Chapter Sixteen: A Murder in Stralsund

The evening comes and Father Tobias leaves to meet with the mysterious note writer. Leaving a nervous Castor and Ivetta behind. Concerned, they ask Hollinzoller if there’s some magical means to protect him from afar he responds with, “If you wanted to help your friend you should have gone with. Sneaking around wont do anything.” They resign themselves to wait for his return.

Castor finds and apologizes to Gerrard for her abhorrent behavior the previous night. She finds him outside the stables where The Bois stay. She apologizes for last night. "Please forgive my rudeness and drunken behavior. I'd never...I didn't know I would act so foolish."

He accepts the apology, telling her, "think nothing of it. I've seen far worse things happen."

"I am truly sorry though. I wonder...could-might we be friends? Start again?"

"Alright. I'd like that."

The two girls then meet back in the foyer to await Tobias' return. Ivetta begins to teach Castor to read in the interim. Only three or so hours later the father returns. Unharmed, carrying a book. Castor and Ivetta go out to greet him.

“Who was it father? What happened? Are you well?”

“I spoke with a man, not GS.” Clarifying Ivetta’s question before it even left her lips. “He was a member of the order to whom we dealt a hefty blow.”

“One of the Mora vos Malus gave you… a book?” Castor is confused.

“No, this is from the university.” He hands it to Castor. She hesitates but then takes it, handing it to Ivetta.

“Could you tell me what it is?”  Father Tobias looks between the two of them.

“You can't read Castor?”

“Ivetta is teaching me.” she says blushing.

“Well even I can’t read this book. It is going to be my personal project to learn whatever language it is. It is simple trade manifests. I’m not reading for the content only for the language.”

“What language is it?” Ivetta asks

“Was it what was marked on the floor in the tent?” Castor adds.

“I am unsure as of yet. Although one word popped up often. Have you heard of ‘Chati’ ?” Ivetta’s jaw clenches. Castor’s blood runs cold. She pales then reddens.

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“Did that Morus Vos Malus man say anything about it?”

“Very little. But I plan on learning about this myself without the influence of another's bias on my view.”

“Wh-what else did he say?”

“He once again espoused your demonic heritage. He said to be wary of you. They say a trail of death follows you. The same could be said of priests but just because one thing is close to another does not mean they are related. And while your situation may be strange I have no reason to believe what they say about you is true until proven otherwise. Everything is alright, he is no threat. Soon we’ll have a boat and be on our way.”

“You are wiser than most, father.” Ivetta responds.

“Could you possibly teach me to read that language as well Father?” Castor inquires.

“Once I have a firm grasp on it I'd be more than happy. If Ivetta needs assistance in teaching you to read, I can assist in teaching you to read Italian, Latin or German.”

“Thank you Father.”

The next day they spend resting, planning to speak with the boat maker, Pierre, in the evening. The trio heads through the dark city around 11 to speak with him. His house is nicer than most, not caved in but covered with shit like everything else. Castor raps her knuckles on the door. A ruckus inside followed by a thick French accent, “just a minute, ah, hold on!” The door cracks open revealing a man in a french beret.

Castor begins, “I wanted- we- uh Father Tobias…”

“Ah yes, you wanted the ship. Come in. Come in.” he backs up waving them in. The house is a mess, documents strewn everywhere, bottles and wine casks litter the floor. He shoves shit off a seat and sits. He invites them to sit then realizes himself and shoves clutter off a few more seats. “I apologize. I have not had guests in so long.”

“It doesn't show.” Father Tobias says. His face remains neutral but Ivetta stifles a laugh.

“What can I do for you and your, uh,  friends here Father?”

“We spoke of a ship.”

Pierre speaks in half sentences due to his accent or imbibing in too much drink it is hard to tell. “I can get you a ship. Only craftsmen in town who can do this for you. Reward yes. Did the mayor mention my fee?”

“The mayor neglected to mention but I'm sure we can take care of this.”

“I have two things to ask of you first however, before money. Are you writing this down? Brings me much sorrow. My house is not as clean as it used to be. My wife is missing. See if you can find her. I believe she might have had a run in with her ex lover Gunther. My neighbor. But even if you cannot find anything in a few days I can fulfil my end. The second thing is much easier. Yes. Take your horses and go to my estate and bring some wine to me. I will give you a box to fill and bring back. Simple yes?”

Castor nods. “That sounds agreeable.” Father Tobias says.

“Now, if you could leave now I have much calculations.” The door slams behind them before they can blink.

“He was an interesting man.” Castor comments.

Father Tobias replies, “It matters little. We shall do these tasks and take our leave.”

The next day they plan to split up. Father Tobias can talk on the streets with people. While Caster and Ivetta talk to Gunther.

The next day is Sunday. Father Tobias holds a short mass in the square upon Castor's insistence. They finish their mass just as the other churches finish theirs. People flood into the streets and return to their homes. The three head toward Pierre’s house.

A hulking man enters the home next to Pierre's. Sending shivers down the girl’s spines. They never thought to ask Pierre his neighbor’s last name. Gunther what? Could his initials be GS?

They knock once more on Pierre’s door. He shuffles to it, looking even more disheveled than the previous night.

“Sorry to disturb but we had a question. What your neighbor's last name?”

“Swvarden? Svvorlan? Something German?”  Ice drops into their stomachs. But even still, Castor knocks on Gunther’s door. Ivetta grabs her and pulls her into the alley next to the house leaving Father Tobias standing there alone.

He rolls with the punches as the door opens. “Yes, can I help you?” The massive man asks.

“Ah, yes we would like to talk to you.”

“We? Looks like just you.”

“Myself and the lord of course. Never truly alone you know. I’m Father Tobias. I'd like to ask you some questions if I could.” Gunther chuckles.

“I’m making breakfast. Would you like some?” he pulls the door wider letting the other man in.

“I wouldn't want to put you out.”

“Nonsense. Have a seat” He goes to his counter and pulls out bread, plates, and cups. He joins him at the table. “So Father, what can I do for you? If I even call you that. I'm not up to date on Catholic sermonology or whatever it's called.”

“You may call me father if you wish but under the circumstances I will not impose it upon you.”

“Just Mr. Tobias then?”

“Yes, that is fine.”

“Gunther Swartzen. My friends call me Gunt.”

“Gunt then. I trust you know Mr. Pierre just one house over?”

“I know him. Know his wife too.”

“That is what brings me here today.”

“On account of she’s missing.”

“Yes. When did you last see her?”

“About a week ago, before all this hoopla. I saw her go to church and saw her come back. Said hello. Sometimes I sit with her. Don't like to see a woman walkin’ alone. She went to church then came back home, likely disappeared that day. Didn't see her after.”

“Could you point me in the direction of her friends, acquaintances?”

“People in the market would know her. All the neighbors. What do you think happened to her?”

“He mentioned an estate outside of town…perhaps she went there?”

“There's no way she’s there. Not with those things outside. I’ll tell you straight, Pierre hated his wife. The guy’s a drunk. If he was sober enough...maybe he…”

“Are there times where Pierre is out of the house?”

“He goes to church but he works from home.”

“Thank you, Gunt, you’ve been a great help.

“While you're looking for Marie you can use my house as you please, take a load off whenever.”

“Thank you, I'll take my leave.”

Father Tobias exits the house and directs his words to Castor and Ivetta. “If you two are done hiding in an alley…we have a neighborhood to canvas. It seems she was last seen last Sunday. Ask if anyone else has seen her since.”

“We’re just being cautious.”

People don’t really have an interest in talking with a priest or dirt boy but Ivetta talks to several people, neighbors, and asks last they saw her- they all say last week at church.

Some said they saw her in the market all the time. That she was there almost everyday last week.

“Do you know of any trouble between the two spouses?”

“From time to time we hear stray ruckus accompanied by loud noise then it stops…”

“I saw her at the market with bruises...”

“No one has seen her in about a week.”

“Thank you for your information. Please, let me know if you see or learn anything about her.”

Ivetta reports her findings back to the others. Castor says, “If we do find her, m-maybe it's better if we dont tell her to go back.”

They decide to move on, at least for now and do the second task for Pierre. They mount their horses and leave the city walls heading to the house marked on a crudely drawn map.

A revenant gets close to Castor but outpaces it. They make it to the house in about 30 minutes. About the same number of revenants linger outside the iron gated estate. The house itself is two stories. Thankfully out in the plains so they can see if any more undead approach.

The father distracts them, leading them away from the gates. He rides up to them and draws his sabre and cuts one's arm, they sprint after him. VERY quickly. Several of them just drop after this burst of speed as if it were their last effort.

Ivetta pops the lock and she and Castor slip in closing the iron bars behind tying it closed with an ancient leather harness they find on a horse carcass. They check the stables but Ivetta leaves immediately, eyes watering from the stench. Instead they bring the horses into the house and tie them in the entrance hall.

Castor, ever hopeful, whisper shouts, “Miss-Miss Marie? Are you here?” A puff or dust comes from the upstairs floorboards. She carefully moves to the bottom of the steps, craning her neck to see up in the darkness.

A thump from upstairs. They try to stealthily climb up the steps but Ivetta’s foot cracks through the floorboard, scraping her ankle.

A thump from behind a doorway. Castor tries to cast a light but it fails. Ivetta says, “we should lure it downstairs.”

“But what if it's Ms. Marie? What if she’s hurt?” They continue up the stairs and make it to the door behind which they heard the thump. Castor readies her hammer and holds the handle with the other hand. She twists the knob and throws open the door. She is able to assess and act swiftly enough that she absolutely obliterates the head of the revenant behind the door.

The long-dead revenant’s brains splat on the door.

Ivetta steps over the body and looks through the room. Taking in the broken mirror on vanity, a few bottles, petrified poop, and claw marks on the doorframe. She then searches the other rooms and finds nothing noteworthy. They find the master bedroom locked. Ivetta listens at the dusty wood, then knocks. A cough and a gurgle. Castor breaks the handle to enter ready for another revenant. Inside they see a chest of drawers is thrown open, clothes hastily grabbed from inside, a drafting table filled with boat schematics, a queen bed, oddly, neatly made a crib sitting beside it.

Inside the crib movement. Ivetta moves further into the room, eyes on the crib. A revenant baby coos and gurgles, its rotten hands grabbing for their flesh. Castor gasps as Ivetta draws a dagger. Before Castor has time to protest, Ivetta sinks her dagger into the soft flesh of the baby’s head. Castor cries out and drops her hammer to the floor. Tears prick her eyes and she fights not to vomit. She stumbles out of the room and down to the cellar.

Ivetta lowered her head as she stabbed it, unable to look. She turns away as fast as possible and searches the room.

She finds Maria Baguette's journal under the bed. The most recent entry was years ago. "...I'm so worried about the baby." " there is a group of people outside the house…" A lot of hostility toward her husband threatens her a lot. But no information about where she might go or where she is now. She takes the journal with her and joins Castor in the cellar.

Ivetta finds Castor loading up the crate with random wines, not really paying attention or caring. Ivetta spots a barrel in the center of an isle. She cracks it open and finds a skull bobbing in red wine. At least she hopes it's wine. They finish loading up the booze and get tf out of there.

They catch up with Father Tobias. Who has slain all the revenants that had once surrounded the estate. He finds a solemn Ivetta and a crying Castor. "What happened? Castor, why are you crying?"

Castor simply shakes her head. Ivetta supplies, "there was a...a baby revenant in there. And I had to kill it."

More tears roll down Castor's cheeks, "He- was an innocent baby, he wasn't hurting anyone."

"He was a revenant Castor."

"But-but he was a newborn when he died. He'll be in purgatory forever…"

"You can't know that." Father Tobias tries to comfort.

"Maria wasn't in there but we did kill a revenant woman but it was old, like it had been there a while. There was also a skull in a barrel of wine in the basement."

It is dusk by the time they get back. Ivetta stopped along the way and buries the journal.

They return to Pierre's house, knocking on the door once more.

"Is that you Maria?" Comes his call.

"We completed one of your errands."

He cracks the door and seeing the box, widens the entry. "Please come in, yes yes." Castor carries it in the box Pierre opens it and pulls a bottle opening it immediately. "Excellent work." After he takes a swig he boards the box back up and directs Castor to put it at the top of the stairs to the cellar. She does so and offers to take the heavy box down for him.

"No boy, do not put it down there. I don't like people down there."

Father Tobias cuts in, "how are the plans coming?"

"I have the plans right here. Yes."

Tobias talks with him in depth about the plans, distracting him.

Ivetta slips upstairs to his master bedroom and grabs keys. Slips downstairs again and heads to the cellar door. Castor moves the wine out of the way and Ivetta tries the keys. The second set of keys opens the door. Father Tobias still distracting Pierre with talk and drink, Castor and Ivetta attempt to sneak downstairs.

Castor falls down the steps, crashing and making all the noise possible.

Pierre is freakin' out exclaiming, "where are your wards?! I told them not to go down there!"

The Father responds calmly, "I told them to go home after we deposited the wine."

"Then there is an intruder!" He starts to make his way to the cellar, armed with an empty bottle. Father Tobais persuades him that he will handle it and that Pierre should wait outside. This actually works and so Father Tobais meets his two companions in the cellar.

The two are already searching for anything out of the ordinary. Ivetta finds a  few barrels stacked near an area that looks to have caved in. All the other barrels stacked neatly. Father Tobias opens a barrel and the stench hits him. Ivetta, nearby, also sees what's inside. The severed head of a woman. Marie Baguette.

Father Tobais shuts the lid as he says, "Well we have our guy."

Castor comes over. "What do you mean?"

"He killed her." Ivetta says.

"What!? How do you know? Is she-?" She looks at the barrel Father Tobias is holding shut, not letting her see inside. She can guess what's inside and feels queasy.

Father Tobias returns upstairs to distract Pierre once again while the other two leave. They meet up and return to Abot's estate. Castor worries, "What if he kills somebody else??"

"We will have him watched at all times. We just need him to finish the plans. Then he will repent for his sins."

A few weeks later, Pierre is downstairs with the plans wearing very, very, very french clothing. He holds a rolled up, leather cylinder with the plans. The trio comes to meet him. He smiles and says, "I have everything you need right here."

"May I see it?" Father Tobias asks.

Pierre hands it over, "Everything we agreed is here."

Tobais takes the plans in one hand and draws his pistol with the other. He points it at Pierre, square between the eyes.

"By the powers vested in me by the holy church, I place you under arrest for the murder of your wife. Your services were very necessary Mr. Pierre, but no longer required."

He protests and denies it as he's dragged away and jailed. Unfortunately or fortunately, he cannot be hanged as he is the only ship builder in the city.

TBC

Episode Seventeen: Stormy Seas