The Investigation

After Miho departs, Diomedes turns and walks back to the townspeople. His face is stoic, the tone of his voice he makes to sound like a priest back home in Epirus.

"Before I begin my investigation." Diomedes begins. "I would like to ask some questions. I would prefer to talk to those who have seen the troublemakers."

The farmers and the town smith look amongst each other. One man, Tannard Cooper, he identifies himself, admits it. "We all tried to drive 'em off during the Spring, Doctor. Didn't figure them being all that dangerous, it being such a.. ah. pretty ship and all. We lost a few neighbors and gained a few widows that day. But I seen 'em." Tannard lowers his eyes. "When they lopped off Lucas' head like it was a rooster fixin' to become Sunday supper with a big ol' sabre.. well I'm ashamed to say that I took off running."

A few of his comrades quietly insist that no honest man can stand up to devils and witches, and the like. Tannard still looks like he'd like to dig himself a well and jump on in.

Diomedes nods and listens, continuing to take a grave mien. However, as the stories unfold, he doesn't have to put on any semblance.

"I'm Horace Weaver, Doctor," another fellow introduces himself. "We have another man that's seen 'em better than anybody. Jacob Cooper," he gestures back towards town. "Back before the fighting started, and before the Red Skins got in on it.. before we started to dam the river.. Well Jack thought they was angels or sumthin'. Got in a row boat and went out to meet 'em. They spared his life, but Jack aint been the same since." Horace shudders.

"They wasn't what I was expectin' that's for sure," murmurs Tannard.

'We've heard the Indians haven't had much luck with 'em either," adds Smith Mumford

"It is a pity that my associate has business of her own, gentlemen." Diomedes responds. "You have given me much to work with. Be it known, I will deal with whatever unnaturalness sits there in the river."

Another look of relief passes over all of them this time

Diomedes swings a finger to point at one of the men.

"Tannard Cooper. You spoke of them not being what you expected. What did you mean by that? And I wish to speak with Jack. Walk with me, take me to where he resides, and tell me everything that you know on the way."

Cooper nearly jumps from fright when Diomedes levels his finger in his direction. He looks around anxiously before submitting. "Yes.. yes sir."

"In the meantime." Diomedes turns to look at the group. "I want a discreet watch put on that witch ship, if you don't have one already. Anything happens on board or around it that doesn't look right to your eyes, you come and find me. Exposing their devilry is the first step to beating it."

Diomedes pauses and then nods his head as he finishes.

"They who do evil feareth the light."

A chorus of 'amens' and a few 'praise be' follow Diomedes' solemn declaration. Then the other men are cajoled into action by Mumford. "You heard 'em you boys! We got to get ourselves organized again.."

Before Diomedes and Tannard Cooper walk off, Diomedes will learn something of their previous strategies. They used to have a regular watch and re-instate it if there is anything remotely like an ill omen. However they have gotten comfortable with the belief that the people from the Crystal Ship will not come into town so long as they don't approach the river itself. Instead they hide in their houses, fearing midnight visitations. Anyway- at Diomedes' prompting that is being put right.

Diomedes nods as they explain the prior situation, preferring the gravitas of silence and contemplative thought to say more than any words with which he might respond.

Cooper is reluctant to speak at first, but when Doctor Dismas gives him a stern look, he finds his voice. "That's just it Doctor, they weren't monsters like I always pictured devils to be. They were.." he whispers, "..they were beautiful." He describes men and women both, with skin like mother-of-pearl and alabaster. "Really- hard and shiny.. perfect.. inhuman." Eyes of silver and turquoise and as tempting and seductive in form and shape as any story of a siren or mermaid told off the shores of Epirus. Cooper is shamed as he speaks. "The witches, both the men and the women- they tempted us with their wanton wickedness- before they came down off the ship to slaughter us." He shudders. "Its no wonder that they drove poor Jack mad."

"Is it not written that evil can take a pleasing shape, to better infect the souls of goodly men and women?" Diomedes responds. "If one must face temptation, and many of us face it every day, then one must be strong enough to resist it."

Tannard shakes his head. "You're right Doctor. I was weak. We're lucky to have you here, to show us the way. The Preacher, he's a good man, but I don't think he's got the same grasp of things.. like you do."

Tannard takes Diomedes by Jack's home. Sullen children watch as they approach, and the home looks like it is being maintained, but only barely. Knocking on the door, Jack Cooper's wife answers and Tannard proceeds to explain the situation- pointing out that Doctor Dismas has need to see of her husband. The poor tired looking woman explains that; "He was talking strange again- speaking prophecy again.. The boys walked him up to the Church for me." Her eyes well up in tears. "I just couldn't take it no more, Tannard!" She doesn't slam the door, but closes it quickly.

Tannard wrings his hat in hand, and nods in the direction where a wooden church has been built. "He'll be with Reverend Twiddy. He deals with him when no one else can. Mostly he's not that bad," he explains weakly. "But he has some bad spells. Talks about strange things that make no sense to nobody."

"A spell of madness, perhaps." Diomedes murmurs.

The two of you walk your way towards the community church. Diomedes can hear the voice of what must be the Reverend, trying to soothe and calm what must be the voice of Jack.

The disturbed man cries out so that Diomedes can hear him plainly even before crossing the threshold.

"In an age to come! Summers will be flowerless, and cows barren. Women will be shameless, men strengthless. There will be trees without fruit, fruit without trees, and seas without fish! This the bloody black threetimes goddess has shown me! Old men will give false judgements! Legislators will make unjust laws! Warriors will betray one another!" The voice starts to trail off.. "Men will become thieves, and virtue will vanish from the world along with the towers of Avalon.."

Diomedes listens to the words to the disturbed man. He murmurs words that likely Tannard will not understand.

"Avalon. Faerie? Unearthly men and women." He puts a finger to his lips. "Familiar, very familiar. A stricken land." Diomedes claps his hands together and speaks louder. "To business."

Diomedes apparently breaks Tannard's own train of thought because he starts at the sound of his clap. He rallies quickly though. "Right behind you Doctor."

With a nod to Jack's kinsman, he crosses the threshold without hesitation and enters the church.

His eyes rove to locate the Reverend and his stricken sheep, and moves toward them slowly, but purposefully. As he approaches, he speaks

The church is sturdy, but plain wooden construction. The lamps have not been lit yet, as the sun has not yet fallen, but long shadows fall across the rooms as the afternoon sun is starting to set.

Reverend Twiddy is a tall lean man, dressed in a black frock coat and pants and starchy white shirt. His face is not particularly lined with age, but his hair is silver white and brushed back against his scalp- betraying his years somewhat.

Jack Cooper sits on a bench near the front of the sanctuary. When Diomedes enters the sanctuary, Jack turns right around on the bench where he is seated and stares directly at the son of Brand- as if he felt him coming. He's the older of the Cooper Brothers, heavier set and thinner of hair. Jack.. doesn't look too good. He's pale, and clammy looking, damp with perspiration.

Two young men are also present in the room, their ages about 12 and 14. The youngest runs to Tannard the moment he spies him.

"Good Reverend Twiddy, I am Doctor Dismas, sent by the Governor. I am here to speak with Jack, to better learn and combat the evil that has come down upon the Community and Congregation."

"Doctor" exclaims the clergy. "You're a sight for sore eyes. We're so-"

"That ain't no man, Preacher!" Jack bellows without warning, jabbing an accusing finger towards Diomedes. "Check his shadow, make sure its in the shape of that which walks on two legs!"

At this, the youngest boy runs helter skelter across the church towards Tannard. "Uncle Tannard, they say the Devil's got up in Pa!"

"That will be quite enough young man," Reverend Twiddy scolds, "no fallen angel can enter the Shepherd's house-"

Once again the minister is interrupted by an abrupt and disconcerting moan from Jacob Cooper, whose eyes have rolled up in his head.

The younger boy wraps his arms around a bewildered Tannard. Tannard keeps calm though, and gently pushes the boy away. "Lucas," he instructs the boy, "you run on home now. This ain't no place for you. You go take care of your Ma, and tell her I'll see that Mitch gets back alright. You hear me, boy? Do as your uncle sez and get going.."

"Listen to your uncle." Diomedes says quietly to the boy, but his gaze turns to the afflicted one.

But in the end all eyes are on Jack. His eyes snap forward to stare at Doctor Dismas once again. "I see a bird.. like a pheasant, only bigger.. greater.. and it's on fire. You ain't no Doctor.. you ain't no human being.."

Diomedes narrows his eyes. His voice is low and soft. "Phoenix."

At this Lucas makes for the door as fast as he can run. Meanwhile, Tannard calls to the other young man in a numb voice. "Mitchell? Boy, maybe you better come over here by me."

What does Diomedes say in reply to this strange afflicted man? What does he do next?

Diomedes slowly approaches Jack Cooper. "Goodman Jack, I'm here to ask you about what you saw on the witch ship. If I am to free you from the influence which has spread like slow poison through your mind and heart, and free your community, then I need you to speak of what you saw. For I intend to go from this place and confront those who ride that ship this very day."

Jack Cooper continues to watch Diomedes warily.

Diomedes finally takes a seat on the bench on the opposite side of the aisle from Jack, after mumbling a few words of prayer in the direction of the sanctuary.

Diomedes hands are folded and he leans ever so slightly in the direction of Jack.

The other man stares at him for the longest time. Like a spooked horse, wavering between fight or flight.

At one point Reverend Twiddy starts to disturb the silence, and Tannard promptly hushes him.

Finally Jack whispers, "I thought they was angels. And maybe they are. But they ain't no angels of the Shepherd. Them are old testament angels, if that's what they are at all."

He wipes at his mouth then anxiously. Reverend Twiddy starts to mutter something, but Tannard takes his arms off the shoulders of Mitch, the older remaining boy, and very quietly stomps across the church towards him with a warning in his eyes. Diomedes will catch an exchange between the two that ends with Tannard telling Twiddy as long as the Doctor has Jack talking and being still, then the Reverend will keep his peace.

"They looked me in the eyes, and they made me tell all my stories. Even the secret ones, the private ones.. the stories that I never wished to tell anybody." Tears well up in his eyes. "And some of 'em laughed.. and some of 'em laughed."

Jack sniffs then and wipes at his eyes and makes to cough the shame out of his voice. "Made me look into their eyes too. Showed me things. Things for which I got no words, and the sight of which might set a man a-fire, like the Pastor says the face of God would do."

"Now that's quite enough!" speaks up Reverend Twiddy whether Tannard likes it or not. "I won't have blasphemy in the House of the Lord!"

"Reverend." Diomedes turns to Twiddy and speaks in a quiet, powerful voice. "Abide a moment, if you please. It is difficult to describe some of the stranger things in this world, things that we lack the vocabulary to understand. Do not overly judge him, or consider his words anything more than an attempt to describe what he has seen, rather than besmirching the Lord."

If Reverend Twiddy were a bird, one could describe his reaction as ruffling his feathers. Nevertheless, he acquiesces to Diomedes' reasonable words. "The afflicted don't understand what it is they say, yes- that's true." He stands down and lets Diomedes be about his business.

Diomedes then turns to Jack. "Pray, continue."

He then Jack stares sullenly at Twiddy for a moment before turning back to Diomedes. The room seems darker now, like the afternoon had stolen a few strides towards evening in the time Diomedes had spent here. "But they made a mistake, them angels did. They took a piece of my soul, and they put something else in it's place. Now I got 'angel eyes' too. That's how I knew you wasn't what you seem to be.. when you walked in the room."

He whispers to Diomedes in a conspiratorial tone. "I seen more than they think. They're pretending to test the faith of Evan's Mill. Like we was Job or sumthin'. But I seen their secret truth. I seen the bird of fire in their eyes. They came here because they thought it was probable that you might come this way. The White Lord, he's waiting.. he's waiting for you."

Diomedes blinks with an obviously surprised look on his face. "Does he at that?" Diomedes then relaxes and smiles. "Goodman Jack, you have been ill used by these folk and their White Lord. I will not forget it on the ledger that I will present to them."

He stands and walks over to the stricken man and places a hand on your shoulder. "And perhaps, once I have done so, you will find the peace that you deserve."

Jack closes his eyes, and for the first time since Diomedes has laid eyes upon the man, he appears to relax, just a little.

Diomedes lets go of the man's shoulder and then walks toward Twiddy after crossing himself before the sanctuary as he departs the front of the church.

"Thank you Reverend. Please do continue to take care of it. It is an awful thing, what has been done to Jack." Diomedes then walks over to where Tannard stands with the boy. "I now better know what face the Foe wears." Diomedes says. "And now, Goodman Tannard, I shall require a rowboat or it's like. Its time for me to face they who have stricken your brother and held the Mill in bondage dire."

Mitchell's eyes grow wide. "You're gonna go face 'em in the dark mister?" He peers at Doctor Dismas as if he must be the bravest, or the craziest, man alive.

"The boy's right Doctor," Tannard adds uneasily. "You only got a few hours before nightfall. You might want to do this thing in the morning."

"But you're the Governor's man," he weighs to himself. "You know best what needs to be done, and how to face these devils. If you want a boat tonight, I know it can be done. Your call."

Diomedes weighs the word of the boy and Tannard carefully, looking thoughful. With a reluctant nod, he sighs.

"It would be the sin of pride, Goodman Tannard, for me to face the evil at their strongest time, under the cover of night. Many are the foul things I have faced in my years, but it would be the height of foolishness to give these plaguing your town any advantage, no matter what I have vanquished before."

Diomedes pauses and then continues. "That hot food at the inn, and a quick breakfast at dawn, would also be welcome, and fortify me for what is to come."

He gestures for Tannard to lead him back to the Inn, for food, and rest, and eventually sleep. Before the latter, however, Diomedes prepares a spell he had not thought necessary prior to this.

He will do this under the cover of prayer, trusting that there will be a copy of their spiritual text in the Inn Room for him to have as a prop, if he is disturbed. Diomedes will prepare "Aegis", a force-bubble type shielding spell designed to deflect missiles. He will store this in Pagono. Diomedes will also review his other spells, flip through the spiritual book, and then go to sleep.

Morning will see him have breakfast, and then the rowboat to meet the strange ship, alone (although he will ask his men to wait on the shore where he casts off.)

Fortified by home cooking, Diomedes is escorted to the dock by a mixed company of men comprising representatives of the town and his own followers. A row boat that had been dragged off the waters (to protect children, the foolhardy, or otherwise spellbound and charmed), is carried back to the low river. Cautiously it is set on the water so that Diomedes can use it.

The group retreats from the bank as quickly as they can.

Its tricky for Doctor Dismas to climb in the little boat without getting his boots very muddy, but he manages somehow with better than human agility. Working shoulders that are deceptively powerful, Diomedes rows the boat away from shore. Soon he is out of sight of the dock, but not out of sight of those who might run around the nearby hill and look down from a high bank.

The Ship itself is a miracle of a rare device. It appears impossibly delicate, especially for it's moderate size. The hull composed of the finest crystal.. the ropes in the rigging and sails being spun silver. In fact, Diomedes might be tempted to call upon some minor magic to help shield his eyes; for the morning sun strikes the ship like a hammer, bringing rainbows from the heart of diamonds and making the silver shine brighter than snow from the furthest arctic north. And the people? The people they do not hide from him as he approaches. They stand at the railing of the Ship to watch him approach, looking at him askance.

"What are you." Diomedes says softly to the mystery ship.

They're not human; at least not like the villagers. Their hair is spun bronze, copper, and gold.. a few have skin of robin egg blue, or emerald- such that they could be taken for Rebman folk. They are magnificently beautiful.. Radiant to the point of being inhuman. They are marked by high cheekbones, a slanting of the eyes, and a slight pointing of the ears. But what wonderful and rich people they are!

The women whisper to each other as they lean over the side to study him. Diomedes will catch some of them baring their legs, or leaning over to offer him a glimpse of other earthly temptations. The men are terrible to behold, with painful white smiles and swords forged from materials that have never been worked by any man in this world. Amidst this company some of both genders wear armor, fashioned from glass and beryl.

Diomedes blandly smiles up at the exotic looking men and women but he does not dare to stare too long at one of them, or any of them.

But they watch him, even when they pretend that they're not.

As he draws alongside, a rope ladder is thrown down for his use. Murmured conversation and laughter drifting down to him from above.

Diomedes calls up, not grasping the rope ladder quite yet. He looks at it, and then looks thoughtful.

"Permission to come aboard and leave to depart at my own will?" he calls up, speaking in a formal, measured manner. He waits a timed thirty seconds for any response to come.

Right on cue, on the thirtieth second comes a feminine voice, soft and lyrical. "The former is a given, son of man. The latter depends solely on if you do, indeed, have the will."

Diomedes smiles, says nothing, and moves ahead with his plans.

Diomedes then mounts the rope ladder, confidently navigating the rungs one by one, preferring to look up at the sky, and the ship, to the distraction of the view of its beautiful and terrible denizens.

Once he reaches the top and steps over the edge and onto the deck, Diomedes moves slowly to the center of the deck, not letting his eyes settle on any one thing or person for a minute or so. Finally, he chooses one of the women, the nearest to settle his gaze upon, and address.

"I am here to see the White Lord."

Diomedes pauses a beat and then adds.

"I believe that I am already expected."