[Mkguild] Misha and Caroline's Wedding The Real part 2

[cokane8116 at aol.com]

Sorry about last nights posting. THAT was part 1. This is part 2

Chapter5: Goffs Oak

 

At thecenter of the town stood the oak and under it sat a beautiful barefoot womanclothed in green. She seemed almost elvish and looked out with deep interest atthe humans going about their business in the small town.

 

“Goodday, Dryope, I hope you are well-pleased?” The people of the town were alwayscareful to treat Dryope with respect: she was a high nymph and had helped themthrough many trials. Her happiness was vital to the small community.

 

Shegiggled. “I could not be better pleased were I a cat in the sunlight on softvelvet with cream to drink, Mayor Tom. It seems to me that I sometimes could dobetter for you.”

 

“I shouldhope none have come asking you favors!”

 

“Indeedthey have not. Your community does well, and it pleases me to see it prosperso. Yet I have power that I may use. Is that not right and proper for afollower of Yeshua?”

 

Tomsimply bowed and wished her a good day before heading off. She smiled andthought on the oddity of it. As a nymph, she was one of the myriad descendantsof Artela, yet she had been raised by followers of Yeshua. Her biologicalmother had perished in the terrible Burning that had destroyed much of Marigunda hundred years ago but had given the head of the Geoff family one of herseeds. When the head of the Geoff family had planted it here, she awoke andlearned.

 

All thecommunity around her were Latharians, and they had taught her all they knew.They had fled the Burning, carrying what they could on their backs and carriedin their hearts their faith. It seemed nowhere they went would welcome themuntil they finally came to Metamor Valley and made themselves a home.

 

TheValley itself was rich in magic, which changed her from a simple nymph to ahigh nymph. Yet she believed what the devoted people around her believed. Shekept herself close to the tree she was birthed from, but her power was moretied to the land around Goffs Oak rather than the tree itself.

 

Still,there was room near her tree, plenty of room for a church. She thought it mightlook pretty by one. But there were no Latharian priests to be had, so hercommunity would traverse by wagon and foot every Sunday to the church in Euper,some two leagues hence. She went with them invisibly to protect them, and thenback again. She also liked Father Hough a lot, but kept hoping that, one day,her community would get a priest of its own.

 

***

 

Jamessmiled at his wife Anne as she went about the kitchen. He helped where and ashe could–no slouch in cooking, and eager to help. They were getting theirsupper ready–a mostly light fast–when the door knocked.

 

“Whocould that be at this hour?” wondered Anne.

 

“Surelyit’s some poor sojourner. We’ve got the extra place set and can add more if weneed.” James answered the door quickly. “Ah, it’s the archbishop. Come in, yourhonor, we were just about to have dinner.”

 

TheArchbishop of Marigund was a balding, sixty-some-year-old man. His face had thelines and worries that came with a person who took his calling seriously–andwho was also placed in one of the most tenuous areas of the world: a place thathad suffered terrible religious persecution, the embers of which stillsmoldered.

 

“Ah,thank you Pastor James, but I cannot stay. Indeed, I have come to ask you andAnne a great favor. One which I would not ask were I not out of other options.”

 

Anne camein the room, holding a towel on one hip. “Surely your reverence is not going toleave here without even a bite?”

 

TheArchbishop gulped. He knew that tone from his own wife. “Well, perhaps a bit,but I don’t want to keep Penelope waiting too long. She worries about my safetyafter dark.”

 

James wasquite sure the Archbishop’s wife worried about his safety regardless of thetime of day, but the three sat at the table and the Archbishop said grace, andthey tucked in. Once they finished, James and Anne cleared the table and satwith the Archbishop.

 

“Now,what was it you wanted?” asked James.

 

TheArchbishop sighed and placed a gilded letter down on the table: a weddinginvitation by a member of the Brightleaf family. James let out a little ‘oh’that was almost completely breath. Anne looked at it confused.

 

“Well,the family certainly is part of our church and has been since time out ofmind,” she said. “It makes only sense they’d want you to marry him.”

 

“Ah,yes.” The Archbishop shuffled. “It’s just that Penelope is not…um…”

 

“It *is*a long journey,” said Anne, keeping her tone steady.

 

“But theBrightleafs are major contributors to the church,” said James.

 

“Ah, yes,and it would not do to insult them,” said the Archbishop. He seemed to behaving trouble sitting still, as if he were on thorns.

 

“Andthere are younger bishops who could go with no insult,” said Anne.

 

“Unlessthey specifically asked for you,” said James.

 

“Ah,well, no, they didn’t, not me specifically,” said the Archbishop.

 

“Wouldyou be needing something more comfortable for your chair, your reverence?”asked Anne.

 

“Ah, no,thank you. The seat couldn’t be more comfortable.”

 

That,James had no doubt on. “The bishops are, perhaps, busy?” He knew where this wasgoing. The look on Anne’s face told him she knew where it was going too.Neither of them was happy.

 

“So manyobligations, this time of year, and, of course, most of the pastors have flocksto tend to…” The chair would not need buffed for some time.

 

“Unlikeme, who moved here not long ago?” James asked in as neutral a tone as he couldmanage.

 

TheArchbishop seemed to take a sudden cough. “Ah, that is…I won’t force you, ofcourse…”

 

The twolooked at one another. They didn't have many material goods. They could returnif they wanted… “When should we leave?”

 

“In aweek. You’ll have the best of magical protections, of course.” With that, theArchbishop jumped from the seat, thanked them and headed out the door as ifbeing chased by an angel with a flaming sword.

 

***

 

The tripwas long. From Marigund to Wolin to Kelewair. From Kelewair to Salidon toBozojo. From Bozojo to Elarial to Giftum. From Giftum to Komley to Midtown.

 

AtMidtown they were offered accommodations along with the rest of the peoplethey’d been travelling with, but neither Anne nor James were that impresseddespite the size of the town. There was a certain coldness that never seemed tolift, and when some of the Brightleaf clan moved, they were happy to join them.

 

Laselle,two and a half leagues from Midtown, seemed little friendlier. “I wonder ifthere’s ice in the hearts of all these northerners,” said Anne.

 

“Thatseems not true, not for the most of them. But those who run the towns are menwho risk hubris. We shall not be among them long; we must head north from here,though we risk the Curse.”

 

“There’sno Curse that can be worse than a frozen heart,” said Anne firmly.

 

They wereglad to hear special accommodations had been made for them in Metamor Keep.They would not be there long enough to get Cursed unless they chose to stay. Itwas in Metamor Keep they met Father Hough.

 

“I mustadmit, this is a bit different,” said James as he looked at the child priest.Anne was showing remarkable restraint by not simply picking him up and hugginghim!

 

“I havecertainly found it so,” Hough said with a smile. “Though there are priests whoare larger here, it seems many of us are a bit more diminutive. Perhaps areminder by Eli for humility.”

 

“It couldbe so. I wanted to go over things with you; the Brightleaf family has long beenLatharians, but our local archbishop, bishops, and, uh…”

 

“Everyonebut you and your dear wife?”

 

“Yes, soit seems, was occupied. But I am fully ordained and my own family has someconnections with the Brightleafs. I am suitable, but this is your perish.”

 

“Abeginning of it, perhaps,” Hough smiled. “We shall see. Have you thought if youwould be staying?”

 

“Would wehave a place?” asked Anne. She had been awed by the sheer diversity to be foundat Metamor Keep, but she didn’t want a place they’d be unwelcomed. She only toowell recalled the stories of the Burning.

 

“I thinkso. There’s a small town west of here called Goffs Oak and the people there areLatharians as well–one of the few Reformer groups I know of up here. They cometo me for services, such as I may grant, but they really need their ownspiritual leaders…”

 

“What’sGoffs Oak like?”

 

“Muchlike any quaint town, though it has a magnificent oak tree on a large plot ofland that would be perfect for a church. There’s also a nymph there namedDryope.”

 

“She’snot demanding worship, is she?” James asked, his expression going dark. He’dheard too many tales of nymphs to trust one off hand.

 

“No,she’s very friendly and half Larthian. They raised her, you see, and sheadopted some of their beliefs. How it applies to someone like her is beyond me.But I’ve met her and she respects me. Even better, Madog likes her. You cangenerally trust Madog when it comes to someone’s character.”

 

“Andwho’s Madog?” asked Anne.

 

“Stayhere long enough and you’ll meet him.” Hough said with a childish look ofmischief. “It’s impossible to miss him, unless he desires, since he’s anautomata fox.”

Chapter 6: To Metamor We Go 

 

            Thesun was just peaking over the horizon heralding the dawn of a new day. Thecourtyard of their small castle was already busy. The few servants were awakeand starting their daily tasks.

            

            Sittingin the center of the small courtyard was a large wooden carriage. It was a finething of fine-grained wood, polished and decorated. Gilt decorations wereeverywhere. The interior had seats that were comfortably padded.

 

            “Thisis beautiful,” she said excitedly. “Where did you get it?”

            

            Hesmiled and turned red faced. “I rented it from the Guild for a month.”

 

            Sheslowly walked around the coach examining it from all sides.

 

            “Whatdo you think of our new vehicle?” he said cheerfully.

 

            “It’swonderful!” She exclaimed. “We can travel in comfort.”

 

            Theirluggage was safely stowed away and they both took seats. Inside there was atrio of nice seats and a dashboard at the front. On that were a half dozenbuttons and levers.

 

            Hepressed three buttons and a low hum filled the air. The couch slowly liftedclear of the pavement,

 

            “Andaway we go!” He said cheerfully. With that their transport slowly lifted clearof the pavement. The ground dropped away quickly and soon they were movingabove the clouds.

 

****

 

            Itwas bright and sunny at first with the sun shining down. The clouds rolled inand soon the carriage was surrounded by gray black clouds. The scenery waslost. A light rain started to fall.

 

 

            Fredtouched the controls and the carriage quickly ascended and soon broke out ofthe clouds and back into the sunshine.

 

            Itwas several hours later when Amelia peered out the window and down at theclouds still roiling below them. “Ah Dear,” she asked. “Where are we?”

 

            “Stillon course to Metamor Keep.” Fred responded confidently.

 

            “Howcan you be so confident?” She asked.

 

            Hepointed to the console in front of him. “I’m following the compass.”

 

            “That’sgood,” she said slowly. “But where exactly are we?”

 

            Theconfident look on his face vanished. “I’m not exactly sure. I didn’t get thelocator option,” he said. “It was another thousand gold.”

 

            “Well,let's go down and see where we are,” She responded.

 

            Thecarriage slowly descended into the clouds and the view outside their windowswas obscured by the dark

 

            “Whatif we hit something?” She asked. “Like a dragon?”

 

            “Ifwe run into a dragon the least of our worries is the collision,” he respondedbut then he slowed down. “But it’s best to be careful.”

 

            Rainpattered on the windows at a steady pace while it lightly drummed on the roofover their heads. After a long time they broke out of the clouds and the worldbeneath them came into view.

 

            Belowthem was a land of low, rolling hills interspersed with groves of trees and theoccasional cluster of buildings.

 

            “Farmland,” she said slowly. “Well developed. I see crops of corn and wheat.”

 

            Shepointed to a cluster of buildings. “There is a small town. Let’s stop and lookaround.”

 

            “Why?”He countered. “We’re on course.”

 

            “Thenwhere are we?” She asked. “Exactly.”

 

            Hewas silent for a long moment. “I guess we can go down for a look.”

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