Seventh Interlude - Part Four

Brock opens the door, revealing a second sitting room beyond, this one obviously kept for special occasions and sunday best. A three piece suite horseshoes an open fireplace and oak coffee table.

“No dust,” he says to himself, before returning to the last door. This leads to a short hall that becomes a staircase, curving up to the left. At its base, another door, which opens into a cold room, or pantry, though its shelf lined walls are empty and bare.

Up the stairs and Brock finds four bedrooms, three of which contain a single bed, bedside table with lamp, chest of drawers and a wardrobe. The beds are made, but the furniture contains no clothes or personal items whatsoever. The fourth bedroom is the same, though the bed is a double.

“I don't understand,” he says to himself, stroking and studying his block, “Where's the imbalance?”

Seventh Interlude - Part Three

Brock opens the door quickly, stepping through into a farmhouse kitchen from sometime in the middle of the last century. The range is cold, the table bare, cupboards empty. He walks through to a second door, which he discovers leads to a coal house. Returning to the hallway, he opens the other door, walking into a sitting room of sorts. A rocking chair stands still by an open fireplace, opposite a two seater settee. A dining table is pushed tight into one corner, while a sideboard blocks access to half of it. Against another wall, books are stacked from ceiling to floor. What Brock can't see is any sign of human habitation whatsoever. This sitting room has two more exits, one straight ahead, the other to his left.

“Hmmm,” he mutters once more, making for the door ahead.

Seventh Interlude - Part Two

Brock enters the building slowly, cautiously, sniffing as he goes. The air inside is stale, musty even, certainly undisturbed for quite some time.

“Hello?” he calls a third time, “Anybody here?”

Silence is his answer. The door opens to a long entrance hallway, with two more doors on either side at the far end, an old grandfather clock facing him. Midway along the left wall stands a hat tree, a bettered umbrella hanging from one of its branches. Opposite the tree is a large, ornate mirror.

Brock takes his agent's block from his pocket, taps it twice, then studies the changes to its' grain and dispersal of knots.

“Hmmm,” he mutters to himself before walking down to the door on the left.

Seventh Interlude - Part One

It's just after noon when Brock arrives at the house, not his favourite time of the day at all. The house itself is hardly worthy of comment, a farmhouse standing remote and alone amid North Yorkshire moors. He circles the building at a distance, noting out houses and barn, then finds a comfortable spot from which to observe. The day passes slowly, with no activity or sign of life around the place at all. As dusk settles into night, Brock makes his approach, knocking loudly at the farm's main door. A few moments pass before he knocks again, “Hello,” he shouts as he does. With still no reply, he crouches to flip the letterbox open and peer into the gloom beyond. There's little to be seen, so he tries the handle, which turns easily.

“Hello,” he shouts again as he opens the door, “Is there anybody home?”

Episode 7 - Chapter 100

They say... ...that we've chosen... ...a side, swallowed... ...our pride, finally... ...signed on... ...for a bumpy... ...old ride, we... ...who usually sit... ...on the fence, have... ...chosen a bench, joining... ...the team, that's how it... ...must seem, not... ...terribly keen, while... ...they scratch their... ...heads, what can it... ...all mean?

Such little attention... ...they've paid, in the days... ...since decision was... ...made, ...we can take it... ...or leave... ...your warp... ...and their weave... ...for as ever... ...we go... ...where we please.

Protected... ...our interests... ...we have, not... ...squandered it all... ...like a chav, good... ...nomz in that... ...place, with good... ...napping space. The allegiance... ...that's certainly... ...ours, well that plant... …it rarely flowers, let them... ...think what they... ...will, while we... ...take our fill... ...follow the plan... ...that is ours.

Episode 7 - Chapter 99

“Your grace,” Raven says to the prince, “Now that you are reunited with the Lady Ella, I would see to the repatriation of the imposters.”

“Good man,” the prince replies half heartedly, his attention focused entirely on the girl, “See that it is so.”

Raven bows out of the ball room, hurrying back to the dungeon where Robert and Fiona are waiting. He opens the doors to all the cells, barking “Go home,” to all that are incarcerated.

“You two,” he says to Robert and Fiona as he begins to draw a door on the wall. “It's time we found out what the hell is going on.” The three link arms as he opens the door he's just drawn and step through to the Peacock court.

“Friends,” the Angel says with a broad smile, “So wonderful to have you returned.”

“Never mind the platitudes,” Raven says accusingly, “Why have you brought the three of us here?”

Episode 7 - Chapter 98

“Well you're here now,” the prince says, “That's what matters.”

“And happy to be here,” the girl smiles warmly.

“Where did you find her?” the prince asks Raven.

“She was in the dungeon,” Raven replies, “Mixed in with the imposters.”

“Then why did she not say something?” There is an accusing tone in the prince's voice. He turns to the girl. “Why didn't you say something? Let us know you were there?”

“My mind, sire,” the girl replies, “It has not been my own, of late. I did not know who I was, never mind where. If it weren't for this fine guard I dare say I'd still be there.”

The prince considers this for a moment, looking Raven up and down. “Fine,” he says eventually, “Now tell me, what is your name.”

“Ella,” she replies, “Though my sisters call me Cinders.”