Chapter 3 - The Long Road Out Of Eden

Stormchaser said: "Not quite an 'our," Tunstan tells Muireann congenially, as they approach door to the church. The man strides up to the heavy wooden door and swings it open with a heave. The nave is lined with simple wooden pews, but all the basic elements of the church are familiar to Calix. Other villages begin to file into the building as they congregate for vespers and at the heart of the chancel stands a man clad in green robes and a tall hat. He has a his back to the door as it is opened, but then turns to greet his flock, revealing a middle-aged man with long dark hair. Muireann freezes at the threshold of the church, her heart pounding in her chest. Villagers flood in around her, like a river rushing around a boulder planted firmly in the center of the current. In her mind, a sharp image of men in brown robes flashes across her vision. But they are replaced by the green-robed man in an absurdly large hat. She clenches her teeth to keep from bursting out laughing. These Christians and their strange customs. Suddenly worried she'll be lost in the crowd, she darts over the threshold, catching up to Calix, straightening her back as if her confidence hadn't failed her for a moment. 

Egon's blood runs cold as he lays eyes on Augustine. There he was. Green-robed and with the same haughty bearing that he had the last time Egon had seen him. He felt sick. This was his home. But it felt more alien to him than the cage he had shared with Calix had. At least there, he had been safe from this man and his religious zeal.  He had thought that when confronted with Augustine again that he would be confident. That the gods would give him the words to say and he would rise up and take his home back from this zealot. But the truth was, he was just afraid. He wanted to flee. He almost did, but in looking around, he found that Hrothgar and Goewyn had already left. They'd start to draw attention if too many of them skipped out on this damned hour of prayer.

Tunstan wanders relaxedly into the church with a slight sprint in his step and gestures to a bench in the second row of the pews for Calix, Egon and Muireann to take a seat.

Goewyn turns at the sound of footsteps to find Hrothgar coming up behind her, but it was not only his footfalls that she'd heard as she spots another man trying desperately to look inconspicuous, but utterly failing to do so. "We have company."  She says quietly to Hrothgar before turning her attention to the man. "Can we help you, friend?"

Ignoring Tunstan's offer, Egon takes a seat in the back row of pews and bows his head. He was not about to be recognized by  Augustine.

Matt B. said: Goewyn turns at the sound of footsteps to find Hrothgar coming up behind her, but it was not only his footfalls that she'd heard as she spots another man trying desperately to look inconspicuous, but utterly failing to do so. "We have company."  She says quietly to Hrothgar before turning her attention to the man. "Can we help you, friend?" "Uh, yes," the young man replies, puffing out his chest. However, he seems decidedly less sure of himself now that Hrothgar is here. "Vespers is this way." 

RisenZed said: Ignoring Tunstan's offer, Egon takes a seat in the back row of pews and bows his head. He was not about to be recognized by  Augustine. Once it seems that the villagers have all taken their places, the clamour in the church falls quiet and Augustine makes the sign of the cross over his chest. "Deus, in adiutorium meum intende. Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina," he intones aloud in Latin. " Ut proavis refugium, spes posteris, Deus, diffractor nobis turbinum, aeternaque domus." Those of the congregation who have learned Latin begin to recite the Hymn along with Augustine.

Hrothgar wraps a big arm over Goewyn's shoulder, "Yes, thank you, friend. She's got an awful stomach ache the last couple days. I even started feeling something this morning. We figured it's more graceful to step into the back rows partway through than storm out from the front."  The bear of a man gives a weak smile, trying to look friendly, yet physically uncomfortable.

The farmer takes an involuntary step back when he sees the foul expression on Hrothgar's face. "The Lord bless you and keep you in your hour of need," he mutters awkwardly, before turning to head back to the church.

Hrothgar gives a weak wave and slowly pivots with Goewyn to head the other way. When it's clear the man is gone after a few steps, he releases his companion and smiles maniacally, "Gods be good, I didn't think that was gonna work! These Christians scare like sheep, but I thought I was about to do something drastic there. Never thought I'd see the day I'd have to choose between punching a man out cold and shi-"  Hrothgar can see a tired, frustrated glare from Goewyn, "Um....lead the way. I'm here to help and watch your back."

Muireann frowns, glancing furtively at Calix as the chanting begins. What in the name of Morrigan is this absolutely nonsensical language? She had never heard it before, and had no frame of reference for what any of it could possibly mean. " What are they saying?"   she whispers, hoping the chanting around them masks her words.

Goewyn smiles at Hrothgar and nods. "Thank you, Hrothgar. I thought I would have to spill his blood as well. Come, let's find out what we can about this place while the sheep huddle beneath their roof." She begins sneaking off into the rest of the town, looking for palisades or cages or even a longhouse perhaps large enough to house the number of children hostages they were seeking. 

The big man beams with pride as he shuffles off behind his charge. He can't help but think, however, how awkward it feels to move through an unwelcoming place without protection. No knife, axe, or sword to speak for. As the pair move, he can't help getting distracted in looking about for something he can hold. A broken chair, a knife left unattended, or even some broom left on a porch. It didn't have to be much, but if guards came with swords, he'd want something to stop them other than his bare hands.

Casting his eyes around, Hrothgar does spot a broom leant against the back of a nearby building. However, Goewyn can't make out any kind of construction in the surrounding area that looks like it was built to hold prisoners. As the pair skulk between the houses of the village, a high-pitched choral singing can be heard emanating from within the church. Inside, Calix, Egon and Muireann see a choir of young children shuffle out of the from the transept and begin to sing a psalm.

Hrothgar sweeps up the broom on the way by. It wasn't much, but better for a blade to strike a stick than his arm. If he can get close, he was confident he could "acquire" a better weapon from someone. 

As Hrothgar searches about for a weapon, Goewyn hears the distinct voice of children singing and she has a thought about some of the things she had heard about these Christian's intentions to convert all of them. She hisses at Hrothgar to get his attention as she looks up a window high above them, gesturing him over. "Can you boost me up enough so I can look through these windows? I want to see if my brother is in there!" She whispers to him as he approaches. 

Hrothgar's face goes blank as the request sparks a confused tangent in his mind. He gives a nod, then kneels down and laces his hands to give a step. "Why are we....? If he's in there, why...did we...?"  The big man shakes his head clear as Goewyn steps up. A simple miscalculation to be sure. Best not to raise the issue and wound a friend's pride.

She looks down at him with her own look of confusion. "Do you not hear the children singing? The slavers told us the plan was to convert the child slaves to Christians!" She carefully raises herself up to quick look through the window, but trying to do so at an angle so as not to draw any attention, staying hidden from prying eyes. 

Through the murky glass, Goweyn can make out Gruffyd in the choir, dressed in the garments of an altar boy.

The relief Calix felt wash over him the moment familiar iconography was in view only intensifies as familiar psalms meet his ears. It's difficult not to forget what they're here for as objects he's known since childhood replace the alien sights of British countryside that have marred his view for months – and even more so upon seeing a priest who might have answers. If Goewyn and the others would let him get them out. Bowing his head, he offers a prayer for the one thing that might preserve this moment, and the sanctity of this church. Please, don't let it be his fault.

Goewyn's heart leaps into her throat at the sight of her brother after so long apart and she wobbles on Hrothgar's shoulders, swallowing back the cry of joy that seeks to burst from her throat. She quickly drops down off the large man's shoulders with a huge grin on her face. "He is in there, Hrothgar!" She gestures wildly at the church. "He's in the church !! Come, quickly! We must get him out of there!"

Hrothgar glances back to the window as though he were tall enough to peer through, then back to Goewyn. He was worried she might run straight into the church and still the young man away, so he put a hand on her shoulder in response, "We do, yes, but carefully. These Christians are known to talk of peace with a blade in hand. If you run in there now, they'll take you away, too. Also, I'm not sure they'd stop at just putting you in robes to sing songs."  The big man leans against the wall, tapping his arm with the handle of his acquired broomstick, "I see it two ways: We go back in, sit in the back, then watch where they go when it's done and meet the others. Other way, we look around now while there's still time and see if there's a back door, or maybe catch them leaving to see where they go. You have my word if you were to die that I'd rescue your brother and look after him. I'd rather not come to that and see you both alive and well, though."

Just as she is about to rush off, Hrothgar places a calming hand upon her shoulder and she frowns at his attempts to stop her, but she pauses at his suggestion. She nods as his words ring of a wisdom she knew, but had forgotten in her moment of frenzied joy. "Are you right, we cannot simply rush in there, as much as I would wish. I do not think I should go inside, Gruffyd would possibly recognize me and react. That could disrupt all our plans, as much as I want him to know I am here for him. Yes, let us check out the remainder of the church, see if there is a back entrance and possibly follow them if they leave. Thank you, Hrothgar."

"Someone needs to keep you in line. Might as well be the one who can hold you off the ground!" Hrothgar gives a big chuckle before hurrying along the wall of the church to search for a back door.

Hrothgar quickly spots a simple door near the rear of the church, which presumably leads to somewhere behind the transept.

Goewyn follows behind Hrothgar as he spots the rear exit of the church. She looks around for a good location in which to hide to see if the children are lead out the back of the church after this... vespers or whatever it was the Christian had called it, is completed. Her stomach felt wobbly and weak at the thought of finally being close to the completion of her goal. It was also frightening, though, as she was unsure what she would do next...

Hrothgar approach the rear entrance, carefully. It seemed like a private access, meant only for the clergy to come and go in private. Hrothgar knew better than to barge into such a place, so he put his chest against the wood and leaned an ear in. He didn't know what he expected, but it would have been something much more sturdy than what he found. The door swung with a creak, and the big man managed to catch himself before the door slammed the wall within. His surprised gasp was probably the least graceful thing just after the clumsy stomp he made to catch himself.

Hrothgar stumbles inside and finds himself in a small annex behind the transept, face-to-face with a rather startled monk. The man's eyes widen and his hands instinctively clutch at the prayer beads hanging from his waist.  The monk's gaze darts between the intruders, surprise momentarily freezing him in place. The flickering candlelight casts dancing shadows across his weathered face, accentuating the lines etched deep into his skin by years of devotion.

Goewyn stares at the man briefly before trying to put on an innocent, embarrassed laugh. "Hello! Excuse us, we are looking for this thing called... vespers? I think that it was it was called. Do you know where we could find it?"

Hrothgar lights up with a big smile, and tries to hold his acquired broom in an inconspicuous way, "Yes! Yes, we are new here and were a bit lost on the way."

The monk clears his throat to cover the moment of awkwardness, relief and understanding blossoming across his face. "Of course, my child. I'm afraid that you're not in quite the right place. Just slip in the front and sit quietly at the back," he tells Goewyn kindly.

She gives the man a pleasant smile and shoos Hrothgar back out the way they had come in. "Thank you kindly! We will do that!"  She exits behind her companion, pulling the door shut behind her, and then looking for somewhere in the alleyway to tuck into while she waits to see if anyone comes out the back door of the church after the service completes.

Tuo tegis sub solio tu tibi deditos valesque brachio tuo ut tueare nos. Dispostis nondum collibus telluris aut bathris ex infinito tu Deus nec es mutabilis. Ut pars diei saecula sunt mille coram te, ut ultima vigilia venturo iubare. Tempusque fluminis modo quos gignit abripit: pares fugantur somnio cum nocte quod perit. Ut proavis perfugium, spes posteris, Deus, tutela contra sis malum aeternaque domus. Eventually, the evening prayers comes to an end and locals slowly begin to filter out of the front of the church. The choir rises and the children walk back out through the door that they entered through.

Hrothgar lingers around the church's corner by the front entrance. As the crowd spills forth, he inches along the wall until he can see the others exit as well, then falls in with them.  "This way, everyone,"  he says, then begins leading them up the road for a few buildings before turning down an alley and circling back toward the church to meet in its adjoining alley with Goewyn.

When Hrothgar returns to the narrow passage between the surrounding buildings, Goewyn is no longer there. Upon spotting the children being led out the back door and away from the church, she sets out after them, skulking between the shadows cast by the buildings in the evening sun. Eventually the little column of young ones comes to a halt outside a particularly large and grand thatched hall that overlooks the village from the west. The door is opened and they file inside.

Goewyn takes note of the size of the building, the entrances, the guards, as much information as she could think to be relevant to one of the warriors of the group like Hrothgar or even Egon. After spending several moments burning those ideas to memory she departs and quickly rejoins her companions. She looks to make sure no one else is watching or listening to them as she leans in close. "They have taken the child into the largest home here. It is well guarded."  She proceeds to spend some time explaining all in the information to the others of the group. 

Egon finds it hard to wrench his attention away from the hall. He had spent so much time there in years past...it was almost hard to believe that he was here again, so soon after...well, it would be better for him to be in and out as soon as possible.  "We can get in through the kitchens," he says, pulling his hood lower over his face. "Or the privies. But we may have to bluff if someone sees us."

Muireann's head is still ringing slightly after the eerie chanting of the vesper service. "Are there many people who live here? It is such a large building."

"Only the king and his family," Egon says. "But they will have a few dozen nobles and warriors in their employ, and a score of servants. They will all live nearby."

Goewyn looks simultaneously dejected and determined by the situation. "I do not know the best way to go about getting into that building. There are many guards watching the outside. Perhaps if we had some sort of distraction to draw some of their attention, I could slip in quietly."

"I may be able to provide a distraction, but it will likely mean an end to our association," Egon says.

Goewyn frowns at Egon's words. "I do not understand. What do you intend to do?"

"I...I used to live here," Egon says. "In this house specifically." He gestures to the king's hall. "I was a guest of King  Aethelberht for many years...a friend of his. Before Augustine and the king's wife conspired to have me killed."

Goewyn gasps. "No, Egon, I cannot ask that  of you. If they knew you still lived, they would put you to death on the spot. We must find another way, perhaps you could help me navigate through these halls though?"

"If I can make my appeal directly to  Aethelberht, he may choose mercy," Egon says. "He's the reason I'm still alive. Sent me into exile, through slavery, rather than letting Augustine execute me." He sighs. "But yes, this is a risky venture. I can help you navigate the halls, and if we are caught, then perhaps I can talk our way out."

Goewyn nods. "I think that is better than asking you to turn yourself over to the people who have already tried to have you killed once. I would do anything to rescue my brother, but I do not think my father and mother would welcome me to the Halls of Valhalla if I allowed you to die in his stead. No, we need a different distraction. Perhaps a fire? Is there someplace we could start a fire that would draw the attention of the guards without fear of burning the entire town to cinders?"

Egon frowns. "Perhaps the outhouses? But the risk of fire will still be great," he says. "And I do not know how effective that will be. We may still have luck sneaking in through the kitchens."

Goewyn nods. "Your plan has merit. I am... not a warrior like you. I am skilled at getting into places unseen, but I have never done something like this.  If you think going in through the kitchens is the best chance, I will follow your lead, Egon."

"You're not doing this foolish thing on your own. You'll be killed otherwise. I'm coming with you," Muireann says to Egon and Goewyn. "I promised I'd help you get your brother back. I will not sit on the side for this."

"Very well," Egon says. "Then let's not delay any longer."