A Word to the Wise
Farfordda pauses before leaving Karwel's room - saying that there is more he would say if he knew he could trust him and that he really needs to speak to Baron Todbringer. He descends the stairs to the bar but all is quiet, no one is about. He sits and waits, the innkeeper surfaces to lock the place up. Farfordda asks him about the drunks who were sat at the table in the corner - apparently they left a while ago.
On the way back to Holzbek Manor he hears the Holzbek troops moving into the town and approaches two watchmen warming themselves at a brazier. This was found in The Pit earlier he tells them and hands over the seditious pamphlet, but a poor reaction roll combined with illiteracy results in the pamphlet being dropped in the flames and being told to make himself scarce.
He arrives back shortly before Von Reiter, who tells Farfordda and Amos (who's standing guard) that the plan is to prevent anyone in uniform, or anyone bearing arms entry to the town for the next 24 hours. Magdalena takes the second guard shift and Farfordda the last, waking to remember Mariposa finding him in his dreams.
By 8am the house and yard are full of the sounds of servants preparing breakfasts and hot water and Elena shouting for the tailor and where is Jean Saunier. Magdalena sits in the dining hall and greets Ada when she arrives. The girl has no idea of what is to happen today - Magdalena tries to explain but Ada gets upset, her father died a week ago, killed by bandits... Magdalena speaks with Lady Eisenhal in her room, she explains that she will accompany them to the reading of the will, Elena does not contradict her, saying the carriage will take them just before 12. Amos chats briefly with Ada and her cousin in the yard before they get chased up to get ready. Amos asks Gilbert does he not resent losing his inheritance, perhaps he can be Ada's advisor?
Farfordda and Magdalena head to the Roamer's Pint to speak with Baron Todbringer. They are shown up to his room, Magdalena does the introductions and Farfordda relates to him their fears about Middenheim.
He tells them the Purple Hand (who he has heard of) have infiltrated the aristocracy, he believes they have some way of mimicking faces (which they acquired from Wittgenstein, the castle that collapsed into the Reik), that some sort of 'doppelganger' has replaced his father and others. That Rallane and other faithful members of the court have been murdered.
Todbringer mentions that this new Inquisition has caught some conspirators, that they are on the case. Farfordda says not to trust them, the chief inspector is some sort of fraud. The Baron says come to Middenheim with me and we can deal with this evil together, no we are wanted in Middenheim, we are known enemies, wanted for 'consorting with dark powers' - also we have an even more serious and urgent threat. The Baron is incredulous that anything could be more important.
He asks who do they trust in Middenheim - Allavandrel the huntsman and Jana Ebenauer the wizard. He intends to ride for Middenheim after the reading of the will and thanks them for their warning.
They head back to Holzbek Manor, with a hungover, breakfasted Norgrim in tow. Although still foggy the main square is filling, people gather at the temple of Sigmar to pay their last respects to Baron Holzbek while a pyre is being built in the center of the square.
Amos goes to the Temple of Verena to see about fixing the clock - a young acolyte tells him Sister Garner cannot see him, everyone is busy preparing for the reading of the will. He enters anyway, climbs the tower stairs and sets about the repair.
Back at the house Magdalena gets ready, they hear the Duke of Immelsheid has recently been by, complaining that his troops are being denied entry. Where is Von Reiter! Where is that tailor! Ada, now clad in mourning black is upset - she's starting to understand what is happening. She tells Magdalena she doesn't want to be separated from her cousin and her aunt, she doesn't want to be stuck in a tower like a fairy story princess. Magdalena tells her that as a knight-to-be she must often do things she doesn't want, that she must perform her duty. Somehow this gets through to her, at least for now.
Norgrim and Farfordda visit the Temple of Sigmar, the Baron's body is laid out in an open coffin. Sir Vaksman and many locals huddle in around the coffin, crying and praying. Brother Holsenheimer oversees impassively from an alcove. They retire to the Roamers' Pint, planning to take up window seats so that they can survey the square - Ernst the promoter from The Pit spies Norgrim and enthusiastically tells him to come to The Pit for 7, everyone is eager to see the saviour of Lady Holzbek take on Jolly Joss Volker!
Magdalena travels to the Temple of Verenna in the carriage along with Ada, Gilbert, Lady Eisenhal and Sir Vaksman. Nobles and local dignitaries gather around the great Statue of Verena where Frau Allman and Sister Garner will present the will. Baron Todbringer is here dressed for travel, then there is Elector Count Ludenhoff who Magdalena sees for the first time, draped in regal finery and accompanied his guards and a crooked woman in green.
Elena scowls when she sees Meyer who simply nods at her. At the last minute Kepler Karzburdger enters - he manages to push his way through to Magdalena who ignores him and whispers supporting words to Ada as he spits out, 'if anything should happen to me everyone will know who you are!' The tolling bell stops for the first time since dawn and Frau Allman begins to read the will. It is midday on the 3rd Nachgeheim and the fog has almost lifted...
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