NaNoWriMo Days 8 & 9
Nov. 10th, 2009 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wolfanficsFirstly, ffs, srsly, do you know how hard it is to post anything when your internet keeps disconnecting EVERY FIVE FUCKING SECONDS? D:<
Computer raeg aside, here, have some fictions. Might have forgotten to note the chapter in the last post. I cbf checking. But this, what I'm about to post, is chapter four. Assume the last lot was chapter three or something.
And yes, this is short, and without vital stats, because I want to get this fucker posted before bed and my internet is being a cunt. So there. >:( Though Craig has a suitably messed up accent, because every now and then his voice lapses into very bad Brummie crossed with whatever else he happens to throw into the mix and speaks a million miles an hour. *sighs* Ironically, Craig's supposed to have a terrible accent here, so I don't feel too bad about it. I'm trying to prod the others into picking up on it, but no one does. Andrew certainly doesn't care. Ah well.
In other news, Laney and Darcy reappear, and have better accents than Craig. Win. xD They've decided to be West Country boys (Devon et al.). At least someone's decisive. XD I will have to write more of them though. They are beginning to sound interesting. :D
Current Word Count: 19,005/50,000 (34 percent, because I've now lost function of my percentage key as well as my exclamation mark key. *sighs*)
Chapter Four
I Return A Hero (Craig's description, not mine)
It took less than a day to escape back to Shard End to tell Jalyn what he'd managed to achieve. He'd taken up residence in the barracks with the other recruits, which was located away from the manor house and backed onto a forest. Escaping was far easier than Craig had anticipated. He had expected Jalyn would be a little mad that he'd been gone two days, but he hoped the news he had to bring regarding his mission would sufficiently placate him. He made his way to their little camp and found only Jalyn sitting beside the fire.
"I disappear for a couple of days and the group falls to pieces," Craig said as he approached.
Jalyn looked up at him. "You got some nerve coming back here. Where'd you go?"
Craig sat down beside him and grinned happily. "Oh, have I got a story to tell you. Luck has fallen on my side, dear Jalyn, and my mission is growing closer to completion," he said, mocking the posh way Charles and Andrew spoke.
"Been busy, I see. When did you get so clean anyway? You smell like bloody roses or something," Jalyn said, noticing he was indeed looking in better nick than he had before he left.
"You will be pleased to learn I have infiltrated our dear Lord Charles' Army, and have secured a bunk in his barracks as one of his new soldiers. I know, I know, it isn't Andrew, but it is the Lord who controls the Army that has frustrated our attempts at attacks in recent times. How did I achieve such a position? I snuck off two nights ago, as you know, and waited outside Andrew's estate. When him and his brother returned, I did me best poor little homeless kid act and I was just expecting him to take me into his nice house and scout around when he was asleep, but his brother talked him into taking me to His Lordship's house, and after a little convincing, I got meself a bed, and a bloody nice wash, thank you very much. That's why I smell like roses. He has this gigantic bath, with all them lovely oily things and I got meself cleaned up. And well fed, Jalyn, oh, I cannot begin to tell you what the food was like, and then I slept in this loverly bed with soft pillows and a soft matress and soft warm thick blankets and I ain't never slept that well in years, Jalyn, it was wonderful. I scouted His Lordship's house the next night though. He's got some stuff worth nicking, he has. And I only just now got a chance to slip away and come tell you what I've done, because I thought you oughta know. And I know I shoulda told you, but you wouldna let me go anyway, so I went on me own and managed to become a soldier. I figured I'd be more helpful to you and the others that way. I hope that's okay, Jalyn, I didn't want to upset you by running away like that. I hope you can forgive me," Craig said, getting his story out in one go before he got interrupted.
"Well, you really have been busy then, haven't you? I wish you'd told me though. I thought I'd lost you for good, and I'm rather fond of you, even if you really are a brat," Jalyn said, ruffling Craig's hair.
"It's okay, His Lordship knows I'm a brat too. He annoys easily," Craig said proudly.
"You got time to stay a little longer with me? Bev and Michael got the canal run tonight, so they won't be back til dawn," Jalyn said.
"I could, perhaps, make an exception, just for you. Who knows when I'll get to see you again?" Craig said.
"Good lad. C'mere, let's go to bed," Jalyn said.
Leaving the warmth of the fire didn't matter. Jalyn conjured some perpetual fire and lit the lamp beside his bed. One kiss later and they were lying beside each other. They were always careful not to let their relationship be known to anyone. It was far too dangerous. Craig just thought the danger made it more exciting. Craig liked the way Jalyn had sex with him. It made him feel good, like he wasn't useless after all. There was something in the way Jalyn held him that made him feel like it was where he belonged.
Craig lay in his arms afterwards, almost regretting having to return to the barracks. But he would not desert his post now, not when there was so much potential for what he could achieve. He didn't stay much longer. He gave Jalyn one last kiss before he dressed and scampered off into the night, heading back to the barracks. He was in bed three hours before dawn.
If you love someone, let them go (might end up being longer, this bit, IDK)
Watching Craig leave had been hard. Jalyn didn't like letting him out of his sight because he knew the sort of trouble he could and would get into. Craig was the sort of thief who would do whatever it took to get the job done. He would never deny that sneaking into Lord Charles' personal Army was a stroke of genius, but he would miss having him close by. He had become accustomed to having him in the bowels of a narrow boat as they ferried cargo to and from their wharves, to having him by his side as they slept at night.
Yes, the loss of Craig would be hard to cope with, but at least Jalyn knew he was safe and working towards the same goal as them, even if he was far away, and he was sure Craig would find excuses to sneak back again. Craig was that sort of thief. He stole your heart and teased you with its return.
Jalyn smiled then. Craig had been sixteen when he'd joined them eight years ago, replete with a history of breaking and entering along with a tremendous record for not being caught. His charm and cheekiness impressed Jalyn immediately, and his cocky attitude was somehow as endearing as it was annoying. He had been eager to please, however, and had pulled off more than one miracle in those first few months, and his skills had brought a renewed sense of hope to the camp and the cause they were fighting for.
The one problem with Craig, as far as Jalyn was concerned, was that he was loyal to no one but himself. Well, perhaps himself and Jalyn. He had no particular desire to either support or fight against the King; he just happened to like being on the Dissenter's side. Apparently the food was better. That was Craig's excuse at least. Jalyn didn't mind. They'd gotten used to having him around now, and he was useful, incredibly useful, so no one really had any reason to protest his inclusion.
Jalyn extinguished the lamp and lay in bed, pulling the sheets tight around his body. He'd see him again. Until then, he had other things to worry about. At least he could sleep soundly knowing what he was up to.
A Convenient Excuse (for just about everything)
Andrew's uncle should, perhaps, have seen it coming. A week later, after Craig had been left with Charles, Andrew and William found themselves conveniently employed by Charles at his estate. Charles would need a new doctor to treat his men after his previous doctor passed away, and William would like to serve in his Army, so Charles pulled a few strings and made it happen.
While they had seen Charles a few times during the week, they hadn't seen much of Craig. He was being kept very busy by his training, and was proving to be far more disciplined than anyone had quite imagined. He was always awake first, and attended to his duties with remarkable diligence. Andrew was very pleased by this. He had hoped Craig would come good.
It had been Charles' idea for Andrew and his brother to move in with him. He wanted to see more of them, and he knew they'd both be happier if they were away from their uncle. Andrew and William needed little convincing, and agreed to move as soon as it was possible to arrange it. He wouldn't let his uncle talk him out of it, or tell him the other reasons for leaving. He did not want an argument with him at such an occasion.
Andrew was a little sad to be leaving his home, the lands his family owned that his uncle had taken from them, but he would be moving to a much more prosperous manor. Charles would not object to a workshop, and while he would indeed be treating Charles' men for a nice salary, it was a small price to pay for the comfort of living away from his uncle, who could hardly complain, given the circumstances. There was no talk of leaving William behind. Andrew and William were blood brothers and had been together their whole lives. There was no way they would be separated.
So Andrew packed up his secret workshop, this time allowing William to assist him. Just as he was sealing the secret workshop away for good, or at least until he might one day return to his ancestral home, he caught sight of an old door that led to an old dusty part of the mansion no one ever went to because it was apparently haunted. Distracted, he approached the door and wondered where it might lead. He had never been allowed in this part of the mansion, but he figured that since he wasn't coming back, and well, it was his home anyway, he quietly prised the door open and slipped inside. He conjured a lick of flame on his palm to light the way and found himself in a dusty corridor.
There were dozens of rooms that led off the corridor, but none would open, not if Andrew wanted to keep quiet. The hall rug he was walking over was woven with some bizarre pattern Andrew had never seen before, whilst the doors had alchemical symbols etched into them. Andrew soon decided these were his grandfather's private chambers, the rooms in which he did his experiments. From what he'd learnt about alchemy and magic from university, he could understand some of what the strange markings on the doors meant, but it did not particularly help him work out their purpose.
He continued on until the corridor turned and he found yet more rooms. None of the doors down that corridor opened either. Perhaps they were sealed by magic. It would possibly be too advanced for Andrew to attempt if they were indeed sealed that way, and he had seen nothing in his grandfather's books to indicate how he might perform such a spell.
Four corridors later, corridors that appeared to get shorter as they turned in on themselves in some sort of labyrinth-like structure, Andrew finally found a door that opened. He wasn't sure why, or how, but he was glad it did. He hadn't wanted to get this far and find nothing he could access. Andrew could've sword the door actually clicked open as he lay his hand on it. He heard a sound from within the room and wondered if it was some sort of ghost. He pushed the door open after making the flame on his palm much brighter and looked inside.
What he was greeted with was not a ghost, but the slender figure of Craig as he slipped through the window. His hand was about to close around what looked like a small brass telescope when he looked up and saw Andrew standing there, looking confused and horrified.
"Oh. Why, hullo, Andrew. Um. I can explain," Craig said.
"You had better make it good," Andrew said.
Craig stepped off the windowsill and stood up, scratching the back of his head distractedly. "It's not what it looks like, Andrew."
Andrew flicked his hand and Craig found himself glued to the floor. "And what does it look like, if not you sneaking into my house to steal from this collection? I should have you arrested. How did you manage to get in here anyway? I thought this place was inaccessible from the outside," Andrew said.
"You're telling me. I thought this was the proper part of the house, but as I'm sneaking inside the grounds, this window appears that I hadn't noticed before and I can see this flickering light inside. I dunno, looked shiney and expensive, so I climbed up. Window opened easy and i got in. And then you found me. What just happened is anyone's guess. Lemme go, will you?" Craig said.
"How do I know you're telling the truth? You work for the Dissenters, don't you? How can I trust you?" Andrew said.
Craig shrugged, unapologetic. "Hey, a man's gotta eat, and they've got the food. I'm not some sort of spy, I promise. I wouldn't do that, not to you. You should come join us though. I know your heart's not really into this whole Church of England thing."
"That, sir, is none of your business. And I will do no such thing as to join you and your fellows in this futile war," Andrew said, though he secretly wanted to take him up on the offer.
"Well, then, look. Just lemme go and I'll disappear and you'll never see me again. Promise," Craig said, doing his best salute.
Andrew thought for a moment. He could let him go, but what would that prove? He might just run back to his Dissenter friends and then they'd be in trouble. Still, he had noticed the change in Craig's demeanour and habits since he had become a soldier. Perhaps he was capable of change. And if he had to move these things to protect them, then, perhaps, he might appreciate an extra pair of hands.
"Well, while you're here, you might as well help me go through these items. I have a feeling it is very important and needs to be moved from here," Andrew said, releasing him from the spell holding him to the floor.
"Well, I'm clearly not going to steal it now, am I? Here, shift that flame into the lamp," Craig said, handing him a lamp he'd spotted earlier.
Andrew set the lamp on a small bench and lit the lamp before extinguishing the flame on his palm. With the lamp came greater visibility and the things in the room became more distinct. There was the telescope, a model of the planets, many books, and creates marks with more alchemical symbols that would need to be opened before he could see what was inside them.
"I think these once belonged to my grandfather. I think we should get them out of here. Right now. Before someone else discovers them and hurts them," Andrew said, a sudden desire to protect the things in the room taking over.
"Does all this really mean something to you? What is it anyway? It's just junk, isn't it? I mean, I could fetch a bit for some of it, but it's all obsolete," Craig said, picking up the telescope.
"These belong to my grandfather, I'm sure of it. He was a great magician and scientist, one of the great minds of his time," Andrew said.
Craig peered through the telescope and was surprised to see not the wall opposite, but the image of a man with a lamp walking through a dark house. "I think this can see through walls. Someone's coming."
"I can't hear anyone. Here, let me have a look," Andrew said.
Craig shrugged and handed it over. "Maybe it's broken."
Andrew took the telescope from him and peered through it. He saw his uncle walking down the stairs, a lantern held in his hand. He could've sworn he heard the clock chiming to mark three in the morning. Just to check he wasn't hearing things, he slipped out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was only a little after two in the morning.
"I do not think it is broken. It appears to show the future, things that have not happened yet. Even if it is not true, we should finish our packing now as quickly as possible before we are caught," Andrew said.
"If that's the case, then lemme help you out," Craig said.
"You were going to do that anyway, if I remember correctly," Andrew said.
"No, I meant with magic. I'll shrink it all down and we can make the trip in one go," Craig said.
"You're adept at magic?" Andrew said, not entirely believing him.
"You have to be in this profession. Thieving, I mean. It's much easier when you've got magic to silence your footfalls and lighten loads, as I know you've done. Just trust me, okay? You want this stuff out of here fast and quiet? I'm the man for the job," Craig said.
Andrew thought for a moment. There was probably no chance they would manage the trip any other way. "Go ahead. I do not want this to take any longer than necessary."
"Leave it all to me, my friend," Craig said with a smile.
Andrew watched him perform the spell and a moment later, everything bar one small chest in the room had been reduced to an impossible size. Craig tried not to look too smug as he watched the expression on Andrew's face change from scepticism to disbelief.
"I don't believe we've got the time to stand around gawping. Go on, gather everything up and get them into that chest there, and be careful with them. They can still break," Craig said.
Andrew appreciated the warning to be careful, though he would have done so anyway. They were, after all, his grandfather's things, and he did not wish to harm them in any way. He knelt down and picked up a small trunk. It fitted nicely in his palm. Gazing at it a moment, he caressed the tiny lock before carrying it over to the chest. He opened the lid and rearranged the contents so everything would fit neatly and snugly. He then went to gather some of the other things, and between him and Craig, they packed the chest tight and nothing at all moved.
"Right. Now to carry the bastard back up stairs. I'm assuming that's where you want it," Craig said.
"Is there any way to be rid of it now? I do not want it falling into the wrong hands," Andrew said.
"Leave it to me," Craig said.
Craig headed over to the window and climbed back outside. Andrew approached the sill and peered down, wondering what on earth he was up to. Craig returned moments later, climbing back up with some rope and two men in toe.
"Who are these people exactly?" Andrew said, addressing the strangers who had climbed back inside the small room with Craig. They were taller than Craig, and slightly heavier in build. Both had dull green eyes and dark hair and looked like thugs. The only way to tell them apart was that Darcy, on the left, wore an expensive looking black jacket. Laney did not bother with such niceties.
"Oh, these? That's Darcy, there, right? And that's Laney. Can't believe i run into them again down the pub. Old, old friends. Would trust 'em with me life," Craig said.
"Evening, sir. Heard you're looking for someone as to help you get this here chest hidden away, yeah?" Darcy said, giving Andrew a quick bow.
"I am indeed. Take it to Charles' estate. Craig knows where my rooms are. Craig, do not leave it or allow anyone else to look inside it. I will be there tomorrow to sort through it, along with the rest of my belongings," Andrew said.
"As you wish, sir," Darcy said, making a deeper bow this time. "C'mon, brother, we gots us some precious cargo to excort."
"Don't worry about it, Andrew. It'll be perfectly safe. I won't leave it, I promise," Craig said.
"Come here a moment," Andrew said.
Craig approached, wondering what he wanted. Andrew murmured a spell to temporarily deafen their companions to their conversation.
"If you so ever as disclose but one item in that chest to another man, I shall ensure you are so severely punished, you shall be lucky to live. Understood? Remember, there is a very good reason these things were kept up here. They are for no one's eyes but mine," Andrew whispered harshly.
Craig got the message. He had not planned to disclose what he'd found. Well, perhaps not immediately. If Jalyn happened to find out, well, it wouldn't be all Craig's fault. But he caught the implication of Andrew's threat and decided that accidentally letting slip what was inside there, even to Jalyn, would be a very bad idea indeed.
"Don't worry, Andrew. No one will find out. I might be a bastard, but I am capable of keeping secrets, and I've had my fair share of secrets to conceal. I'll stay awake all night until you arrive," Craig said.
"Good. That'll make up for breaking in tonight," Andrew said with a smirk. "You should get going. I need my sleep."
Craig thought that was a good idea. He had, however, one last trick up his sleeve. Hiding Andrew and himself from Darcy and Laney, Craig leaned in and gave Andrew a kiss, for no other reason than he felt like it. Andrew would make a serviceable husband for the right person, and Craig had become rather fond of him.
Andrew... had not expected that kiss. As their friends became aware of their presence again, Craig winked at Andrew before rallying Darcy and Laney into tying the chest securely with rope in the right way so they could lower it down without disrupting the content. With a final promise to guard the chest with his life, Craig, and his two men, were gone.
Darkness, Escape and Afterwards
Andrew heard the clock chiming. Extinguishing the lantern and adopting a smaller flame on his palm, Andrew closed the door and headed back otu of the secret complex. Just as he was creeping down the hall towards his rooms, he caught sight of William waiting impatiently for him.
"Come on, dear brother, you are dawdling so. I have only now heard the clock strike thrice and we should not be awake any longer," William said, tugging on his sleeve.
"I shall tell you of the reason for my delay when we are at Charles' house. Until then, yes, I agree sleep is a very good idea," Andrew said.
At the faint sound of footsteps, the two brothers quickly returned to their rooms. Andrew extinguished the flame and hurried into his nightwear before climbing into bed. He lay still in the darkness, his eyes shut as he wished for sleep, and listened for any sound of movement. When he could hear nothing, he relaxed. He could not confirm if his uncle was wandering around, but he decided he did not wish to know. Things that showed the future were dangerous, very dangerous, and Andrew had half a mind to destroy that accursed telescope. He did not dwell too much further on these matters, however, as exhaustion caressed him into sleep, and so he lay until morning.
And here's hoping this posts first go and doesn't screw up on me. D:
Computer raeg aside, here, have some fictions. Might have forgotten to note the chapter in the last post. I cbf checking. But this, what I'm about to post, is chapter four. Assume the last lot was chapter three or something.
And yes, this is short, and without vital stats, because I want to get this fucker posted before bed and my internet is being a cunt. So there. >:( Though Craig has a suitably messed up accent, because every now and then his voice lapses into very bad Brummie crossed with whatever else he happens to throw into the mix and speaks a million miles an hour. *sighs* Ironically, Craig's supposed to have a terrible accent here, so I don't feel too bad about it. I'm trying to prod the others into picking up on it, but no one does. Andrew certainly doesn't care. Ah well.
In other news, Laney and Darcy reappear, and have better accents than Craig. Win. xD They've decided to be West Country boys (Devon et al.). At least someone's decisive. XD I will have to write more of them though. They are beginning to sound interesting. :D
Current Word Count: 19,005/50,000 (34 percent, because I've now lost function of my percentage key as well as my exclamation mark key. *sighs*)
Chapter Four
I Return A Hero (Craig's description, not mine)
It took less than a day to escape back to Shard End to tell Jalyn what he'd managed to achieve. He'd taken up residence in the barracks with the other recruits, which was located away from the manor house and backed onto a forest. Escaping was far easier than Craig had anticipated. He had expected Jalyn would be a little mad that he'd been gone two days, but he hoped the news he had to bring regarding his mission would sufficiently placate him. He made his way to their little camp and found only Jalyn sitting beside the fire.
"I disappear for a couple of days and the group falls to pieces," Craig said as he approached.
Jalyn looked up at him. "You got some nerve coming back here. Where'd you go?"
Craig sat down beside him and grinned happily. "Oh, have I got a story to tell you. Luck has fallen on my side, dear Jalyn, and my mission is growing closer to completion," he said, mocking the posh way Charles and Andrew spoke.
"Been busy, I see. When did you get so clean anyway? You smell like bloody roses or something," Jalyn said, noticing he was indeed looking in better nick than he had before he left.
"You will be pleased to learn I have infiltrated our dear Lord Charles' Army, and have secured a bunk in his barracks as one of his new soldiers. I know, I know, it isn't Andrew, but it is the Lord who controls the Army that has frustrated our attempts at attacks in recent times. How did I achieve such a position? I snuck off two nights ago, as you know, and waited outside Andrew's estate. When him and his brother returned, I did me best poor little homeless kid act and I was just expecting him to take me into his nice house and scout around when he was asleep, but his brother talked him into taking me to His Lordship's house, and after a little convincing, I got meself a bed, and a bloody nice wash, thank you very much. That's why I smell like roses. He has this gigantic bath, with all them lovely oily things and I got meself cleaned up. And well fed, Jalyn, oh, I cannot begin to tell you what the food was like, and then I slept in this loverly bed with soft pillows and a soft matress and soft warm thick blankets and I ain't never slept that well in years, Jalyn, it was wonderful. I scouted His Lordship's house the next night though. He's got some stuff worth nicking, he has. And I only just now got a chance to slip away and come tell you what I've done, because I thought you oughta know. And I know I shoulda told you, but you wouldna let me go anyway, so I went on me own and managed to become a soldier. I figured I'd be more helpful to you and the others that way. I hope that's okay, Jalyn, I didn't want to upset you by running away like that. I hope you can forgive me," Craig said, getting his story out in one go before he got interrupted.
"Well, you really have been busy then, haven't you? I wish you'd told me though. I thought I'd lost you for good, and I'm rather fond of you, even if you really are a brat," Jalyn said, ruffling Craig's hair.
"It's okay, His Lordship knows I'm a brat too. He annoys easily," Craig said proudly.
"You got time to stay a little longer with me? Bev and Michael got the canal run tonight, so they won't be back til dawn," Jalyn said.
"I could, perhaps, make an exception, just for you. Who knows when I'll get to see you again?" Craig said.
"Good lad. C'mere, let's go to bed," Jalyn said.
Leaving the warmth of the fire didn't matter. Jalyn conjured some perpetual fire and lit the lamp beside his bed. One kiss later and they were lying beside each other. They were always careful not to let their relationship be known to anyone. It was far too dangerous. Craig just thought the danger made it more exciting. Craig liked the way Jalyn had sex with him. It made him feel good, like he wasn't useless after all. There was something in the way Jalyn held him that made him feel like it was where he belonged.
Craig lay in his arms afterwards, almost regretting having to return to the barracks. But he would not desert his post now, not when there was so much potential for what he could achieve. He didn't stay much longer. He gave Jalyn one last kiss before he dressed and scampered off into the night, heading back to the barracks. He was in bed three hours before dawn.
If you love someone, let them go (might end up being longer, this bit, IDK)
Watching Craig leave had been hard. Jalyn didn't like letting him out of his sight because he knew the sort of trouble he could and would get into. Craig was the sort of thief who would do whatever it took to get the job done. He would never deny that sneaking into Lord Charles' personal Army was a stroke of genius, but he would miss having him close by. He had become accustomed to having him in the bowels of a narrow boat as they ferried cargo to and from their wharves, to having him by his side as they slept at night.
Yes, the loss of Craig would be hard to cope with, but at least Jalyn knew he was safe and working towards the same goal as them, even if he was far away, and he was sure Craig would find excuses to sneak back again. Craig was that sort of thief. He stole your heart and teased you with its return.
Jalyn smiled then. Craig had been sixteen when he'd joined them eight years ago, replete with a history of breaking and entering along with a tremendous record for not being caught. His charm and cheekiness impressed Jalyn immediately, and his cocky attitude was somehow as endearing as it was annoying. He had been eager to please, however, and had pulled off more than one miracle in those first few months, and his skills had brought a renewed sense of hope to the camp and the cause they were fighting for.
The one problem with Craig, as far as Jalyn was concerned, was that he was loyal to no one but himself. Well, perhaps himself and Jalyn. He had no particular desire to either support or fight against the King; he just happened to like being on the Dissenter's side. Apparently the food was better. That was Craig's excuse at least. Jalyn didn't mind. They'd gotten used to having him around now, and he was useful, incredibly useful, so no one really had any reason to protest his inclusion.
Jalyn extinguished the lamp and lay in bed, pulling the sheets tight around his body. He'd see him again. Until then, he had other things to worry about. At least he could sleep soundly knowing what he was up to.
A Convenient Excuse (for just about everything)
Andrew's uncle should, perhaps, have seen it coming. A week later, after Craig had been left with Charles, Andrew and William found themselves conveniently employed by Charles at his estate. Charles would need a new doctor to treat his men after his previous doctor passed away, and William would like to serve in his Army, so Charles pulled a few strings and made it happen.
While they had seen Charles a few times during the week, they hadn't seen much of Craig. He was being kept very busy by his training, and was proving to be far more disciplined than anyone had quite imagined. He was always awake first, and attended to his duties with remarkable diligence. Andrew was very pleased by this. He had hoped Craig would come good.
It had been Charles' idea for Andrew and his brother to move in with him. He wanted to see more of them, and he knew they'd both be happier if they were away from their uncle. Andrew and William needed little convincing, and agreed to move as soon as it was possible to arrange it. He wouldn't let his uncle talk him out of it, or tell him the other reasons for leaving. He did not want an argument with him at such an occasion.
Andrew was a little sad to be leaving his home, the lands his family owned that his uncle had taken from them, but he would be moving to a much more prosperous manor. Charles would not object to a workshop, and while he would indeed be treating Charles' men for a nice salary, it was a small price to pay for the comfort of living away from his uncle, who could hardly complain, given the circumstances. There was no talk of leaving William behind. Andrew and William were blood brothers and had been together their whole lives. There was no way they would be separated.
So Andrew packed up his secret workshop, this time allowing William to assist him. Just as he was sealing the secret workshop away for good, or at least until he might one day return to his ancestral home, he caught sight of an old door that led to an old dusty part of the mansion no one ever went to because it was apparently haunted. Distracted, he approached the door and wondered where it might lead. He had never been allowed in this part of the mansion, but he figured that since he wasn't coming back, and well, it was his home anyway, he quietly prised the door open and slipped inside. He conjured a lick of flame on his palm to light the way and found himself in a dusty corridor.
There were dozens of rooms that led off the corridor, but none would open, not if Andrew wanted to keep quiet. The hall rug he was walking over was woven with some bizarre pattern Andrew had never seen before, whilst the doors had alchemical symbols etched into them. Andrew soon decided these were his grandfather's private chambers, the rooms in which he did his experiments. From what he'd learnt about alchemy and magic from university, he could understand some of what the strange markings on the doors meant, but it did not particularly help him work out their purpose.
He continued on until the corridor turned and he found yet more rooms. None of the doors down that corridor opened either. Perhaps they were sealed by magic. It would possibly be too advanced for Andrew to attempt if they were indeed sealed that way, and he had seen nothing in his grandfather's books to indicate how he might perform such a spell.
Four corridors later, corridors that appeared to get shorter as they turned in on themselves in some sort of labyrinth-like structure, Andrew finally found a door that opened. He wasn't sure why, or how, but he was glad it did. He hadn't wanted to get this far and find nothing he could access. Andrew could've sword the door actually clicked open as he lay his hand on it. He heard a sound from within the room and wondered if it was some sort of ghost. He pushed the door open after making the flame on his palm much brighter and looked inside.
What he was greeted with was not a ghost, but the slender figure of Craig as he slipped through the window. His hand was about to close around what looked like a small brass telescope when he looked up and saw Andrew standing there, looking confused and horrified.
"Oh. Why, hullo, Andrew. Um. I can explain," Craig said.
"You had better make it good," Andrew said.
Craig stepped off the windowsill and stood up, scratching the back of his head distractedly. "It's not what it looks like, Andrew."
Andrew flicked his hand and Craig found himself glued to the floor. "And what does it look like, if not you sneaking into my house to steal from this collection? I should have you arrested. How did you manage to get in here anyway? I thought this place was inaccessible from the outside," Andrew said.
"You're telling me. I thought this was the proper part of the house, but as I'm sneaking inside the grounds, this window appears that I hadn't noticed before and I can see this flickering light inside. I dunno, looked shiney and expensive, so I climbed up. Window opened easy and i got in. And then you found me. What just happened is anyone's guess. Lemme go, will you?" Craig said.
"How do I know you're telling the truth? You work for the Dissenters, don't you? How can I trust you?" Andrew said.
Craig shrugged, unapologetic. "Hey, a man's gotta eat, and they've got the food. I'm not some sort of spy, I promise. I wouldn't do that, not to you. You should come join us though. I know your heart's not really into this whole Church of England thing."
"That, sir, is none of your business. And I will do no such thing as to join you and your fellows in this futile war," Andrew said, though he secretly wanted to take him up on the offer.
"Well, then, look. Just lemme go and I'll disappear and you'll never see me again. Promise," Craig said, doing his best salute.
Andrew thought for a moment. He could let him go, but what would that prove? He might just run back to his Dissenter friends and then they'd be in trouble. Still, he had noticed the change in Craig's demeanour and habits since he had become a soldier. Perhaps he was capable of change. And if he had to move these things to protect them, then, perhaps, he might appreciate an extra pair of hands.
"Well, while you're here, you might as well help me go through these items. I have a feeling it is very important and needs to be moved from here," Andrew said, releasing him from the spell holding him to the floor.
"Well, I'm clearly not going to steal it now, am I? Here, shift that flame into the lamp," Craig said, handing him a lamp he'd spotted earlier.
Andrew set the lamp on a small bench and lit the lamp before extinguishing the flame on his palm. With the lamp came greater visibility and the things in the room became more distinct. There was the telescope, a model of the planets, many books, and creates marks with more alchemical symbols that would need to be opened before he could see what was inside them.
"I think these once belonged to my grandfather. I think we should get them out of here. Right now. Before someone else discovers them and hurts them," Andrew said, a sudden desire to protect the things in the room taking over.
"Does all this really mean something to you? What is it anyway? It's just junk, isn't it? I mean, I could fetch a bit for some of it, but it's all obsolete," Craig said, picking up the telescope.
"These belong to my grandfather, I'm sure of it. He was a great magician and scientist, one of the great minds of his time," Andrew said.
Craig peered through the telescope and was surprised to see not the wall opposite, but the image of a man with a lamp walking through a dark house. "I think this can see through walls. Someone's coming."
"I can't hear anyone. Here, let me have a look," Andrew said.
Craig shrugged and handed it over. "Maybe it's broken."
Andrew took the telescope from him and peered through it. He saw his uncle walking down the stairs, a lantern held in his hand. He could've sworn he heard the clock chiming to mark three in the morning. Just to check he wasn't hearing things, he slipped out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was only a little after two in the morning.
"I do not think it is broken. It appears to show the future, things that have not happened yet. Even if it is not true, we should finish our packing now as quickly as possible before we are caught," Andrew said.
"If that's the case, then lemme help you out," Craig said.
"You were going to do that anyway, if I remember correctly," Andrew said.
"No, I meant with magic. I'll shrink it all down and we can make the trip in one go," Craig said.
"You're adept at magic?" Andrew said, not entirely believing him.
"You have to be in this profession. Thieving, I mean. It's much easier when you've got magic to silence your footfalls and lighten loads, as I know you've done. Just trust me, okay? You want this stuff out of here fast and quiet? I'm the man for the job," Craig said.
Andrew thought for a moment. There was probably no chance they would manage the trip any other way. "Go ahead. I do not want this to take any longer than necessary."
"Leave it all to me, my friend," Craig said with a smile.
Andrew watched him perform the spell and a moment later, everything bar one small chest in the room had been reduced to an impossible size. Craig tried not to look too smug as he watched the expression on Andrew's face change from scepticism to disbelief.
"I don't believe we've got the time to stand around gawping. Go on, gather everything up and get them into that chest there, and be careful with them. They can still break," Craig said.
Andrew appreciated the warning to be careful, though he would have done so anyway. They were, after all, his grandfather's things, and he did not wish to harm them in any way. He knelt down and picked up a small trunk. It fitted nicely in his palm. Gazing at it a moment, he caressed the tiny lock before carrying it over to the chest. He opened the lid and rearranged the contents so everything would fit neatly and snugly. He then went to gather some of the other things, and between him and Craig, they packed the chest tight and nothing at all moved.
"Right. Now to carry the bastard back up stairs. I'm assuming that's where you want it," Craig said.
"Is there any way to be rid of it now? I do not want it falling into the wrong hands," Andrew said.
"Leave it to me," Craig said.
Craig headed over to the window and climbed back outside. Andrew approached the sill and peered down, wondering what on earth he was up to. Craig returned moments later, climbing back up with some rope and two men in toe.
"Who are these people exactly?" Andrew said, addressing the strangers who had climbed back inside the small room with Craig. They were taller than Craig, and slightly heavier in build. Both had dull green eyes and dark hair and looked like thugs. The only way to tell them apart was that Darcy, on the left, wore an expensive looking black jacket. Laney did not bother with such niceties.
"Oh, these? That's Darcy, there, right? And that's Laney. Can't believe i run into them again down the pub. Old, old friends. Would trust 'em with me life," Craig said.
"Evening, sir. Heard you're looking for someone as to help you get this here chest hidden away, yeah?" Darcy said, giving Andrew a quick bow.
"I am indeed. Take it to Charles' estate. Craig knows where my rooms are. Craig, do not leave it or allow anyone else to look inside it. I will be there tomorrow to sort through it, along with the rest of my belongings," Andrew said.
"As you wish, sir," Darcy said, making a deeper bow this time. "C'mon, brother, we gots us some precious cargo to excort."
"Don't worry about it, Andrew. It'll be perfectly safe. I won't leave it, I promise," Craig said.
"Come here a moment," Andrew said.
Craig approached, wondering what he wanted. Andrew murmured a spell to temporarily deafen their companions to their conversation.
"If you so ever as disclose but one item in that chest to another man, I shall ensure you are so severely punished, you shall be lucky to live. Understood? Remember, there is a very good reason these things were kept up here. They are for no one's eyes but mine," Andrew whispered harshly.
Craig got the message. He had not planned to disclose what he'd found. Well, perhaps not immediately. If Jalyn happened to find out, well, it wouldn't be all Craig's fault. But he caught the implication of Andrew's threat and decided that accidentally letting slip what was inside there, even to Jalyn, would be a very bad idea indeed.
"Don't worry, Andrew. No one will find out. I might be a bastard, but I am capable of keeping secrets, and I've had my fair share of secrets to conceal. I'll stay awake all night until you arrive," Craig said.
"Good. That'll make up for breaking in tonight," Andrew said with a smirk. "You should get going. I need my sleep."
Craig thought that was a good idea. He had, however, one last trick up his sleeve. Hiding Andrew and himself from Darcy and Laney, Craig leaned in and gave Andrew a kiss, for no other reason than he felt like it. Andrew would make a serviceable husband for the right person, and Craig had become rather fond of him.
Andrew... had not expected that kiss. As their friends became aware of their presence again, Craig winked at Andrew before rallying Darcy and Laney into tying the chest securely with rope in the right way so they could lower it down without disrupting the content. With a final promise to guard the chest with his life, Craig, and his two men, were gone.
Darkness, Escape and Afterwards
Andrew heard the clock chiming. Extinguishing the lantern and adopting a smaller flame on his palm, Andrew closed the door and headed back otu of the secret complex. Just as he was creeping down the hall towards his rooms, he caught sight of William waiting impatiently for him.
"Come on, dear brother, you are dawdling so. I have only now heard the clock strike thrice and we should not be awake any longer," William said, tugging on his sleeve.
"I shall tell you of the reason for my delay when we are at Charles' house. Until then, yes, I agree sleep is a very good idea," Andrew said.
At the faint sound of footsteps, the two brothers quickly returned to their rooms. Andrew extinguished the flame and hurried into his nightwear before climbing into bed. He lay still in the darkness, his eyes shut as he wished for sleep, and listened for any sound of movement. When he could hear nothing, he relaxed. He could not confirm if his uncle was wandering around, but he decided he did not wish to know. Things that showed the future were dangerous, very dangerous, and Andrew had half a mind to destroy that accursed telescope. He did not dwell too much further on these matters, however, as exhaustion caressed him into sleep, and so he lay until morning.
And here's hoping this posts first go and doesn't screw up on me. D: