“The suite for the lady of the house is that way,” Noninja informed, pointing down the hall. “I assume the lord’s suite is that way,” he added, pointing the other direction. “I haven’t checked the two side hallways.”

Miles strode toward the closed doors. “The lord’s suite is going to have all the expensive stuff.”

“Can’t argue with that,” Noninja chortled as he followed. The other two moved to join them.

Like the ballroom downstairs, the east wall of the lord’s suite was a large, rounded bay of windows, supported by carved stone pillars. Before it was a throne, flanked on both sides by statues. The bed lay in an alcove to the left, while a private bathroom sat to the right. A small table and four chairs stood watch in front of a fireplace. They split up to search the room.

“Wow, it’s a throne room!” Miles ridiculed. “How pretentious can you get?”

Noninja perused the carving of the family coat-of-arms behind them. “Not like we can tear that off the wall…so where would he hide the goods?”

“Not here,” announced Clancy from the clothes dresser. “This is all costume jewelry.”

“Nothing here,” Lorarona called from the fireplace. “But the heat is awfully nice. I’ve been freezing all evening!”

“After all that food, I know what I need to do,” Miles snickered, heading to the bathroom.

“Really?!” Lorarona snapped. “Do you ever stop thinking about your butt?”

Miles didn’t reply; the others resumed their search. “Hey, I found the fire escape,” Clancy announced, revealing a door to the left of the rounded bay windows. “It’s triggered by this button.”

“Well, isn’t that typical,” Noninja smirked. “Save the lord, but let everyone else burn.”

They continued searching. Nothing else of interest was found.

“Hey, gang, come in here!” Miles called from the bathroom.

Clancy grimaced. “Dude…I don’t care how big it is, I don’t want to look at it!”

“What? No. I haven’t done that yet. I found a walk-in closet!”

The others made their way to the bathroom and pushed past Miles, who was smiling broadly. “I found something of interest for our resident ninja.”

Noninja perused the locked chest while Lorarona and Clancy searched the twin armoires. “I don’t like it,” he announced. “All the expensive stuff, collected in one spot? There has to be more to it.” He turned to Clancy. “Hey wizard, can you give me a light?”

“One moment.” There were some shuffling noises, then suddenly a bright light poured out of the armoire. Clancy backed out and handed a glowing shoe to Noninja. “Sorry…it was the best option I could find.”

Noninja laughed. “No, this is perfect! Thanks!” Clancy went back to his search as Noninja used the light to peer into the lock. He made noncommittal grunting noises as several seconds passed.

“Yep,” he finally concluded. “Not only is this lock really well made, but I can see a needle in the back, and it’s got some sort of blue coating on it. Probably poison.” He stood up and sighed. “Beyond my skills, I’m afraid.”

“Then step aside,” Miles announced, “and let me show you how it’s done!” Before anyone could stop him, he brought the head of a large axe down upon the front of the chest. The wood splintered with a mighty crack.

“Miles!” Lorarona scolded. “What were you thinking? Now they know we’ve been here!”

“So?” Miles shot back sullenly. “Like they weren’t going to notice all their stuff missing? Or the glowing shoe?”

“Where did you get that axe, anyway?” she screeched.

“It was on the coat of arms!” Miles explained. “It’s mostly ornamental, but still works in a pinch!”

Lorarona sighed and returned to her search as Noninja examined the chest. “Something to be said for the direct approach, I guess.” He lifted the lid; there was a small shower of debris, including the poisoned needle, which simply tumbled to the ground. He smiled at the contents; grabbing a cloth bag from inside the chest, he began filling it with cufflinks, pendants, and other male-oriented jewelry.

Clancy and Lorarona both emerged from their armoires, revealing they’d found nothing of note. “Clancy, can you verify this is the good stuff?”

Clancy peered inside the bag and pondered it for a few moments. “Yep! Those are all real jewels!”

Noninja smiled as he tied the bag shut, then stashed it inside the purse of holding. “I think we’ve done all we can here,” he announced. “Let’s move on.”

They reached the double doors when they realized someone was missing. “Miles?”

“I’ll catch up with you,” he declared, right before a low-pitched raspberry sound reverberated from the bathroom.

The three grimaced in disgust as they quickly left the lord’s suite.

Outside, they found a door on the left, just before the stairway leading down. They opened it to reveal a modestly-appointed bedroom. “This close to the master suite?” Clancy spoke up. “This is probably the butler’s quarters. Don’t expect to find much.”

They searched for a few minutes. “Well, shut my mouth,” Clancy remarked. “This is very interesting.” The other two crowded around to look.

“Is that his diary?” Lorarona piped up.

“It sure is!” Clancy revealed. “I’ve skimmed several pages of it – he’s growing increasingly concerned about the two oldest children.”

“Oh?” Lorarona perked up, looking closer. “Family drama?”

“Neither of them have any artistic talent,” Clancy summarized, “but their parents are mercilessly pushing them into the theater business. Adelphia gets by on her beauty and charm, but she’s näive – he’s concerned someone might take advantage of her.”

“Might?” Noninja snickered. Lorarona silenced him with a sharp look.

“His real worry, though, is Lyle,” Clancy continued. “His lack of success is increasingly turning him bitter. He’s concerned that Lyle may try to do something desperate in his pursuit of fame and fortune.”

“That’s what I hear about rich kids,” Noninja shared. “They’re not allowed to fail. Their parents give them every advantage, and expect that to lead to success. It’s a lot of pressure.”

“Well,” Lorarona chimed, “I think it’s touching that the butler takes a personal interest in the success of the family.”

“I think his motivation may simply be to keep his job,” Noninja surmised.

“What’s that?” Miles asked, walking into the room. “Am I in danger of losing my job?”

Lorarona wrinkled her nose. “How do you think they’re going to explain what you did in there?”

Miles shrugged. “Blame it on the ghost? Sulfurous fumes from the netherworld and all that?”

Noninja put his hand to his forehead. “Forget it. Let’s just keep going.”