3rd day of Septimus 1669
What a whirlwind these last few weeks have been -- even more than the usual. Yet as sit in my cabin aboard the Maris Stella, I find myself doubting whether all this really happened. Was it all just a fever dream, have I simply been sailing the seas for enemies of Castille and dreaming of foolish glory? Can I be really married to my beloved, and he on the throne of Castille? But I wear his ring, and I look at it every time I need reassurance that this is not some fancy of mine.
But our time together was as brief as it had been in Freiburg, and not nearly so carefree. As if it wasn't enough to have all the political scheming in Castille for the past century come to be tied up into a single knot, followed by the disappearance of all Knight Inquisitors, probably blood sorcerers, and the suspicion that Good King Sandoval might in fact still be alive and kept prisoner somewhere, before two days had passed we were embroiled into another disaster in the making. A changeling bearing Lucas's likeness was intent on murdering Queen Elaine of Avalon. And since Lucas was known to have been approached by Inish rebels, the whole affair would look even more convincing. Avalon could very well declare war on Castille for such a regicide.
Lucas made immediate preparations to depart for Avalon, intent on stopping the changeling. But at the same time he was seized with a new-found love for law, order or justice. He was determined that Sebastiano Biancastro was responsible for the murders of Doņa Elodia Avila de Torres, Cardinal Tomas Balcones, Bishop Tito Garcia, and Mother Superior Fiel al Dios. He approached me for help, for in the wild shuffle of responsibilities of the last few days, I had inherited the task of reforming the King's Men. He described the evidence he had accumulated; he had had the four victims examined by physicians and by Ferdinand, who I understand knows something of poisons. From this he had learned that Doņa Elodia, Bishop Garcia, and Mother Fiel al Dios had died from a rare and fast-acting Vodacci poison. Cardinal Balcones' throat had been slit with a dagger wielded by a right-handed assailant. Despite the fact that Sebastiano is left-handed, Lucas blamed him for the crimes; he said an "associate" of him had seen him make an attempt on one of the dons' life. He wanted me to write a an order for Sebastiano's arrest, and was disgruntled when I insisted on first speaking to Melisandre, or rather Queen Sara.
Sara had some difficulty in forcing her devoted Grijalva bodyguards to step out of earshot, if not of sight, so we could speak with some privacy. This reminded me of some of the troubles I have getting my Seedrachen to let me breathe... She was very worried about Sebastiano, and I offered to attempt to contact our former travel companion. She loaned me a favour she had received from him, a red ribbon, and at my requests suggested a few words from their private correspondance which should reassure him that I did come in her name.
I made the rounds into Vaticine City and managed to find Sebastiano's whereabouts within a few hours. I would have liked to approach him alone, but I could not in good conscience order Johann and his men to leave, for even I realise how much danger I may be in, these days. Nevertheless, they at least gave me some elbow room and I approached Sebastiano while he was drinking alone in a rather squalid tavern. I noticed that patrons gave both of us wide berth, suddenly finding thay had some urgent business elsewhere.
Sebastiano eyed me warily, but made no move to draw on me, though he remained visibly alert. I approached him with caution but openly and empty-handed, and accepted the offer of wine. I explained that I came to give him news of Melisandre, and detailed for him the events of the last few days, including the ploy for a marriage of appearances between Javier and Queen Sara, to be annulled at the first opportunity. I also told him that Lucas was seeking him to question him about the murders. I carefully outlined the current political situation, and the fact that, since I knew of his feelings for Melisandre, I had some concerns he would forcibly oppose he betrothal. My highest concern, I told him, was for Javier and Melisandre to remain alive through this, and that, should he have any designs on Javier's life, I would certainly oppose him with all my energy.
"Would Melisandre still be queen then?" he asked me.
"Doubly so," I answered. I asked him was his intent now was.
"To protect her life," he said.
I expressed my hope that this protection would entail no harm to anyone's health unless they had some designs on Melisandre's life or health. I wished, I assured him, to see the two of them married some day. He asked me to come alone the next time I sought him. I bade him good night and returned to the Alcazar de Los Lobos.
Lucas was waiting for me with impatience, so that I had to answer his questions before I could go to Javier or Melisandre. Lucas noted with ill humour that I had not tried to bring Sebastiano back, nor had I asked him point-blank whether he had committed the murder. I answered that I had been more concerned about future actions than past ones, and that I foudn his new love for justice rather surprising, given that he had slain men, or been willing to slay them, for less. He was very displeased with me when I once again refused to order Sebastiano's arrest, and announced that I would instead make the missing Knight Inquisitors my main quarries.
From there I went to see my beloved and tell him of the most recent developments, particularly the possibility of a grave diplomatic incident with Avalon. Together we went to see Melisandre and I briefly related to her my encounter with Sebastiano. She became very pale when she heard of Lucas's intent. She turned to Javier and made an impassioned plea on behalf of Sebastiano, describing in glowing terms all he had been through for her, and the help he had provided us, ending with her conviction that the Inquisition must be responsible for the murders. Javier was uneasy about the possibility that Sebastiano might have committed capital crimes, and promised nothing. I glanced at him, but remained silent. It was not my place to speak then.
Javier had Lucas and Ferdinand summoned, and the audience room was prepared. Their Majesties received us foramlly, and the King questioned Lucas. My cousin told of the faerie's visit and the upcoming attempt on Queen Elaine's life to the new King and Queen of Castille, and added that while in Paix he had spoken with one Roland O'Toole, ambassador of Innismore, who had depicted the conditions on the Green Isle as very dire, and had petitioned the Crown of Castille, through Lucas, to supply weapons to insurgents intent on breaking from Elaine and the O'Bannon's rule. I could not understand why my cousin seemed to give so much weight to O'Toole's words without verification, but he seemed very convinced. To my relief, however, Javier was far more cautious. He remarked that on the one hand, it would be a bad time for Castille to divest herself of weapons, and that, on the other hand, neither Innismore nor Avalon had lent Castille help when she was invaded by Montaigne. Lucas painted Innismore as too downtrodden and oppressed under Avalon's tyranny, a picture he drew from I know not where.
Javier mildly suggested that Lucas investigate the matter discreetly when he went to Avalon. As Lucas had shown competence in his previous diplomatic assignments, he would surely see that the interests and honour of Castille be upheld. He asked Ferdinand and me to lend Lucas our aid in this voyage. I was less than sanguine, for in truth I would by far have preferred to stay and hunt for the Inquisitors. But I could not refuse when both Javier and Lucas requested this of me. Javier then expressed his regret that the Queen had been feeling unwell, and would not be able to see us off in the morning, as she would likely be needing much rest after the exhaustion of the last few weeks. The Queen, without missing a beat, immediately drew a hand over her brow and announced in a faint voice that she should retire immediately.
Then the King offered us escort as far as San Cristobal, along with a carriage carrying diplomatic mail. Lucas looked dubious, pointing out that a carriage would be slow. I glared at him and mouthed: "Take the carriage!" He looked perplexed, but bowed when Javier firmly insisted.
We left at dawn, accompanied by an armed escort, our own people, and a carriage with drawn curtains. By then Lucas had finally grasped that someone was traveling incognito in the carriage. We adjusted our traveling speed to reach the port of San Cristobal at dark. I had of course sent word to the Maris Stella as soon as I had known we would be sailing, so the ship was prepared. We climbed aboard, and a dark figure emerged stealthily from the carriage and followed us. I opened my cabin door for her and greeted Melisandre. While my companions were getting settled, I rapidly toured the ship; the tide was very close and we left within the hour. I made sure to remark on the splendid job my crew had done of having everything ship-shape.
Once we were well under way, I returned to my cabin. Melisandre was delighted to be freed from the strictures of court, which had weighed heavily on her even though she had experienced them only for a few days. I thought of Javier, but there was no point in futile wishes. I was happy to be reunited with Melisandre, but I still took the time to check for a scar on her foot when she removed her boots to get to bed. She was a little surprised but admitted it was a sound idea.
The seas have been smooth so far, but none of us hold any illusion -- before long we will surely run into Meryth.
9th day of Septimus 1669
Later on the same night I wrote the words above, I was awakened by Lucas knocking at my cabin door. He said Meryth had just visited him and demanded that we turn back. When he turned her down, she left with threats. Lucas, Melisandre and I were still talking about this when I felt the timbers shiver as the wind picked up strength and turned. I hurried on deck; the sea was already getting rough. On the horizon were dark storm clouds striated with lightning. I ordered everyone to battle stations as the waves started tossing us like a cork. Before it could be taken in, the main sail went crashing as its yard was ripped from the mast.
The deck pitched and rolled, and even the most experienced sailors had some trouble keeping their footing. I caught Melisandre before she could be flung overboard, but Ferdinand was pitched head first over the side and into the roiling sea. I ordered everyone to fasten lines before we had more men overboard, then I promptly fastened a line and threw it to Ferdinand, but he had trouble keeping himself afloat as he was attacked by three sirens. Lucas and I dove in to Ferdinand's rescue, and hauled him back while Meli threw daggers at the sirens to keep them at bay.
The unnatural storm sent the masts down one after the other, even after we had stripped the sails. The Maris Stella was taking in water like it never had before, and the helm could no longer respond reliably. As if this was not enough, a faerie reaver ship appeared and threw grapples and nets at us. Lucas was wounded, went down and was carried off to the faerie ship. Melisandre climbed to his rescue, and found herself facing Meryth.
Meanwhile, I ordered broadside after broadside fired at the faerie ship, who returned fire. The Maris Stella was so cruelly damaged, there was no saving her now but the sidhe vessel was so entangled with her and so damaged by our cannon fire, she was sinking with us. One last broadside shattered the enemy ship, but the shock sent us sinking faster. We barely had time to lower the ships' boats. Melisandre and Lucas had gone into the sea with the shattering ship, and from all the turmoil Melisandre seemed to be playing tug-of-war with Meryth for Lucas's body. Once again I tried to dive to the rescue, but Ferdinand and Johann hauled me back before I could go far.
Ferdinand threw another rope at Melisandre who managed to catch it, holding an unconscious Lucas afloat. Ferdinand took a boat and some men, and went to fish our friends out of the water, while I had the rest of the crew pile up into the other boats. We were barely rowing away when the poor Maris Stella's hull disappeared under the waves, soon followed by the stumps of her masts. I had lost perhaps a third of my crew in the disaaster.
The seas gradually returned to a more normal conditions, and I established a course for Avalon as best I could under the conditions. Melisandre brought Lucas around, then told us a strange story: while she was wrestling Meryth underwater, a big siren had apparently come to her aid and attacked Meryth. Then the siren had turned into a beautiful Sidhe maiden who had helped Melisandre carry Lucas to the surface. However, the Sidhe could not breach the surface of the waves, pressing against it like a glass pane. She had then shed two jewel-like tears, and Melisandre had caught one before it was lost to the deeps. She offered it to Lucas, but I saw nothing at all where the two of them said they saw a jewel.
We rowed towards what we hoped was Avalon, assisted by small sails. After a few days, we were beginning to worry about the water supply, but we saw an iceberg drifting south. It was unusual to see one so far south in this season, but I hoped it might supply us with freshwater and had the men row towards it. However, as we approached we discovered with horror that two ships were trapped into the ice. They seemed to be locked into a boarding action, and Lucas and I recognised my father's ship, the Santa Cruz, and the Avalon ship that had attacked her in the terrible defeat of the Castillan Armada.
Then Meryth appeared, and in her poisoned honeyed voice offered to free my father's ship with all her men alive, and let us sail away if we would return home. I truly hated her then. We had to refuse again, and rowed away. She did not pursue, but seemed furious.
At last we reached the coast and a small fishing village called Spawghaven. The inhabitants welcomed us and treated us generously, although they were clearly worried about other events; their fishing fleet was overdue. We looked at one another uneasily. It was already dark and too late to continue on, but we have resolved to leave with the first light of dawn before we bring Meryth's wrath on those poor people. We have bedded in a stable, the first dry place we have known for days, and I see beady little eyes staring at us from every corner, for Avalon is crawling with fairies, though my companions cannot always spot them. Melisandre has done her best to tend to our wounded, but we are in sore condition.
15th day Septimus 1669
Later that night, we were attacked by a horde of shuffling undead sailors and fishermen, among which I recognised some of my men. Oh, how I hated Meryth for this desecration. We were barely able to repel the attack. Lucas, Ferdinand, and I were so wounded that we were reduced to unconsciousness, but Melisandre kept her wits and had all of us who were wounded loaded onto a cart and carried north, inland. When we were far enough from the sea, she took us to a village and asked for hospitality, then tended to our wounds.
One night while we were recovering, Lucas was visited, or so he told us the next day. He received a visit from none other than Derwyddon, who had examined him with such curiosity when we had met at court a year and a half before. Derwyddon asked Lucas: "Are you a murderer?" When Lucas said he did not think he was, Derwyddon spoke in enigmas and said that Lucas had taken the Grail. He then declared that my cousin must go to Canguine, solve the riddle, lift the curse and find the Grail. Finally, he said that Lucas must beware of Bors MacAllister (sound advice at any rate) and of Lawrence Lugh.
Lucas was not familiar with Canguine's reputation, so I told him what little I knew of this nest of pirates and smugglers. It has a reputation as a more cutthroat den of thieves than even Malacca or Freiburg, second only maybe to Tumbledown. When we aasked the villagers for information about Canguine, they told us that the city had been cursed by the Sidhe, and that the Good Folk had forsaken the town. We were not sure that we should heed Derwyddon's words, except that gaining the good will of both the Sidhe (since surely we must please them in order to get them to remove the curse) and the Queen of Avalon should be a good thing. Hence, we headed for Canguine the next day.
On the way here, however, as we got close to the city I noticed that my companions were starting to act a bit strangely. Lucas seems haughtier and more abrasive than ever, while on the contrary Ferdinand is more helpful and dedicated than ever. This change seemed to take place while we crossed a forest surrounding Canguine, and I suspect that we are feeling the influence of the curse already. Ferdinand was kind enough to arrange for rooms for all of us at an inn, but Lucas then chose to go get accommodations at a different establishment.
Melisandre and I were delighted to be able to bathe at last, but then I discovered to my great annoyance that the fairies had not abandoned Canguine at all, as we had been told. Rather, they seem to be using their talents to remain unobserved from most people, but they are as thick on the ground as anywhere. I seem to be the only one to notice them, but notice I did as they were leering when I tried to take a bath!
Lucas then chose to go carousing that night, and I asked Ferdinand to keep a discreet eye on my cousin lest he be robbed by brigands in an alley. From what they told me later, they ran into none other than Captain Jeremiah Berek, who invited them to the Sea Dogs' local favourite, the inn of the Broken Compass. There, Lucas encountered Berek's First Mate, a lady named Celedoine, whom he attempted to charm. This was in vain, and she addressed him reproachfully for "forgetting Seldane". Lucas and Captain Berek exchanged tales that night, and my cousin heard of a curious Syrneth lighthouse nearby who, they say, lights itself every night and functions without the help of any human hand.
So in the morning, we decided to go get new clothes since our possessions had been lost, then go look at this lighthouse. While shopping, we encountered another of Captain Berek's officers, named Bonnie McGee, who invited me to the Broken Compass tonight. We then went to see the lighthouse, but a climb to the very top revealed little except for a large jewel-like apparatus under a dome of the clearest glass. We could not find a way to get into the lighthouse itself.
We have now returned to the town and have enquired about its history. We have heard that the original mayor, a hundred years ago, was an arrogant Montaigne man who offended the fae; in return, they cursed Canguine to lawlessness and chaos. The old mayor's house still exist, and we plan on going to visit it this afternoon.
19th day of Septimus 1669
The old mayor's mansion turned out to be surrounded by a high wall, and the only entrance had been bricked up. But the most disturbing part was that a man's head and hands were sticking out of the bricking, as if he had been put in stocks. He seemed to be alive still, though unconscious. But I alone saw this; my companions saw only the bricks. Lucas decided to climb the wall and scout the other side.
We waited for a long moment, without hearing anything from him. At last I grew tired of waiting and started climbing, but almost immediately he reappeared over the top of the wall and climbed down as fast as he could, almost falling down. He was disshevelled and covered with red welts. Questioned, he said that an irate groundskeeper was on the other side and had demanded to see "his papers". When Lucas failed to produce them, the man had given him a thorough beating with a riding crop. He also said that from the other side he could indeed see the bricked-up man I had mentioned, trapped in the former entrance.
I decided to take a look from the top of the wall. I climbed and surveyed the enclosed area. It looked like it had once been a lavishly landscaped park, but it was now overgrown with brambles. I could glimpse a decaying mansion through the wild overgrowth, and the man bricked up in the gate, but not the groundskeeper. I dropped back down to consult with my companions, and to go examine the man in the gate more closely. Gingerly, I checked for a pulse and found none, though he seemed to be faintly breathing. Melisandre commented that this was not unlike when her dueņa Fidencia had been kept prisoner on Bryn Bresail.
I decided to risk a visit and climbed the wall again. I made my way down into the walled-up park, then through the undergrowth without meeting the guardian. I approached the bricked-up man to examine him better. Ferdinand followed over the wall and told me that the man was indeed there, apparently screaming at me and furiously beating on me with his riding crop! I felt and saw none of this. Ferdinand climbed down to join me on the grounds, but almost immediately he stopped in his tracks and started talking to, I assumed, the invisible groundskeeper. He drew his sword and with a defiant glare, suddenly broke off and turned to smite at the bricked-up man. A terrible scream shook the entire doamin.
Then Ferdinand winced as red welts started appearing on his skin. He shielded himself from invisible blows and called to me to give him any sort of papers I might have with me, to see if he could convince the ghost to accept them. I handed him scraps of note paper; he held them for a moment, then dropped them to the ground as more welts started appearing. He turned an ran for the dilapidated amnsion, hoping to find refuge from the ghost there. I followed with alarm, trying to think how I could help against this invisible opponent. But as Ferdinand reached for the door, his hand seemed to go right through it, and he found himself trapped.
Before I could reach him, I saw him falter and collapse to the ground. The next instant, he disappeared from the spot. I looked around with shock -- and realised that he was now trapped in the bricked up front entrance, alongside the other man. I ran back to warn Melisandre and Lucas. Lucas decided to climb down again and offer his ambassadorial papers to the ghostly groundskeeper. He held them out for a moment, then they were snatched up from his hand and torn to shreds, before falling to the ground. Lucas winced as he apparently started receiving another beating, and ran back over the wall and out. He decided he would go in town get some forged travel papers.
I went to talk to Melisandre and asked her to go fetch from Ferdinand's luggage the Syrneth collar St. Gregor had once placed on him. While he had worn it in Bryn Bresail, the Faeries had treated him with deference and called him "Domae" and "ally"; perhaps they would free him as a friend. Near the entrance, Tiny Lucas was howling to death, and Ferdinand's head and hands were sticking out of the brick, though of course Melisandre did not see him. She hurried off, while I returned to the haunted garden. Despite my efforts, I was unable to loosen the bricks around Ferdinand.
I turned my steps toward the mansion. The door seemed solid to me, and my hand did not go through it when I raised the door knocker. I knocked once, twice, thrice, without receiving an answer. I cautiously tried the door, and found it unlocked. I called a cautious greeting which echoed through an empty hallway. Once my eyes had adjusted to the gloom inside, I entered, wary of rotted floor boards. I walked into what had once been a well-appointed manor but was now smelling of mildew and rodent droppings.
I paced the corridors until I found what must have been the mayor's library or private office. I suppressed a start of alarm when I found myself facing a Sidhe, sitting behind the desk. I saluted him very politely, remembering how punctilious faeries are about manners.
"You are the Sword Bearer," he said, expressionless.
"No longer," I answered. "The sword was returned." I explained our goal in Canguine, to assuage the Sidhe's anger and lift the curse.
"The curse will be lifted when all the people of Canguine can be civil to one another for an entire day," he said.
I then asked him to free Ferdinand, but he said my friend's fate was not his concern. Since he showed no sign of giving more help when I insisted, I took my leave and returned to meet Melisandre at the gate. She had returned with the Syrneth collar and had tried to place it on Ferdinand's neck, but she could not see poor Ferdinand. When I took the collar from her, Tiny Lucas growled. When I approached to let it sniff at the thing, he tried to bite me! Ignoring my misgivings, I closed the artefact around Ferdinand's neck where it stuck out from the bricking.
There was a blinding flash of light, a sound like thunder, and the brick exploded as if struck by a cannonball. Debris flew in all directions; Tiny Lucas was nearly buried under the rubble. When the dust started settling, I realised that not only this wall, but the entire estate and the neighbouring building had collapsed. Among the pile of bricks in front of me, one body was left, Ferdinand's; the other man was gone. But when I cleared rubble to get to Ferdinand, I recoiled in horror: the thing that now wore the collar looked not like my friend, but like a dessicated, misshapen ape-like creature. In fact, it looked exactly like the creature Melisandre said they had fought in the sewers of Freiburg. But to her, Ferdinand still seemed to look entirely human.
It took me a few moments to realise the creature was not going to attack, as I had expected; it did in fact behave exactly like Ferdinand. It picked up the mangled body of Tiny Lucas, and I am sure that the way it leaned over the little dog was tender and sollicitous, not threatening and ominous as it appeared to me. It -- he -- craddled the dog in inhuman arms, calling to Tiny Lucas to hang on. I urgently explained to Melisandre in whispers what I was seeing, but she was at a loss to explain it. She examined Tiny Lucas's wounds, but could do little to help him. I suggested that the Sea Dogs, having a mascot of their own, might be able to recommend a veterinarian. Lucas arrived in the mean time; we explained the events, and all walked back to the Broken Compass, with me walking as far as I could from "Ferdinand".
It was only mid-afternoon, but there were a good number of Sea Dogs there already, including Captain Berek himself. Someone was able to care for Tiny Lucas, while we waited and chatted with the patrons. Despite her lack of knowledge of the Avalon language, Melisandre found enough people who spoke Castillan, Eisen or Vodacci to learn a lot about the history and legends of Canguine, and its salient locations. She learned of a hermit who lived in the forest, of a bottomless lake, of three broken fountains which, its is rumoured, will flow again when Montaign invades Avalon, and of a man rumoured to eat and devour guests.
Lucas talked to Captain Berek about his mission here and about what I had learned from the fae at the old mayor's house. there were many tales and the Sea dogs were happy to tell them. We heard that the original mayor of Cnaguine had been a Montaigne, over a hundred years ago, and had had a passion for law and order but little else. When a Sidhe lord had visited the city in disguise, the mayor had treated him rudely because the Sidhe lord did not have the proper travel papers. In response, the Sidhe had cursed Canguine to chaos. Captain Berek looked skeptical about Lucas's task, but seemed more interested and serious when he heard that Derwyddon had given Lucas his instructions. Nonetheless, he was not particularly taken with the idea of a Canguine stripped of its unruly character.
Lucas decided that perhaps the current mayor might have an interest in restoring order, and so to go request an interview. Before we left the Broken Compass, I asked Captain Berek how I might be of service to him since he had sent me an invitation earlier.
"Oh, it is for tonight," he answered. "We are haveing a wake."
"A wake for who?" asked Melisandre.
"For the Maris Stella," Berek answered gravely.
In my surprise, I had a bit of trouble not wincing. Tears burned my eyes but I held them back. "I hope you are not making fun of me, Captain," I said reproachfully, keeping my voice as steady as I could.
"I would never do such a thing!" he exclaimed. "She was a remarkable ship. Men come and go, but a ship... A ship is a thing of beauty."
"Tonight, then," I said with a nod.
Meli, the horrible thing that was now Ferdinand, and I accompanied Lucas to the current Lord Mayor's house. We were poorly received and Lucas had to offer a sizeable bribe to be admitted in His Lordship's presence. Lucas told the bare bones of his tale to the mayor, and asked His Lordship to give his support to an effort to reform the town in order to lift the curse. Lucas hoped that with official backing, he might convince the people of Canguine to try civility for a change. The Lord Mayor appeared less than idealistic, but it was clear that sufficient bribing would attract his interest. Lucas was not very optimistic after this visit, but we had to dress up and return to the Broken Compass.
All the men that were left of the Maris Stella's crew came,and apparently every Sea Dog in Canguine. The tavern was packed. I still feared that some Sea Dogs would rejoice at my ship's demise, but they were very well behaved. Or at least, well-behaved considering how much ale was flowing. When it was my turn to give a toast, I stepped up and looked around at the gathered sailors.
"I apologize, for I'm afraid I have to disagree with Captain Berek, I announced. "Men come and go, it is true, but the men I lost with the Maris Stella were the best. I will never sail with better, and if I sail with no worse I will count myself a fortunate captain. I raise my glass to the Maris Stella and her crew."
After the rounds of toasts, there was much singing and music. Lucas took the opportunity to go talk to Berek's First Mate, Celedoine. I could tell she had Sidhe blood, for despite her good looks she seemed subtly wrong. She too greeted me as the "sword Bearer", and Melisandre as "your majesty". She was clearly very well informed, no doubt by the Fae. Melisandre insisted on her title remaining a secret, and Celedoine politely complied. Lucas wanted to question her more closely on theis "Seldane" she had mentioned the night before, and on how he could accomplished his mission here. Celedoine was not forthcoming with information, answering only that the quest was his. Curiously, she also assured him that "his son was in good health."
Lucas made Melisandre retell everything she could remember of her encounter with the water faerie who had freed him from Meryth. From her detailed description, I drew a portrait which Meli said was reasonably accurate. Lucas contemplated it, pondering. After a moment, he decided that there was only one way to learn more; he decided to head for the docks and call her.
We all gathered and followed him to the docks, partly to find out what would happen and partly as protection from cutpurses and worse. Lucas walked to the end of a dock and called Seldane's name, but could see nothing. With a sigh, he stripped to his bare chest and feet despite the chill of the night air. He then advanced in the water, shivering. Nothing happened until he dove completely under water. He stayed under for what seemed a very long time, and I was beginning to fear he had met trouble, when he finally emerged again. He dried himself and slipped his shirt and boots back on.
We all returned to the Broken Compass to warm up. Lucas told us that he had met with the water fairy Seldane, and remembered that she had been the one to keep him alive while he was Meryth's prisoner. It seemed she could not speak, and so she had resorted to playing charades to try to communicate, but he could not quite understand her. This had upset her and she had left, crying again.
Late in the evening, Captain Berek asked the Ferdinand-thing 'what sort of woman Melisandre was'. Ferdinand at first mistook Berek's interest, and suggested that the Captain find out for himself. But Berek clarified his comments; he had learned from Celedoine that Melisandre was now queen of Castille, and wanted to know what kind of ruler she would make. Ferdinand gave vague assurances that she would surely do her best.
I did not sleep well that night, tormented by my conscience. I feared that I might have done irreparable harm to Ferdinand. Meli and I had examined the collar very closely, and there was no means of opening it unless I could somehow find the music box.
The next morning, we visited the three broken fountains at the center of town, then Lake Frigid, reputed bottomless, but saw little of use there. We continued toward the forest, where we searched until we found the hut of the hermit. When we found him, he was at first hostile but Lucas appeased him and the hermit even became quite friendly after we helped him with small household chores. He called himself Timber Jack, and for some reason was incapable of using verbs in his speech. But agreeable as that visit was, we learned nothing useful.
That night, Lucas decided to try talking to Seldane again. However, before he could even get into the water, he was greeted by the voice of Meryth. "Hello, Lucas..." She told him that Seldane would not come to him, and was prisoner. Cruelly, she said that perhaps Lucas could fill his mouth with water and kiss her to keep her alive. She added that she would only release Seldane if Lucas and the rest of us went back home. Lucas stomped off angrily.
For lack of a better idea, he decided to try the direct approach. He returned to the Broken Compass and talked to Captain Berek and his Sea Dogs. He said he wished to address all the townsfolk two days hence, and asked them for their help in lifting the curse. Although Berek was doubtful, he was swayed because Derwyddon gave Lucas this task.
With the Sea Dogs' help, we spent the next two days posting handbills and talking to townsfolk, convening them to this meeting. Finally, the day arrived and found the inhabitants of Canguine assembled in the open-air market. They were curious, but the promise of free ale had been helpful as well... Lucas climbed onto the makeshift dais and addressed them. He told once again of his encounter with Derwyddon, the mission received, and the condition which the Sidhe had placed on lifting the curse of Canguine: everyone must be civil for an entire day. Naturally, the audience was amused at first, then dubious. But Lucas managed to convince them that it would be a good thing to lift the curse, that it would restore the Sidhe's favour and would help Avalon and the Queen. In the end, they agreed to go it a try.
This was two days ago. Yesterday was an amazing day; for a while, I really thought the town of Canguine would break this curse. Everyone was nice and polite -- and mildly stunned, I suspect. I found it very difficult because, I must now confess, my cousing has been so unpleasant to me since we arrived in Canguine that I find it difficult enough to be civil to him. Although I have not made note in my journal of all his petty and even vulgar remarks toward me, I have been biting my tongue all along. I did not want to be the one to ruin an entire town's efforts, however. But towards the end of the day, a travelling merchant arrived in town and started plying his trade, which involves swindling customers. The townsfolk pounced on him before he could take advantage of a more naive customer, but then realized sheepishly that binding and gagging the merchant had equally ruiined the day's efforts.
All the same, they seemed elated that night, because they could feel they had come so close. They have been trying again today, and so far not a single incident has marred the day. For my part, I stayed in my room this afternoon and wrote this journal, thereby limiting the opportunities for unpleasant words between Lucas and me. I have asked Captain Berek to pass word to the Brotherhood of the Coast that my companions and I survived the wreck of the Maris Stella, hoping that the news would then reach Javier.
