Adventure Awaits: Main Carnival Thread | Wednesday late morning/early afternoon, Open to All

[John Palliser]

John and Ann Elizabeth

"I am accustomed to the idea that 'tenants' oft times cheat and steal but to do so in the hopes of causing unrest that could turn ill for them ..."

He shook his head.

"They are but controlled by others' and so think that the end result will be the outcome desire. Instead they can be forced off the land or worse dead."

"That is why I want to meet with other Landowners who face this - perhaps banded together the Leaders can be found - but that will take some time."

"Ah calm winds are always wished for but this those travel the Seas they also are wise enough to know the dangers as well. Even tho I say that tis an awful thing to endure a storm at Sea."

"One day perhaps you will return to your Island. Much might have changed. And for the better."

He showed some surprise at her revelation of dressing as a man.

"Have you indeed ...."

He gave her a once over look and quirked a brow.

"How any man can ever think You are a man  ..... not with that shape no matter how well disguised you may be  ...... "

"If you are indeed serious then that can not be done. You would not escape being found out and that would ruin BOTH are chances of making money."

"A Gentlemen with a name but never seen is far better believable and I acting as his 'Representative' as well."

"This is a thing we must discuss in depth and here is not the time or place so I think  ....."

It was at that moment a scream pierced the air and John stood his hand already going for the dagger in his boot while he made to push Anne Elizabeth behind him as best he could.

"Stay still. Make no sound until I know what is amiss."

His voice was pitched low and commanded no argument.

He moved to his left better to gain sight of what was going on. He saw the child saw the tiger and judged what he thinks might be the direction it would run. The handler would not be able to stop the animal if it were to lunge forward towards the child all by himself and those near by are already freezing up with panic. If something was not done in a hurry there would be many that could be hurt or killed. He did a quick look on both sides of where he stood to see what other men might help if it was needed. A dagger, no matter how sharp and well handled, was no match for a charging beast whose strength and power was greater than a humans. His eyes locked with several others and nods of agreement exchanged.

They would be at the ready.

(7)

[Charles Audley]

(Contd. from here)

 

It was a thought that would have shamed a better man to the core but Charles could not help it.

I am at last fully, properly, truly alive.

There was a crisis at hand, and that made him not exultant, not euphoric, but simply more himself.

And before he was anything else, Charles Audley was a man of action, possessed of quick wits and steady nerve.

He raced towards the arena, drawing his rapier at the run and dropping the scabbard behind him so it could not tangle his legs. A rapier, or any sword, was not the ideal weapon for fighting a tiger if it came to that, but three and a half feet of sharp steel was still a nice thing to have between you and any beast.

"Someone run and fetch a musket or a boar spear. The Life Guard if they'll come. The rest of you stay calm and clear some room," he ordered in his command voice, all cool composure and the absolute certainty of obedience. Ducking under the rope at the edge of the arena, he moved to place himself between the agitated tiger and the girl, careful not to encroach upon any of other beasts in the arena. One angry big cat was quite enough.

He was gambling that the cat was a killer, and so would see, in that instinctive way that men and creatures of their ilk recognised one another, that he too was a killer.

And the absolute last thing any killer wants is to fight another of the same kind.

(4, as determined by dice.)

Edited March 20 by Charles Audley

[Blackguard]

The Toledos

 

The big cats were on display and Esteban nodded as he enjoyed the show.  "Si, I have seen lions before."

The entertainment was ruined by a child that was getting too close to the cats.  Esteban sensed the danger, not only for the child, but also for the crowd.  Turning to his two soldiers, he commanded in Spanish "protect the Countess."  Esteban shielded the cart as the soldiers moved to pull the cart free from its position, ready to withdraw immediately.  It was not the Spanish Ambassador's place to save the child.  His pregnant wife took precedence over all others.

[Charles Whitehurst]

Charles and the Herberts

The game was on for the masque.  He would find Susan easily by her height, hair color and blue eyes, or so he told himself.

The idea of him riding a tiger sounded fanciful, and he imagined the scene in his mind.  The child's scream broke him from that daydream.  It was a child.  There was a moment of wondering whether it was part of the act; but, tigers, unlike elephants would kill and eat a child.

Charles took to his feet and looked for a floor based candle holder that he might use as a staff to stick in the tiger's mouth.  Failing that, a torch would be extremely welcome.  Since it was daylight, it was unlikely that either were lit.

Without other recourse, Charles drew his rapier and asked for his jacket back from Susan.  "I need it to protect my left arm" he explained as he wadded it in his left hand and advanced to the aisle and moved at a steady pace towards the child.  "Distract the beast away from the child," he called to the handlers.  To the child he called out "back up slowly towards me girl, slowly.  Do not move fast.  You will be fine.  The cat will not chase you if you do not run."  As he approached, he looked for other men in the audience that might rise to the occasion.  If the tiger attacked, no one man would be able to best it.

 

OOC~ I select 10 

[Douglas FitzJames]

Approaching the Arena

Douglas was in an irritable mood, which admittedly was something of a ground state for the tall Scotsman, but this time was with particular cause. He'd been called North in a hurry to deal with matters which apparently only he could manage. Actually that had been quite legitimate, and he did like to feel needed and valued, and enjoyed his role as the Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen, but the timing had been poor. He'd returned to court earlier that week to find Fiona's situation even worse, with some kind of threat to her person, which was not something her brother could leave unresolved. Then there was the issue of Merriweather, who's murder he'd stumbled onto. He was certain it was murder, regardless of the constable's declaration of suicide. The whole thing had stunk, but then he'd been called away before he could investigate further. No doubt any trails were growing cold, and any evidence had been moved. It got his hackles up, but he wasn't prepared to let it go yet. The wake was tomorrow night, and the Dog was still on the scent. 

For now he purchased a paper cone containing roasted chestnuts, wandering slowly and looking about the Circus, trying to decide which amusement might be worth closer inspection. Cheers and applause were a regular background noise, but suddenly there was a commotion from the direction of an arena, not cheers but screams, and someone ran out, calling for the Life Guard. Douglas was in uniform as ever, though he was armed only with his twin pistols, shoved through the back of the red sash tied about the waist of his coat. Unthinkingly he broke into a run, heading for the sounds of distress.

Unceremoniously pushing through the people milling about, Douglas regarded the entryway sourly, clogged as it was with onlookers who seemed to be both trying to flee and to watch what was happening with morbid fascination. He settled for climbing up onto one of the rear benches to see what was happening. Good God, what were those? Giant, striped cats. And there, in the arena, a child. Was she part of the act? No, there were three men approaching the scene armed with blades - one of them was Langdon. Fools, he thought. If a house cat could take a rabbit, that thing could easily take a man and no slim strip of steel would stop it. It could certainly take a child. 

Calmly, Douglas pulled one of the pistols from his sash and cocked the flint, checking for everyone's location. It was far from an ideal situation, there were a lot of people and pistols were only so accurate, but he was one of the best. Standing on the bench as he was, he could fire down towards the creature, and hope that if the shot went wide it would simply hit the ground, and not someone else. 

Nodding at any of the armed men who happened to glance his way, Douglas took aim at the body of the beast, the ribs behind the foreleg as the largest target, sought that moment when the world seemed to pause, and calmly pulled the trigger.

(OOC: I choose 6, and Douglas is Skilled with firearms.)

Edited April 8 by Douglas FitzJames
Spelling and grammer

[Louis Killington]

The Killington Kin

Louis was growing concerned about Nicolette.  She was not talking and did not seem to be enjoying the show.  "I think Nicci is feeling poorly," Louis observed to his sister Lucy.  

They had seen the elephants and now the big cats, so it was time to make a retreat so that Nicci could return to her room in the castle. Of course, Louis was hoping that she was pregnant with the King's child.

He stood to escort the two ladies from the area.  As they were departing, the young girl wandered too close to the act and various men sought to intervene.  Langdon appeared to think that a rapier would stop a charging lion. Good luck with that.  Louis did not feel a need to intervene.  His two female kin were far more important than some random commoner child.  If a lion should attack them, he was more inclined to grab a commoner onlooker and throw them at the lion while he made good on his retreat with his sister and cousin.

[John Palliser]

John

He, and a few other men, stood at the ready hearts pounding in expectation of the beasts charging in their direction.

They would do what they could.

The child would or would not be saved but that animal would die.

He spared a glance about his immediate area and then outwards taking note that there seemed to be several others that had the same ideas.

"Stray behind me. Drop to the ground if I say it. Do not attempt any foolishness"

His words abruptly directed to Anne Elizabeth.

It was then that a shot ran out.

His body turned immediately to that and he saw a very tall man standing on a back bench with a pistol aimed at the animal.

"God Almighty!"

He turned back to the arena ...... was it a hit  ....  was the animal killed or had he missed .......

The child  ......

His brain registered that once this was all taken in then some panic would set in.

And a stampede to leave could well happen OR everyone would be stunned into silence and that would allow for some order to be regained and the situation to be evaluated.

At least he hoped so.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

The Toledos

 

When the little girl ran toward the lions and tigers, Sophia thought it was part of the act until a blood-curdling scream (from her mother most likely) rent the air and the child burst into tears. One of the tigers roared and its trainer was having a difficult time controlling it. Several men sprinted into the ring.

 

And then she could see no more. Esteban and her guards surrounded her cart and it was too unsteady for her to stand up and look over their heads. She had not expected her husband to try to rescue the child when a rampaging tiger could endanger his master’s unborn baby. He probably didn’t care what happened to Sophia herself.  She said a quick prayer that everybody would be safe, even the tiger. 

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

Anne-Elisabeth and John

 

Tenants of multiple landowners cooperating with each other did not bode well for said landowners. They could demand lower tithes and resort to violence if their conditions were not met. “Getting the owners of other estates together to flush out the leaders is a good plan.” Anne-Elisabeth agreed. There were no tenants on her own estate, as it was too close to the shore to farm. Fisherman paid for the use of the beach by giving her household a portion of their catch. As far as she knew, nobody had complained. Her steward had not mentioned any trouble in his reports.

 

“I left Barbados only two years ago, so I doubt much has changed. The supplier of my coconut rum tells me the news. I do get homesick occasionally.”

 

John appeared surprised but not appalled that Anne-Elisabeth sometimes masqueraded as a man. He had a point about the investments, though. If she was found out, both of them would become laughingstocks and would never be trusted again. “And you’ve just learned something else about me that you didn’t know. I will dress in my disguise one day when we’re alone.”

 

She rolled her eyes when yet another child ran into the arena. “Not again,” she groaned but the girl’s appearance was followed by a blood-curdling scream and one of the tigers roared and tried to lunge at her. John sprang into action and told her to stay where she was. If she had thought she might be useful, she would have followed but she knew she would only get in the way. Anne-Elisabeth grabbed his hand and squeezed it before he moved away. “Be careful,” she whispered.

[Aria]

Charles, Susan, and Lady Pembroke

 

Before Charles could answer her, a child ran into the arena and one of the tigers roared and tried to lunge at her. Susan could see the trainer’s muscles straining as he tried to control it. Of course, she knew that Charles would go to the girl’s rescue. He was accustomed to danger and he was clever and resourceful. When he asked for his coat, Susan stood up so he could retrieve it, though she didn’t think it was enough to protect him from a big cat’s powerful jaws. As she watched him move toward the child, she hoped that he would be not be hurt and that the child would come to no harm either.

 

[Aria]

The Killingtons

 

Lucy also noticed that Nicci seemed to be in a pensive mood. She had been so excited about going to the carnival. What had gone wrong? Was she miffed because they had pulled her away from the fortune-teller to watch this show?

 

She stood up when her brother suggested that they leave. It was better for her to go home as well. She was afraid that her new kitten might escape and she would never find him again. And carrying him around for hours wasn’t a good idea. He might pee on her. She was so absorbed by the little red feline that she didn’t even notice the child run into the arena.

[Aria]

All:  The Rescue

 

The tiger was doing its best to break free of its handlers.

 

The child’s wails subsided into sobs.

 

The music stopped.

 

Some of the people in the stands rushed out in panic, shouting for help. Some herded their children together and left quietly. Others stayed where they were, stunned into shock or watching with morbid curiosity. A few commoners and nobles wagered on whether the tiger would kill the child or be killed by the men encroaching upon it.

 

Langdon reached the scene first, placing himself between the tiger and the girl. Both tiger handlers tried to distract the angry cat, but it seemed mesmerized by the Earl’s shiny rapier. Though it no longer roared, its body was tense and it looked ready to spring at any moment. The other two trainers took charge of the three remaining cats and led them toward the back of the arena.

 

John and the men around him stood ready to take action if needed.

 

The child followed Langdon’s instructions and began to back away slowly. Chatham and Douglas arrived around the same time. While Douglas climbed onto a bench and aimed his pistol, Chatham barked out orders and a couple of the men around John hurried off. He joined Langdon in confronting the tiger. It turned its head to look at him but did not back down as he had hoped.

 

A sharp crack pierced the air when Douglas pulled the trigger. His shot grazed the tiger’s shoulder, wounding it and further enraging it. It launched straight at Langdon, and he deflected each swipe of the creature’s great paws with his rapier, assisted by Chatham, John sprang forward and grabbed the child, pulling her to safety.

 

The tiger turned its attention to Chatham and knocked him backwards. Had it recognized him as a fellow killer and was reluctant to harm him out of professional courtesy?  Or was it just coincidence?  It turned back to Langdon, grabbed the coat around his left hand, and shredded it, giving him time to strike the fatal blow. The big cat fell to the ground dead. The handlers rushed over to it and knelt beside it.

 

“The show is over, folks!” somebody shouted in an authoritative voice. “The next performance will take place in the main tent in one hour. You don’t want to miss it!”

 

 

(OOC:  The number I rolled was 9. Chatham and Langdon were called by their titles because they have the same first name).

[Charles Audley]

The Rescue

Langdon had gotten there first, and was directing the child perfectly competently. Charles mentally awarded the Life Guard marks for nerve and competence, and focused his own attention on the tiger.

I see you, puss, and I'm set and ready. If you spring, there'll be a fight, and you do not want a fight. Fights mean risk, as you and I well know, and it just is not worth it today, is it? No, best for both sides to withdraw with honour and hides intact...

It was working, too — the tiger was not backing down, but he had not expected it to. Keeping it fixed with his gaze was more than enough. So long as this delicate equilibrium between himself and his feline counterpart was maintained, he and Langdon could back away slowly, or at worst continue the stand-off until men with heavy muskets and boar spears arrived to kill the beast.

Naturally, it was that exact moment that some panicky, cack-handed, half-witted verpa* fired a pistol at the tiger.

(A pistol! One might as well have spat at the beast! That at least would run no chance of panicking the crowd.)

Provoked, the creature sprang, as anyone with even a minimally functional mind would have expected. It went for Langdon (proof, perhaps, that it did recognise a kindred spirit). The other Earl did very well to deflect that initial rush but the tiger's sheer mass would take him from his feet sooner or later, Charles knew, if it was not distracted. He was distantly aware that, somewhere behind him, another man had swept the child out of harm's way, which meant he was free to provide that distraction.

Charles sprang at the tiger's flank with a roar of his own, point out to threaten the beast's eye, perhaps the best way he knew to distract anything. It worked, if anything a little too well — the tiger turned on him. He deflected the first swipe, slid away from the second and third, and, in a fit of inspiration, stepped into the fourth, so that he was struck by the tiger's foreleg rather than its claws. 

The blow staggered him even so, sending him backwards, but that was fine. Langdon was set and ready again, and the tiger turned back to the other man. Charles gathered his own feet under him and lunged, putting his point into the tiger's trunk.

He need not have bothered, he realised. Langdon had gotten his own blade into the creature while it was shredding his coat, and it was already dead. Pompous little prig the other man might be, but he had shown up well under pressure, Charles reflected. He withdrew his rapier and wiped it clean on the dead cat's coat, giving Langdon a companionable nod.

"Well struck, my lord," he said, as though they were chatting idly after a fencing bout. "An excellent show of nerve."

Unlike some, he did not say, though the words echoed in his eye. He was murderously angry with whatever damnably incompetent imbecile had fired that pistol, and was pointedly refraining from looking around to see who it had been until he was sure he was not going to immediately try to flay the responsible party.

He fished out his hip flask and offered it to Langdon.

"Drink?"

 

*Verpa: A vulgar Latin term for an erection. In context, Charles is calling Douglas a dickhead.

[Charles Whitehurst]

Despite the tension, the Earl's plan was working.  The other cats were calmed and the one tiger remained restrained.  The handlers might just be able to soothe the beast back into a cooperative posture.

The child obeyed his instructions, a rare bonus.  This just might work. Charles knew he was in a dangerous position, but the man was addicted to heroism and impressing ladies.  If he had to die, this was the way to go.

It was then that he noticed Chatham arriving.  That raised the odds considerably if things went sidewise.  There was no time to say anything as Langdon needed to keep eye contact with the beast.

It looked like all was going to end well when ... suddenly a pistol shot rang out from behind.  Blazing cannons! Someone was either trying to scare the tiger or kill it.  A beast of that size was not likely to be felled by a single shot.  "Good God," he muttered aloud as the tiger broke free of his leash and attacked.  The shot may have wounded it, but it did not seem slowed.  Charles came inches from death as he used his rapier and a quick step to avoid being crushed and torn apart.  Fortunately, Chatham distracted the tiger to allow Charles to regain his balance and initiative.  Chatham was knocked to the ground and Langdon tried to distract the beast with a shout and a flourished movement of his red tunic.  If the tiger was not distracted, Chatham was a dead man.

Like a cat and a ball of yarn, the tiger went for his tunic like a bull to the cape of a matador.  The fabric was shredded instead of flesh, which had been the plan for dangling it in his left hand.  It might also be shoved into the beast's mouth if Langdon found himself beneath the beast.

Distracted by the coat, Charles was able to thrust his rapier into the throat of the lunging tiger.  It had mostly been luck, but the blade bit deep and hit something lethal.  As the tiger crumpled to the ground Charles fought the sensation to tremble as the gravity of the situation washed through him.  He would have dropped to his knees but Davina, Susan, and her mother were watching him and English gentlemen were expected to laugh in the face of danger.

Chatham offered his flask.  Such a gesture required one in the affirmative.  "I don't mind if I do," he managed to smile as he lifted his shredded tunic for a closer look. "A damn waste of a good coat," he jested as he reached to take a swig before returning the flask.  "Thank you for the swig and the assistance.  That was a rather close one."  He looked into the crowd "who fired that damnable pistol?" he muttered as he looked around.

The carnival master shrugged off the loss as if it were a trifle.  "I'll be wanting that carcass," Charles told the workers approaching to remove the tiger.  He would want to take it to a taxidermist and have it stuffed.

[Blackguard]

Davina, Henry, George and Cadell

It had all happened in what seemed like a an elongated moment.  Both George and Henry stood and looked to Cadell to form a trio to protect Davina and to possibly advance on the girl and the tiger.  Langdon and Chatham did so as the three gentlemen discussed strategy in attacking the tiger, if necessary.

Henry muttered "mother of Jesus"  as the tiger attacked.  "Davina, you need to leave now.  Don't look," he instructed his cousin.

Fortunately, it was over before he could escort her out.  "Langdon beat me to it," George Churchill bragged as his rapier was out, though he had moved no closer.

[Blackguard]

The Toledos

The cart was already leaving the area as the pistol fired.  One of the Spanish guards muttered a curse under his breath as chaos reigned.  The soldiers had the fire power to stop the tiger, but their orders were clear.

Sophia and her cart were already on their way back to the rented estate.  Esteban worried that Sophia might go into labor with all the excitement.  Now was not the time for it.  "I am sure all will be well."  There were few screams that could be heard in the distance, so there was hope that order had been restored.

[Davina Wellsley]

Davina, Henry, George and Cadell

Everything happened so quickly! It had been such an entertaining show and then the child and then the tiger  .....

Henry saying she had to leave and to not look and so she was turning away too do just that then the shot rang out and that seemed to make everyone go silent and not move.

She then took note of several things all at the same time  

Douglas on a bench with a pistol

Chatham and Langdon at the front

Several men in the crowd also getting prepared

Wait  ......

CHARLES

She turned automatically to go to where he was indeed half way out into the middle of the aisle before she got a hold of herself.

She saw the tiger shot then the fight before it was stabbed and clearly it was dead. The child seemed safe.

"Stupid Man!"

"He could have been killed!"

She was louder than she knew so Henry would well hear as he was the closest to her.

Of George she never heard him.

[John Palliser]

John and Anne Elizabeth

His reactions were quick and succinct.

He took hold of the child folding her against his body as he turned away not letting her see what was going on.

Her small body shook and he knew shock would soon take hold.

He went to where Anne Elizabeth was and gave her into her arms adding

"Keep her here. Safe enough. The mother will come I think and soon once it all is over."

"Wrap her in this. Keep her as warm as possible. Talk to her quietly and of calm things."

He removed his cloak and wrapped it around the child and Anne Elizabeth so large was it.

"I will be back."

He was gone in a flash back down ready to jump in wherever he might be needed.

He saw with relief that the Gentleman with the eye patch was now up and was now joined by another man.

The two of them doing battle.

The tiger lost.

He took several deep steading breaths his heart pounding and he wiped the sheen of sweat from his forehead.

With a hand that was surprisingly unsteady.

This was no Indian attack after all but remembrances still remained.

Edited April 14 by John Palliser

[Douglas FitzJames]

God Almighty! was only one of the cries that rang out as Douglas fired off his pistol. In his head he saw himself taking the tiger out with a shot, whilst those within the arena could hustle the young girl to safety. Alas, reality proved rather different. His shot flew high, only gazing and angering the beast, which lunged at Langdon, shredding the coat the man had draped over his left arm, then being skewered in turn, first by Langdon and then by a fellow with an eyepatch, and going down. Thank God. The child was safe too, swept away by a third. 

Now that the cat was dead, there didn't seem to be any further danger and the crowd was not shoving or stampeding but rather drifting away; the excitement was over. Shoving the spent pistol back into the sash about his waist, Dundarg jumped down from the bench and made his way forward to where the men in question stood by the carcass and the apologetic man who seemed to be somewhat in charge of the carnival.

"Langdon. Are ye alricht?"* He called as he approached, genuine concern in his voice. 

Subtitles
* "Langdon. Are you alright?"

[Charles Audley]

Langdon and Chatham

"A pity," Charles agreed, observing Langdon's shredded coat. Say what you would about the Life Guard, and Charles had said plenty, but they did have exquisite uniforms.

"Still, the girl is saved, the beast is dead, and our hides unperforated. We, and in particular you, have come out of this fairly well I think." He lowered his voice conspiratorially. "And with an excellent story to tell the ladies, no? The close run ones are always good for that."

He laughed, the fey joy of action still dancing through his every vein and nerve. It had been a close run thing, but they had survived and triumphed, and that was a feat.

Langdon's question sobered him, his eye and lips both narrowing in tightly controlled anger.

"Some utter fool, who will have cause to greatly regret that foolishness once I find them," he said grimly.

He stepped away from the corpse as the workers approached, and nodded at Langdon's claiming of the spoils.

"It'll make for an enviable trophy," he agreed, his gaze scanning the crowd. "I suppose you were as distracted as I, and didn't get a good look at the man who got the girl out? He did well."

And might have seen whoever fired that shot...

Joined by Dundarg

Another Life Guard, this one hugely tall and possessed of a barbarously thick Scottish accent, approached. Charles vaguely recognised him from somewhere – had they fenced once? He dismissed the thought and nodded in greeting, assuming the man would want to talk to Langdon. He turned his head back to the crowd and paused, nostrils flaring, as he detected the stench of freshly-burnt powder. His gaze snapped back to the Scot, sharpening in sudden suspicion.

[Louis Killington]

The Killingtons Exit

As the trio departed, Louis paused to watch the tiger battle unfold.  Everyone was safe, in the end, so no bloodbath to cause outcry.

That tiger must have cost over 100 pounds, Louis imagined.  It likely cost the carnival its entire profits for the week.  The idea of revisiting the fortune teller was abandoned as Nicci and Lucy seemed more eager to head back to a soft bed.

[Charles Whitehurst]

Chatham was in good spirits, which help calm the nerves as the adrenaline drained from Langdon's veins.  "The ladies must never be disappointed," he laughed.  "And we can embellish the story to those that were not here, telling of melee and wrestling with a three hundred pound killer with razor claws, back and forth like Hercules and the Nemean lion."  The tales of Hercules and his labors was a tantalizing tale to a young Whitehurst.  He chuckled at the thought. Charles scanned the crowd for Davina and Susan as Douglas arrived.

"I think so Captain," he answered as he looked at his body for signs of blood.  "No missing limbs that I can see, nor downpour of blood."  It was all answered in light jest. 

"I do not think I would have survived but for the presence of the Earl of Chatham here.  Have you met yet?  This is Captain Douglas Fitzjames of the Guard, Scottish Baron Dundarg and Lord Lieutenant of Aberdeen.  Did you catch sight of the person firing the pistol," he asked Douglas unsure of whether it might have even been the Scot himself.  "Everything was under control until then, and then all went to Hell after that."

[Douglas FitzJames]

Chatham, Langdon and Dundarg

Dundarg felt a sense of relief as Langdon declared he was unharmed. The coat had been shredded, it had been difficult to see whether his arm might have been as well, and the beautiful red of Life Guard uniforms hid blood so very well. But his shirt was unstained and he seemed in good spirits, the combination of adrenalin and relief on his face one that Dundarg knew well. "Glad tae hear it."* He replied. He and Langdon might have differences, but maiming at the claws of such a beast was not something Dundarg would wish on anyone. 

Langdon commended his ally in the endeavour, and Dundarg turned his attention to the one eyed man. "I dinnae believe I've haed the pleasure." He replied, tipping his hat respectfully. "Laird Chatham, thank ye fer haein' Langdon's back."** Soldiers needed to be able to rely on one another, and Dundarg extended that thought to the Life Guard, however much most of them were noblemen's sons playing at being soldiers. Chatham wasn't a Life Guard, but clearly he was a man to rely on in a close corner. 

Then came the question of whether he'd seen who'd fired the pistol. "Aye, I did." Replied the Scotsman, somewhat surprised when Langdon claimed that everyone had been under control until then. "Nae laddie, the cat was ready tae leap, t'needed ainly an excuse. An' if my shot hadnae swung high t'wuid hae ended the problem. Alas but I didnae hae my rifle wi' me."*** Douglas lamented, entirely failing to see the problem. Well, he saw a problem with not carrying his rifle at all times, but gentlemen didn't do that and he was supposed to be one. Things had been simpler when he'd been a soldier. But the cat was dead and everyone else was not only alive but unharmed. Time for celebratory drinks all round, in his view. 

Subtitles
* "Glad to hear it."
** "I don't believe I've had the pleasure. Lord Chatham, thank you for having Langdon's back."
*** "Yes, I did. No man, the cat was ready to leap, it needed only an excuse. And if my shot hadn't swung high it would have ended the problem. Alas but I didn't have my rifle with me."

[Blackguard]

Davina, Henry, George and Cadell

Henry did not wait for Cadell to reply.  The scene was enough to take anyone's breath away.  Davina had given voice to the thoughts of more than one person in the crowd.  Henry did not admonish her for the outburst.  Like most everyone, he was ignorant of the fact that his cousin knew Langdon well.  Of course one did not need to know the Life Guard to worry about him.

"It could have been widespread carnage," he agreed as he did not rush her out.  It was now safe.  "Two earls could have been killed in seconds and no one had a boar spear or a number of muskets, except those Spaniards, quick to retreat.  It would have been a horror as innocents would have been mauled ... but it was averted with the grace of God.  All is well now.  Shall we go in search of a drink?  Where might we escort you?"

[Charles Audley]

Dundarg, Langdon and Chatham

Charles laughed along with Langdon.

"Well, one hopes this beast will not prove such a trouble to make a trophy of as the Nemean Lion," he said with a wry smile, "and that if we are called on to re-enact any more of the Labours, the Augean Stables shall not be one of them."

He inclined his head in acknowledgement of Langdon's compliment and Dundarg's thanks, setting aside for the moment his suspicions that the Scot was directly responsible for Charles now having a much better idea of how a tiger's breath smelled (damnably awful, for the record) than any man with sense would ever wish to have.

"If that is true, Langdon, then you returned the favour in full within a dozen heartbeats," he said amiably. It was mandatory that a gentleman display a certain grace on occasions like this, after all, and every word was true. "And pleased to make your acquaintance, Dundarg."

He might have taken his leave then, had Dundarg not quite candidly admitted to being the cack-handed, half-witted ass that fired the pistol and provoked the tiger. Charles stiffened, then forced himself to take a deep breath. This was neither the time nor the place for a public spectacle. Besides, for all the fey good humour and serene amiability he had exhibited, he was still thrumming with the savage, unholy joy of violent action, and there was no telling where things might end if he started shouting.

"The beast did not want to spring. Langdon and I could have backed off slowly once the child was safe, or at worst waited for men with muskets and spears to come up, and the creature would not have struck until and unless we provoked it." He spoke at a conversational volume, but his tone was cool, clipped and distinctly unimpressed, almost sharp.

"But even if I grant your presumption that the tiger was going to pounce, your shot accomplished nothing but to provide it with that 'excuse,' and would have even if you had hit your mark. A pistol, man? Good God. You might as well have spat at it. It is our great good fortune that you did not panic the crowd."

Edited April 15 by Charles Audley

[Cadell Mortimer]

Davina and the Gentlemen

“By Jove,” Cadell whispered, breathless as the tiger sought out its victim but met instead its death. He had joined the others in moving in to protect the lady – although an ivory-handled cane was scarcely the sort of weapon one needed to fell a big cat – but did not, of course, feel up to any sort of heroics. His Jesuit education had led him to think of himself as a soldier of the mind, a warrior for the Church through intellect alone.

And intellect alone was no great weapon against a monstrous beast.

Although, in truth, the viscount felt a pang of sorrow as the tiger breathed its last. The creature was only living in the way it knew, and being taken from the Oriental jungle to entertain an English crowd must have confused it horribly. Dying alone in a crowd which mocked you to the last… Athenry could not help but sympathize.

Davina shrieked as the scene unfolded – a typical lady’s reaction, so Athenry paid no mind – and Howard likewise seemed taken aback. “God is good, always,” he agreed quietly, still taken aback and making a very Catholic declaration: “And Saints Sebastian and George look over this crowd.” With a glance towards the apparently distressed lady, he added, “I apologize, my lady, that we three could not do more. With my leg being the way it is, I would have needed a saintly blessing to do more.

Looking around as Henry mentioned a drink, Athenry nodded his assent. “What a powerful creature, however,” he murmured to the trio. “As disastrous as it could have been, I cannot help but be amazed by the Lord’s creation – that man can slay such a beast is proof of our blessing, I should think.”

“Or perhaps my mind wanders when my throat is parched.” He let out a lilting laugh that belied his Welsh heritage more than his mild accent. “I’d be honored to join this escort party, if you three would have me.”

[Charles Whitehurst]

"Yes, let us pass on the stables," Langdon agreed with a laugh, happy to enjoy a moment of camaraderie with Chatham.  The introduction of Douglas seemed to go well enough until the Scot confessed his error.

Douglas seemed to think it was no great moment to fire his pistol at the tiger.  Langdon stiffened, trying to think how best to address the matter.  FitzJames was a junior officer in his command, which gave him special standing to rebuke him for his decision, but the Major in the Life Guard hesitated to do so, at least in a public forum such as this.  Criticisms were best communicated behind closed doors.

Chatham had no such reservation, but spoke remarkably calmly given the circumstances.  It was hard to speak calmly when but moments before one had come a cat's whisker away from a horrific death.  The surging emotions would more likely feed a desire to just punch the Captain in the face.  Langdon had a desire, from time to time, to throw himself at a blackguard in a hail of fury, as he had with a certain villain; yet, his training typically restrained him from such raw emotions.  Ladies were present after all.  One did not commit to violence in their presence.

Instead, he let Chatham criticize the Captain's decision.  Nodding, he added "at a minimum, you should have saved your shot unless or until the tiger broke free.  No one would have questioned a shot designed to save a fellow officer from imminent death, even were it ineffective.  Rather, your shot was premature and, at best, accelerated the deadly attack.  Delay would have allowed time for other gentlemen to advance to lend support to our withdrawal.  A dozen men with sword and pistols may have kept the tiger in check."

Langdon sighed, mostly with the exhaustion brought on by a near death experience.  "What is done is done.  I doubt we shall ever encounter this circumstance in the future, but I believe the more prudent move would have been to withhold your shot until absolutely necessary."  He supposed Douglas might have killed it with a lucky shot through an eye socket, but that level of marksmanship with a pistol at some distance was remote.

"I shall have the tiger stuffed to remind me how close I, Chatham and half the people in this arena could have met a very bad end.  In the meantime, I imagine that the ladies I accompanied here might also want some assurance that I have miraculously come through unscathed."  He assumed Susan and Lady Pembroke might have concern, and likely Davina as well.

"Chatham, I owe you a drink.  Captain, I think you owe us both a drink."  He offered a small smile to demonstrate that he was maintaining a good humor somehow.

[Sophia de la Cerda]

The Toledos

 

“I hope so,” Sophia replied.

 

The Spanish guards were in such a hurry to get her away from the arena that they didn’t seem to care about the bumps in the road. Sophia braced her arms against the sides of the cart to keep her balance. She could hear running footsteps, shouts, and a distant roaring. What was happening? She knew that Esteban was doing the right thing by getting her away from the action, especially with the baby pounding relentlessly against her belly. When a shot rang though the air, it kicked her even harder. Though she wished they could stay and visit the other attractions, she was equally eager to go home.

 

Maybe they could visit again tomorrow.

 

[Anne-Elisabeth Devereux]

John, Anne-Elisabeth, and the little girl

 

John wasn’t the only gentlemen who tried to rescue the child. Anne-Elisabeth saw Lord Langdon and Lord Chatham jump between the tiger and the girl. She could tell that the big cat was about to spring when a shot rang out. Like many others in the stands, she jumped. It looked as if the tiger had been wounded but it didn’t fall. Instead it lunged at Lord Langdon. The young Countess didn’t like the man, but she still hoped that the tiger didn’t kill him.

 

Her attention was diverted by John, who scooped up the child and returned, handing the little girl to her and wrapping them both in his cloak before dashing off again. Now what am I supposed to do with this? She stared at the child. The child stared back. If she starts wailing again, I’m going to slap her.

 

Soon the danger was over. The tiger was on the ground and Lord Langdon and Lord Chatham were standing over it. A third gentleman, also a Life Guard, approached them. She wondered which one of them had struck the fatal blow. Anne-Elisabeth gazed back at John, wondering if he would join them or return to her.

 

She felt quite awkward when the little girl snuggled into the cloak and wrapped her little arms around her neck. I hope her mother fetches her soon. There were people milling about in all directions. It might take her some time to reach them.

 

[Aria]

The Aftermath

 

Now that the drama was over, the audience dispersed, ready to move on to other attractions that would hopefully be as exciting as this one.

 

The tiger handlers both had tears in their eyes as they bent over the fallen cat. One of them nodded when Langdon asked for the carcass. It was his by right and if he took it, they wouldn’t have to dispose of it themselves.

 

The young man who had announced the end of the show approached the gentlemen. He walked with a slight limp and would have been quite handsome if his nose was not swollen and bruised. Langdon might recognize him as the fellow who had been punched and kicked by Sam Gillis’ younger sisters.

 

“I am Alexander Kinsley, the carnival owner’s son. He sent me to thank you for diverting disaster and for rescuing the little girl.” He looked over at John, including him in his speech. “If there is any service that we can provide for any of you, all you have to do is ask. I will need your names if you plan to do so. You can find my father in the black tent in the far corner of the field.”

 

He turned to Langdon. “That is also where you can pick up the tiger or arrange to have it delivered to a location of your choice.” His gaze moved from one gentleman to another. “This is the first time in years that something has gone wrong and we will station more guards around the arena from now on."  He bowed theatrically.  "Again, thank you.”