From The Ashes (The Ministry of Curiosities #6)(5)

"We're a rare breed."

"It is a comfort to talk to someone again. I miss company. I miss laughter and serious discussion alike. I miss music. These walls used to echo with it," he murmured. "No longer. Ever since that woman arrived, the air here has grown stale."

"Mrs. Denk has that effect on air. If you miss company so much, why do you stay? Why not cross over?"

"I swore to protect Inglemere. The day the siege began, I promised the folk that I would watch over it, even from my grave, if that became necessary. It did, as it happened. I died that day."

"I'm sorry," I said quietly. "Truly I am. But the siege was a long time ago, Sir Geoffrey, and your contemporaries have all passed. You can go now."

"It's my duty to protect the castle." He sounded offended. "I do not shy away from my duties, Mistress Holloway."

"No, of course not." I would not press him on the point. Some ghosts wanted to remain in this realm, and it was their choice to do so. Usually they wished to resolve an issue before moving on, like get revenge on their killer, or wait to see if a loved one found happiness again. Very few remained indefinitely. "How much do you see on your wanderings?" I asked him.

"Everything. I see all the comings and goings. That woman bought the castle after my line died out, sadly, but there was little I could do except haunt it. I slammed doors, moved furniture, and flung objects about, but nothing I did frightened her. She remained. One of her students was the first medium I encountered. She acted as an intermediary and the leader and I came to an agreement. I could stay here, quietly, and she would not alter the castle according to the plans she'd drawn up. I agreed." He sighed. "What more could I do? I had no power to stop her, only frighten her students. I will not leave. Ever."

"You're very noble, Sir Geoffrey, and very loyal to Inglemere. I admire you for it."

"Thank you, Mistress Holloway. The dungeon is rarely occupied, hence I have few reasons to venture down here, but I heard them speak of you in hushed tones, holed up in this place forsaken by God and your mistress." He sighed. "It's no better down here now than it was in my time. Are you cold?"

"Extremely." Here was a hope. If I could only get him to do something. "You came down here to check on me? That's very kind of you."

"It is my duty," he said rather stiffly. I wished I could see him, as I suspected he could see me in the dark. "I came after hearing a maiden beg that woman to release you."

"Alice?"

"I believe that is her name."

"Good for her. I knew she was the bravest person here. What did Mrs. Denk say?"

"She sent Alice to her room without food."

"Oh." I drew up my knees and rested my forehead against them. "Poor Alice. When was that?"

"Time has little meaning for me. Dawn is making an appearance now."

Some time ago, then. Mrs. Denk truly didn't care for my welfare. Perhaps she really would leave me in here to die. "Sir Geoffrey, will you do something for me?"

"That's why I came. No gentle woman should be imprisoned down here. It's fit only for traitors and Frenchman. How can I help?"

"Is there another escape route? A secret tunnel perhaps?"

"No. One entry and exit, via the stairs."

"Damn." I could force him to enter a dead body from the church graveyard I'd spotted beyond the trees, and then frighten Mrs. Denk into handing over the key, but that would require a wait. Besides, there was another way. Perhaps. "Can you give a message to the medium?"

"There's another medium here aside from yourself?"

I didn't tell him I was a necromancer, and that there was a difference. "Her name is Meredith. She's about my height and her hair is dark with tight curls. She likes to wear pink. You'll find her in the third bedchamber from the old kitchen."

"The servants quarters," he said absently. "I will fetch her, but she may not be a medium. She does not acknowledge me."

"She will if you talk to her directly. Tell her she must get the key from Mrs. Denk somehow and slip it under the door."

"And if she will not do it?"

"Tell her to fetch Alice. Alice has more courage. She'll do it." It begged the question, however—why hadn't she already tried to get the key and freed me? Or had she tried, and failed? "Thank you, Sir Geoffrey. I appreciate you coming here to help a damsel in distress." If a little flattery insured he did his best, then so be it.

"I can't spend much time convincing her," he warned me. "I must continue on my rounds. The perimeter must be secured, the battlements made ready. The French army lie in wait just beyond the trees and may attack today."

Oh dear. So he was mad after all. I supposed it was unlikely that a spirit could reside here for so long, alone, and not have lost part of his mind.

Chain mail rattled and then suddenly ceased. He'd vanished. I waited. And waited. It felt like hours. To take my mind off my hollow stomach and icy bones, I sang every song my adoptive mother had taught me as a child, and when I finished those, I began again, and again, getting louder each time.

"Cease this infernal noise!" shouted Sir Geoffrey finally.

"You're back!" I didn't tell him I'd almost given up. The hint of madness hadn't instilled much confidence in me. "Do you have news?"