The Fae Stones: Prelude, John Ross (ENDED)
He woke at his usual time, about 5am, his room was dark, with no hint of sunlight peeking in around drapes or curtains. He stretched, muscles sore for unknown reasons, and felt around his neck. Startled that his neck was bare of jewelry, he looked about, finding his medallion on the bedside table.
“Did you get out last night?” he said to nobody in particular, for the room was empty of life save his.
I did, you removed the medallion, and I needed to feed. The unearthly voice echoed in his head. He was quite used to his visitor. He barely struggled as he placed the medallion back around his neck and sighed.
“Did you at least go elsewhere in the city, or did you stay in the same area?”
I moved to a new area, and found a most satisfying morsel. You should be awake when I take us out next time, you might enjoy yourself.
“That is not part of our accord at present. Go and hide yourself, I have quite a bit to do today”. He heard his visitor chuckle as the otherworldly consciousness withdrew itself to dark recesses of his soul.
John Ross, former Major in Her Majesty’s Green Rifle Brigade, pulled himself out of bed, and inspected his body. There were fresh cuts on his arms, legs and over his abdomen, all showing the pink of scar tissue, healing quickly. He shook his head at his visitor again, dressed, and made his way downstairs to breakfast.
“Good morning Major Ross”, his housekeeper greeted him with her usual cheer.
“Good morning Ms. Devonshire, please, can we drop the rank from the titles and honours?”. Ms. Devonshire and her family had worked for the Ross family for a number of generations. It would, in fact, be easier to get the sun to change direction than try and change Ms. Devonshire’s habits. With a smile, he took his meal quickly.
“There’s a message that came for you early this morning Sir”, Ms. Devonshire held out a small envelope, adorned with the royal seal in gold leaf.
His curiosity piqued, John accepted the envelope, opened it and read the note quickly.
“Seems someone is making an attempt to summon me back to duty. I’ve a date with the Foreign Office this morning.” John tucked the note back into its envelope, and secured the message in an inner cat pocket.
“Yes Sir. I’ll have your uniform cleaned today and have the boys clean up your kit”. Replied Ms. Devonshire with her usual business tone.
John held up his hand in an attempt to forestall her. “Let’s not get hasty, I have not accepted any commission. Can you at least let me attend this meeting before we assume I’ve returned to commissioned service?”
Ms. Devonshire huffed. “Of course Sir. Shall I call a cab for you?” she inquired.
“No need. The subway is now running, I’ll take that into the City and make my way as usual.”
“Very well Sir”, she departed the kitchen in a huff, her bum wagging just a bit too much, as she muttered something about subways being not good enough for the Ross men.
=======
John arrived at the required office with the Foreign Ministry a good 10 minutes prior to the appointed time. He introduced himself to the secretary of the office, who escorted him through an unmarked office door, offering him a seat.
“The Under Secretary will be with you momentarily Sir.”, she stated and promptly departed.
A moment passed and Bernard Stinston, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, formerly Major Stinston, entered the office extending his hand to John. “John, how are you man? It’s been too long.”
John smiled, shaking his old friend’s hand with a shared warmth. “Yes”, he replied, “it’s been too long. How are Missy and the little ones?”
“Quite well, you should come by soon for a visit”. John exchanged pleasantries with his old colleague, and then decided to get down to brass tacks.
“Bernie, what’s going on? Why the official request and such for a meeting?”
Bernard, cleared his throat, putting on his official persona, “It’s a bit complicated Johnny. There’s a rather small but vexing issue that’s come to the attention of the Crown. The issue requires a flexible mind, and I thought you might be the chap for the job.” Stinston waited patiently. John knew he expected him to jump for joy at the unnamed opportunity.
“What’s the rest of the story Bernie? What aren’t you telling me?”
“The rest of the story, yes, well, here it is. As you know, there are still magic clans and kingdoms sharing this country with the Crown, and exist in a symbiotic relationship with the Crown?”, Bernard looked to John for understanding. John nodded. “Good. Well, it seems that one of these kingdoms is having an issue that requires a strong hand to resolve.” He held up his hand forestalling the question from John, “a strong and professionally discrete person who isn’t afraid to use, shall we say, any means needed to resolve the problem.”
“Like we did in Cathay?”, John’s reply came out before he considered the implications of his statement.
“Well, somewhat. Do try and not kill citizens in open markets this time hm?”
“What is my benefit if I take care of this issue for the Crown?” John inquired.
“Full reinstatement, new commission to the rank of Colonel. If you take the assignment, we provide you a commission to Lieutenant Colonel. Granted, that’s not something you will be allowed to use in any way.” Bernard though he has Ross on the hook.
“That’s it? Expunge my record of the Cathay Expedition and you have your man.” John knew he was taking the job, might as well get as much as he could from the offer.
“Done.”
“Who am I working for; what is this kingdom?” John’s curiosity was piqued. He had heard of some of the fabled magical folks, and had even seen one or two when he was younger.
“It’s the Fae Kingdom. A number of their people, some of them their version of royalty, have gone missing. You are taking Tea with their Ambassador this afternoon.”
=====
John hailed a handsome after his tea with the Fae Ambassador. It has been an eye opening experience. Apparently not all faeries had wings. Who knew? And 50 pound sterling as reward for each soul returned to their, what is it, their territory, their forest?
Fae are delicious morsels; they have tender souls. His visitor had woken.
“No eating them; I am bound to return them to their People.” John replied to him.
I have not taken such an oath.
“No. Eating. Fae. My soul, my rules.” And with that again the cruel chuckle as his visitor withdrew.
The next morning John boarded a train for Cheshire.
He woke at his usual time, about 5am, his room was dark, with no hint of sunlight peeking in around drapes or curtains. He stretched, muscles sore for unknown reasons, and felt around his neck. Startled that his neck was bare of jewelry, he looked about, finding his medallion on the bedside table.
“Did you get out last night?” he said to nobody in particular, for the room was empty of life save his.
I did, you removed the medallion, and I needed to feed. The unearthly voice echoed in his head. He was quite used to his visitor. He barely struggled as he placed the medallion back around his neck and sighed.
“Did you at least go elsewhere in the city, or did you stay in the same area?”
I moved to a new area, and found a most satisfying morsel. You should be awake when I take us out next time, you might enjoy yourself.
“That is not part of our accord at present. Go and hide yourself, I have quite a bit to do today”. He heard his visitor chuckle as the otherworldly consciousness withdrew itself to dark recesses of his soul.
John Ross, former Major in Her Majesty’s Green Rifle Brigade, pulled himself out of bed, and inspected his body. There were fresh cuts on his arms, legs and over his abdomen, all showing the pink of scar tissue, healing quickly. He shook his head at his visitor again, dressed, and made his way downstairs to breakfast.
“Good morning Major Ross”, his housekeeper greeted him with her usual cheer.
“Good morning Ms. Devonshire, please, can we drop the rank from the titles and honours?”. Ms. Devonshire and her family had worked for the Ross family for a number of generations. It would, in fact, be easier to get the sun to change direction than try and change Ms. Devonshire’s habits. With a smile, he took his meal quickly.
“There’s a message that came for you early this morning Sir”, Ms. Devonshire held out a small envelope, adorned with the royal seal in gold leaf.
His curiosity piqued, John accepted the envelope, opened it and read the note quickly.
“Seems someone is making an attempt to summon me back to duty. I’ve a date with the Foreign Office this morning.” John tucked the note back into its envelope, and secured the message in an inner cat pocket.
“Yes Sir. I’ll have your uniform cleaned today and have the boys clean up your kit”. Replied Ms. Devonshire with her usual business tone.
John held up his hand in an attempt to forestall her. “Let’s not get hasty, I have not accepted any commission. Can you at least let me attend this meeting before we assume I’ve returned to commissioned service?”
Ms. Devonshire huffed. “Of course Sir. Shall I call a cab for you?” she inquired.
“No need. The subway is now running, I’ll take that into the City and make my way as usual.”
“Very well Sir”, she departed the kitchen in a huff, her bum wagging just a bit too much, as she muttered something about subways being not good enough for the Ross men.
=======
John arrived at the required office with the Foreign Ministry a good 10 minutes prior to the appointed time. He introduced himself to the secretary of the office, who escorted him through an unmarked office door, offering him a seat.
“The Under Secretary will be with you momentarily Sir.”, she stated and promptly departed.
A moment passed and Bernard Stinston, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, formerly Major Stinston, entered the office extending his hand to John. “John, how are you man? It’s been too long.”
John smiled, shaking his old friend’s hand with a shared warmth. “Yes”, he replied, “it’s been too long. How are Missy and the little ones?”
“Quite well, you should come by soon for a visit”. John exchanged pleasantries with his old colleague, and then decided to get down to brass tacks.
“Bernie, what’s going on? Why the official request and such for a meeting?”
Bernard, cleared his throat, putting on his official persona, “It’s a bit complicated Johnny. There’s a rather small but vexing issue that’s come to the attention of the Crown. The issue requires a flexible mind, and I thought you might be the chap for the job.” Stinston waited patiently. John knew he expected him to jump for joy at the unnamed opportunity.
“What’s the rest of the story Bernie? What aren’t you telling me?”
“The rest of the story, yes, well, here it is. As you know, there are still magic clans and kingdoms sharing this country with the Crown, and exist in a symbiotic relationship with the Crown?”, Bernard looked to John for understanding. John nodded. “Good. Well, it seems that one of these kingdoms is having an issue that requires a strong hand to resolve.” He held up his hand forestalling the question from John, “a strong and professionally discrete person who isn’t afraid to use, shall we say, any means needed to resolve the problem.”
“Like we did in Cathay?”, John’s reply came out before he considered the implications of his statement.
“Well, somewhat. Do try and not kill citizens in open markets this time hm?”
“What is my benefit if I take care of this issue for the Crown?” John inquired.
“Full reinstatement, new commission to the rank of Colonel. If you take the assignment, we provide you a commission to Lieutenant Colonel. Granted, that’s not something you will be allowed to use in any way.” Bernard though he has Ross on the hook.
“That’s it? Expunge my record of the Cathay Expedition and you have your man.” John knew he was taking the job, might as well get as much as he could from the offer.
“Done.”
“Who am I working for; what is this kingdom?” John’s curiosity was piqued. He had heard of some of the fabled magical folks, and had even seen one or two when he was younger.
“It’s the Fae Kingdom. A number of their people, some of them their version of royalty, have gone missing. You are taking Tea with their Ambassador this afternoon.”
=====
John hailed a handsome after his tea with the Fae Ambassador. It has been an eye opening experience. Apparently not all faeries had wings. Who knew? And 50 pound sterling as reward for each soul returned to their, what is it, their territory, their forest?
Fae are delicious morsels; they have tender souls. His visitor had woken.
“No eating them; I am bound to return them to their People.” John replied to him.
I have not taken such an oath.
“No. Eating. Fae. My soul, my rules.” And with that again the cruel chuckle as his visitor withdrew.
The next morning John boarded a train for Cheshire.
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