The Flames of Hope Saga Book 3: Land of Shadows

@hybridlore   @linus-smallprint    @koshka   @keilah-h    @elishavet-pidyon   @liberty

FIRST section!

Land of Shadows

The Flames of Hope Saga

Book 3

 

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who dwelt in a land of shadows,
on them has light shone.

                                                                          ~Isaiah 9:2

 

The sun was sinking into its glorious death in the west; leaving behind a more breathtaking array of light and color then when he had lived–– A promise of a new beginning on the other side of the night. Crops bent in the gentle breeze, gilded by the sun’s dying drops of light.

A croft stood in the center of the fields, raised slightly by a hill, so as to command a view of the farm. Shadows danced against the curtains as those inside began to light candles and lanterns.

Inside the house, three men and a youth sat about a table, while a woman rocked a child in her arms near the fire.

The woman rose and carried the now sleeping child into the other room. A few moments later she returned and then joined the conversation at the table.

One of the men looked up. “Amelia, thank you for the wonderful meal. You never fail to make supper a delight.”

“Your welcome Julian,” Amelia smiled, leaning against Joseph as he put an arm about her.

“It was truly a pleasure to come and spend time in your home, Joseph,” Leon added.

“You are welcome here any time,” Joseph replied. “We love your company, and now that you can go about the country with freedom, it will be much more often that we see you.”

Julian looked at Leon, who nodded slightly. There was a long silence. Finally, Leon spoke. “I’m afraid we won’t be seeing you again for a long time.”

“Why not?” Beric asked, concern filling his dark eyes.

“Because Julian and I are going back to the Empire,” Leon replied.

There was a stunned silence.

At last, Joseph broke it. “You’re doing what?”

“Why?” Beric cried at the same moment.

“Because of what God has done for us,” Julian said.

“I don’t understand,” Joseph protested.

Julian looked to Leon.

The former officer looked up. “For many years, Julian and I were slaves to the superstition of our people,” he began. “When Christ rescued us and used Adrian’s death to bring us to Him, our lives were completely and drastically changed. The freedom, hope, and peace that we have is like nothing I could have ever imagined before. Julian and I spent many years on the run from the Empire, spreading God’s word wherever we went. You know this.”

Joseph nodded silently.

“Now, for two years, we have been free. I once said that all I wanted was a place to call my own, and a wife and children,” Leon smiled sadly. “For the last two years, Julian and I have been free, and though we have searched, God never brought us a place to truly call home. We wondered at this for a time, but now I understand. We are not done. He is not finished with using us to spread His word, and what we are about to do is not something that I could ever bring a family into.”

“But there are so many people here who still need God’s word!” Joseph exclaimed. “Stay and help us. Don’t go to the Empire.”

Julian shook his head. “No, Joseph. God is calling us back to the Empire. Leon and I have been in prayer over this for months, and we know without a doubt that it is His will for us to go.”

Amelia blinked back tears and looked to Joseph.

“But why? Why the Empire? Why there of all places!” Joseph asked.

“Because that is where God has called us,” Leon said simply.

“Then… then let me come with you,” Beric said.

“No!” Joseph and Amelia exclaimed together.

“No, Beric,” Leon said. “This is something Julian and I must do alone. You would be killed when you came within an arrow’s range of the border. You are tall and your hair and eyes are dark. They would know you for an Ardantin the moment they saw you. Julian and I are from the Empire. We will have more chance of getting into the country, and more will listen to us. You have a family Beric, your father needs your help on the farm, and Quin and the others could use your help reaching your own people. You must stay.”

Beric bit his lip and nodded.

Joseph looked up. “If you go back to the Empire… you go to your deaths,”

Julian nodded.

“We know,” Leon said. “But Joseph, we are ready. We belong to God, and He has called us to bring His Word to our homeland. If we die, then so be it. He will never leave us or forsake us, and we will only die when He is ready. No one can kill us before God is ready for us to come home, and when He is ready, nothing and no one can stop our deaths.”

Joseph let out a long breath and nodded, squeezing Amelia’s hand. “When will you leave?”

“The morning after the Sabbath,” Leon replied.

“So soon?” Amelia asked, a catch in her voice.

Leon nodded. “God has called us, so why delay? He has made our path clear and has shown us no reason why we should wait.”

“And you… you are sure God has called you to the Empire?” Joseph asked again.

Julian nodded, and Leon looked straight at Joseph. “Yes, we are certain.”

 

***

 

The Sabbath came, and after the time of worship, all those gathered laid their hands on Julian and Leon and prayed for them for many hours. When the time of prayer ended, everyone stayed to spend time with the two young men who had come to mean so much to them all. They remained all day, and long into the night, the women and girls going to their homes to prepare meals and bring them back.

Julian and Leon spent time with all those that had become so dear to them over the years. Noah, Darrien, Sabina, and the orphan children were there. Quin and his group of young men had traveled back from one of the far cities of Ardenta to bid the two farewell. David and his wife and children were there, and Stephen and his betrothed. Mr. and Mrs. Caddick and the rest of the Caddick children had come. And of course, Joseph, Amelia, Beric, and little Mercy.

At long last, the people began to drift away to their homes, reluctant to go, but knowing Julian and Leon would need rest for the trip in the morning. The two young men said many farewells, and then returned to their own homes, promising to stop by the Conway’s home before they left.

In the morning, the two woke in the early and met on the road. There they spent an hour in prayer before walking through the grey light before dawn to the Conway’s home. There they found the little family waiting for them.

Amelia gave them each a large leather rucksack she had prepared the night before. Then Leon and Julian shook hands and embraced the family. Julian crouched down to hug Mercy, who held tightly to him, somehow sensing the solemnity and finality of the moment. Then he rose and shook hands with Beric, pulling him into an embrace and clapping him on the back. He gave Amelia a quick hug and then turned to Joseph.

The two embraced, and Joseph held his friend fiercely–– unwilling to let him go. “I will never forget the day you came to the orphanage so long ago.”

“I was just a boy. Frightened, lost, angry, and full of despair,” Julian replied quietly. “That was when God reached out and took me as His own. I will never forget either. It is because of that moment that I have the courage to go.”

The two stepped apart, and Leon came to Julian’s side. “Thank you, for all that you have done,” he said to the Conways.

Joseph and Beric nodded, and Amelia wiped tears from her eyes, holding Mercy in her arms. Julian swallowed hard and looked up, his vision a little blurred by the tears that threatened to come. “Farewell, until we meet again with Christ above.”

“Farewell,” Beric whispered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

“Until we meet again,” Leon said.

At last, the two tore themselves away, shouldered their packs, and with smiles on their faces, cheerful waves of the hand, and trust in their hearts, they set out down the path.

Never to return.

@liberty

No way!!!

well, I had him and the pictures first. lolololol.

Did you read the section? What do you think?!?!

@liberty

Yep.

I warned everyone these later books are dark.

@liberty

lol.

A lot of people don’t really “know” them in the other books. Joseph knows them, so you know them through Josef, but that’s about it.

• This reply was modified 14 hours, 40 minutes ago by Ellette Giselle. Reason: I can't spell my character's name

@hybridlore   @linus-smallprint    @koshka   @keilah-h    @elishavet-pidyon   @liberty

Just a heads up, for anyone who has not read previous warnings….. the series takes a rather dark turn from here, because of the culture my characters are stepping into. I’m not going to have darkness to be dark, violence to be violent, etc. But darkness and violence and evil will happen.

So, with that in mind, if anyone wants to back out it’s fine with me. Just let me know and I won’t tag you. I’m certainly grouping these as older teen to young adult fiction.

But yeah, just thought I’d give everyone a “trigger warning”