Shepperton's Sacrifice, Heir of Drachma, Book Three

Well, here is the next chapter of Shepperton's Sacrifice, Heir of Drachma, Book Three. In this chapter I've brought back our intrepid duo of the twentieth century doings, which somehow intertwines with the fifteenth century - more to come!

 Chapter Two

 

 

Lonnie stepped into her second floor apartment and noticed the smell of stale food. Laying her mail on the table, she moved across her living area to open a window and get some air inside. As she stood at the open window, she noticed that near where she had parked her car, a strange grey sedan was now parking. This sight sent a chill down her spine as she watched.

 

No, this can’t be, she thought, it really can’t be the same car. She continued to watch and noticed a man in dark clothing in the driver’s seat, but could not see well enough to know if it was the same man. Seeing the man still sitting in the driver’s seat and not getting out made her nervous. She went to her phone and dialed Christine’s number.

 

“Oh, hi, Chris. It’s me Lonnie. Where are you right now? Just in your car? Thirty fifth street, yeah, that’s close…  It may be nothing, but I think it may be him. He’s just sitting in the car. Got me worried… Well, I would appreciate that… No, I don’t have any idea.” 

 

She hung up the phone, relieved that Christine would be over. Deciding to go back to watching from her window, she noticed her mail. She hesitated. On top of the pile was an envelope, but it seemed strange. There was just her name, and no address. There was no stamp, and no indication of anything else. It felt strange in her hand, somewhat rough, but she could feel the oldness of the paper. And when she opened it it gave off an aroma which made her cough. It was as if something dead had been released in her hands. She dropped the envelope without reading the note inside.

 

Immediately, she went to the kitchen sink, and washed her hands, as if scrubbing her hands could wipe off the stench. She began to cry.

 

“Oh, Christina, help,” she said quietly between sobs. “Can you come just a bit faster? I need you here.”

 

Then from outside she heard a loud shot, and a crashing sound as the bullet smashed her window. She was instantly paralyzed with dread. This was too much for her, and she slumped down in a kitchen chair, afraid to move or do anything at all.

 

The wailing of a siren shook her from her stupor. The sound was coming closer, she could tell. It offered a slender bit of hope. Shakily she got up, and went over to the other window, in the bathroom, and peered out to see the grey sedan quickly pulling out and heading down the road, with the unmarked police car coming up lights flashing and the siren blaring. The car stopped by her apartment building, and she could see that Christine got out, and came into her building, gun drawn in her right hand, and speaking into a walkie-talkie with her left hand.

 

Her doorbell rang and she opened up her doorway to Christine, who came hurrying up the stairs.

 

“What happened,” Christine asked, “are you all right? I heard the shot as I was coming up the road. I did get his license plate number as he sped away.”

 

“I’m alright physically, but as you can see, my window is shattered, and so are my nerves!”

 

“Hmm, well I can see you’re upset…”

 

“Yeah, a real basket case right now.”

 

“Let me make this call, then you can tell me all about all this.”

 

Christine made the call to her station, asking for back-up, and telling them that they should be on the lookout for a grey Oldsmobile with the Ohio license number OJT 509, and that he was headed north on Lexington. After making her call, she sat down and indicated to Lonnie to do the same.

 

“Okay, I can see that you’re physically alright, but obviously shaken, Lonnie. So, tell me everything that happened, from the time we last spoke together.”

 

Lonnie shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “All right, then, I’ll try to do that. After we had the coffee, I just got into my car, and my mind was whirling with all that happened at Amanda’s funeral. I guess that I just got into my car and automatically drove home. To be honest, I didn’t notice whether I was being followed or anything. I just drove here, picked up my mail and came upstairs. I then went to the window and opened it slightly to get some air in here. And then I noticed the car, which was parked just a few spaces behind my own. That’s when I called you. But next I looked at my mail, and here was this envelope with no stamp or anything but my name on it. I opened it but out came this odor like something dead. So, I dropped it – it’s over there.” She indicated with her hand. “I didn’t see what was in there – I just couldn’t look.

 

“I rushed over to the sink and washed my hands, and I decided to go back to the window – no not that one, the one in the bathroom, and that’s when I heard the shot, and saw the car peeling away.”

 

Christine putt on some gloves which she kept in her purse, and she went over to where the envelope was on the floor. Cautiously she picked it up, and as she opened it further, she noticed the odor. “Phew,” she said, “it really reeks! Now, you just touched the outer envelope, and didn’t touch the paper inside, right?”

 

“Yeah, that’s right, and I have no idea what’s inside.”

 

“Well, that’s good – it’ll help with our fingerprint guys. But I do feel we’ve got to see what’s written inside.”

 

“Be my guest, Chris.”

 

Christine reopened the envelope and carefully pulled out the paper inside, wrinkling her nose as she did so. On the inside was a handwritten note, in a simple declarative script. She read the note, then said, “Oh my, Lonnie, this is true evil….”

 

“Then, I better look….”

 

“I’ll hold it – I’ve got gloves on.”

 

The note said, in its garish simplicity:

 

                        Alonza,

                        Let me tell you by way of my warning shot that you should

                        heed well this threat:

                        I have knowledge of your man which you do not.

                        Your complicity and silence are needed.

                        Be advised that any involvement with the police

                        will be treated as if you do not care for the lives

                        involved. You have been warned.

A.LeGace

 

“Now, if this, along with the bullet, don’t constitute a threat on your life,” Chris almost spat the message out. “And, by now, you can’t help but get us involved. I’ll give this to the crime scene guys for fingerprints. And we’ve put out an APB on the car. My only hope is that we can find him before he gets another chance to do anything more.”

 

“But Chris, the note says that he knows about Charlie – it sure makes me wonder what he knows, and what powers he has.”

 

“If he’s meaning Charlie,” Christine noted. “You know Charlie’s not here…?”

 

“Who else could he be referring to?”

 

“I really can’t say, Lonnie. He’s obviously assuming that you do know, as he specified in the note that it’s your man he’s referring to.”

 

“What could he mean, and what knowledge could he have? This has gotten me spooked.” 

 

“Well, I can tell you, Lonnie, that after our back-up arrives, we’ve got to get you another place to stay. Why don’t we go down to the station, and from there, figure it out. For now, how about getting some of what you’ll need for the next few days. After the CSI folks get here, you can come with me.”

 

Lonnie thought about this, then said, “I’ll need my car, but I’ll follow you down to the police station. Oh, man, this has really gotten to me – and Charlie – what am I to think? There ought to be some way of communicating with him – but I’ve got nothing. Nothing but worry….”

 

Her doorbell rang, and Lonnie jumped at the sound.

 

Christine calmly placed her hand on Lonnie’s arm, and said, “that must be the back-up I asked for. How do I let them in?”

 

“Oh, I got spooked. Here, I’ll let them in.” Lonnie got up and pressed a button on her wall, and said, “come on in. It’s open now.”

 

Somewhat shakily she sat back down, as Christine got up and went to the door to let the two uniformed officers enter.

 

After introductions the two burly men got down to business, with one taking photos, and the other surveying the rooms and getting details from Christine.

 

“Here, Mike, this is the bullet entry point.” the younger one said, indicating with his camera a place on the far wall.

 

“Yep. It sure is.” Then he opened his tool bag and got out some instruments that Lonnie had never seen.

 

“Lonnie, why don’t you go ahead and gather your stuff? We’ll go down to the station and let these men do their thing. And we can reconnect later if we need to.”

 

The trip to the police station was filled with all sorts of questions running around in Lonnie’s head as she tried to wrap her mind around this most evil afternoon. What am I supposed to do and to think? Oh, Charlie, If only I could get in touch with you. Warn you or something – but I don’t even know if what I do is harmful. How can you be gone at this time?

 

When she arrived at the station she got out of her car and looked around nervously, but almost didn’t see that there was something on her passenger seat. She opened the passenger door and stooped down to pick up a small, warm, and most fragrant loaf of bread. What in the world? Who could have left this on my seat? As she walked into the grey police station, clutching her loaf, she heard something so beautiful in the distance, something that sounded like the melody from her time with Charlie, played on a harp. She began to cry quietly as she walked into the station.

 

 

  Here is the new start of Book Three. There is more to come!

 

 

 

 

Shepperton’s Sacrifice

Heir of Drachma

Book Three

 

Chapter One

 

 

 

Charlie Stephens was sitting down with Alex and was perplexed. His circumstances had changed again–this whole thing with Diego, with Alex, Judy and her baby, Bob and his relationship to Marilyn, and his own decision – just what was he supposed to do? He felt like he was floating in a large body of water, in a constant state of uncertainty and could not see any landmarks to help him find his way.

 

“Tell me, Alex,” he said, “just what does all this mean? Where am I to fit in with you all?” Why was he talking to this six-year-old? How did he expect her to be able to answer the voices of doubt?

 

“Why don’ ye tell me about a bit more o’ yer past life? What was yer job, an’ how did it change the others around ye?” She said all this with a knowing touch in her voice, one which said he was in a safe place.

 

“Well, my job was that of a reporter. That is, I would seek out stories of what other people were doing, and then talk about them on television….”

 

“Television?”

 

“Ah dear Alex, television is one of those things that, if I were to show you, you would say, “that’s magic.” It’s a way of telling people all around your country, and even around the world, of what you have discovered. Mind you, TV as we call it can be useful, it can be beautiful but in certain hands it can also become an instrument of evil.”

 

“Do go on. Tell me more of this magic. And tell me of yer job, an’ how you kept it beautiful an’ not evil.”

 

“And how do you know that I did that?”

 

“Oh, Charlie! Ye don’ need to ask. Fer I can see yer soul is na’ made o’ such. Why don’ ye tell me of things that ye made which were beautiful.”

 

“I can tell you about two TV specials which I put together. The first you know about. It was the investigation of abused children, and it involved Francine. That one took me a while to recover from. I had actually withdrawn into my own shell after the governor gave me a special commendation, and when I found out what a slime bag he really was. Then about four years ago, I was just going about my business when I stumbled upon this story of Dr. Gilsen and nurse Judy Morrison. I saw in this an opportunity to uncover a story of infidelity and possibly worse. Boy was I wrong! Uncovering that story brought me into contact with Marilyn Gilsen, and since then Janie and Earl Crabtree, Christine Lewinsky, Carlo Vincente and the earl of Shepperton. I decided to tell the world the story I had stumbled upon and how pursuing it changed even me, and I brought it to television. It was this special which truly altered my life – this… and Marilyn Gilsen.”

 

Charlie paused, took a drink of his tea. He reached into his jacket pocket and took out his notebook. As he did so the drawing fell out. 

 

Alex noticed. “May I see what ye’ve got there, Charlie?”

 

Silently, he took the drawing and handed it to Alex who studied it carefully. After looking it over, she smiled and said, “This is the work of Janie, no?”

 

“Of course it is, and somehow you knew about it and what it represented. She made it without having seen the castle or any drawing of it. It makes me believe there is something or someone else involved which has been steering me toward some sort of grand concussion here upon this island. Isn’t there?”

 

Alex simply smiled in answer. “Do go on, Charlie fer I think that ye’re getting’ close t’ the heart o’ the matter.”

 

Charlie took another sip from his tea, then resumed. “As I was saying, Alexandra, this little notebook is where I keep all the things which I hear from those I interview. It is their own words and descriptions of events. If you would like you may see it, if you can read it.” Then he hesitated. “Can you read, Alex?”

 

“Nay, I canna’ read. But I am able to tell the truth of the matter if ye do read me some of what ye’ve written in yer book. Are there any more pi’tures?”

 

“No. No more pictures I’m afraid. But here’s an example of something that I wrote down. While still in my time, I was able to record the words of the earl of Shepperton. He was giving me some advice before my coming here. He based it on his own memories and experience, and he told me whom to trust and whom to be wary of. I must say his advice has been valuable indeed. And no, he didn’t mention you. He did talk of Drachma, Tom, Kerlin, and Craycroft. Then he mentioned Falma. All of these he said would not steer me wrong. But he did also mention Antoine LeGace, and he said in no way was I to trust him and I should avoid him, if at all possible. He also indicated that this LeGace fellow has done some terrible things, which your prince confirmed, and that LeGace was trying to take over this island and would stop at nothing to get his own way.”

 

“Tell me, Charlie, is all that in yer notes?”

 

“Oh, it certainly is, Alex. I wouldn’t go anywhere without this little notebook. Now, you tell me something that I’m curious about. Tell me about this fellow Craycroft. Just anything you can tell me about who he is, where he came from, and how a healer became lord of this island. For it seems that his story will tell me a lot about this island and what makes it so special.”

 

“What I can tell ye is that he began as a page o’ the old earl, back in the day. It was me great gran’father, Cartho who was the castle’s own healer, who noticed what a smart lad this fellow named Craycroft was, an’ he took ‘im aside an’ taught ‘im all the things ‘bout bein’ a healer.”

 

“Extraordinary, my little one! To think that he started out as a page, as did Tom himself, and now to see where they both got in their own lifetimes. It seems no wonder then, why the likes of LeGace, and even the king of England would want to get this little island for themselves.”

 

“Aye, but it be more likely that they’re both after the pots, or so me Mum tol’ me.”

 

“The pots…?”  

 

So, Charlie got the story of the wondrous pots of Shepperton from none other than little Alexandra, who pointed out that he was now part of their story, having been so adopted. Now it was soon up to him to decide the fate of the other adoptees.

 

“Let me ask you, Alex,” he said, digging in his pocket. He pulled out his small amulet and handed it to her. “What could you possibly tell me about this? This was something I got from Janie before she died.  The earl of Derrymoor and Craycroft both saw it and they both thought it was special, but neither one said anything more. Janie indicated that its meaning was something I would find out about after I got here….”

 

“So now you wan’ me t’ tell ye its true meanin’. Is that right?” She looked again at the small scrimshaw piece in her hand, held it up toward the light and handed it back to Charlie.

 

“I guess so.”

 

“What I’m about t’ tell ye is that this broach let ye come to us. In your own world there are pow’rful people and pow’rful things who you don’ even know about. An’ here only a few people who do know, but who are only sometimes able to use ‘em. They’re the special ones, like Falma, an’ Drachma, but also Master LeGace. In their hands these special things an’ special people can do things no ord’nery person can do.”

 

“What about you?”

 

“It’s ‘cause o’ Drachma an’ Falma. That be all I can tell ye fer now.”

 

Charlie was silent and took another drink of his tea, thinking about what this little girl had told him. Then he thought again of Janie and Falma; how Falma had said from the back seat of his car that he needed to go see Janie, that she had something for him. Before she died, she handed him the broach and kissed him. And ever since then he had been swept along in this rushing current of time. Then the thought hit him – the coin, the drachma!

 

“Charlie,” said Alex quietly. “It looks t’ me like ye thought of something.”

 

“Indeed, I did. I just thought of the little coin, a drachma, now in Lonnie’s possession. How it had been such a significant item for Marilyn. It seemed that the coin had a mind of its own, and significance beyond just a beautiful token. Was it something like this broach?”

 

“It sounds like somethin’ ye’ll have t’ ask Tom about. I know he’d like t’ talk t’ ye about that.”

 

“It seems to me, my little one, that you do know things, yet are only telling me part of the story. Is that true?”

 

“There are some things I am able t’ tell ye, but there be other things too deep fer me t’ see. Things that ye must find fer yerself. There be danger….”

 

“Danger?” Charlie thought for a moment. “Of course, there’s danger.”

 

 

 

 

Gathered inside the gate of Castle Kearney at sunrise, the group consisted of Chauncey, Stoneheft, Gilbert, Eustace, and the newly recovered Diego. To that motley assortment was added Justinian for the purpose of security. Their plan was to travel to Shepperton Castle and to meet with Craycroft and Kerlin. They were all aware of the threat posed by LeGace and wanted to be helpful in any way possible. Each had been given a sword and a smaller knife. Justinian knew that this group had been tested and seasoned by their recent history.

 

Prince Diego was significantly healed and knew his expertise would be useful to Shepperton and felt it his responsibility to be where he could be of the most use. He felt that Alexandra should remain in Kearney with Judy, Diane and Charlie. He had sat down with her and explained his thinking the prior evening. To his surprise, Alex understood perfectly. She knew that her prince would be necessary elsewhere, and she had been there for him when he needed her the most. And beside that she had Charlie to “deal with.” Diego smiled at this little girl, reached down, kissed her forehead and said, “you go with God, my Alexandra. You are one of His special angels.”

 

She responded by giving him a warm hug and whispering to him, saying, “I’ll always love you, my prince!”

 

Diego was remembering all that fondly, as he said to the men assembled there, “Come now, my comrades, we must be going. I do believe Craycroft and all Shepperton await.”

 

Justinian agreed, checked his supplies, saluted the guards at the gate, and led his men out into the darkness of the forest. 

 

 

 

 

Kerlin stared straight ahead at the small but imposing figure of Antoine LeGace. Behind Kerlin, in a semicircle, were the guards and Leonardo. 

 

“So, Master Kerlin, do you have with you the money and the note?”

 

“Aye, I have.” The large Forest Guard reached into his tunic, and produced a thick envelope, which he threw down onto the table. As he did so, he could see, at the edge of his vision a brief glimpse of the waif, with her features giving off a faint blue light. He turned his head toward her, only to find that she had disappeared into the evening, but in her place was a faint hint of the forest and the aroma of newly turned earth.

 

LeGace took the envelope, and with his knife he cut through the seal, and within there was a folded sheet of paper. LeGace opened the paper and read the note which said:

            

            Master LeGace,

 

            This shall be our response to thy list of demands:

 

            Firstly, thou hadst not properly advised the ruling authority of the Island of Shepperton.

            Being a senior member of the ruling Council, I shall tell thee that it be myself that thou

            shouldst speak with in matters which concern our Island and its governance. Thy method

            of delivery, having taken the life of one of our own esteemed persons, we have found to

            be most intolerable, and we consider it a matter most execrable!

 

            Secondly, we of the ruling Council do declare thy requests are therefore null and void.

 

            Thirdly, thy actions are considered an act of war, so be ye forewarned, and thy life to

            be forfeit!

 

            Sworn hereby,

 

            Master Rust

            Master Genet

            Master Silvo

            Master Fitzgibbon

            Master Donovan

 

LeGace’s face was a mask of evil, with a most malicious smile as he said to Kerlin, “Well, then, Master Kerlin, I do see that your Councilors have declared war upon this, thy island. Well, I say so be it! Guards, take this prisoner to the brig, while I decide the fate of the two of them.”

The end of Book Two, Heir of Drachma - Center game

Well, here it is - the start of a new book in the series (for real). After trying to decide where to end Book Two and to start Book Three.

Well, sorry about this, but I decided on something newer, so this is actually the final chapter of Book Two, and I began a new Book Three - soon to be seen...

Center Game

Heir of Drachma

Book Two

 

Chapter Thirty Eight

 

 

 

 

All was now quiet in Drachma’s abode. He sat in his chair in the study, with his glass of wine at his side. A gentle breeze blew in from the open window, carrying with it the scent of newly turned earth. This caused him to stop and pay attention. He had seen to it that Tom was dispatched along with a contingent of his best fighting men earlier in the day. There seemed no one else, however, he could sense the presence of another person in the room. He was so sure of it that he spoke aloud.

 

“Whoever is in here, I ask that you identify yourself, for I do know you are here with me.”

 

A voice came in on the breeze, a gentle, soothing voice. “Of course, you know me, my good friend. I am here to talk to you for the last time.”

 

“Falma!? Ah, if I could but see you.”

 

“That is not to be this time, my friend, but I too am anxious to see you. And you know I shall, but soon.”

 

“How soon? When?”

 

“You know I cannot say, especially as my own sense of time is now different from yours. But let me talk to you about what is happening in my beloved Shepperton - happening now.”

 

“Do tell, my friend. You obviously can see more than Tom or I and it is with some trepidation that I ask – are we doing right this night?”

 

“Alas, I am unable to say, as there are persons whose actions and intentions I am unable to see. However, knowing what I do, I can safely say that your persons are indeed doing what they perceive to be right. And further, that Tom shall soon be your true successor.”

 

“What do you need, then, to tell me, so I may write it down for young Tom?”

 

“You may tell him that Master Charlie shall be the one whose decision will this time be the deciding note, and that the future of several persons will depend upon his deciding. The persons so affected will include the lady Marilyn, but also the fates of Master Robert, the lady Judy, and her newborn. But it shall also decide the futures of persons in his own time and shall include the earl of Shepperton (who is yet alive), Christine Lewinsky and Alonza Chavez. And that, further, it shall determine (though I am unable to tell you just now) a descendant of Antoine LeGace.”

 

“Is that so? I suspected as much. And I do assume that you have taken that into consideration, have you not?”

 

“Of course, my friend. And both Christine Lewinsky and Alonza Chavez have now become aware of his presence, and I do feel certain of their ability to take on that challenge.”

 

“So, Tom was right to include them both.”

 

“Indeed, he was. And so, we must leave it in the hands of those chosen for now.”

 

“And I am then able to sleep as one who has done what he may, with what he has been given.”

 

“Aye, my dear friend. Grace be with thee.”

 

Then, as the breeze blew through his room, taking Falma with it, Drachma took out of his drawer, a sheet of paper and a pen from its inkwell, he began writing his last letter to Tom.

 

            To my dearest grandson, Drachma of the Island,

 

                        I have just been visited by the spirit of Falma, and he brings his greetings

                        to you, who must now take over my duties to Shepperton. Now, Falma told

                        me of things which I now confer to you, as well as confirmation of things

                        which I suspected.

 

                        Falma did tell of Master Charlie, who is to make the decision of staying or going.

                        And I know you shall be there to determine when he makes his decision, as my 

protégé, this I do know. I remain uncertain as to whether to tell him of the power of the broach which I know he has. That shall be for you and him to decide.

 

Only this time his decision shall affect a number of others, including Master Robert, Marilyn, the Lady Judy, their own newborn, as well as persons in both times. He also told of a new threat – that of a descendant of Master LeGace, and that he has seen to it that Christine and Alonza from Master Robert’s time have been alerted

to his presence, but he did not tell me more of this. I assume that you have confidence in these two women, and that is good. But beware of the evil one!

 

Also, you now know where the deed is kept

.

I know, my grandson, that you shall possess that power which you need.

 

Your everlasting friend and grandfather,

 

Drachma

                        

 

 

 

Tom and his select forest guards turned the corner and headed toward Shepperton. He knew where he had to go, and what he had to do. His only concern for the moment was what LeGace was planning. He was disinclined to believe what that evil one had written and felt with some certainty that he might be riding into a trap. As they approached the castle, up the hill on the right, he turned and said to his men, “me good men, this shall be your moment in time. What this agent of the evil one has decided I am not able to say, but I know this – that he has written a lie, but whatever the truth is, I am on the side of truth. Let us meet with Kerlin and Cayman, before proceeding to our destination.”

 

With that, he turned sharply to the right, and led his men up to the castle gate. There he saw Kerlin, along with Cayman, Derrymoor and Gregorio, along with their own riders, just within the gate.

 

“Ah, my young man,” said Kerlin. “We had news that you were coming from the keepers of the watch. It is good to see you again! I know that my own measure of anxiety is assuaged by your presence. My, how things have changed with you since our first meeting, eh?”

 

“As you say, Kerlin. To this day I do remember our first meeting. How could I not? There you were, all dressed as a forest guard, looking like you could but handle anything that was thrown in your direction. But it seems that Falma, Drachma and the forces of good and evil had designs that were too much to even think of for us.”

 

“And here we are today, under similar circumstances, but in such different roles, or so it seems, no?”

 

“Indeed! Now, tell me of the plans again, so that we might all be prepared. I do think that, with Master Gregorio and his men as with Derrymoor and his fighters, we should be able to avoid any unnecessary entanglements.”

 

Tom got down off his horse, as did Kerlin, and the two of them conferred, along with Derrymoor and Gregorio. Their meeting was brief, but obviously intense. For those observing, it only underscored the importance of this meeting. After conferring, Tom addressed the gathered forces, and said, “My dear comrades, we are here to deal with the purest evil. This one man has decided that he alone is the one to rule our island. It is no secret that I, as well as Drachma and the former earl of Shepperton have thrown our allegiance to Master Craycroft. And I assume that you, too, have chosen this path as well. And further I know that you have seen the letter, or at least have heard of the letter written to Master Craycroft. And further, that you have heard of the terrible thing he did to Master Tingley. For all this we seek revenge! Now, you all know where you are to be, and what you must all do under the circumstances you find yourselves in. Do any have questions of their role?”

 

Tom waited and looked out at his comrades. Their eyes burned with certainty of purpose, but none spoke. Tom nodded, then he said, “very well, my fellows, and so we go out with all our hearts and minds as one. This shall be for Kerlin, our lord Craycroft, our earl, and also for Drachma!”

 

“Aye, aye!” Came the voices of the men. It was then that Kerlin left, going out the main gate, and heading toward Reordan Manor. He was followed by Gregorio’s men, who scattered about, seemingly without order, but eventually heading toward the manor as well. The others left by the other gate, in the back of the castle, splitting up into three groups, before heading toward the manor house as well.

 

All was quiet as Kerlin approached Reordan Manor. It was evening, and the darkening sky was moonless. A breeze from the ocean carried the scent of the fisheries and seaweed. Before going up the path, Kerlin looked about him quickly, and to his satisfaction, saw that Gregorio’s men had, in fact, taken up their positions. He trusted that Tom’s and Derrymoor’s men were also in place. He stopped at the gate, where an armed guard, who looked familiar bade him halt. The man was dressed in a dark uniform, and Kerlin stood relaxed, but at attention. Then it came to Kerlin, that this was, indeed, Michel. Now, what has he done, and who did he let know that he had changed his allegiance? That is something I must look into if I am able.

 

Michel certainly recognized Kerlin, his former commander, yet said nothing to give any inkling of what had transpired in the past four years. He simply said, “Now ye are here per the request o’ Master LeGace. D’ye have any weapons upon yer person?”

 

“Nay, of course not.” And with that Kerlin allowed a search of his person for any hidden weapons, all the while keeping an expert eye on Michel, but then he saw the eyes of another in the guard house but could not tell to whom they belonged. All told they were the eyes of youth, but also the eyes of ancient wisdom. He looked away, and then back, and they were gone. But what remained was the smell of the ancient forest coming in from the open window. Then Kerlin smiled, as this was truly a sign.

 

“Come this way,” said Michel, “but be not a fool to think that ye can get away with anything.”

 

Michel led Kerlin to the manor house, up the stairs, and into the huge foyer. Kerlin had never seen the inside of Reordan Manor before, and his first impression was that of foolish misplaced elegance. He was led into one of the rooms at the back of the grand foyer. There, behind the desk sat Leonardo, who looked at Kerlin with utter derision.

 

“So, you have come, Kerlin. I do not have to tell you that your presence has been duly noted, and did you bring the two articles that my master requested?”

 

“Aye, I have them here. But I would request that you deliver them in my presence to your Master LeGace.”

 

“That will not be necessary, as he is not here.”

 

“Indeed? I do feel it shall be necessary.” Kerlin replied calmly, “this is too big an issue for you alone.”

 

“Well, then I insist that you come with me, as I shall take you to him. I do assume that you are unarmed, and that I shall have no trouble with you.”

 

“Indeed, I am. But my wits remain with me, even though I have no sword.”

 

Quite suddenly there was a crowd in the room, with several large men surrounding Kerlin. However, he remained icily calm.

 

“Let me warn you all, that should any harm come to me, you shall not even get to see your Master LeGace again.”

 

“Oh, and how will that be? Do you have special powers?” Leonardo seemed amused.

 

“Aye,” Kerlin replied, “that I do have, and you do not want to know or see what I am able to do.”

 

“So ye say, but ye shall indeed meet yer match this day. Come me mates, let us take this gentleman to meet Master LeGace.”

 

 

 

 

 

Gregorio was staring intently at the manor, when he saw the door open, and he also saw the man, Kerlin, being led out of the side door. He was surrounded by guards and a lean, taller man who seemed to be in charge.

 

“Watch closely,” he whispered in Italian, “for it is Kerlin, and he will signal us as he leaves.” 

 

The two men with him nodded and stared intently ahead. Even though it was dark, they could see Kerlin within the group. His stern and steely manner was obvious, even at this distance. They saw his movement suddenly cease, as he bent forward to adjust his boot. They noticed that it was his left boot that he attended to. Ever so brief, that was the signal and Gregorio noticed. As the group headed toward the harbor, Gregorio told his men to tell Tom and the others what he signaled, and two of his runners went off to do just that, as he himself, along with most of his men silently slipped off to follow the group of men heading toward the waiting boat in the harbor.

 

As the cluster of men reached the boat, Gregorio was watching closely as they got into the little boat, and then rowed out toward the ships in the distance, outside of the purview of the harbor control. Gregorio could not be certain at first, but as he stared after the leaving boat in the harbor, he became sure of what he saw. There it was, at the stern of the boat a faint yet distinct blue light. He asked the aide at his side if he saw the unusual light, but no he hadn’t seen it.

 

I must tell Tom about this light. Perhaps he will know its significance.