Third session, "Magic in any Language"

Poise and proposals

From the diary of George Moriarty, a.k.a. Cousin George, footman in the household of Sir Cosmo Cowperthwaite

Monday, 28 June 1875

Our morning was taken up with the effects of yesterday's battle. There was extra mending and cleaning to do, of course, not to mention a visit from the local constabulary. Mr O'Flaherty's awkward attempts at disembling actually worked. Of course, the officer had been primed by Inspector MacGreggor, who had made a point of emphasising how much drinking Mr O'Flaherty had done the previous evening. The policeman somehow got the impression that the stories published about Mr O'Flaherty are based upon the latter's over active imagination, rather than any actual exploits.

Galen is still upset about how disappointed Daru is with him, and so was being especially solicitous and ingratiating with her. Similarly, Octavia was following her father around, which is not unusual in itself, except she ordinarily is trying to catch him unaware, rather than constantly attract his attention. Caroline, on the other hand, is acting as if nothing untoward happened. Robert is being even more quiet than usual.

Dr Langtry paid a call, though barely a civil one. He's upset because Mrs Cuthbert caught him spying on her, mystically, and then sent him on a wild goose chase, and left him trapped in her dream so that he missed the battle. He offered the rather weak explanation that he hadn't been spying, but merely keeping an eye on her in case danger came her way. This man is a university teacher, and that's the best he can do? Caroline weaves better excuses than that!

It was after Langtry left that Mrs Cuthbert remembered something she had discovered just before the battle, but she had become so busy healing everyone that she forgot. In her dream (after she'd disposed of Dr Langtry), she had seen Count Lyndram and Herr von Klatna--they had taken sanctuary in the Mission of the Sisters of St. Francis. In Mrs Cuthbert's dream, von Klatna had mesmerized Count Lyndram to believe they had to stay in hiding. We already knew von Klatna is a sorcerer, we still are not certain about Lyndram.

Most of the household went out to the Mission. Insp. MacGreggor, Mr Frazer, Wilhelmina, Mrs Wooster, Lobsang, and I found the back entrance of the mission, and watched the windows and other exits. Meanwhile Sir Cosmo, Lady Cowperthwaite, Mrs Frazer, and the Salmalins went to the front door.

They were admitted by the one of the nuns, specifically Sister Mary Olivia, the younger nun we met the other day on the train. There were two other nuns in the mission, Sister Mary Aveline (the older and more grumpy nun from the train), and Sister Mary Ellen.

Von Klatna and Lyndram were not in the mission, though Sister Mary Aveline admitted they had been--or rather she allowed the hint that some men she felt were up to no good had begged sanctuary, and that Sister Mary Ellen had granted it, which meant that technically the nuns were not supposed to admit the men had even been there. The men had left without a word sometime late last night.

We were followed, again, by Rishi and Viveck and their followers. Viveck was disguised as a street sweeper. Rishi simply clung to the shadows, unseen by passersby, using the Mantra of the Leaf's Shadow. Another of the men was working as a street vendor. The chaat he was offering for sale was clearly fresh and had been cooked that morning. Which meant Wilhelmina didn't like the food very much. She much preferred the mixture of fried fruit and congealed yogurt on a stick that a man who surely must be a cousin of Mr Boil-me-in-oil Dybullah back in Bombay was selling.

We spoke with Viveck, and he said he would try to find out if anyone in the city had seen two European men leaving the neighborhood the previous night.

We had to return to the houses. The ladies were to go to tea at Tattvick's mother's home. Wilhelmina was pleased to wear her new pink sun dress. David was nervous again. I got to stay out with the carriages this time.

Most of us returned to the houses around sun down.

Wilhelmina has been up all night trying to draw a steam-powered elephant. During the same dream where Mrs Cuthbert had found von Klatna, she had seen Wilhelmina riding a steam elephant, so now Wilhelmina wants to build one. At least she isn't fiddling with the Electrified Opponent Disabler.

Tuesday, 29 June

We had a visitor. It was the big man I'd dropped in the river on Sunday. He didn't come to fight. He wasn't wearing the black leathers and silks of the League of Shadows. He wasn't carrying a sword. He came to the tradesman's entrance and asked to see Lady Cowperthwaite. When we had seen him before, his chakras had been full of power. Looking at his aura then had been like staring into the face of a deadly thunderstorm. There was still power there, but it wasn't the same. It was smaller, and mortal. Still very deadly, because it was like gazing on Mr Salmalin's aura, but something had definitely changed.

The cook made to invite him inside, but he said he wasn't worthy. When I agreed with the assertion, Mr Salmalin gave me such a look. So I left Mr Salmalin to watch over him while I patrolled the two houses to be sure this wasn't a diversion for an attack.

Apparently not. He came to ask forgiveness and to offer his services to Lady Cowperthwaite. She sent him off to Bombay, told him to find Dasa, the one-eyed hermit we had met there, and help him take care of the shrine to Kali, maybe build a bigger one. He said he would, and he left.

We will see.

Sir Cosmo was able to pry Wilhelmina away from the steam elephant idea only by mentioning that he was going to meet with an elephant-handler. Of course, the only reason that worked was because it gave her a chance to watch a real elephant walk.

There was another visit the Tattvick's family home. We did not stay as long. When we left, David was sitting at a table with Tattvick's father. He was clearly ready to ask The Question.

David returned later, not looking at all happy. Mr Pratijnya had not reacted warmly to an Englishman asking for his daughter's hand in marriage.

Now everyone in the house is offering to go talk to the parents. Well, not everyone. Wilhelmina has convince Lobsang that this steam elephant is a great and he's trying to help her with the designs.

Wednesday, 30 June

I helped with the ladies' lessons again, today. Emily has some of her time taken up giving Cosmo pointers on fighting with his new dueling swords, so she is tiring more easily.

Mrs Pratijnya called on the household, in theory to visit with Mrs Salmalin and Lady Cowperthwaite, but clearly the intent was to ask David a lot of questions. I think she enjoyed making him squirm.

She was very pleasant and cheerful after a certain point in the conversation, though the pointed questions to David kept popping up.

Wilhelmina and I accompanied Sir Cosmo on another excursion to find a guide for the caravan to Balaghat. We're at the end of hunting season, so many of the men are already out in the jungle leading hunts. Inspector MacGreggor and Mr Frazer pursued the same goal, but asking among the police and military officers.

When we returned to the house, Mr Pratijnya had just arrived, wanting to talk to Stuart, as David's only relative in the party. Sir Cosmo also at down with Mr Pratijnya and tried to assure him that David is a hard worker, comes from a family of hard workers, would be a good provider, and so on. I do not know if he was convinced.

On the other hand, Mr Pratijnya asked David and Stuart to come with him to a coffee shop so they could discuss the matter some more. David looked very nervous when they came back. Stuart kept telling him that he's certain Mrs Pratijnya likes him, and he just has to wait until Tattvick and Mrs Pratijnya talk the father around.

I don't know if he really believes it, or if he's just trying to cheer his brother.

Viveck stopped by to report that two Germans who matched the descriptions of Count Lyndram and von Klatna had purchased a pair of horses and a pack mule, and left the city in the wee hours Monday morning.

Thursday, 1 July

Sir Cosmo, Sir Spencer, Insp. MacGreggor, and Mr Frazer met before breakfast to pool the information they had obtained concerning guides, and so on. Graf (Count) Baltasar von Hammerstein, a famous Prussian big game hunter, has most of the available elephants hired, but has not begun his own hunting expedition for lack of a guide of sufficient quality. Lord Vaughn has hired the man reputed to be the best guide available.

Graf von Hammerstein is an acquaintence of Sir Spencer and would be pleased to combine with our expedition. Combined with the elephants and bearers Sir Cosmo and Sir Spencer have already hired, that's enough to transport us all with our baggage to Balaghat.

Sir Cosmo, Sir Spencer, and Inspector MacGreggor went to speak with Lord Vaughn.

Meanwhile, Lady Cowperthwaite had invited Tattvick and her parents to tea. Stuart acted in the capacity of First Footman, while I and some of the local servants did the serving, so that David and Mr Salmalin could sit as guests.

Mrs Pratijnya steered the conversation away from anything even remotely related to weddings, proposals, or David, for that matter. She got Lady Cowperthwaite to talk about Sir Cosmo's research, and Wilhelmina to talk about the railroads, then got all the mothers talking about small children. Then, as if it had just occurred to her, she asked David if a week from Friday would be a good time for the bethrothal ceremony.

I thought he was going to choke on his tea. He sputtered out a "yes ma'am." Then Mr. Pratijnya pointed out that if we left the city for Balaghat the next day, there would only be time for us to spend a single night there if we were to come back by next Friday, so there must be a later date.

Mrs Salmalin and Mrs Pratijnya and Mrs Cuthbert were soon babbling along about what was involved in the ceremony, and how quickly it could be set up. I don't know what date was finally settled upon, but apparently David's proposal has been approved by the parents.

And we are leaving tomorrow. Mr Pratijnya knew something about the travel arrangements, as he had suggested someone for Sir Cosmo to talk to about it. When Sir Cosmo explained about Lord Vaughn having already hired the best guide and agreeing to let us have him on condition that he join the expedition, Mrs Salmalin asked about Dr Langtry, and whether he had found a way to attach himself to the expedition.

Apparently not. Though I will believe it only if we manage to leave tomorrow without him in tow.

At least we didn't completely unpack.

Proceed to The demons make their move

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