Oh… What have I done?

Why? Why did I think it was a good idea?

Sure I’m angry… Sure I want to give them what for but… these women could end up casting me out of Oxby, and then I’d have to join the temple. Perhaps this is exactly why Zeviras was telling me I had no choice but to accept my destiny…

Lou stared at the four women who were seated in the front left pew of his chapel, and barely resisted the urge to put his hands on his hips, as he felt as though he’d too closely resemble a father about to scold silly school children.

When really there were two women older than he was, and their daughters who were of marriageable age.

“Do you perhaps know why I wanted to speak with all of you?” he began.

Kylise rolled her eyes, and Lou instantly rediscovered his previous fortitude.

He’d always hated people who behaved condescendingly when they should’ve been more embarrassed over their terrible behavior.

Naomi sighed disapprovingly. “I’m sure you wish to talk about the matter that just happened with Maureen Kelly. I pity the woman, believe me, I do. It’s probably all her husband’s fault that her children are turning out to be such-”

“Enough.” Anger surged anew through Lou’s chest. “Frances Kelly is a child. She is only six years old, and she was reprimanded. Yet young women who should know better, behaved just as poorly and not a word was said!” The monk’s voice sharpened as he bore down on Naomi and Kylise.

The corner of Kylise’s lips curled as though she wanted to laugh, and Lou found himself wishing Maureen Kelly would return and drag her out by the ear.

The pretense of remaining distant yet authoritative fell away, most likely thanks to the very limited supply of patience Lou had remaining that day.

“Do you honestly not see what you did as wrong? Maureen Kelly and her family did nothing to any of you, and she could have bent your ears all the way round after the disrespect her family was shown! Maureen Kelly has always conducted herself properly from what I’ve seen, and you cast judgment and disgust at her? Can you imagine wrangling seven children day in and day out? By yourself? Cooking three meals a day? Cleaning up after them? Yet you pity Maureen Kelly? You should be in awe of her! I know I most certainly am! Then you allow your own daughters to speak and behave poorly toward a child of six years old, and none of you see-”

Kylise laughed.

She had glanced at Annie and the two young women were giggling.

Karen rounded on her daughter, utterly mortified, while Naomi Hillier merely rolled her eyes at her daughter’s antics and reached out to pat her hand to draw her back to the serious moment.

Something snapped in Lou.

A faint golden light emanated around him, though none of the four women before him noticed as they were still distracted by both Annie and Kylise’s guffaws.

“Disgusting.”

The lone word crackled with power.

By the time everyone had returned their attention to the monk, the glowing had subsided, but for some reason, even the young women were feeling an uneasiness roil in their bellies…

“Kylise Hillier and Annie Hinterland, until you apologize to Maureen and Franny Kelly, I am banning you from the chapel.”

Karen was on her feet, her face ghostly white. “I-I’m sorry, Brother Lou, Annie is just a young-”

A single look from Lou had the woman collapse back into her seat.

He stepped closer, and the women collectively struggled to breathe.

Lou fixed Karen with a look of disappointment. “Mrs. Hinterland, I have greatly enjoyed your company, your enthusiasm, and your thoughtfulness ever since having the privilege of meeting you. But I will not allow members of my congregation to bully others. Particularly two grown women against a mere child.”

“Now, see here-” Naomi Hillier began while sitting up straighter indignantly.

Lou’s head snapped round to her, his eyes narrowing.

The woman faltered before being able to finish her exclamation. “Sure our girls are a little immature, but that is why they should come here! To learn! Isn’t that what you, Brother Lou, should be doing on behalf of the temple?”

Lou rounded on the woman, a curious glint appearing in his eyes.

“Mrs. Hillier, are you suggesting that I am the one responsible for everyone’s moral education, including their punishments for any untoward behavior?”

“Well that is what a good monk should do!” Naomi bristled as her shoulders waggled triumphantly.

“Very well. Then both Annie and Kylise should help Maureen Kelly with her children for a half a day, every day, for an entire lunar cycle.”

The stunned silence that followed Lou’s sentencing did not last long.

Kylise jumped up and immediately began shrieking.

“How dare you! You think you can order me away to be someone’s maid?! My father is a war hero! Our family deserves respect and-”

“Sit down,” Lou boomed

The chapel rumbled and Kylise recoiled back into her seat.

“Either you do as I say, or I will not allow you in this chapel. If you wish to write the temple about this, go right ahead. Now, you may all go home and discuss this, and you can come to give me your responses tomorrow morning in the vestry. Good day, ladies.”

Lou turned and strode back to his vestry door, feeling perfectly satisfied, and trying not to think about the fact that he had, yet again, unlocked another ability.

He decided he would invite Benny out for a drink that night and perhaps remember that despite everything that had happened so far that day, at the very least, his sermon had gone well…

***

Lou sighed in pleasure after his first mouthful of ale. The cool drink making its way down to his belly easing every tense inch of him.

He idly thought how good it was that he had overcome his previous hesitancy to be seen in the Pumpernickel Prince.

“You know, I didn’t believe you when you said you used to drink all the time, Brother Lou, but now I’m wondering if you were telling the truth,” Benny chuckled while eyeing the monk's blissful reaction to his ale.

“Ah… Yes,” Lou mumbled vaguely while taking another mouthful.

The pub was quieter than was the norm that evening thanks to it being one of the worship day of the Gods, as often there was a hearty dinner and prayers offered in the patrons’ own homes on such days.

After supper, most men would find a beloved, vacant chair to comfortably rest their eyes, while their wives would enjoy the quiet, and the children would dutifully find another quiet activity to partake in as the evenings tradition dictated that silent reflection take place.

However, there were the occasional motivated souls who still wished to seek out a drink to close off the night. Such as Benny and Lou.

“Brother Lou, how’re you this fine evening?” Jack Macaphery called while sidling over to the monk and Benny while drying an empty tankard that was wedged under what remained of his right arm.

“Oh, I’m in spectacular spirits now!” the monk crowed back. Though there was a telling amount of forced juvenation that had Jack sharing a look with Benny, who met the gaze and lifted his eyebrows before taking a drink from his own cup.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

“Our Brother Lou did battle with the Hillier women, and Hinterland’s eldest daughter,” Benny explained while barely suppressing a smile.

Jack cringed and shook his head, while his right eye went wide.

Even the seasoned war veteran looked aghast.

“Gods, no wonder you needed a drink. I’ll keep them coming until you can’t remember your name, let alone dealing with the likes of that bunch.” Jack shuddered.

Lou took in a deep breath and allowed his shoulders to slump forward. “I appreciate it. You see… I met residents such as yourself, and couldn’t fathom what the old residents could’ve had against you all, but after meeting that group, the picture became clear… Though how Karen Hinterland is so lovely while her daughter behaves that way is a mystery to me.”

Jack and Benny shared sympathetic smiles.

“At least you haven’t had to cross paths with Marta Decker.” The bartender gave a wry laugh.

Even Benny’s angelic face dropped to a frown at the mention of the woman.

Lou leaned forward interestedly. “Who is Marta Decker?”

“The worst of all us new residents,” Jack clarified without missing a beat. “She’s the local seamstress, but Gods help you if she decides she takes exception to you. She was one of the first people to come to Oxby when the military base was established, and from what I understand, she’s the one who started the bad blood between the old and new residents.”

Lou sat up straighter. “Really? I thought it was because the old residents had an issue with Briming’s military?”

“No one was pleased with them, that’s true,” Benny jumped in. “However, Marta Decker turned wariness and anger to hate and rage.”

Lou leaned back in surprise before shaking his head and taking another drink. “If that’s the case, I’m surprised no one mentioned her to me before.”

Benny let out a dry chuckle. “Given how much you were speaking with Oliver, I agree with you. He hates her more than anyone… Save for maybe his father.”

“You spent a lot of time with Oliver Kelly?” Jack blinked in astonishment. “I’ve barely heard the man speak!”

Lou shrugged and finished his drink in a single, long draught and didn’t say anything on the enigma that was the eldest Kelly son.

“So how did things end up after you went head to head with the women folk?” Jack asked interestedly.

The monk let out a grumble spiced with a groan. “Told the young women if they wanted to be permitted back in my chapel, then they’d have to go help Maureen Kelly for a month.”

Benny sprayed his drink across the bar and the cup Jack had been drying clattered to the floor.

The two men gaped at Lou.

“Gods man… You are fearless!” Jack spluttered, though he was still in shock.

“Has Maureen agreed to that?” Benny coughed.

“I haven’t asked her yet. Selfishly? I’d love to see how those two young ladies might fare in that household. I think it would help straighten them out a lot; Franny runs a tight ship,” Lou concluded seriously while toasting his empty cup to the air on behalf of the ferocious six year old.

At this point, Benny grinned. “Ah, Franny girl… She’s known her mind since she could talk, and the Gods don’t stand a chance of changing it.”

Jack smiled but didn’t contribute to the insight.

“By the way, Benny, I was wondering if it might be possible for you to introduce me to more of the old residents now that I’ve got myself situated in the house. I’d like to try and bring more people in for the sermons.”

Benny didn’t respond right away, and he averted his gaze from Lou while Jack busied himself by picking up the cup he had previously dropped.

“Er… Brother Lou, I’m happy to introduce you, but… I have to caution you about getting optimistic about having both old and new residents in the same room,” Benny finally managed to say while casting an apologetic side smile at the monk.

Lou clasped his hands together over the bar. “Even if it is only for the sake of meeting them, I would appreciate it. If it isn’t something you are comfortable with, I might just ask one of the other Kelly children.”

Benny winced. “I’m happy to introduce you to them… We’ll just take it slowly.”

“I bet they’ll welcome him with open arms if you tell them what he is trying to make Kylise Hillier and Annie Hinterland do,” Jack prompted while grasping Lou’s empty cup and turning to one of the nearby barrels to refill it.

“It’s possible. Some might take exception on Maureen’s behalf. Though it depends how the young women respond to the punishment, and to the Kelly household.”

“I’m not sure why they would have a problem with it. I’m given to understand Maureen is a lovely woman unless properly pissed, and if anyone can unleash a demon in someone, it’s those Kylise and Annie,” Jack shuddered as he said the words before turning to the monk. “Pardon me, Brother Lou. I know I should be kind and patient to all manner of people and creatures, but those young women… I don’t like their eyes. I’ve seen kinder eyes in the men who took my arm and eye.”

Lou waved off the apology and didn’t comment.

He knew exactly what the bartender meant.

Sometimes there worse were villains in lace than in uniform.

Jack set down another drink for Lou.

“Benny, why are you in town all the time and around the new residents when– other than the Kelly’s in some capacity– I don’t see anyone else?” the monk asked suddenly.

For the second time that night, Benny had trouble swallowing his drink as he coughed hard enough to warrant a worried thump on his back from Lou.

“I… I enjoy getting to know new people,” he rasped with watering eyes before taking another drink of his ale.

Lou could tell that there was more to it than the younger man was saying, but decided not to push that envelope.

Thinking of a new topic to bring up for them all so that the conversation might turn to a more peaceful avenue, Lou was thinking of asking if Benny wanted to come over for dinner one evening, when the door of the pub slammed open.

Everyone turned to look who it could be, and Lou was surprised to find it was a one legged man leaning heavily on a battered crutch, with a day or two of black scruff on his cheeks, and eyes the color of champagne. He had been handsome in his youth, but signs of stress were found lines in his face, gray at his temples, and unkempt hair told the story of recent struggles. He hobbled over to where Benny and Lou sat.

Benny had his eyes wide open and apprehension clearly written across his face.

Lou had no idea who the man was… With his frumpy blue coat and pants, and his white shirt that had definitely seen better days, he would’ve thought that it was perhaps a former soldier that wandered the countryside…

However, this rough looking gentleman had his attention fixed on one person, and one person only as everyone silently watched his trek into the pub…

“Are you Brother Lou?” the man growled.

Lou raised an eyebrow and stood. He felt that damnable fluttering excitement underneath his skin… the rush of power that wanted to be released in a thrilling fight.

“I am. And who might you be, sir?”

“I’m Corporal Peter Hillier. I’ve got a few things to say to you about what happened today with my wife and daughter.”

Lou felt his polite expression drop and he barely resisted looking at Benny.

Apparently his troublesome day was not quite through with him.