The Adventure continues...
Jul. 16th, 2009 02:03 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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fandomaniaPlease click and view our eggs and hatchlings. I do the same for you. Thanks!
Our eggs:
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§ 
§ 
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Our hatchlings:
§ 
I must have lain there for hours. Time no longer had any meaning for me. But awareness slowly did return. I soon realized that the orange haze that I saw was Orlando, in his natural form. He had curled up around me protecting me from anyone who wanted to intrude on my grief. Wordlessly, we lay there together, as he allowed me to bath him in my tears.
When I could cry no longer, Orlando changed into his human form. “Your family and your children are very worried about you.”
“My children?” I asked listlessly. “How can the children know about this? It has just happened…”
“No, little one, you have been lying here for over five hours. Word has spread throughout the compound. Izshaq felt that it would be better that the children be told by someone that they love and trust, rather than overhearing it from someone and misunderstanding. Since you and Piatrus are both in bad shape, Izshaq decided to take that task on.”
“Piatrus? He isn’t doing well?”
“Although, to the world around him, he seems rock solid, I can tell that inside him, he is in a world of pain and sorrow. A lesser man would not be as functional as he is after losing six loved ones, as he has, in less than a month.”
“Poor Piatrus …”
“Come, little one, you must get yourself together. You have children to comfort. You have to take care of yourself. You have to keep healthy for your baby.”
“My baby … ?”
“Yes. Donal’s baby. You need to take care of yourself so that Donal’s baby will grow strong and be born healthy. You do want Donal’s baby to be healthy, don’t you?”
“His baby. Donal’s baby. Yes…”
Fiorenzia came into the chapel. “Come, Patra, you need to get freshened up. Take a bath, comb your hair, and let your family know that you are all right.”
“A bath. Yes, I need a bath. Donal always knows when I take a bath. He likes to watch me as I bathe. He calls me his siren of the bath. I need to take a bath…”
Orlando and Fiorenzia walked me slowly to the main house. Inside the house, I saw Piatrus with three men whom I didn’t recognize.
“Poor Piatrus. I am sorry. I have to take a bath. Donal likes to watch me as I take a bath.” I giggled.
“Gentlemen, I told you that Lady Patra is in no condition to be questioned right now.”
“I see your point. Poor lady. Finding her husband’s body must have unhinged her. We can wait until she is feeling better.”
“Indeed.” Piatrus said dryly.
I walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “Poor Piatrus, you are so sad. I am sorry. I have to take a bath. Donal likes to watch me as I take a bath.” I giggled again as Fiorenzia lead me away.
Ellyn and Mahli were waiting for me in my room. “Oh, my poor lady! You have blood all over you! Let’s get you out of this dress.”
“I need to take a bath.”
“Of course, you do. A nice hot bath should make you feel a whole lot better.” Ellyn nodded to Mahli who went to draw the bath. Ellyn fussed over me, helping me undress.
When the bath was ready, they helped me into the hot water. It felt so good as the heat relaxed my tense muscles. I got that wonderful heady sensation of floating. As the women helped me wash, I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see Donal lounging in the door way with the sexy grin of his. But every time I looked, he wasn’t there. When my maids finished, I asked. “Donal isn’t coming, is he?”
“No, milady, he is not,” said Ellyn sadly, as tears started to fall down her cheeks.
“He won’t be coming at all, will he?”
“No, ma’am,” replied Mahli, in a choked voice, as tears fell from her eyes also.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the side of the tub and I began to sob once more.
“There, there, my lady. Let it out. It will do you good to have a nice cry,” consoled Ellyn.
I don’t know how long they let me cry, but the water was only luke warm when the maids helped me out. They dried me quickly and started to dress me in an outfit I had never seen before. It was a black wool gown. Its bodice fit well over my bosom and covered me completely, from its stand up collar down to just below my breasts. It flared out from there with yards and yards of material. Its tight sleeves covered me from shoulder to wrists. Black velvet ribbons made up the belt, the tippets and were sewn just above the hem and the wrists. They put my hair up into a black silk net that was held to my hair with gold filigree combs. From what Ellyn said, I think that the dress had been one of Rosa’s old gowns.
“There you are, ma’am,” said Mahli soothingly. “You are looking very pretty now.”
I looked at myself in the mirror and I could barely recognize myself. I didn’t look pretty. My skin was very pallid and my eyes and nose were blotchy red.
I stood up, but then couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do or why. I felt so confused. Ellyn led me to the sitting room and had me sit on one of the couches. “You have a lot of little visitors, milady, who are very anxious to see you.”
“Visitors?” I asked. “I cannot see any visitors right now…”
“Mommy?” said Celianne. “May we come in?”
Celianne and all of my children stood in the doorway. She was holding hands with Gælen and Vâlen. My twin girls were holding on to each other. Loysa was holding hands with Maxel and Sammy. Reuel and Jayzon came together, followed closely behind by Izshaq holding Yusaf and helping Eryssa to walk.
“Oh my darling children! Of course, you may come in!”
The children gathered themselves around me. Izshaq put Yusaf and Eryssa on my lap and then went to the furthest corner and sat down, trying to give us some privacy.
“Mommy, we are very sorry to hear about Daddy. We loved him very much. We know how much you loved him too. We are all going to miss him! But Mommy, we don’t want you to get so sad. “
“I see. If you know how much I loved your Daddy, you should know that sadness is part of mourning. I will always be sad because he died. I loved him so much that being without him will always make me mourn his loss.”
“But, Mommy, when you get really sad, you hurt yourself. We don’t want you to die also! We love you Mommy! Don’t you understand?”
“Ah. I see. I promise you that I will try not to get that sad again. I know that this is a lot to ask of you, but if you do see me getting that sad, would you help me get through those times? While it is okay to be sad when you miss someone, getting really sad sometimes happens when you don’t know it. Sometimes a person needs help to feel better. If you all will help me to feel better, then I cannot get so sad, now can I? And if you get too worried about me, get Izshaq or Orlando or Aunt Suthi or even Pahpey to come help. Would you do that for me?”
Celianne replied, “We will Mommy! We will try to help you.”
“Thank you my darlings! I couldn’t ask for better children than you are.”
We continued to talk together for some time. I found that they helped ground me to reality. I tried to answer all of their questions as best that I could, even when they were hard to answer.
Sometime latter, we heard people coming in the main corridor. The chirping squeaks it made gave us ample warning. Piatrus knocked and asked if I was up for some official visitors. Izshaq answered the door and let them in when I told him it was all right.
Piatrus ushered in the three men that I had seen earlier. Izshaq gathered up the children and took them back to their rooms.
“Lady Patra, this is Minister Josser from the Ministry of Justice.” The gentleman gave me a bow. “This is Minister Nigel, from the Ministry of the Constabulary.” He bowed also. “Finally, this is Doctor Horton, the Royal Medical Examiner.” He nodded to me. “Gentlemen, this is Lady Patra, my grandson’s wife. Patra, my dear, these gentlemen have to ask you questions about Donal and this morning. I hope that you are able to answer their questions now?”
“I think so.”
Piatrus retrieved chairs for the men and then started to leave.
“Piatrus, please stay? I am not sure I can do this alone…”
He looked at me and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Please?” I begged him. “Don’t leave me alone?”
He walked over to the couch and sat down next to me. I squeezed his hand and then said, “Thank you.” I could feel his strength radiating to me and giving me courage.
“We know that you are having a hard time with this,” stated Doctor Horton. “but we are trying to find out who murdered your husband. We are asking everyone in the compound these same questions, so that no can accuse us of bias. I hope that you understand that we are not accusing you of anything. We are just trying to piece together the facts and trying to find explanations. We hope you understand this?”
I nodded ‘yes’ to them.
“Where were you last night between midnight and one o’clock?”
“In bed, asleep.”
“Can anyone corroborate that?”
“My maids.”
“They were with you at that time?”
“Not exactly. But their rooms are next to my bedroom. They would have heard me if I had gotten up.”
“When did you last see your husband?
“Last night, just before I went to bed.”
“Did you part on good terms?”
“Yes, very.”
“Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against your husband?”
“No. Donal was well loved.”
“Did you know of or were you witness to any arguments that someone might have had with your husband?”
I hesitated. “Well, Donal did have a conversation with his father, where his father criticized him badly. I don’t know if you would call it an argument, but Donal was unhappy with his father over it. But then later, his father did invite us to come visit him in Rawn-Devu. I don’t know if that is significant.”
”Do you know where your husband’s father is right now?”
I looked at Piatrus. “No. I don’t.”
Piatrus then said, “Dashal conAgri and I do not get along and I ordered him to leave last night. He said he would be gone in the morning. I haven’t seen him since last night. I will have to ask Captain Quinton to find out when he left.”
“Please do that. Do you have any enemies, Lady Patra? Anyone who might wish to harm you or get revenge on you through your husband?”
I blinked with surprise. “I don’t know. I am not sure…”
“Has anyone ever threatened to kill you or tried to harm you?”
I hesitated. “Yes … Most recently, Count Torfen.”
“What?” exclaimed Piatrus. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday morning. But Izshaq prevented him from harming me!”
“Lady Patra!” said Minister Josser, “What is a refined lady like yourself doing with Count Torfen?”
“I wasn’t doing anything with him! I was going to see Uncle Haral at the Temple. Torfen accosted me. And after Izshaq rescued me, Torfen threatened me. I want nothing to do with him! The horrible man killed my sister!”
“He did? Who was your sister? Do you have proof of this?”
“My sister was Laela vanDraco. I wish I did have proof. Uncle Haral would have given it to you long ago.”
“When you say ‘Uncle Haral’ do you mean Archprelate Haral?”
“Yes,” replied Piatrus. “He is my younger brother.”
“Getting back to my original question, has anyone else threatened you?”
I hesitated again. “Su Wei threatened to kill me.”
“Su Wei? Who is this person?”
Piatrus blushed. “She was my … paramour. I have since ended the relationship.”
“Do you know where we can find this woman?”
“She is staying in a cottage near the woods, not far from the main buildings of the compound.”
“Is there anyone else who might wish to harm you or your family?”
“Only the Georgists. They recently assassinated my cousin, Queen Lynnaria.”
“Why would they want to kill you?”
“I am her heir and next in line to the throne of Freedonia.”
“Have they sent any threatening notes?”
“No. Not that I am aware of.”
“Well… Thank you for your time. I know that this was difficult for you, Lady Patra. Please accept our condolences for your loss. We will be in touch if we have further questions or have found the murderer. Thank you again, for your time.”
The men got up and Piatrus ushered them out.
Alone in the sitting room, I started to cry again. When Piatrus returned, he sat down next to me once more and held me in his arms as I sobbed into his shoulder.
Our eggs:
§ § § § Our hatchlings:
§ I must have lain there for hours. Time no longer had any meaning for me. But awareness slowly did return. I soon realized that the orange haze that I saw was Orlando, in his natural form. He had curled up around me protecting me from anyone who wanted to intrude on my grief. Wordlessly, we lay there together, as he allowed me to bath him in my tears.
When I could cry no longer, Orlando changed into his human form. “Your family and your children are very worried about you.”
“My children?” I asked listlessly. “How can the children know about this? It has just happened…”
“No, little one, you have been lying here for over five hours. Word has spread throughout the compound. Izshaq felt that it would be better that the children be told by someone that they love and trust, rather than overhearing it from someone and misunderstanding. Since you and Piatrus are both in bad shape, Izshaq decided to take that task on.”
“Piatrus? He isn’t doing well?”
“Although, to the world around him, he seems rock solid, I can tell that inside him, he is in a world of pain and sorrow. A lesser man would not be as functional as he is after losing six loved ones, as he has, in less than a month.”
“Poor Piatrus …”
“Come, little one, you must get yourself together. You have children to comfort. You have to take care of yourself. You have to keep healthy for your baby.”
“My baby … ?”
“Yes. Donal’s baby. You need to take care of yourself so that Donal’s baby will grow strong and be born healthy. You do want Donal’s baby to be healthy, don’t you?”
“His baby. Donal’s baby. Yes…”
Fiorenzia came into the chapel. “Come, Patra, you need to get freshened up. Take a bath, comb your hair, and let your family know that you are all right.”
“A bath. Yes, I need a bath. Donal always knows when I take a bath. He likes to watch me as I bathe. He calls me his siren of the bath. I need to take a bath…”
Orlando and Fiorenzia walked me slowly to the main house. Inside the house, I saw Piatrus with three men whom I didn’t recognize.
“Poor Piatrus. I am sorry. I have to take a bath. Donal likes to watch me as I take a bath.” I giggled.
“Gentlemen, I told you that Lady Patra is in no condition to be questioned right now.”
“I see your point. Poor lady. Finding her husband’s body must have unhinged her. We can wait until she is feeling better.”
“Indeed.” Piatrus said dryly.
I walked over to him and kissed his cheek. “Poor Piatrus, you are so sad. I am sorry. I have to take a bath. Donal likes to watch me as I take a bath.” I giggled again as Fiorenzia lead me away.
Ellyn and Mahli were waiting for me in my room. “Oh, my poor lady! You have blood all over you! Let’s get you out of this dress.”
“I need to take a bath.”
“Of course, you do. A nice hot bath should make you feel a whole lot better.” Ellyn nodded to Mahli who went to draw the bath. Ellyn fussed over me, helping me undress.
When the bath was ready, they helped me into the hot water. It felt so good as the heat relaxed my tense muscles. I got that wonderful heady sensation of floating. As the women helped me wash, I kept looking over my shoulder, expecting to see Donal lounging in the door way with the sexy grin of his. But every time I looked, he wasn’t there. When my maids finished, I asked. “Donal isn’t coming, is he?”
“No, milady, he is not,” said Ellyn sadly, as tears started to fall down her cheeks.
“He won’t be coming at all, will he?”
“No, ma’am,” replied Mahli, in a choked voice, as tears fell from her eyes also.
I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the side of the tub and I began to sob once more.
“There, there, my lady. Let it out. It will do you good to have a nice cry,” consoled Ellyn.
I don’t know how long they let me cry, but the water was only luke warm when the maids helped me out. They dried me quickly and started to dress me in an outfit I had never seen before. It was a black wool gown. Its bodice fit well over my bosom and covered me completely, from its stand up collar down to just below my breasts. It flared out from there with yards and yards of material. Its tight sleeves covered me from shoulder to wrists. Black velvet ribbons made up the belt, the tippets and were sewn just above the hem and the wrists. They put my hair up into a black silk net that was held to my hair with gold filigree combs. From what Ellyn said, I think that the dress had been one of Rosa’s old gowns.
“There you are, ma’am,” said Mahli soothingly. “You are looking very pretty now.”
I looked at myself in the mirror and I could barely recognize myself. I didn’t look pretty. My skin was very pallid and my eyes and nose were blotchy red.
I stood up, but then couldn’t remember what I was supposed to do or why. I felt so confused. Ellyn led me to the sitting room and had me sit on one of the couches. “You have a lot of little visitors, milady, who are very anxious to see you.”
“Visitors?” I asked. “I cannot see any visitors right now…”
“Mommy?” said Celianne. “May we come in?”
Celianne and all of my children stood in the doorway. She was holding hands with Gælen and Vâlen. My twin girls were holding on to each other. Loysa was holding hands with Maxel and Sammy. Reuel and Jayzon came together, followed closely behind by Izshaq holding Yusaf and helping Eryssa to walk.
“Oh my darling children! Of course, you may come in!”
The children gathered themselves around me. Izshaq put Yusaf and Eryssa on my lap and then went to the furthest corner and sat down, trying to give us some privacy.
“Mommy, we are very sorry to hear about Daddy. We loved him very much. We know how much you loved him too. We are all going to miss him! But Mommy, we don’t want you to get so sad. “
“I see. If you know how much I loved your Daddy, you should know that sadness is part of mourning. I will always be sad because he died. I loved him so much that being without him will always make me mourn his loss.”
“But, Mommy, when you get really sad, you hurt yourself. We don’t want you to die also! We love you Mommy! Don’t you understand?”
“Ah. I see. I promise you that I will try not to get that sad again. I know that this is a lot to ask of you, but if you do see me getting that sad, would you help me get through those times? While it is okay to be sad when you miss someone, getting really sad sometimes happens when you don’t know it. Sometimes a person needs help to feel better. If you all will help me to feel better, then I cannot get so sad, now can I? And if you get too worried about me, get Izshaq or Orlando or Aunt Suthi or even Pahpey to come help. Would you do that for me?”
Celianne replied, “We will Mommy! We will try to help you.”
“Thank you my darlings! I couldn’t ask for better children than you are.”
We continued to talk together for some time. I found that they helped ground me to reality. I tried to answer all of their questions as best that I could, even when they were hard to answer.
Sometime latter, we heard people coming in the main corridor. The chirping squeaks it made gave us ample warning. Piatrus knocked and asked if I was up for some official visitors. Izshaq answered the door and let them in when I told him it was all right.
Piatrus ushered in the three men that I had seen earlier. Izshaq gathered up the children and took them back to their rooms.
“Lady Patra, this is Minister Josser from the Ministry of Justice.” The gentleman gave me a bow. “This is Minister Nigel, from the Ministry of the Constabulary.” He bowed also. “Finally, this is Doctor Horton, the Royal Medical Examiner.” He nodded to me. “Gentlemen, this is Lady Patra, my grandson’s wife. Patra, my dear, these gentlemen have to ask you questions about Donal and this morning. I hope that you are able to answer their questions now?”
“I think so.”
Piatrus retrieved chairs for the men and then started to leave.
“Piatrus, please stay? I am not sure I can do this alone…”
He looked at me and asked, “Are you sure?”
“Please?” I begged him. “Don’t leave me alone?”
He walked over to the couch and sat down next to me. I squeezed his hand and then said, “Thank you.” I could feel his strength radiating to me and giving me courage.
“We know that you are having a hard time with this,” stated Doctor Horton. “but we are trying to find out who murdered your husband. We are asking everyone in the compound these same questions, so that no can accuse us of bias. I hope that you understand that we are not accusing you of anything. We are just trying to piece together the facts and trying to find explanations. We hope you understand this?”
I nodded ‘yes’ to them.
“Where were you last night between midnight and one o’clock?”
“In bed, asleep.”
“Can anyone corroborate that?”
“My maids.”
“They were with you at that time?”
“Not exactly. But their rooms are next to my bedroom. They would have heard me if I had gotten up.”
“When did you last see your husband?
“Last night, just before I went to bed.”
“Did you part on good terms?”
“Yes, very.”
“Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against your husband?”
“No. Donal was well loved.”
“Did you know of or were you witness to any arguments that someone might have had with your husband?”
I hesitated. “Well, Donal did have a conversation with his father, where his father criticized him badly. I don’t know if you would call it an argument, but Donal was unhappy with his father over it. But then later, his father did invite us to come visit him in Rawn-Devu. I don’t know if that is significant.”
”Do you know where your husband’s father is right now?”
I looked at Piatrus. “No. I don’t.”
Piatrus then said, “Dashal conAgri and I do not get along and I ordered him to leave last night. He said he would be gone in the morning. I haven’t seen him since last night. I will have to ask Captain Quinton to find out when he left.”
“Please do that. Do you have any enemies, Lady Patra? Anyone who might wish to harm you or get revenge on you through your husband?”
I blinked with surprise. “I don’t know. I am not sure…”
“Has anyone ever threatened to kill you or tried to harm you?”
I hesitated. “Yes … Most recently, Count Torfen.”
“What?” exclaimed Piatrus. “When did this happen?”
“Yesterday morning. But Izshaq prevented him from harming me!”
“Lady Patra!” said Minister Josser, “What is a refined lady like yourself doing with Count Torfen?”
“I wasn’t doing anything with him! I was going to see Uncle Haral at the Temple. Torfen accosted me. And after Izshaq rescued me, Torfen threatened me. I want nothing to do with him! The horrible man killed my sister!”
“He did? Who was your sister? Do you have proof of this?”
“My sister was Laela vanDraco. I wish I did have proof. Uncle Haral would have given it to you long ago.”
“When you say ‘Uncle Haral’ do you mean Archprelate Haral?”
“Yes,” replied Piatrus. “He is my younger brother.”
“Getting back to my original question, has anyone else threatened you?”
I hesitated again. “Su Wei threatened to kill me.”
“Su Wei? Who is this person?”
Piatrus blushed. “She was my … paramour. I have since ended the relationship.”
“Do you know where we can find this woman?”
“She is staying in a cottage near the woods, not far from the main buildings of the compound.”
“Is there anyone else who might wish to harm you or your family?”
“Only the Georgists. They recently assassinated my cousin, Queen Lynnaria.”
“Why would they want to kill you?”
“I am her heir and next in line to the throne of Freedonia.”
“Have they sent any threatening notes?”
“No. Not that I am aware of.”
“Well… Thank you for your time. I know that this was difficult for you, Lady Patra. Please accept our condolences for your loss. We will be in touch if we have further questions or have found the murderer. Thank you again, for your time.”
The men got up and Piatrus ushered them out.
Alone in the sitting room, I started to cry again. When Piatrus returned, he sat down next to me once more and held me in his arms as I sobbed into his shoulder.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2009-07-16 03:22 pm (UTC)although i have an idea or two of whodunnit, we shall see as i keep reading... i'm sure you have another evil plot or 3 up your sleeve.... which is what makes it good!
('cept the cliffhangers. heh.)
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Date: 2009-07-16 08:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-16 09:45 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-07-17 12:35 am (UTC)