by L. M. Roth
“But that may have been a mistake, and may lead to our undoing. For some have found our land, which had been forbidden to others, and they have come to lead our people astray, and to teach them things that Dominio would not like. Our people have always led simple lives, and worshiped Dominio alone, and only Jytte before Him.
“But some have come preaching other gods, and I fear that some have forsaken the way of Dominio, and followed others that are false. And our simple ways have been changed. Our women now lust for fine cloths of linen and silk that the traders bring, and pay more than their husbands can spare, when before they were content with flax and homespun. And even worse, our young people have discovered spirits that intoxicate them, they who used to drink nothing but pure spring water.”
Gunnar shook his head and he looked at the floor with a mournful gaze. Without raising his eyes he pronounced to Cort a summation that his friend would find of good counsel.
“No, my friend, I fear that changing our policy from isolation to let the outside world enter was a mistake. For only when we were cut off from the outside world did we remain pure in our faith and our hearts. Now we have fallen into temptation, and I do not know what our end shall be.”
Chapter XVII
Training Young Warriors
After Cort left for Valerium, Kyrene was left behind to stand guard in Leith. She deemed that both Dirk and Maelys were far too young to stand up to the evil that now simmered beneath the surface in general, and she did not like the feeling of an unnamed threat that seemed to stalk the Adalbart family in particular. She did her best to help Maelys and Nolwenn with the housework, but when she had a spare moment she decided to put her time to a use that might better fit the family whose safety she felt was at risk.
And that was when she started training Dirk, Maelys, and Lucius how to be spiritual warriors. She omitted Nolwenn, sensing a duplicity as well as rebellion in the young girl. Not only was she angry with Dominio and sought to escape His presence at every opportunity, but she was fully capable of running to Melisande or any other women of the village who sought to bring back the old ways and betray the training that Kyrene would give the others. As loyalty was an inviolable requirement in any military troop, she could not afford to permit the flighty girl access to any of their confidential information.
She took them deep into the woods behind the village, even to the places where the Eirini were warned not to go. At first, Maelys had been nervous, and glanced around her as if expecting to see some unspeakable horror pop out at her. But Kyrene merely laughed off her fear.
“You must be strong and courageous,” she told the young woman. “For greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world. Remember that: you have received of the Spirit of Dominio, and there is no power that can stand against Him. But you must be pure of heart, or you will not be able to stand before your foe. I do not say that he will defeat you; he may, or he may not. But your own heart will quake in fear and you shall run and not stand your ground. Do you believe this?”
Kyrene peered deeply into Maelys’ eyes: her blue eyes grew large and she turned pale, but at last she nodded her head slowly as comprehension came to her.
“Yes,” she said, “I do.”
“Good! All of you remember this: your heart must be pure before you engage in battle, so examine it daily. Be sure you have nothing against anyone, even those who have wronged you. Forgive them and release all anger and desire for revenge to Dominio. He will repay should the need arise; if not He will love them into the Kingdom.
“And never forget that it is the Astra who are behind their enmity with you, as they inspire them to hate you, wrong you, and cheat you at every turn. But Dominio has already judged the Astra, and they are diminished in their power. The power you wield is far greater than theirs against you, for their power is dependent on the lies they can make man believe, but you have the truth and the truth shall set men free.”
Kyrene studied Dirk and Lucius; it was clear that they grasped her words. Even Lucius, who was not very spiritual, had at last understood the dire need of being spiritually prepared for the battle that Kyrene sensed was coming on the Eirini, and quite soon. She returned to her lesson.
“The Tuadan, as your people call them, are nothing more than the Astra whom Dominio banished to earth. Even in your own legends their power is diminished as they dwell in the hills that men trod underfoot, and in the trees that men chop down. It is true that you can not fight them in your own strength, but it is the Spirit in you that will give you the victory if battle is engaged.
“Remember to examine yourself; be sure you are in right relationship with Dominio Himself. Worship Him only, and leave no room for idols in your heart. Be at peace with all men, and let there be no occasion for sin. Trust in the Word of Dominio, and hide it in your heart so that you do not sin. Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Do not return evil for evil. Be kind and forgive, praying for those who war against you, for remember it is not flesh and blood that is your true enemy. They are only inspired to hate you by the Astra, who are your true enemy.
“And let me share with you what my mentor taught my friends and me: you will never defeat the kingdom of darkness unless you conquer the chambers of your own heart.”
Having said this to them, Kyrene warned them of the need to put these principles into practice if they wanted to ensure victory. Maelys looked at her mentor and groaned inwardly, knowing that Kyrene heard what was not audible.
Melisande; she had to make peace with Melisande before she could make war on the Astra.
It was not easy, for Melisande truly did hate Maelys as much as she returned the feeling. But if she wanted to be right with Dominio, she must be right in her relationships, even with those people whom she did not like.
With that charge on her, she decided to visit her sister-in-law one evening with the excuse of calling on her small niece, whom she rarely saw.
Gwenaelle was now more than a year old, and walking with a slight wobble that frequently caused her to fall, something that was of great concern for Melisande, who worried if something was wrong with the child. When Maelys had knocked on the door of the hut, her sister-in-law’s face shut down when she saw the identity of her visitor as surely as if it had been a shop door that displays a closed sign to discourage unwanted shoppers. Maelys ignored it and pasted a bright smile on her face, turning her attention instead to her little niece, who crowed at the sight of her.
“Maalee,” the child cried in delight as she stumbled her way over to her aunt. “Maalee come, Maalee come!”
Maelys scooped her up in her arms and kissed her tiny cheek. Gwenaelle reached a small hand up to her copper curls and pulled on them curiously. Maelys laughed and seated herself with the child on her lap.
“How fast she is growing!” she exclaimed. “I can not believe it. Why she is no longer a baby and will soon be chattering away.”
“Well, if you paid more attention to her you would have noticed before how fast she is growing,” Melisande snapped at her.
She closed her mouth and tossed back her head, choosing to ignore Maelys and not encourage her to stay.
Maelys swallowed her anger and remembered the words of Kyrene.
“I am sorry for that, Melisande. You see, I have not only been worried about Father and absorbed in the housework while Mother is gone, it is hard at times to be around Gwenaelle, for she reminds me so of dear Brenus.”
And unbidden a tear came to Maelys’ eye and coursed down her cheek. Noting it, Melisande started and flinched before addressing her.
“Yes, she does look like her father, doesn’t she?” she murmured with a note of sadness in her voice. “Judoc has mentioned that she is almost the image of him as a baby. How cruel is fate that he can not be here to see her.”
The look that Melisande cast on her small daughter was so sorrowful that it startled Maelys, who had never believed that her sister-in-law had truly loved Brenus. Was it possible that she had? Sh
e remembered her high-spirited brother, so quick to laugh and lose his temper, yet the merriest soul in the world. How could his own wife not love him? Were it not for the trouble she had stirred up with Cort, she would believe that Melisande had truly cared for her husband.
“Yes,” she agreed. “It is a cruel fate.”
An awkward silence fell between them, one that showed no signs of lifting, as neither was inclined to break it. They sat for some time with Maelys rocking the child and Melisande looking on, and neither of them said a word. At last after about fifteen minutes had passed, Maelys rose and handed her niece back to Melisande.
“Well, I must go back and finish cleaning. I should like to stop again soon if that is alright with you.”
Melisande stared at her in bewilderment, but nodded her head slowly.
“I suppose that would be alright.”
Now as they trekked through the woods, Kyrene cautioned them to be alert for any impressions they received from the Spirit of Dominio.
“You may feel a physical sensation, perhaps a sudden fear, or a chill, maybe a tingling along your spine or an arm. That is what happens when you sense the presence of evil. Do not let it frighten or alarm you. Or you may have an impression of a shadow or something that flits just out of your vision, perhaps something glimpsed out of the corner of your eye. That also is not unusual. A vision may appear if the evil spirit chooses to take a form to frighten you. Do not cower, but stand strong, for always they try to intimidate so that you will run in fear.”
Dirk raised a hand to ask a question, just as if, Kyrene thought with amusement, he was one of her pupils back in Solone.
“Beg your pardon, but what if we do not see anything? Some have said that they hear something but never see anything? What does that mean?”
Kyrene shrugged her shoulders.
“It means that they know that what is not seen is more frightening than what is seen, because it is more terrifying to imagine all kinds of horrors. If they choose not to be seen, then you will know you have encountered a demonic force that desires to frighten you, and that can happen only if you permit it.”
She regarded Dirk with a measuring look that bored deeply into his soul.
This one will be powerful, she thought. I pity the demon who tries to lock horns with him!
But aloud she only said, “Does that answer your question, Dirk?”
He nodded his head briskly.
“Yes, ma’am, it does.”
Chapter XVIII
The Amulet
The passage of time had hardened Nolwenn, but not matured her. She persisted in defending Melisande against all criticism, and enjoyed goading Maelys on every possible occasion.
“Oh, Maelys,” she said one evening when they had all assembled for the evening meal. “Tomos was searching for you a little while ago, wanting to know if he could walk with you this evening. I told him I didn’t think you would say no, so he will be expecting you right after we eat.”
Maelys blushed and turned a withering look on her younger sister, who glanced down at her plate with an assumed expression of demure innocence that gave Maelys the desire to slap her.
“I am old enough to speak for myself, Nolwenn,” she huffed. “You can just keep the appointment with Tomos for me, since you think you are at liberty to speak on my behalf. Tell him it was you who desired to walk with him, and not your sister, who finds him the biggest bore in the village.”
“Ow!” Nolwenn exclaimed. “That is rude, Maelys, to say such a thing to someone. And it is clear that Tomos thinks the sun rises and sets in you. I do not understand why you persist in being so cold to him. After all, what are your choices? Do you think you could do better? The village is rather small, or haven’t you noticed?”
Maelys openly glared at Nolwenn and restrained the urge to smack her for impertinence. Nolwenn knew that had Judoc been present she would not have been allowed to speak of such things before their guests, Kyrene and Lucius. And Maelys noticed suddenly that Lucius was growing red and uncomfortable. Kyrene also appeared to notice, and without warning, she impishly turned the tables on Nolwenn.
“Oh, but that is not quite true, is it? That Maelys lacks choices, I mean. I have noticed that Annick is still a pool that the young ladies of Leith may fish from, so the village youths are not her only resource. Indeed, isn’t there a young man in Annick whose mother wishes to make a match between you and her son, Nolwenn? Now, let me see, what is his name? Oh, I can not think…but it will come to me, I am sure!”
“It is Pierrick,” Dirk helpfully announced as his dark eyes glinted in mischief.
“That is it! Pierrick!” Kyrene chimed in with glee. “Thank you, Dirk. Yes, it is Pierrick. And how does that courtship go, Nolwenn? May we expect an announcement soon?”
Maelys burst out laughing but quickly covered her mouth with her napkin. She knew how Nolwenn hated to be teased, but the combined playfulness of Kyrene and Dirk had hit the mark. From now on Nolwenn would be more careful in baiting her sister, as she also had a suitor whom she ardently wished to avoid.
Nolwenn bestowed a sour grimace upon one and all and rose from the table.
“I think I need some fresh air,” she sniffed, and stomped from the kitchen.
“Perhaps it will clear your brain, Nolwenn,” Dirk shot at her before she was out of earshot.
He was annoyed at the taunts she had thrust at Maelys, and knew the motive behind it. Lately Maelys had made genuine overtures of friendliness toward Melisande, who seemed both surprised and pleased by her changed behavior, and Nolwenn didn’t like it. She enjoyed her status as their sister-in-law’s special friend, and the last thing she wanted was a rival for attention. If there was another motive for her taunts, Dirk sincerely hoped his sister was mistaken, as his glance fell on Lucius, whose face had resumed its normal hue once the tables had been turned on Nolwenn.
Hope that dies out pretty soon, he thought as his keen gaze traveled from Lucius to his sister.
Nolwenn burst out of the hut and walked down to the spring where she drew water in the mornings. She inhaled a deep breath and released it slowly. The spring peepers were softly chanting and the last rays of the setting sun bathed the land with an orange glow, turning the bark of the trees from gray to a pale apricot. She fought down the anger within her, it being of no use now that she lacked an audience, but her ire still burned in her heart, and she found no peace in the pastoral twilight.
She knew, she just knew, that something was brewing between Maelys and Lucius. And she had Lucius designated for Melisande, only he appeared blind to her charms, having eyes only for her sister, who was completely blind to his attentions. Or pretended to be.
So distraught was she that forgot her usual caution and withdrew her pendant from the bodice of her gown, that she might consult the amulet. She did not step into the trees, but stood right by the spring, and so intent was she on gazing into the smoky depths of the crystal that she was taken by surprise by her brother Dirk.
“And just what is that? Another of your sorceries, sister? Tell me or I will give you a beating as I did once before.”
And before she could fathom his intentions Dirk had seized the pendant and held up the amulet to the fading sunlight. Panic enraged her and Nolwenn struck out at him, but her fists only glanced off of him and were ineffective.
“Give me that! Give it to me, I tell you! No one is allowed to hold that but me!”
“Is that so?” Dirk huffed at her. “Well, let me see what we have here. Ah, a crystal! An amulet of some sort, is it? For I see visions forming in its depths right now! Where did you get this, Nolwenn? Answer me and do not lie!”
Nolwenn flew at him, vainly struggling to recover the amulet from his grasp. But Dirk was not only stronger than she, he was also amazingly quick on his feet and he evaded her clutch.
“Did Yuna give this to you? Is that where you got it, from the old wise woman? For she would know of sorcery I dare say!”
“No, it was given
to me by Melisande,” Nolwenn blurted out before she could stop the words.
In horror at what she had done, she clasped her hands over her mouth as if to recall the words. Dirk pounced on them.
“Oh, she did, did she? Well, I can deal with this, and then I will deal with her!”
Suddenly Dirk threw the amulet to the ground and he trod on the crystal. It cracked under his weight and he ground it down, stomping on it, and he picked up a heavy rock and smashed the amulet until it lay in crystal splinters beneath his feet.
Nolwenn let out a shriek of horror, and then suddenly whimpered as softly as a child. She threw herself on the ground and lay there silently. So long did she lie there that Dirk grew worried. He wondered if this was some trick on her part, but his anxiety increased and he stooped down to his sister.
“Nolwenn? Are you alright?”
He put a hand on her shoulder gently, and turned her over to face him. She frowned at him with a bewildered air, and appeared puzzled. She looked at the fragments of the amulet, and picked them up and stared at them where they lay in her hand. Then she turned her hand over and let them fall to the ground. Still she looked at Dirk as if mystified at how she came to be where she was.
She allowed him to pull her to her feet, and she glanced up at him, all traces of anger wiped clean from her face.
“Dirk?” she peered at him with the old expression of innocence that had always been the hallmark of her countenance.
“Yes, Nolwenn?”
She stared at the shards of the amulet that lay scattered on the ground.
“We need to bury this amulet at once,” she told him. “For I believe that it is altogether evil.”
Chapter XIX
A Small Joy
What amazed Marcus was how quickly little Valerius Gerontius came to dominate the two families. It was not for nothing, he thought, that the baby had been named after two powerful men. He hoped it would not prove a curse to one so small.
