Heart of Stone

13. The Ever-Widening Circle

Author's note: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck (1744-1829) advanced the once widely accepted theory that an organism can pass on characteristics acquired in its lifetime to its offspring. For example, if an animal continuously stretches its neck to reach food higher in the trees, then its offspring will be born with a longer neck than the previous generation.
psyche b.

Robbie arrived promptly at three on Saturday afternoon and to Mary's surprise, Andrew Cranmore was with him. Andy looked to be at least ten years younger than Robbie, but Mary had always been bad at judging people's ages. Mary got the same shock of recognition when she took his hand that she had with Robbie, only this time she covered it better.

They had coffee and then Mary gave them a tour of the house. She noticed the look that passed between the two men when they walked by her new statue. Mary and Colin had designed plantings and added a bench to the area to make it seem like a part of the garden. The plants had filled in nicely and the affect was quite pleasing. She didn't think they were admiring her choice of shrubbery though.

The conversation through dinner was light and so pleasant that Mary was almost able to forget the purpose of the visit. When they'd finished she asked Maureen to bring coffee and dessert into the library. Once everyone had a cup of coffee and a slice of cake the housekeeper left quietly. As soon as the door was shut Andy set his aside.

“You've woken one of them up, haven't you?” The harsh tone shocked Mary.

“Andy! We discussed this.” Robbie's voice was shocked and salted heavily with anger.

“Maybe you're content to chat about houses and decorating and all kinds of silliness, but I didn't come all this way to make small talk.” The shift was almost frightening in a way. Only moments before she wouldn't have guessed all that venom was seething under the surface. Robbie sighed.

“I'm sorry Mary, I had hoped to approach this more delicately,” He glared at his companion. “But since that's not possible anymore, have you woken one of them?”

Both men were watching her, one angrily, one curiously. Mary's hand trembled and her fork rattled against the plate, she set aside before she dropped it.

“I don't know what you mean.” Her voice sounded steadier than she felt. Andy opened his mouth but Robbie shot him a glacial look.

“You do know.” He said softly.

“I don't-”

“Mary, we're on you're side in this.” Andy gave a derisive snort, Robbie ignored him and leaned forward. “Trust us.”

“I'm supposed to trust him?” Mary jabbed her finger at Andy and was surprised at her sudden anger. “He comes into my house and acts all friendly until he thinks he can blindside me. And you,” she turned back to Robbie. “Every time I talk to you it's a different story and now I'm suppose to just tell you whatever you want to know?”

Andy's face was bright red and he started to make a small gesture, Robbie grabbed his wrist.

“She needs a to be taught-” Andy growled.

“Do you think she's ever been taught anything?” Robbie answered.

“SHE is in the room.” Mary said. “And she wasn't raised in a barn either.” It was one of Aunt Patrice's favorite sayings and Mary cringed to hear it coming out of her own mouth, no matter the context.

“Of course not Mary, this isn't what I intended this meeting to be at all.” He sat back and drank some of his coffee. “I couldn't tell you the whole story when we met the other day because I still wasn't certain about you. We didn't actually touch until you were leaving.” He smiled slightly.

“Then it's not my imagination? That – feeling?” She asked, looking from one man to the other. She was surprised to see Andy's face soften.

“No, it's not your imagination.” Robbie said with a little smile. “My father wasn't just raving when he said our families were connected. They have been for centuries because we sheltered the last of the gargoyles. Your ancestors were certain they could reverse the spell that bound them, but the rest of us weren't sure we should get involved with magic. We came around soon enough and while succeeding generations have become more skilled, the real power has always rested with your family. That hasn't changed. We can tell that one of the gargoyles is awake, and we know that none of us has the ability to do that.”

Mary's head was spinning. Denying it wouldn't do any good and she had to trust someone.

“I didn't try to, I don't even know how it happened.” Mary's voice was soft. Andy sat forward.

“Were you reading something? One of Ambrose's journals maybe?” He asked eagerly.

“No.” She went through the story of Aiden's waking again.

“That makes no sense.” The frustration was back in Andy's voice. “It takes words to make or break a spell.”

“That's not quite true.” Robbie had a thoughtful look on his face. “The words focus and hold the will until it's released by an act. If there is no act, the will remains in a kind of stasis. It's possible that Ambrose or someone in his line began something but couldn't perform the act that finished it.”

“Are you completely certain that I'm as skilled as you say?” Mary asked. “I didn't understand a word of that.”

“I keep forgetting you're untrained” He chuckled.

“He's trained,” She look at Andy. “He didn't know either.”

“I'm trained to my level of natural ability, but I'm not able to go beyond that.” Andy looked a little embarrassed by the admission.

“Everyone is born with some natural ability, most have very little to begin with and are easily convinced that magic is no more than a trick or imagination.” Robbie explained. Mary picked up her cake and started to eat. “That ability can be nurtured, but a person is never able to surpass what they're born with. I was born with more than Andy, you were born with more than me.”

“So the families, or their representatives, all have different levels of ability?” Mary asked. It was quite a bit to take in.

“Different levels of ability and different functions within the group.” Andy said. He and Robbie had both started eating dessert. “This is very good, by the way.”

“Thank you.” Mary said. “There's a little bakery in the village that has the most amazing things.”

“Ambrose didn't leave any of this in his journals?” Robbie asked.

“Not in any of the ones I've found. As far as I know I've been through the whole house.” Mary set aside her empty dessert plate and picked up her coffee cup. Almost absently she thought the words and steam began to rise from it again. She took a sip of the pleasantly hot liquid.

“You didn't even think about that, did you?” Andy sounded envious, Mary wasn't sure how to respond.

“Not a whole lot I guess, no. Is that strange?” She looked curiously from Andy to Robbie.

“Not so much strange as impressive.” Robbie smiled. “Andy's family has kept the history of the group itself, beginning with his ancestor Dorian Alwynn.”

“Dorian disliked being in a position where he actually had to DO something that might be unpopular, the only way he would agree to be involved at all was if he could keep records and nothing more. Your ancestor, Cyril, knew that he wanted one cohesive group so he agreed. From all accounts, he was also a very forward-thinking man. Dorian's son took his father's view of involvement, his grandson didn't, but, he had very little natural ability. We still keep records, but we've also developed and nurtured our skill as well. Is there more coffee?” Andy asked.

“I think there's more in the pot.” She picked it up and refilled everyone's cup and let them add the sugar and milk themselves. “Let me see if i understand this, each person is born with a certain level of natural magical ability and even if that ability is nurtured they can't go beyond that natural level.”

“Yes. That changes as the skill travels down through the generations. Once someone is trained, if they have a child the child's natural ability will surpass that of the parent. It's all rather Lamarckian in a way.” Robbie said.

“What if that child remains untrained?” Mary asked.

“The level of natural skill doesn't grow or lessen in succeeding generations. Now if both parents are trained things get complicated.” Robbie chuckled. Mary was curious but decided that was a topic for another time.

“What do you do in the group?” She asked him.

“I'm a historian as well. I keep the history of the gargoyles, until they can do it themselves. At the moment though, that's more along the lines of just keeping track of where they all are, and if they're still in existence. Admittedly, that doesn't take a great deal of time, so the focus has been on gaining skill. In that department, my family is second to yours.” He smiled. “I've helped train the others since Ambrose's passing.”

“This is a lot to take in.” Mary shook her head, feeling like every question they answered spawned a thousand more. “And our visitor?”

Andy and Robbie looked at each other.

“We've no idea who he is.” Andy said. “We have a general idea of what he's doing and we know he's exceptionally powerful. Robbie's father would not have been easily influenced.”

“Aiden believes that he isn't human.” It took Mary a moment to realize why both men were staring at her. “Aiden is the one I woke.” She explained.

“Aiden, son of Darius?” Robbie sounded as if he was trying to convince himself.

“Yes. You knew he was here though, didn't you?” Mary was suddenly nervous, feeling as though she might have made a mistake.

“Yes I knew, but when I saw Esme in the garden I thought it might have been her.” Robbie paused a moment, considering something. “Could we meet him?” He said finally.

“I don't know-”

“Mary,” Aiden spoke softly from the the door. Mary had been so engrossed in the conversation that she hadn't heard the door open. Both men turned quickly, their eyes and mouths wide. “They know. Refusing now is without point.” He smiled softly at her and then turned to the two shocked guests. He looked from one to the other, as if trying to place the two men that he had never met. Robbie was the first to regain some limited composure.

“Hello.” Was all he could manage.

“You are the Barnaby.” Aiden said to him with certainty.

“Yes.” The surprised man responded. “How did you-”

“You have your ancestor's nose.” Aiden smiled benignly and then then looked at Andy. Mary pulled Aiden's large chair over so that he could feel a part of group. “And unless I am mistaken you are an Alwynn.”

“C-Cranmore now.” Mary remembered that feeling of shock and awe. Aiden sat down and nodded.

“When Mary told me your name I could not place it. When did it change?” He asked. Mary could tell that he was trying to put them at their ease in the only way he knew how.

“My great-great-great-grandfather Basil Alwynn had one daughter, but no sons. She married a Cranmore and the name hasn't changed since.” Andy sounded as though he was still frightened.

“Aiden, would you like some tea?” Mary asked. She knew that seeing him do things that seemed 'civilized' had helped Maureen and Colin get over this frightening appearance.

“Maureen is seeing to that, child.” He smiled at her.

“I thought your kind didn't take warm food or drink.” Robbie said, his curiosity starting to override his fear.

“That has been true for the majority of our existence and to be honest, the thought of eating cooked food still turns my stomach.” He smiled softly. “There was something appetizing about the scent of Mary's herbal tea. It does not appeal to me all the time, but there are moments I find I prefer it to other things.”

Maureen knocked and brought in a large china pot and Aiden's large cup. She filled the cup and handed it to Aiden.

“Will you be wanting more cake or coffee?” She asked.

“Another pot of coffee, please.” Mary said. Both men looked like they were relieved she suggested it. It was clear that it would be a long night, but everyone's curiosity was piqued.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You are not sleeping, dear one.” Aiden's voice was soft. Mary squirmed against his chest and sighed softly. She and Aiden had talked with Robbie and Andy until well after midnight. Very little new information was shared, but everyone became more comfortable and better acquainted The two men accepted her offer of guest rooms and were sleeping in the south wing of the Hall. Mary was still trying to assemble all that she had learned before Aiden's appearance.

“I know. I can't seem to settle my mind.” She replied in equally muted tones. He began to massage her lower back and Mary trembled as some of her tension started to melt away. His tail wrapped around her calf.

“The evening was filled with revelations for me as well. I had no idea that this group existed. I understand the need for secrecy, but it is still difficult to accept that my kind and I were the center of such intense activity for so many years and that neither Lawrence nor Ambrose saw fit to tell me about more than your family's efforts.” He kissed the top of her head lightly.

“Why? From everything you told me, your kind had been entwined with mine for a very long time. It seems logical more than one person, or one family would have wanted to see you restored.” Her fingers traced light designs on his chest.

“It is not quite the same. Besides, if the knowledge of my kind and our history have been preserved so diligently, then the knowledge of the prohibitions against our mating still exist as well.” His arms tightened around her.

“Maybe, but just because it's in some book somewhere doesn't mean that anyone still believes in it.” She kissed him softly. “I know I don't.”

“Go to sleep dearest. I'll have to leave in a few hours and I want to know that you have gotten a bit of rest before I go.” Mary recognized the worry in his voice but she didn't mention it. She could reassure him from now until the end of time but she couldn't make him believe it. She knew that her guests would be up relatively early and she didn't want them to feel abandoned.