The darkness of the small hours of the morning pressed over the dimming of stars. Chimney smoke mingled with the perpetual autumn mist. The guest-house is a short walk. One of the towers of the castle remains where the driver and grounds keeper stay. Blinding yellow flames lit the hillsides. The oaks were angry red bombs scattered among the more common birch and aspen. Lower down, the maples formed a simmering orange heat. The cloudy morning sky showed a Reddish Orange like waves on an ocean, the smell of dry oak leaves filled her nose as she entered the guest-house, humbled by the battle all around her.
Most of the structure of the original castle remains. After exploring the guest house she returns to the manor house. Cindy is in the kitchen putting things away. Jennifer asks her questions about this place.
“Hi Cindy.”
“Oh hi Jennifer, is there something you need?”
“I wanted to ask you something. Why is everyone acting so strange around here?” Showing a puzzled look.
“What do you mean?”
“Well earlier today while meeting with Ms. Baxter in her office. When I asked her questions she would avoid answering them.”
“Oh well…yes, Ms. Baxter is the…” Jennifer then interrupted Cindy. “The office manager here I know but…”
“No…you don’t understand Jennifer. She and Mr. Witherston are…”
John walked in the kitchen just when Cindy was about to finish. “I will be out for a while. I need to deliver some papers to another client. I should be back this evening.”
“OK, we’ll see you later”, said Cindy in an easy tone. “Baxter and Witherston have secret closed door meetings late in the night. Oh and the dog Dex doesn’t like her. It was a rescue.”
“Really, well I love dogs.”
“Yes, but there’s more. I have seen her and Witherston scanning around the property for hours like they are trying to find something specific but they are not sure where it is.”
“Interesting”, said Jennifer, raising an eyebrow.
“OK, don’t say anything to anyone. Keep this discussion between us”, said Cindy in a hushed tone returning to her duties.
Jennifer decided that since she had all this free time she would make good use of it so she went to the library where she had talked with John, and looked around a bit. Her eyes fixed on the impressive collection of books. They had so much classical literature she couldn’t believe her eyes. The Iliad, the Odyssey and much more. Hundreds of books lined the shelves. Gazing upon a book along the shelf taking notice of the black shiny leather, and stood a good couple of inches higher. Taking hold of the book. Fatter than the others, sealed by custom designed metal clasps with a surprisingly smooth feel, for such a hard object. The pages fell open in her hand, with just a hint of foxing towards the edges of the pages, and a faint scented musty smell touched her nostrils. This book is quite old.
She set the book down as her curiosity got the best of her, seeing the outline of a small door in-between the bookshelf and the fireplace. Jennifer glanced around the room making sure she was still alone. Small enough to allow her to crawl through. Inside appeared to be a hidden passage. The soft light of the library shone onto a long metal box sitting on a shelf. More long than wide. The dust was thick as a layer of fur. Fragments of the old cobwebs hung from the walls. The box didn’t appear to be locked. Too dark to see much, she returns to the library with the box in hand. Still alone so she knew she would not be interrupted. The rusting hinges squeaked as the box was opened revealing a rolled up leather document sealed with a wax seal, a key, and a note inside the box. It read: October 25th. The seal is not familiar to her. Reaching for the necklace her uncle gave her, Jennifer unclasped it and compared it to the wax seal. It was not a match. She broke the seal. Opening the leather scroll revealed a worn and torn parchment with burned edging. She could make out some of the words but not the symbol. Her eyes widened. The torn image of a sword or something shown. The rest is missing. The document is in French. Jennifer can speak pretty good French so she spoke the words out loud.
Par ordre du roi Philippe Dutertre le sixième de la France s’il vous plaît sauf que ce paiement en rançon pour notre brave chevalier par accord dans la Trêve de Legume . Le La Demeien doit arriver Octobreun trois quatre six.
English Translation: By order of King Philippe Dutertre the sixth of France please accept this payment in ransom for our brave knight per agreement in the Truce of Legume. The La Demien is due to arrive October 15, 1346.
The hair on her arm stood tall as cold air passed through her while she read the words. Frightened, Jennifer turned with a snap thinking someone was behind her. She let in a gasp but no one was there. Calming herself, questions dominated her thoughts.
Truce of Legume…why would someone hide such a document inside a wall, and who is the knight France is paying ransom for?
Eric Grant Owens 