Rumors & Blessings

“Steinovice,” Rayk gestured, map in hand, towards the town as it loomed into view. “Should have everything we need in there I’ll bet.”

Konrad stopped, reining in his steed to scan the landscape ahead of them. Sophia looked over his shoulder as she continued to hold onto him tightly.

To their right, a river flowed down a gentle slope before ending at a pond in the midst of the town. To the left, just off the main road, a Kalarian Church resided, it’s spire modest yet still reaching towards Elysium. Further beyond were farmsteads and fields as far as the eye could see until the slight silhouette of mountains could be observed along the verge. To the west was a great wood. From their vantage point artificial groves could seen pockmarked throughout the forest, the stubs of felled trees indicating the work of busy woodsmen.

“I can probably obtain arms and ammunition from the chapel,” Sophia spoke. “Maybe even a horse if they can spare one."

"Very well," Konrad huffed. "Rayk and I will go into town and speak to the town watch. Likely the only people who will talk to us openly anyway."

As soon as they neared the path that lead directly to the church, Sophia jumped off and waved.

"Meet me here when you are done in town?"

Konrad nodded, touched his hat, and then looked over to Rayk, who retrieved a bell from a pouch in his saddle.

Rayk nodded his head, “Aye, I'm ready.”

As she walked towards the church, Sophia stopped and watched as Konrad and Rayk approached the town. The moment they passed the sign post, she could see and hear Rayk ringing the bell in intervals. From this distance she could observe the tiny figures of the townspeople scurrying away as if a terrible menace were descending on them. Exhaling heavily through her nose at the sight, she turned away and continued towards the church.

***

DING DING

DING DING

Konrad finally halted before the town’s Watch House and got off his horse. Rayk took the reins and put the bell away. The townspeople, who had scurried away to keep clear, peeked out behind alleyways and half open doors in curiosity.

Konrad pounded on the door and a peephole slid open.

“Who the…” a man with a gravely voice began before his eyes caught sight of Konrad. “Oh, hang on a tick…”

The sound of bolts retracting could be heard on the other side of the door which finally opened with a very audible creak.

“Blimey, if it isn’t the bloody red-hand himself,” the middle-aged watchman greeted, touching his cap. “Yous here on a house call?”

“Something like that,” Konrad answered. “I am here to help his lordship with a pest problem.”

“Ahhhh,” the watchman smiled, his jowls creasing. “Bout time someone got round to that. Come in, come in. You can tell your Lictor there he can tether the horses at the stables.”

Rayk, having overheard, clicked his teeth and guided the horses while Konrad went inside.

The guard room occupied much of the interior, an open space with large wooden tables, chairs and a large bureau with a cubby mounted on top to store watch logs. The weapons rack, which contained repeating rifles, revolvers and shotguns, was mounted on the wall next to the bureau. Tucked into the right-had side was the lockup consisting of four jail cells and a keeper’s nook that was nothing more than a simple pallet and rough blanket. Guards on duty likely hot-bunked between shifts.

“Welcome to the cells,” the watchman gestured, pointing a meaty finger at the empty lock up. “If yer lookin to lay yer head.”

He sat down at the table where a plate of humble bread and cheese awaited him.

“So,” he said taking a bite of bread. “Count’s got you on the hunt now eh? Pray you make out better than the rest.”

“Has there been any attacks here recently?” Konrad asked, just as Rayk entered and closed the door behind him.

The watchman shook his head, swallowing the bread and taking a bite of cheese.

“No, not here,” he said while chewing. “Not in the town proper.”

He gestured in the general direction of the farmsteads north, “Can’t says the same for the farms out there though. Started out with the livestock then the bloody things went after the folk next. Just the night before we heard tell of this bloke, Petyr, I think his name was, had his fair daughter snatched away. Lone-Lord knows what’s come of her now.”

“That happened just last night?”

The watchman nodded his head, “Aye, just last. Yous fixin to go find her? Be doing us a favor. We don’t got the mens to spare to go crashing around in the woods and running into Monad knows what. We got animals of our own to deals with in town.”

Konrad looked to Rayk and the two nodded.

“Thank you,” Konrad said to the watchman. “Which farm is Petyr’s?”

The watchman, bread in hand, drew an invisible circle in the air, “The only one with a house that has a round window. Second farm up the main road.”

Konrad and Rayk exited and went to their horses.

***

The church was a solemn place with a hint of rustic influence as was the case with most provincial parishes. The pews had a few people sitting here and there, offering prayers and praise to the Monad while others were engaging in the veneration of a particular saint asking for their intercession. They gathered around the statues embedded in the stone walls and Sophia couldn’t help but notice that the statue of Saint Corban, tucked quietly away in the corner, had no one asking for his help, no candles lit beneath his depiction. This, of course, came as no surprise considering the veneration of Saint Corban, and indeed the Saint himself, was controversial.

To the untrained eye and without context, Saint Corban had the appearance of a demon. Tall, ominous and night-winged, he would pass easily as an infernal prince. However this was not so. Saint Corban was a holy warrior, one that perfected an ability that allowed him to imprison demons within his body using his soul as a spiritual bind to enslave the malevolent spirits. This had allowed him, in turn, to use their powers and energies against their diabolical kin. Those who venerated Saint Corban, such as Konrad, were referred to as Corbanites and were gifted the same abilities as their patron saint. Or so it was said. Sophia was not so sure herself, having never even met a Corbanite until recently. Yet she could sense a strange power residing within Konrad. An eternal fire that was directed towards a different purpose.

Sophia could understand, however, why some parishioners and clergy of the Ecclesia were uneasy with Saint Corban. Mortals commanding demons smacks of sorcery, even if it is used against the denizens of Hades in turn. Saint Corban, in fact, was used as one of the many arguments during the Great Schism that saw the creation of the Metaryte movement against the Ecclesia.

“Dame?”

Sophia jumped slightly having been caught off guard by the kindly priest who presided over the parish.

“My apologies Kaplan I was lost in thought.”

The priest, a bearded elderly man, dressed in a white hooded robe and adorned with a dark blue stole and plain rope cincture. Smiled and gestured with his head towards Saint Corban.

“He has been known to have that affect,” he chuckled. “What brings you here child?”

Sophia explained the situation, the priest listened intently and nodded his head slowly.

“You are most certainly welcome to take what you will of the armory, as well as what horses we may have.”

“Thank you Kaplan,” Sophia kneeled. “May I burden you for a blessing?”

“It is no burden,” he said softly, before raising his hand over her head and closing his eyes.

“One-Lord of the Cosmos, I ask that you bestow your blessings upon this servant of your church. Who bears arms against the infernal enemies who would rend others away from your holy light. I ask this through your Champion, Valachir, and the intercession of your Saints. Let it be done.”

“Faithfully,” Sophia replied, drawing three lines with her thumb down her forehead, lips and heart. “Thank you Kaplan.”

“Go in the light.”

***

Outside, after having obtained a new repeating carbine and ammunition, Sophia was saddling a new horse at the church stables when Konrad and Rayk galloped up to her.

“We have a lead," Konrad declared, his horse sliding a short distance before stopping just before her. "A farmer and his family was attacked last night.”

His eyes narrowed, as if holding back a building rage. “They took the daughter.”

Sophia, grimly determined, finished with the last strap and mounted her new horse, clicking her teeth to join it alongside Konrad.

“Let’s go then,” she said. “She may still be alive.”

Konrad grunted then snapped the reigns and charged off, Rayk and Sophia close behind.