Page 56 of Lady's Steed
But, alas, he didn’t. She found nothing of interest, simply invoices for work done on the fountain and road. A ledger showing taxes collected. A half-written poem that appeared to be an ode to someone’s breasts.Thy bountiful bosom of delight, to rest my head every night.
Discouraged, Avera wandered in and out of the other rooms. One the marquis had shared with his wife, the bed large and covered in a warm quilt. Another chamber must have belonged to a young boy, judging by the tin soldiers on the floor. Another seemed girlish with all of its pink hues.
Avera trailed her fingers on the comforter embroidered with flowers only to pause as she felt a ridge. Pulling back the cover, she found a notebook. She flipped it open and the first wordswere written in large letters:Don’t Read. That means you, Kevin.
Avera went to put it back when Josslyn entered. “What did you find?”
“Someone’s diary.”
“Oh, how intriguing. What’s it say?”
“I can’t read it,” Avera exclaimed. “It’s private.”
“The owner is gone, and for all you know, they might have written something to explain what happened.” An impatient Josslyn yanked it from her grip. “Since you’re reluctant, I’ll do it.” She flipped immediately to the last page and blanched.
“What? What is it?” Avera asked.
“The last line says, ‘I doubt any of us will live ‘til morning.’” Josslyn flashed the book and showed the sloppy scrawl that didn’t match the neat, tight lines on the opposite page.
“What else did she write?” With her curiosity piqued, Avera lost her qualms about reading it.
“Let’s go back a bit and see.” Josslyn flipped several pages before reading aloud. “‘I met with Johnny again in the barn.Mother would be appalled if she knew, and father would most likely run him out of town. They don’t understand. We’re in love.’”
“That’s not exactly helpful,” Avera noted.
“Hold on, there’s more. ‘We parted with a kiss just as a strange mist rolled over the town. A good thing I was close to the house for I couldn’t see a thing. Poor Johnny, I hope he managed to find his way home and didn’t bump his face on any walls. Although if he does, I shall kiss his injury better.’”
Avera pursed her lips. “A girl sneaking out to meet a boy and seeing some fog doesn’t explain what happened.”
“Don’t be so sure, listen to this.” Josslyn cleared her throat. “‘I snuck out to see Johnny last night again, even though I hate having to hide our love. Father doesn’t approve of him.A marquis’ daughter should aim to marry a lord, he says. Mother has asked, what lord, for we live at the end of the world. Or so it feels. No one comes here because of the spire. They are scared. I don’t know why. It can be quite beautiful. Off to see my love.’” A pause then, Josslyn murmured, “‘Johnny never showed. Apparently, he never went home after our tryst. Father has arranged search parties for he's not the only one missing. Letty and little Bryon have gone missing too. The mist yester eve must have turned them around.’”
“Sounds as if some people got lost in the fog which explains a few missing folks, not all of them,” Avera mused aloud.
“Except the mist kept returning.” Josslyn pointed to the journal. “‘The mist has been creeping down the mountain every night, and every morning more people are gone. Father has put out a notice that everyone is to be inside before nightfall and to shutter all the doors and windows. Johnny is still missing. I fear the worst. I am so tired, but not just from searching. I didn’t sleep well last night. Mother kept me up, pacing and muttering about someone singing outside. She accused me of lying when I said I couldn’t hear it. I wonder if that rabbit she cooked might have spoiled.’”
“Sounds as if her mother was hallucinating,” Avera murmured. “But if it were the food, wouldn’t they all have been affected?”
“It does seem odd only her mother heard things.”
“Is there more?”
Josslyn nodded. “The next bit is a bit harder to read. The ink smeared as if she were crying. ‘The mist rose suddenly in the middle of the afternoon. I was inside when it hit, peeling potatoes for dinner. Father was in his office, but mother was delivering some soup to the families that lost people. She never returned. So many disappeared, as if the fog ate them. I don’t understand what’s happening. I’m scared.’”
Chewing on the tip of her thumb, Avera paced. “I’ve never heard of a mist that steals people.”
“I’ve never heard of a whole town disappearing, and yet here we are.”
Avera glanced outside at the sunlight waning as the afternoon crept to dusk. “Should we fetch Gustav? He needs to know.”
“Knowing him, he won’t leave us alone for long. But I am thinking we need to find a secure room, one where this mist can’t enter.”
“Is there one? After all, the marquis and the one who penned the diary are gone. Did they manage to escape?”
“They tried. Listen to the next bit. ‘Father has told everyone to leave. Less than a third of us remain. Where will we go? This is my home. He says we must only bring what we can carry, but how do I choose? If only the horses were still in the stable, but they, too, are gone. Perhaps it would be better to join them. I miss my mother.’”
“It took the animals. But where are the bodies? The bones? This doesn’t make sense.”
“Could it be related to why your mother told you to visit?”