End of the Dawn Dance


After an exhausting night of dancing and reveling, people began to retire for the night. Dirk had to go on duty and Hal was recruited to help haul tables back into the palace. That left Picorna, Caerling, and Freyda with each other’s company. Freyda had danced with a succession of boys all night, but the last of them had also been called away to work.
“Time to clean up?: Caerling asked?
“It does seem to be getting pretty late...” Picorna observed.
Caerling started cleaning up the worst of the perishable food and Freyda led Picorna by the hand over to where Caerling was working.
Freyda smiled. "Hey, let's go shirk our duties! I've hardly gotten to talk to either of you all night!"
"Uh..." Caerling looked around.
“But... we could talk while we clean... because if we don't, who is going to do it?” Picorna offered.
"Oh, okay" Freyda spied a tub of dishwater on a table at the end of the barn and led group there carrying some dishes.
Caerling grabbed stack of dishes and follows them.
Picorna also grabbed some dishes and followed.
"What's up?" Caerling rolled up her sleeves and got to washing. "Picorna, what did you think of Hal? Did he behave himself?"
Picorna was trying to help however she could. "Hal was so kind! Most gentlemanly and he never was untoward at all." She giggled a little.
“Lucky you!” Freyda exclaimed, “Robbie the gardener had his hands on every part of me that came within his reach!”
Picorna gasped and makes a mock-scandalized face.
Caerling smiled, "I had a good time."
Freyda added. "You got yourself a good one, Caerling! A fighting man too! Did he offer to show you his longsword?"
Picorna laughed.
Caerling said "A lady never tells."
Freyda came back with "Oh, don't be silly. We're all friends here. Besides, I've been in more scandalous situations with the two of you in the last few days than if I'd been with every boy in the palace."
"I believe I was in a scandalous situation recently because of you." Caerling said in mock seriousness.
"That was NOT my fault! Um... except for the part about me inviting the man to that room and me kissing him and drinking the drugged wine and... Oh. I... Um... Guess it was my fault."
"Now, what did you do with poor Picorna?" Caerling asked, looking between the two girls with an arched eyebrow.
"We, um..." Picorna looked around to see if anyone else is near.
"Well, what mischief did you two get into?"
Freyda tunred to the young priestess "It's okay, Picorna. I'd trust Caerling with my life, if not with my boyfriend. Besides, she's good at figuring these things out. Tell her what happened."
Picorna lowered her voice to a whisper. "We were taking some dishes back to the First Sister's chambers, and we... we went through the catacombs, and we heard two people talking. There was a man's voice and a woman's voice, and they sounded like they were making threats against someone!"
“What sort of threats?” Caerling asked.
"The woman said something about someone knowing their two secrets, and the man told her to kill whoever this was. And then there were threats against Sister Oselta-- the Spirit-Speaker."
"So, two people were threatened?"
Picorna nodded.
(Caerling)"Sister Oselta and someone unnamed?"
Freyda added “And there's something else. I heard that voice again today. In the main hall.”
Picorna looked at Freyda with wide eyes.
"What did they say?” Caerling asked, “The male voice or the female voice?"
“The man... And... I'm not sure. Just making small talk in a crowded room. It was right before the procession. Most of the Vasille family was in the room and a lot of the invited guests who aren't with the other families... And most of the senior staff. I heard that voice and I just froze. Then I was called away to the kitchens.”
"Did these people see you two at all? Know that you were there?"
"The man was the one who said he'd take care of Sister Oselta,” Picorna said, “And I don't think either of them knew we heard them in the catacombs."
"Do you have any other identifying clues? Did you see any part of them? Also, who have you told?"
Picorna replied "It was so dark, I didn't see them at all, did you, Freyda?"
"No, I never got a look. But I haven't told a soul until now. I'm scared, though. Especially after what happened with that man who drugged me. What if that had something to do with this?"
"Drugged? What happened?" Picorna asked, feeling terribly out of the loop.
Caerling said, “Duncan, I've found out, it a known thief. I don't think he's part of this. When the guard were talking, he sounded only like a thief and nothing more. Not an assassin. How is Sister Oselta?
"We haven't been able to find her since she prayed the Camp Vigil with the First Sister, before this all happened."
Caerling looked very concerned now. "You don't think they killed her, do you?"
Picorna blanched. "We can only hope for her safety," she managed to choke out.
Freyda, totally failing to pick up on Picorna's concern, said "They've probably killed her and hid the body. They sounded very ruthless."
"Freyda!" Caerling scolded.
Picorna dropped her head and grabbed on to the edge of the table, suddenly unsteady. Caerling moved to support Picorna.
Freyda exclaimed "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean... Well, I did, but she's under the protection of the Spirits, right? That wouldn't happen. I'm sure she's... Well, maybe I should just shut up now."
"Picorna?" Caerling looked at her new friend with concern,
Picorna took a deep breath and regained control over her thoughts. "I'm... I'm ok. It's just... a shock. I have to believe she's alright."
Caerling nodded and sighed. "The question is, now what?"
"I've told the First Sister this, and she went looking for Sister Oselta, but no luck."
"Who else can we tell who will believe us?" Freyda asked.
Caerling said "It sounds like the man, at least, might be part of House Vasille in some way. We can't tell anyone until we know who, except, for maybe Spackle."
"Spackle?” Picorna asked, “ Is he... can he keep a confidence?"
Caerling gave Picorna a look. "Yes. He can."
Freyda added “He can be trusted, if that's what you mean.”
Picorna asked "Should we tell him, then?"
Caerling nodded. "Maybe. He knows a lot of what goes on."
Picorna nodded.
Caerling said “I guess, that's what we do next. We go see Spackle in a day or two.”
“I hope it's not too late.’ Picorna said.
Caerling added “Me, too. But, we can't go to anyone without something a lot more concrete. But, when we have something, I know who to go to.”
“Okay.” said Freyda, “I feel safer now that we've talked about it.”
“Me too...” agreed Picorna.
The barn was just about empty as people were beginning to head to their quarters. It was still dark, but the morning would be coming soon enough.
Caerling smiled. "I'll do what I can to help you two. This sort of thing cannot just go on. Come on. Let's finish up. I'll walk you two back to your rooms."
Freyda finished her dishes and brought them over to where the scullery people are hauling them back. When the other two joined her they headed out into the courtyard together.
"Shall we take Picorna home first?" Freyda asked.
Caerling nodded. "That would be good."
Picorna smiled. "Alright."
They left the stables and turned onto the path leading to the Chapel wing. It is deserted; almost no Church people attended the dance. In the other direction, they heard a few drunks singing off-tune, and they passed a pair of lovers furtively making their way into one of the little garden alcoves that are found throughout the palace grounds.
Picorna snickered softly and Caerling smiled to herself.
They were continuing up the path when suddenly a figure emerged from the darkness, running right at them. He was looking over his shoulder as if panicked, not seeing any of the three girls.
Caerling pushed Freyda out of the way of the man. She listened for sounds of something pursuing him, but heard nothing.
Picorna darted off the path, her street instincts kicking in.
The man nearly ran into Freyda and rushed past.
Picorna shrieked as she tripped over something soft… A body? She flailed her arms to keep from falling.
Caerling briefly thought she heard some movement in the darkness ahead... Then lost the sound as Picorna shrieked.
Caerling looked to Picorna, "What's wrong?"
Picorna's voice was jagged. “I tripped over something... something soft and...”
She peered down. "It's a body!" She tried to find out if it is alive.
Freyda rushed over to Picorna.
The man had a knife in his back. He appearsed dead... But Freyda quickly discovered that the man is not alone... A second man layface down a little further off the path.
Caerling looked back down the path both ways, then hurried to the girls and the body.
Freyda called "Picorna help! This man is still alive. I think he was stabbed too."
Picorna rushed over to Freyda. "Oh no! We have to get help!"
Caerling warned "Calm down. You can't help him if you are panicking!" Her voice was sharper than she intended to be.
Caerling asked "Where is he stabbed? How bad? Do either of you know first aid? I do."
"I'm not panicking!” Picorna began to attend to the man.
Caerling said "Picorna, you help him. I'll help you. Freyda, run for a guard!"
Freyda ran for help.
Caerling crouched next to Picorna across from her and the still breathing man.
Picorna applied her extensive healing knowledge to figure out how best to help the man.
The man was wearing pretty nondescript servants' garb with a dark green hunting cloak over it. However, Picorna was surprised to discover he has on a mail vest under his tunic.
"He was wearing armor... do you think he could have expected an attack?"
Caerling replied "Maybe. Like he thought someone might try to kill him? Do you recognize him?"
The armor saved his life, but whatever blade that stabbed him was a narrow one and it penetrated the mail. It was impossible to make out his facial features in the darkness.
Caerling continued to help Picorna who now seemed much less naive since she was in her element. and looked closer at the man.
Picorna assessed the man. "I think the blade has pierced his lung... I can help keep him alive, but he needs more aid than I can provide alone."
Caerling warned "We need to wait for the guard. We're not strong enough to move him."
Picorna nodded. "It's probably best if he doesn't move much, so we shouldn't even try."
"You sure the other one is dead?"
"Yes, quite."
Suddenly another voice suddenly came from out of the darkness, "Whoever you are, hands up! I've got two pistols on you, and I'm a damn good shot. You don't want to find out how good. Hands up and move away from him slowly!"
Caerling squeaks in surprise at the new voice.
Picorna glanced quickly down at the man again; seeing he is relatively stable, she slowly raised her arms and began to stand, not sure how much to say, if anything.
The same voice camne, but now hesitant, unsure "Who is that? Identify yourself."
Caerling raiseed her hands. "Caerling Coopersmith of House Kassof. We've sent another servant for the guard already. They should be here soon."
Picorna steeled herself, hoping to sound more sure than she felt. "I am Sister Picorna," she stated.
The man stepped forward from the other side of the path, holstering a pistol, and they recognized him. Gar Logan. Captain of House Slade's Rangers. He was walking unsteadily, and they had a feeling it was not from drink.
"Can we go back to help this man, sir?" Caerling asked.
Gar spoke "I am sorry ladies. In the confusion I thought you enemies. I am Captain Logan and... Helping... What?"
"I am unarmed. I wish merely to aid the injured man here. He has been stabbed, and it is a serious wound," Picorna said, kneeling back down.
Caerling added "This man is still alive. Sister Picorna and I are keeping him alive." She looked at him. "Are you alright?"
Captain Logan rushed over to the dead man and checked on him, confirming what the two girls already knew. At about this time, they saw a light. Freyda returned, leading several guards with lanterns.
Picorna looked at Gar too. "Yes," she said, "You look quite ill yourself, sir."
Caerling was very relieved to see Freyda.
Logan explained "I took a blow on the back of my head with something that felt like a brick. I just need a moment. I'll..."
Picorna waved Freyda and the guards over. "Be careful with him, he has serious wounds and should not be jostled about. And the knife must stay in, it is the only thing preventing his lung from collapsing!"
As the guards approached with light, they got their first real look at the two victims. Gar lets out an audible gasp. The dead man is a member of his own Ranger regiment. The wounded man in servants' garb is Lord Lucien Slade. Captain Logan seemed as surprised by this as Caerling was.
Caerling didn't say anything until the guard in charge identified himself by word or deed.
The guards gathered around. Caerling recognized their leader; Sergeant Marney. She doesn't know him well, but she knows that he is legitimately the correct man to be on duty at this time.
Caerling spoke up, "We saw a man running down the path. He almost knocked us over."
Picorna nodded, but her attention is focused on the injured man.
The guards assisted Picorna; they seemed respectful of her position as a priestess and followed her isntructions.
"We must get this man more aid." Picorna turned to the guards. "Can you lift him and carry him to the palace, while keeping him steady and without much movement?"
Things finally began to take on some semblance of order. Captain Logan took Sergeant Marney aside and conferred with him briefly while the guards positioned themselves to keep onlookers away.
"To the infirmary, Sister?" One of the guards asked.
Picorna shook her head. "To the temple wing, please; there are skilled healers there, and it is closer. The less he moves, the better he may be."
The guards carried Slade toward the temple wing. Gar Logan moved to accompany them.
Caerling seemed at a loss of what to do.
Picorna asked "Caerling, do you want to come too? Any aid healing this man will be helpful."
Caerling said “Freyda, you go. I'll stay and answer questions.”