The Knight of Slaughtaverty

Chapter 32 - Shadowy Memories

When I return to my task, the cursor is still spinning on the screen, and I impatiently tap a finger on the desktop, hoping the delay means that the query is returning many records and not that the system is just slow.

My question is answered when the screen suddenly erupts into a long list of links to records found in the database. The surname Dankworth is at least mentioned often. So far, so good.

"I'm going to need some filters," I mutter, overwhelmed by the seemingly endless list. I click on the filter button, and the form with questions and keyword fields returns. Opening the laptop bag I brought with me, I pull out my notebook, pen, and laptop and place them on the desk. I have a file on my laptop with the little information I have on my long, lost family who once lived here on the island.

Most of all, I would like to find some pointers to the exact location where they lived. I would love to go there and see if any buildings or graves or anything exists, proving that they were really here. I hope it will bring the sporadic dreams I have into focus and cause them to make sense.

I grew up feeling disconnected from my roots, as my grandfather was the only family I had. He wasn't keen on speaking about our family and the past. He knew little about my mother's side, and talking about his own side of the family hurt him too much. I would love to trace my lineage as far back as possible.

Well, I know my father was a history teacher, and my mother was a librarian, but that is all. My grandfather had a handful of photographs of them, which I still treasure, but looking at them is like looking at strangers. I don't remember my parents and my life before my grandfather took me in at all. Sometimes, it feels like I just sprouted from the ground one fine day.

Leaning over the desk, I plug my laptop charger into the power outlet mounted conveniently on the wall above the surface of the desk, and this time, when the breeze passes by to tickle my neck and play with my hair, it does it forcefully enough to stir the pages of the notebook, causing the pen to roll to the floor.

"Oh, lovely," I grumble, jerking back in time to see the pen roll under the part of the desk containing a set of drawers almost down to the floor. Of course, it had to roll into the worst possible spot. I slide from my chair and kneel, blindly feeling around under the desk until my fingers close around the escapee.

The distinct sound of footsteps somewhere behind me causes me to start upright, clutching the pen, and I bang my head on the underside of the desk, almost losing the pen again.

"Ow!" I grunt, rubbing my head and getting to my feet to slap the pen down on the desk. I expect to find Moira back for some more chatter, but everything is quiet in the archive room.

Apprehensively looking around me, I wait, but there are no more footsteps or breezes but the moment I turn to sit, I hear a sharp clattering sound deeper into the room. Though I didn't feel it again, I'm sure it was that wind moving something.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, I run my eyes over every shelf and cabinet I can see to find the source of the noise, but nothing is moving now. Sitting down again, I feel vaguely nervous and also quite irritated. At this rate, I won't get anything done before I have to return to the manor. I might ask Billy to help me find lodgings for the night if I don't get enough done today.

I really want to start with the Slatherties' ground floor parlour tomorrow, but I'm willing to make the sacrifice if my nerves, combined with mischievous breezes, continue to keep me from my task. For now, I'll do as Moira suggested and stuff socks into... something... or... I don't know what she said, but I definitely can't be hunting for elusive drafts right now.

After giving the stirring shadows deeper in the room a final glare to show them I mean business, I boot my laptop. When it's ready, I browse to the file I need for some information to provide to the filter fields, and I'm entering a date range in the fields on the query filter form when I hear the sound of shuffling footsteps somewhere behind me in the body of the room. This is the second time now!