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A round robin by Peter A. Worthy, Ian Davey,E. P. Berglund & James Ambuehl
Although priced above what was his usual limit, Trenton was very curious about the looking glass and was anxious to purchase it as a conversational piece for his new home. It was unusually octagonal in shape, the frame encasing it was of dark ebony and carved with strange markings that he couldn't quite make out, probably faded with age he assumed. The tag attached simply said. "Ebony Framed Looking Glass, circa. 17th Century." No other clue was forthcoming. It interested him. When he stared into the glass, Trenton thought he could just make out some kind of writing, but it was blurred and indistinct so he put it down to his imagination. There was nothing else in the dingy curio seller's that had caught his eye and so he approached the old man. "I want the looking glass on the side over there."
"I'm afraid it's part of a recent job lot, I only put it out so I could unpack the other items in the case for cataloguing. Anyway, the local museum has already offered me a good price for the whole lot. I'm sorry, was there anything else?" He asked apologetically. Trenton was fascinated with his find and was not about to be easily put off. "Look, whatever they've offered, I'll be happy to cover it, maybe better it. It's quite unusual and I really want it." The old man appeared to think it over. "It certainly is unusual, isn't it? As I said though, it is part of a job lot."
"What else is there?"
"Some manuscripts - bound and unbound - old books and a few letters. The museum have been most insistent about purchasing all the items and another case from the same place, mostly curios of a bizarre sort, certainly I've never seen their like before. The museum's offer has been more than generous." Trenton shrugged, if nothing else the other stuff could be used to liven up the sparsely ornamented house he had just bought. "Like I said, I'll better their offer. And I'd like the other case too." He could go over the contents of both cases in his own time, it would give him something to do. Ever since he'd arrived in England there had been a surplus of time on his hands, his inheritance had seen to that.
* * *
The cases were delivered to Trenton late that afternoon. He concentrated on finding a suitable place to hang the looking glass. After a couple of hours going through every inch of the house, he settled for above the mantel in the large upstairs library, to take advantage of the natural light. He also manoeuvred the cases in. Instead of going through the curios as he'd originally intended to do, Trenton resolved to do it in the morning as he was feeling somewhat exhausted, despite it having been an easy-going day. He walked up to the glass for a last satisfied look, peering intently into his reflection, again he experienced the odd notion that there was something lingering just beneath the surface.
A dizziness began to overcome Trenton, in fear of fainting he stumbled back awkwardly into a nearby chair. A fleeting impression formed in his mind, the image of an old, old man with a powerful force of will. He shook himself brusquely, the light-headed feeling slowly passed as did the momentary picture of the mysterious man. Confused and more than a little unsure of himself, Trenton concluded that he should take himself to bed for a night of restful sleep. It was his habit to read before going to sleep, but none of his usual books were to hand, so he reached into a packing case to see if there was anything to look over. The first thing that came to hand was an untidy bundle of aged letters. Satisfied with these, Trenton went to his bedroom and browsed the first letter, all of which appeared to be in old English.
Jubal,
Of ye matters concern'g us both, I did find ye formula in ye Confessions of ye Mad Monk Clianthus as yr advice indicat'd I would. I did compare it with ye formula given me by Saul, which he claims to have copied from ye Necronomicon of Philetas. As yr grow'g fear indicates there is much amiss. It hath prov'd likelie that yr caution was well advis'd, yet I have already cast ye Ritual. I know you possess a copy of Eibon's Booke, mayhap there is some help to be found therein?
I see now I should have shown more thought.
Await'g yr answer.
Ethan Grey
Although unfamiliar with the names of the books mentioned, Trenton guessed that Jubal, Ethan and Saul were involved in some sort of sorcery, or at least believed they were. Intrigued, he made to read the next letter when he noticed writing on the reverse of the first in a different hand. It appeared to be some sort of informal journal entry.
Ethan,
Dear friend, did I not warn thee? I have gleam'd naught from ye Cthaat Aquadingen or Yergler's Chronike Von Nath. Saul is ye only one who doth possess copies of ye Necronomicon and Prinn's De Vermis Mysteriis - I dare not approach him as t'would alert him of my do'g. I must find someth'g lest Ethan be consum'd by some Other. Khut-Nhah's Booke of Iod and Klarkash-Ton's Booke of Eibon contain sartain protections against Them from Outside, is it in them I shall find ye answer?
Trenton found himself becoming totally absorbed in the air of worried haste conveyed by the note, obviously Jubal's he surmised. The man was certainly afraid for his friend, but who was Saul and where did he fit in to it? That something was going on was quite plain. He read on.
Old friend,
I have ponder'd much on Saul's origins of late. There is more to him than first appears, do you not find this so? I am sartain of it. Ye Testament of Carnamagos that he doth keep securely locked away hath given me pause for thought, does he live in ye shadow of ye Keeper of ye Dust, Quachil Uttaus? I know not. Yr references to Luveh-Keraphf's Black Rites hath afford'd potent protection for me, but for how long? Saul hath taught us almost all we know, though you have gone further than even he suspects. Is it but a matter of time for me? For us both?
Now more than ever, I need yr counsel Jubal.
It was clear that Saul was mistrusted by Jubal and definitely somewhat feared by Ethan, which was borne out in the next journal note that, as Trenton had expected, Jubal had penned on the back of his friend's missive.
I am ill at ease.
Rumour doth hint that Saul hath visited ye ruins of ye nefarious Chateau de Fausseflames. If so, what did he bear away with him? I have almost exhausted my sources, my latest acquisition, ye Liyuhh, hath prompt'd much worry'g thought. I fear more and more for Ethan and myself, Saul is indeed our Master in ye Elder Lore, yet I must not cease my efforts on Ethan's behalf.
More alarm'g. Saul did this very eve visit me. I concur with Ethan, there is more to Saul Webb than we at first believ'd. How did we get involv'd with him? We are as mice to him. What is his motive in all this? He complains that ye Trone Tables and ye Ethics of Ygor provide only part of the solution he seeks. He is still much enthrall'd by Transmigration of ye body to dimensions beyond conception. He seeks my copy of ye Song of Yste. I was sore press'd to put him off, but did manage it at the last.
In his speech, he did let slip that he hath creat'd a gateway, but is loathe to test it without first perus'g ye Dirka volume, I believe he is much afear'd of ye Adumbrali or ye Hounds of Tindalos that ye Song of Yste doth warn of.
Trenton started to grow uncomfortable, it was becoming more apparent that something disquieting was going on two centuries ago, but what? Was the answer in the letters? Perplexed and uneasy, he continued to read, however he could find no more letters from Ethan. Instead there was an extract that Jubal had copied out at length from some unspecified source:
Strange was ye disappearance of one Ethan Grey, doctor to ye small community of Woadley not too distant from ye town of Redding. Grey was a widower, his young wife having pass'd away over a year ago, and had tak'n to walk'g of an even'g through ye Woods of Bull Marsh wherein rumour doth say a ruin'd manor does lie abandon'd. On this occasion, however, he did not return from his nocturnal wander'g. Assum'g ye good doctor did have business elsewhere none were at first duly worr'd, it be'g his habit to go travell'g at a moments notice. On ye third day, with still no sign of Mr. Grey and sore anxious after his health, some colleagues did visit his close friend, one Jubal Valpy of Redding.
Mr. Valpy declar'd he had no knowledge of any plan of Mr. Grey's to be away and did seem most concern'd for the doctor's well be'g. He return'd with his visitors to Woadley, whereupon he did organise a thorough search for Mr. Grey with no success. No mark was found, not a trace and t'was remark'd it was as if ye good Mr. Grey had vanish'd off ye face of ye Earth. Mr. Valpy did turn pale and was not'd to be awful brood'g and much agriev'd. He did stay for two more days, after which, resign'd, he did take up his th'gs and depart never to return.
That very even'g a fire did break out in ye home of Ethan Grey and did burn ye place to its very ashes...
So Ethan had disappeared, "...vanish'd off ye face of ye Earth.", and his house had burned down not long after. Trenton flipped through the rest of the papers looking for some further note by Jubal which could explain what he believed had taken place, for Trenton was sure he would have some idea if not actually known. No note came to hand. He decided to go through the packing cases to see if any letter had come lose from the bundle, he was quite amazed. For every book mentioned in the correspondence was here, even those supposed to belong to Saul - assuming Jubal's sources had not gotten them for him from elsewhere. It was in the front of an aged, bound manuscript, Black Rites, that he found what he was looking for, only to be mystified more.
I have this day taken possession of Ethan's library. I would rather he was remember'd as ye noble man he was, and not revil'd as some foul sorcerer. I am truly lost. I feel no comfort in anyth'g. Not even in what I have done. I do not ask God for his forgiveness, for I am not a God-fear'g man. Perhaps that is my undo'g.
I have also tak'n up Saul's library, for he will have no further need of them. I have seal'd ye secret vaults beneath ye ruin that is Bull Marsh House, little wonder Saul chose to abide there. I have done what I can to efface any trace of ye evill of Saul Webb, but he is strong and not so easily contain'd.
I hope none disturb what I have set.
Jubal Valpy
So Jubal had taken Saul's books, but surely such a man as Saul was would not have been persuaded to part with them? "...no further need of them."? What did he mean by "...not even in what I have done." and "...none disturb what I have set."? Obviously Jubal had done something after the disappearance of Ethan, but what and why; and what of "...ye evill of Saul Webb..."?
Copyright © 1997 Peter A. Worthy
