velvet pouch from a pocket of his coat. Putting his gloves on, he then opens the pouch carefully and tips its contents onto his palm. A single stone, about the size of a marble, nestles in his hand. Aravina leans forward a little, and Reverend Fenwick nods.

"Ser de Bridgemont, you should see this as well. Look carefully, but do not touch it."

Nicholas nods, and stands to see it better. Aravina leans closer, watching the blues and greens within its depths as they seem to start to swirl and move and change, and-

Vesper.

A word, or a name, rings in her mind that was not there before, and from Nicholas's expression the same is true for him. The Reverend looks grim.

"That is much how I felt the first time I heard that name. It is - it was - the true name of a man I initiated to the Teacher two years ago. William Sharp, a scribe and draughtsman." There is regret in his voice. "He said he had attended services back in Terino, but when he came to the New World he had started to realise what it was to truly devote oneself to one of the Gods. He would play the lute at services when his work would allow it."

"He's one of those who've gone missing, isn't he?" Nicholas says grimly. "I know some of the men who work with him."

"This thing, this stone." Reverend Fenwick slips it back into the velvet bag and pockets it again, his hands shaking. "That is all that is left of the man. I had heard stories about this from my superiors, but to see one, especially of someone I knew..."

"You are being a little circumspect, Reverend," Aravina says, sitting back and resting a hand on the arm of her chair. "Could you please explain what it is that you have shown us?"

"What I have shown you, Sera de Montfort, is very strong evidence that Olivia de Piedmont has been consorting with demons."

Aravina's hand grips the chair's arm so tightly that her knuckles turn white, and Nicholas starts from his chair, hand moving to where his pistol belt would be were he hunting.

"Those sorts of accusations are-" he starts, and Reverend Fenwick also steps forward, hand still shaking and face still grim.

"And she has disappeared, which is strong evidence that whoever or whatever she was consorting with has got the better of her. I would like very much to find out what has happened here. I would like especially to find out what has happened here without anyone else being killed."

"...They are all dead, then?" Nicholas asks, taking a step back, lowering his hand.

"They are worse than dead, Ser de Bridgemont. Those that we found at the house I can send on to the Teacher, but the others..." He shakes his head. "Their souls are lost unless we can find them. Lost and alone."

"What about William?"

"He can go to the Teacher. I... am not happy that I had to delay his passing in order to explain this to you, but it seemed the only way. Father d'Alessio is aware, of course, and granted his approval as long as I sent him on once I had explained."

Aravina raises her eyebrows again. "It could have been simpler if you and Father d'Alessio had explained earlier."

"Ah. I believe he was expecting me to explain it only to Ser de Bridgemont, you see. He has some, well, views on roles within the nobility."

Aravina nods, and the Reverend gives an embarrassed cough. "If you'll excuse me. Would you mind if I visited your shrine briefly?"

"Of course not, please do. You know the way there?"

Reverend Fenwick nods, and goes to the door, then stands back as Emma enters with the coffee. She bobs a quick curtsey to him as he hurries out of the door, then places the cups down looking a little puzzled.

"Will the Reverend be back soon, or should I take his drink to him?"

Aravina smiles sadly. "He's had to give us some rather bad news. Could you take his drink and wait outside the shrine to the Teacher? He won't want to be interrupted, but I think he would appreciate the warmth afterwards."

Emma nods. "Something to eat as well?"

"...Yes, that's an excellent idea. Elise's lemon cake would do wonderfully."

With a curtsey, Emma leaves again. The silence in the room is awkward for a few minutes, but Nicholas ventures a remark about the state of the house's accounts, and he and Aravina are deep in discussion about the administrative matters of crop planting when Reverend Fenwick returns, paler but no longer shaking.

"Thank you," he says, not taking his seat again but staying near the door. "I ought to be leaving - Father d'Alessio is expecting me at Castelvecchio very soon. There is one thing, though, before I go. Do you happen to know where Sera Potch might be?"

"Most likely in the library - I believe she said at breakfast that she would be reading about other countries' laws today."

"Good, good. If you have no objections, I would like to pay her another visit. She expressed interest in devoting herself to the Teacher, and..." He sighs. "It would be good for an evening like this to end with a little hope."