The Mission--Chapter 3
Zephaniah woke suddenly to the clanging of bells and shouts from the hall outside his closed door. A gust of wind slapped him and said, “Get up, young sir! We have been attacked! Get dressed immediately!”
Alarmed, Zephaniah got out of bed and pulled on his clothes. There was only moonlight through the window to see by. He heard Aloysius blowing things into rucksacks and muttering like a storm brewing in the distance. Just then two figures entered through the doorway. Zephaniah crouched, then saw one was Brother Thomas, neatly clad, and the other a nearly unrecognizable Mrs. Stone, carrying a golden vessel of some sort. She was still in her night clothes, her hair hung over her shoulders in a silver braid, and her glasses were gone.
“Zephaniah,” she said in a fierce voice, “you and Brother Thomas must take this vessel into the wilderness. We have been betrayed by one of our own, and I cannot be sure who it is. This vessel must be guarded with your lives.”
Her tone softened. “Zephaniah, I trust you because you are an innocent soul, and I trust Brother Thomas to lead you out. Aloysius, can you go with them?”
“I must, Mother. I can feel the House diminishing from the flames, and I must guard our hope for the next.” The spirit sounded like a wounded bear growling.
“Shhh.” Mrs. Stone said sharply. “Silence. You must leave at once. Brother Thomas, you know what to do.” She handed him the vessel. and left as quickly as she had come.
“Follow me,” said Brother Thomas in a low voice as he moved toward the window. “Once we are outside we must keep to the shadows and make no noise. We are to join up with Brother Ass, who will have brought supplies and weapons. I hope you have some knowledge of the wildwood?”
“Yes,” whispered Zephaniah. “I have hunted these mountains ever since I could hold a bow.”
“Good. We will need those skills. Aloysius, please see us out, and watch for people who might be seeking to destroy us.”
Aloysius blew open the window with astonishing precision, and then gently shoved them up and out. The spirit tossed the bed covers into place, and then swept all other traces clean. He closed the window behind him. As far as any pursuers could tell the room had never been occupied.
They emerged into a night of shadows. The full moon hung near the western horizon, and an owl hooted in the distance, signaling the approach of dawn. Aloysius mysteriously produced two dark green traveling cloaks with hoods and they put them on. Brother Thomas seemed to disappear when he pulled up his hood. Zephaniah assumed the same was true of him. They set off, keeping to the darkest places and moving as quietly as they could. Aloysius helped by masking any noise they made with soft susurrant sounds
Before long they came to a thicket where Brother Ass stood, with three stout staffs for walking and if need be, for fighting. He carried bows and arrows over his shoulder.
Zephaniah was bemused. Brother Ass was a tall, handsome man, with short curly hair, not at all what Zephaniah had expected based on his name. He looked like he knew how to handle the things he carried. He handed Brother Thomas and Zephaniah a staff and bow each, and then pulled from his traveling cloak two swords in scabbards hung from leather belts.
“These will take some training to use. We must begin where we each are.” He shrugged. “So…We will start training when find a place to rest for a while.” He led the way out of the thicket. Zephaniah had a feeling Brother Ass was used to commanding troops. He had some experience of that. Zephaniah had been forced to join the King’s troops when only 16. He had learned a great deal, not all of it good. He had only recently been released and had just returned home.
Zephaniah followed the small group as they moved deeper into the forest. His mind was churning. Why had he been moved to approach the door of the House? He had been there for only an evening and knew nothing about the House or the people who lived there. Why all the different colored doors? What was this Mendicant Order of Priests? Why was he called, and what did that mean? Who were Mrs. Stone and Aloysius? A caretaker and resident spirit? Why was the House alive? Who had attacked the House, and why? Finally, what was in that golden vessel Brother Thomas kept securely hidden in his tunic? And why, oh why, was he following behind like a sheep? It was all most peculiar.
Aloysius sidled up to him, if a wind can sidle, and whispered into his ear. Only Zephaniah could hear. “Don’t worry, young sir. All will be made clear in due course.”
“When will due course be?” he whispered back,
“Later today, I should think. It is most unusual to expect you to follow blindly, but it is necessary due to the exigencies of events. Be patient, and you will have your questions answered.”
Brother Thomas looked over his shoulder. In the dim light, he could not be sure, but Zephaniah thought Brother Thomas winked at him.
Ann, this was such an unexpected plot twist!