In flickering fire lamps, the men slowly approached from behind with soft steps. Without the constant crashing outside there would have been no way for the clanking and clinging of the armor they wore to go unnoticed. With ill intent, the arms men stealthy approached, peeking back the noble girl tugged on the butlers' clothes mouthing soundless words that were not words.
Four of four.
"Worry not, there are arrangements for unwelcome people like them." Reaching down he plucked the stick from her mouth, a small remanent of harden sugar remained before replacing it with a new one, grape flavored.
Blinking several times, Tiffaney didn't know what to make this, but as a slight sour and sweet flavor rolled down her tongue, she found that her desire to worry about it decreased.
"Thank you.' The words were squashed slightly as she spoke around the stick.
"A word gentleman," As Sir Octave spoke, a gust of wind blew across scatter the lamps and light alike. In the shattered darkness, a springing boing, with a harsh warping sound of steel resonated across the room. The light settled.
Three of four.
"This is the glorious Castle Dyne, home to the grandest of all lords." Surprised at the sudden disappearance one of them stepped left. With grinding clink, the section of the floor completely disappeared, and with it a startled cry as the man's footing disappeared into the darkness.
Once the man passed forcibly down the newly made hallow, a quick snap was heard as the floor panels returned to their positions. There was no sign that a human had ever stood there.
Two of four.
"I may not know what machinations you hold for this child, but her fear and terror are enough to know it can't be anything good." Underneath the main hall a slick smooth pipe filled with running water carried the man with a rapidly increasing pace. Terrified and freezing in total darkness, time fluctuated wildly. Eventually a small orb of light appeared, and the tunnel leveled out. In the setting sun, the gleaming ocean was beautiful; waves crushing against the rockfaces with primeval power.
"Oh, not good." That was all he could say, considering the approaching sparkling water, he had time to look up and see a dark figure bloating out a small silhouette against the sky. Unfortunately, the tumultuous whipping ocean winds ensured no one heard anything the two men had left to say.
Unlike is compatriot who experienced a water slide, the first man had been catapulted, literally. A stone slate driven by massive springs launched the man through the sky light hundreds of meters into the air, before leisurely letting the man fall into the sea on the far side of castle. He was too turbulent to notice his partner flailing about, he did however gain a wonderful view of the clefs and spire lit by redden sky. His last thought was about the strange storm clouds that only formed above the castle.
If there was a happy ending many would pay for the chance to enjoy such rides.
"To brandish weapons here is to impugn the honor of my lord." Within the hall the two remaining men freaked out. The first remaining man charged directly at the pair; however, his foot caught a small rise in the rug sending him flying forward. Where his body hit vast blast of air tilted the marble upward knocking the man into a roll. Three quick blast and the man was rolled by the series of thrusters drove the man into a neat gap in the wall, that open conveniently for his body to roll into, disappearing into a nightmare. The trip downward was harmless falling from great height into the depth of the mountain. Sudden abrupt stop at the bottom, not as harmless.
One of four.
"What is this?! Our orders are from the count!" Shouting in desperation the last man backpedaled considering his disappeared cohorts.
"Which count dares think they can stand above the great Dyne Family?" In the deadliest of whisper, Sir Bandersnatch's voice echoed across the room. With a strangled cry the man turned to run; two bounding steps was all he managed.
Resounding gravely grind was the only precursor of warning for a ten-by-ten granite slab to stomp downward. There was no reaction possible as the speed of the pillar was too vast to avoid as the percussive stucco of slamming rock resonated. The entire slab drove into stone floor and rested there perfectly level. Space or something had to have existed beneath because there was no sign of any results of the crush.
Zero of four.
It had been that simple, the suffering that the noble child had been so terrified of evaporated just like that.
"Such is the fate of those who wish to plunder and trespass on Castle Dyne, to ignore our sovereign treaties." Lady Oaken Staff had been out right gawking at the sudden events when the smooth baritone voice washed over her. She was a trespasser! Was she going to get launched or fall into a small dark hole!?"
"Now than what of you?"
"Please don't throw me in a pit! You can hit me or starve me but not somewhere so dark!" It was rare that the great Sir Octave Bandersnatch was at a loss. For a few moments he could do nothing but stare at the sobbing mess that hit the floor for the third time.
"Well, that settles. With me dear child." A manservant of such caliber that he had earned the title of Sir Bandersnatch could flit about like smoke at an unprecedented forty kilometers an hour. In the blink of an eye, he sashayed to the child and hoisted her up. Approaching the alcove between two lamps, he taped a brick.
"NOOOOOOOOO!!" The child wailed as she felt herself rotate, her tears spilling in all directions. Snot was about to go flying but a quick move and a handkerchief removed all offend material in an instant. Sir Octave was just that fast, then returned the used cloth to a secret pouch under his coat, drew a fresh one like lightning to gently removed her tears.
"Just a secret wall, it will take time for you to get use to them." On the other side was a man with a cloth cap on his head, sitting in a chair by a panel and box with several levers, buttons, and lights. He wore striped overalls with a heavy dark blue shirt, and thick leather boots. With a short nod the butler issued some orders.
"Ops check the trap set that was triggered and reset them. Send a team to clean the pillar well, G17. Check the mechanism schedule to see If any of them need maintenance and see to it that it is completed as needed, thirty days."
"Aye" Caped man nodded and returned to his panel, taking out a thick lock and pressed a few levers to safe the device.
"Now than child we have to get you arranged." Leaving the small room into a brightly lit hall windows and lamps with soft rugs running the corridor, the butler waved for Jac.
Jack? Is this some kind of club that they would use? Like a switch, cudgel, or sap that she was definitively familiar with. She clutched the suit jacket in her hands, knowing that she at lest escaped one set of monsters. This set however had a far more brutal nature and she was certain that she wouldn't escape as easily the second time. Whimpering, she clenched her eyes shut to hope that what happened next would hurt less than the ones before.
"My, isn't she such a cute little thing." In darkness Tiffney ears twitched, women we almost always harsher than the men.
Sir Octave Bandersnatch smiled softly at the mess in his arms before he responded to the maid Jac.
"Take care of her well, she's our new employee."