Work Text:
Investigative Report: The Disappearance of Honor Sameday, Case #3014-89Δ (Draft)
By: Sharp Mollie, Odd Job Boy
Summary:
On the evening of August 17, 1827, Honor Sameday took a carriage into the woods and has not been seen since. He is the eldest son of the Sameday family, a prominent Nievelmarch institution and, at the time of his disappearance, had taken over much of the Sameday business in town and the outlying regions. Rumors of his disappearance have spread across the town. Some suggest he may have simply perished in the woods, others that he has been turned into an archway by the witches. More scandalously, there are those that believe he aided and abetted the theft of the monument of flowers and absconded to the depths of the woods with his cousin, Albrecht Sameday. At present, none of these rumors or any others have been able to be confirmed.
Author’s note: It seems most likely to me that Mr. Sameday ran into some misfortune in the woods that has prevented his return. However, there is still no evidence either way and further investigation is necessary. I intend to contact Hilda, a witch who resides in the forest in question, at her earliest convenience. I hear she will be in town shortly and may be able to provide further insight.
Evidence:
Inventory of Items*
- Large white envelope addressed to ‘Honor’, sealed in red wax and stamped with the initials ‘DF’. Transcript of contents not included. Entrusted to S. Mollie for delivery in the event that Honor’s whereabouts are uncovered.
- 37 pages of personal correspondence from Honor Sameday to Diego Flint. Dated March 1824 to August 1827.
- 19 receipts of services rendered for renovations of the Flint Manor. Corroborated by the OJB and Sameday family records.
- Blueprint of the Flint Manor. Includes several handwritten notes in the margins pertaining to the decoration of the home and other personal matters. Handwriting matches that of both Honor Sameday and Diego Flint.
- Prenuptial contract between Honor Sameday and Diego Flint.
- 3 Christmas cards from the Sameday family addressed to Diego Flint.
- 2 wedding rings. One gold with a polished garnet setting, the other ornate engraved silver with three onyx stones inlaid along the band.
- 2 small silver board game pieces. A toy train and an apple.
- 1 charcoal sketch of Diego Flint and Honor Sameday. Drawn by Henrietta Sameday.
- 4 pages of personal correspondence between Honor and Henrietta Sameday. Dated June 1815 to September 1826.
- 41 pages of personal correspondence from Diego Flint to Honor Sameday. Dated April 1824 to August 1827.
- Financial records of the Sameday family pertaining to the renovation of the Flint Manor. Corroborated by the OJB and Diego Flint’s records.
- 3 Christmas cards from Diego Flint addressed to the Sameday Family.
- Transcript of interview with Henrietta Sameday
*Items 1-7 provided by Diego Flint, Items 8-13 provided by Henrietta Sameday. All evidence was reviewed, recorded, and returned to the respective owner.
Author’s note: Ms. Sameday and Mr. Flint held some reservation in speaking with me at first, which I initially held with some suspicion. After my correspondence with them both, I find it much more likely that they were merely protecting Mr. Sameday’s interests and the sanctity of his name to the best of their ability. After explaining my intentions and providing personal testimony, they were both forthcoming with what information they had. I have found no gaps in the evidence provided, as best as I can tell. Unfortunately, despite the wealth of information they were able to provide about his life, they were not able to illuminate much of the circumstances of his disappearance.
Exhibit 2.1
Dear Mr. Flint,
I hope it is not too presumptuous of me to be writing to you so soon after our introduction. I write to answer the question you asked of me that I have been turning over in my head ever since we spoke. I fear I was unable to give a satisfactory answer during our conversation. After some careful thought, my favorite bird is the Egret, a large white hunter that frequents the pond at my family’s estate.
If you would be interested, I would be Honored to have you join me at my family’s property to show you around the pond. We boast of a wonderful assortment of birds this time of year, and the fishing is exquisite. It only grows more exciting as the weather warms, so please join me at your earliest convenience.
With affection,
Honor Sameday
Exhibit 11.7
Mr. Sameday,
I have heard from your sister that you will be attending the ball at the Pellier estate this coming weekend. I find myself with an invitation as well, although I am notably lacking a date to accompany me. If you happen to find yourself in the same state as myself, I would be delighted for you to consider me for your companion for the evening.
Diego Flint
Exhibit 2.15
Diego,
Dog at the Crossroads will be playing at the theater next week and I have heard nothing but wonderful reviews from my friends who have been lucky enough to attend the early screenings. I have gotten us tickets to the Saturday matinee, I will pick you up at noon.
Honor
Exhibit 11.17
Honor,
I saw this and thought of you.
Diego
Author’s note: Mr. Flint clarified that this note was attached to a book titled Birdwatchers Guide to Nievelmarch: a twelve step guide to identifying bird species and their curses, that he gifted to Mr. Sameday.
Exhibit 2.19
Diego,
I love you.
Honor
Exhibit 11.19
My Honor,
While you are away on business, I find myself without much to do but think of you. The snow is beginning to melt, but it is not yet warm enough to spend much time outside. This last week I have spent many of my days in the library, a book in my hand, although I have not read any of the words. Instead, I think of you. Your hair, your dimples, your quick wit. Spending my time with you over the last couple years has been such a gift and I hope you know that I do not take it for granted.
Henrietta has been visiting me in the evening during your absence. I fear she misses you nearly as much as I do. Don’t worry for either of us, we’ll take care of one another. I wish you luck in all your dealings, though I trust you will not need it as I have never met anyone who could match your talent for negotiation. I will see you soon.
Your Diego
Exhibit 11.24
My love,
Please join me for dinner tomorrow evening. Everything has been arranged, you need only arrive. 6 PM.
Yours always,
Diego
Exhibit 10.3
Dear Sister,
Do not fret, while it may seem odd to be receiving a letter from me so shortly after you have left town, I felt it vital to inform you myself of the news I have to share. I could not risk this reaching you by way of gossip rather than from my own hand.
Diego has proposed to me and I have accepted!
Mother and father have determined the match agreeable and have happily blessed our engagement. We intend to be married in the fall.
Considering your close relationship to my fiancé , this may come as less of a surprise to you than it has to me. Either way, I hope this reaches you in good spirits and I look forward to your return so we may celebrate properly.
Joyfully,
Honor
Author’s note: Ms. Sameday insisted she was not aware of the engagement before receiving her brother’s letter. She did however wink at me as she was recounting the story.
Exhibit 2.30
Diego,
You will be pleased to hear that my family has secured the Brightbloom Estate for the venue, and on October the twenty fourth no less. I am meeting with the pastry chef from the Glacier Express next Thursday to inquire on the dessert menu. I would love you to join me if your schedule allows. Please also remember to schedule in your first fitting with the tailor at your earliest convenience, my mother has offered to join you, but I can think of some other tasks to set her if that sounds disagreeable to you. My sister has been diligently working through the guest list and I expect to finalize it with you in the coming weeks. Invitations are set to go out by the end of the month.
With all the business out of the way, I must also remind you that I love you dearly and I will be seeing you very soon.
All my love,
Honor
Exhibit 11.34
Honor,
The renovations on the house have fallen a bit behind schedule. With the preparations for the festival ongoing in town, the Odd Job Boys have been unusually busy with other orders and have not had time to acquire some of the materials needed to complete the paneling in the sitting room. In better news, the equipment for the kitchen is expected by weeks end.
Diego
Exhibit 2.36
My love,
Thank you as always for your prompt and accurate records, my father was pleased to hear of the progress on the house. Even so, no one is more excited than I am to see the final results of all your hard work. Over these last months of planning and preparing where I have scarcely had time to think of anything beyond table linens and cake tastings and wallpaper samples, any time I have had to spare has been saved for my consideration of our future together. For the time when we are no longer planning a wedding and renovating a house, but married and at home with one another. In such times, I think of you and me, sat in front of our fireplace. Warm, together. And I eagerly await the day when such a thing is so commonplace that I do not think much of it at all.
In regards to the west wall of the dining room, the burgundy looks much better than the robin’s egg. I understand Hen has been running a campaign to persuade you against me, but you and I both know that robin’s egg does not suit our temperaments. Do not let my color blind sister sway you in this matter.
Honor.
Author’s note: In my interview with Ms. Sameday she explained that Honor made the decision to travel through the woods shortly after sending this letter in search of something he did not specify to her. She suspects it was a wedding gift for Mr. Flint. Mr. Flint requested that she dissuade Mr. Sameday from this course of action although she did not.
Exhibit 11.41
Honor,
I implore you not to make such a dangerous journey. The woods and those that dwell within them can be unpredictable and cruel and I would hate to spend these last weeks of our engagement parted from you by such a distance.
Even in the unfortunate case of your absence, I promise to continue our efforts on the renovations to ensure they are complete before the ceremony. I would hate to have an unfinished threshold to carry you over.
Love,
Diego
Author’s note: This is the final correspondence between Mr. Sameday and Mr. Flint.
Exhibit 10.4
Henrietta,
Please do not take my departure as a sign of cold feet, and to the best of your ability please do not allow Diego to spend any time fretting upon my absence. I will return as shortly as I can manage, and with luck neither of you will even notice my absence.
Yours,
Honor
Author’s note: This is Mr. Sameday's final correspondence. If his writings are to be believed, he had every intention of returning from his venture into the woods. After I confer with Hilda, I intend to ask the Odd Job Boys to accompany me to the woods to search for him. As I cannot trust Mr. Flint’s objectivity in these matters, I will not be relying on his company for any assistance. With the aid of the witches I hope to find him unharmed, but in light of the evidence surrounding his departure, I fear the worst.
Exhibit 9.0
Image description: A charcoal sketch on a page torn from a notebook, dated and signed at the bottom. May 1826, Henrietta Sameday. In the sketch, Diego Flint and Honor Sameday are sitting on a blanket in a meadow in front of a pond. They are dressed casually with their boots discarded in the grass. Honor has an arm thrown around Diego’s shoulder, and as he leans in, the two share a conspiratorial look. A bird flies over the pond in the distance.