"So, Belle," he began. "I was hoping you could speak to Gaea for me. It is a trifling matter but I have waited on it for too long already. Doubtless she knows already but well, sometimes it is best to clear the air. I'm sure you understand."
"Yes, John."
"Well, the Church of the New Order. They've grown stronger in the past couple of years. I am hearing rumours of their actions. Draoi have gone missing. Some claim they are being watched. They see eyes everywhere if all is to be believed."
"And?" Belle didn't mean to be abrupt. She had heard the same rumours and had asked Gaea about it already. Gaea had not chosen to answer. This was the very thing that had Belle worried and now the Freamhaigh was questioning what was happening. This does not bode well, she thought.
"The Tree, the senior Stoc, they are starting to press me much harder. They cannot hide from the Church what they must do on a daily basis to maintain the balance. They are watched and followed and their work suffers. They are starting to fear for their lives. The senior Stoc believe the vast majority of the draoi have been identified by these Church members. They are frightened and frightened people do stupid things."
"What would you have me do?"
"Do? Belle you are the Cill Darae. You have Gaea's ears. Surely you can plead with her to take action or to allow the draoi to do what they must."
"John! Surely you can't be serious. Gaea would never allow her powers to cause harm."
"No, no," he said raising his voice a little. "Of course not. What I mean is they need to be able to defend themselves. Hide from this threat or something similar. They have been exposed. They feel hunted. They want escape from the threat. Permission to use their powers in the preservation of life."
Belle pressed her forehead into her hand and leaned forward. She was torn. She was a Stoc and the Cill Darae. As a Stoc she understood the exasperation the draoi must be feeling. Exposed and unable to do anything other than run. It was tiring being the fearful rabbit all the time, surrounded by circling hawks. The rumours were more than rumours. Gaea had more or less confirmed the draoi were exposed, but she openly admitted she chose not to do anything about it.
Belle recalled Gaea's words: Keep the Freamhaigh happy. Feed him the wine. Soothe his mind with words and platitudes. It is not his role to resolve this. You, as my Cill Darae, do this for me. It must happen. It is the sacrifice that enables so much more.
And so Belle lied to this poor man. Time and again. She hated it. It ate at her. Afterward, Gaea would speak with her and tell her what she did was for the greater good and she believed in those words. Part of her wondered if Gaea was lying to her just as she lied to John.
Belle patted John's knee. "It's okay, John. I've told you. Gaea is aware and not concerned and neither should you be. All is as it should be. That's enough for me. Calm the draoi. Let them see your presence and determination. Your lack of fear and they will be strengthened."
John sighed and finished his wine. "Did you ever read the book written by Benjamin Erwin, Belle?"
Belle blinked. What an unexpected question. She had heard of the book but never read it. Gaea told her not to bother with it and she hadn't. "No, I haven't, why?"
"Benjamin, as well you know, was the Freamhaigh when the Great Debate occurred. He was the one who argued against the Church and Bishop Bengold. They were very good friends, I bet you didn't know that. After the Revolution, Benjamin wrote a book. In it, he wrote the two of them had agreed to let the Church win the debate. They both foresaw great tragedy if the Word won the debate. The fires of revolution were ready to be lit and that debate proved to be the spark. Benjamin wrote Gaea had directly intervened at the end and forced Bengold to say the words he said that day in the capital. Those famous words. So many died as a result. Civil war across the Realm and today we are still reeling from that. The balance has never been worse. The draoi are weary beyond belief. They use their powers without fear of being caught because they no longer care. And they have been observed. By a Sect doing great evil, hidden within the Church.
I tell you this because I believe that Gaea is setting us up for a great fall. I fear the draoi will be no more. And I don't say this lightly. I say this to you, Belle. You who are the eyes and ears of Gaea herself. I tell you but really I am talking to Gaea." John took a deep breath and looked Belle directly in the eyes. The look was pleading and anguished. "Do not do this. Do not. I beg you, please."
Belle held her hand over her beating heart trying to calm it. She held her breath as well and waited to hear from Gaea. The plea from the Freamhaigh could not go unanswered. Surely not? Earth Mother? Did you not hear?
Belle felt a tear break free from her right eye and track down past her nose and she shook her head in sorrow at the Freamhaigh. Gaea was silent.
John's chin trembled and he lowered his head and Belle watched, shocked, as his shoulders shook with the effort of crying.
Later in the evening, just before midnight, Captain William Arbor finished his climb up the backstairs of the Lord Protector's keep. He was soon to be on duty standing guard outside the main chambers. He would track all who came and went according to the schedule ledger on the small dais outside the chambers. Behind him stood four guards. Their uniforms shone and their weapons gleamed. Their duty was simple: protect the Lord Protector while he slept. All officers from the Protectors of the Realm hated this task. It was long and tedious and was rewarded with a morning of sword drill in the yard. It was an endless feeling watch: first the excruciating boredom from midnight to sunrise and then a thorough pounding from the head man-of-arms of the Lord Protector's guard. Only after the drill were they allowed to break fast and retire to their bunks. As an officer, William was required to head to the offices to complete paperwork and only then would he be allowed to seek rest. Once a week they suffered this rotation. William longed for his promotion to Major when he could, at last, be excused from this particular duty.
His wife didn't understand. Belle couldn't understand why he worked so hard so he could be promoted. He knew only then would he have enough free time to spend with his wife and child. He worked hard for them and she seemed to resent it. I need you now, she would scream. Not later! And he would try and calm her and fail every time. It was unfair, he thought. She has a god watching over her and I have nothing to offer her but my love and duty.
William emerged from the back hallway hidden behind the main wall of the Keep and knocked on the small wood plaque nailed to the stone wall he faced. His knock was a pattern and it repeated back to him before the section of wall swung soundlessly open on well-oiled hinges. He entered the small chamber and nodded once to the corporal who stood holding the secret access door open.
"Evenin', suh!" spoke the young man. William nodded to him and moved past and removed a cloak from a row of them hanging on pegs. They were ceremonial, heavy and hot and William loathed them.
"Evening, Corporal Carrigan. Coming on?" he asked even though he knew he was. William knew the watch rotation of the Guard by heart. He had drafted it. It was one of his many secondary duties.
"Suh, yes, suh."
"Very well. The others are not here yet?"
"No, suh, they're here. You are the last. We all came on a bit early tonight, suh."
William frowned. That was not normal. I'm a good twenty minutes early. I always am. Strange the men were here before me. That never happens. As if sensing something wrong the corporal continued speaking.
"Bit of a favour, suh. They follow us next cycle and promised to give us extra time off."
This time, William turned to look at the corporal. He knew the rotation and knew this was not possible. He felt he needed to warn the corporal they had been duped. Just as he was about to open his mouth the officer he was to relieve looked into the room and saw William standing there with his cloak fastened around his shoulders.
"Ah, William! You're here early too! Good! Perfect night for it! I've a date lined up and now I can stop by the larder and pick out some cheeses befor
ehand! Thanks mate!"
William smiled and stepped up to Captain Brent Bairstow and clasped his forearm. "Brent, well met. How was the watch and what are you doing abandoning your post to look in on me?"
"Easy my friend! The men are doubled out there while they turn over. Rest at ease! The Lord Protector is safe from harm!"
William laughed and wondered how this officer got away with everything. I work hard and this man seems to hardly need to work to get ahead! William shook his head in mock dismay. "The ladies will rise up one day, Brent, and drag you down with them!"
"A day I look forward to, my friend!" Brent seemed to notice the corporal listening in on them and turned with mock alarm. "Corporal! You have me at my worst! Pray ignore this tarnished officer's impropriety!"
The corporal's eyes widened and he held up his hands in surrender. "Suh, I know nothing of any pro-pretty! Wouldn't know it to see it!"
"Good man, good!" laughed Brent and clasped the man on the upper arm. "Good for you," Brent swirled and beckoned William out to the dais for their turnover. "William for the last hour I have been waiting for you to say the magyc words! Come! Let's turn this sorry excuse for a duty over. I need to hear you say you have the watch!"
William laughed and followed him out to the dais standing beside the double doors leading into the Lord Protector's private sanctum.
Thirty
Munsten Castle, 890 A.C.
BELLE ARBOR NODDED politely to Archbishop Greigsen when he gestured with a wide brush of his arm for her to proceed ahead of him up the stairs leading up to the outer chamber of the Lord Protector's inner sanctum. Internally she shuddered. He is not of this earth, she thought. Gaea, please tell me what this man is? She waited for an answer from Gaea as she always did and, hearing nothing, started up the wide, steep stairs. She heard the Archbishop behind her grunt in pain with each of his steps. She could see he suffered from joint pain but could not help him. Her gift would not let her examine him as she could with everyone else. Plus, he refuses the teas I provide him. Seriously, I can't do anything more. And I don't think I want to — let me be honest with myself. He is an abomination to nature I simply cannot understand.
Four months ago, along with the Freamhaigh Dalton, she had tried to convince the Lord Protector John Healy all was not well with the Archbishop. Healy had merely laughed at them. I have the Archbishop exactly where I need him, my dear, he had said. And then he had patted her bottom.
It was one of the few times she felt the need to use her powers against someone. The offense shook her to her core. No one touches me except my husband, she thought furiously. She looked to Freamhaigh Dalton for help and he looked away. She could still remember the shock of seeing him turn away. The highest ranking draoi in the Realm had chosen to do nothing. It only reinforced her loneliness and helplessness. She could see so much that had to change and she was powerless to interfere.
She had run from the room then, with Healy laughing at her retreat thinking he had power over her. Little did he know I was close to causing him significant harm. He was lucky I left when I did. She could hear the lie she told herself. Gaea forbade the exposure of any of draoi power. Later, after she had calmed, she cornered the Freamhaigh and laid into him. His response was to try to convince her to simply forget about it. She had screamed at him then and said some very unladylike things. William was proud of me when I told him, she thought smugly. Proud I used the words he taught me over the years.
As she neared the top of the stairs she calmed her emotions and prepared herself to enter the outer chamber. My husband will still be on duty and I need to present him with a calm wife and not a vengeful polecat. She reached the top stair and strode purposefully into the room distancing herself from the Archbishop who continued to struggle behind her. She ignored the two guards on either side of the entranceway and looked over at her husband behind the dais. She could see the look of surprise that appeared briefly on his face. No one other than me would have seen it, she thought. But it was there for me to see and enjoy. Petty, I know, but if he insists on this duty before family business then I get to have my little rewards.
"Captain Arbor, sir," she said when she stopped at the red line crossing the middle of the room. No one was allowed to cross the line unless the Captain of the Outer Chamber — who just happened to be her husband at the moment — allowed it. In order to be allowed to cross the line meant your name had to be written in the large ledger gracing the dais. It was maintained and updated by the Lord Protector's Privy Council, twice daily. These rooms were once the only rooms permitting a private audience to the King. The access and control had not changed with the Revolution. What worked, worked, she thought and shrugged mentally. She forced her shoulders back and stood as straight as she could before announcing to her husband: "Belle Arbor, Assistant Word Advisor to the Lord Protector, reporting at his summons to his chambers."
Her husband stared at her for a moment before remembering his duty. He blinked and then looked down at the ledger and she could see his eyes searching for her name. He wouldn't find it, she knew. The Archbishop was expected, but not her. The Lord Protector had sent one of his pages to fetch her and tell her to join the Archbishop. Healy wanted her rather than the Freamhaigh at the meeting. She clenched her teeth while her husband turned the page in the book. Healy disgusted her. She could barely maintain her composure around him any longer and she was worried this latest audience would send her over the edge.
She hated last minute meetings. Especially up here in his chambers. The touch on her bottom had been followed with leers and other attempts since then. Healy was a pig. Infuriatingly, her own husband didn't seem to understand just how belittling it was to have her treated as a sex object rather than the intelligent woman she was. It was one of their latest fights.
* * *
"William! For Gaea's sake, the man is a pig! He touched me again this morning. In view of everyone. He didn't care. This has to stop!"
"Belle, honey, I understand. It's frustrating. He does it for who knows what reason. It makes me angry but what can I do about it? I'm just a captain in the Guard! If I say something they'll put me out!"
"Put you out? That's what you're worried about? Your job? Are you serious right now?" Belle screamed the last words.
"Belle, Belle!"
"Don't you Belle me, William! I can't take it anymore. I can't abide being near him. He touches me, William. He is touching your wife, for Gaea's sake."
"I know! I hate knowing! I don't know what to do. What can I do to make it right?"
"Tell the General!"
"The General won't care. You know how he is. What about Dalton?"
"Dalton doesn't care either, he..." Belle's words cut off when young Will pushed their door open and slowly walked in rubbing at his eyes. "Wee William, what are you doing up at this hour?"
"I couldn't sleep, mum," he said. "Why are you and dad yelling and fighting?"
"We're fighting..." started her husband.
Belle interrupted him and gave him a stern look to keep his mouth shut. "We're not fighting, sweetie. We're arguing a little bit. It's nothing important. Adult stuff. Come, off to bed with you." Belle scooped up her son and ushered him to bed, glad to be interrupted before she said something she would later regret.
* * *
Her husband looked up as the Archbishop shuffled to stand next to her in front of the red line. "Captain Arbor," began the Archbishop. "Your wife and I are expected. You will not find her name on the list. She was only just summoned by one of the pages. It was supposed to be Dalton on the access list this morning. Not your lovely wife. My apologies."
Her husband glared at the Archbishop and Belle bit her cheek to stop from smiling. Most people had an immediate dislike of the man and her husband was no exception. Perhaps it is the lack of any aura that annoys people, thought Belle. Amongst other things. Things had been strained last night with Dalton. His sorrow was so deep she feared he would do something drastic. She felt the same sorrow
now. There was a feeling in the air. A bad feeling. Dalton had left her chambers last night with two bottles of wine, one in each hand. It's no wonder he wasn't here this morning.
"Of course, your Grace," said her husband biting off each word. "One moment while I announce you." William turned to one of the two corporals standing near him and nodded. Belle watched, as she had many times before, as the young man saluted and marched past the dais to knock once on the double doors before opening it enough to allow him to pass inside. The door shut automatically behind him.
Belle waited and looked around at the other guardsmen. There were always eight of them on watch. Two behind her at the top of the stairs, one on the right and left walls just behind the red line, two behind the dais next to her husband, and two, she knew and only because her husband had told her, hidden in the small chamber carefully positioned behind the tapestries lining the walls. There was a noise behind her and she turned her head to watch eight more guards emerge from the stairs. That's odd, she thought and when she turned to look at her husband she could see he was surprised, too.
Just then the corporal emerged from behind the double doors and approached William. She heard him whisper they were expected and the Protector bade them enter. William nodded but frowned at the additional guardsmen entering the room and the noise they were making and then turned to her and the Archbishop.
"Your Lady and your Grace, please enter."
Belle nodded and walked past her husband. The corporal moved over to one of the double doors and opened it for her. She smiled graciously and slipped into the inner sanctum. She could hear the Archbishop enter behind her. She looked around the inner chamber and was not surprised to see the private dining table empty. The dark woods and gold leaf decorations gave the place a rich look and the large windows showed a beautiful sunrise happening outside. Such a waste to allow such a boorish man to make use of it, she thought. As the door swung shut to the room, she could hear her husband starting to raise his voice to the guardsmen and she smiled. They were in for it. She recognised the tone of voice.
Leaf and Branch (New Druids Series Vol 1 & 2) Page 49