Forum

[howandwhy99]

[INTERLUDE]

Father Benedict was becoming more and more distressed. His troubles sleeping had grown steadily worse the last two weeks. He meditated in the basement of the temple in hopes to learn what he should do. He was dizzy as well so much of late. The praying did not take the dizziness away, but did make him feel closer to the Gods. In fact, he felt almost as if he was soaring in the stars along with them. He remembered he had always loved the stars as a child. In the temple he had been taught the stars were the souls of all good men and women who die. It was a testament to the power of Goodness in the world as there were so many of them. Everyone knew the stars were uncountable.

Unfortunately, his stress did not subside. Ben had a terrible feeling the world was falling apart. Meditation normally helped to bring him to peace. Collecting himself he attempted to reorder his thoughts again. The Reverend Father Stauk-Flezr was far away across the County. Father Hedrach, the previous priest, had been killed. In his stead the newly anointed Ben had taken on the mantle of Fatherhood and faced the same threats as his predecessor. He did not know if the Dragon would return, nor if another attack would be levied. He did know for certain what others only whispered about. Lady Devereaux and Elion the Elf were no longer inside the Keep’s walls. Where they might have been taken though he could not say.

Ben pushed further back in time. His first real appointment had been a failure. Over twenty militia had died on his watch while at Outpost Xavier. Now Brother Thom was dead too. In truth, he had made friends. And he did count himself lucky to be their ally. But now they were gone. And the leader or actually the Lordship of Keep Margrave was Radcliff. He had seen Ratcliffe’s comic behavior. Ben felt sure he could trust the man, but hardly could he convince himself to rely the Radcliffe’s ability to secure the Keep. He stifled a yawn.

More than anything, Ben felt unsure about what to do next. Of course, he would keep helping the townsfolk with advice and giving Holyday sermons just as he always did. He had even taken up strolling around the Keep talking lightheartedly to residents in an effort to keep up morale. But Father Ben was more and more certain he had done the right thing by asking for a replacement. He only wished Darius and his friends could speed the new cleric there in a day. Feeling drowsy all of a sudden, Ben laid down on the stone floor of the meditation chamber. He dozed in the candlelight.

He was dreaming again. Dreaming of the attack on the Keep. He saw the Dragon hovering in the air. He saw himself cradling Brother Thom’s headless form. Realizing it was a dream Ben fought to change the outcome, to reverse the truth of what had happened. The dream world contorted around him. RAP! RAP! RAP! Ben could hear an urgent knocking. CRASH! Cracking his eyes open Ben realized the candles had gone out. RAP! RAP! RAP! Groping around he climbed the staircase to the congregation room above. His body ached horribly. He could feel the bruises darkening all over his body. He had no idea how he had just fallen so hard on the floor below. He put it out of his mind.

Taking a lit torch Father Ben peeked out the window in the front door. “Who’s there?” He counted eleven elderly men huddled in close with looks of fear on their faces. He quickly let them in. One named Sam introduced himself, but then his words started tripping over themselves. He explained how they were refugees from Hamfast. How Dram and a “shining dwarf” had rescued them from certain death. How they had slogged day and night to reach the Keep. And how the gate guard had to be bribed to let them in.

Ben did not know what to make of it. He assured them they were safe and set them up in the temple for the night. As the only other soul in the temple, there was plenty of spare space. It took a few hours to warm, feed, and clean the men, but Ben did not feel so tired. He urged them to bed as it was after midnight and they followed his bidding.