Book the Second, Chapter the Eleventh: A Lengthy Trek

[jp1885]

Lepus frantically waves Henry away, swivelling his eyes towards Sophia.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry backs off when Lepus signals him.

[SunlessNick]

Sorry for the absence.

"I have never had an urge to devour a child," Eliza says. "So perhaps I am no ogress after all. Though I do like the sound of the word. You should pursue your books. Knowledge is a beautiful thing."

Eliza is startled at Lepus's outburst, but obeys his signal.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Eagerly responding to the clever stratagem of the hedge wizard, Sophia play-acts the role of Good Samaritan, hurrying outside with him.

"No worries," she assures her startled parents. "Only a temporary mislodging of a bit of bread. I shall call for assistance if any is required."

Once out of earshot, with the invisible Sophia by her side, as well as near Lepus, the fleshly Sophia hastens to relate her strange story.

"Praise Heaven that you not think me mad! My parents, as dear as they are to me, considered my tales of seeing my late sister by my side to be mere imaginings, or even wicked lies. I was not yet much more than a child of tender years when I ceased to speak of her to them. Sometimes -- oh, how rarely! -- others have seen her, always those who have experienced, in some way or other, preternatural happenings. All else are blind to her. Now I know that you and your companions are such. For what reason she seeks to cling to you, as she has to me for so many years, growing from ghost child to spectral lady as we both aged, I cannot say. Nor do I know my own mind, whether I wish her to remain here, or to set her spirit free, wheresoever it may roam."

All of this is spoken nearly in one breath. By the time it is ended, the concerned Mr. and Mrs. Allen have joined them, to ensure that their guest is in no danger.

[jp1885]

“I can lay the poor child to rest if you wish,” whispers Lepus hurriedly. “Tell me yay or nay after the meal.”

As the parents arrive, he clambers to his feet.

“All is well thanks to the ministrations of your kind daughter. ‘twas but a crumb this old fool choked on. Let us return to the meal.”

[Mr. Handy]

Henry nods and goes back inside with the others.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

As a hospitable end to the day's gathering, Miss Allen is invited to sing. As the family possesses neither harpsichord nor pianoforte, these luxuries being beyond their means, she performs, as the Italian masters have it, a capella, a term recently borrowed from those musical persons.

The wind doth blow today, my love,
And a few small drops of rain;
I never had but one true-love,
In cold grave she was lain.

I’ll do as much for my true-love
As any young man may;
I’ll sit and mourn all at her grave
For a twelvemonth and a day.

The twelvemonth and a day being up,
The dead began to speak:
“Oh who sits weeping on my grave,
And will not let me sleep?”

’T is I, my love, sits on your grave,
And will not let you sleep;
For I crave one kiss of your clay-cold lips,
And that is all I seek.

“You crave one kiss of my clay-cold lips,
But my breath smells earthy strong;
If you have one kiss of my clay-cold lips,
Your time will not be long.

“’T is down in yonder garden green,
Love, where we used to walk,
The finest flower that e’re was seen
Is withered to a stalk.

“The stalk is withered dry, my love,
So will our hearts decay;
So make yourself content, my love,
Till God calls you away.”

It is notable that the young lady directs her gaze at Lepus several times during the song, as if she wishes to convey some message to him, without drawing attention from others.

[jp1885]

Lepus listens intently to the poem, his expression flickering between bewilderment, curiosity, enlightenment and enjoyment with every word.

“Hmm… Methinks she wishes the spirit be laid to rest…” he mutters.

He smiles apologetically to the spirit of Sophia the first as he fishes out of scrap of paper and a piece in of charcoal.

“Forgive me Sophia, but ‘tis time to sleep. Rest well young one,” he whispers as he draws the sigil to send spirits on their way.

[Mr. Handy]

Henry applauds after Sophia finishes. "That was magnificent, Miss Allen," he says. "I see you've gotten your talents from your mother. My daughter Lizzie likewise got hers from my wife."

[SunlessNick]

Eliza appears confused throughout the recital. Several times she seems to bite back a question, but in the end observes that her father and Lepus do not act as if anything is amiss.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

There is an feeling throughout the household as if a great fog has cleared, leaving the pure sunshine piercing through with its beneficent rays. Mrs. Allen, who has reacted to her daughter's song with sorrowed expression (such, it is said, is the power of artistry to move the sensitive heart) appears calmer than heretofore.

"My friends," she asks, "shall we pay a visit to my poor babe's grave? I feel as if she would be honored by such fine company."

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you," says Henry. "I would be honored to accompany you as well."

[jp1885]

“Aye, ‘twill be an honour to visit yonder grave,” says Lepus. ‘And to wish the spirit adieu’, he thinks to himself.

[SunlessNick]

"Certainly I shall come," says Eliza.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The marker is a simple stone, bearing only the single letter s, obviously carved there by unskilled hands. After some time spent in silence, the Allens bid their visitors farewell.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Spoiler:

NIGHT # 3: d4

The adventurers spend a peaceful night under the stars, the weather being clement. They awaken from pleasant dreams refreshed and ready to face the day's travel.

Spoiler:

DAY #4: d4

The morning and afternoon are pleasant ones, and the trail is level and easy. Being well provisioned with such comestibles as are suited to journeying, and gentle brooks often to be found, such ambulation must be considered a pleasure rather than a burden.

Spoiler:

NIGHT #4: d4d8+d12d4d20d4

Just as they are about to settle in for the night, the adventurers discover the body of two deceased cats, clearly of the domestic variety such as are used to keep vermin away from the places where grain is stored. One is of that common pattern known as tabby, the other primarily black in color, with some small white patches. Both appear to be toms.

[jp1885]

Refreshed by such a pleasant journey, Lepus is nonetheless dismayed at the sight of the dead felines.

Crouching low, he examines the corpses using his own unique set of senses.

[Mr. Handy]

"The poor creatures," says Henry. He examines the dead cats with a scientific and medical eye, trying to determine how they died and what killed them.

[SunlessNick]

"Georgina had one of these animals, did she not?" asks Eliza. "These appear to have been much less well loved."

[Mr. Handy]

"She did," says Henry. "Her cat's name is Artemis. My daughter Lizzie has a cat named Archimedes. These two may have been loved by someone, but not by whatever slew them."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

It is immediately obvious that Death, that busy spirit, has visited both creatures very recently, given the fact that Nature has not yet had time to send Her tiny servants to do the necessary work of returning their bodies to the earth from which they, as all things living, arose. There are no evident wounds; one might think them simply asleep, were it not for the lack of respiration and such signs of life. Mere visual inspection does not reveal anything else; one would have to undertake some other form of examination in any attempt to obtain further information.