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Post by twilightblade on May 28, 2009 4:10:29 GMT -5
Lariat nodded to Suzy as she said his name, and gently guided Elizabeth forward. He glanced back once at Suzy and Jane. "Miss Suzy, Miss Jane, it truely is not safe outside. A carriage is very obvious, and we may have been followed. As well, it seems that the messenger who tried to contact Lord Michael for him to come with us has gone missing...so it is not certain he is safe either."
With another nod, he went through the open door with Elizabeth. "Please hurry inside, Ladies."
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Post by blossom on May 28, 2009 7:56:42 GMT -5
Jane glanced back at Suzy as Lariat guided Elizabeth inside. Her face was pale, taut with uncharacteristic worry. The maid moved up next to her, blue eyes filled with the same apprehension. Jane slipped her arm through Suzy's and clung tight to her in a display of nervousness as they followed Lariat inside, Viento close behind them.
As the door clicked softly shut behind them, Jane cleared her throat and said crisply,
"I would like an explanation."
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Post by jessimyre on May 28, 2009 18:51:25 GMT -5
Viento followed the ladies through the door of the hut in the cliffface. An old miner's hut, once. The door had barely pulled closed when Jane's voice spoke up demanding an explanation.
"And you shall have one, senorita." Viento answered curtly. "However we must not tarry here."
Lariat led them to rear of the old decrepid hut, clearly used by somebody used to living alone. Cobwebs adorned the ceiling and the old potbelly stove was lit. Somebody's washing hung to dry in front of it on the back of a battered chair. The place was dusty, untidy.
Elizabeth was glad they would not be staying in this tiny, filthy place. She raised her eyes questioningly but Lariat was not paying attention. Instead he took the old bookshelf in his hands, moved his body to the side and pulled suddenly.
The entire bookshelf grated to the side, revealing a narrow hole in the wall. It was dark beyond the dim light of the hut. Elizabeth gasped despite herself.
"Please." Lariat stood to one side, motioning for the ladies to go first. Elizabeth hesitated, the darkness uninviting. However she noticed that it wasn't entirely dark, she could see light flickering somewhere down there.
Taking a deep steadying breath she stepped up to the hole, and then realised immediately a handrail just beyond. Gripping it, she stepped through into the cold darkness and felt her way along gingerly. The footing was good, solid, and the light came closer as she moved.
Then she turned the corner and came into a wide mining tunnel, well lit and empty.
"Follow it, Miss."Lariat's voice came from somewhere behind her. Elizabeth began walking. Footsteps echoed behind her and in a moment Viento was by her side, the tunnel being certainly wide enough for two or even three abreast. Elizabeth quivvered with rage but pointedly ignored him.
After just a minute or so of walking, the tunnel turned a sharp corner. Elizabeth turned it and then stopped with a gasp of suprise.
It opened into a vast cavern. The collossal space was filled with the low murmur of voices. The lights reflected on a black stream to the far right hand side, and danced off the distant ceiling. People were moving about, occasionally a snatch of laughter or a chord of song could be made out from the throng.
There was a village down here!
At that moment a familiar voice cried out.
"Senorita Elizabeth! Senorita Elizabeth!" and Rosanna came scurrying up out of the crowd and flung herself at Elizabeth.
"You're safe!" she cried in delight, hugging her.
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Post by blossom on May 29, 2009 5:09:40 GMT -5
Jane's eyes narrowed dangerously as Viento fobbed her off with a vague, curt answer. Although she acted wild and carefree, the young Lady Edding had a hot, spitfire temper when crossed and she hated being pushed around with explanation more than almost anything else. Suzy could see that her mistress was close to digging her heels in and simply refusing to humour Viento and Lariat until they satisfied her with reason for their impertinence.
Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, she was distracted by Lariat hefting an entire bookcase to one side to reveal a narrow passage in the wall. Elizabeth gasped in surprised, but Jane paled and a strangled squeak escaped her. Suzy felt a shudder of anticipation run down her spine.
"Please."
Elizabeth was the first to go, stepping into the passage and then disappearing into the darkness. Beside her, Suzy felt Jane take a few steps back and shake her head. She turned to see her mistress still staring as though transfixed at the passage. Lariat and Viento exchanged a look, and then Lariat motioned for them to enter the tunnel.
"Please, Senorita," he said.
"No." Jane shook her head again, voice edged with panic. "N-No."
"Senorita," Viento took a step towards her.
"No!" Jane snapped sharply, glancing desperately at Suzy.
The two bandits looked towards the maid for an explanation. Suzy sighed helplessly. "She's afraid of small spaces."
"It's not very small," Viento turned back to Jane, "It widens out. And it's only for a minute."
Jane shook her head obstinately, pale with terror. "No."
Suzy bit down on her lip, trying to think of a solution. Viento and Lariat's patience was clearly wearing thin, perhaps a little unfairly but still, and it was clear they would drag her mistress through the tunnel if they decided that was the only way. There had to be some other way to persuade Jane ... if only ...
Wait.
"Lady Jane," Suzy took a step towards her mistress. "Do you trust me?"
"Y-yes."
"Then here." Suzy deftly untied the sash from her dress and held it out towards her mistress. "Let me blindfold you, and I'll guide you through the tunnel."
"Suzy ..." Jane hesitated.
"Trust me."
Slowly, the young Lady nodded. A wave of relief rushed over Suzy as she moved behind Jane and tied the sash over her eyes. She waved a hand in front of Jane's eyes to make sure she couldn't see, then took hold of her mistress's hands. Jane clung tightly to her as they walked towards the tunnel.
"Don't let go."
"I won't," Suzy promised as she stepped up into the tunnel. Jane followed with Lariat's help, since she couldn't see the footing.
Still clinging to Suzy, Jane trusting followed her main through the tunnel and around the corner. Her heart thudded fearfully the whole time, but without seeing how small the tunnel was she was able to keep the panic at bay. Distantly she heard the sounds of voices, a short laugh or the snatch of song. Beneath the blindfold she frowned. Where were they going?
Then Suzy abruptly stopped.
"We're here?" Jane whispered.
"Yes. Here."
Jane felt Suzy move behind her and untie the sash; the blindfold fell away and she gasped to see a vast cavern ... filled with a village. Incredible.
She turned to look at Suzy, and then noticed beyond her Elizabeth with another, familiar, figure.
"Rosanna! You're here?"
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Post by jessimyre on May 29, 2009 17:34:30 GMT -5
"Oh I am so glad." Rosanna almost wept. "I was so worried!" she said in way of explanation.
"Please ladies, this way." Viento guided them forward once more. Elizabeth gazed around in wonder, there was a small village and near two hundred-odd people here. Little homes carved out of the rock, little huts built on the cave floor, children playing in the dirt. Many little gardens growing what would grow without light.
Lots of people stared with interest at the newcomers but Viento was with them so they were not concerned. Elizabeth followed the outlaw, threading their way through the place until he came to a doorway in the cavern wall. Ushering them through, the women found themselves in a small, comfortable looking room, simply furnished with a bookshelf, a table and four chairs. An oilpainting hung on a wall and a rug adorned the floor. A lamp hung from the ceiling.
Another doorway with a thick curtain across it. Viento offered them all a seat, pulling back Elizabeth's chair for her with the grace of a nobleman. Lariat was doing the same for Jane. Rosanna and Suzy were then simularly treated and the men leaned against the wall instead, gazing at them intently.
"Please sit down, senorita. It is time for your explanation." Viento said softly. "Would any of you like a drink? You must be thirsty after all the excitement."
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Post by blossom on May 30, 2009 13:45:42 GMT -5
Jane sat primly in her chair, smoothing out her skirts, any earlier discomposure gone. For once she actually resembled her father and brother, her characteristic smile gone and her lips instead pressed into a hard line. She was every inch the young Lady as she faced Viento and Lariat, quite obviously determined not to be cowed or intimidated.
"It is time for your explanation," Viento said. "Would any of you like a drink? You must be thirsty after all the excitement."
"Excitement is certainly one word for it," Jane replied in clipped, even tones. "But no, thank you, I would not care for a drink."
She glanced at the others for their reply. Suzy merely shook her head, with a barely audible whisper of "No, thank you."
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Post by twilightblade on May 31, 2009 0:10:55 GMT -5
Viento shrugged, nodded to Lariat and began.
"It is an old story, in the way of things. Men come and take what other men have made. For the people who live here, it was their homes and lives as honest men. For your father, Lady Elizabeth...it was the rights to the gold mine. It is being mined under Senor Oritz's orders at this time, and when your father purchased it...it meant a great drop in prestige and income for the Don."
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Post by jessimyre on May 31, 2009 2:48:37 GMT -5
Elizabeth pursed her lips and looked pointedly away, her upright bearing and crossed arms clearly showing her fury which was now under iron control. Rosanna looked at her pleadingly, wrapping one arm around her mistress' shoulders.
"Please understand," Viento continued, "You are here for your protection. Everyone here is safer in this mine than they are in their own homes. There is a price on all our heads. Rosanna is here because her family is in danger - Antonio is a valuable witness to a filthy deed which is why he was a prisoner of Don Ortiz today. Rosanna herself would be used as bait to capture her brother."
"Lariat's crime was nothing more than refusing to kill the innocent." he nodded to his faithful friend, "And your father's," here he nodded to Elizabeth again, "Was merely to want a better future for his family. You yourself would be next on their list my lady which is why we have brought you here. Which is why even now we are attempting to secure the safety of your brothers and mother."
"You kidnapped us!" Elizabeth snapped, eyes flashing, turning to face him now. "You have kidnapped the daughters of well respected men!"
Viento held up one finger to politely silence her.
"Yes that is how it will be pitched to the sherrif, to the people. Would you rather be here or dead, senorita? Or even have your entire family slaughtered leaving yourself with nothing and no choice but to marry into the Don's family to survive?"
"How do we know you will not kill us or hold us to ransome?" Elizabeth asked, "You have already killed one member of my family tonight." her now low voice was laced with venom. Pure hatred for the dark man with the glittering eyes before her.
"No, senorita," Lariat interrupted softly on his friend's behalf, "No one of us fired a single shot tonight. I swear this on all that is holy."
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Post by blossom on May 31, 2009 17:43:56 GMT -5
Eloquent, passionate, persuasive … but were they honest? Suzy’s heart felt torn trying to answer that question. Part of her believed the sincerity with which they spoke and, more than that, she wanted to believe them. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder if it was that foolish and naïve desire that had led them to this predicament.
If she had followed her instincts, listened to head and told Ortiz or Lord Edding of Viento’s presence … what would have happened? Elizabeth’s father would still be alive, she would be brushing out her mistress’s hair for the night, they would be safe and happy …
… and all the while Rosanna’s brother would be languishing in a cell with Viento and Lariat while Suzy would still be conflicted with guilt and confusion.
Why couldn’t she decide what was right?
Jane, on the other hand, was inclined to be sympathetic but cool indignation prevented her from showing it. Perhaps these men had been wronged, but they had still made the choice to live outside the law. Perhaps they were innocent of the death of Elizabeth’s father, but no doubt blood was still on their hands. Perhaps Don Oritz was in the wrong, but that did not make these men any more in the right.
And she heard something else, something left unspoken. Her own family had nothing to do with this feud or war or whatever it was between Ortiz, Viento and apparently Elizabeth’s family. Jane and Suzy had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time, and were now paying the price.
“Very well. Say we take your word that you are innocent, relatively at least. That we believe you are only concerned for our … for Elizabeth’s welfare. What now?” Jane challenged them. “What will you do next? What do you intend for us? How can this possibly help your cause?”
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Post by jessimyre on May 31, 2009 18:31:39 GMT -5
"Ah senorita, you too are worthy of your heritage." Viento chuckled. "Do they breed all english ladies with the same fearless pride?"
"I cannot answer that question wholly until we get some more information. Soon one of our people will be coming to tell us what Don Ortiz' next move is, what he plans. When we know this we can lay plans of our own." he said simply.
"Until then we will keep you safe from harm, we will secure the safety of the rest of your family and we will learn, and plan. The ultimate goal is to find proof of Don Ortiz' crimes enough to end this. We all want to go home."
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Post by blossom on Jun 2, 2009 10:06:44 GMT -5
"I see," Jane remarked coolly.
Folding her arms, she leant back in her seat and gazed steadily up at Viento. "So what you are telling me is that you have no real proof of Don Ortiz's crimes, and we are to take your word for it. That we are also to trust your assertions that you will not harm us, but have our safety in mind despite the fact that you kidnapped us and are, to all intents and purposes, holding us against our wills."
"Lady Jane ..." Suzy tried to intervene, not wanting her mistress to rile Viento with her own indignation. Particularly since, as Jane had pointed out, they were relying on Viento's goodwill.
"No, Suzy," Jane cut across her without breaking eye contact with Viento. The maid fell silent, biting her lip anxiously.
"Add to all of that," Jane continued, "the fact only two days ago you trespassed on my father's property, frightening my maid half to death, and ended up with guns pointed at you by myself and Elizabeth and you may understand why I'm somewhat sceptical of your touching concern."
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Post by jessimyre on Jun 2, 2009 18:31:19 GMT -5
"My lady, my ladies." Viento answered calmly. "You are free to leave whenever you wish. It is still dark, my men will harness fresh horses and take you home tonight if you so desire it. We only ask that you consider staying with us as we are able to keep you safe here."
"Yes, my lady we have proof. Some proof in any case. We have eye witness accounts which is why things are so dangerous for those witnesses, which is why we are here. However we have the problem that the magistrate is a very good friend of Senor Ortiz and there would be no fair trial - as you heard about Antonio this evening, lured under guise of being engaged for his farrier services and then captured to await punishment without trial at all. Another murder if we had not brought him out."
Viento paused and answered her just as calmly and serenely as before. "I sincerely appologise for frightening you ladies in your home the other day. We did not realise that you had bought and moved into your home - we were searching for another - again in the hopes of securing evidence."
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Post by blossom on Jun 8, 2009 6:10:51 GMT -5
Michael sat back in the carriage, on the way home, trying to ignore the nagging worry in his mind.
After he had seen Jane, Elizabeth and Suzy safely into a carriage, he had returned to Don Ortiz’s ballroom and offered his services in helping see the other guests out and giving a statement. The servants had been quick into action, and were busy clearing away tables, chairs, glasses and leftovers. Mr Walker’s body had been covered with a cloth and moved into an empty room; now the only evidence of his death was a dark stain on the flooring from his blood, his wife’s distraught sobbing and the ashen faces of his sons.
Along with Esteban and the household’s butlers, Michael began ushering the guests from the ballroom and into carriages. A few stayed behind to give witness statements, but otherwise one by one they slowly filed out until only Michael, the Walkers and the Ortiz’s remained. Michael couldn’t help but notice that Esteban and his sisters, although as shocked and disturbed by Mr Walker’s fate as the rest of them, had something of relief in their expressions. Or was he imagining things?
He was certainly exhausted, and the night wore on in a blur. The authorities arrived and questioned everyone closely about the events leading up to Mr Walker’s death. Michael gave a statement as to everything he had witnessed, including his name and address in case they should discover anything and need to ask him any more questions. Finally he bid Don Ortiz, Esteban and his sisters goodnight and farewell, then climbed into a carriage with Mrs Walker and her sons to escort them home.
The journey passed in silence, broken only occasionally by a muffled sob from Mrs Walker. Michael stared out the window, seeing images of his mother in her final days and then her still, pale body after she had died. Her death had changed his entire family. No doubt Mr Walker’s sudden passing would have the same profound effect on his.
The moon was high in the sky when they reached the Walkers’ home. Michael walked them inside, where their old housemaid was waiting patiently for them.
“Welcome home, ma’am. Would you,” she began, then broke off abruptly on seeing their faces. “What is the matter?”
“Did not Elizabeth tell you?” the elder of the boys enquired.
“Miss Elizabeth is … is not home yet, sir,” the woman confessed, paling.
“What?” Mrs Walker said sharply.
The housemaid shook her head. “Miss Elizabeth has not been home, ma’am.”
Michael frowned. “I put them in a carriage hours ago. They haven’t been here at all?”
“No, sir.”
“Oh, no!” Tears began flowing down Mrs Walker’s face again. “I can’t … please, oh, no, what can have happened to her?”
“Please calm yourself.” Michael guided her to a chair. “I’m sure they are in perfect health. Perhaps Jane took her my home, not wanting her to be alone.”
“Do you think so?”
“It is quite possible. My sister is a very emotional person, and I’m sure she would want to take care of Elizabeth. Let me return, and I will escort your daughter home personally.”
And so Michael now found himself drawing up the driveway to Meadowview House, his stomach knotted with anxiety. Despite his calm reassurances to Mrs Walker he rather thought Jane would have seen Elizabeth straight back to her own home and stayed with her until her family returned. So, if they were not at the Walkers’, or at their home, then where could Jane and Elizabeth be?
With long strides he ran from the carriage to the house, shouting as soon as he crossed the threshold,
“Jane! Jane! Jane, are you here?”
There was silence.
“Jane!”
Footsteps sounded from the kitchen. Michael turned anxiously, but saw with crashing disappointment that it was Adam and Bessie.
“Lord Michael. Whatever’s the matter?”
“Is Jane home?”
“Sir?”
“Jane, damn you! Is she home?”
“N-no, sir.”
Dread swept over him, and he cursed himself for letting the girls go by themselves. He should have stayed with them. If anything happened to them … Michael ran a shaking hand through his hair, all semblance of composure gone. Adam and Bessie exchanged alarmed glances.
“What’s happened, sir?”
“Michael?”
They turned to see Lord Edding emerging from the study. “What are you shouting about?”
“Father. It’s Jane --”
“Jane?” Thomas cut sharply across his son. “What’s she done now?”
“I put her, Elizabeth and Suzy into a carriage after … after what happened, and stayed behind myself to help. But …”
“Yes?”
“They never arrived here, or at the Walkers’.”
“Michael?”
“Father … they’re missing.”
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Post by jessimyre on Jun 9, 2009 19:00:39 GMT -5
Ideal opportunity for Twi's character to be written back in now! Good work Elizabeth sat very still, she was staring at Viento now, a small frown on her face. She was trying very hard to recall the exact events of the night. The agony of her father's death was like a slap in the face, over and over but there was something bothering her very much. "Jane." she said quietly in the break of conversation. "Jane which way was Daddy facing when he was shot?" she winced as she asked the question and fresh tears leaked from her eyes. "He was on his back." her voice hoarse now. "The wound..." her voice broke a moment. "I don't think the wound was in his... front." she struggled to say it. But there it was. She couldn't completely remember... her father lay on his back, feet toward the ballroom door so he had been standing facing the bandits as were all the guests, watching what was happening. But through her grief she couldn't be quite certain that her father's wound was in his chest, or in his back. And the answer would change everything.
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Post by blossom on Jun 29, 2009 15:33:08 GMT -5
That was my plan!!
Jane turned to Elizabeth, mouth slightly open as realisation dawned on her. If her friend was right, then their erstwhile captors would appear to be truthful and innocent ... relatively. And it would most definitely change everything they had thought about the previous evening.
But there was one problem.
"I don't ... I don't know," Jane shook her head. "I didn't see."
And she hadn't. Trapped in the crowd she had only heard the gunshot, the screaming, felt crushed by the press of bodies and then managed to squeeze her way out to find Elizabeth, sobbing, over her father. She hadn't even known who the victim was until it was too late, let alone which way he had fallen.
"I did."
Suzy stepped forward, face pale but determined.
"I saw." Her blue eyes flitted over Viento, Lariat and Jane before coming to fix on Elizabeth. "He was shot from behind."
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Post by jessimyre on Jun 30, 2009 18:06:32 GMT -5
Elizabeth's eyes widened, her hand flew to her mouth as the gravity of Suzy's statement hit her. And then she choked out a gasp as she realised how much Suzy must now be protected. She was a valuable witness to a deliberate murder. All their futures hung in the balance now.
And Viento was not the murderer.
All eyes rested on the maid.
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Post by twilightblade on Jul 17, 2009 19:17:52 GMT -5
It was the evening of the third day since the Edding's had taken him in because of his injury, and despite the urgings of the doctor and a talk with one of the people who worked there, Orion knew it was time to be leaving. Julie was inside saying a last minute goodbye to the cook and maids, and he was taking the time to ready the mounts.
He had just led his horses out into the front courtyard when Julie burst out the front door and ran to him. "Uncle Orion!" She gulped in a great breath of air. "Mister Michael says Miss Suzy and Miss Elizabeth and Lady Jane are g-gone!!" She latched onto his coat, huge eyes swimming with tears. "Are...are they gone...like, like Momma?" Burying her face against his leg, she sobbed, "I don't want them gone!"
After an instant of shock, Orion was down on his knees beside his neice, holding her close ad stroking her hair awkwardly. "No, Julie. They're not gone like your mother. They're not gone."
He sent a fast glance toward the house. Should he try to find more out, or ask Julie to stay here and go... They might not be there... He frowned. If it had been Don Ortiz, Viento might have helped them...
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