Chapter 8: The Vanishing

[Rooter]

"I believe you Miss Isolde," Percy says loyally. "I'll help you in the library."

[Philulhu]

”If it was Miss Ursula, she would have had to be in the library to make noise, then get past me and Miss Beuchamp to get into the study via a closed door, take the picture from the wall and then make herself scarce,” said Captain FitzWilliam. ”I don’t think that’s even possible.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Unless there's a secret passage," says Alexander. "Still, it does seem unlikely. I shall go to the library too. I'd like to research what happened with the Romans and the druids, and perhaps see if there might be a secret passage there."

[Philulhu]

”For the sake of thoroughness, I will check the study for a secret passage,” replied Captain FitzWilliam.

[HoneyDog]

Spoiler:

Isolde & Percy: Roll Library use. Alexander & FitzWilliam: Roll Spot Hidden.

[Philulhu]

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden - a myopic 25%

Philulhu rolled 1d100:
14

[aine]

"Thank you, Percy." Isolde gives a warm but tired smile. " I can't see how even an agile child could have been in two places last night and if there was a gang, why then surely we would have caught more than a glimpse!"

Isolde goes to the library and collects all the books that might mention local fairy tales. She even looks at natural history books of the area.

Spoiler:

(75%) roll: 3

[Mr. Handy]

If there is a secret passage here, Alexander is pretty sure he can find it.

Spoiler:

Spot Hidden roll (60% skill) in the library:

Mr. Handy rolled 1d100:
59

[Rooter]

Spoiler:

55%

Rooter rolled 1d100:
28

In the library, Percy assists Isolde in perusing the books on local history.

[HoneyDog]

Both Fitzwilliam and Alexander make thorough searches of the Study and the Library respectively, and can be quite sure that there are no hidden passages to be found.

Isolde and Percy cannot find any other books of interest on local history, but there is one which catches their eye…

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, well, there's no secret passage," says Alexander. "I still dinna believe in the Wee Folk, though even my mum left out a saucer of milk for them every night. It was always empty by morning, but I'm sure that had more to do with the neighbourhood cats. I'd like to see if there's anything in here about the confrontation between the Romans and the druids."

[HoneyDog]

Alexander searches the shelves, but apart from the existing volume, no more is to be found on this subject.

The morning is almost over now, and soon the bell will ring for lunch.

[aine]

After Percy has read the passage, Isolde shows it to Alexander and Fitzwilliam.
"There's a lot here that ties in with what we've discovered. It's a pity we didn't think to ask about the horses' condition that morning. But I don't know where we go from here; what to tell her Ladyship.

I suppose if this is the answer then do we need to find a way to placate the fairies - so that they remove the curse?"

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam read the passage in the book and pondered. ”The text would tally with the description of what they found in the stable,” he said. ”But it isn’t proof that some mythical creature was involved. Mind you, I’d be willing to entertain any ideas at this stage... ...”

He thought for a while longer and spoke again, “Assuming that such creatures were to be involved, does the book say anything as to how they might be appeased?”

[HoneyDog]

The companions’ ruminations are interrupted by loud cries from elsewhere in the house. Shortly thereafter, a young maid enters breathlessly, her eyes wild.

“Oh, come quick!” she cries. “Miss Ursula’s gone!”

[Philulhu]

Captain FitzWilliam sprang to his feet. ”Gone?! Gone from where?” he snapped.

[Mr. Handy]

Alexander comes running and follows the maid's directions.

[Rooter]

Percy also hurries after the maid.

[HoneyDog]

The maid hurries to the hall where a frantic-looking Josephine stands with Howard, who has lost some of his composure.

“I let Ursula play outside, but she hasn’t been seen for over two hours” says Josephine as the companions arrive. “I told her to be back by now, and she is never late. I have called for her, but she has not come. We will search the house to make sure, but can you help search the grounds?” she pleads.

“McKenzie has gone to the stables; please check the groundskeeper’s cottage” says Howard. “No doubt she has probably just fallen asleep somewhere, but you understand, what with the current situation…” he trails off.

[aine]

"But surely it is too cold to play outside!" Exclaims Isolde. "Really, you men have no sense! Come on, maybe we can find her tracks in the snow. Who's got dogs?"
Isolde runs upstairs to put on warm clothes and boots before heading outside.