Author's Note: I've never been majorly burned before. I don't know what it's like. I tried to do some research, but I could have always made a mistake. So ... if something isn't right about good old Duke Adurant's physical state, then ... sorry about that. Also, I don't know much about crime scene investigations, especially in universes where nobody knows what DNA is, and I don't know the finer details about when a body rots. I'd like to apologize again in case I screwed up. Sorry!
******
To Erdgar's complete consternation, the guest went into hysterics. Miss Lunai sought him out specifically, her feet pounding against the hard floor. Her meager fists tried to pummel into him, although the results weren't very effective. She probably wouldn't leave any bruises.
Assuming she had gone mad, Erdgar demanded that the locksmith assist him, and they were able to restrain the albino woman, one man at her arms and the other at her legs. Danetta took their lamps for them, guiding them. Even as Miss Lunai thrashed and verbally abused the men, they carried her out of the dungeon, up the spiral staircase, and into the hallway, all while poor Danetta followed with weak questions. Miss Lunai's glasses slipped from her head and fell to one of the first steps of the staircase. They had to ignore it at first.
The handmaidens noted the trouble, and they retreated a few feet away as they saw the men emerging with a screaming Miss Lunai. Patiently, they waited for any instructions, their hands layered against their abdomens.
"Please explain the source of your fury!" That was Danetta, her mouth quivering. The poor, adorable woman might have been heartbroken. She had treated Miss Lunai as a friend, and here the albino was, pitching and cursing the Adurant name.
The men set the woman into a chair in the hallway that was mostly there for decoration. Nobody was actually meant to sit on the thing. It was strong enough, though, and Erdgar used his palms to pin her wrists to the wooden armrests. He felt something tangled in her fingers, and he heard something knock against the chair.
The mad artist had the audacity to spit in his face. The thick, unpleasant thing landed right under his eye.
Danetta was the one to come to his defense, pressing a handkerchief to his face, asking the painter, "What in the world could my husband have possibly done to you?" Her mild perfume went into his lungs, and he was comforted for a few seconds.
"He's a murderer! A filthy child murderer!"
Erdgar had no idea what she was going on about, but if he was to be accused of something, she had better have some evidence. If she couldn't back her statement up, he might just have her imprisoned, or at least scared into thinking she would be imprisoned. "What do you have to support this claim?" he asked with a low voice, knowing that his eyes were hot with defensive instinct.
Miss Lunai's weak, pale eyes pointed up at him. He wondered if she could see him clearly. "My brother's pomander! You had it all this time! You had my brother all this time!"
"Pomander?" Danetta pulled her handkerchief away and said, "Erdgar, she has a pomander in her fingers."
The locksmith was nearby, mumbling something about madwomen and dark places. Erdgar ignored him and looked down at the silver pomander that was dangling from the painter's grip. "Where did you find that thing?"
"It was on display, with other objects, as trophies!"
His face cooled. His fingers almost loosened. His brow tangled upwards in surprise. "Danetta," Erdgar said, not enjoying the way his thoughts were weaving together, "would you be so kind as to locate this woman's spectacles?"
For some reason, that got Miss Lunai to quiet down.
"Yes, of course." Danetta left him for a moment, taking her delicious scent with her, her expensive shoes rapping against the floor in such a way that almost had him thinking of more pleasurable moments. She returned quickly, holding the glasses and wiping the lenses against her cloak. She gently pushed the glasses onto Miss Lunai and said with a motherly tone, "There. That's better now; isn't it? Now, let's see about this pomander."
Erdgar watched his wife's soft fingers lift up the beautiful, silver creation. She turned it this way and that, until she noticed an inscription on a hinge.
"This says, Toby Lunai," Danetta said with narrowing eyes. "Why, I didn't even know you had a brother, but why would your brother's pomander be in our dungeon?"
Miss Lunai chose that moment to whine out, "There are bones in there too, in one of the cells! Children have been kept in there, and recently!"
No.
No. No. No. No. No. No. No!!
That wasn't possible.
Erdgar's senses were flaring. His hands pressed harder into the woman's wrists, which caused her to miserably pule. "That door has been locked for as long as I can remember!"
But, Danetta said, a chill in her tone, "At least, it has been locked for as long as I've been married to you, hasn't it?"
Was she ... was she actually putting an allegation onto him? The betrayal burned through his chest and shriveled up his heart. He bore his teeth as he yelled at her, even though she was close by and didn't need the higher volume.
"I've never opened that door, woman!! I've never even seen the key!! What's stumbling through that cotton head of yours?!"
Straightaway, Erdgar regretted his loss of control.
Tears blurred those prepossessing, cyan irises. Then they dribbled down the full cheeks. A small, sparkling set of fingers flew up to that delicious little mouth that had always been so eager to please him.
A thick, vile feeling bounced in Erdgar's stomach, painting stains of disgust within himself.
"Don't cry, Darling." Without considering his temporary prisoner, he released Miss Lunai and went to his wife. He put both her hands in his and squeezed them, feeling the hardness of her jewelry. "Take your handmaidens to your bedchamber and wait for me there. I'm going to write a letter to the king himself. Some of his men should be here soon to investigate."
Normally, Erdgar would have his own men investigate, but considering that he was the one who paid their wages, it would be understood that such an inquiry would be unfairly biased. It was best to call for enforcement officials that hat power over him.
He noticed that Miss Lunai was rising from her seat, but she seemed much calmer, possibly because she knew he was going to call for a legitimate investigation. He chose to speak to the locksmith. "I must beg you to remain here so that officials can interview you. We have a crime scene on our hands."
The locksmith nodded. "I'd hate for anyone to assume something nasty about me. It's best if I stay here instead of fleeing."
