Ghosts of the Past
Sabine looked at the group of actors in front of her and folded her arms. Most of the Admirals Men were just that, men. Tredorian, while occasionally treading the boards, usually confined himself to creating the plays they performed. All of them were extremely attractive and Sabine found herself wishing with all her heart that her daughter had simply fallen in love with one of them. Unfortunately the actors were not supporting that hope.
"Your Majesty, we are rehearsing yes." Tredorian admitted. "And her Highness does come to the rehearsals. It is a small part but she attends as if it were like meat to her."
Sabine made a disgusted face. "Tredorian, please don't use titles because there are people to see. I am Sabine and my daughter is Asrai and you are our friend." She sighed. "When did these rehearsals start?"
"Only a few weeks ago." Tredorian told her. "In fact, Asrai hadn't even been assigned a part but she was showing up at the theatre as if she belonged there."
Sabine looked at them and shook her head. "Not since her play?" She asked quietly. Tredorian shook his head negatively. "Has she been acting strangely?"
Tredorian looked at Ned and the dark haired man sighed. "My Lady, your daughter is much preoccupied. And she acts as if she is hearing someone else speak to her. She has the air about her of one who is continually listening for direction, but dreamier."
Sabine nodded and fingered the parchment sitting on her desk. "This will not be repeated." She told them firmly. "And were I you, finding another place to rehearse would become my highest priority, until you are told otherwise. Should you need it I will arrange a hall for you at the Royal Court. The theatre is not the safest place for you right now."
Tredorian and Ned looked startled and the other actors made shocked murmurs of dismay but eventually they all nodded. "It will be as you say Lady." Tredorian said quietly.
The door to the study opened then and a familiar tall figure stepped in. Instantly the troupe of actors was on their knees. Amon looked at his wife. "My dear, are you attempting to broker a match for one of our daughters? Or should I be concerned?" From Tredorian's bowed head smothered sounds suspiciously like laughter rose and the king cast a sardonic glance at him. "You have something to say Tredorian?" He inquired.
Tredorian rose, his eyes twinkling merrily and grinned at the ruler of Cormyr. "I apologize my Lord. It was simply the thought of your lady betraying you was so preposterous. All know there is no one more loyal." He shook his head. "You have the timing of a player Sire, have you considered joining us?" He bowed gesturing to the Admirals Men.
Amon grinned at the playwright and strode forward to clasp his hand heartily. As he did so he heard one of the actors imploring someone to silence Tredorian's mouth before it got them all thrown in gaol. The king laughed outright and with a shake of his head beckoned for them to rise. "My daughter would never let me hear the end of it did I incarcerate her beloved Admirals Men." He told them as they rose. "And Tredorian need never fear saying what he thinks when he is with me. He tends to couch even the harshest of truths with a poets grace."
Tredorian grew serious as he looked at the king and then the queen. "I only wish I could grace the truth before us with something other than harsh reality." He said. "By your leave, we will begin searching out a hall."
Sabine nodded silently and with a chorus of flourishes the troupe took their leave. Amon turned to his wife and said quietly. "He hides it well but it is obvious that he is concerned. What have you discovered my love?"
Sabine gave her husband one last kiss and said simply. "Right now that's all we know. The Echoes are working on what is happening in the here and now."
Amon sighed. Of all the things to happen to his baby daughter. He shook his head. "I am understanding this correctly." He said slowly. "Our baby is being slowly possessed by the malevolent spirit of an actor who died over a hundred years ago? Because he wants to live again in the perfect woman?"
Sabine sighed. "Yes, that's about it." The queen pushed her hands into her hair and regarded her husband with dark eyes. "He's apparently tried this at least three times before that we know of. All of the women died. Asrai has lasted longer than most. She's stronger than we give her credit for apparently."
"How do we stop it?" Amon asked bluntly.
"That is what the Echoes are trying to discover." Sabine said simply. "We don't know yet."
Briar sat with Lorelei and looked at the princess. "So how are you doing?" The bard asked dryly.
The other girl rolled her eyes. "Well lets see, the wedding is almost completely organized, Dragon says he and Sebastian have everything set for the bride journeys, we've gotten our wedding gifts for them, and my two brothers still aren't speaking to each other. All things considered, I don't think I'm doing so well."
Briar sighed. "I know. I mean…" She looked at the other girl. "I want to marry Sebastian, more than I want anything in the world." Her dark green eyes fell to her hands twisted together in her lap. "But…"
Lorelei rested her head on Briar's shoulder mournfully and her sigh echoed her friends. "It's the 'but' that gets us." She said softly. "I have no other wish than to marry Dragon." She lifted her head and shrugged sorrowfully. "I just…"
"Neither one of us wants to say it." Briar muttered dryly. "But this atmosphere, the way things are still tense between Andreas and Sebastian." She lifted her hands and then let them fall heavily into her lap. "They still aren't talking even if your twin seems to be a bit better lately."
"He's closer to the way he used to be than he has been in years." Lorelei smiled fleetingly. "But he and Sebastian, while they were so different, were always united in their love of their family, and of Cormyr. Now its as if they don't have anything to say to each other." She shook her head.
Briar smiled wistfully down at her engagement ring. "I think that Sebastian is willing to speak to Andreas, but he has his pride as well. When he said he was wrong, an apology of sorts I believe, Andreas threw it back in his face." She looked up at Lorelei. "He's reluctant to apologize again I suppose because the same thing might happen, and he doesn't really feel that he should be making apologies for doing what he has to do."
Lorelei nodded her understanding. "I know. And my twin, while I think he understands that Sebastian felt he had no choice, still feels as if this is how things will always be. He loves Sebastian and he needs him. But he doesn't see that Sebastian needs him. He never has. It makes it hard for Andreas to approach Sebastian. It is pride too, and fear."
Briar shrugged. "And so we're back where we started, at the 'but'."
"Yes." Lorelei agreed. "That awful word, the one that begins the rest of the words neither of us wants to say."
"Yes." Briar whispered. "Do we want to get married under these circumstances?"
"What circumstances?" Dragon's growl asked from the doorway. "Exactly what is making you reconsider marrying me Lorelei?" He strode forward menacingly.
"Oh Nwyfan." Lorelei reached a hand up to take his. "Not reconsider…"
"Then explain what you meant." He demanded. "Because I don't like how that sounded at all. We are getting married the day before Higharvestide if I have to drag you to the altar in shackles little girl." His macabre voice was vibrating with fury and worry and under it all love for this slim princess. He turned his onyx gaze on Briar. "And if Sebastian heard you he'd throw you over his shoulder and carry you off to elope just so he could be sure you were his forever."
Briar smiled at the thought. "We don't doubt marrying." She explained softly. "We just don't want this aura of tension surrounding our wedding." Her gaze dropped and then she looked at her heart brother, her fingers touching the ring Sebastian had given her. "A month ago, when we thought about the wedding, we were only happy, and slightly daunted by all there was to still be done." She glanced at Lorelei.
"Now…" Lorelei sighed. "Well now the thought of marrying you still fills me with joy, when Briar and I think of the wedding, all we do is worry about whether or not Sebastian and Andreas will have bridged this chasm. Marrying is wonderful, but the wedding…under this cloud of anger and unhappiness…" her voice trailed off and she looked at Dragon hoping he understood what she meant.
"I've had enough of this farce." Dragon ground out the words. "I'm damned if the two of you are going to dread what is supposed to be the happiest day of your lives." Bending down he pressed his lips to Lorelei's in a brief possessive kiss. "Don't worry anymore. I'm going to put a stop to it." He turned and strode from the room.
"I hope he doesn't lose his temper." Briar worried aloud.
"No…I don't think he will." Lorelei replied absently, still reeling from the kiss. "But Nwyfan always keeps his word. I think we can stop worrying about the wedding being a disaster."
Faith knocked on the door and entered as the king's voice called, "Come in."
"You sent for me." The Watcher said in her husky voice as she took in the king sitting behind the desk and the queen leaning against the arm of his chair.
"Yes." Sabine said quietly. "I wanted to ask you where Asrai has been going these past couple of months." She looked at her husband. They were both fairly certain of what Faith would say but it was better to have their suspicions confirmed.
"She's had rehearsals." Faith replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Faith." Amon said gently. "We spoke with Tredorian. The rehearsals for his new play only started a couple of weeks ago."
Faith shook her head as if to clear her mind. A frown formed on her face and she rubbed her forehead trying to think of what Asrai had been doing at the theatre. "Then what were we doing at the theatre?" She asked in complete bewilderment. "That's where we've been going, I'd bet my life on it."
"Apparently you have been doing so." Sabine said wryly. "Faith in the past couple months you've been injured no less than six times, badly enough to require priestly healing. You and Asrai are in danger."
Faith's face grew dark as she tried to think of what had been going on. "Why can't I remember what's happened?" She asked frustration coloring her tones. "Its like someone has been rummaging around in my mind, stealing stuff." She looked from the king to the queen. "I know what you're telling me is the truth but I can't understand why I don't remember it in my head. And why do I feel like I'll forget again the minute you stop telling me this?"
"Sit down Faith, I think you'll want to when you hear this." Amon said gently. His sapphire eyes were dark with emotion as he considered that this girl he cared for as a daughter had been endangered. He knew his wife felt the same way, the only way they could love Faith, and it made them both rather protective even though she could face either of them in a fight and have a chance of winning. She wouldn't be his daughter's Watcher otherwise.
In a matter of fact voice Sabine explained what the Shadows and Echoes had learned about the theatre and its ghost, and its supposed intentions for Asrai. "We can only speculate how you were harmed. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time perhaps." The queen said softly. "All the other women were found alone. Perhaps you are the reason Asrai has remained alive for so long. But now that you know, we hope you will be able to keep your guard up."
Faith nodded with dark eyed determination. "Damn right I will." She snapped. "That thing isn't going to hurt Asrai if I can help it!"
"That's what we're counting on my dear." Amon nodded his approval.
"She's with her grandfather now." Faith said slowly. "What shall I tell her when she inevitably wants to go to the theatre afterward?"
"Tell her no." Sabine replied. "And back it up with a right hook to her jaw if she argues. Just keep her here." She looked at her husband. "I will send for her to join us for lunch, that will give her an hour or so after Faith tells her." Her husband nodded and Faith shook her head.
"I'll let you know if I have to knock her out." The dark girl said dryly as she rose to leave.
"I beg your pardon?" Sabine said in a soft voice. She looked up from her lute and regarded the footman with an amethyst gaze. "My youngest daughter cannot join me for luncheon?"
"She cannot be found your Majesty." The footman quailed under that look. "She is nowhere in the palace. One of the guards saw she and Lady Faith leaving by the east gate." He held out a note. "And one of the courtiers sends this to you."
Sabine broke the black seal and scanned the message. The content of the note made her go pale. Just discovered was the spirits ability to beguile women, even if they were aware of it, of how evil it was, it could make them forget. It had no power over men however. "Tears of Night!" Sabine swore. "Fetch my sons, I don't care what they are doing, bring them now."
The footman nodded and left the room with barely graceful haste.
Andreas turned as Dragon came up behind him. On soundless feet, even in leather boots, Sebastian turned the hall corner and walked up to them. Dragon grinned. "Just the men I want to see. We have to talk."
"Mother just sent for the two of us." Sebastian told him. "So if I can hear you over the ringing in my ears after she's smacked our heads together I'll be happy to talk to you."
"Both of you?" Dragon asked incredulously.
Andreas shrugged. "After the lecture I got the other day I'm not about to argue." He muttered.
Dragon found it interesting that even though the two brothers were walking side by side they still did not look at each other for more than a few seconds and spoke only to him, never directly to each other.
"You're being ridiculous." He told them just as they arrived at the Royal suite.
"I couldn't agree more." Sabine said as she jerked the door open. "Dragon please come in as well. I didn't think to send for you but I'm glad you're here." Dragon nodded and followed the two brothers into the sitting room. "Don't bother to sit." She told her sons. "You won't be here long enough to get comfortable."
Sebastian stood folding his arms and regarding his mother curiously. His older brother clasped his hands behind his back and waited. When their father entered the room they glanced at him and involuntarily exchanged a look of surprise at the grim worried look upon his face.
"We've had enough." Sabine said crisply. "We've all been so distracted by what's been going on between the two of you that a situation has developed with your baby sister."
"What's wrong with Asrai?" Sebastian frowned unconsciously.
"Shut up and listen." Amon snapped. "Your sister is being slowly possessed by a ghost, a spirit of the theatre. It's already killed several women over the past hundred years. Now it wants your sister. It wants to live again, to live through her." Briefly he explained the ghost's history with the theatre.
"Sweet Maiden." Dragon swore in a soft growl.
Sabine nodded. "Now I don't care if you two have resolved your differences or not." She told them. "You two are going to get your sister and Faith and you're going to destroy that ghost. I know you can do it, you just need to work together." She rolled her eyes. "And that is something you don't have much practice with these days."
Amon grimaced. "This has been going on since Asrai's play but apparently it's a very subtle possession, and because of the wedding and then our concern for the two of you, its gone unnoticed until very recently." He shook his head. "Break out your best weapons. Dragon, I'd bring that big sword of yours. But go now and stop this thing."
"Something tells me we don't have much time." Sabine told them. "Asrai's lasted longer than the other women but she can't resist it forever. She probably thinks she's in love with it, and it with her. It's an insidious ghost apparently." Her voice was strained. "It has power over women, we just learned that today, after we'd let Faith go back to guard your sister. The ghost can make Faith forget everything we told her that would put her on her guard. And it has been Faith who has been coming back with injuries. It must be trying to kill her so it has no one to interfere with its possession of Asrai."
Andreas swore softly and turned to his brother. "Any ideas about how we can kill something already dead?" The Crown Prince asked wryly.
Sebastian grinned. "We'll think of something." He said. "Hopefully before we get to the theatre." Contrary to his cheerful words and face his eyes were dark with concern.
Dragon cleared his throat. "Actually, I think I know a way." One corner of his mouth jerked upwards in a smile. "But in order for it to work, Asrai and Faith can't be affected by the spirit. I mean it can't be trying to possess them."
"So our job is to get them out of there, break its influence." Andreas summarized.
Sebastian looked at his brother. "You take Asrai, I take Faith?"
Andreas grimaced, "Better you than me."
"I'll meet you at the theatre. I need to fetch something in order to do this properly." Dragon said and strode quickly from the room.
Sabine looked at her two sons and then at their father. Amon moved to wrap his arms around her, knowing his wife was acutely conscious that she was risking two of her children in order to save another. "We expect both of you in one piece." He said firmly. "Lorelei and Briar would never let us hear the end of it if something happened to you."
Without a word, the two brothers hurried back to their rooms. It wasn't more than a minute or so before Sebastian was knocking on Andreas' door. It was jerked open to reveal the Crown Prince belting on his sword. Both of them had exchanged their rather formal clothing for something less conspicuous. "If we leave by your rooms we'll come out a bit farther along than the east gate." The younger brother suggested.
Andreas nodded. "I just hope it doesn't take Dragon to long to get whatever it is he needs." He did a quick check of his weapons and raised his eyebrows at Sebastian's look. "You're not the only one who carries daggers up their sleeves."
"I should hope not." Sebastian retorted mildly, he moved to the secret door and noted the lack of dust. "You've been getting a lot of use out of this I see."
His older brother's mouth jerked into a wry quick grin. "It seems more discreet than sneaking down to Maggie's room." He would have picked up a small lantern inside the passage but Sebastian shook his head.
"We both have infravision, do you think we'll need something else to carry back?" He asked.
"You're right, we won't be entering this way will we." Andreas set the lantern down and let the door slide shut behind him. "Let's go."
TBC