Tales from the Archives: Volume 3

By Dan Rabarts, K T Bryski, Suna Dasi and 2 more

Tales from the Archives are short stories set in the world of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences. They explore events mentioned in the novels, characters seen and unseen and may include novel teasers of things to come. This volume includes:

All That Glitters by Dan Rabarts

Agents Lachlan King and Barry Ferguson are called to an isolated mining town to investigate the disappearance of a young Chinese girl. They found the town all but abandoned, and as they descend into the realm of Ruaumoko, the Maori god of earthquakes they find an explosive situation that will test both agents and their equipment sorely.

Under Oak Island by K T Bryski

Agent Brandon Hill is called in to investigate strange happenings in Nova Scotia. The location is an isolated stretch of land called Oak Island, a truly peculiar place with mystery and peril surrounding it. At the Money Pit, a man-made excavation site at the island’s heart, Hill meets up with Agent Anouk Tremblay, le Ministère Officiel d’Occurrences Sans Explication, the Québec counterpart to the Ministry.
Struggling against the dark claustrophobia lingering around them in their descent of the Money Pit, Hill and Tremblay navigate hydrological systems and digging technology to discover what has taken refuge under Oak Island.

Those Dark Satanic Mills by Suna Dasi

Agent Imogen Feaveryear finds herself investigating a mysterious panic overcoming a mill in the countryside of Manchester, England. The unassuming mystery, dismissed by other agents of the Ministry, leads her to India, the approval of Doctor Sound on granting the young agent the latest in R&D technology. This case only twists and turns harder as Imogen confronts an enigmatic intruder, obviously aware of her clandestine work.

Blessings of Baalsheim by Nobilis Reed

In the Spring of 1869 Mrs Isabel Burton begins a correspondence with the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Director, Woodruff Spring, on a strange device she has run across in her travels. Ministry agents are dispatched and a soon enough the Burtons, both Isabel and her husband Sir Richard, are deep in a very peculiar occurrence and dashing through the wilderness to prevent untold horror occurring.

The Black Empress by Katharina Bordet

When two agents from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences are called to Vienna to investigate disturbances at the palace, what they discover could threaten the Austro-Hungarian Empire and shatter the fragile peace in Europe. Who is the mysterious man who has pulled diplomatic strings to enlist the help of a foreign agency and how is the Empress Elisabeth herself involved?

To Hide in Plain Sight by K T Bryski

Elizabeth Sinclair, working on the fringes of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences, is called in to find a thief. Her unusual set of skills means she is particularly suited to this task, but she is not the only one able to hide in plain sight, and the museum of the University of Toronto has many secrets and dangers within its walls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ImagineThat Studios
• Release date: Jan 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465831729

Book preview

Tales from the Archives

Tales from the Archives

Volume 3

Starla Hucton Helen E H Madden Val Griswold-Ford Pip Ballantine

Contents

Other Books from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

From Paris, With Regret

Hanuman’s Gift

The Sun Never Sets

A Precarious Child

About the Authors

Imagine That! Studios, Copyright 2011

All rights reserved.

Interior Layout by Imagine That! Studios 

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental. Any actual places, products or events mentioned are used in a purely fictitious manner. 

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www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com

Other Books from the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

Featuring Agents Books and Braun

Phoenix Rising

The Janus Affair

Dawn’s Early Light

The Diamond Conspiracy

Featuring Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven

The Curse of the Silver Pharaoh

Anthologies

Ministry Protocol : Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences

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From Paris, With Regret

By Starla Huchton

No matter how many times she saw it, Paris in the spring always astounded her. The gentle scent of flowering trees eased the twinge of cold still lingering on the March breeze. Of course, it couldn't hold a candle to a New Zealand spring, with the heavy scent of kowhai permeating the air, but, really, what could?

Eliza Braun always enjoyed fieldwork in Paris. Its bright lights were a stark contrast to the gloom that often descended over London. This was most noticeable while strolling the Champs-Élysées. Every ten paces, a gaslight illuminated the street below it, casting the bricks in an orange glow. She stopped in front of a store window, admiring a display of the latest trends in Parisian dresses. As she imagined the feel of a silk bodice against her skin, a man's reflection appeared behind her in the glass. Tall, with an immaculately groomed mustache, his blonde hair looked fiery in the streetlight's luminescence.

"Pardonez-moi, mademoiselle, his said while his grey-green eyes sparkled playfully, êtes-vous seul?"

Eliza turned to face him, her smile matching his. "Je ne suis pas plus."

He laughed. "Quel scandale, mademoiselle! Is that how you greet all strange men?"

Only the good looking ones, Mr. Thorne! She chuckled and took his arm, and they continued down the street, speaking quietly. Was your errand a productive one?

To an outsider, they would seem as innocuous as any other couple on the streets of Paris; huddled close, arm in arm, lost in their own conversation. Nothing about them seemed out of the ordinary, except perhaps their matched good looks. Not a soul on the street would suspect them as secret agents, sworn to service under the Queen of England and her Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences.

Eliza gave a throaty, feminine laugh as they passed close to a gentleman walking the opposite direction, keeping up the facade of a lovers' tryst. Her partner leaned in close to her ear.

The lady in question is hosting a grand masked ball tomorrow evening, he confided. It's said that not a single invited guest declined the invitation.

Eliza tapped her lip thoughtfully. So either it's as the Ministry suspected, or our Marquise inspires unheard of loyalty.

He handed her an envelope. I was able to secure this. When she made to open the wax seal, he stopped her. Patience, Lizzie. Note the impression there.

Eliza examined the embossed red blob holding the envelope closed. A crescent moon?

Are you very familiar with French history? She shot him a withering look, and he continued, The crescent moon was a favorite symbol of Diane de Poitiers, famous mistress to King Henri the second. She adopted many of the Roman goddess Diana's symbols and posed for several artists depicting her in that divine role.

And what, exactly, is the Marquise de Savoie's connection to this Diane de Poitiers? She handed him back the invitation.

He shrugged and tucked the paper into his inner jacket pocket. She claims to be a descendant of some sort, but French royalty were never known for their honesty in paternity claims, so it's difficult to refute or verify.

They continued along the Champs-Élysées until they reached the Hotel Crillon, bordering the Place de la Concord. As they assumed the guise of a wealthy British merchant and his wife, anyone would expect to find them in lavish accommodations like these. As their feet lit upon the mat outside, the glass revolving door began to turn slowly, followed by the hiss of steam. Thanks to the work of Amédée Bollée and his steam engine cars, technology was evident at every turn in Paris. Apart from the automatic door, the Hotel Crillon boasted a mechanised baggage transport system, access to pneumatic tube message delivery in every room, and its very own ice machine in the hotel bar. The desk clerk greeted them with a cheerful bon nuit as they traversed the black and white marble tile floor. Everywhere Eliza looked was gilded wood or plush red velvet upholstery. The warmth of the gaslight served only to enhance the atmosphere of privilege. The effect was not lost on her. She did so enjoy fieldwork.

When they were within the safety of their grand suite, speculation on the mysterious Marquise de Savoie continued. Any idea as to what we should expect, Harry? She removed her hatpin and hung the touring hat on the coat rack, mindful of the black plumage.

Harrison Thorne seated himself in one of the leather lounge chairs in the suite common area and removed a cigar from the humidor on the coffee table. Doctor Sound said Prince Philippe was very concerned about the circumstances surrounding the murders of certain well-off friends of his. According to the transcript from their Stowe House meeting, he suspects poison and an agenda. He clipped the end of the cigar and struck a match.

"So why have the Ministry investigate? Sounds more like a job for the Sûreté instead."

He puffed on the cigar a few times before answering, It's more the nature of the poisoning. Autopsies revealed no traces of a toxin in their stomach, yet they all shared symptoms of long-term gold poisoning.

Eliza hung her cape below her hat and approached the mahogany bar behind her partner's chair. Long-term? I thought you said the Marquise was a new addition to Paris high society. Brandy?

Harry let out a puff of smoke. Please. That is the mystery, my dear Lizzie. These symptoms, pale skin and thin, golden hair, could not possibly occur within the few hours between when they were last seen alive and when the bodies were found. Excepting the aging Monsieur Beaujelais, who was on his way out at any rate, all four victims were in fine physical health, yet somehow their livers contained more gold than the Queen's crown jewels.

And the connection between victims? She set two crystal snifters on the center table before taking her seat.

Harry picked up the glass and swirled the contents around. As far as I've worked out, not much of one, aside from attending one of the Marquise's soirees. These blue bloods are all inter-related, however. No telling how many family members they share.

She considered the facts as she sipped her brandy. I believe I'll pay a visit to a friend of mine tomorrow morning. I daresay he'd love a chance to regale me with a bit of historical gossip regarding royal mistresses. What of the Marquise's maid?

"Running errands before the affair.