Chapter 757 - Culling Ⅵ (1/2)
With care and more than a bit of huffing and puffing, Tamara rolled the unconscious figure of Mulciber Sr. into a trunk. After swiftly and most carefully cleaning up the parlor room, she emerged from the parlor room. The echoes from the laughter of guests and flowers and herbs can be heard echoing down the hall.
Striding across the hall to the hall intersection, Tamara carefully motions to two middle-aged footmen. The two footmen are handsome and former herbs, who had retired to less strenuous employment within the brothel. With a poker face, Tamara says, ”Mulciber Sr. had elected to depart from the establishment via the back door after having been serviced by Ada.”
”And what is that you require of us, Sous-chef Tamara?” Asked one of the footmen.
”Mucliber Sr. requested that the trunk left behind in the parlor be delivered to the Monarch pub,” Tamara coolly said. ”I trust that I do not need to warn either of you that the utmost care must be taken in delivery and that the contents of the trunk are to remain unknown.”
The two footmen nod their heads as one of them audibly gulps. The Potentate of London did not deal kindly with those who were far too nosey for their own good. It was better to remain ignorant and alive than to foolishly peek inside and be found buried in a shallow grave.
Under Tamara's instruction, the two footmen did exactly as they were instructed. They hurriedly, but with care removed the trunk from the establishment, before apparting near the Monarch Pub. The trunk was wordlessly received by the two hulking guards within the pub before the two footmen hurried away. The two footmen would quickly put the incident out of mind and sight lest they utter anything that might cause the Potentate of London to silence them.
At that time, it had yet begun to snow, but the Monarch Pub had already been cleared for the evening. Bertram was busy planning the attack upon the Ministry of Magic with Sanderson that he had barely paid any attention to the trunk that had been delivered. Having already been instructed by the boss, Hyde and Floyd wordlessly took the trunk downstairs to the bas.e.m.e.nt. In fact, the contents of the trunk were only known by a total of four people, Madam Zenarie, Ada, Tamara, and Sanderson. For whatever reason, Sanderson was keeping his cards close to his c.h.e.s.t even from those that he trusted.
After the arrival of those gathered under Sanderson, the first group went out, while Bertram carefully explained the plan to the two remaining groups. The second group was composed of their most competent and dangerous members. The second group went out leaving those most likely to betray them as the last group to depart.
After some time, Bertram's nose flared as he raised his gaze to the stone ceiling. The faintest scent of magic and spilled blood could still be smelled by him. It wasn't much if any at all, but it came from above. Just what had gone wrong with the second group? Had the group rebelled against Sanderson's orders leaving Floyd and Hyde to reinforce the orders? That surely but be it, he appeased his concerns with such a thought, but still, the unease did not leave him.
Bertram's thoughts are interrupted by the figure of Sanderson, who opens an ale barrel. ”A pint of ale, before we go,” Sanderson invitingly said as he motioned for all present to take a tankard and drink a pint of ale.
Eagerly, the group moves forward including Mundungus Fletcher. Each takes a tankard and fills the mug to the brim with white foam floating on top of the golden liquid. They all refrain from sipping from their tankards until everyone has a full tankard. ”To the future,” Sanderson raised his tankard in cheer, before downing the pint of ale.
”To the future!” Those in the third group nosily group cheered before slurping down the tankard of ale. Mundungus Fletcher accompanies them while Bertram merely takes a sip of the offered ale. Chattering eagerly, they reach for their wands to suddenly find the floor moving pugnaciously beneath them.