Ch. 15

Jean and Lucia hurried past Lord Taylor, who seemed engrossed in a book. He looked up at them briefly, smiled cordially, and nodded to them. Bobbing a quick curtsy, they entered Stecchin's room and shut the door.

Stecchin sat up in bed and grinned, squinting at them. "Oh good, you're back!"

"Here you are, miss," Jean said cheerily, setting down a silver tray with another glass of warm milk. She immediately grabbed the bottle of laudanum and proceeded to add several drops. Stecchin frowned and opened her eyes, blinking rapidly.

"Lucia?" she said. Lucia started and stood before her.

"Yes, miss?"

"You're from the Empire, right?"

Lucia blushed and looked at her feet. After a moment, she nodded.

"I knew it!" she said smugly. "You went by a different name back then, didn't you?"

Lucia gasped and looked up. "Do…do I know you?" she asked. Stecchin shook her head.

"No, but I believe you know my superior, Sub-Lieutenant Oreldo, and quite well at that!"

The young maid blushed even harder and said nothing.

"What?" Jean asked, lifting up the tray once more. "What is she talking about?" She looked at Lucia. "What is the meaning of this?"

"It's not what you think, Ma'am!" Lucia insisted. Jean looked at Stecchin and waited.

"Let's just say her previous profession was…quite different," Stecchin said. "She was…uh, in the entertainment business! Yeah, that's it!"

Jean looked at Lucia, dubious, unsure how to respond.

"Oh, but you needn't worry," Stecchin told Jean. She turned to Lucia, who was on the verge of tears, and grasped her hands.

"I need your help," she said. "Sub-Lieutenant Oreldo and the rest of my team are in grave danger. I need to go warn them."

"Nonsense!" Jean said, "Sergeant-Major, you're in no shape to go anywhere! Your team is fine! Why, I just saw them a minute ago!"

Stecchin glared at Jean with bleary eyes. She took a deep breath and tensed herself ready.

"Do you really want to know what nonsense is?" she asked. "I'll tell you-how much laudanum you gave me, that's what!"

Jean blanched. Lucia gasped, stared at her superior and slowly backed away.

Stecchin nodded deliberately. "You were the one who gave me the handkerchief with the poison in it. Now you're trying to drug me. A normal dose is only one or two drops at the most. I think you must have put half the bottle in my milk just now!"

Jean's eyes went flat and Stecchin knew she had only one chance. She hoped her instinct with Lucia was right. In a flash, she knocked the tray upwards, splashing Jean in the face. Before Jean could cry out, Stecchin stuffed a handkerchief in her mouth, and tried to pin her arms, recalling her self-defense training.

"Lucia, help me!" she hissed. She knew they couldn't be too loud, lest they alert Lord Taylor.

Lucia was frozen at first, watching the scene with her hands pressed to her mouth. After Stecchin called to her, she grabbed the bedside lamp and struck Jean over the head as hard as she could. It was a quick thump, but it was enough. Jean crumpled to the floor in a heap, unconscious. Releasing her, Stecchin stood, only to sway so badly Lucia hurried over to steady her.

"Wow, that actually worked!" Stecchin declared, proud of herself. "Wait until the guys hear about this!"

"What now?" Lucia asked.

Stecchin looked down at Jean's dress. It was soaked in milk, but it would have to do.

"Now we get me out of here so we can warn the team!"

Meanwhile, the team returned to the train in order to reach the region of Cavelia quickly. An hour later they arrived, stepping off as hundreds of people boarded, fleeing for safety. Lady Kavi changed her clothes while on the train. When she stepped out, Alice realized the Mad Minstrel was indeed a masterful chameleon. Behind the bedazzling colors and costumes was a clever and calculating mind. Fortunately, that mind preferred the direction of justice.

"I almost didn't recognize you," Alice said.

"Good, let's hope no one else does, either," Kavi replied with a wink.

"What's the plan?"

"Let me meet with my team and get an update, then we'll decide what to do!"

A short time later, Kavi led them to the fairgrounds where the ball was to be held. All of the decorations and many booths were set, and the team could see it was to be a magical event.

"Stay alert, Kavi whispered. "We haven't gone unnoticed. Make sure we're not followed."

Treading carefully, they made their way to the gazebo.

Oreldo and Martis brought up the rear.

"Do you trust her?" Oreldo asked, frowning.

"I don't think we have a choice at this point," Martis muttered.

"If she's leading us into a trap, I am so regretting ever spending the night with her."

"What?"

"Silence!" Alice hissed.

"Tell me you're joking!" Martis whispered.

"Okay, okay. I didn't do the deed, but…let's say she made me an offer I couldn't refuse."

Martis sighed in relief. Then she snapped up his head.

"Wait, what kind of deal?" he asked.

"Shut up, you two!" Alice said. "I won't tell you again!"

The team went silent as they reached the gazebo, which was covered in circus posters. Alice glanced over the various acts: Lion tamer, acrobats, fire-eaters…

She suddenly gasped aloud as Kavi knocked in a certain pattern on one of the walls. She whipped her head around, looked at Alice, and sighed, shaking her head.

"Damn, I wanted it to be a surprise," she muttered. A door suddenly appeared and she whispered to someone behind it.

Alice was rooted to the spot, speechless.

"Ma'am?" Oreldo whispered. Both he and Martis joined her. "What is it?"

Alice could only point to a poster they hadn't seen before. They looked, and both of their jaws dropped.

The poster held a single figure, masked and dressed like a wrestler. It read:

SEE THE AMAZING PHENOM WITH THE STRENGTH OF A DOZEN MEN! TODAY ONLY! FROM THE HAUNTING BATTLEFIELDS OF THE EMPIRE AND THE REPUBLIC OF FROST, THIS UNDEFEATED MONSTER WILL CRUSH ANY AND ALL NEWCOMERS! DO YOU DARE ENTER THE SQUARED CIRCLE WITH HIM? HE IS MASKED MAYHEM! THE SPECTACULAR SPECTRE! THE GRAY GHOST FOLLOWED BY THE HOUNDS OF HELL! HE IS:

GESPENSTER JAGER!