The Butterfly Net Excerpt

“Edward, boy, now I know you have  many questions, but I need you to listen, and listen well.” Rosslyn eyes his apprentice with caution, waiting for the boy’s concentration to break away from the harlot leaning against a lamp post they have already passed.

“Yes, Lord D’Onston, You have my undivided attention.” Edward says, his eyes wandering this time to a more respectable looking lady when she crosses in front of them. There is a loud cry as Rosslyn smacks him over the knuckles with his cane.

Ow. What of it?” Edward clutches his hand and kisses the reddening knuckles with a gentleness that catches the attention of the young madam. Rosslyn draws his cane once more, this time flicking it upon Edward’s backside with enough force to show an example of his discipline. Edward looks upon him at once, his sore hand dropping to massage the newly affected area.

“If you are to learn from me as an apprentice learns from his master, then it would do you well to learn restraint, for the times in which you would otherwise be preoccupied gaping at a whore or other such trivial fancies are the times in which you could be practicing the art of observation.”

“But I, eh, was observing, Lord D’Onston. I was observing the, eh, shall we say, more admirable qualities of the fairer sex.” Another blow from Rosslyn’s cane catches Edward off guard. This time he falls to the cobblestones grasping his crotch with both hands, muttering to himself.

“Think with your brain and not your cock, Edward, for I shall begin to think I have erred in petitioning your company. Perhaps it was wrong of me to expect a thirteen year old to act with a sense of maturity.”

Rosslyn retrieves a silver watch from his coat pocket and inspects the hands on it thoroughly, trying to decide whether or not he has time enough to deliver Edward back to his home.

“Oh no, sir. I, eh, admit I have been caught indulging in the fantasies such are expected to flourish of a youth my age. I will, eh, do as you expect and listen to everything you have to say.” 

“That is good, boy.  Now, we are about to meet some very secretive and elusive people, and they cannot be trusted no matter how appealing to your senses they make themselves out to be. Alas, I fear I have exhausted any fruitful options left in my quest to find my queen, and the counsel this organization has to offer  is all I have left. I would suffer it for you to know that it is the last place on earth I would seek such guidance If I could help it.”

“That, eh, seems to me contradictory, sir. How could you expect to trust the word they give to be true.”
“That is where you and your powers of observation come in, Edward. You are to be weary of all that goes on behind closed doors. You are young, and as such are bound to be seen as a weakness to my efforts, which these people will undoubtedly try to exploit, but I need you to resist them, then report to me everything that has befallen you. I need you, Edward, to notice the subtleties around you.
“I, eh, don’t understand sir. Why bother bringing me along at all?”

“Because, Edward, this way we can grasp an understanding of how our enemy thinks.”  
“Oh I see. Nice one Lord D’Onston sir, very good thinking. What did you say the name of this, eh, organization is?”

“I didn’t. Now follow me. Their headquarters is just over there.” Rosslyn points his cane in the direction of a manor, then taps it three times on the ground before limping off.  Edward follows, keeping the same pace, his feet hitting the ground in unison with the lord.

As they reach the manor, Edward digs his hands into his pockets and fishes out a meerschaum pipe that is carved into the face of an old man not unlike Neptune. Rosslyn watches as he stuffs the end full of tobacco, then proceeds to light it with a match. {insert motivation}
Once the tobacco is roasting red, and it is accompanied by a steady waft of smoke, a gloved hand swoops and removes the pipe from Edward’s grasp at once.

“What of it this time?” 

“I do not profess to being a replacement for your father, rest his soul, but I do like to think that the man would wish me to teach you the indecencies of smoking at the improper time and improper age. Pipes are not for youths, nor should they be brought out as a matter of casual routine.” Rosslyn put his lips to the pipe and inhaled deeply. Edward’s brow turned downward, as he tried snatching it back, but the cane was too quick stopping him in his tracks. 

“One day you will understand that what I am doing is not hypocrisy, for one can both offend and delight at the same time if learned of the ways suavity. It is with such ways that I plan on confusing our enemy, for if we come across as noblemen they will surely be on their guard. If, however, we make ourselves out to be rough folk of the streets, then it is more likely they will remain slackened in their cautions.” 

Rosslyn handed the pipe back to Edward and ushered him to take a drag. At the end of the breath, the boy reached a hand out  for the pipe, but was stayed once again by the cane.
“Let it be known to you that this is not a time of casual routine. I will confiscate it and return it to you when I believe you to be mature enough in your responsibilities.” Edward was about to protest when the cane caught his eye once more. He stopped, and nodded his head in agreement, blowing the smoke over his clothing just as Rosslyn did.

“I believe this is their sanctuary.” Rosslyn said. He rapped his cane on the bottom of a large wooden door that lay hidden by the shadow of an overhanging archway, which, after a brief moment slowly creaked open. 

“Yes?” The voice was harsh, and Rosslyn could see it was coming from someone wearing a cloak designed to hide all but his tall height and prominent stature. With the shadow of the overhanging shrouding his view, it was impossible to see his face. Rosslyn realize he would have to deduce his character on nothing but his body language, a thought that displeased him immensely.
“We are here on invitation by a Lady of your company.”

“Oh, are you? And who might this Lady be that you speak of?” 

Donston rummaged through his coat pocket and pulled out a letter written on cream colored parchment. For a brief moment D’Onston caught a glance at a badly scarred face as the door guard struck a match to read the correspondence. Once satisfied with the signature, he handed the parchment back.

“Very well sir.”

The door swung open just enough so that they could enter one by one. D’Onston went first in case of ambush followed by Edward. It was hard to see in the dim light but once D’Onston’s eyes settled he realized they were in an arched hallway. The door guard led them into a seated area and beckoned for them to wait, then went back to his duties of being a door guard. As soon he was out of sight, Edward spoke. 

“I suppose this, eh, organization is those Rosy Christians you was telling me about isn’t it?”
“No, Edward, it is not. You will never hear me speak of the Rosicrucians as enemies.”
“Who are they then.”

“I cannot say for certain. All I know is that they call themselves the Monarchs, but from what I can gather they have nothing to do with royal families. At least, not in the sense that you would be accustomed to. Now hush. This is not an act of converse I wish to engage in at the present moment.”
Edward nodded and tapped his fingers on his leg. D’Onston pretended not to notice as the boy took in his surroundings, his eyes stopping when they fell upon a padlocked door. His thoughts turned to the only Monarch he was interested in; his true queen Mary Kelly. How long had he been searching for her? It had been such a long time that he could not begin to estimate. All he knew is that he was close at last.

A figure soon approached them, grooming his robes as if they weren’t already immaculate enough.
“Master D’Onston, our seers will now hear your plea. If you could accompany me to the hall of secrets.” He shook his robe as if some sort of bug was caught in the sleeve, then cocked his head toward Edward.

“The boy will have to wait your return here.”

“That won’t do. He is my apprentice and it would do him well to listen to our meeting.”

“It will have to. The halls of secrecy demand respect. This invitation is extended to you and you alone. The boy waits.” 

“But the Lady insisted I bring my apprentice…”

“I am afraid you have been misinformed. The Lady you speak of is not permitted to send correspondence outlining the wishes of our order. Had it not been for your known status student of the occult and the fact that our business crosses paths, we simply would have dismissed you at the door. Even if you have made the journey from countries afar.”

D’Ontston was about to argue this point in depth when Edward stopped him.

“It’s alright Lord D’Onston. Perhaps it, eh, would do me well to sit and ponder our conversation at length.” He gave D’Onston a sly wink turning his back to the other cleric.
“Very well. Perhaps I was wrong to doubt your maturity, Edward.” D’Onston leaned down and squeezed his shoulder.

“Don’t mess this up.” He stood back up and rapped his cane on the floor three times before following the cleric down yet another hallway. After considerable time, judged merely by the severity of pain that began shooting through D’Onston’s right leg accentuating his limp, they came upon a room that looked to be an abandoned courtroom. Sitting in the judges pewters were three hooded figures, their robes lined with gold lace in a style that D’Onston would of recognized anywhere as a symbol of hierarchy.
The cleric stood him in front and to the center of the other three then took his place in an empty seat to the side of them.

“Lord D’Onston, welcome to our brotherhood. It is not every day we let those who are not members enter our sacred chambers.”

“The honor is mine I assure you.”

“Pardon my insistence on brevity, but we are due to undergo a ritual of extreme importance and as such do not have a lot of time. I am sure you, being a man of occult understanding can appreciate the need for strict observance of astrological calculations when it comes to such matters.”

“That seems a very fair trade for your hospitality.”

“Good, then I will skip the introductions for the sake of seeing our business done. So you are looking for a woman named Mary Kelly, is this correct?”

“Yes it is.”