After assisting the Professor in the care of his wounds on ankles and knees, I called my footman in to help place Dr. Nicholas into my carriage for transportation back to her manse in Winterfell Eventide. Lord Smedley rode along with us, but oddly was determined to sit on the roof of the coach. This action was, frankly, a relief since he smelt strongly of grease and stagnant tide pools.
After depositing Kate into her bed for a well earned rest, I went into the small shared offices and changed into some more suitable adventuring gear, collected things that I felt sure would be needed - a torch, some rope, my diving gear, my dirk, my ladies spying camera, my Claymore, and the folio containing the manilla envelope filled with photographs and files from Dr. Nichtstadt.
Lord Smedley (LS): I iz Ward Smwedley Twockmorton Stwoat and Ize and wonly IZE know hows to get inta....ze Egg Chwamber of ze Gweat Swister!
Eva Bellambi (EB): Yes. Yes, Lord Schmed - erm Smedley, you have said so several times since you burst into Professor Nichtstdt's. Do be a gentleman and help me tote these things along as we go, please.
Smedley led me on a meandering route through alleys and byways of Winterfell that I had most certainly never traveled before. I held in my hands the parcel that had been sent to the Professor several days before. The words glared out at me: Ergent, Hellp, Whintrpell. I searched around me for the places that the pictures represented. ...the wind from the east.....the mist plays with me....
LS: You knowz, Ladwy Evwa, youz ah prehtty thingz.
EB: Mmm? Oh...erm...thank you Lord Smedley.
Bending down and showing him the picture of what appears to be graves or something covered by large stones, I inquired as to whether he could take me there.
EB: This picture - the caption says, "the open stone..." and then something about being too late. Too late for what, I wonder. And then "CURSE HER!" What do you know of this, sir? This place (pointing to the photograph) and these words?
Suddenly I realized that this very strange - and generally offensive - tiny was trying his best to peer under my skirts.
EB: Lord Smedley!!! Do keep your mind on the task at hand, sir! Don't make me pull out the project plan and timeline!
LS: Ize had me lozz a beeeeg womenez...theyz sayz when theyz be going tiny, theyz NEVERZ go back!
EB: (thinking) OH GOOD LORD! Why is it that its always the lecherous types that are the only ones who have the needed information??
Smacking his hand away from my skirt hem, I quickly found my handkerchief and brought it to my nose. The scent was rising....grease and stagnation...salt water stagnation.
LS: You evahz been bedded by ze TINY man?
EB: There was this dwarf once...incredibly soft beard when he....um - but that is not important right now! Lord Smedley! Where have you brought me??
LS: Tha first placz that youz must be the witnez. Witnez the Gweat Swister. Shez yous keee.
I looked about an saw nothing, but I determined to await the arrival of the Great Sister if that is what he meant. I settled myself in the shadows on a dock post. Smedleycrouched nearly and simply kept staring at me. Clearly the books he had on loan from the library all that time had done nothing in the way of training him for how to deal with the opposite sex.
I pulled my camera out and used the telescopic lens. The fog was thick here near the water so visualizing anything was nearly impossible, but I kept scanning the area - sweeping my vision left to right and back again. Methodically taking swaths of changing depth so as to take in the entire area. If I were to be a witness to something...something that would give us a clue to the Phul'aundeur Phans, I was not going to miss getting photographic evidence of the thing(s).
Feeling a sudden coldness surround me, I noticed Smedley begin to shift and move about a bit uncomfortably. I sat up, my senses now keenly aware of everything.
A damp cold growing.
That smell growing.....like a salt marsh with rotting things....organic....oily.
Suddenly a terrible scream and a flash of movement about 20 feet to my left. I snapped a few shots in that general direction with my spy camera. I could not really see much of anything; I just hoped I was capturing something. Then just as suddenly, I saw a shadowy figure. It began our direction and then rapidly stopped. I heard a squishing sound like wet rubber hitting the cobblestones. Then the figure seemed to slip nearly silently into the water just by the ship that was moored in front of us. Good Lord, I hope I got some pictures.
Smedley and I carefully approached the water where the figure had disappeared.
LS: Iz told youz, Ladwy Evwa. Iz told youz that Ward Smwedley Twockmorton Stwoat wuld getz youz whar youz culd witnez tha thingz that happenz.
EB: Yes you did, Lord Smedley. Do you know where the creature is going now?
He nodded.
EB: Hand me that large grey bag please, and turn your back, sir.
He reluctantly complied and I slipped my skirt off and pulled my dive gear on.
