Here is the next chapter from Center Game, Heir of Drachma, Book Two. This is Chapter Thirteen, which takes place throughout Shepperton, and involves a number of persons, and a number of their concerns, and is another set-up chapter for what is to come.
Chapter Thirteen
Craycroft’s meeting with Kerlin and Jeanne was interrupted by the sound of a page rapping at his door. Craycroft turned toward the door, as the page timidly stepped in.
“Well, what is it, laddie?” He said, with obvious irritation.
“Pardon, Lord Craycroft… But it be three persons just come – they’re with Master Cayman, sire. Shall I tell them to wait outside?”
“With Cayman, eh?” His manner abruptly changed. “Nay, lad. Let them come in. We shall see them now.”
The red-faced youth disappeared briefly, and ushered in Jeremy, Rowan and Allen, all looking weary beyond description, with Cayman at the rear.
Cayman spoke, “M’lord, I hesitate to burst in on your meeting, but these three persons just came up to the castle, brought by one o’ the guards from the wharf. And I believe what they have to tell could not wait.”
“Welcome Jeremy and Rowan, but who is this with you? For I have not had the occasion to meet with him before today.”
“Sire,” It was Kerlin who spoke, “this man is none other than Allen of Burridge. And I say, it is with honor that I welcome you to the castle.”
“Allen of Burridge?” Craycroft said with some awe, and got up, and went toward the old man, and assisted him to a chair. “Oh, I have heard of you, but alas, our ways have never crossed. It is with the utmost pleasure that I do greet you now.”
He turned to the page and said, “Now, lad, get you to sick bay anon, and bring one of the senior attendants back with you, and with all appropriate balms and bandages. Tell them that Craycroft is in dire need of his services. Now, get ye hence!”
The page rushed out to do his master’s bidding.
Turning his attention to the two youths, Craycroft said, “As it would seem that you do bring news from Dunnigan’s Isle, and we are in need of such news, do sit down, and tell us what you know of the fates of Master Melchior, as well as the young lass.
“What I may tell ye thus far,” began Rowan, “is that the two of them are still alive, or were when we left the isle…”
“Oh, what a relief!” exclaimed Jeanne, who had been quietly holding her breath in the background. “It would seem that, at the very least is good news.”
“Oh, aye, m’lady,” answered Rowan. “But as to just where they might be, that I canna’ say. But this man may be able to.”
“Well, now, good man,” she said as she got up went over to him. “You do bring some good news, which I do need to hear.” She gently put her arms around him. But first we do need to attend to your wounds. For you are, indeed, precious to us. And let me tell you that Melchior is my husband, and I have been distraught ever since he was taken away.”
Allen looked up to the lady and smiled feebly. “Many thanks, me good lady. Ye’re but the most gracious thing. Now, as t’ the whereabouts o’ yer man…”
At this, Craycroft and Kerlin both leaned in closer.
“It is not with certainty that I say this, but I do believe that yer husband and the young lassie are now off the island, and most likely in some boat under the command o’ one Master LeGace’s captains.”
“A boat?” asked Kerlin. “D’ye know - is it many, and what types, and where they be?”
“Ah, nay, good Kerlin, that I canna’ say. Only thing I can tell ye is that they must carry a hundred men. And I say this because o’ what I heard from the men what captured an’ beat me.”
“And for that, my heart does ache for you,” Craycroft said in the kindest tone. “Could you but tell us did you actually see this Master LeGace, or was it just his men?”
“If ye but ask, did I see the devil his-self ? Then, sire, I would have to say aye, I did. For it could be none other, I tell ye. He was but in the buildin’ no more’n a minute, and he told his men to tie me to the post, and to beat me, but not to kill me. For he wanted t’ leave a message. An’ afore he walked out o’ the hut I heard him tell his men to take the prisoners to the boat. And as they were abeatin’ me, an’ afore my eyesight went black, I saw them, the tall man and the little lass…”
Jeanne sighed, and through her tears said, “whether he is the devil or not, he most certainly is in his employ, and we must do all we are able to thwart his plans. He must be made to pay back for all he has done. Oh, Kerlin, I hope you are able to muster forces, such that this demonic thing may be expunged forever.”
“To that I would say I have given my word four years ago, yet it is only now that the opportunity has again arisen. And to that I would add the arrival of the earl of Derrymoor would appear to be fortuitous, and also offers even more hope.”
“Aye, that it would,” added Craycroft. “And, now it would appear that my lad from our clinic is here. Aaron, would you assist me in caring for this man’s wounds. Let us then get him to sick bay, where we are better able to evaluate his other wounds and provide him the care he needs.”
Judy’s apprehension was palpable. Despite assurances from the giant man and the rest of his troupe that they would find Bob and bring him back safely, she could not feel secure. His absence at her side now felt like a painful, dark emptiness. She retreated into her own internal quiet space, as the cart rattled along the path. Inside the cart with her were Diane, Alex and Diego. Even as their circumstances were now quite different in that they were no longer prisoners, she still felt imprisoned by her own isolation.
In her quiet desperation she recalled an episode in her younger days. Many years, centuries ago, she had been with Greg, that gorgeous, charming hothead. She had fallen in love so completely that memories of him still hurt. But he had been so irascible and unpredictable, that when she became pregnant, she never told him. She broke up with him suddenly and painfully, and then moved to Ohio, without even leaving a forwarding address. After moving to Ohio, she quickly found employment at Memorial Hospital. She became busy right away and was willing to work more than her share of overtime, as she had nothing else. It was while working in the CCU that she had first met Bob Gilsen. He was quiet, reserved and polite, but he seemed distant, and unapproachable, until one night, when they sat down at the small table in the CCU, having just completed the resuscitative attempt on one of their extremely ill patients. She became intensely nauseated and had to rush to the bathroom. When she came back out and sat down, she noticed Bob staring at her.
“What is it?” she asked self-consciously.
He continued to stare at her with genuine concern, and then asked, “I’m sorry, but are you pregnant?” That took her by surprise. She was so surprised that she opened up to him, and in a torrent of words let him know of her recent troubles and her break-up, and her pregnancy, now about four months. He just listened and asked if there was anything he could do for her.
“No,” she replied, “Just tell me what I owe you for your therapy services.”
“Just take good care of yourself and that baby,” was his answer. And no more was said then. And no more was said ever by Dr. Gilsen about that encounter, yet he must have noticed that she did not blossom in her pregnancy. He never knew about her miscarriage a month after that, and through the years the episode was never brought up.
I wonder if he thought that I’d had an abortion, she asked herself. I’m definitely going to ask him next time we’re alone. She cried silently in the cart. That unfinished business weighed heavily on her shoulders, especially now.
Alex was talking quietly to Diego, who began to finally relax, and as she talked on soothingly, he fell asleep, with his head now on Diane’s shoulder. Diane had sensed Judy’s unease, but did not know what to do or to say, and the cart lumbered on down the path, the occupants now silent.
Outside the cart, the procession moved on. There were still some on horseback, and there were still prisoners, but the roles were reversed, as was the direction of travel. The procession moved eastward along the ridge, and then turned down into the depths of the forest.
At the back of the group, Tom was speaking with Justinian and Stefano, and talking of his plans. As they came up to the river, he said, “Now, Justinian, you must take the prisoners, and most of the guard with you, Stefano must ride as escort to the others, and be certain to take them all to Kearney. I do not anticipate that you shall meet any more resistance, but you have great fighters among the men, if you do. Now they are again equipped to defend. And be most careful with the Lady Judy, as she is close to delivering. She does have Diane with her, yet not Master Robert. And again, I would note that although I see no particular problems, my heart does tell me that there be matters of great consequence to do with her.”
“And ye… ye shall go whence?” Stefano asked.
“I shall travel in haste to the castle, for my messengers tell me that there be great doings, which may be affecting us all. And be certain to tell Lady Judy that I was with you.”
“Well, then, ye may trust us to do right by ye.”
Tom went ahead and spoke with the guard, and the units split up, as one group went toward the village, the other group went further into the forest, and Tom took off across the river toward the castle. The night then swallowed up the participants.
Fausto, with Marilyn and his select group of guardsmen, were hurrying down the mountain slope toward the village of Killiburn, when he suddenly stopped. The others stopped too. He peered down into the black distance. He pointed ahead but said nothing. The guard nodded, and then he took off with another, and made their way round about. Fausto moved forward, but at a slower pace. Marilyn was afraid to say anything at all, and just kept her horse close behind Fausto’s.
Up ahead they could hear sounds of scuffling. As Fausto and Marilyn got closer, she could see that the two men had captured some older man and held him at the point of the sword. Fausto came up to the men, and he smiled in recognition.
“My word, if it isn’t ol’ Samuel, indeed! Now if ye’d be so good as to tell us what ye’ve been doing up here in the forest. And let me give ye a little bit of advice – that ye had best be tellin’ the truth to us. We do have swords, and me men can use them.”
The older man turned slightly, then he smiled somewhat sheepishly. “Well, Fausto, I was followin’ the group o’ warriors what ye and yer men just finished off. That is, exceptin’ for the small group what just left anon.”
“Very well, but please tell us just who you’re workin’ fer. I know ye’re not doin’ this fer yer own amusement.”
Samuel hesitated just a moment, then he suddenly felt the sword touch his neck. He swallowed, and said, “if ye must know, I be workin’ fer Master Guarneri.”
“Hmm,” said Fausto, “this does not surprise me, no, not at all. Fer it was him ye worked fer years ago, was it not?”
“Aye, that I did.”
“Well, let me tell ye, that fer keepin’ ye alive, I would ask that ye accompany us down to the village, and that when we get there, ye shall remain with us, and assist us in any way I deem worthy. Is that clear?”
Samuel knew he was trapped, and answered, “Aye, that be clear.”
Fausto quickly sent the two guards on down the mountain, after the party. Next he took Samuel’s knife, and then tied his hands behind his back. And then, as if they had all the time in the world, introduced Marilyn to Samuel, before again heading on down the mountain, with his two remaining guards, his prisoner, and Marilyn.
Marilyn hardly said a word, but she was obviously distressed. That she was introduced as the lady Marilyn, only made her more uncomfortable. But what got under her skin was Fausto’s seeming nonchalance about his task, and he seemed not the least bit worried about Bob. But then, she knew none of the rules here in this new land, in this old century, and knew none of what she was supposed to do.
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