While they were talking, Paddy Puffingtowne and Seamus Stagmaster arrived with several more clurichauns. The clurichauns paid their respects to Mark Andrew and Il Dolce Mio and then were introduced to Lucifer and his angels. Afterwards, they separated themselves from the others and set up an impromptu band across the barn and began to play a lively dance tune on their bagpipes and drums. Mark was in the process of telling Lucifer that he did not think it would be wise to involve Sophia in any of their plans because he was unsure of who or what she might be. Lucifer was convinced that Sophia could use the same magick to release Urim and Thummin as she had used to release him. He also suggested that she might be able to free Omar, Jozsef and Anna as well. Mark was about to list more reasons why he was against the proposition when Paddy’s band began to play a much slower and sadder tune that he recognized as one of Meredith’s favorites. The beautifully haunting Shule Aroon. Mark fell silent as the memories of his lost love overwhelmed him with a sense of regret and grief. It was at that moment Sophia wandered into the barn and sat down next to Luke Andrew.
Mark leaned forward slightly and looked at her in surprise. He had never known her to come here and he wondered why she had chosen this particular time to show up, but she simply smiled at him and returned her attention to the dancing elves. Luke exchanged a brief greeting with the woman and then subsided into his own depression, sitting glum-faced next to his father. He could find no joy in the music or the dancing or the company. His thoughts were still on the situation in New Babylon and Sophia’s presence did nothing more than add to his depression. Lili had disappeared and he was in no mood for pleasant conversation.
“You will stay for a while?” Mark returned his attention to Lucifer. “We should discuss this more tomorrow.”
“We have time.” Lucifer assured him. “I would like to learn more about these delightful creatures.”
Mark nodded and got up. He did not want to remain this close to Sophia. He left Lucifer to Il Dolce Mio and headed into the section of the barn that was still a barn where the horses were kept. He saddled his favorite mare and thought to take a ride over to Luke Matthew’s old house, take in the fresh night air and collect his thoughts. Luke Andrew’s mood was contagious and he was depressed enough already.
He rode the horse out of the barn and around toward the open expanse of meadow on the north side of the building, intending to ride east to the chapel and then turn back up the road to the house. He was surprised when Sophia overtook him halfway to the chapel. He was further surprised to see her riding his favorite horse without benefit of saddle or bridle. Mark had had no idea that she could ride at all, much less control the spirited stallion without a bit and bridle.
“Where are you off to?” She asked as she rode alongside him, guiding the big horse with only her knees and two handfuls of mane.
“Nowhere in particular.” He told her and glanced back at the barn. No one else had followed. “Apollo is not used to such treatment.” He warned her.
“How would you know?” She smiled at him and leaned forward over the horse’s withers, patting him on the neck. “Apollo and I are good friends.”
“Oh?” Mark did not understand it. “You ride my horses often?”
“More than you would think.” She told him. “You are avoiding me?”
“That’s ridiculous! I haven’t had time to avoid you.” He shook his head and then had to laugh at the absurdity of the statement.
“I wanted to say that I’m sorry if I upset you.”
“But you came through just fine.” He smiled and looked up at the thin veil of clouds between them and the stars. “I think Lord Lucifer was quite pleased with the fare after all.”
“I’m not talking about the supper. I’m talking about earlier. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I would never try to force you into a relationship with me against your will. I think I might have chosen my words a bit more carefully. As it was, it sounded as if I might be planning a shotgun wedding or some such. I don’t want you to be worried.”
“Worried?!” He turned an incredulous look on her. “Shotgun wedding? The thought never crossed my mind. You are, as you pointed out, a grown woman. We don’t have to keep apologizing to each other. It was a foolish thing we did. It won’t happen again and as far as I am concerned, no one need ever know. If you would like to pursue the affections of my son…”
“But I didn’t think you heard me.” She interrupted him.
“I heard you.” He smiled to himself. “I think you made mistake and I was a fool.”
“I don’t think so. You said that I should sample the wares to see if they were worthy and so I look upon it as an experiment. I have made my decision.” She laughed and he cringed.
“How so?”
“I have decided that you are not nearly as bad as everyone seems to think. In fact, I think that you have been greatly maligned. How is it that you could have gathered such a following, if you were not a great teacher?”
“I told you I am not a teacher.” He insisted.
“That’s a lie and you are not a good liar.”
“What is it they called that? An oxymoron? Show me a good liar.”
“You see? You make a good point. But lying does not indicate a bad person. It is the lie that is bad, not necessarily the liar. People usually lie to protect themselves or people they care about. Only a truly evil creature would lie just for the sake of lying or to cause harm. You are not an evil creature.”
“I’m glad you think that, at least.” He smiled. She seemed unbelievably naïve.
“I can help you.”
“You’ve helped me enough already.” He commented sarcastically. “You’ve given me another sin to deal with.”
“There you go. Wallowing in guilt. Can you not take just a bit of pleasure without punishing yourself afterwards? No, I mean I can help you with the trouble in New Babylon.”
Mark reined in the horse and jerked his head around to stare at her in the starlight. Sophia stopped the stallion and returned his gaze. He was astonished to hear almost the same words from her as he had just heard from Lucifer. No! No! And No! Not a good idea! He turned in the saddle and slapped the horse lightly with the reins.
“That won’t be necessary. We are working on that. The time will come and we will face him again. I don’t need you placing yourself at risk.”
“I won’t be placing myself at risk. I will have the whole Order and you to protect me.”
“I need people who can protect themselves.” He told her and had to laugh again. At least she had lifted his spirits. “Speaking of the Order. I believe that it may be necessary to make you a part of it.”
“Oh?” Her face lit up. “You would make me a Knight?”
“Not a Knight, but a member, yes.” He shrugged.
“What if I don’t want to join?” She asked him.
“Then I will have to kill you.” He told her in a flat, matter-of-fact voice.
“Would you?” She frowned, unsure of whether he was jesting or not.
“I have done worse.” He looked away from her.
“A better insurance would be to marry me.” She suggested. “I would make a good wife. Then I could be in on all the Order’s business without really being a member of the Council. You know, like Queen Meredith and your brother.”
“Ahhh. But I have sworn off of such things.” He said lightly. “The company of women is a dangerous thing.”
“Your actions would tell a different story. I believe that you are lonely.”
“Lonely?! With all these people around me all the time? You must be joking.” He waved one hand in dismissal. “I can’t get a moment’s peace.”
“People do not necessarily cure loneliness. Everyone needs someone to snuggle with.”
“Snuggle? And when do I have time for such trivial pastimes?” He asked her in consternation. “Do I really look like the snuggling type?”
“You don’t look like any particular type, but I believe you might
have had some experience with it. Let me see…” She kicked the horse and rode around in front of his horse. The stallion began to walk sideways in front of the bay mare to his consternation while she pressed one finger against her chin and pursed her lips. “I think you would be more of the outdoors type. Perhaps snuggling in a tent or a cave would be more to your liking. Throw in a few bearskins, a stone club and a naked cavewoman. How’s that? Am I right?”
“You are what is known as a tease.” He told her, hoping to make her angry. “I have had a great deal of experience with your type.”
“Oh, really? I think not.” She entwined her fingers in the horse’s mane, kicked his flanks and galloped around the mare before riding off toward the oak trees in front of the chapel.
“Hey! Wait!” He shouted after her. It was not a good idea in these dark times for a young woman to go about the countryside in the dead of night on horseback. Not everything in the woods was friendly, nor did everything in the woods walk on four legs. There had been many reports of vagabond scavengers straggling through the countryside of late. “Dammit!” He cursed and kicked the mare to a gallop after her. He rode recklessly into the deep shadows under the oak trees. He could hear Apollo’s hooves pounding the earth ahead of him and followed the sound moreso than the sight, of the black horse. “Sophia!” He shouted her name again.
He rode on through the trees, growing angrier and angrier as she refused to stop or answer him. He passed the chapel and plunged into the forest behind the ancient structure. The light of the waxing moon dappled the forest floor with silvery light in fleeting patches; he caught glimpses of her ahead of him. The Knight of Death could not believe that she could ride his stallion with such expertise in the dark, through the forest, bareback. She was just full of surprises. If and when he caught up with her, he intended to give her a good thrashing with a willow branch!
He raised up in the stirrups as he caught sight of her again.
“Sophia!” He shouted again and then had the breath knocked completely from his body when something very heavy fell on him from one of the tree branches overhead. He hit the ground flat on his back with a heavy weight on top of him. His first thought was that a panther or some other large animal had attacked him. The mare reared, pawing the air, snorting and whinnying in terror before racing away under the trees.
The weight shifted immediately, before he could begin to regain his senses and something cold pressed against his face. He fought and struggled fruitlessly against what could only have been a man… one of the scavengers no doubt. But his efforts were in vain as the vapors on the cloth choked him and stung his eyes, taking away what remained of his breath. Just before he succumbed to total darkness, he heard Sophia shouting his name and then nothing other than the echoed sound of Sophia’s voice ‘I will have the whole Order and you to protect me’.
(((((((((((((
Mark Andrew opened his eyes slowly and saw Sophia’s face directly in front of him.
“Sophia?” His voice was only a whisper. He tried to reach for her, but he could not move his arms.
“Don’t.” She put one hand against his face. Soft and cool.
“What happened?” He asked and tried to focus on the scene behind her. There was nothing but darkness around them.
“We were very foolish.” She smiled sadly at him. “We got caught.”
“Caught?” This made no sense. He could feel nothing. He couldn’t feel his feet or his hands. All he could do was see her face. It was unclear where the light falling on her features was coming from.
“Yes. It was my fault. I’m sorry.” She looked as if she would cry.
“Who?” He asked. This was not right. He should have been able to move. To do something.
“The dark angel.” She whispered the words. “He is here with us.”
“Where are we?”
“In a dream.” She told him.
“I don’t understand…” His voice trailed off.
“Sleep, Mark Ramsay. He cannot harm you. Sleep.” She told him and he closed his eyes. “I will watch over you.”
He snapped his eyes open and the green expanse of forest filled his eyes as a cool breeze brushed his face. He looked down and saw the spreading tops of great oak trees below him. He was sitting on the edge of a rocky bluff. His legs hung over the edge and the grass was soft beneath him. When he turned his head to the right, he saw Sophia sitting beside him. She was looking up at the white puffs of clouds in the blue sky.
“What happened?” He asked her again.
“Nothing.” She smiled. “It’s peaceful here. Where is this place?”
Mark looked about and saw the tumbled down boulders behind them and the cliffs above, full of dark cave openings.
“The forest of the center. My son’s kingdom in the underworld.” He frowned. “How did we get here?”
“You brought us here.” She looked at him and smiled.
“Have you seen anyone else?” He asked her and shaded his eyes against the bright sunlight.
“No. No one.”
“There should be a path.” He pushed himself up and then held out his hand to her. “There is a stream near here with good water.”
Sophia nodded and took his hand as they started down the sloping path near the cliff face. When they reached the bottom where the ground leveled off, he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled. Two stallions bearing gray saddles galloped from the trees toward them. One white and one black. He looked down at himself. He was dressed in black. Not his normal clothes. Not cargo pants and the military style shirt he usually favored. He wore the black clothing that he had worn when he had been King of the Center. The soft, but sturdy elven clothes. He reached up one hand slowly and felt the smooth band of gold on his forehead. This was surely a dream.
Sophia watched the great horses coming toward them. She was dressed in a white gown that almost reached the ground. Her feet and legs were encased in the same tall leather boots worn by Il Dolce Mio’s people. The gown was made of the same soft material as his clothing, but shimmered in the sunlight when she moved. Trailers of white flowers with yellow centers were entwined in her hair and the smell of cinnamon and myrrh drifted to his nose.
“They are beautiful, King Ramsay.” She told him as the horses thundered to a stop very near them.
“I’m not the king.” He frowned in confusion.
“Of course you are.” She smiled at him and took the reins of the white horse in her hands. “You are the King and I am Queen Sophia.”
Mark laughed. “I thought you were Queen Boudicca! The Celtic warrior queen.” If it was a dream, he might as well enjoy it. It was better than the scene before in the darkness. He tried to remember what had happened to them. They had been riding through the night toward the chapel. He had made her angry… She was not angry now.
“I am everything and nothing.” She laughed as well and climbed onto the horse. She sat looking down at him.
“You are certainly not nothing.” He mounted the black stallion and turned him about. “Let’s go and see who is home.”
“Home?” She kicked the horse lightly as he started for the trees.
“Yes!” He called over his shoulder. “We’re home. We’ve come home, Sophia!” He kicked the horse and they galloped toward the dark green shades of the forest.
Chapter Fifteen of Twenty-Two
Have compassion on your servants
Abaddon walked around the prone figure of Mark Ramsay. He had laid him out on the altar in the darkened chapel. The woman sat on the cold, stone floor, leaning against the white, marble altar, staring up at him in defiance.
“Ramsay!” The dark angel leaned over the serene face of the sleeping Knight. An open wound above his right eye oozed dark blood that flowed down into his ear. “What good fortune. And without his famous sword! Even better.”
“What do you intend to do with us? You are treading on dangerous ground, sir.” Sophia asked him and then warned him of what he already
knew, listing all the Templars gathered nearby and what they would do to him if they caught him here and so on and so forth while he continued his examination of the downed Knight.
The Knight of Death and one of the women. Not a bad catch. He glanced at her.
“That remains to be seen.” He commented when she finally relented. Abaddon raised one arm and snapped his fingers. A man dressed in a Fox uniform stepped forward. Abaddon held out his hand and the man placed a small wooden box, carved with palm fronds and pomegranates on it. The creature, who now looked like the Fox General, Ernst Schweikert opened the box and looked at the brown powder inside it.
“What is that?” Sophia raised up a bit to see the box. “What are you doing, Abaddon?”
“Aha!” The general stepped back and frowned down at her. “You know me?”
“I have heard of you!” She told him contemptuously. “You will regret doing this. Whatever it is.”
“I came here for a purpose, my lady.” He smiled at her. “I hardly expected to win the prize… so easily.”
“You’ve won nothing.” She said and looked about at the half dozen soldiers who stood behind him with their rifles pointed at her. “You are not beyond the will of God, sir.”
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