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Aderic Androllius and Merilda
Late July (next day)
Lossarnach – Castle Ansellidus, guest chambers
Ric woke feeling much more rested, this time. He had no idea how much time had passed, but he’d felt so exhausted before that he had laid down again to nap. It seemed to be the next day, though he couldn’t tell. All he could be sure of was that it was now morning, and when he’d laid down, it had been evening.
Something had wakened him. A sound, he thought. Leaping out of bed, he ran a hand over his hair, glanced around, and then thought he heard someone in the next room. Anxious to speak with someone, he hurried into the sitting room. The door was open, but in the doorway stood two armed guards. Merilda, Alyssa’s personal handmaid, was carefully setting a tray on the table.
“Merilda!” Ric exclaimed, relieved to see a friendly face.
She jumped with a little gasp, then let out a shaky breath. “Lieutenant, you startled me,” She apologized, dropping her gaze.
“My apologies. What is going on?” he frowned at the guards blocking the doorway, but focused on the young maid. “What news can you tell me?” He asked, knowing how the girl normally liked to chatter and gossip. She would be an excellent source of information.
She glanced toward the guards with a mix of guilt and nervousness as she straightened, then dropped her gaze apologetically. “I’m sorry, sir... but, the master says you’re to remain here, no matter what.” She explained.
Ric let out a long, quiet sigh. “Yes. I.. got that impression.” He glanced past her again, but the guards didn’t seem to be protesting him speaking to the girl. He suspected that if he tried to move for the door, they would react. So, for now, he remained where he was, unwilling to provoke any violence that might cause harm to the maid.
“I’m supposed to clean your rooms, Lieutenant. Is that acceptable?” She asked tentatively.
Ric nodded slowly, feeling a bit concerned. She was not normally so anxious and timid, and he wondered what the reason for it might be. He sat down to eat while she went to tend to the other rooms. Glancing at the guards, Ric spoke to them. “Why am I being held prisoner?”
“Lord Ansellidus has given his orders.” One replied curtly. And he could get nothing else out of them.
Sighing in frustration, he finished his breakfast in silence and then went into the study, where Merilda was dusting. “Tell me, please, Merilda,” Ric spoke softly. “What’s going on out there? What's happened while I've been locked in here?”
She looked up hesitantly, brown eyes wide with worry. She glanced through the open door into the next room, as if checking if those guards were listening, and then kept her voice low as she spoke. “Lieutenant, I’m frightened.” She admitted. “He’s taken Lady Alyssa away, and I’m terribly worried for her. Made her pack up her things the very same day you came here. But she had nothing to do with it!” She was sure to add hastily. “She protested it quite a bit, you know..”
“I'm sure she did,” Ric assured her with a faint smile. Of course, Alyssa had protested. He hadn’t even suspected that she would have been involved in this, but it was nice to hear confirmation of the fact, regardless. “How long has it been since then?” Ric asked, feeling anxious to hear this news.
“Th-three days now.” Merilda answered, frowning. “He took the lady away, and gave strict orders to all the staff that you’re not to be let out no matter what. I thought..” She blinked back tears. “I thought I would be going with Lady Alyssa, but…” She sniffled and wiped her eyes quickly. “I’m sorry…”
“It’s alright.” Ric spoke gently. “I know, you care very much for her. As do I,” He added more quietly. He was rather worried, wondering where Mar might have taken her, and why. But he felt sure that couldn't be what had Merilda so nervous. “What then? What’s happened to make you so frightened?”
Merilda hesitated, glancing around again before stepping cautiously closer. “There’s been.. a lot of folks dying, all around the castle. Th-the gate guards, the gardeners, and several servants... and so many others." She gave a few names. "I don’t know why, and I’m so afraid.” She explained with wide eyes.
Ric caught his breath, alarmed by this news. He felt he should say something comforting to the young woman, but he could think of nothing to say. His thoughts were racing. Gate guards.. gardeners.. all of those she listed sounded like people whom he had become familiar with, from his previous visits. The thought was unsettling… “How are these deaths occurring?” He wondered, slowly taking a seat at the desk, feeling a bit stunned.
Merilda fidgeted, her hand idly toying with the feathers in her duster. “D-different ways, sir.” She listed a few incidents, and in each of them, Ric could practically see his brother behind it. As usual, there was nothing to prove he had actually done any of it, but his gut was telling him that this was being done with a purpose. But what purpose? He let out a sigh and dropped his face into his hands, elbows propped on the desk. If only he had a better idea of what Mar’s plans were... what he was trying to accomplish, what he had in mind... then perhaps Ric could manage to find some way to stop him.
“We have to get out of here,” He spoke at last, breaking a momentary silence.
Merilda was watching him, eyes wide. "How?" She whispered.
“You must help me, Merilda."
"Help you?" She bit her lip, looking back toward the door, as if fearing the guards would overhear. "But.. what if I get caught?"
"Please?” Ric asked, trying not to sound as desperate as he was feeling, but at the moment, she seemed like his only hope. "If you help me get out of here, I will help you escape, as well." He promised. "You can come with me, and I'll see that you get someplace safe, I promise."
“Oh, I believe you, but.. what could I do?” She asked softly, a little shaky.
Ric sat back, thinking for a moment, and looked around. “Rope..” he muttered. Getting up, he went to the window and looked out. Of course, it was very high. There was a sheer drop down to the ground, several stories high. Below, the ground was rocky and perilous. “If I had some rope, I could get out of here,” he glanced at her. “Could you get me some?”
Merilda bit her lip and glanced toward the door where the guards waited. They couldn’t hear them from in the study, but she looked nervous anyway. “I.. I don’t know. How would I even do that? They’d stop me, for sure.”
Ric tapped a finger thoughtfully on the windowsill, considering. “You bring the laundry, yes? Could you smuggle a length of rope in your basket, under all the linens?”
“Oh… I don’t know..” She frowned, trying to imagine that in her head. “I’m not even sure where I would get rope. And if I get caught trying to help you escape...”
"I know," he nodded. There was no need for her to explain what she believed would happen. Suppressing a sigh, Ric paced in front of the window. While it was frustrating, he realized she was right. She wouldn’t be able to get him anything like that. It would probably make her basket too heavy, too, if she tried to bring him enough to do anything with it. She'd have to get help carrying it, and then that would make someone suspicious.
“Look, I’m sorry, Lieutenant, but I have to go.” She whispered after a moment. “They’ll get upset if I take too long. But I’ll come back with your meal tonight.” She promised. "Maybe you'll have thought of something by then?" She added, hopefully. "I'm sorry, I just don't know what to do."
Ric nodded. “Yes, of course.” He didn’t want her to get into trouble, especially if there was a risk of being killed. “Go on. I’ll try to think of something.” He paused. “And, thank you, Merilda.” He added. She didn't know it, but he felt a little glimmer of hope, now that he knew she would be coming by each day. He knew that Alyssa considered her more like a best friend than a servant, and he also knew she could be trusted. He just hoped she wouldn't get in any trouble on account of him... "Stay safe." He added as the girl headed for the door.
After the maid had hurried off to tackle other tasks, Ric paced around, roaming from room to room. At least he had a few in which to pace. He shook his head in slight amazement at the thought that he and his brother had shared an attic for a bedroom, in their small home, growing up. Now, Mar had taken possession of an enormous castle in which even a guest could have a collection of rooms at his disposal. It was all far too big for Ric’s liking, to be honest. He’d rather have a small, cozy little cottage, personally, but he was also perfectly content with his little apartment in the city.
With a sinking feeling, he suddenly thought of his apartment. He wondered how long he might be trapped here. Would the rent he’d paid in advance run out while he was gone? What if he lost the apartment? While that was, honestly, the least of his worries, it would be quite upsetting to lose his home and the few belongings that remained there. Standing at the window, he gazed out as far as he could see. The only consolation in all of this, was that if Mar got caught doing any of his criminal activities, it would be Mar getting arrested, and he couldn't try to pin it on Ric no matter how hard he tried, since Ric was miles away, locked up and unable to go anywhere near the crime scene, even if he wanted to.
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