Chapter 5: Grim Return

Sharon and company have kept up their sprint through the forest, even zigzagging a few places and their scouting skeleton Baden had even set up a diversion with some tracks and marks leading potential pursuers away.

Eventually they arrived at a clearing that Sharon deemed adequate to regroup and figure out the next part of their plan.

Guinefort came a little later, lacking the infinite stamina that the anatomical automatons can manage. He arrived at a small camp set up with the remaining supplies they had brought with them.

Sharon was being brushed clean of the dirt that the potato sack had had, her dress being adjusted by her skeleton Madeleine, while Leonard was treating her hair. Others had set up a blanket and some food, mostly provisions from the kitchen such as bread and sausages, but also some of Sharon’s favorite treats and other assorted goodies that were meant for other nobles she was to visit.

Guinefort sat down exhausted on the blanket, accepting a jug of water provided by a skeleton.

“Thank you. Sharon, can you tell me what’s exactly going on here?”

He started chugging down the water as Sharon explained about how Malvein had tried to drug her and imprison her in his castle, how she had managed to escape at the cost of one of her servants and how they had all disguised themselves and stealthily exited the castle until they were found out.

“But why would he do that? Isn’t your House well known? Part of the kingdom?”

“Everyone in the kingdom is at the very least uneasy with us due to our trade, but the actual noble leaders and heads of houses tend to be more charitable. This is all very unorthodox…”

Wiping his mouth and catching his breath, Guinefort says:

“Could it have something to do with your castle being taken over?”

Sharon’s eyes pop open.

“What did you say?!”

“Well, after our previous meeting I got incredibly rewarded for ‘my’ bravery. As I was marking the paper work for my adventurer license for that mission, I was told that someone like me should go over to Castle Acheron.”

He took another sip of water before Sharon knocked it out of his hands, having crawled over the blanket towards him.

“AND!?”

“A-and I asked why. I remembered you were from there so I was curious and the receptionist said that the Acherons had been arrested for conspiracies against the crown! House Lethe has occupied the castle and any adventurers, mercenaries etc are to be going there for a big job.”

Sharon had leaned into Guinefort centimeter by centimeter as he explained, her eyes furrowed in concentration. Once the last bit of information was given she darted up.

“Pack everything up and take me home!”

With incredible efficiency the skeletons packed everything up, including pulling the blanket off the ground making Guinefort tumble before Sebastien picked her up and they sprinted off.

Guinefort lay there, still having not caught his breath and lifted himself up to follow them.Sharon held on tight to Sebastien as he held her in a cradle carry. She held on for dear life as they were all running much faster than what she usually asked of them, especially without her sedan chair that’s still back at Vinebridge castle.

“Wait… Sebastien! You’re of House Lethe, aren’t you?”

The skeleton nodded as it jumped over a fallen log.

“Why would they do this? They’ve been loyal allies for generations. Father told me how you volunteered for us in exchange for House Acheron settling a debt, and the Lethes have been doing very well since then.”

Unfortunately Sebastien could not sign at this moment so he remained more mute than normal as the skeleton crew made their way through the oak trees.

“Not to mention… Marcus is a Lethe as well. He’s been working for us since I was little. He gave me that satchel that I gave to Malvein. Was that a signal?”

So much was running through Sharon’s head as they were literally running through the woods, that she was taken by surprise when they had stopped by an outlook at the edge of the forest. From there they could see her castle, castle Acheron in all its glory.

Only it wasn’t quite in its glory, not the way she had left it earlier.

The castle was a courtyard castle with a moat. It was meticulously well kept thanks to the skeletons that the house used, allowing every nook and cranny to be well kept and pristine. It used to have their banners hanging on the walls, making it clear to anyone that it was in fact the Acheron’s castle, carrying their coat of arms, the same one on her necklace.

But now they’ve been replaced by House Lethe’s banners, their signature gold poppy flower within two circles over a deep purple.

Sharon stared at the many mercenaries arriving, tying their horses to the posts that guests would use outside, Lethe soldiers giving them the go ahead to proceed in.

Her fury knew no bounds and was about to leap down and confront them all, stabbing them herself if need be when Sebastien put his bony fingers on her shoulder. She stopped, looked up at his lack of pupils and then took a deep breath.

By the time Guinefort caught up once again, they had set up another little camp. The skeletons provided him with another jug of water which he heartily accepted.

“It’s just like you said. House Lethe is occupying my home. I have no idea what’s happened to my father, my family, our servants. We need to get in there and find out what’s happening.”

Guinefort was still catching his breath finishing his water.

“You can’t just waltz in there, even if it is your home. With the effort they put in trying to capture you, they’ll be doing their damnedest to do it again.”

“I know. But you, you can get in, can’t you?”

“I should be able to, everyone else at the adventurer guild were keen to go there, so my license should give me access.”

“And I’m sure they wouldn’t mind a squire to join you even if they don’t have a license, right?”

“Uhhh, I think that’s doable, but again, you kind of stand out lady Sharon. Your outfit is probably worth more than what all the men down there tend to earn in a month.”

“Nonsense, I’m sure adjustments can be made. Madeleine! Use what we have to make a squire outfit for me! Use his supplies if necessary too!”

“Now wait just a momen-”

Guinefort’s protests went unheeded as the skeleton Madeleine grabbed his rucksack to dig through his supplies for any material that could be used.

He marveled at the quick work the skeleton was doing. Clearly they weren’t created equal, as not all of them seem to be capable of the same feats. At least not to the degree they specialize in.

Using sewing equipment it still had saved, sharp blades to cut cloth and leather, and immaculate accuracy and control, it had crafted a squire’s outfit consisting of a wool tunic, leg coverings, ankle boots and most importantly, a chaperon hat to subtly disguise her face.

Meanwhile Leonard had adjusted her hair, letting loose her two twin pig tails and tying it up in a bun that could be hidden beneath the chaperon.

Once the other remaining skeletons had forcibly pushed Guinefort several meters and trees away from Sharon as she was dressed, the adventurer returned to see the haughty aristocratic brat now looking much less noble.

“You look terrible,” Guinefort chuckled.

“Thank you! That means I’ll blend in with you perfectly!”

“We should probably get going now though. From the looks of it whatever is going to happen will happen soon.”

“Just let me pack our stuff first, we don’t want to go in unarmed…”

Sharon instructed her skeletons to pack Guinefort’s rucksack and her own bag with some weapons, blades, hand axes. Guinefort didn’t like others working with his bag but they were too quick to fill it in quickly that he couldn’t even tell what was being put in.

“Alright, let’s go!” commanded Sharon.

“Hold on!”

Sharon turned around to face Guinefort only for him to dump some spears on her, catching them in her arms by surprise and effort.

“Squires tend to carry the knight or hero’s equipment after all. For the disguise, of course.” He said with the widest grin he could manage.

“Of course.” She replied with the most dagger filled stare and frown she could manage.

“The rest of you stay here on standby. We’ll be back soon!”

The skeletons nodded as they helplessly watched them walk down the outlook and onto the path, walking towards her ancestral home and hopefully to a solution to all of this.