However, when it’s dark, the light of the stars is what guides you.
-Mientheoderic’Cyan, Brotherhood Chaplin
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“Why can’t we store some of the peat inside until your assigned priest arrives,” argued the Mayor.
“Maybe because it totally disrespectful,” muttered Kiao to herself. She swept her broom around aggressively across the chapel floor to sweep up the last remnants of said peat. She controlled the urge to drop the broom and give the Mayor a piece of her mind. However, forever the priestess, she pursed his lips and let the monk handle it.
Though one could argue, her friend wasn’t the best monk to do that.
“This land and this building is owned by the Brotherhood. You know at some point we were going to reclaim this chapel,” reasoned Soletus even-toned. He was clearly pulling all the monk training and experience to not sound annoyed, which he was. He was standing stiffly with his arms folded over his chest. Granted, he was also likely struggling to keep from laughing at the slight woman’s attempt to tower above him.
“And the Brotherhood clearly abandoned this building.”
“The priest left,” corrected Soletus. “However, the order didn’t sell or give away this parcel of land or the building. That being said, we don’t understand why you lack storage capacity. Our order aided your town in building a proper storage house for your town. Is there something wrong with the structure?”
And one could see the white tao stone brick walls of the storage house behind the mayor’s head. The roof was in good condition, as were the doors.
“The structure is sound, there is space, but I rather keep open it open. It’s trading season and peat bricks take up a lot of room.”
In other words, there was room in there.
“If that stack in front of the building is all that’s left, then ration it out among the people, Mayor Hawks,” he suggested.
“No,” exclaimed the woman, as if that was a terrible idea. “We ration them with everything they need. Giving town’s folks extra means they’ll waste it.”
Kiao stopped sweeping and opened her mouth to shout that she was being ridiculous however, something clattered behind her. She turned to see Briar picking up one of the tall tapered candle holder from its side back to upright on the altar. She stared at Kiao with her brow flat to display her annoyance at the prospect of moving peat bricks back into the chapel.
They had spent three days removing them out of the chapel. Not to mention various other crates and barrels. What made it more frustrating, they couldn’t find a person willing to let them borrow a cart to load up all the bricks. Then they had to stop because the Mayor didn’t want them to remove the bricks until room was made in the storage house. Then they had to sit for nearly a day while men were gathered to help make room when there was plenty of it. The mayor didn’t want the bricks to be placed in a certain location or it would ruin her organization.
“Logically, if everyone has proper storage that holds more than their rations, then that is the best option. No need to be stingy. I doubt everyone will be making needless bonfires out of it,” he said pleasantly, but Kiao could hear the edge in his voice coming out in that last sentence.
The mayor then shook her head and wave her arms dismissively. “You’re a monk. What do you know.”
Soletus sighed loud enough for her chanter ears to hear. And there was a faint growl of annoyance in that exhale.
Kiao heard enough and walked forward out of the shadow of the chapel to stand beside the tall young monk.
“Mayor Hawke, we cannot store the peat in here,” she said. “It’s taken a very long time to clean the remains of those blocks out and to arrange the chapel again to accept those who wish to pray at the altar. We appreciate you putting a new roof and keeping up the grounds. However, this isn’t a storage building.”
“And we will compensate you for resources used,” put in Soletus.
The Mayor ignored him and looked at Kiao. “Sister, look, you are young and don’t appreciate how our town works.”
“Perhaps the priest who takes over this chapel will be willing to hold certain things in the cellar for town use or for those who are in need.”
The woman snorted. “No one here is in need. We take care of our own.”
Kiao the clasped her hand in front of the and said with all the serene sweet voice and muster the attitude of a matron that she was trying to become. “Well, if you take care of your own, then there is no need for peat in this chapel, or barrels of pickles, or drying racks full of herbs.”
The Mayor’s eyes bulged.
Soletus stopped her from saying anything with a curt nod of agreement. “The Sister has spoken. If you need help to distribute the bricks, the huntresses and I would be happy to help.”
The woman's face soured, but instead of saying more, she whipped around and huffed away.
Soletus stood tall and Kiao watched him watch the woman walk off. His composure finally broke and his gaze became cool and hard. Kiao nudged him with her elbow. He gave her a slanted look.
“Don’t,” said Kiao.
“I wasn’t going to say anything. I was just thinking staffology works wonders for idiotic men. Should do the same for women.”
“Sol,” said Kiao with warning in her voice. Though she wanted to hit the woman with the priestess staff she carried.
One of the huntress shouted from within, “Let him. I’ll tell everyone we suffered from temporary mass blindness.”
Kiao looked at the twin huntress who spoke. It was Eione. She and her sister were working together on step ladders to hang tapestries back up.
Helene nodded in agreement. “Agreed.”
Soletus strolled back inside. Kiao followed him. His longer stride took him to the center of the chapel isle and he stood there looking at the stained glass image of what was Stephern the first monk. They had never seen such detail stained glass in a chapel. The image of him was a dark haired kanu holding in his left hand and his right hand held vertically in the Kanu greeting of peace. The opposite window. It was one of Lenneth, the prophetess. She was golden hair, holding a raised staff with rays of light coming off it.
“What is it,” asked Kiao as he look from one to another.
“Noting. I curious about who made these. They look different from the other chapels we inspected,” he said and took a deep breath and walked down the aisle towards the door again. He once again took his spot being sentinel.
“Something wrong,” she asked.
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“I’m fine,” he said sharply, shifting from standing to leaning on the doorway.
Briar then left her spot and made her way to him. “That woman bothered you that much.”
“No,” he answered. “It’s not that. It’s just this town.”
“Being here has been miserable,” grumbled Helene. “I would hate to live here.”
Kiao felt the same. She like the thought of communal towns. They shared everything. Food was grown and gathered for the town. Of course, each home owner had a spot for a personal garden. Resources were rationed and shared. Even the homes were clustered together in a single location were protection from drass beast could be easily managed. They even a had a militia, some of them were Brotherhood trained and could deal with drass beast. And the wonderful set-up all protected by a wall and field outside of it used for cultivate food. It was all very quaint and impressive, with the self-sufficiency in mind. However, the town was insular and inclusive. She felt sorry for the priest who would be sent there. They needed all the prays and blessings to deal with such people.
“We should leave. After you get done,” said Soletus.
“For home,” asked on Xylia, the youngest of all the huntresses. She was eager to return home.
Kiao shook her head. “We need to stop back by Rook Roast, and then this exhausting trip will be over.”
“Didn’t you enjoy the seeing the country side, Xylia,” asked Laurel with a wry smile. She was Briar’s “second” if the huntress could have a second like the wardens. She was a tall young woman. The oldest of them all, as she was in her late forties. She came to town looking for a new life and, being a neth woman, she attached herself to Briar’s side.
“I did, at first,” said Xylia going back wiping off the bench she was cleaning. “I thought this would involve less cleaning.”
Kiao imagined herself doing what Brother Jaron suggested. Leave the monetary for a bit. She thought she would go out and make a difference, make herself known, learn all she could to become the matron at some point in the future. Being assigned a town as a healer, perhaps even a teacher, was ideal for that. Maybe move around between a couple of towns and villiages. Instead, she was acting as inspector, traveling from one abandoned chapel to the next to get them ready for their assigned priest.
There were eight spread across the province. Most of them were in good condition as towns and villages took care of the chapels. Though one had a traveling Fenndish priest taking up residence with him and his family taught. The town was ready to battle them if they removed him, however, Kiao saw no reason to have them remove. They were actively making the world a better place with an orphanage. Kiao wrote her report and sent it off as the place being occupied by divine placement. That was their shortest stay. The longest was a three month stop in a large town where a tree fell on the chapel roof. There was a large hole that allowed rain and animals inside the chapel. She had to message back for a repair. They did what they could and cleaned debris out and saw through the roof repair and most of everything else because they had to wait for the order. By the time she left, the new priest had taken up residence. Other town and villages weren’t bad. Just the usual friend in town, happy to see a chanter and wanting healing.
And then they got to the present town of Meadow Grove. Their last stop and the one that spoiled the entire trip.
There was no excitement or interest in seeing them. No question from bright eyed elf children who never meet a chanter priestess. They were all dragged away into their homes, hidden or shooed out or sight or to be quiet. None of the residents had questions or wanted simple healing or a check-up. No boys were impressed by Soletus and talk about the order, hear news, and trade stories. In fact, the entire town acted like they were trespassing.
She didn’t know if it was the fact she didn’t have what one would think of a typical Dias Brotherhood escort and they didn’t want to accept her. But no other town had a problem with the huntress and the single monk with her. Yet they did. At first they didn’t think she was part of the order and that Soletus the one in charge. They became colder towards her when they learned she wasn’t his wife, they weren’t even related, and she was in charge. Brother Jaron warned her there would be people who would fault find. It annoyed her that people were that judgmental and full of assumptions towards a priestess and a monk of all things. Kiao wish she could have been assigned a chapel herself even more.
The Arch Priest didn’t like that idea. A year was about as much as he was willing to spare her. The order needed her as a healer and thought she would perfect to show the change in leadership among the priest. But as open to change as Rastor claimed to be, she was still the only priestess in the order.
Soletus then announced abruptly from over his shoulder. “We should leave today. There isn’t anything else we can do. One can only clean but so much.”
There were still things they could do to the chapel. Like finish the fence separating the chapel and the goats someone grazed behind the chapel. In fact, he should have been doing that, but he stopped early in the morning claimed it was too warm. No one could blame him for wanting to rest.
He had done a lot of heavy lifting throughout the entire trip.
“It’s a little late to be heading out on the road,” said Briar.
“There still time to get a mile or three down the road. Besides, I don’t want to be here any longer, do you?”
“We don’t,” replied the twins at the same time.
Kiao didn’t want to run from town. Well, she did, but she didn’t want that to be the reason they left. “Any reason why we need to leave now.”
He looked out the door again. “I feel antsy. My gut been funny all day. I want to leave.”
That gave Kiao pause. “Is this premonition gut feeling or uncomfortable and done with this place?”
“Both,” he said, and his tone was serious. “I’m that unsettled right now.”
That was all she needed to hear. She trusted her friend’s instincts and learned to trust them more since traveling with him. “Alright. Let’s go to the cart and horses.”
They all finished up the last bit of their work and stepped out of the cool building and into the oppressive, humid air. It caused Kiao staggered back inside for an instance. Soletus led the way and plowed though it. It was so warm he wore only his shirt and trousers. He left his brown warden jerkin at camp. It wasn’t enough as he pulled at the lacing of his shirt. Helene, Eione, and Xylia stared at his chest as a warm breeze whipped around them. Laurel and Briar weren’t too busy hurrying towards the road. Kiao worked on closing the door and latching it shut. Soletus walked down the path to the main lane through town and paused suddenly. He looked up at the sky and frowned. Wispy clouds started to cover the sky.
“What,” she asked.
He faced the direction of the wind. “I think it’s going to storm in a few hours.”
She wouldn’t be surprised if it did. The air felt like she should be swimming than walking. As they passed by the town’s storage, the men working glared at them as they were loading peat bricks on a cart. The Mayor was no where to be seen, but other saw them leaving. They only stared. One of the friendlier folks, a woman named Eva, gave them a little wave from the doorway of her home as she was hidden from the sight of the others. Once outside of the threshold of the town, the tension of walking through town lifted and everyone acted more freely. The huntresses talked with each other, laughing. Soletus didn’t relax. He was wasn’t exactly hurrying, but he was leading them away determined.
Their camp was a quarter of a mile down the road. There was no inn in the town. There was no one willing to let them sleep in their houses or even a barn. Instead, they had to settle with sleeping on the side of the road with their cart. It was a merchant cart converted into a small space for Kiao to sleep and keep her healing supplies if she needed to treat anyone. Her things were already packed. The huntresses left camp as if they were going to return with the tarp still extended and tied to the posts. Soletus’s bedroll under the cart was neatly folded, as if he were to be ready to go at any time. He helped them get everything ready, and they were off. Another warm breeze cut through the trees again. This time, the wind stirred the trees more violently and kick up dirt on the road.
“So where are we going,” asked Laurel getting on her horse.
“Not that far down the road. About two miles I remember a grove of trees off the road. It’ll provide good cover for tonight,” answered Soletus, mounting his own horse.
Kiao opted to drive her cart rather than ride in it. Briar settled beside her as she was the one usually driving it, but let her have the reins. They were only able a half a mile away from town when the wind started to gust up, sending dust racing down the road. Kiao thought it was nothing until the gusting was joined by a rumble of ominous thunder. Then all at once, it got dim. It was like the sun went out. She looked ahead and saw filtered sunlight in the distance being pushed away by darkness.
Soletus, twisted around in his saddle. Kiao followed his gaze, going behind them. He spun his horse all the way around. “Hold. Look behind us.”
Kiao leaned over the side of the cart and saw the horizon. It was dark as night behind them.
“Looks like a nasty storm heading this way,” remarked Briar as a bolt of lightning struck something in the distance from the low blanket of clouds.
Kiao then noted that there was something odd about a section of it. It was lower than the rest and was soot colored. It was almost like it was touching the ground. She thought it was rain shaft, but rain shafts didn’t look smooth like it did. Soletus reached into his saddle bag and pulled out his spy glass. Thunder rumbled again. This time, it sounded closer. She waited for his assessment and he answered her by all the blood draining from his face.
“We need to find cover, now! That’s a whirlwind, and it’s heading this way.”