Chapter 8 - Exploration (2/2)
”Please lead on!” Rowan happily said as they followed Sir Knight Prince out of the attic. On their way to the first passageway, they pass by all the generations of the Prince ancestors that curiously studied them back.
After seeing the portraits of the Prince family, Rowan came to one solemn conclusion, those that continued the Prince family line were all gaunt like figures with dark hair. And those that seemed remarkably cheerful or were rather good looking either married out of the family or tended to die rather young such as in case of Sir Knight Prince. Yes, the good looks in the family literally tended to die off.
”And here we are,” Sir Knight Prince loudly proclaimed as they halted before a nude, female Greek statue on the third floor. Severus blushes as his eyes dart away as Sir Knight Prince with an appreciative gleam in his eye for the female statue. ”Now just tug down her robe,” Sir Knight Prince instructed.
Severus and Rowan turn to dubiously eye Sir Knight Prince as though he is a pervert. ”The passage was made by one of the Prince forefathers as he had several mistresses,” Sir Knight Prince hastily explained.
”Figures,” Rowan thought to herself as she and Severus silently debate, who was to be the unlucky fool. After a silent, but a rather fierce game of paper, rock, scissors, Rowan emerged victorious in the end.
Rowan makes a fist in delight as Severus reluctantly tugs on the skirt of the fair maiden. A creaking sound is heard as the wall swings back to reveal a passageway. ”This passage just goes down to the fifth bedroom on the second floor as that was where the founder's favorite mistress at the time use to stay at,” Sir Knight Prince explained.
”I feel that the Prince family has produced plenty of dubious, lustful characters,” Rowan drily said as she eyed Sir Knight Prince in emphasis.
Sir Knight Prince glances away as he guiltily says, ”That may be true, but the younger generations have done much better!”
”That's only because they all died young and foolishly in wizarding duels,” Rowan stiffly retorted, acutely aware of said deaths due to the plaques under the family portraits.
Sir Knight Prince has no comeback to that and quickly leads them to another passageway. The portrait in question is of two lovers as a man rows a maiden across a lake portrait only for their two be wiggling tentacles starting to creep out from under the dark waters of the lake. ”Early hentai, huh?” Rowan privately mused to herself.
”Just run your finger against the left side and there will be a small indent to further push in,” Sir Knight Prince patiently instructed.
Rowan does as she is instructed when the portrait swings upward to reveal a descending tunnel. ”This tunnel here leads to the dungeons,” Sir Knight Prince said as he leads the way inside. Rowan shrugs and follows as Severus furrows his brows and does the same.
The portrait closes shut behind them, but despite the gloom, Sir Knight Prince's silvery glowing body provides excellent lighting. They emerge into a damp dungeon filled with storage items and cobwebs. Rowan and Severus choke at the mildew and dust as Sir Knight Prince points to the south wall and says, ”Just tap this wall over here thrice.”
Severus does as he is told as a dark tunnel appears in view. ”This tunnel leads all the way into Norton next to the local historic house of some muggle noble. Either way, I don't recommend using it much as two of you are a bit young to go exploring the town on your own,” Sir Knight Prince said.
”Thanks,” Rowan said with two thumbs up. Sir Knight Prince sighs to himself at finding himself so easily blackmailed by the newest generation. But what is a medieval ghost to do in the face of the living?