The library of Schlafawld was one of the older buildings of the town. The was the guess made from the amount of moss growing in between the crevices of the stones used to build it, at least. The inside of it was made of a very dark, brown wood that almost looked black under certain lighting. It also reminded her a little of what Elaine could remember of the library from the small town of Misthallery. Though more floating dust could be seen in the air here than there.
Apart from the young librarian, there didn't appear to be anyone else in the building. But with the common rule of silence in libraries, it could have just simply been a case of people being elsewhere in the library. There were three floors altogether if you counted the basement section of the library.
It was here that the library had the history books that Elaine and Desmond were currently looking over, as Johanna sat by them at one of the wooden desks. She was trying not to look bored, but being in the library for almost three hours made it rather difficult not to. But still she did help by putting back the books they were finished with and finding new ones to look at.
"I'm guessing you haven't spotted anything that would be of use to us," Desmond muttered to Elaine. Breaking the silence that had remained an hour since Desmond thanked Johanna for bringing him his current history book.
"I would have mentioned it by now, wouldn't I?" Elaine replied back as she turned a page. "So far, nothing 'ere seems to focus on what we want. There's stuff on the town, sure. But so far, I've gotten nothing but feminists, mayors and farmers."
"… Farmers? Books alone I could understand, but history of farmers?"
"People 'ave their interests, I suppose," Elaine said with a light shrug. "Though I can't say I would be one of those people who would want to know that 'istory."
"I think it might be safe enough to skip over that then in this case. I'm at least on the right track, though so far everything I've read here is stuff we already know," Desmond said before stopping his page turning. "Ah, I think I found something."
"Really? What?" Elaine leaned over to the side to look at Desmond's book.
"It's a picture of two members of the Feierabend family," Desmond answered as he pointed to the sepia toned picture.
It was a pair of fraternal twins. A boy and a girl. Elaine guessed fraternal because of how similar their faces were despite not being identical. Their hair was black, and at the time the picture was taken, they looked about seven as they smiled at the camera. The boy more shyly than the girl.
"It says here their names were… Rosaline and Briar. Twin brother and sister."
"Rosaline?" Elaine thought back on the familiar sounding name. "Isn't she supposed to be the granddaughter of the town founder?"
"I believe so."
"Why didn't the man at the inn mention Briar?" Johanna suddenly asked. "Isn't he just as important as his sister?"
"That's a good question," Desmond remarked. The brunette looked back into the book to look through some more details. "It says here he had weak constitution, and that he joined the military a few months before the poisoning began. He wasn't seen again after he left.
"I suppose since Rosaline was the one poisoned, and Briar wasn't seen after 'e joined the military, it might make sense why some people might 'ave forgotten 'im. Though I doubt everyone 'as. 'E might 'ave even just slipped from the inn keeper's mind," said Elaine.
"It's possible. His age should be taken into account as well, and we hadn't asked too many questions in regards to family members."
"You think the family might be more involved?"
"It's impossible to say really," Desmond admitted. "Rosaline is deceased, and if her brother wasn't seen again chances are that he either died while in service, or he heard about the poisoning and decided to stay away. Regardless of which it is, he would surely be dead by now." Desmond drummed his fingers silently on the table before saying, "We should try to remember this though. Just in case it somehow becomes relevant later on."
"It should be easy enough to remember." Elaine gave a single nod. "Though we still have to find an actual cause." Elaine was about to look back to her own book when a thought came to mind. "Did you find 'ow the town founder died? Or the twins' parents?"
Desmond turned back to his book and quickly scanned through a few pages.
"Hmm, the founder seemed to die of old age according to this. The mother died of influenza and the father died a year previous to when the poisoning began of unknown causes."
"Maybe that could 'ave been a case of poisoning?"
"Perhaps. With the time between his death and the poisoning starting, it wouldn't be too shocking if people didn't think of there being a connection." Desmond closed his book and stretched his fingers. "It's starting to get late. Maybe we should go back to the inn after we put these books back. We could take another look around town though before we do."
"Well then let's get these books back on the shelves then." Elaine stood up and began stacking a few books to carry back to the shelves. "So, assuming someone is poisoning food before it's bought, would I be correct assuming you think we might catch them in the act if we walk around? I doubt it would be late enough for that to 'appen. I would imagine it would need to be darker."
"True, but taking another look around wouldn't do any harm." Desmond began to stack his own pile before looking to Johanna. "Do you want to wait outside? I know it's probably been dull being here for so long."
"If you wouldn't mind…"
"Just be right outside the door and don't talk to anyone. We should be along in a few minutes," Desmond told her before he and the Frenchwoman began to bring the books back to the shelves. Johanna was more than happy to leave for some fresh air.
"I'm surprised you're willing to let 'er out on 'er own," Elaine remarked as she and Desmond started putting books back.
"I know, but it's only fair. Besides, we won't be too long anyway, and I doubt anyone will try anything with her since its likely still crowded up there," Desmond reasoned.
It only took a little under ten minutes to return all of the books. Admitably some of the might not be back on the exact shelf they came from, but they were all put back in the history section where they belonged so there was that at least.
As they promised Johanna, it wasn't long until they were back on the main floor and went outside to where Johanna was. Though she looked a little spooked. But when she saw Desmond and Elaine she immediately latched onto her father.
"Johanna?" Desmond looked a little surprised. "What's wrong?"
"An old lady forced a bag of sweets in my hands." Johanna was quick answering. "She handed them out to me, but I said no thank you. But she just shoved them in my hand and told me to be sure to share them with my…" Johanna furrowed her brows. "My… mut-ti and va-ti," she said, her use of the German words being a bit shaky. Elaine narrowed her eyes and glanced around the street briefly. Trying to spot any odd old ladies. But none stuck out to her in the evening streets.
"Do you still have the bag, dear?" Desmond asked Johanna.
"Yeah, here." Johanna held up a small pouch tied with string, and when Desmond opened it up he raised a brow at the contents. Some kind of caramel sweets. Desmond frowned and closed it back up.
"I'm sorry, papa."
"Don't apologise," Desmond told Johanna as he patted her head. "You didn't do anything wrong. You said no, as you should have." He pocketed the sweets and glanced around briefly. "What did this woman look like?"
"Um…" Johanna nibbled her lip as she tried to recall the memory of the person. "Tall, skinny… She was wearing this wide brimmed hat with a grey veil going all around."
"I think we should perhaps just go straight back to the inn, and continue tomorrow," Elaine suggested in a low voice, still glancing around as was Desmond who agreed with her.
"Yes. Yes, that would possibly be best."
The rest of the evening back at the inn was quiet. Desmond and Elaine were able to keep Johanna's mind off the woman who forced the bag of sweets in her hand as they had their small dinner and enjoy and tried to relax for the rest of the evening before it was time for her to go to bed.
"Elaine? Could you assist me with something?" Desmond asked her.
"What do you need 'elp with?" Desmond held up a small, pale yellow container that looked to have a medical purpose, and Elaine recognised it as the stuff his doctor gave him for the burn wound he got on his back at the Azran sanctuary.
"I need you to help put this on my burn wound. Raymond normally helps but I forgot to ask him today so…"
"No problem, cher," Elaine said as she took the small container and unscrewed the lid. "Just lift your shirt or something."
Desmond complied, and after removing his jacket, he sat on his bed before unbuttoning his shirt, and taking it off so Elaine had a perfect view of his back. Taking some of the creamy goo from the container in her hand, Elaine began to gently rub it onto his back.
"It looks better than last time I saw it," Elaine commented. "Nearly all the blisters are gone I think. I suppose you won't be needing that skin graph then."
"We'll let the doctor decide, but I do hope you're right." Desmond replied.
"Good to know you're capable of wanting me to be right." Elaine clicked her tongue a few times. "I was thinking about your idea of the food being poisoned while it was still yet to be sold, and I was thinking that maybe when the day comes to a close and there are less people in the streets, that maybe the poison comes in contact with the food on stalls when the seller is packing the rest of their food up and not looking."
"That was something I was thinking of too, and it does have merit," Desmond said. "It would be rather difficult to find evidence to confirm this since the poisoner must be have some level of discretion. And there would still be the problem of how this happens in the cases of shops that would obviously be locked up."
"Skeleton key?" Elaine guessed.
"… I suppose, that could be the case. Assuming none of the shops have alarms."
When Elaine finished rubbing the cream on Desmond's back, she left the room briefly to wash excess cream off her hand before returning.
"So 'ow do you feel?" Elaine asked as she sat next to Desmond as he stretched his arms.
"Good. I feel good," he answered, in a slightly tired voice. "Thank you again." He leaned towards Elaine to give her a peck on her cheek.
"It was nothing," Elaine murmured before kissing his forehead. "Sleep well, okay?"
"I was going to say that to you, puppy."
