Ratcatchers you shall be then! A time-honored tradition of a profession if ever there was one! Hahahahaha!.... You'll need some silvered weapons for these rats, my boys and gal.... Heheheheheee!
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You have grown wise rather quickly, young Magnus's son.... I am proud of the man you've become....
Being a ghost, I know quite a bit about haunting.... You could, with your various abilities and magical powers, fake a haunting at Gloucester's residences, and after perplexing and spooking the Duke and Duchess out of their wits for a few nights, present yourselves as ghost hunters come to lay to rest the "ghosts" haunting the Gloucester's estates....
The pretext need not necessarily concern the duchess directly.... In fact, if some reason to poke about in their residences can be conceived that does not implicate the duchess in treason, your reception and access would be all the more congenial from Humphrey and Eleanor.... If you can, cook up some scheme that has them veritably inviting you into their homes to look around.... And if you can come up with nothing, you do have a master of stealth and infiltration in your company who possesses a rather potent magic ring that renders him completely undetectable, do you not? The ghost of Chaucer winks at Hisao....
He will have to be confronted with the unpleasant truth about his wife sooner or later, yes.... But you must first acquire ample and undeniable proof that she is conspiring to weaken and waste away by witchcraft the young King of England.... If you can fix up some pretext by which you can gain access to investigate the Duchess Eleanor's residences, both in Gloucester and here in London, mayhap you can find the evidence you need to make poor Humphrey see the truth....
Very well, then! I'm pleased to have an avid reader of my work in our midst! I'll go awaken old George with a "boo", and have him fetch the manuscript for your reading pleasure! The ghost of Chaucer vanishes like a dissipating mist, only to reappear at the dozing librarian's side with a ghostly BOOOOOOOO!!!, which startles George awake.... Within minutes, George seeks out Alphonse with a stack of parchment containing the completed Canterbury Tales!
Duke Humphrey is oblivious to these evil goings on, all done in secrecy behind his back. If you make him aware of his wife's evil doings, he's likely to be torn between love for his wife and loyalty to the throne, but I'm certain he will come to the right side and do what must needs be done, even if it means having his beloved Eleanor executed as a traitor....
The ghost of Chaucer chuckles at Paddy's inquiry about dirty limericks, and he actually rattles off a few Paddy hasn't heard yet.... Then, on a more serious note, Chaucer's ghost inquires as to the exact nature of The Lusty Fools' cause. On hearing that they intend to right the wrongs perpetrated by the Witch of Eye and her co-conspirators against the English crown, he seems pleased, and offers to help in whatever way he can.... I can tell you this much: the Witch of Eye, Margary Jourdemayne, was hired to work evil witchcraft against young King Henry VI by the wicked Duchess of Gloucester, Eleanor Cobham. Others involved in this evil treason include Roger Bolingbroke, a wizard held in high regard by the court, and the dastardly Cardinal Beaufort, a true snake in the grass....
The ghost of Chaucer grins at Alphonse.... Indeed, good sir.... Would you care to find out how it ends? I could paraphrase for you.... Or if you prefer, you can read the Tales yourself in their entirety.... I have dictated the ending to George, the Tower's librarian, and the manuscript is stored here in the library....
The ghost of Chaucer chuckles amiably. Magnus Sversson it shall be, my friend.... And yes, foul things rot the King's Court, indeed, good Magnus.... Tell me what you know already, and I'll fill in what blanks I may.... Being a ghost has certain benefits pertaining to surreptitiousness and being privy to information the living might find hard to come by.... Don't mind Old George the librarian--he's half-deaf, and three sheets to the wind on brandy, most of the time.... And do introduce me to your company, if you would, as they seem as odd a batch of traveling companions as my company in the Canterbury Tales! Heehee! Maybe odder, in fact!
About ten minutes after the guards have left The Lusty Fools alone with only a librarian in the library of The White Tower, as Tyr is still inspecting the truly impressive catalogue of tomes, folio, unbound manuscripts and scrolls stored on the many shelves and bookcases here, a draft of chill air, unseasonable in mid June, seems to waft down the aisle he stands in.... A spectral voice chuckles close by, and Tyr wheels, startled, to see a man who has apparently appeared out of thin air to his right side! He is very familiar-looking.... Someone famous for something, Tyr is quite sure....
Heehee! "Magnus Svensson", is it? Not last time I saw you, when you were but a wee sprout running and sparring your little Royal playmates with wooden swords.... You were called something quite similar, a Norse name--named for one of the old gods--yes, Tyr, it was,right? And your father was Magnus, not you, my good sir. You've grown quite a bit since we last met.... Do you recall my name, Tyr, Son of Magnus? |