"So how does it look, master?"

Coming out of her sleep, Elaine didn't immediately open her eyes. She stayed still on her side as she laid in the bale of hay that was her bed for the night. If she remembered correctly, the horses and cart weren't too far away from her, but she could clearly hear talks between Descole and Raymond over the occasional horsey grunt of twittering bird from outside.

"Her translation seems accurate and some of it more or less matches up to what I was able to find."

"And the ruins? Henry Ledore apparently found the treasure inside." Henry Ledore? That name sounded familiar. Didn't Elaine's cousin Madeline work for him?

"He only found the diversion. That doesn't mean he found the Mask of Order. Chaos, perhaps. Though I still have suspicion about it." Mentioning of the Mask of Chaos peaked Elaine's interest (it was an artefact no archaeologist could not know about) but she remained still as possible. She couldn't say whether the conversation would continue the way it was if she stayed awake.

"So does that mean we'll go to the Akbadain ruins then, Master?" Descole didn't answer to Raymond's question right away. More than likely thinking through some things.

"… I'm not entirely sure, to be honest." Elaine felt some mild sense of surprise. Descole not so sure of something? It seemed a bit unbelievable at first. "Mr. Ledore could have found both Masks somehow, but kept quiet about the Mask of Order."

"Didn't you say there may have been a mention of the lad who died at the ruins having the Mask of Chaos with him though?"

"If he did then not only did he loose a rare find, but may as well have inadvertently held back our plans!" Descole muttered.

"But yet, there's a Mask of Chaos in Monte d'Or?"

"Which makes even less sense." There was a pregnant pause. "… No one has actually looked into the chasm he fell down. If we came back with the right tools and material, we may be able to see what is at the bottom. Or better yet, get someone else to do it and just make sure they understand clearly that they are not to breathe a word. Either way, if we're lucky we may find the mask. Hopefully still intact." Honestly, Elaine could have gone either way. If climbing down a chasm into an unknown abyss wasn't part of it, Elaine would have liked to go into the ruins.

"Whether or not we find the mask, you may still need to check the Ledore home in case the Mask of Order is there." Raymond pointed out. Descole bitterly grumbled.

"I'm fully aware of that."

"Then will you be needing one of your disguises?" Another silence between the two. Elaine suddenly felt Descole's eyes on her and made extra sure to stay still and not change her breathing pattern as she heard him stand up and walk in her direction be he knelt down by her side leaving her back faced him. She struggled not to react in reflex as she felt his hand brush against her cheek delicately, though she still flinched a bit. Luckily, Descole seemed to take this as a natural reflex while sleeping.

"I can't say yet. Though, I did find out some interesting information while I was… 'playing', with Ms. Hawthorne before bringing her back. She has a cousin working for the Ledore's. Henry's assistant I believe. And there is quite a resemblance between the two except for some differences. It might be of use." Descole mused.

Elaine felt incredibly uneasy. It was bad enough she was held captive without anyone else in her family being dragged down with her. Something like that happening was one of her concerns after she had gotten away the first time. But, Descole surely wouldn't do anything like that… Right? He… He didn't do anything during then, why now?

"But we'll wait until after we find out what is at the bottom of the chasm."

"Sir, if you don't mind me asking. Assuming that in the very end you succeed-."

"I WILL succeed!" Descole cut across Raymond's words sharply.

"Of course, but what will you do with Ms. Hawthorne then? You… won't harm her, will you?" Elaine noted the traces of concern in his voice and felt appreciation towards the Scottish butler.

"Hmp! I don't plan to kill her, ever, if that's what you're implying. You almost make it sound as if we're part of Targent." Descole spat that name out like it was a worse combination then sour lemons and poison. But the name struck out as odd to Elaine. What or who was 'Targent'? Did it have something to do with money? The 'argent' part of the word was French for such (as well as Latin for silver if she was correct) so it made sense. At least, from Elaine's point of view.

"I didn't mean it like that, master. I was just wondering what exactly will happen to her in the end?" Descole's silence only made Elaine nervous. What would happen to her in the end?

"… I won't kill her. That's for definite. Besides that, I can't say for certain. Perhaps I could let her go then. Perhaps never. But the end is still faraway. I'd rather focus on the present.

"Why do you care anyway? If you don't mind me asking?"

"… Johanna would like Ms. Hawthorne, I think." Descole's hand tensed, being the only thing that remind Elaine that it was had still been stroking her cheek. Who was Johanna?

"… What exactly do you mean by that, Raymond?"

"Just an… observation, master."

"Raymond, please don't… don't talk as if I've gotten Johanna back. I…" Descole clenched his fist, but not before Elaine could just feel his hand tremble just a bit.

"Apologies, master. Though, Lucy would have liked you to move on."

Descole grumbled back something Elaine couldn't make out, though she could hear him move away from her just a little. "Just… Just get the horses ready."

"Are you going to wake Ms. Hawthorne?"

"… No real point in waking her up now." Elaine heard Raymond walk away, and prepare the horses for another long trip back to Descole's home.

It had been worth pretending to be asleep. Elaine found some information out, even if it was just as confusing. With the mention of this 'Targent', it made Elaine wonder if there was something bigger at play. She did have an inkling lately that there was more to Descole's plans then just glory. If so, what exactly was Descole's connection to it if any? Probably not a good one if any.

And this, 'Johanna'?

Thinking over the evidence she already had, it seemed clear. Thinking of the picture of Lucy, Johanna was highly likely her daughter. That much, Elaine was certain she could confirm. As for their connection to Descole, it seem to point in the direction of wife and daughter. Though she couldn't necessarily scratch out any other kind of relative.

Strange though, that the idea of Descole having a wife (maybe still, though the way Descole spoke likely not anymore), somehow caused a stone to drop on her stomach, and a type of stinging sensation in her torso.