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A Sleepy Hollow


PresidentDavid

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My Dearest Lenore,

 

Midnight approaches and I am fearful. We have left Thunder Bay hours ago and have almost made it to the place where I will meet light and dark. They know who I am but I do not know a single one of them. If I was going to be killed, I feel they would have done it by now like they did to the few others who could have made it to this point. My conclusion is that they want me. Once they have me, from what I know, I will not be in danger from them again. It is a code of conduct that I will not go into great detail about for now, but what you do need to know my love is that I am safe. 

 

I must go, I cannot write any longer. Remember that I am always thinking about you.

 

 

Nicholas Dusk

Baron Elect of Sleepy Hollow

 

 

 

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From the tunnel they emerged. The only sound was that of the horses hooves on the stone path below them. It began there. There horses stopped where they stood. They would not go farther, they refused to take even another step. Nicholas stepped down. His stagecoach driver handed him an oil lantern and whispered, "Do be careful Mister Dusk." Nicholas's eyes grew wide. He snatched the lantern from his driver and put his right index finger over his lips. They both stood still and listened. Wings flapped from somewhere in the trees above but whatever creature it was found its place of rest among the cracking limbs of the tall, cold trees.

 

An echoing whisper crept through the air. "Mister Dusk...... Mister Dusk...... Mister Dusk......." Nicholas pointed to the tunnel and silently ordered his driver to leave. To the horses relief they were gone within moments, rushing back to Thunder Bay. Nicholas had no such relief. His visibility was limited but fair for midnight in an unpopulated place such as this. His oil lantern allowed him to see well for about twenty feet, and the moon dimly lit everything else around him. The sky was eclipsed with clouds but the moon was not. Not one cloud passed the moon as if it had orders to shine brightly tonight. It had a duty, a mission, to reflect onto this place and illuminate his path. 

 

Gusts of wind slapped the trees above Nicholas, a man over six feet. But the towering trees made him look like nothing more than a twig stuck in the ground. Dead trees crackled like firewood as the wind swayed them back and forth. A branch occasionally fell which sent a shot of edrenalyn into Nicholas's blood stream. Orange, yellow, and red leaves littered the floor of the forest around him. The stone path too was covered. Whomever was watching him always knew where he was, step by step with each crunch of the leaves beneath his boots. 

 

"Mister Dusk...... Mister Dusk..... Mister Dusk....." echoed the whisper above again. The flap of wings again and then silence followed by more wind. The part of the path he was on now came close enough to the water that he could hear the splashing of cold waves on the rocky beach. Between the trees he saw the crystal water. Being so close to the water's edge it looked as if he was a free man but he was not. Death could surround him at any moment and he knew it. It was his responsibility to progress forward and not abandon his mission, otherwise he would abandon his life.

 

He turned a corner and then the path straightened up. The moon's light did not reveal everything but he could see the outline of a stone building ahead. The winds picked up. Leaves crept up off the ground and twirled around in small cyclones of air only a few feet wide and lasted for seconds or even minutes. It was then when the moon began to fade. It was obscure, not a single flicker of light made it through the blackening clouds. He was only thirty feet from the structure now. It looked abandoned but at the same time it did not. There were no lights and some of the stones had plants growing up them, but the windows had crystal clear glass untouched by nature. 

 

While he observed the architecture of the building a winged creature flapped above him. He almost dropped his lantern while he swung his right arm above his head to repel the creature that came out of the midnight dreary. The black figure landed in front of him and raised its head. It was a raven, a single raven but there were surely others around. "Mister Dusk" it said. His name echoed out in the silence. Nicholas watched the bird while it said his name again and again. "Mister Dusk..... Mister Dusk....." Other ravens, hopefully they were ravens, repeated his name in the distance. A second raven landed next to the other. They observed one another but paid more attention to Nicholas. "Mister Dusk...." said the first, "Turn around," said the second.

 

His spine tingled while his hands shook. The stone path now devoid of leaves told Nicholas of the light pattering of fourteen feet to his right. Those lightly pattering feet supported the bodies of seven people who's identities were temporarily hidden buy a thick white cloak which provided a more then large enough hood. The figures all looked exactly the same for the exception that some were taller then the others. While those cloaked mystery men walked in single file to the right of the one-lane asphalt path, 18 men on Johnathan's left were in the exact same cloak and were walking the same exact same way. The exception of the identical appearance of the individuals was that their cloaks were black instead of white. No one spoke and no movements other then foot steps were made. Johnathan was the only one who was walking in the center of the path and was the only one without a cloak.

 

They approached the stone building but the cloaked people waited behind. His face was the only visible one. It was possible that the figures did not even know each other, but they did all know him. His black suit, vest, and short top hat would be ignored by the naked eye. Instead his orange tie took the show while his white shirt glimmered beneath. His lips were almost pressed against the door. "Nicholas Dusk, Baron of Sleepy Hollow," he said. The doors cracked open, but before Nicholas could touch them a gust of wind forced them to open all of the way. The wind blew out a few candles which had been lit on the walls. The two groups of hooded figures entered behind him and followed Nicholas. He went to grab his oil lantern but when he reached it his left, it was gone. A raven poked his finger, "Mister Dusk....." 

 

When everyone had made it inside, Nicholas heard a distant slam of the doors and the creak of an old system of locks engage. He pushed forward. The twists and turns of the hallway became more difficult as the light grew dimmer and dimmer from fewer candles. He had to decide to turn left or right, take this hall or that one. It was a mansion, a modest one, but it was a stone mansion. Plenty of rooms to explore, but there was one they needed to make it to. 

 

The journey through the mansion only took a short seven minutes. He now encountered a second set of doors. These two were larger then the first. They were made of almost black wood and lined with stone. On each of the doors was a large knocker made of iron in the shape of a pumpkin. Grabbing the right one with his right hand, he slammed it into the door three times. The noise echoed down the dark hall behind them which was suddenly illuminated as the doors before them softly opened. Behind the doors was a huge stone room that was fifty feet tall at its highest. To keep the room lit, candles were along all of the walls and in hanging chandeliers around the room. At the back center was a tall, stone structure that had a pulpit in the center. The structure itself, which was merely stairs facing east or west and away from the southern doors to the room, went up to the pulpit which had an unnoticeable chair behind it that could be used when standing became a drag during lengthy legislative sessions.

 

Johnathan entered the room and the hooded figures filed in behind him. They went to their seats. He walked to the stone pulpit. Engarved on the front of it were symbols of autumn like pumpkins, jack o' lanterns, and leaves. Everyone stood before their chairs. "Are all the members of the Council of Light present?" At the same time, they lowered their hoods and looked at one another. They confirmed their recognition of each other and then looked back at Nicholas. Thirty seconds of silence answered his question with a non-verbal "yes". He did the same for the other hooded figures who were in the black hoods. "Are all the members of the Council of Dark present?" Thirty seconds of silence and the nodding of heads at each other. All of the seats needed were filled. He finally saw their faces. Some were old, some were young. Some were women, many were men. Some beautiful, some lacking luster. They all had stern faces. 

 

"I call the first meeting of Sleepy Hollow to order." 

 

 

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To President John Reese of The Plains Federation

From Baron Nicholas Dusk of Sleepy Hollow

 

 

Mister President,

 

This Sleepy Hollow has elected me as its Baron. It has also elected to join the Plains Federation as a State which the Federation of The Atlantic has accepted. I look forward to the day that our nations are one, hopefully in the weeks to come. I have been told that Vice President Kennedy frequents diplomatic trips. I extend an invitation to her to come to Thunder Bay and meet me face to face. If there are any questions your legislature or you have about this Sleepy Hollow, I will answer them then.

 

Respectfully, 

 

Nicholas Dusk

Baron of Sleepy Hollow

Edited by PresidentDavid
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To: Baron Sleepy Hollow

From: President John Reece of the Plains Federation

 

Baron,

 

The Vice President has expressed her willingness to meet with you and yours in Thunder Bay, and will arrive within the week. I look forward to seeing what becomes of your meeting with the Vice President; she has a way with words.

 

Respectfully,

 

John K. Reece

President, Plains Federation

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