All That Is Fallen

by Brendan Carroll

  Vanni walked slowly toward the horse and took the reins easily.

  “Careful, my son!” Lucio warned him. “These are powerful animals! Mystical beasts and products of great magick.”

  “It’s all right, father.” Vanni climbed onto the red stallion’s back. “I always ride the red horse when I come here. His name is Aries.”

  Lucio’s face took on a peculiar expression as he turned toward the mare. She made no move to resist as he climbed into the handsomely tooled work of art that passed as a saddle.

  “Santa Maria!” Lucio muttered again and reined the mare about. He’d never even seen a mare in these woods.

  They rode together into the forest. They would only go as far as Armand’s castle and ask the news and then they would turn back. At most they would be gone half a day, perhaps just a bit longer if Armand had anything at all to report.

  “So!” Lucio said after they had passed through a hail of acorns, twigs and small pebbles thrown by the dryads in the old oaks. “Lavon tells me that you and he have been become friends.”

  “Oh, si`, of course!” Vanni nodded. “I am everyone’s friend. You told me that…”

  “I know what I told you.” Lucio cut him off. “I meant only to make conversation. Do you spend much time with him?”

  “Not much. No more than any other. I try to divide my time amongst them as judiciously as possible.” Vanni told him gravely. “I do not want to elicit jealousy or promulgate the misconception that I might prefer the company of one above the other.”

  “Santa Maria!” Lucio’s expression was one of disbelief. “What have you been doing? Reading the dictionary?”

  “No. I read the dictionary long ago.” Vanni answered lightly and scanned the trees above his head for more dryads. “I have merely been endeavoring to augment my vocabulary in order that I might converse more intelligently with my colleagues.”

  “Your colleagues?!” Lucio was exasperated at this new twist. Vanni was always surprising him with his sudden changes in perspective and personality. Now he sounded like a thesaurus.

  “Yes, my associates. Those with whom I have been co-habitating at the estate in Lothian. It is particularly rewarding to debate with them the various topics of current events, particularly those incidents, which have occurred of late involving the abduction and subsequent disappearance of certain members of our societal complex.”

  “Great Holy Mother!” Lucio lost his temper. “Just speak in simple terms for you poor papa. If you care to be an intellectual, practice the art on someone else.”

  “As you like, Poppi.” Vanni smiled at him.

  “Now.” Lucio shifted in the saddle and relaxed his grip on the reins. “Lavon tells me that you and Sophia are great friends.”

  “Ohhh, yes, si`!” Vanni nodded and smiled. “Sophia is most beautiful and she is very intelligent. She knows many things. Many things! One could learn a great deal from her, and she has a grand vocabulary.”

  “I see.” Lucio frowned. He didn’t quite know how to broach the subject of Sophia’s identity with his son. The vision of the angel that Vanni had had when he was younger was a very touchy topic. Vanni had made the mistake of telling too many people about his angel, and he had become the butt of some very mean jokes from people who should have known better. “Did you tell Sophia about Saint Lucia visiting you?”

  “Of course.” Vanni looked away from him. A number of chattering dryads had appeared in the trees away to the south of them.

  “What did she think about it?” Lucio asked him carefully.

  “She said I was truly blessed.” He said shortly.

  “Is that all?” Lucio leaned forward to look at his son’s face.

  “She said to see angels meant that God was looking after me and that means that I am special.” At least he sounded like the old Vanni again.

  “God looks after everyone, Vanni.” Lucio sat back in the saddle. “He sees all and is, yet, unseen; knows all and is unknowable.”

  “I have heard that said before.” Vanni turned his dark eyes on him. “But Sophia says that I am not like other people. But I had heard that before as well. Selwig and I do not belong anywhere; we are two of a kind. Sophia said that we are both special. By that I think she meant that all of us who are not ‘normal’ are special.”

  “Ahh. So Sophia knows many things?” Lucio narrowed his eyes.

  “Yes. She is very wise and has been around for a long time. She knows things from ages past and perhaps things from ages to come.”

  “You think maybe she is a prophetess?”

  “That would be safe to say.” Vanni nodded.

  “Do you think she might somehow be related to your angel?”

  “She is related to all things and nothing.” Vanni smiled slightly. “Sophia fears and all fear her. Sophia knows and is yet innocent. Sophia sees the invisible and hears the silence. Sophia is at the top and the bottom and everywhere in between and nowhere.”

  “So you would wax philosophical!” Lucio laughed. “I thought we were talking about Sophia Cardinelli, your friend?”

  “And so we are.” Vanni told him and Lucio fell silent for several moments. “She is here.”

  “She is?” Lucio looked about quickly. He could see nothing but the small dancing lights among the leaves of the trees and a few forest animals.

  “She is everywhere. Can’t you feel her?” Vanni frowned at him in confusion.

  “I’m afraid not.” Lucio was quite perplexed. Armand was right. Vanni took many things for granted.

  “Why are you asking about her? You know who Sophia is. You have studied her for many years.”

  “Now I know we are not talking about the same thing. You are talking about the Divine Sophia, the Divine Wisdom and Light.”

  “Yes.”

  “But I want to know about Sophia Cardinelli, the woman.” Lucio told him as patiently as possible as they rode out of the forest and headed for the rocky plain where Armand’s castle sat like a sparkling jewel against the blue background of the sky.

  “Sophia Cardinelli is not a woman.” Vanni laughed. “I thought you knew!”

  “I knew she is special as you say.” Lucio shrugged slightly, embarrassed by his seeming ignorance. “She disappeared with Brother Ramsay. I am trying to learn what happened to them.”

  “You want to know if Sophia and Lucia are one and the same?” Vanni hit the old nail on the head.

  “Yes! Exactly. That is what I have been thinking about.” Lucio tried not to sound overly enthusiastic, just mildly curious.

  “Oh. That is hard to say. I never knew my sister, Lucia and for that I am sorry, but I don’t think that Sophia is Lucia. Lucia is also here, everywhere and nowhere.” Vanni frowned. “Perhaps when you see her, you can ask her to explain it.”

  “She has explained this to you?” Lucio could not suppress the shock in his voice.

  “She has explained many things to me. She told me about all that is fallen. We… you and I… all are fallen. These are things that I needed to know. She is the one who convinced me that my love for Greta was hopeless.”

  “Ahh.” Lucio nodded.

  “I cannot marry one of these people. I am cursed and blessed.” Vanni smiled ruefully. “Look! Have you seen Armand’s beauty?”

  Lucio reined in the horse sharply at the sight of the transformed castle. He could not believe it.

  ((((((((((((()))))))))))))

  The special courier arrived from London with the setting sun. He bore the royal seal of King Ramsay. He was exhausted from the long motorcycle ride up from London through inhospitable and suspicious lands. Only his royal seals and badges had kept him safe during the trip. Lone travelers, especially on such exotic vehicles as the BMW, were likely to find themselves robbed and left bleeding in the ditch, if not dead, but the penalties for assaulting the members of the King’s royal household were severe and even the criminals that still abounded in the countryside, respected and loved King Ramsay for his fair treatment of even t
he poorest amongst his subjects. It was a strange relationship that had sprung up in the aftermath of the war. It seemed that every thief and petty criminal in the country would rally to the King’s banner and made loud declarations of their patriotism at every opportunity even though they continued to resort to less than respectable means of making a living. They were sort of like modern day Robin Hoods, or so they fancied themselves. Justice was swift and sure, but never cruel, if they were caught and they were usually assigned to work projects for varying lengths of time, depending on their crimes. But murder was still murder and most refrained from it, unless absolutely necessary, or so they claimed.

  The courier delivered his sealed envelope to the Grand Master. A letter from King Ramsay to his Brother, to be placed with all the other ‘mail’ Mark Andrew continued to receive even in his absence, a cover letter for the message from New Babylon. The message that had precipitated the messenger’s perilous flight. Normally, the letters from King Ramsay arrived on horseback through the ‘regular’ post.

  The Knights and apprentices crowded around the Master as he opened the envelope and began to read the King’s letter aloud to them, after Barry had closed and locked the library doors to keep the servants from hearing the contents.

  “Esteemed Master: The enclosed letter arrived in my hands only this morning. I am uncertain as to what action should be taken in regard to the contents of the message. I am both relieved and outraged to learn that my brother has been taken by the Evil One. I cannot imagine how it happened, Master, but I will let you judge for yourself what should be done. I have sent a message away south to King Louis, informing him of the message in coded transcript. Crossing the Channel is most difficult. It would seem that we may have friends where we thought there were none. I am anxiously awaiting your reply. LMR.”

  A loud round of comments circulated in the room and then subsided as the Master unfolded the flimsy message from New Persia. The thing was written in hieroglyphs!

  “Great Scot!” The Grand Master used a phrase that he had picked up from the servants and Luke Andrew.

  “Barry!” He handed the message over to Barry of Sussex, who glanced at it briefly before handing it over to Christopher Stewart. “Find the Golden Eagle! Why is he not here?!”

  Everyone looked about the crowded room as if expecting Dambretti to be under the sofa or in the fireplace.

  Barry left the library with Simon on his heels. Several of Simon’s sons followed them out. Lavon took the letter from Christopher and admired the beautifully drawn symbols. It was in the common hieroglyphs, not the colorful pictograms that adorned the monuments of Khem.

  “Hmmm. I knew I should have taken this up long ago.” Lavon shook his head and allowed Konrad to look it over.

  “I do not know this.” The Knight of the Apocalypse smiled ruefully. “I always meant to learn it in my spare time. My son tells me that much of what has fallen is written in the texts of ancient Egypt. Even perhaps more than is written in Enoch, but I’ve only just recently learned to translate the ancient Hebrew with ease. I find that it is much more gratifying to read the works firsthand.”

  “Brother Lucio will be able to decipher it quickly enough.” Christopher told them as Lydia d’Ornan and Vallen Martin looked over the paper. Konrad’s apprentice, Vallen, was growing rather old for an apprentice, but Konrad had made no attempt to search for another. He had grown accustomed to the former blacksmith.

  Izzy took the paper from Vallen and nodded. “I studied this a bit when I was in Jerusalem. The cartouche in the oval gives the name of the author. I believe…” He squinted at the paper closely. “This would be roughly translated as Ma’huffy or Mack Uffy? I’m afraid that I am not too good at it.” He allowed his grandfather to take the paper again.

  Izzy d’Ornan, Knight of the Throne, had not taken a new apprentice since Omar had disappeared, but was considering sending to St. Ramsay’s for Sergio Sinclair-Ramsay, Apolonio’s son, who was studying with the monks at Rushen. The boy was about nineteen or so and one of the few available for such a position. Barry’s academy had been totally abandoned for over twenty years. The training, such as it was, was now done by the monks who had sworn allegiance to the Order and combined the principals of the Red Cross of Gold and the Red Cross of God with the curriculum at their institution of higher learning for the children of the Templars.

  “Mack Uffy?” The Master squinted at the cartouche. “That sounds familiar somehow…” the big man frowned and then looked up impatiently. “Where is the Golden Eagle?!”

  Philip and Zeb came back to report that neither Lucio, nor was his son, Vanni, were anywhere to be found. They raced off again toward the back door.

  Apolonio frowned and then edged toward the door.

  “Apolonio!” Konrad called his son back. “Where are you going?”

  “I thought I would help them search, father.” Apolonio cringed.

  “Mr. von Hetz!” The Grand Master’s voice was full of suspicion.

  Apolonio turned slowly and smiled at him.

  “Where is your Grandfather?” The Master demanded.

  Lucio’s apprentice’s face fell.

  “I’m not sure, Your Grace.” The apprentice held out both hands apologetically. “I haven’t seen him since early this morning… just after breakfast.”

  “And Vanni?”

  “Vanni was with him.”

  “And Selwig?”

  “Ahhh. That is where I was going, Sir. I believe the healer is in his room in the cellar.”

  “Aha!” The Grand Master started out of the library with everyone behind him. “If Selwig is here and Vanni is not, then that means that the Golden Eagle has gone to the underworld or worse!” The man stormed down the back hallway, shouting for the little Tuathan. Vanni was never seen without his constant companion, but Selwig had never set foot in the underworld aside from the time they had all spent there after the war. After having been banished from his home by King Corrigan over twenty years ago, he said it was too painful. It was the only place that Vanni could have possibly gone without him.

  ((((((((((((()))))))))))))

  “Are you sure that he can understand me?” Bari asked Sophia in a low voice. He sat in a chair very close to Mark Andrew’s bed. The Knight of Death gazed at him blandly.

  “He understands more than he says.” Sophia assured him from her position on the foot of the bed.

  “But he says very little!” Bari frowned and then smiled at his great-grandfather. “Grandfather, I have a surprise for you.”

  Mark’s face lit up.

  “You see?” Sophia nodded. “He knows what you are saying.”

  “I brought you some pretty clothes.” Bari patted the bundle wrapped in brown cloth in his lap.

  Mark nodded and pulled on the hem of his plain white tee shirt.

  “Pretty.” He repeated the key word.

  Bari glanced at Sophia.

  “Would you like to try them on?” He asked.

  Mark nodded.

  “We’ll have to go in the bathroom.” Bari whispered and glanced at the bars on the door. Those were McGuffy’s men out there. They would say nothing, but he could not risk having Abaddon or Jozsef show up at the wrong time. “Sophia, would you go in and draw a bath. If someone comes…”

  “Of course.” Sophia got up and disappeared into the bathroom. Mark watched her anxiously as if afraid she would disappear.

  “Come on now.” Bari got up and held out his arms to him.

  Mark shook his head.

  “Come on now, Grandfather! Please. Show me how well you can walk. Sophia told me that you were doing quite well.”

  “Fall.” Mark shook his head. He did not seem to trust Bari.

  “I can hold you.” Bari flexed the muscles in his arms. “I’m big and strong like you.”

  Mark narrowed his eyes as he seemed to consider this. He glanced at the bathroom door nervously. It was very far away and he usually had to be dragged in there or, if Sophia went there, h
e crawled after her. He threw back the covers clumsily and scooted around to the edge of the bed.

  Bari put one arm around him and helped him up. He was very wobbly, but managed to stand. The Emperor held onto him tightly as they took tiny steps toward the bathroom. Sophia emerged from the open doorway and came to help them. They set him down on a bench in front of the dressing table and Bari unwrapped the bundle. It was one of the Emperor’s purple and white outfits that he usually wore during his normal ‘business’ hours. It was one of the trademarks he had inherited from his father. Mark smiled when he saw the white and purple and black uniform with gold trim.

  With Sophia’s help, they soon had the Knight dressed in the purple and white. He looked gorgeous. They helped him stand in front of the mirror as he gripped the edge of the sink desperately. He turned his head from side to side, smiling at his reflection.

  “Pretty.” He said again and looked to Sophia for approval.

  “Yes! It’s beautiful.” She agreed.

  “And a perfect fit.” Bari patted Mark’s shoulder. “I thought it would be.”

  “Is this how you plan to get him out?” Sophia’s voice was barely audible.

  “I believe it would be the best way.” Bari nodded. “But you must work more on the walking. He will have to do better than that.”

  “Walk! Talk!” Mark agreed and nodded before slipping from the sink. They caught him before he fell.

  “Yes, walk and talk!” Bari told him as they helped him back to his seat. “Now we’re going to put this away and when you can walk and talk better, we’re going to take a trip.”

  “Trip!” Mark nodded, smiled and then frowned. He looked up at Sophia. “Trip? Fall!”

  “No, no. Not that kind of trip. A trip. A journey.” She told him. “We are going to go outside.”

  “Outside?” Mark obviously did not understand.