Center Game, Heir of Drachma, Book Two, Chapter Seventeen

 Center Game, Heir of Drachma, Book Two, Chapter Seventeen. Here we get the magic again, but this time the magic comes with warnings!

Chapter Seventeen

 

 

 

As the ragged cluster of mounted men entered the village, Bob’s insides began to recoil. The thought of this place, which he had not seen in four years, brought back memories of the time he arrived on the isle, confused, disoriented and alone. The village of Clannach looked just as he remembered, even to the small hut, which had housed the smelly old man, Allen of Burridge.

 

I wonder what became of him, thought Bob. And I wonder if he’s still alive. Bob thought back again of that time, and the kindness of the old man, who had gotten him the warm cloak, as the armed men took him away.

 

The street turned past the hut, which looked to be deserted, and the door stood half open. As they passed the hut, Bob thought for just a moment that he saw a figure in the doorway. And then as they went further, he was sure of it. There was someone inside looking directly at him, but her look was one of silent warning.

 

“What is it?” Hermes asked in a coarse whisper.

 

“It’s Maggie, isn’t it? In the doorway.”

 

“Aye, ye be right! But what is it she be doing?”

 

“I can’t be sure, but it would appear that she is here to warn us of something…”

 

And then she vanished from their sight.

 

As the small troupe headed east along the village toward Killiburn, Bob and Hermes stayed close. Each one felt unnerved by the apparition but kept silent. Adding to the atmosphere, Bob felt the same unease that he did when he first came to Killiburn, as a prisoner then as well. He longed to tell Hermes about it, but just kept silent for the time.

 

The road took them the same way, up a slight hill toward the barracks. As they approached, Bob wondered just how Gregorio’s men had managed to wrest control of the barracks from the Forest Guard, but he said nothing. He turned control of his horse, as did the others, to the guards standing by the stables. The prisoners were led inside, and the memories hit Bob again with a force to the gut. There was the same layout, with the bunks, and the fireplace in the middle, and the same smell of armpits and stale urine. The prisoners were told to take their places on the old cots, while the guards and Gregorio chattered in some foreign tongue, filled with wild gesturing.

 

Eventually, Gregorio came to the prisoners, and said, “You must stay here. I go now to speak with my men. The guards bring you food. You understand?”

 

“Aye, we understand,” said Kevin. Then, as Gregorio turned away, he gave Bob and Hermes a glance as if to say, “wait.”

 

As they were sitting on their cots, waiting for the guards to bring them sustenance, Kevin turned to the other two and, under his breath, whispered, “Worry not. For help shall be coming.”

 

Bob and Hermes nodded, but said nothing. The smaller of the guards returned, carrying two sacks of provisions, and a jug of water. He laid them on the table, and gestured to the prisoners to come, eat.

 

As they were eating and drinking, Bob thought he could hear, off to the right, what sounded like scuffling. But then it was silent again. He didn’t realize quite how hungry and thirsty he had become, and the meal, though simple, seemed to provide him a much-needed lift. And the water, to his delight, did not have that strange, sickly sweet odor.

 

Just then the door to the barracks burst open, and in stepped the largest man Bob had ever seen. He was dressed in green of the Forest Guard, and quickly dispatched the two guards to the back room and looked as if they wanted no part of this giant. As they cowered in the other room, Kevin and Hermes took hold of Bob, and went for the door. Outside, they had fresh horses waiting for them. 

 

As the three of them alit, the giant appeared at the doorway, and said to Hermes and Kevin, “Now, be gone, my friends, ye know the way!  Ah, I see they have provided swords for each of ye. I shall stay, and with me men, I shall take care of dealings with our Italian Count, who should be coming back any minute.”

 

“Aye, we do know the way.” Answered Kevin. “And thanks be t’ye, Fausto. And me regards t’yer brothers.”

 

“’Til later, then, o’er a pitcher or two of Barncuddy’s finest!”

 

“Aye, ‘til then! Now follow me.” And with that, he turned his horse, and the three of them cantered out of town.

 

But as they were leaving, Bob looked over to his right and saw something, which drained the color from his face. For there on a horse, with a cluster of men-at-arms around her was none other than Marilyn. In that instant, as if a light emanated from her visage, he could see all the years of care, and felt himself stricken. But her face bore only sadness and concern, without reproach.

 

Hermes noted his companion’s ashen appearance, and when they had ridden out of the village, came alongside and asked, “Master Robert, now I know that ye knew that lady back there, didn’t ye?”

 

“Oh, Hermes, you could definitely say that, for the lady was none other than my wife, Marilyn.”

 

“Yer wife? But what of Lady Judy?”

 

Bob was silent for some time. Then he swallowed and began telling his two companions aspects of his prior life.

 

“You know, I came here four years ago, from another time and place… And that now seems like a former and rather unreal part of my own life. Now what Judy has been, as odd as this may sound, she has become an anchor to this world, and yet she was the only link I had to my former life. And now, of all things, she is pregnant with my child (and believe me, that’s another story). 

 

“And you must forgive me, but all this time I was assuming that my staying here, in your time was made permanent by my own decisions as we sent your earl to our world. And now, it would appear that my own presuppositions may have been at the very least naive, and perhaps dangerous as well. You saw her didn’t you, Hermes?”

 

“D’ye mean Maggie? Aye, I did see her, there in the village.”

 

“It would seem that Maggie was there as a warning to me, or to us, that things may be getting a bit more tense at the least.”

 

“What d’ye mean, Master Robert?”

 

“Well, let me tell you, that a while ago, Tom was in our home back in Shepperton, and while he was there, he fell into some sort of a trance, and from his mouth there came words of both benediction and warning. He said that my life and work had been a gift to his people. And that they had been given the power to protect me, and that I should accept your help, and the help of Alex, but also of Marilyn.”

 

The three of them rode on in silence for a time. Then as if he had been thinking things over, Hermes spoke suddenly. “’Twould seem to me, Master Robert, that Tom was in touch with truth beyond our ken. For how else would he e’en know of Alex and of Marilyn? This was afore he had a chance to meet them, was it not?”

 

“It was Hermes, it was indeed.”

 

“I canna’ vouch for no one else, but as fer meself, I would state again, that I would do anything t’ protect ye. Of that ye can be certain.”

 

“It would seem to me,” answered Bob, “that any threats to me here would not be of the kind you could protect me from. Rather, it would be information that I might need…”

 

“Information? What kind…”

 

It was as if Kevin had sensed something that neither of the other two could hear. He brought his horse to a standstill and held his arm up.

 

“What is it?” Hermes said in a voice just above a whisper.

 

They were now well outside the village and were in the woods. The ground had risen to the ridge they were on. The path below, in the fading light of evening looked to disappear where the sound of flowing water originated. They could see Kevin staring intently down toward the river below. Both Bob and Hermes looked and listened, but neither could discern what it was that alarmed Kevin.

 

Kevin just sat for a while and stared ahead. Then he proceeded at a walk, going around, and avoiding the path to their right. No one said a word, but they just went where Kevin led, single file. After going along for another half hour, he turned and headed down again toward the river. As they came down to the river, he paused again, and looked back up the river. In the dim light, Bob and Hermes could see nothing at all. With a hand signal, he then advanced, cautiously across the river, with Bob and Hermes following behind. On the other side, Kevin seemed to visibly relax, as he took them up a hill. The top of the hill was bare of any trees, and he then pointed back the way they came, where they could just make out a band of riders, coming out of the woods, and heading toward the village.

 

“As I thought… and feeling it better not to engage that large band of horsemen, I brought you this way. I know not who they be, but I now feel safer.”

 

“I believe you were described as having the eyes of an eagle and the ears of a fox, Kevin.” Bob noted, “and for that I am exceedingly grateful.”

 

“Well, come along then. We have a ways to go ere morning, me mates.”

 

And as the trio headed back into the woods, and climbed by the light of the full moon, into the mountainous darkness, Bob had even more to consider. He now felt like his two worlds were about to crush him, but he could now smell the familiar aroma of the deep woods envelop him.