Day 2

Early the next morning, both Marcus and Archie were eating a rough breakfast in the bar room when the door opened and a breathless man stumbled into the room. “Marcus,” the figure gasped, “Come quick!”
“What is wrong, Istvan?” Marcus replied.
“The children! They’ve gone!”
Archie was moving towards the door immediately, grabbing Bertha on the way past. “Tell me what has happened!” he told Istvan.
Istvan, still out of breath, said nothing but pointed out the door. From outside, sounds or crying and shouting could be heard.
Archie hurried out, followed by Marcus and Istvan. The village was in an uproar. Women crying, men angrily shouting at each other. But no children.
“Friends, please. I need to know what happened!” shouted Archie again. No-one paid him any attention.
Archie shrugged, and hefted Bertha, pointing the barrel skywards.

BLAM!

The explosion echoed off walls. Everyone stopped running, crying or panicking and looked at Archie, wreathed briefly in smoke. A couple of seagull feathers floated down, settling on the brim of his fedora.
“Let me try again. You, he pointed, “Tell me what has happened.”
The man looked left then right, as though hoping Archie meant someone else. Realising he was in the proverbial spotlight, he explained, “Sir, the unnatural storm last night. Something has magicked away our children! They’ve all gone.”
“Did anyone see or hear anything?” Archie asked, his features going hard as anger built.
“I did, sir.” A woman timidly ventured. “Our Melinda was taken. I heard her cry out, and went to her thinking she was frightened by the storm. When I got to her room, something went out through the window as I entered, and she was gone!” She sobbed, “Please, can you help us?”
“I will help. It would seem that the reason for my being here is clear,” Archie said, turning to Marcus. “Madam, did you see what way this evil went after it left your home?”
“North,” the woman said, “Towards the mountain.”
“What lies that way?”
“Nothing, sir, for a couple of valleys. Then there’s just Castle Von Mises.”
“Who lives there?” Archie asked.
“It’s been empty for years,” Marcus said. “It’s said to be haunted, but I went up there a couple of times as a youngster, and never saw nothing.”
“A haunted castle and children taken in the night,” said Archie, “This sounds like the Evil I was brought here to fight. Marcus, can you prepare me some food. I shall leave immediately, before the trail grows cold.”
Marcus disappeared back into the Flying Pig. The villagers gathered around Archie, thanking him for his offer to help. Archie asked more questions about the valleys to the north, and Castle Von Mises.
Soon Marcus returned. When he did, he had two packs with him, plus his cudgel. “Master Furrows, if you like, I will go with you. I know the area better than any man here and can track an animal as well as any.” The villagers nodded agreement.

Archie asked the woman who had seen the shape in the night to show him where the window was. He examined the ground under the window. Marcus joined him. “There isn’t going to be much of a trail after that rain.”
“Look here,” Archie pointed, “Some marks remain.” There were indeed slight indentations in the rain-spattered earth. “Let us head north and see if we can pick up a trail closer to the forest.”
He made off out of the village of Stüden, with Marcus following close behind.