Of Ghosts, Dead Governors, and a Pair of Letters

[Treadwell]

Last night had proven distressing, to say the least. That nagging little voice in the back of Treadwell's head had finally taken something reasonably close to corporeal shape, and that shape was an official dead for a month or two now, one Tetsi Avarante. Tetsi, it seemed, was a wee bit upset with the transplanted butterball councilman from another town; it all came down to something about that councilman impersonating someone who's been dead since about April or so.

The experience of being confronted with a real live ghost was enough of a shock. Normally, Aloisius H. Treadwell would do absolutely nothing to give into someone's demands, but when that someone was a spook who had been haunting him for the past month or so and trying to drive him loony to boot, things were a little different. The ghost was ordering him to put the dead Gad Phuri to rest--to stop wearing the chap's clothes, to stop living in his house, and to all around disassociate himself from the would-be spirit-at-rest.

Treadwell would have started seeing to it all last night, had he not ended up succumbing to about a half a bottle of wine first. He woke with pounding head and churning belly and nearly bursting bladder; each ailment was seen to in turn. So, after a bath in the massive tub upstairs, the portly (and getting portlier) Councilor of Administrative Sanctions saw to taking care of business in the form of a couple of letters.

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To: Blanche Sinclair Treadwell
Westenford, Amasynia

Blanche,
It's been some time since I've been home; rest assured, I'm safe and sound here in Myrken Wood. Babette says you and she have been. . . experiencing fairly hard times as of late. Rest assured I don't believe that for a moment; you have more than enough wealth at your disposal.
I'm writing about a fairly delicate matter. Stephen--my butler--had informed me earlier in a note that you were dead and buried, dear. Now, Babette has said otherwise, so, since I'm not there to do this in person, I would prefer that you fire the man promptly. Also, see to it that arrangements are made for transporting a trunk of my clothes, personal belongings (in particular the gold-plated walking cane), and some of my money to the Broken Dagger Inn in Myrken Wood, care of my name. I'll be home to see you at the first opportunity, of course, but I've achieved a position of some prominence, and that requires that I stay here for more time than I ought to, and because of that I need a few things to help see me through all this.
Yours truly,
Aloisius

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The first note would have been sent out shortly after breakfast; of course, it is to the "visiting" Treadwell's wife, who has been soundly ignored until he needs the poor woman. The second is of a little more importance. . . .

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To: Governor Altias Bromn
From: Aloisius Treadwell

Altias,
I'm short on time, sir, so I'll make this as brief as I can. I'm being haunted at present by Tetsi, who's more than a bit upset that I'm still living in Gad's place, eating his food, wearing his clothes, etc. etc. I'm looking to remedy this much and, hopefully, send this ghost packing. Thus, consider me moved out of Gad's house by the end of this week. Do whatever you like with the place; if someone ends up trying to claim it--I've not seen a will anywhere, but there must be one, I'd assume--that's fine, but otherwise, the house, the majority of the clothing, the majority of the money, and the rest of the movables are at the disposal of the council, I wager. I'm currently looking for somewhere to stay--besides the Broken Dagger!--either to purchase or to rent. On such short notice, I'll probably end up renting a room from someone for a bit. However, I'll fill you in on all the details as soon as I can once I'm settled.
Sincerely,
Aloisius Treadwell
Councilor of Administrative Sanctions

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