The Horror at Raven Creek
The Wizard
Black Sabbath
Chapter 5: Mysterious Neighbour
Teddy sat quietly under the shadow of an ancient oak tree; Victoire was cuddled up against him. The rain had been falling for two days now, but they had decided to stay and give some sense of adventure to their small trip to the Highlands. That had been the first time they had made love; right under the oak tree in the middle of a summer rain, surrounded by the cool mist and the fresh scent of trees and grass. Miles away from anyone, it had seemed as if that particular place in the world had been made just for them. It was a moment captured so vividly in Teddy’s memories that sometimes, in his dreams, he could almost taste her lips as if he had returned to that particular event for a brief, marvellous moment…
Among colourful flowers, they lie,
The dead here have a great time.
“Wait a tick. What was that?” Teddy murmured between sleep and consciousness.
They rise and chat, and sing and dance,
For a bit of fun, never miss the chance
.
Then he woke up. Since his sleep had already broken by a soft chant coming through his window, Teddy got up unsteadily and went to look outside. What’s happening? On his way, Teddy stepped on several pools from water that had worked its way past their last night’s measures. Aside from making him trip, the coldness of the water helped him to finally lose his grogginess.
Teddy moved the curtains aside, and his first sight was the fog. The morning was exactly as the day before: the whole town was surrounded in a sad mixture of grey shades. It seems light just shuns this place.
Past the mist, Teddy saw the whole town gathered in the graveyard. They were the ones singing, in a quiet and eerie tone, while Arges Griffith directed them from a small hilltop in the northern end of the cemetery. Next to him, Teddy saw an open casket.
Teddy narrowed his eyes trying to catch a glimpse of the person in the casket, but the casket’s cover was in the way. If having the cemetery in the entrance of the town had surprised Teddy as an overly unwelcoming sign, he certainly took it as a bad omen the fact that someone had died the morning following his arrival. Still, the Auror vein in him voiced its opinion. For the sake of the case, he needed to know the identity of the deceased, just in case that person had anything to do with the case.
Hearing a loud yawn, Teddy turned around and saw Archer waking up in the next bed. He sat on the bed and blinked a few times before turning to look at Teddy.
“Uhm… and… who might you be?” Archer asked.
Perfect… lazy memory. “Ted Lupin, your partner and Trainee, remember?” Numbskull.
“Ted?... And… where am I?” Archer scanned the room.
What in thunder is wrong with this bloke? “You seriously can’t remember?”
Archer looked at Teddy once more, then closed his eyes and seemingly fell asleep again still seated. No wonder he’s always late for work.
Teddy turned back to see through the window, but just then Archer’s brain seemed to start running as he gave another loud yawn, and when he spoke again he sounded more like his normal self. “Hey, kid, good morning. What time is it?”
Something is definitely wrong with you, mate. “Don’t know, early morning I suppose. It’s always a bit dark in this town, it seems.”
Archer opened his eyes slightly. “What’s that?”
“The song?”
“Yeah.”
“Not sure, someone snuffed out and the whole town is in the graveyard.”
Archer got up and went to the window. Both men looked at the scene in silence and were able to hear the complete song:
Rest in peace, to them we say,
Not just yet, they answer back.
They rise and chat, and sing and dance,
For a bit of fun, never miss the chance.
Among colourful flowers, they lie,
The dead here have a great time.
Rest in piece, to them we say,
Heaven can wait, they answer back.
Teddy eyes widened. These people definitely have a few marbles rolling upstairs.
“Charming people, aren’t they?”
“Very.”
“Well, kid…” Archer looked at him smiling, “… better get ready if we want to find what that is about. Or are you getting cold feet?”
Teddy was annoyed at how easily Archer seemed to switch moods: from being barely conscious to his arrogant self. However, in his haste, Archer had failed to notice one particularly large puddle that had formed in a small depression on the old wooden floor. As he walked across the room, his ankles sank in cold water. Now, that’s cold feet, I say.
“That’s called poetic justice, did you know?” Teddy remarked.
***
Teddy left Willow Manor and began running towards the graveyard; he wanted to take a closer look at the funeral since it seemed so different from others he had seen. However, there was also the chance that the death had some kind of link to their current case. I mean, what are the chances of someone dying the next morning after we arrived?
Teddy stopped a few feet from the gate; Archer arrived a few seconds later, panting slightly. However, they were not allowed much view. As soon as they had arrived, the townsfolk noticed their presence and stared silently at them.
Why do I smell trouble? Teddy gripped his wand. Not two seconds later, the large figure of Arges Griffith was making his way by shoving the townsfolk aside.
“How dare you?!” barked Arges “Don’t you have any respect? We are conducting a funeral here!”
If it had not been for Steropes Brown and Brontes Willow, Arges would have surely charged at them. While both men struggled to keep him at bay, Asenath LeSorcier approached as fast as the uneven earth allowed her.
“Gentlemen! Gentlemen, please behave!”
Arges stopped struggling, even though he was still looking at Teddy and Archer as if he wanted to rip their heads off.
“Now, Aurors,” Asenath addressed Teddy and Archer, “I’m afraid I will have to ask you to leave.”
“Why?” asked Archer rudely, without taking his eyes off Arges.
“Please,” spoke Brontes, “you must understand the people still have doubts about your stay in the town. Please, let us take care of this matter, and we can explain everything later tonight.”
Teddy still wanted to know what was really going on, for he felt something that was out of place but was not able to put his finger on it. He decided that it was for the best to leave in peace, besides there were other places they could search for clues.
“I think we should agree,” Teddy said calmly.
***
Dear Victoire:
…
Fuck. Teddy was again inside his room in the Manor trying to get a letter ready for Victoire. It was always hard to do this. Somehow, her calm and beautiful face often worked in getting him to spill out his feelings and thoughts. Whenever he had wanted to see her during the holidays he simply showed up wherever she was. She inspired him, and without her, it was hard to concentrate.
Besides, what could he tell her?
Hi, we’re staying in a ruined try of a house surrounded by a bunch of odd-looking, ill-mannered, and quite likely crazy people. But I’m good, what about you?
No, that wouldn’t do.
The letter couldn’t be about that of the town that scared him; because if this was meant as a comforting letter, it might have the exact opposite effect. The last thing Teddy wanted was to cause her to rush recklessly to Raven Creek. The little he had seen of the town and its people had already made him uneasy, and he wouldn’t want Victoire to get affected by that too.
No, it couldn’t be a sad, preoccupied letter; he didn’t want her to worry excessively. But he couldn’t lie to her with an everything-is-fine kind of letter.
He definitely needed her; she was his inspiration. I should have brought her picture.
Teddy rummaged his pocket. Harry had once told him not to take any photos with him on his missions, because if they got lost or taken, that might cause the people on the pictures to become targets. However, there was a certain picture he always carried with him. Extracting it carefully from his pocket, Teddy observed a small, old picture featuring a young woman with bright pink hair standing next to a man who, on a quick look, might appear quite old because of the lines on his face and the grey in his hair. But Teddy had always heard how his father had always been quite younger than what he looked like. To go with this, he had heard that his mother always looked younger than her real age. Teddy knew that he had inherited from her the likeness for weird hairstyles and hair colours.
He also fondly remembered one afternoon that, as thousands times before, he had tripped on a bloody awful umbrella holder made from what seemed like a troll’s leg in Harry’s house, 12 Grimmauld Place. Everyone found it, to Teddy’s opinion, too funny to be honest. That was until Harry had told him that his mother, Nymphadora Tonks, also tripped on the blasted thing every chance she got.
On the other hand, once when he had been studying for his OWLs, he had been holding his jaw with one hand as he reflected on the possible answer, and Aunt Hermione told him that he had the same ‘thinking pose’ as his father.
He always felt a bit odd when looking at this particular picture. He had many others of his parents: the ones from their wedding, the picture of the Order of the Phoenix, and many others from when they were young. But this one, this particular picture that no one remembered to have taken, was his favourite. Maybe because of the mischievous grin on his mother face before pouring a butterbeer on his father, or maybe because of the ‘you’re going to pay for it’ glance his father gave her afterward or perhaps because of the good laugh, the kiss, and the hug that followed…
“That’s your old man?” Archer asked, looking at the picture from above Teddy’s shoulder. Teddy felt like punching him in the nose. After all, he had caught in him in a very private moment.
“So, is he?”
“Yes.”
Archer remained silent for a while and Teddy knew what he was thinking, and it filled him with rage. “Come on,” he barked.
“Huh? What?”
“Go ahead, ask! ‘Was your father really a werewolf Teddy?’” he said in an inane voice, the one he was always tired of hearing when that question was asked.
“Hey, relax, kid. I already knew that.”
“And then you would ask something like: ‘what was your mom think ¾’ What?”
“I said I already knew that,” Archer said calmly.
Teddy lifted an eyebrow. “And… you are okay with it?”
“Why shouldn’t I? It’s not what we carry in our veins, but the choices we make that define us.”
Teddy was not sure what to think. It was not often he encountered someone who was okay with being around the son of a werewolf.
“So… can you howl?” Archer asked, and Teddy narrowed his eyes at him. He knew Archer was just trying to tease him, but still, there were limits.
“Because Anna can roar. I mean, really roar, like a bloody tiger. She puts her wand against her throat, and instead of using the Sonorus charm she does something else and she roars.”
“Has a thing for tigers, doesn’t she?”
“Yep. I don’t have the first damn clue why, though.”
“And you… are an Animagus too?”
“Me? Nah, never liked it. I mean, I trust myself better when I have a wand in my hand.”
Both men fell silent for a while, until Archer spoke again. “You look like him… well, sort of.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think you look like him, but Mr. Weasley once mentioned that you act more like your mother.”
Teddy didn’t quite know what Archer had meant, but as he seemed to let go of the subject, he also left his anger behind. He turned to look at where Archer was now heading, and saw a pack of letters.
“How many people are you writing to?”
“Oh, well…” he picked up the one of the top, and folded it closed. “This is for your godfather. It’s the mission status and your… development report,” he said smiling.
I don’t like that smile at all. Teddy narrowed his eyes, but chose to let Archer keep explaining.
“This one here is for Mr. Weasley. I always ask for his advice on difficult tasks. And this one is for my girl, Alex, and I tell her… well, that’s none of your business, savvy?” he said. Both men then started laughing.
“Have you got yours ready, kid?” Archer asked once the laugh was over.
***
Dear Victoire:
First, let me assure you we arrived in perfect state, a bit tired but no reason to complain, after all, I wasn’t planning a holiday.
The town we’re staying in is very grim, there’s a lot of fog and people mind their business without crossing us. They seem to carry a quiet and humble lifestyle.
Accommodations are… well, I’ve had better. But even the main chamber in a palace would feel empty without you, love.
Anyway, we are making slow progress here, people don’t seem to know much and we are just about to go and explore to find some physical evidence in probably important spots.
My biggest complaint, however, is being away from you. It’s been only one day, and I already miss you.
I must say bye for now. There’s only one owl and plenty of letters to deliver, so I can’t overload the poor bird.
See you soon,
Ted.
Victoire Weasley folded the letter she had just read and smiled to himself, relieved. Sure Teddy was having a hard time, but she knew him enough to correctly deduce he was trying not to get her worried about him. She looked up and gave a small treat to the owl that had brought her Teddy’s letter. The owl had, apparently, still two more to deliver, and left quickly after claiming that small reward.
“So, how is he?” asked Aunt Ginny. It was Sunday, and as usual, Harry, George, Ron and the rest of the men had gone to drink a pint or two while they discussed Merlin-knows-what. In the meantime, Grandma Molly, Hermione, Ginny, Angelina, and, sometimes, Fleur and Victoire joined for a small only-girls time with tea and biscuits. Aunt Ginny and Aunt Angelina, however, often spiked the tea with stronger liquids.
This time, only Ginny and Hermione joined Victoire, as everyone else had errands to do; her own mother had a few businesses in the house to take care of and in fact Victoire was meant to join her later. But she had judged it wouldn’t hurt to stop by and have a small chat with her favourite aunts.
“He is fine. It seems the place is a bit hard to put up with, but I know he’ll make it all right.” She smiled, more to herself than to her aunts.
“I remember the first time Ron was away on a mission. He was gone for two weeks, he owled everyday except for the last three, and I went¾”
“Hysteric,” added Aunt Ginny. Hermione threw her a stern look, but Ginny only laughed. “Well, you were! And don’t give me that look; it only works with my brother.” The three women laughed openly.
“Well, I seem to remember one time Harry got sent to… was it Wales?” Aunt Hermione spoke, and this time Ginny paled.
“You wouldn’t dare…”
“And he was meant to guard a prestigious singer, Dana Weaver, and guess who showed up at my doorstep drunk of jealousy?” Aunt Hermione asked Victoire, while Aunt Ginny turned bright scarlet.
“By the way,” she said, recovering some composure. “Don’t tell Harry that, he doesn’t know it yet.”
The chat went on for a few minutes, the teasing going back and forth between Aunt Ginny and Aunt Hermione. Victoire knew that they were trying to convince her that she shouldn’t worry about Teddy. It was not necessary, though. Although she was concerned about him, she also trusted him deeply. The last night they had spent together he had promised he would come back, and Teddy had never broken a promise to her.
Finally, Victoire stood up, it was time to say goodbye and go visit her mum. “Well, it’s been fun, but I must really go now, excuse me.” Victoire waved at her aunts before facing the hearth and throwing the Floo Powder in it.
Just as she was about to enter the green flames, Victoire heard Hermione say to Ginny. “Know what? I was hysteric.”
“And I was positively drunk,” added Aunt Ginny. Victoire rushed into the green flames before her laughter could reveal to her aunts she had heard them.
***
Being forbidden from going into Raven Creek for the day, Archer came up with the idea of searching the other two towns, Dunwich and Kingsport, in search of any clues that might arise. Since they already knew the area, it was no problem to Apparate in the outer parts of the Sentinel Mountains.
Teddy and Archer took a few steps towards a tall ledge and looked to the south. There was a nice extension of green forest that made it impossible to spot Dunwich.
“We can Apparate at intervals,” suggested Teddy. “First, at the edge of the forest, then from clearing to clearing until we are on the other side.” Teddy knew this way they could get by faster through the wood, however, such approach would risk being spotted by Muggles. But it was a useful technique, and besides, Teddy had wanted to do it like that since they first looked for Raven Creek. It hadn’t been possible that particular time, because they could have got lost in the forest due to the dark and the mist; it was the same reason they hadn’t brought brooms along.
Teddy was not, after all, that fond of brooms. He could hold his own while flying, but could never make it to a Quidditch team. He much preferred Apparition: it was easier, faster, the opponent never knew where you’d show up, and you could cover much larger distances in a shorter amount of time. Besides, Teddy knew he was quite good at it.
Teddy and Archer then nodded and quickly spun. The next second, Teddy had Apparated at the edge of the green forest, falling accurately on the soft and cushioned grass. Archer, on the other hand, miscalculated the landing spot and ended up on an uneven ground, causing him to fall down and hit his back heavily against a tree.
Teddy first laughed softly, but then went to help his mentor get up. Archer was swearing loudly as he brushed of the grass from his clothes.
“You should be more careful,” said Teddy, still amidst guffaws.
“Don’t laugh, kid, I… I stepped on a snail!”
Yeah, right.
“Anyway, sift your arse, we have little time.”
Teddy, still laughing, started to walk, not noticing a branch that hung right in his path and hit his head hard against it. “Ow! Fuck!”
“Ha, ha. Now, that’s poetic justice, savvy?”
***
Lightning lit up the sky. Soon after leaving the green forest behind, rain had started to fall heavily. Archer wore his soft hat again as Teddy went for his hooded cloak through the crowded streets of Dunwich.
Teddy remembered how Aylesbury was coloured in bright tones and offered a cosy aspect, especially compared to Raven Creek. Dunwich looked very different. It was a town full in the style of the old feudal cities, completely surrounded by a thick wall of stone, meant to repel the barbarian’s raid parties… or so the Muggle version said. Some cities, founded by wizards and witches, also had an outer wall, but it had been built as a power channelling structure, designed to attract the currents of magic energy to the inside and used to power up their defendants’ magic against invading enemies… whether human or not.
It was very warming to one’s spirit to notice that people in Dunwich were much more… alive than those in Raven Creek. Despite the bad weather, the people were out on the street, chanting, dancing, laughing, and drinking. On a closer look, Teddy saw that the streets were adorned, and as they were nearing the town’s square, Teddy’s ear was delighted by the joyful music of the band.
“It seems to be a festivity of some sort,” he pointed out.
“Any important date comes to your mind, kid?”
“Not at all, maybe it’s a local thing.”
Teddy and Archer walked until they arrived at the square and met most of the town in loud celebration. Among the drunken chants, Teddy could discern very few things, both because of the noise and the more-than-slightly-drunk state of the attendants. Actually, Teddy could only vaguely tell that they were chanting about something that sounded like the ‘vanquishing of evil.’
Teddy communicated this to Archer and both men decided to separately try to get the townsfolk to talk to them in detail. It was easier said than done. Between drunk and cheery, the best Teddy got from the townsfolk was an invitation to drink a pint. After nearly an hour of fruitless efforts, Teddy and Archer reunited under a great clock that ornamented the government hall.
“Any luck, kid?”
“Nah; they seem to be having a very good time.” Just then, a happy dancing couple, or a poor attempt of a drunken dance, jolted Teddy sending him against the stone wall of the building.
“Seriously, how jolly can you get?” remarked Teddy. “What now?”
Archer grinned slightly. “Well, we might as well join the party?”
“What in thunder do you mean?”
“Follow me.”
Teddy followed Archer, pretending to be annoyed, but was actually thinking a drink wouldn’t be too shabby.
Archer led Teddy a couple of blocks east of the square until they arrived at a pub which sign was that of a barrel of beer full of holes through which the beer flowed; it was called ‘The Last and Then Straight Home.’
“I spotted it as we were heading to the square and fell in love with the name.”
“Original, I’ll give you that much.”
“Now, kid,” Archer said as he turned to look at him with a more serious look. “Don’t go thinking this is just some trick of mine to skip working and go for a drink. I like a nice drink on a cold night much like any other bloke, but you must understand that, despite that it may seem the opposite, I never stop doing what I have to.”
“Do you now?”
“Seriously! The thing is that these kinds of places are gold mines when you are looking for vermin.”
“If you say so.”
Archer opened the door and both men entered the warm pub. It was warm and dimly lit. All the tables were taken so Teddy and Archer sat at the bar. A tall, round man, with a walrus-like moustache soon came to them.
“What’s it going to be, gentlemen?”
“Two pints, please.”
The bartender quickly brought the order. Teddy and Archer each took their beers and before Teddy went for the first drink, Archer tapped him on the shoulder. “To your first case, kid.”
“Cheers.” They clanged their pints and then both took a long drink. After they put the beer down, Archer pointed to the bartender with a finger.
“He reminds me of Professor Slughorn, because of the moustache. Does he still teach at Hogwarts?”
“No, he retired before I entered Hogwarts.”
“Pity, I really liked him. And he was one of the only ones who ever showed me any kindness, savvy?”
Teddy didn’t answer, but merely look at him, awaiting an explanation. Archer continued after taking another drink. “You see, when I entered Hogwarts, I was coming from an especially hard part of my childhood; mostly it was my immature self exaggerating things, but I was. The thing is that I was always a mischievous kid, and I was okay with it until Anna came.”
“Sibling rivalry?”
“Don’t take me wrong, kid. I love my sister, I really do, but I must admit she made my childhood a bit hard to endure. I’m not talking about the times when she used her talents to torment me, but the thing is that she was always the smarter one, the well-behaved one, the prettier one… you know what I mean. And I was the slacker, the punk, and the good-for-nothing-other-than-fighting, dim-witted older brother. So, I must say I grew jealous of her and was already a perfect prat and a punk when I got to Hogwarts.”
“McGonagall,” guessed Teddy. Archer snorted and laughed lightly.
“Yeah, old, strict McGonagall. I can’t really blame her, though. As I told you, I was a total punk. You must have heard the stories of your uncles, the Weasley twins. Well, maybe since you grew pretty close to the family you never noticed it, but in Hogwarts they were legends. Now, I also made a name for myself, but for far worse reasons.” Archer’s face acquired a sudden sadness Teddy hadn’t noted before.
“You know what they say that when you first get to Hogwarts, that your House must be like your family, right? Well, I… I certainly failed at that. I made no distinctions on who I picked on, even younger kids from my own House. I was such an ass. So, it was only logical that McGonagall came to hate me. There was a time I actually thought I was going to be expelled. But Slughorn saved my arse.”
“Really? How?”
“Well, once, about my twentieth fight… McGonagall was positively livid since I had hit the captain of Hufflepuff Quidditch team. He couldn’t be cleared in time for the game.”
“What did you to him? And what did he do to deserve it?”
“Number two: he tried to get smart with… with the girl I…”
“I get it. Skip that part if you like.”
“Well, with this girl, so I taught him some manners. Now, as for what I did to him… well, I really don’t think you want to know.”
“If you say so.”
“What happened with the girl?” Teddy asked after a while in silence.
As he answered, Archer’s face was tainted with sadness. “It didn’t work out. You see, the downside of being like I was back then was that most girls were… afraid of me; they thought I was some kind of lunatic. So they all turned me down.”
“All? How many are we talking about?”
“Take my word, you do not want to know that either.”
Teddy said no more, and for a while, all they did was drink their pints. The drink was actually good, to Teddy’s surprise.
“Why did you say Slughorn saved your arse?” Teddy asked to break the silence.
“Oh, right! Well, the thing is once I fought a couple of resented gits: I kicked their sorry arses to Liverpool and back. So, when I turned around, I saw him at a corner. I thought I was going to get detention, but he actually invited me to some kind of gig.”
“He invited you to the Slug Club?” Teddy had heard stories on how Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were part of it, and how that had always bothered Ron. He had grown an interest in seeing if he could be a part of the Slug Club himself, but by the time he arrived at Hogwarts, Slughorn had already retired.
“Yeah! And, at first, I had no idea why! After looking around a bit, I noticed everyone was a relative of someone important, or minted or something like that.”
“Maybe he just wanted a tough enforcer in case he ever needed one.”
“I suppose so, because he said he had liked my fighting. After that, I used to train with him every free chance I had, and after a while, he convinced a former Professor, Filius Flitwick, to train me. It was thanks to their training that I became a champion, though I had to do it even years after I had finished school. And yes, it turned out Slughorn did want me in case he needed a good fighter, ‘cause I had to save his arse a couple of times when he got on the wrong books of some scallywags.”
So that’s why he is so good at duelling. Teddy knew that Filius Flitwick had once been a champion duellist and Charms Teacher at Hogwarts.
“What about your family? Anyone famous?”
“Nah. My Dad is always on how we are supposedly descendants of some very important family, but I’ve never been into that. Anna got along with Dad much better, so, if you want to know the full story, ask her.”
Both men then fell silent, and Teddy then felt a sudden sadness. He lacked a family history for the simple reason he lacked a family to begin with. Sure, his grandmother had been nothing but the kindest to him, and the Potters and Weasleys practically took him as one of their own. And he did carry on the legacy of the Black Family, but which wizard didn’t? He had once looked at the Black Family tree in his godfather’s house, and had come to the conclusion that practically every family of wizards had a relationship with the Blacks. Hell, with a bit of chance, maybe even Archer’s old family was related to the Blacks.
“A while ago, when you said ‘all the way to Liverpool and back… is there something you have against Liverpool?”
“No, on the contrary. Alex lives in Liverpool, and I live in Watton-at-Stone; and I always tease her saying it’s so bloody far away that she is the only thing that makes the trip worthy:”
“How can you say it’s far? You can Apparate and be there in a tick!”
“Well, yeah, but it’s still very bloody far!”
Archer then looked beyond their little chat and stared at the pub owner for a while. Then, he turned to face Teddy smiling. “You know? Mr. Weasley has his methods, I have mine.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Time to work. Except that now, YOU must get the information.”
“What?! Me? But…” Archer then leaned his head on his forearm on the bar and began snoring, feigning sleep.
“Jeez…” Teddy had little time to lament since the pub owner was approaching. Quickly, he tried to recall Archer’s approach at the Aylesbury’s pub.
“Look’s like our fine ale is too much for your partner to handle,” said the pub owner.
“Yeah, my…” Think quick, mate. “… brother isn’t accustomed to this kind of drinking.”
“If I’m right, it’s your first round.” Bugger.
“Well, we had a few drinks before. Seems quite jolly around here.”
“Ah, that will be because today we have something to celebrate, sir.”
“And, what will that be?”
The man laughed for a short while. “Outsiders, right? I can spot one a mile away. Anyway, sir, today we celebrate the cleansing of our time.”
Teddy noticed Archer’s false snoring had stopped; he was no doubt listening in. “Cleansing?”
“Yeah, well.” The pub owner looked around at the rest of the customers. “You’ll see; there is an old legend here. Folk say that once, wizards and witches lived in this town, and then one day God’s good people grew tired of their devilry and threw them out.”
“Cast them out? How?”
“Father Curtis stood in front of their house and ordered them to abandon town. They chased them with torches and stones. Those workers of the devil stood no chance.”
Teddy was about to ruin everything and ask how, if they were indeed wizards, didn’t defend themselves. But he then remembered that a long time ago, lynching someone of uncommon manners and blaming that person of devilry or witchcraft was the norm.
“How long ago was that?”
“Over two-hundred years ago, they say.” And his suspicions gained yet another element in favour. Yeah, most likely was the lynching of some poor soul the town didn’t like.
“Now, it hasn’t done much good, if you ask me,” continued the pub owner, and that got Teddy’s attention.
“Why is that?”
“Well, because ever since there are always children gone missing. I think it’s that bloody entity they banished, getting its revenge.”
Teddy’s felt his blood going cold. Again, another town reported children missing in unexplained circumstances since long time ago. And this time, Teddy had managed to get the precedent of a fact that called his attention, but on which he needed more information to get a solid opinion.
With that on his mind, Teddy spoke to the pub owner again, “Look, mister, my brother and I are touring around the area and we need to get to Kingsport as quick as possible, do you know a way of getting there?” As he did so, he recalled Archer’s actions at Aylesbury, and placed a few coins on the bar.
The pub owner placed his mop on the coins, and then spoke. “Well, there is an express that leaves at midnight in the western station. It circles the Sentinel Mountains heading north; it stops at Kingsport for a couple of hours, then at Arkham. There’s nothing to see there, though. And after that, it keeps going north until it reaches Oxfordshire.”
Teddy thanked the man and paid for the pints. Archer awoke from his feigned sleep and both men then left the pub.
“See? You did great, kid.”
“We definitely need to see what the folk in Kingsport have to say.”
“We should also ask the folk in Raven Creek if they know of such story. Did you notice he didn’t mention Raven Creek at all?”
“Yeah, maybe there are some other forces at movement here.”
“In any case, we need to stay alert.”
To be continued…