Just A Little Piece (or Two) Of The World I Have Been Visiting... | armine's Blog

Story Title: The Dacia Tribe (Cult Of Jedrus)

Time: 1700

Location: Kassel and the surrounding hills

Main character: Herr Darick Herdt, who has been privately hired by Count von Wallich of Lohfelden to investigate a series of disappearances in the hills to the east of the city (Kassel).

Excerpt is toward the end of the story...

A loud knock at his room door startled him out of his semi-hypnotic state.

He opened the door just wide enough to have a look at who his visitors might be; he saw two well-dressed men standing there whom he did not recognize.

"What do you want?" he asked tersely.

"Herr Herdt - we need to speak with you", answered one calmly. "We have been sent from the state court of Hesse-Darmstadt, to speak to you regarding certain matters".

"Show me your credentials", ordered Herr Herdt.

The two men glanced at each other, but then quickly held out valid indentification and an order that was stamped from the state.

Herr Herdt scrutinized each document with his one peeking eye from behind the door, then gave them entrance into his cramped quarters.

The two visitors were alarmed and more that a little spooked by what they saw in the room (as well as Herr Herdt's gaunt physical appearance), but kept their opinions to themselves.

"What is this about?" asked Herr Herdt, slamming the door as soon as they had both crossed the threshold.

"Count von Wallich is missing", said the second man. "Do you have any idea why?"

Herr Herdt appeared insulted by the inquiry. "No, of course I do not. What makes you think that I would?"

"You were working on an assignment for him", said the first one, and now he has just disappeared like so many others".

"I don't know anything about it", Herr Herdt told them rather flatly. "Is this all you came to see me about? I'm sorry to have wasted your time..."

Fifteen minutes later the two state messengers left his room and then the premises, both agreeing that their subject needed a psychiatric evaluation done in the very near future...

He disappreared into the hills and visited with Kyriah again; inside her small cave home was a room full of heavy, leather-bound books.

"We are versed in four languages", she told him as he casually perused through the books on the shelves. "We speak German and Hungarian, but we also read and write Latin, and Gothic as well".

"I wish to meet the ringleader".

"He wants to meet you too".

Herr Herdt glanced over at her, unsure whather to believe her.

"May I call you by your first name?" she asked.

"I hardly know you", was her visitor's reply.

Awhile later Kyriah went over to him and handed him a sackful of Curio. "These will keep you safe, protect you", she said as his hand stayed for too long over hers. "Everything will be fine".

"Do you know the status of Count von Wallich?"

"I cannot discuss it with you. You will meet Gotzon. Soon".