Chapter Nine of Shepperton's Sacrifice or Chapter Thirty-Seven of Center Game
“Are you certain you have everything you need?”
“Oh, aye, that I am, m’liege,” answered Kerlin, “and are you also certain of your reinforcements. ‘Twould seem to me that it is you who have more to lose than do I.”
Craycroft shifted in his seat, then he got up, and went over toward the window, and looked down at the castle sprawled below. He could see, in the distance, the shape of what was originally Reordan Manor.
“Do you remember, Kerlin, our first encounter?”
“Most certainly, sire, but to be honest, it was the second encounter which I remember most vividly, and which shall always bring me the most rue.”
“Ah, well, then let me explain them to you, both encounters, actually. The reason that I wish to remind you of the first encounter is because of whom I was with. It was he who has meant so very much to our castle, and its history.”
“I do remember very well. It was Drachma, indeed. I was reporting to him about my encounter with Antoine LeGace.”
“You are correct. And it was what he told me after you left which set the stage for all that you have become. He said to me that you would be given the opportunity to prove yourself, and that I should be considering you for advancement. All this he was telling me, a simple healer at the time, as if speaking like a prophet.”
“Not the first time I have heard that, m’liege. And might I say that, should providence be amenable, we could use his influence right now.”
“Ah, but Kerlin, we do have his influence, in the form of his grandson.”
“Aye. And you do believe that he shall be ready?”
“As ready as you or I. And let me tell you of the second encounter we had, for at that encounter everything had changed.”
“Indeed, it had, for I came to you a broken man, having lost both the persons I was entrusted to protect along their way.”
“But, as you must recall, you had followed precisely the instructions given you by Drachma himself.”
Kerlin nodded and swallowed as his response.
“And so,” Craycroft went on, “you had done what your instructions were, despite the apparent brokenness of all around you. Is that not so?”
“Aye, it was so, despite my having serious misgivings at the time.”
“Well, then my good and faithful protector, you had earned your position, not with works of battlefield valor, but with obedience even in the face of apparent failure, no?”
Kerlin simply nodded. And Craycroft came toward him, and the two men shook hands. But then, Craycroft hugged Kerlin, and without further words, Kerlin left, the heavy oak door closing with a thud behind him.
Craycroft sat down heavily in the chair and reached for his wine. He sipped it cautiously, as he sat and pondered what was about to occur. He had conferred with Cayman, with Proust and Kerlin, with Derrymoor, and also with Tom, and together they had completed their plan of action. Now the only thing remaining was the waiting for all the pieces to fall together.
Rather abruptly, he thought again of Marilyn, and he rang for his page. He asked the page to bring Marilyn, along with her guardian, Fausto, and Jeanne to his rooms. There was just something that she had said which bothered him, and he needed clarification.
Marilyn was startled by the page’s knock, as well as his appearance with Fausto at her door. And the look on the youngster’s face said that this was something important.
“M’lady,” began the page, “I ha’ been asked by m’lord, Craycroft t’ tell ye that ye an’ yer man are needed at once. So, if ye would, I’d be happy t’ accompany ye t’ ‘is premises.”
Marilyn looked again at the small page, and then Fausto, to see if he knew anything. Fausto, sensing her hesitancy, shrugged his huge shoulders, then said, “I know not, m’lady, what this is about. But I shall be accompanying ye.”
The trio set off for the keep, and for Craycroft’s quarters. On the way, Marilyn asked Fausto again if he knew anything more.
After a shake of his head, he answered, “Nay, m’lady, I know not anythin’ of this. But I do agree that it does seem to me to be a wee bit off – ye bein’ summoned and’ all.”
“That’s right, Fausto. It’s not like we can do much of anything. And for him to be asking for you and me both, it seems that it may be important. And here we go again with the issue of importance. Ah, well… why, thank you page.” She said as the youngster held open the door to the keep.
The page led the two of them up the stone staircase, and then into the hallway, which was becoming familiar to Marilyn. She took another look around her, noticing the tapestries and the busts of austere figures whom she did not recognize. One of the busts caught her eye, and she turned toward Fausto and asked, “Fausto, do you know this man?”
“Oh, aye, that be Cartho. He was a great man, and truly, he was a marvel – he was lord Craycroft’s mentor. The lord must have just moved it up here. Fer it was not here before.”
“You’ve been here before, then?”
“Aye, m’lady, it was during the rule o’ the old earl of Shepperton.”
“You’ll have to tell me more…”
Their reverie was interrupted by none other than Craycroft himself. “Ah, my friends, do come in. I noted that you did take notice of the bust of Cartho. I did just have that one moved up here yesterday.”
“It is truly a striking bust, of an obviously powerful man,” Marilyn said, as they followed Craycroft into his sitting room.
“Aye. ‘tis true.” He paused, then turning to the page, said, “Now, Herman, if ye would, I shall have ye bring up some refreshment for m’lady and her man.”
“Aye, I shall bring some anon,” he said before turning abruptly and heading on down the hallway.
As they turned and went in to Craycroft’s sitting room, Marilyn noticed that Jeanne was already here, and gave her a comforting smile, but she appeared otherwise hyperalert, sitting on the edge of her chair.
“Jeanne, I’m so glad you’re here. This whole business is beginning to give me bad vibes. Also, I’m beginning to think that it would be a bad idea to go in search of my husband…”
“Bad vibes? What is that?” Jeanne asked with perplexity.
“Oh, it’s an expression from our time. Actually, it’s from a song, written by one in a group called the Beach Boys, named Brian Wilson. When asked, he noted that his dog could tell if people were good or threatening, by their “vibrations.” And that begat his song, called Good Vibrations, and the nation caught on to the understated message, that there were good and bad vibrations, or vibes, given off everywhere.”
“That is most interesting, m’lady” said Craycroft. “For it is of such that we speak this evening. And before I tell you what we shall be doing, let me but ask of you a favor.”
“A favor? What is it that you want of me? For it does seem to me that I am here, not of my own accord, but rather at the whim of forces beyond my own understanding.”
“Ah, true, m’lady. For such it would seem for many of us as well. But let me tell you of the favor I ask. You had said that young Lisa had been brought to you by one who calls herself Maggie. Is that correct?”
“Yes. That’s right. And that is something I’ll never forget, neither that moment, nor the girl. They simply appeared out of the woodland, with Maggie leading this young thing, and turned her over to my care, as if that was the most natural thing to do. Mind you, it’s not as if I had any will to resist, but I tell you, there was something about her, an aura, with a bluish glow coming from her face, which was beautiful, and surrounded by a shroud of red hair. Oh, my, it still makes me tingle thinking about her. And you know what? I can still remember everything she said to me.”
“Oh, and what did she say?
“She called me Lady Marilyn (and that caught me off guard), and she said “I am called Maggie, and I come with greetings from Falma. This is Lisa. And I bring her to you for discovery and for safekeeping.””
“Most interesting, indeed, Lady Marilyn,” Craycroft mused, “for it fits with what I have heard of you. You may not yet know it, but your voice and your knowledge are what we need here in Shepperton.”
“Mister Craycroft, I really am nothing special, and I have no special skills, nor do I have any special knowledge. If, in fact, you need someone special like that, you are looking at the wrong person. I just came along because Falma told me that Bob was in need of my help. I’m sure you remember Falma, and just how persuasive he can be.”
Craycroft smiled at her. “Indeed, I do remember Falma well, m’lady. And you are so right that he could be a most persuasive individual. But that he would consider you to be the appropriate one, as has Maggie herself, who is beholden to no one here and now, would strike me as a true sign from Heaven itself that you are to be with us in our hour of need.”
“Heaven?” Marilyn looked perplexed. “Do you really mean Heaven? As in the realm of angels, and where we would all like to go when we die – that Heaven? Is that the place you are talking about?”
“Oh, aye, m’lady. And it would seem that you, among us mortals, are in touch with that place even as you do walk within our midst. To wit, the angelic being that visited you, and even Master Falma, would bear witness to that truth.”
“Truth. Is that what you want from me?”
“Indeed, it is, m’lady. For you see, it is either truth or power which reigns over us. Mere power corrupts those who use it, and the lies which they use to bolster their clinging minions offer nothing but empty promises. Truth, on the other hand, is grounded in eternity, and whether or not those who hold to power see it for what it is, it must prick at their consciences. So, you see, we do need your words of truth, and it was for this reason you are now among us.”
A heavy silence enveloped the room. Eventually, Marilyn broached the silence and said, “So that is what you want from me? Am I an oracle, then, or some sort of prophet?”
“If I may, m’lady,” Fausto spoke up, unexpectedly, “’twould seem to me that what lord Craycroft is saying be the thing that I also have seen. I know not what to call ye, but I do recall that ye’re everything that I was told by young Tom. For I was told to expect a great lady from the time o’ Robert Gilsen, whom I would know by her action to be one we could expect to do great things…”
“Great things? Here?” Marilyn’s tone was both exasperated and resigned. Turning again to Craycroft, “Well, then, what have you to tell me. For I know that you have done something that will have serious consequences for us all. Am I right about that?”
For answer, Craycroft pulled from his cloak the letter from LeGace. As Marilyn read the letter, her face darkened. She said nothing for several seconds, then stood up, and went over to the window, looking down at the scene below.
“Come here,” she said to Craycroft, “and tell me where this will be taking place. You do know what I mean, don’t you?”
Craycroft got up, went over to the window, and pointed, “There, you can see for yourself the place to which I have dispatched Kerlin.”
“And what precautions have you taken, for it seems that this Antoine LeGace would himself be wary of you, especially at this time…”
There was a knock at the door, and then the page reappeared, carrying a large tray.
“Thank you, page,” said Craycroft. “Please set your tray here and wait outside. I am quite certain that I’ll have need of ye ere this evening is done.”
Craycroft then took two chairs, one each for Fausto and Marilyn. Next, he asked Jeanne to come and join them as they sat about the table. What the page brought up was indeed a small feast, with meats, cheeses, yeast rolls and tumblers for the ale, which he already knew, Craycroft kept in his rooms.
“Now, my friends, let us eat and drink, and then I shall tell you of my plans for tonight, as well as for the foreseeable future.”
The small gathering all sat and ate, looking at each other, but none speaking. After eating, they drank their ale, and finally, Craycroft began to speak. “Here is what I have planned for this encounter with the evil Master LeGace.” He told them of his plan to involve Gregorio, Derrymoor, Tom’s men, Cayman and Proust. Marilyn’s head was reeling as he explained further, and she was amazed at Craycroft’s plan and his knowledge of his own people. As he continued, her respect for this physician turned ruler took on new depth, yet she could not shake the worry that her own Bob, as well as Jeanne’s Melchior were under the sway of this most evil man. Though she had never met him, she could feel his venom infiltrating the scene.
“Mister Craycroft,” she began, “it is quite clear to me that your plan certainly has merit, and appears to be quite brilliant, but I can definitely feel that this Mr. LeGace’s evil has already gotten Bob and Melchior in his clutches, and I do not know how he plans to use them. And, yes, I understand that Bob is being held in some barracks, and Melchior is on the ship, from which Lisa was rescued by this waif of a person called Maggie…”
“And do you not know,” interjected Jeanne, “that Maggie indicated to Lisa that Melchior was safe, and that Maggie knew of plans for his purposes?”
“No, I didn’t know of such… It would seem that Maggie had special messages for us all, and each couched in her own undecipherable terms.”
“Indeed!” answered Craycroft. “And to each person, only that which he could carry for the time given.”
Then Marilyn found herself quoting, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”
Craycroft and Jeanne were stunned by her words, which seemed to carry the weight of certitude, and seemed to echo across the great chasm of time. Marilyn, however, knew she was quoting from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, and realized then that the bible which was known at this time had not been translated from the Latin, and would remain so for their lives. She swallowed at this realization, and caught some of what Craycroft was saying earlier, and found it humbling.
“My pardon, m’lady, but your words carry the ring of truth, as I have indicated. It is precisely what we need of you.”
As they headed back their rooms, Marilyn again noticed the bust of Cartho, but this time she felt its aura. It was as if Craycroft could also feel it.
Much later, after she had been brought back to her room, escorted by her huge friend, Fausto, who, on the way back, was uncharacteristically reticent to speak. At her door, however, he said quite simply, “M’lady, I didna’ have any knowledge of what ye spoke at m’lord’s place; but be comforted tha’ I shall remain close t’yer door, an’ I’ll be at yer side, whatever becomes o’ this. On that ye have me word.”
“Thank you sincerely, Fausto,” Marilyn answered, “That means the world to me.”
He then took her hand in his huge hands, and very gently kissed her small, pale fingers, before leaving to go back to his room next to hers.
As Marilyn entered her room, she was startled to see that someone had lit a fire, and on her table were some fine bread, fruit and cheeses, as well as a tankard of Barncuddy’s finest. She sat down, and sampled some cheese and fruit, and began drinking some ale. Looking over the lid, she suddenly saw some movement across the room. And there she was again, looking as if she belonged in the room. Her red hair framed her beautiful face, from which emanated a faint blue light.
“Lady Marilyn, be at ease! I have come to tell you of your circumstances, as well as of the choice that Master Charlie shall have to make, which will affect you, Lady Judy, her daughter, Angelica, and Robert.”
Marilyn swallowed her mouthful of ale, then spoke up. “Maggie, you do surprise me again. But please, go ahead and tell me what this is all about, for I’ve been given some of the story of why I’m here, and I’ve also been told that you are in touch with the truth of the matter.”
“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now you know in part, but then you shall know just as I also am known.”
Marilyn looked agape at the vision in front of her, at this young girl, radiantly beautiful, quoting back to her the scripture she had quoted to Craycroft and the others (with the subtlest changes).
“All right, you have my attention,” she said at last. “Tell me what I must know. This whole thing has got me so torn apart that I can’t think straight.”
“Listen, and you shall hear what you need to know. You are here as an advisor to Craycroft, and you shall be, along with Jeanne, those that he may trust to keep him on the path of truth. There will come difficulties, but you shall have the power of truth on your side. As for Master Charlie, he shall also have difficulties, but you may not interfere with his decisions. He must choose to go back himself, or to send you back. Both of you may not go. That is the way of this curtain of time. But for now then, you may speak with and interact with Robert as you see fit.”
“And what about this Antoine LeGace? What can I do about him if anything?”
“You shall avoid him. He is here as sent by his master, the evil one. There is nothing you are able to do to him. Now, Marilyn, be at peace, for that is what I am able to give you.” And with that she handed Marilyn a small loaf of warm, fragrant bread. As Marilyn took a bite of her bread, Maggie vanished from her sight, leaving behind the scent of the forest.
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