Page 4 of From the Ashes
"School?" The rough masculine voice was closer than I thought.
I grinned. So hecouldhear me. Thank goodness he wasn't completely mad and unaware of my presence.
"'Tis not a school," he went on, with equal parts pride and arrogance lacing his tone. "'Tis Inglemere. My home."
"You owned this castle?"
"Aye, but I'd wager it was some time ago. Time has no meaning now. I am dead," he added, as if it would be news to me. "Are you the one they are all a-twitter about upstairs?"
"I suspect so. Charlie Holloway, at your service."
"Sir Geoffrey Falstead. A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mistress Holloway. It is not often that I meet a seer of spirits. You are only the second."
"We're a rare breed."
"It is a comfort to talk to someone again. I miss company. I miss laughter and serious discussion alike. I miss music. These walls used to echo with it," he murmured. "No longer. Ever since that woman arrived, the air here has grown stale."
"Mrs. Denk has that effect on air. If you miss company so much, why do you stay? Why not cross over?"
"I swore to protect Inglemere. The day the siege began, I promised the folk that I would watch over it, even from my grave, if that became necessary. It did, as it happened. I died that day."
"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "Truly I am. But the siege was a long time ago, Sir Geoffrey, and your contemporaries have all passed. You can go now."
"It's my duty to protect the castle." He sounded offended. "I do not shy away from my duties, Mistress Holloway."
"No, of course not." I would not press him on the point. Some ghosts wanted to remain in this realm, and it was their choice to do so. Usually they wished to resolve an issue before moving on, like get revenge on their killer, or wait to see if a loved one found happiness again. Very few remained indefinitely. "How much do you see on your wanderings?" I asked him.
"Everything. I see all the comings and goings. That woman bought the castle after my line died out, sadly, but there was little I could do except haunt it. I slammed doors, moved furniture, and flung objects about, but nothing I did frightened her. She remained. One of her students was the first medium I encountered. She acted as an intermediary and the leader and I came to an agreement. I could stay here, quietly, and she would not alter the castle according to the plans she'd drawn up. I agreed." He sighed. "What more could I do? I had no power to stop her, only frighten her students. I will not leave. Ever."
"You're very noble, Sir Geoffrey, and very loyal to Inglemere. I admire you for it."
"Thank you, Mistress Holloway. The dungeon is rarely occupied, hence I have few reasons to venture down here, but I heard them speak of you in hushed tones, holed up in this place forsaken by God and your mistress." He sighed. "It's no better down here now than it was in my time. Are you cold?"
"Extremely." Here was a hope. If I could only get him todosomething. "You came down here to check on me? That's very kind of you."
"It is my duty," he said rather stiffly. I wished I could see him, as I suspected he could see me in the dark. "I came after hearing a maiden beg that woman to release you."
"Alice?"
"I believe that is her name."
"Good for her. I knew she was the bravest person here. What did Mrs. Denk say?"
"She sent Alice to her room without food."
"Oh." I drew up my knees and rested my forehead against them. "Poor Alice. When was that?"
"Time has little meaning for me. Dawn is making an appearance now."
Some time ago, then. Mrs. Denk truly didn't care for my welfare. Perhaps she really would leave me in here to die. "Sir Geoffrey, will you do something for me?"
"That's why I came. No gentle woman should be imprisoned down here. It's fit only for traitors and Frenchman. How can I help?"
"Is there another escape route? A secret tunnel perhaps?"
"No. One entry and exit, via the stairs."
"Damn." I could force him to enter a dead body from the church graveyard I'd spotted beyond the trees, and then frighten Mrs. Denk into handing over the key, but that would require a wait. Besides, there was another way. Perhaps. "Can you give a message to the medium?"
