Story The Linder Legacy (Complete)

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 22

"Hush Widow. I don't want to wake the house."

I nodded and then nearly rounded on him with a smack but he caught my hand. "I suppose I did tell you that you could throw something at me but perhaps you wouldn't mind waiting for a little longer to collect. Besides, I brought you back that fang I took while we were in the rail car."

I took it from his hand and then backed away, quickly strapped it to my wrist and pulled my cuff back down to conceal it. He silently asked me to come with him. We passed out of the staff area and then out into the grounds before he said, "I want you to carry that fang with you at all times and stay alert. I'm going to escort you to the Dower House tonight but unfortunately I may not always be available to do so."

"I assure you Sheriff I'm not nearly as helpless as you seem to insist on thinking."

"If I thought you helpless you'd already be moved lock, stock, and barrel into the Hall proper and hang tradition, propriety, status, and everything else. This situation is growing preposterous. We've enemies and yet they give no real clue why they feel so."

"Your brother is The Linder and he is the Guardian, for some that will be reason enough. And right now, pardon my bluntness but you are, as a whole, projecting a weakness."

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"A wise man reminded me not too long ago that pride goeth before a fall. Do not let your pride blind you to reality the way I was doing with Fan and Rom. You may be temporarily projecting weakness but that does not need to mean that you are.I know it is frustrating."

"To put it mildly."

"Look at this as an oppotunity. If it is indeed the case that my husband brought weakness to the Guardianship, use this time to ferit it out, clean out the infection, and heal the wound. Not only is that your brother's moral obligation but the whole of Tentuckia will be stronger for it and strength will bring greater opportunities for all to prosper."

After a moment he said, "You should have made a strong Guardian's wife."

"I was nothing but a child."

"You're not much older now."

"I suppose it depend on how you look at it. Perhaps the pages in the calendar have not turned that often but there are days when I feel ancient."

Quietly he said, "I'm sorry I haven't made any headway in the concern you brought to me earlier."

He surprised me by bringing it up. "Actually Sheriff ... though I know how it is going to sound ... I have some information on that for you."

He stopped and scowled. "What."

"I relayed the Doctor's condition to the staff who were waiting up ... and there were more than a few of both established and new staff which lets me know as nothing else can that he is well regarded ... when I noticed Mr. Holman in their number." I continued the telling, ending with Alyce's innocent revealing of who brought the tonic each day.

At the Sheriff's scowl I said again, "I know how it sounds. Mrs. Kinsey and I did not get off on the right foot but ..." I shook my head. "Perhaps I am simply tired and jumping at shadows."

The Sheriff remained a silent, scowling statue. Then he growled. "No, but whether Mrs. Kinsey is the viper or not she is a place to start."

"I'm sorry."

He glanced my way and asked, "For what?"

"I know she was a long time staff at your father's holding."

"Long time? No ... well ... about ten years I suppose but the Housekeeper we had before her was with the family for nearly thirty. She was effecient and Dwen appreciated that as her position sometimes made things difficult. Kinsey isn't anyone I had much dealings with as I was at university and training and beyond that was in the Guards."

"I hesitate to ask but is there any way to check her background?"

"Already in progress after the way she behaved this morning. When I spoke to James about it he insisted. And I will speak to John but ..."

"I understand. Thank you for taking the time ... and for taking the time to walk me here. Watch your feet. The woodpile is a mess. I ..."

A shadow loomed up and I saw it raise something over its head. I screamed and pushed the Sheriff to the side and ducked and the club narrowly missed us. The Sheriff was up and on the man in an instant and that's when I saw the second one coming. I stumbled backwards doing the exact thing I had warned the Sheriff not to and trod on the hem of my skirt. I heard it tear as I tripped and to catch my balance I grabbed at what was close.

What was close was the handle of the axe I had buried in the stump by the woodpile. I wrenched it out and began defending myself. The man came too close and got caught by the blade. He screamed as blood poured from the jagged cut in his arm. I swung again, unwilling to give up the advantage but the man scrambled back and ran away.

Or should I say tried to run away. Several Regional Guards showed up on the run, brought by my scream. At about that same moment the Sheriff landed a satisfyingly crunchy right hook to the other man's jaw and he fell as hard as a hammer.

"Widow! Are you alright?"

"Yes, yes but if you will excuse me I believe ..." I ran to the bushes and barely made it in time not to embarrass myself though what I did was bad enough.

I almost refused to turn around but when he put my hand on his arm I allowed him to escort me inside. He tried to light the gas lamps but they wouldn't come on. "Damn."

"I don't need the light."

"Well I do. I'll make sure someone comes over and finds out the reason for this."

"The valve outside has rusted. I saw it this morning. I've already placed a work order but told them it wasn't an emergency. I've lived with candles and oil lamps my entire life except for the few months I was here. Not even the college had gas lights." I knew I was blathering and so did he but he was kind enough not to point it out.

"Allow me to send for someone from the Hall. I'll ..."

"No. The last thing most of the staff need is to be running around in the damp and cool night. There has been quite enough upset for one evening." I stood up, lit a taper, and used the taper to light a branch of stubby candles on the kitchen table. "There."

I looked up to find him staring. "And you ask me which side my insanity comes from?"

"Nat showed me a book once that had written in it something to the effect that to view the world as sane we must all be insane."

"You need to find your bed Widow. I believe you have what is diagnosed is past cases as overset nerves."

He insisted on looking through the house and then checking all the windows and doors before leaving.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 23

Overset nerves or not I could not just "find my bed" as the Sheriff had suggested because I still had no bed. In fact I hadn't even had time to unpack any of my clothing beyond what had been in the satchel I took on the train and that needed more than a shake out and sponge bath. I needed more than a sponge bath for that matter. The last few hours had reminded me of that fact rather forcefully. All of the running around during the heat of the day, then cleaning up the good doctor, and then the brawl with the ne'er do well ... I had sweated through my black cotton blouse several times and, despite it being one of the most expensive items left over from the widow's wardrobe chosen for me at my husband's death it was beginning to show wear and now it had salt rings.

After filling the downstairs bathing container with fresh, cold water I divested myself of all my outter wear and set it to soak. I added a little vinegar from a supply I found in the main pantry and hoped that would be enough to keep the black from staining. I did not want to have to spend anymore of the stipend that I was contracted for than necessary, certainly not on clothing when I already had a case full.

Just relieving myself of the blouse and skirt made me feel better but if I wanted to truly be clean I would need to dig out my clean underclothing and bathe which I proceeded to do with relish. Even my hair I am ashamed to say required several buckets of water and vigorous scrubbing to get the final load of coal dust out. My effort made my scalp tingle and the vinegar rinse I used at the end made it tingle a little more than was comfortable. In the future I will be more cautious if I ride the rail and keep my hair under a solid snood or chappone. As it is I have decided to use a crocheted snood to capture my hair over the next few days until I can find the time to iron the curls into proper behavior. Braids may have sufficed while I lived in Harper and kept mostly to myself but for everyday wear in company they make me appear far too young and I will need all the maturity I can get in my current position, so a snood it will be ... and black to match the rest of my ensemble.

Unfortunately my clothing trunk I discovered to be at the bottom of a stack that was too heavy for me to move. I berated myself for not having left clearer instructions and wondered what to do when I glanced in the direction of Ceena and Tonya's bedrooms. It certainly wasn't my first choice but Ceena and I, though over two decades different in age, were much the same size. Resolutely I headed to her lair to see if there was anything left that I could use.

In the pale light afforded by the candle lantern I held I could see the room was in disarray but not badly so. But it did bother me that no one had tidied up at all before closing the house down. It bespoke of two possibilities. Either so many had been ill they hadn't even been able to take care of the most common of courtesies for the dead; or, the courtesies were intentionally ignored for some reason. The first was upsetting, the second rather sad.

Seeing no clothespress in the room I stepped over to one of two doors. The first opened onto a room which was an indoor privy that needed serious cleaning. I didn't even want to imagine what all the filth was from as it made me feel like I needed another bath. But it also explained the slightly sour odor that the bedroom had. The other door led to a small room that had another door which led into Tonya's sleeping chamber. It too was in disarray though not as much as Ceena's.

The small room itself was a changing room and I shook my head at the wasted luxury of all I saw. It was like being in a room full of fancy black crows. There was no way that they could have possibly worn half of what was hanging since in full mourning socializing was very much frowned upon. Shaking my head at the unexpected foolishness, especially after remembering the scene they had made with the Guardian's secretary over the coin being spent on my own funeral garments, I reached out and took down a couple of the plainest blouses and skirts to piece out what I had in my satchel until I could get to my own clothing trunk. Looking at my barefeet I turned and grabbed a pair of half boots from what was obviously Tonya's side of the room. My figure may have been much like Ceena's but my feet were far larger than the two dainty knobs she had been proud to call feet. Thank goodness Tonya's shoe size was more reasonable. I also added to my pile a pair of what appeared to be never-used house slippers and two pairs of stockings.

I felt like a pirate with all my booty but I was taught the dead had better things to think of than the disposal of their earthly goods so ghostly superstition didn't bother me in the least. To be honest I could have cared less if the two harridans were spinning in their graves at the thought of me getting some benefit from what they could no longer use. There is a point that compassion and commonsense must meld and Nat, nor any other that raised and educated me, would have accepted that a whole room of clothes was to go to waste over outsized sensibilities.

Since the bath had re-energized me somewhat I carried the clothing to a small room off the kitchen which would have been allocated to a domicile staff person but which Mizz Marta had said had never been filled. They had taken their meals with the family until their banishment and after it they had taken most of their meals al fresca in the garden gazebo, waited on by Hall staff or Mrs. Kinsey. After illness struck Linderhall they became one of the first to fall ill and pass.

Laying my burden down I pulled on a lightweight robe and decided to investigate the house more thoroughly than I had up to that point. I started at the top and worked my way down. The third floor was completely empty and barely touched by anything but time. There were cracks in the walls, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling, and serious scuffs in the floor. I'd never been inside while I was married so have no idea if the damage pre-existed the redecoration by Ceena and Tonya or was more recent. The second floor was comprised of six bedrooms and one full bath and three indoor privies. I shook my head over the potential problems such luxuries could bring, the waste of water being only the first of many. Two of the bedrooms belonged to my sister wives but the other four looked meant for guests as they were decorated finely but had absolutely no personality and everything was covered in dust sheets to save on cleaning.

The first floor consisted of an entryway and cloak room, a main dining room that could sit sixteen - and why they would have such a long table set when they never ate in the house themselves was a mystery of arrogance - a smaller room likely meant for breakfasts and meals with fewer guests, the kitchen, a sitting room and music room which could be opened up by way of sliding panels to make one larger entertainment area, two indoor privies and another full bath, and finally a library that also appeared to be meant as a small office.The whole of the downstairs save the kitchen and staff room was decorated handsomely rather than frilly showing considerable good taste. Having spent time with my sister wives I shouldn't have been surprised but somehow I was. I thought their efforts in the Hall were for the Guardian's pleasure alone but it would appear that it was their own pleasure they were tending when such purchases were made.

Looking around me for some reason the memory of a row that had occurred when Ceena and Tonya had found out that The Linder had hired a comportment teacher for me flickered through my mind. It had been terrible and Ceena had slapped me and Tonya had kicked me so hard I could barely walk. I don't know who carried the tale to our husband but the doors and windows shook with the shouting of the three of them. Nothing else was ever said and he'd barely looked at me for a month. But the comportament teacher did come and between her and Mizz Marta my life became somewhat livable again. I shook my head. Neither of my sister wives ever struck me again but they tried to make my life as close to hell as they could manage in other ways; like with their gossiping and turning the neighbors against me.

Strange, the memories no longer had any power to depress me even though I was back at Linderhall and living under the roof of a house they had claimed as their own. And since they didn't depress me I decided to ignore the memories for a while. I was beginning to get tired again but after looking around the kitchen more thoroughly I knew I needed to take a good look in the pantry and go down to the cellar.

The kitchen was devoid of anything of practical use. I don't know if it is because Ceena and Tonya had not got around to acquiring the appropriate inventory or if they figured they never would need to because they would eventually be moving back into the Hall. Either way it was a good thing I had my own housegoods or I'd have been begging Mrs. Cooksey for a few of her pots and pans. There wasn't even any cutlery or dishware in the cabinets which seemed very strange and I made a note to ask Mizz Marta if it had been removed prior to the house being closed up.

The pantry was another matter. There were a few basic staples but nothing of any substance. That I could understand. Neither Ceena nor Tonya kept up their housewifery skills and in fact looked down in distain at anyone that did despite being able to afford staff for those purposes. As much as the idea of it bothered me I was going to have to go to Market and acquire a few things ... more than a few things.

Then I went down to the cellar and met a challenge. The door was locked. Not just locked but padlocked. Thankfully I had run across the ring of housekeys while searching for matches the first night and was able to retrieve them. It took several tries but I finally found the right one and got the door open.

It was pitch dark so I had to walk completely in for my lantern to do much more than keep me from tripping. The first thing I found was a well stocked wine cellar. No surprise there as both sisters considered themselves connoseurs and drank for the sheer pleasure, or so they said. Once beyond the wine racks I did nearly drop the lantern. I was sure I had found at least some of what the Chancellor had thought was missing.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 24

I didn't get a wink of sleep. I must have stood simply staring at what I had found for long minutes as I finally had to lower the lantern because my hand was going to sleep. Then I stood for long minutes more trying to decide what to do. Did I turn, lock the door, and go to the Chanellor? The Sheriff? Did I wait until The Linder returned and report it directly to him? Staying silent crossed my mind but I knew I couldn't do it, the guilt would drive me mad.

I checked the time and found it was well beyond midnight and decided that if it had waited this long to be discovered it could wait a few more hours. I circled the room several times before finding what I was looking for. It appeared to be an oddly placed decoration which was why it stood out. Someone had tried to hide it behind a shelf but I had been looking and recognized it for what it was. I turned the decoration and behind it was a key hole. I was sure the key could not be far away ... but I was wrong. I ultimately found it in Ceena's make up table drawer carelessly tossed into a container of loose earrings. Finding it there was nearly as shocking as fining it at all, considering what it was.

Back down to the cellar I went and put the key in the lock and turned. The door was so craftily concealed that it could not be seen until it was opened. I proped the door open and taking my lantern - and a fresh candle in my pocket - I followed the passageway until it reached a point where it branched in several other directions. Having been told of this spot though never having been here before I knew where I was. The junction of tunnels led to a series of conduits that emptied out into Linderhall at various levels and into different rooms. My head swam with possibilities.

I returned to the cellar, locked the passage, and secured the cellar. Turning the key over in my hand I finally admitted that what I held was the Master Key and would open all of the locks on all of the secret passages and rooms in the Hall. A dangerous item indeed were it to fall into the wrong hands. And one that should never have been off the Guardian's keyring. The fact that it was here could mean many things but my head ached too bad to name them all.

I made a list of the few items that I had seen and could put a name to. Several were Linder family heirlooms. A few of them were museum artifacts from before the Days of Destruction; things called cameras and data devices and the like are on display in the Linder family's private museum, there's even some highly prized maps and mechanical pictures that escaped The Burning.

I didn't touch any of the items on the shelves but I did note that there was a chest that looked very like the one that the lawyer had taken my circles out of before handing them to me in a rice paper envelope. There were a couple of cases that could have held jewelry or something similar but I can't be sure. I have a tight rein on my curiosity as I have no wish for suspicion to turn my way.

After making the list I just sat. I know that sounds assinine but it is what I did. I could have used my time more constructively - and frankly should have - but I didn't so there. Instead I watched the window and at the first sign of lightning of the sky I threw on my cloak and headed to the Hall.

I was stopped twice on my way there and was nearly taken for questioning by a Regional Guard who didn't believe who I was if I hadn't mention Ronald Nealy.

A few moments later an irritated voice from behind me said, "So you'll mention my cousin's name but not mine?"

I looked at the Sheriff and he at me. Rather than respond to his crankiness which even Guard Nealy - who had walked up with him - was caught by surprise by his tone I said slowly and carefully, "I need to speak with the Chancellor."

After a brief moment he nodded, took my arm, and we walked in silence to the Hall. But rather than go through the staff entrance as I had planned he took me through another side entrance occasionally used by the family. He pulled me into a dark, unused room and asked, "What is wrong?"

I sighed. "You will take this as I do not trust you and that is not the case but ... oh, botheration." I was so tired and out of sorts my hands were balled into fists.

"Sit."

"I cannot. If I do I will likely fall over and ..." I gathered my shredded nerves together and repeated, "I need to speak to the Chancellor."

"Can I be there?"

I shrugged. It wasn't my place to tell him where he could be and where he couldn't be. "It should be in his office and not in his personal quarters."

"Very well."

Eventually both men stood before me and I scowled, unsure how to begin.

"Widow ... Leeda," the Sheriff asked beginning to show great concern. "What has you this overset. I've never seen you at a loss for words."

"That is because this time words ... oh for heavens sake, if I hang then I hang. I wish The Linder was here, this would be so much easier."

"Then it is a good thing that I am."

I jumped and had to cover my mouth with my hand to keep my scream was seeking to escape.

"Sorry Widow."

I cleared my throat and said, "Don't speak falsehoods, I don't need them. More than likely you were going to eavesdrop since I was acting so suspiciously. And don't tell me, I'm not sure I want to know how you got here from the Vanburen's so quickly ... or ... or did you ever leave? Never mind, it's none of my business. Let us get this other done first."

All three men looked at me expectantly. I took the master key from my pocket and handed to The Linder.

"What's this?"

"I beg your pardon?" I asked having expected furious anger and got instead mild curiosity.

"This key. What is it?"

I nearly fainted. I found myself sitting on a poof with my head between my knees.

"Widow? Leeda?"

I glanced up and looked at the Sheriff and whispered, "May God above protect you lot until someone imparts some sense into your skulls. Have you no idea at all what that is?!"

The Linder was turning the key over in his hand and said, "Obviously not."

"May angels watch over you. Guardian ... that is the Master Key. There isn't a secret passage or room that I know of that that will not open."

Now I had there attention. "And do you know where I found it? In Ceena's earring box ... and not her good earrings either by the look of them." Outrage began to pour through me in response to all the worried I had gone through during the night. "And do you know why I went looking for a key?!"

"Easy Widow," the Chancellor cautioned. "Your voice is getting a bit loud."

I closed my eyes and tried to calm down but was only mildly successful. I stood up and began to pace. Finally in a quieter and more respectful tone I said, "I could not sleep after the ... the two back to back incidences. I tried a little unpacking and that didn't work so I thought I would look over the Dower House to see what work I needed to do. I started at the top and worked my way down."

"And does that have bearing?"

"In a sense because it explains why it was so late and why I did not try and contact the Chancellor sooner. I was concerned about creating a noticeable situation and this is going to require tact ... probably more than I am capable of generating."

The Sheriff took me by the arm and guided me to a sofa. "Sit Leeda," he said in a quiet command. "We aren't going to bite your head off."

"Hah! Don't tell me what a Linder is going to do. I know all too well what you are capable of. And after everything that has been happening and ... argh."

I sat all in a flounce. "If you're going to hang me at least make sure the hangman is an expert and I don't have to suffer."

"That is nothing to joke about," the Chancellor snapped.

"I'm not joking," I told him quietly.

The Linder looked at me and for the first time I realized here might be a good Guardian afterall. "Tell your tale."

I nodded. "The house ... frankly by the time I was getting around to the cellar I was more than slightly irritated at some unusual aspects of what I had found but they don't bear directly on what I found but yet may have some interest and I'll tell the Sheriff later if he wants to hear them. It is once I got to the cellar ... I was fatigued but determined so when I found it padlocked I was just ... frankly I was just cranky enough that I refused to let such a thing stop me. And I didn't because I had found the housekeys the night before. I opened the padlock, which now that I think about it is in much better condition than several of the other locks on and in the house which may be important. First thing I noticed upon entering was how well stocked the wine cellar was but that is typical of the sisters. They could drink like horses but only the most expensive of brands. The thing I notice was that not all of the labels were from the Linder Vineyard. And several bottles are very old and like nothing I've ever seen."

The three men looked at each other but I only thought at the time that they were getting irritated at how long it was taking me to get to the point.

"It is when I stepped into the rest of the cellar that ... good Heavens ... there are things there that should not be there. The Chancellor mentioned ... well not specifically but ..." I rubbed my eyes trying to calm the headached beating behind them.

"Should I smack your hands for doing something so ill advised?"

I looked at the Sheriff and tried to return his friendly grin. "Perhaps you should."

I took my hands away and continued. "I know you don't understand exactly what I am saying yet but ... botheration ... it would be easier to show you but if I do ..."

The Linder kneeled down into my line of sight. "I do not have it in me to punish someone for knowing something I do not when they can't help it."

I looked at him. "This ... this is not a personal matter for the Linder family. This ... could very well involve an issue of Guardianship and ... and the breaking of a treaty. I don't know how far this goes and knowing this ... my personally knowing this ... and the secrets and politics involved ..." I stopped feeling like I was on a precipice.

"Where do your loyalties lie?"

I looked at The Linder and didn't understand his question. "Ex ... excuse me?"

"Do your loyalties lie with us?"

I realized the question was a trick. I looked at him in some anger. "You are pulling politics are you not? No matter what I say it can be twisted for your own purposes. So, let me say this. My loyalties, whatever they may be, are mine to give or withhold. But whether I withhold them or not I do not seek to use that against anyone regardless of their status in this life. If you insist on a specific answer then I will tell you that I am loyal to my cousin, my only living relative who I do not remember being anything other than a guiding force for good in my life regardless of the circumstance. And ... and the Sheriff, because he has been as honest with me as his Linder blood has allowed. Mizz Marta is another as is Sister Evelyn who you do not know. Many in the belowstairs area have my loyalty."

He stood straight and arrogant, "I am the Guardian."

"You are. But that is politics. I respect the position but I do not know the man. The same as when you are called The Linder. I have already suffered under one so titled, I have no desire to find myself in that position again."

I heard the Chancellor clear his throat and the Sheriff grabbed my arm. I turned and told him, "Stop that. I won't speak my mind and then run away like a coward. I came to try and help this family even risking my own neck ... and you don't even know how much I am willing to risk. Instead of getting answers you get to a level of frustration and start talking politics as if that will get to the truth of the matter. Bah! Let us be done with this so I can hang or not ..." I turned and made a small bow to The Linder. "At the Guardian's pleasure of course."

Ignoring the looks on the men's faces I stood up and headed for the door and after that a staircase that would lead me to a place I'd only been twice ... and dreaded going again.

 

[kaijafon]

Kathy: "...and then I left them with a humdinger of a cliffhanger!"

 

[kaijafon]

LOL! so much delicious MOAR while I was posting my funnies. THANK YOU!

 

[juco]

Delicious indeed! kaij, post more funnies. Maybe Moar will show up again.

 

[seraphima]

Oh my goodness, you have me riveted to this story!

 

[nancy98]

 

[Hickory7]

I don't know why she thinks they will be mad at her. Is it just because she knows the stuff is there? Did I read to fast and miss something?

 

[Lake Lili]

Once a pirate, always a pirate... sounds like Ceena and Tonya were carrying on in their family's tradition... Great story!

Please Kathy.... might we have a little moar...

 

[Siskiyoumom]

She saw things in the inner cellar she had no right to see.

She is in a world of hurt.

I am so very looking forward to more.

And I am so glad that the story is complete.

That we are able to read an old story dear Kathy has been working on and will post for our reading enjoyment.

Kathy you are a true author!

Most if not all of your stories can be made into movies or made for t.v. films.

Gosh, you astound me with your talent dear lady : )

 

[willowwind]

Thank you for this story. I really like it.

 

[sssarawolf]

I just got to read this afternoons, thank you .

 

[Mysty]

Oh wow, this is so good~!! I would really really like some mOAr!!!

 

[kaijafon]

when it comes to this story:

 

[Mysty]

 

[sssarawolf]

How many times every little bit can I hit refresh, a whollllllleeeeeeeee lot lol

 

[Kathy in FL]

Sorry guys, I'm having a Monday on a Tuesday. Ugh.

---------------

Chapter 25

I walked as if I didn't care if they followed. Had they not I'm not sure what I would have done but they did so I didn't need to figure that out. Several hallways and staircases later I slowed down as I entered a dark hallway. The drapes had been pulled and I realized the new Guardian did not use the bedchamber of the old one ... my husband.

I had to force myself down the hallway. Then I stopped and closed my eyes. I felt a hand on my arm and turned to see the Sheriff. The look on his face was cautious but compassionate. That infuriated me. I tugged my arm loose, stomped to the nearest window, and wrenched back the heavy drapes and threw open the shutters. "There is no such thing as ghosts," I growled.

So saying I turned resolutely back down the hall and to a heavy, paneled door. I reached out and turning the knob I had to close my ears to the sounds of the memories.

I slammed the door open and stepped inside. I turned on the gaslamps and ... blinked. The room was covered in dust sheets and had been stripped of my husband's presence. For a moment I could do nothing but shake but then forced myself to stop. Taking a deep breath I turned to the three men who had entered behind me and said, "We will need your key Guardian."

He tried to profer it to me but I refused to take it. "Not on my life. I've handled the thing once and doing so ... I find it hard to believe you do not know the law."

The Linder looked at the Chancellor who had a thoughtful look on his face. "What is she talking about James?"

"It's an Old Law. I had no idea it was even real much less enforced."

"Oh yes. The Linder ... my husband ... watched one of his wives swing for the offence."

The Chancellor's eyes widened. "Which one?"

"The first. The only one to bear him a son that lived long enough to start his training. The wife was furious because she had begged for the boy to be brought home until after the plague had passed but ... but he denied her saying that a true Linder, one worthy of the title and inheritance, needed to go through a few plagues to become sufficiently immune to be able to travel in the furtherest reaches of our region. The boy died ... it turned out that the plague was the Burning Pox. So she stole the key with the intent to ... well supposedly to let some enemies in so that they could finish him ... my hsuband ... off."

"Dear God," the current Guardian muttered in disgust.

"My cousin once explained it to me thus ... my husband was a very good Guardian and politically was the epitome of generations of Linders but in all other aspects he was an abject failure. Not even my cousin could have known how true his words were."

My hands were shaking and I clasped them together and turned away so the men would not see. "I have only been where I am about to show you once. My only demand is that after I show you and take you through I do not ever wish to see it again."

The Sheriff stepped forward and took the key from his brother. To me he said quietly and seriously, "Show me."

I walked to the fireplace and then to the right of it. "Do you see that particularly ugly decoration in the center of that carving?"

"Yes."

"That's a sign that behind it lies a passage or room. There are some that have had to be sealed or destroyed because of a redesign or because of some reason of safety but those are usually found in the lower reaches of the Hall. The ones on the upper floors still operate. Flip the decoration. It will likely be stiff because there is a lever so that it doesn't happen by accident."

"Yes it's stiff ... well, what do we have here?"

"It is a keyhole. Not all of the passages have the same keys but the Master Key will open them all. However this lock can ONLY be opened by the Master Key."

The Linder stepped forward to examine the lock. "You say 'the key' and not 'a key'. Am I given to understand that there is only one master key?"

"There should be and it should only have been on the private key ring of The Linder. As there can be only one Guardian there is only supposed to be one Master Key. If there are more than one ... I do not know how to account for it." Gathering my courage I said, "You must insert the key and make a full turn then turn it back half way then forward again for a quarter turn."

The Sheriff did as instructed and the paneled door popped open enough that it could be pulled wide. Before doing so I said, "You should close and lock the chamber door. This ... this is a very, very private ..."

I could feel them looking at me and then at each other. The Chancellor walked over and not only shut and locked the door but threw the bolt as well. From my pocket I pulled the candle I had put in there the night before. "We will need light, the gas does not flow in the secret parts of the Hall."

When I would have lit the candle the Sheriff removed a small flash lantern from his coat pocket. I knew what they were, had seen them before, but had never see one used. "Is ... is that legal? I thought the Great Council had questioned it as an old magic."

"They released the prohibition this summer. They are still uncommon and expensive but these are much safer than a regular lantern ... brighter as well. Their only drawback is that they lose power about the same way a candle burns down and then they have to be recharged before their next use."

I nodded. "Well, we ... we will need the light but ... but I do not wish to see ... not ... not until we reach the bend in the passage."

The Linder was becoming inpatient. "Enough of these mysteries." He took the flash lantern from the Sheriff's hand and stomped off into the passage. I shuddered.

His cry of disgust had me throwing my hands over my eyes. "I won't see it. I won't see it. I won't ..."

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 26

The next thing I remember is a none too gentle shake. "Widow. Leeda! Open your eyes."

"No. I won't."

"Stubborn girl. Just open your eyes, come along now."

It took a lot of willpower but I did open my eyes. I told him, "I'm not a girl. I'm ... I'm the 3rd widow ... 3rd widow of ..."

"Yes, yes ... now just breathe. You are turning the color of spoiled paste. Drink this."

"I do not ... GAG!!! You ... you brute. What the did you just ..."

"Easy, it's not poison. It's actually a rather expensive whiskey I'll have you know."

"It tastes abominable. I can barely breathe."

The Linder looked at me and was quite pale, as were both his brothers. The Sheriff took a swig from the flask he had tried to drown me with and then passed it to them. After a heady drought The Linder asked, "Is that what you wished to show us?"

"By all that's holy no. But to get to where I am taking you we must pass ... his ... his collection."

"So you know where they came from."

"No ... well some ... he was hard to understand and ... drunk ... I'm honestly not sure if he even remembered showing me and I was too ... too terrified to ..." I stopped. I rubbed my arms like it was the dead of winter and it did feel like winter had settled into my heart. "I never wanted to remember this, thought that it could be buried with him ... my husband."

I looked at the three men and turned but realizing I faced the bed hurriedly turnd again trying to find something, anything, too look at that didn't bring back those horrible memories.

"He was drunk that night. Ceena and Tonya ... they did not like me, hated me for some reason. I never did find out why ... lack of status before the marriage, my age, I honestly don't know. It was simply a fact; they hated me with a passion I saw them give to nothing else. I learned to live with the hate and the bullying after a while but that doesn't mean it was easy. The staff ... they protected me when they could, sometimes at their own expense. When I realized that is when I started being stronger; I couldn't allow them to sacrifice themselves for me. I think I would have soon reached a place where nothing they did could have touched me ... and perhaps have finally reached it now that they are dead. But back then I still had a few vulnerable places and ... and I made the mistake of taking in and becoming fond of a kitten I had taken from the barn. It was a foolish thing to do. I knew their dogs ... they let their dogs ... right there in the sitting room. For such a small animal ... there was so much blood. And they stood there and laughed ... said that I'd never have anything if they had to go through things and people one by one. What none of us knew was that our husband had been going through the passage behind that particular sitting room for some reason ... he sometimes just spied on people to spy on them; it was unnerving and you had to be careful of your words all the time. It was easier not to speak at all."

I stopped to arrange the disconnected scenes in my head.

"A few hours later he showed up in my chamber. He had been drinking. I could smell it on him. He'd never done it before and the shock of it ... then he bid me come with him and ... and we wound up here." I closed my eyes and shuddered. "After ... after some time he ... he began to treat me strangely. Telling me ... telling me he ... that he felt sorry for me but that ..." I shook my head. "He was speaking so disjointedly. I think he was trying to ... to make up for what had happened, for my place in his household. He told me that ... that he'd tell me a secret none of the other wives knew ... that none had ever known, that it was a secret only The Linder had, on pain of death. He told me about the key and then he opened that secret passage over there. I thought that was to be it. Then he said that I would be his little 'secret keeper' just in case."

"In case of what?"

"I'm sorry Guardian ... I just don't know. Maybe it meant nothing. He was acting so strangely. He pulled me off the bed, didn't even give me a chance to do his bidding ... just pulled me off like an old sheet and drug me into the passageway. Then he turned on the lantern. Every where I looked ..."

The Linder reached out and awkwardly patted my shoulder. It surprised me so much I was able to continue.

"You ... you saw them. The jars and ... and exhibits." The men nodded. "My husband fancied himself a ... a collector. He was so proud ... arrogant ... about being The Linder but more about being a Guardian. He started with a history of why the Guardians exist and how they have a sacred duty and ... and he collected things that ... that proved that the creation of the status helped bring order out of the chaos and saved not just our region but our race. Those jars ... they hold the ... the results of the Days of Destruction that have been visited upon our race. The diseases ... the deformaties ..." I shook my head again. "It mimics what you might find at a teaching college in natural studies but these exhibts ..." I shuddered. "Please," I whispered. "I've seen it once, do not make me look at it again. Just let us pass by and ... and I'll show you the rest."

"Is that the worst of it?" the Chancellor asked referring to the collection of horror-filled specimen jars and exhibits.

"Yes ... but there are passageways that lead ... that lead deep beneath the Hall to a place - a manmade cavern of sorts - where people hid during the worst of the Destruction. There are still ... things ... remains ... down there. That is another place I never wish to go again."

"How do you know of these places?" The Linder demanded.

"That night he drug me to and fro. Sometimes I was close to being lost. He would tell me stories ... I only half remember some of them and of that don't know what to believe. He shut me in that cavern for at least an hour before remembering to fetch me out. No water, no lantern, nothing." I shuddered again. "Come, let us get this over with. You will have to explore the rest of it on your own."

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 27

I literaly refused to see the nightmares again. I closed my eyes and allowed the Sheriff to draw me forward and through the passage until we were well past my husband's "collection."

I began leading them lower and lower down several spiral stair cases. "This had best not be a fool's errand," came the near threat.

"I assure you Guardian, if I could have found any other way to do this I would have."

The passage way dead ended. "What's this? A joke?"

"No. Find the door," I instructed.

The three men looked at each other then tried to find the trick. It was the Sheriff who found it. The decoration was a drawing of the design rather than the real thing. He slid the tile it was painted upon to the side and found the keyhold beneath it.

I looked at him and said, "You do better at these mysteries than you give yourself credit for."

Looking at me seriously he said, "I'd give alot not to be this good about some mysteries."

When the men slid the door opened the Chancellor immediately began cursing. He turned at me and demanded, "Are there any other entrances in this place?"

"No. If there were I would have brought you that way and saved myself a nightmare."

We were in the Linderhall Vault and having been in it a few times returning jewelry lent to me for official occasions I could see there were indeed empty places along the shelves. I turned and led them back the way we came, almost running passed the 'collection' and back out into the bedchamber. I was breathing heavy but once started I could not stop.

"This way," I told the three men after the fireplace passage had been closed and hidden once again.

Down several flights of stairs I took them to a seldom used sitting room that faced the Dower House.This time the passage way was behind a large embroidered wall hanging. Down some more and we came to a tunnel which we followed until we arrive at the nexus I had found the night before.

I pointed, "That tunnel has collapsed. It led to a structure that no longer exists anyway. The rest lead to verious places on the grounds ... the gazebo, a ruin someone dubbed the folly for some reason, the stable ... and some lead back to the Hall but this one I found last night and it leads to the ..."

The Sheriff sighed and said, "To the Dower House."

"To the Dower House cellar to be more correct."

I led them through the twists and turns, around granite too thick to tunnel through, and then into the cellar. The Chancellor cursed again and the Sheriff said, "Damnation." The Linder said nothing but eyed the treasures on the shelves and lying about with anger.

When all three sets of eyes turned my way my chin went up and I told them, "I know what it looks like. I know the hidden passages. I know the secret rooms. I had the Master Key. But I swear on all I hold dear I did not steal any of these items."

The Sheriff rolled his eyes. "Of course you didn't. You weren't here. I'm guessing the Widows were after a little payback."

I was so tired I almost wept in relief. At least one of them believed me.

The Chancellor was still stomping around and less than happy, making notes and cursing. The Linder came over and looked at me consideringly. "You could have at the very least ransomed some of these objects back to the family."

"It makes no sense to me to steal from oneself. For now at least, I am family even if it is just by accident and temporary."

The Chancellor came over and asked, "There's dust on everything so it has been here a while ... and ... and you did not touch anything."

"No," I said shaking my head firmly. "It was bad enough finding it and the last thing I want is to touch any of it."

"And you say you found the key in Widow Ceena's jewelry?"

I have no way to open the door from this side with the padlock reinstalled or I would take you there so that you could see for yourself.

The Linder said, "Later but for now let us return to the Hall before anyone notices us missing. We've been gone quite some time as it is."

"Well of course. You were questioning me about last night. It was necessary for me to answer all of your questions multiple times for you to make sure that my statement would not be contradictory to the facts that have been established."

The Sheriff looked at me and with a sardonic twist to his lips said, "It appears that I am not the only one hiding a talent for politics."

I shuddered. "I look forward to the day that I don't have to utilize this hard earned 'talent.' From the comportment teacher to Marta to the other staff, it was ground into me that to survive in Linderhall requires an understanding of politics and a ... a flexibility when it comes to the facts. They can be viewed one way or another depending upon how they are presented." I shook my head, depressed once again. "I do not like these games. I can play them but I do not like them."

 

[sssarawolf]

Thank you so much Kathy and I hope the rest of your day goes better then it apparently started.

 

[Hickory7]

This is such a good story. Lots of twists and turns. Thank you for putting this up on your "Monday".

 

[Rabbit]

Thank you.

 

[maineforlife]

Thank you for such an enjoyable afternoon. My children are dirty and hungry but I. Know the secrets of Lindenhall.

 

[Mysty]

Enjoying this story so much!!!! If I had the patience, I would wait a week and read a whole bunch at once... But that is just not gonna happen lol. Hope you are having a good week Kathy. Thanks so much!!

 

[kua]

What a delightful story you are weaving. Thank you so much for dreaming it up for us. I just have one question: What kind of clothes do they wear? In my imagination they are reduced to such a modist time that I see them wearing what my Grandma did when she taught school in 1910. And the fact that the widow stepped on her own skirt means that it should be flowing and longer???? How does your imagination garb them?

 

[nancy98]

Wonderful story Kathy. Thank you.

 

[nana2boys]

It's amazing how you think of all of these things.

 

[Kathy in FL]

What a delightful story you are weaving. Thank you so much for dreaming it up for us. I just have one question: What kind of clothes do they wear? In my imagination they are reduced to such a modist time that I see them wearing what my Grandma did when she taught school in 1910. And the fact that the widow stepped on her own skirt means that it should be flowing and longer???? How does your imagination garb them?

In my imagination I see a cross between "steampunk" and very late 19th and very early 20th century. The mores and codes in this region are also something like the Victorian era. For people's imagination that may not necessarily be true of every "region" and would certainly not be true of the borderlands between regions.

Remember my story "Fel By the Wayside"? This story is kinda in the same "universe" of apopalyptica but occurs some time later in a different region. Fel came from a badlands in the Midwest and then into a region called "Arkansas". This story happens in Tentuckia.

Aw ... just go with it. I know it will probably appear silly to some but I'm trying to imagine what could happen should The Lord tarry and allow man to "express his nature". Kind of what comes after TEOTWAWKI.

If you look at fashion it really is almost cyclical and does have some correspondence to the economics and politics of the times. The material has a lot to do with what is available locally for the average person and branches out into exports for the wealthier segment of the population. I find that sort of thing fascinating.

ETA: when I say steampunk I mean the more modest pieces. Some of that stuff is kinda racy.

 

[momengineer]

Ooh... That is what I had in my head. I'd love to know how the Linder came into being during the dark days... And it sounds like a mansion was a stronghold and that may be how it started....hmmm...my mind starts racing.

And being from the "country"... Your waitress probably just had her name spelt the way "Linda" is actually pronounced....

 

[Hickory7]

Getting ready to go to bed and thought I would check one more time. Night all.

 

[kaijafon]

 

[kaijafon]

maybe a bit more "up top"....

 

[kaijafon]

 

[kaijafon]

 

[kaijafon]

Better post MOAR SOON! or I'll have to keep posting clothes that are close to how I think they are...... LOL!

 

[kaijafon]

 

[kaijafon]

the "bad guy" ...whoever he turns out to be ...

 

[nancy98]

Kellie, you may not have lost all your marbles, but there is definitely a hole in the bag.

 

[Kathy in FL]

Chapter 28

"Mrs. Kinsey, I'm afraid I simply do not have time to discuss this with you at the moment. I am on my way to a meeting with Dr. Cummins and the Sheriff."

"Why?"

It was her tone as much as the question that surprised me. "I beg your pardon?"

"Why do the likes of you need to meet with those two great men."

I could have handled her questions multiple ways but instead I merely stated, "If you feel you have the status for it, perhaps you should profer your question in their direction." I turned and left feeling her eyes boring into my back. I felt like a character in a bad theatrical.

I had never thrown my status around in Linderhall. I could have - fat lot of good it would have done me at the time - but I never did. It seemed so rude and abusive. And then when I went home to Harper none of it seemed to matter overly much any longer except as a way to complicate my life and make people think even less of me than they already did. My training had taught me the skill to be tall and starchy in my position but I preferred other methods of getting things done. But every time I turned around it seemed someone was poking at my status and even someone as unconcerned with it as I will get a bit touchy after a while ... and in my case with Mrs. Kinsey a rather short while. It was very difficult not to get some satisfaction out of putting her in her place, but my commonsense if not my compassion prevented me from seeking such a solution. My satisfaction would be short-lived once I began to face all of the repurcussion of such an action.

And I did have a meeting with the Doctor and the Sheriff. It wasn't quite as important as I had made it sound but I would take any excuse to not have to deal with her on a day after no sleep especially as her behavior left me only more suspicious of her motivations.

I carried in my hand what I had gone to the staffing area to collect. It seemed an odd thing to carry down the hall and several people stopped and stared before going back to their duties but no one said anything; the Widow Linder was already getting the reputation for being odd. I knocked on the Doctor's suite and was admitted by the older woman I had met the night before.

"Thank you ... and thank you for your help last night as well. I'm afraid I neglected to say so."

She smiled a friendly smiled and said, "Oh you said so. Cleaning up after yourself you know expresses gratitude as nothing else can."

I smiled in understanding and turned to find the doctor scowling and his wife looking harried. Even the Sheriff was beginning to look irritated. I walked forward and handed what I carried to his wife.

Hesistantly she asked, "Wh .. what are these?"

"Packing straps. The Sisters at the hospital in Harper found them very useful when dealing with the doctors when they became ill. They are very strong and unlike ropes will not leave unsightly marks when you use them to confine him to bed where his otherwise good sense would keep him. Unfortunately for some unfathomable reason doctors become churlish and unexpectedly infantile when they are ill, even more so than the average man becomes. And clincally hard headed, let's not leave that out. And since I heard that you are Pacifists I thought this would serve better than a hammer and nails at keeping him where he should remain for at least another day."

Everyone in the room fell absolutely silent then the doctor's wife couldn't seem to look at me and covered her mouth with her hand, then turned her head, but I caught her shoulders shaking. I told her, "Go ahead and let it out before you cause some internal disruption. Trust me when I say dealing with men seems to require an inordinant amount of humor and commonsense since there are times when they seem to lack both."

I turned to find the older woman practically stuffing her apron in her mouth and the Sheriff looking like he'd been clubbed. I asked him, "Are you ill?"

"By all the martyred sainst of the Destruction no! And praying I never get that way anytime soon. I've been under you ministrations once and have absolutely no desire to experience it again. Scooping me off the ground like I was a babe. Forcing me to be covered in goop made from daisies. Witching me with your hazel. Leave a man some pride woman, leave a man some pride."

There was a strange noise from the bed and I turned. I thought at first that the doctor was experiencing a seizure then he started laughing. "You ... you ... you used daisy salve on him?!" He was laughing so hard he had to hold his bruised side.

I lifted my chin and said, "I had already packed my salves that smell more ... er ... manly." When the doctor kept laughing I added, "Well his horse liked it much better than the linament the innkeeper's wife had used."

There was a great deal of laughter all around and even the Sheriff finally capitulated and smiled. A few more pleasantries were exchanged and I left. I was halfway to the corridor I needed to turn down to see Mr. Tosh and give him an update when the Sheriff caught up with me.

"You don't move slow do you?"

"Somehow I do not think you are speaking of the speed at which I walk."

"I'm not. I need a few moments of your time to clarify a few things from this morning. Please come to my office."

I followed him there and while there were a few glances I'm sure most people would assume it was about the doctor's condition or the attack last night about which most of the staff were extremely upset. Mizz Marta was gray before I could get to her and show her myself that all was well. She knew I was upset but I didn't disabuse her of the notion that it was from the two incidences.

We walked into his office and rather than ask me to sit down he asked, "Are there any secret passageways in this office?"

"I don't know of any personally but if you know what you are looking for you should be able to find them. That's why it was always supposed to be such a secret ... so that the average person wouldn't know the clue to look for."

We looked and I had almost given up until I spotted the design in a wood on wood decoration of his desk. It took some investigating but we finally figured out how to make it open. "I don't know where the key would be," I told the Sheriff.

"You don't?" the Sheriff asked.

I shook my head almost stupid with fatigue. "I don't know what you think Sheriff but the information I have about the Hall is miniscule compared to what the Secretary would have imparted to your father."

"It wasn't meant as a complaint. You know enough," he said gruflly. "Here. Sit down and rest. There are a couple of things that were in the previous Sheriff's belongings that haven't been identified as belonging any certain place yet. Perhaps you'll recognize them."

My elbow slid off the chair arm causing me to jump awake before he could come back and find me dozing. I stood and stretched to get the blood flowing to my brain.

"I've tried that a time or two myself."

I jumped a bit at the Sheriff's silent re-entrance but took the box he handed me. I opened it and there were several rings of keys. I rifled through them and then pulled out one that I definitely recognized. "This is a duplicate of Mizz Marta's key ring. See this symbol? It is the stamp of the Linderhall Housekeeper. And this ring either belongs to the Head Gardener or is a duplicate of his ring of keys. These go to the various sheds and storage bunkers, the symbols on the keys indicate which ... rose shed, kitchen garden shed, tool shed, etc. I think these are like the keys that Mr. Holman has ... those large keys are for the exterior doors and the wine cellar primarily though I think he may have one to ... to my husband's suite of rooms. I don't recognize these other rings."

"Good or I would wonder why. This ring of keys is a duplicate of the one that the Captain of the Guards carries. And these are for the armory."

"If you knew why ask me?"

"I only just figured it out once you started pointing out the details. I've been so busy I honestly hadn't considered this a priority until the issue with ... accessibility came to the forefront. Which leaves this set of keys. Do you recognize these symbols?"

"It is the Linder crest but ..." I stopped and looked more closely. "Actually that isn't the Linder crest that is the ..." I dropped the keys and brushed off my hands.

"What?"

"Nat would skin me if he finds out I read the manuscripts he kept locked away."

"You cousin?"

"Aye. He would bring them home sometimes when he was uncomfortable with me staying by myself. This was some project he got involved with after I returned to Harper. I'd asked him some questions about Ceena and Tonya's religious practices and he went off on a tangent and then wouldn't talk to me about it anymore except to say that it was an improper subject."

"So you went snooping."

I sighed and admitted, "So I went snooping. And frankly wished I had not. Have you heard of the Darkfriars?"

"That old story they used to tell us to keep us in line? 'If you don't behave the darkfriars will think you are one of them and they'll come take you away and we'll never see you again.' Load of rubbish."

"Only in part, at least according to the manuscripts that Nat had brought home to read. Do you know the history of the Days of Destruction?"

"What there is left of it."