Sarah left them to complete her deliveries for her parent’s laundry before she headed home to their farm. True to Gideon’s word, Ethan and Levi got to enjoy the steaming, hot baths at Mr. Oggle’s Willow Tree Inn. The attendants saw to washing road dust from their clothes while they simply relaxed their weary, aching muscles.
The local magistrate took Virgil, the bodyguard, into custody. The healer, Mr. Lesh, accompanied the prisoner to the stockade, mumbling as he tried to figure out how he could properly wrap the man’s jaw closed so he would still be able to eat. Blane cleaned the mess in the dining room, and business quickly resumed its normal pace at the Willow Tree Inn.
Once they had cleaned up, nearly two hours later, Gideon led Ethan and Levi to the outskirts of the small town to a solitary dirt road, bringing them to the farm of Arness and his family. The family had done well for themselves in Millertown, and their homestead reflected it.
Arness also worked in the cattle business. Ethan saw many heifers grazing within the fenced boundaries of Arness’ farm. In other places, he noticed sheep. The house was one of the few two story homes he saw in Millertown. He found it charming, white with glass windows framed by black sills and shutters-currently open.
The windows were open as well, two small doors which pulled inward opposite of the shutter’s movement. Ethan saw Arness’ wife walking back and forth in the house through the windows, trying to prepare the meal for their arrival. Arness met them outside the house and took their horses. He walked the horses to the barn while waving the men to the house. “Go on inside. We’ll eat shortly.”
Ethan and Levi followed Gideon through the door where Sarah, the daughter of Arness, greeted them again. “Hello, Gideon…I mean, Master Gideon, sir.”
Ethan noticed, again, the informal breech of etiquette. She had done the same thing at the Willow Tree. A mistake? He wondered. To address a warrior-priest of Shaddai so informally seemed odd to Ethan, at least for the young daughter of a friend. How well does Gideon know this family, he wondered.
Arness’ wife, Bella, instructed them from the kitchen. “Won’t you sit, gentlemen?” she said. “I’ll have dinner finished in a moment.”
“Thank you,” they said, taking the wooden chairs provided for them. A fire burned in the hearth. It felt nice with the air taking on a slight chill as the evening descended. As they rose in elevation on their approach to the Thornhill Mountains, Ethan had noticed the weather changing quite a bit. The colder air was something uncommon where he was from.
Arness came through the door, just then, all smiles. “Now we can catch up, Master Gideon. Tell me more about your new friends.”
Ethan looked at Gideon, unsure of what he would tell the man. Was he someone to be trusted with the secret of his identity in the prophecy?
“This young man is Ethan. He will be training with The Order.”
“Ah, I see. So you have given your life to the service of the Almighty? Very noble of you, young man, very noble indeed,” Arness said. “I’m sure Gideon has told you how serious a commitment that is.”
“I can honestly say, I was meant to serve Shaddai with my life,” Ethan said confidently.
Arness laughed. “Good man. I trust you’ll be blessed in your pursuits there at the Temple. I’ve only ever met one of the warrior-priests who reside in Temple within the Thornhills, and that’s Gideon. He brought us the written Word of Shaddai when all seemed lost. Lawlessness had rooted in Millertown during the days following Mordred’s takeover of Nod. But the Word restored our lives. We became free to pursue righteousness again.”
“Was it that simple?” Levi asked. “You just received the Word, and that was it?”
“Well, not quite so simple. When Gideon brought the Word back to us, there were already those in Millertown who staunchly opposed it. Mordred allowed many of his heathen allies to take up governorships in the towns and villages in Nod, including Millertown. But in the end, they were no match for Gideon.” Arness placed a hand on Gideon’s shoulder. “We owe him a great debt for what he has done for this town.”
“All of the glory is Shaddai’s, Arness,” Gideon said. “But I do appreciate your encouragement, as always.”
“And what of you, Captain?” Arness asked. “Were you with the military?”
“Well, yes and no. My background is not as admirable as Gideon’s. I was involved in thievery and wickedness as a pirate for many years. I became quite wealthy in fact, but it was a hollow existence. I did not have Shaddai in my life during my younger days. I regret it now. I actually became complacent, to a certain extent, which led to my capture by King Stephen’s men while indulging myself at a port city in Wayland. It was the king himself who led me to place my faith in Shaddai.”
Ethan and Gideon were all ears. They had never heard this story from Levi before. Perhaps this explained why Levi had been so reluctant to believe King Stephen had lost his faith. “Instead of hanging me as a pirate, King Stephen pardoned me of my crimes, adding my ship to his royal navy against Mordred. I was on a mission from the king when I came into the company of these two fine men.”
“Supper’s ready, gentlemen!”
“Ah, finally,” Arness said. “Now you men must have your fill of my wife’s fine cooking. You’ll not eat like this when you get to the Thornhills.”
“That’s for sure,” Gideon added. “I’ve been looking forward to this all day.”
They sat around a table large enough to accommodate them and enjoyed a very nice meal before accepting rooms from their host and retiring for the night. They needed a good night’s rest before heading into the Thornhill Mountains tomorrow.
Arness gave each of the men their own room in the house. Gideon resided on the first floor while Ethan and Levi stayed on the second floor. Levi and Ethan found the accommodations very comfortable. So much that they dreaded the journey into the mountains come morning. However, several hours after everyone lay sound asleep, Gideon’s bed had not been disturbed.
Gideon silently left the house through the window, having locked his bedroom door. He crept down across the grassy hill which backed up the property. Eventually, a small house came into view. A single candle burned in the window of the home-just the sign Gideon had hoped to see. Gideon ran down the long slope and joined the dirt road leading up to the home.
For its size, the home was elegantly built. Obviously no expense had been spared. Gideon removed a key from his robe and fit it to the lock on the front door. It matched perfectly.
Gideon opened the door to find the candle in the main room the only light. He closed the door behind him. There was a quick play of shadow across the wall. Arms wrapped around Gideon’s neck. Sarah, the daughter of Arness, hugged him tightly, kissing him eagerly. “Oh, I’ve missed you so much, my love!”
Gideon returned her affection, lifting her off the ground, swinging her around the room. “I told you I would do my best to get back before the first snow,” he laughed. She interrupted him with more kisses.
“I’ve made your favorite,” Sarah said, giggling as they held one another. The aroma of sweet bread with cinnamon hung heavy in the air. “I wish you didn’t have to leave so soon.”
“So do I, but I must see the young man with me safely to The Order.” He grabbed her by the shoulders. “Sarah, I’ve found the Lord’s Deliverer.”
“The boy?”
“Yes. He has power like nothing I’ve ever encountered.”
“I’m glad, my love, but must you be the one to train him? Can you not come back to me once he is delivered to the High Priest?”
Gideon let go of her. She showed her usual disappointment. He did not blame her. “I must do what is necessary. He is the hope of our land, the only hope given by Shaddai’s prophecy for defeating Mordred and his demons.”
“I understand, Gideon. You have a commitment to The Order, but have you forgotten your commitment to me, your wife?”
The question stung his heart. “I have not forgotten.”
“I long for my husband, Gideon. I long to bring our marriage out of the shadows as you promised we would.”
“I know, and I intend to, but so much is in progress with the war going badly and finding Ethan now-our hope for freedom. I cannot jeopardize my place in The Order just yet, and you know they would never accept our marriage.”
“I only know that I miss you,” Sarah said. All the joy of seeing him again had melted away with the knowledge she would lose him again tomorrow.
Gideon held her. “Soon, my love. I beg you, please be patient with me. I must finish this work of training the Deliverer. When he is capable of standing on his own, then I will be ready to leave The Order as I promised.”
Sarah smiled. She couldn’t stay mad at him. The aroma of sweet bread lured them into the kitchen. Sarah led her husband by the hand, smiling. Gideon paused just long enough to blow out the candle.