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I promise it was completely coincidental.
this time.Well, you’ve already got a Roland for my dad, and a Julian and Adrian for two of his brothers. If you manage to get the names of his other three brothers in there, then I’m going to be suspicious. (You however did get what was almost the name of the 5th brother, Quinton)
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
hah!! That’s great! This is going to be so funny if I do!
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
@hybridlore @linus-smallprint @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @liberty
HELLO EVERYONE!!!! I’M BACK!!!!!!!!
I survived– barely, and am well and alive– sort of.
(Came down with a nasty cold the minute I got home. Ugh.)
Anyhow, it’s so good to be back!! I have the next section, and I may post another today as well. I have tones of things to catch up on, so no promises.
If anyone needs a recap the last section was posted somewhere in the middle of page 10.
and just as a reminder, Leon and Julian use a very different script which is how you tell their writing apart. However, those fonts don’t transfer. So, I’ll italicize anything Julian writes, and anything Leon writes is italicized and put in bold.
NEXT SECTION!!!
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 24th
The EmpireYesterday, Julian and I were able to witness to a young man by the name of Roland. He was intrigued, but suspicious, as our people are apt to be. This morning, he returned and has been here most of the day. Julian and Leon have turned our attention to helping the Kleins for a time. Not only helping them understand things spiritual but also helping them in work and day to day tasks. Roland and Rolf are out splitting wood with Julian at the moment. I can’t tell if Roland is here because he wants to know more, or because it’s normal for him to be here with Rolf— they seem to be very dear friends. He is certainly an interesting young man, and I would greatly like to know more of him. I hesitate to ask questions as of yet, for it seems all mention of his family is almost avoided.
~Leon.
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
September 29th
The EmpireIt seems the Lord has touched Roland’s heart and opened his eyes. Just this morning he came in to breakfast— a thing he does almost every day— and when we had finished, he turned to Julian and began laying questions on him thick and fast. Julian and Rolf both answered him, and I was listening with interested when all at once the questions stopped. Roland got up, thanked Liesl for the meal, and left. Rolf seemed a little concerned, but his father told him not to follow. This evening after our work was finished Roland came back. He was very sober, and he looked weary as if he had been walking a long way. He came into the house and took the seat Mr. Klein offered him. He was very quiet, but after a time he looked up at us and said that he had come to a decision. He told us that he had climbed up into the mountains to think, and after much deliberation he concluded that we have been speaking the truth. He told us that he cried out to God up there and repented of his sins. I am sure that he really did. There is a new life about him, and there is a light in his eyes that is unmistakable. Father God, thank you for all that you are doing here! Our people are slowly stepping out of darkness and into light! I would have given all if only one were to be saved, and already five have come to know you! Thank you, Father. Thank you.
~Leon
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
October 6th
The EmpireLeon and I spoke in the village square these last two days, and the people are eager to hear! Some do not agree and are prone to constant arguing, trying to trip us up and prove what we believe is an idea we have come up with. But, by God’s grace, we have been able to give an answer for every challenge, and these arguments only strength the belief of those who have come to know Christ and causes those who still worship the gods of the Empire begin to question their own beliefs. A few more villagers have come to believe, and Leon and I have been so encouraged. Still, this is a village, and the people of the villages are often more open to new ideas and beliefs for they are far from the Capital and the great temples and are not as indoctrinated as those of the great cities.
Even so, God is turning the hearts of the people to Him, and I pray He will continue to do so. Poor Roland, he has faced the worst trial of us all, for his family refuses to hear a word he says, and no one will speak to him or listen to his words. He is discouraged, but he clings to His new faith with an endurance that is admirable in one so new to Christ. He spends most of his time with Rolf, and he loves to listen whenever we speak of God. I pray his family’s eyes will be open to the truth. Father, strengthen him in this time of loneliness.~Julian
***
“Julian!”
The call sounded through the windy morning, and Julian turned from where he had been walking alone, enjoying the quiet of the early dawn. Rolf was coming toward him, and trailing along behind was Roland.
Julian met them half-way, and the closer he got the more worried he became. Roland was a little pale, and Rolf looked very upset.
“What happened?” Julian asked, anxiously. “Is everyone alright? Are they safe?”
“No one is hurt,” Rolf said. He glanced at Roland and then lowered his gaze.
Julian turned to look at Roland. “Tell me what happened.”
Roland let out a deep breath. He shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked a lose stone over the ground. “Last night, my father spoke to me. He said that he had thought my faith in Christ was just a new idea of mine, and I would grow tired of it in a few days and come to my senses if I was shut out long enough. He said that since I was persisting in this new faith and continued to reject the gods, I could no longer be accepted as one of the family.” Roland kicked another stone, harder this time, and watched as it skipped over the hard ground. “He told me to give up this faith and come back to the ways of my country, or I was to be disowned and completely cut off to prevent the punishment of the gods that will most certainly fall on me from harming the family.”
“What did you say?” Julian asked, quietly.
Roland looked off toward the mountains. “I told him there would be no curse, but he wouldn’t believe me.” Roland shrugged. “I’m through there. I can’t go back. My father made that very clear.” He drew in a deep breath and finally looked up at Julian. “I won’t change my mind, and I will never return to the lies my family believe. But I… I need help. I don’t know what to do, and it’s hard to believe I’ve made the right choice when all this is happening.”
He pushed the loose dirt with a bare foot and shook his head. “I have nothing, Julian. No family, no home, no money… not even a pair of shoes. I feel so lost and alone.”
Julian laid a hand on Roland’s shoulder. “I understand some of your pain, Roland, for I lost my only brother because of his faith in Christ. I understand the feeling of despair you face. But Roland, you are wrong. You do have a family. We are your brothers in Christ, and God is our Father. He loves you, Roland, more than anyone in this world could ever love you. He will care for you and protect you, and He will never leave you or forsake you. Turn to Him, and He will comfort you. Jesus said not to be anxious for anything— not where you sleep, what you will eat, or the clothing you will wear. He said to look at the birds, for they don’t sew and reap, but they are fed by His hand. And the flowers, they don’t sew and spin, but they are arrayed in the finery of kings. You are of far more value than they are, and look how He cares for them. Jesus commanded us to seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you, for he knows your every need.”
Roland looked up. “He says that?”
“Yes,” Julian replied. “It’s in Matthew. Come inside and I’ll show you the place. And Roland?”
“Yes?” he replied.
The corner of Julian’s mouth turned up slightly. “I’m sure we can find you a pair of boots.”
Roland grinned.
***
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
October 17th
The EmpireJulian and I have been in the village for a few weeks now, and already I can hardly believe the power of God’s hand! How beautiful it is to see the people’s hearts opened and to see them so eagerly cling to Him and destroy the idols of their past. A church is springing up, and Julian and I are preparing a few of the men to lead the people when we are gone. A team is working night and day to copy at least one Bible for the village before we leave so that they can continue to copy and disperse the Word of God among themselves. God has worked amazing things here. I would have gladly given up everything just for one glimpse of His power in the Empire!
~Leon
The fifteenth year of Emperor Haidronias’s reign
October 28h
The EmpireLast night, Julian and I were talking together. We feel God calling us to continue on and push farther into the Empire. Bernd Klein and two young men by the names of Adalbert Swain and Eckhard Fuchs are ready to lead the people. The village now has a Bible of its own, and many of the people have turned their hearts completely to God. There are still some who do not believe— Roland’s family included— but they don’t seem to pose much of a threat and have resorted to shunning all those who do not agree with them. Oh Father, have mercy on them.
Tomorrow, Julian and I will talk to the Kleins about moving on. It will be sad to leave, and I must admit, I’m a little frightened of what might lay ahead. I would much rather stay here with those who have so easily and readily believed. But we came to the Empire, and if God is calling us deeper in, we must obey Him and go. Even now, the enemy is at work as he tries to keep us here, sheltered in this small village, hiding from the danger and trials ahead, and not following the call of our God.
Lord, give us strength.~Leon
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
YAYYY!!! This section looks good! I’m interested to see what will happen after they leave the city. Poor Roland. But Julian has a good reaction to him.
So glad you’re back!!
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
HYBRIDLORE!! I’ve missed you!!! (even though we’ve still be talking while I was gone. XD)
So glad you liked the section!
Yeah, poor Roland.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
HYBRIDLORE!! I’ve missed you!!! (even though we’ve still be talking while I was gone. XD)
XD Same here, haha!
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Glad you are back! I hope things went well with that.
Where were we? Ah yes, you were stealing names from my Gunny for your characters. (No, I won’t tell you what she named my dad’s other three brothers. It will be funnier if you stumble across those names by accident.)
I was kind of surprised that Leon and Julian are headed out since for both of the previous books, the protagonists just ended up staying with the people they first became friends with. (I can’t remember if Joseph originally had intentions of only staying in one place temporarily, but I know Aaron did.)
Maybe Roland will accompany them since he doesn’t have a home anymore.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Uh…. not really. It’s kind of a mess.
So wait, how many brothers are there. I got Julian, Roland, Adrian, and Quinton, (almost because I had a Quin)
Are there two or three more?
I was kind of surprised that Leon and Julian are headed out since for both of the previous books, the protagonists just ended up staying with the people they first became friends with.
Well, they have a different mission. Aaron went in as a missionary, but things sort of changed when everyone ended up in the same spot and he started a church.
Joseph went out as an elder to a specific town.
Leon and Julian are more evangelists, like Paul and Silas/Barnabas type characters.
Maybe Roland will accompany them since he doesn’t have a home anymore.
hmmm.
So, this was good and didn’t feel too rushed?
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
So wait, how many brothers are there. I got Julian, Roland, Adrian, and Quinton, (almost because I had a Quin)
Are there two or three more?
There are 6. Quinton was almost the name of the fifth, but my Gunny (who was very picky when it came to names) decided to make that his middle name instead. So you still have 3 to go.
So, this was good and didn’t feel too rushed?
If Kleins and Roland aren’t important to the story anymore, spending too much time with them may only make the reader disappointed when they are left behind. If Roland does in fact come with them, I think he’s been given enough time. So either way, the pacing feels fine.
With that said, I’m not sure I like the frequency of the journal entries. I’d prefer to be there for some more of these events. This does make things feel a little faster passed.
I just hope there is a farewell scene and as they leave, we aren’t just told they accomplished something, but also feel it.
Some interesting character development might be a moment where Leon or Julian longs to stay behind, feeling like part of the church again and hating to return to being hated after seeing so much accomplished. But that’s up to you.
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
Oh, I get it. I thought Quinton was the name.
Okay….. hmm. This’ll be interesting. Your grandmother is a woman of good taste when it comes to names if I do say so myself.
If Kleins and Roland aren’t important to the story anymore, spending too much time with them may only make the reader disappointed when they are left behind. If Roland does in fact come with them, I think he’s been given enough time. So either way, the pacing feels fine.
mmmK. Good to know.
With that said, I’m not sure I like the frequency of the journal entries. I’d prefer to be there for some more of these events. This does make things feel a little faster passed.
Hmm, well I did this for a few reasons. One, we’ve heard this all before in Ardenta and I want these books to have a little bit of a different feel than those, ya know.
This is also supposed to be a very fast paced book, because I do want you to feel some of the rush and speed that the characters themselves go through. At the moment it’s slower, but it’s going to pick up. I want to keep an even balance of that and actually seeing the characters and getting to know them. However, because my fella’s are going to be on the move and not settling down,i think I have a cast of at least 70+ named characters that they meet, and 15-30 places they go, and I don’t want to spend too much time with all of them.
So yeah, with that in mind, is it still moving too fast?
I just hope there is a farewell scene and as they leave, we aren’t just told they accomplished something, but also feel it.
Some interesting character development might be a moment where Leon or Julian longs to stay behind, feeling like part of the church again and hating to return to being hated after seeing so much accomplished. But that’s up to you.
K and K.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
Hmm, well I did this for a few reasons. One, we’ve heard this all before in Ardenta and I want these books to have a little bit of a different feel than those, ya know.
Ah.
This is also supposed to be a very fast paced book, because I do want you to feel some of the rush and speed that the characters themselves go through. At the moment it’s slower, but it’s going to pick up. I want to keep an even balance of that and actually seeing the characters and getting to know them. However, because my fella’s are going to be on the move and not settling down,i think I have a cast of at least 70+ named characters that they meet, and 15-30 places they go, and I don’t want to spend too much time with all of them.
So yeah, with that in mind, is it still moving too fast?
Okay. I suppose this is in a way similar to a show like Avatar the Last Airbender. I know you haven’t seen that, but in the first season of the show Aang, Katara, and Soka journey from the South Pole to the North Pole. There are several episodes where they stop to meet some people and help them, and then move on. There are quite a lot of characters introduced here, but it didn’t feel like it was moving too fast. Of course, there were 20 episodes that were about 20 minutes long each. Some of the characters they met never returned, and others took on more major roles later on. But if your book is episodic in nature, then this may work. I think I may need to see more of these stops to judge it better.
I think the most important thing here is the character development we will see in Leon and Julian. In this AtLA show, Aang, or one of his friends, usually takes something from each stop. Sometimes he learns he needs to be more responsible, sometimes he learns to approach challenges from another angle. So I think the fast-passed stops will be fine, as long as we see a point to them in the overall story that is personal to Leon and Julian.
If you’re worried about the passing, set an ultimate goal or destination the reader will yearn to see Leon and Julian reach. In AtLA, Aang is going to the North Pole to learn water bending so that he can train to defeat the evil Firelord who rules the world. What is the ultimate goal for Leon and Julian? Right now, they are just wandering around aimlessly, telling the gospel to those they come across. But what about something like their destination being the capital? Then we will want to see them move forward and accept their stops along the way as temporary.
I hope this helps!
Sometimes it is necessary to paint the sky black in order to see the stars.
@hybridlore @linus-smallprint @koshka @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon @liberty
NEXT SECTION!!!
Sorry I’m late. Busy today. But, I think it’s a little longer than normal. 🙂
“Thank you so much for the meal, Liesl. It was wonderful,” Julian said.
Liesl smiled. “I’m glad you liked it.”
“So, what are we doing today?” Roland asked. After what had happened with his father, Roland had been taken in by the Kleins for a time, and he was always eager to begin each day. His readiness always brought a smile to Julian’s face, but today he looked at Leon soberly.
Leon took a moment to organize his thoughts. “Bernd, thank you for your hospitality and care of us,” he began.
“Of course,” Bernd replied. “Thank you for coming to us with this glorious truth.”
Leon nodded, a little unwilling to continue. At last, he spoke. “Bernd, Rolf, Roland… everyone, Julian and I have been called by God to come here and bring His Word to the people of the Empire. We have brought the Word of God to you, and it has been so wonderful to see God’s power working here. But you are standing firm in your faith, Bernd, Adalbert, and Eckhard are ready to lead, and we have listened to you three teach. You have a copy of God’s word, and even now you are beginning work on more. This village has found Christ, but you are not the only village out here. The others need to hear.”
“You’re leaving us, aren’t you,” Ernst said.
“Yes,” Leon replied. “Julian and I have heard God’s call again. He is telling us it is time to continue on.”
Roland looked up. “I’m going with you.”
“What?” Leon asked in surprise.
“I have no one here to hold me back. I long to see the people come to know God, and I want to tell others of what He has done for me.” Roland replied.
“Roland, I in no way want to go against God’s will, but are you sure?” Leon asked.
Roland nodded.
“When the Empire begins to destroy us–– and I say when, because it will happen–– the priests will not give up power so quickly. When they begin to destroy us, they will target those teaching and spreading God’s word, and they will be cruel and merciless in order to frighten those who have heard our words. Are you ready for that?” Leon asked.
“I am,” Roland replied. “I will stay true to the end, and if I must die, then I will die. But death is not the end. You told me so yourself.”
Leon nodded. “Then, Roland, you are most welcome,” he said, grasping the young man’s hand firmly.
“When will you leave?” Rolf asked.
Leon looked to the Klein family. “Tomorrow morning.”
Liesl looked over at Roland. “I will miss you,” she said softly. “All of you,” she added.
“Yes, Liesl is right. It will be hard to see you go,” Bernd agreed.
“If God wills it, we will return,” Julian promised.
Leon nodded in agreement.
***
The day passed in preparations and farewells. The time was all too short, and the setting of the sun seemed but a few hours from its dawning that morning. The evening came, and the believers in the village gathered in prayer for Roland, Julian, and Leon.
The next morning, the three rose early and ate with the Kleins. After breakfast, Liesl gave them their packs filled with previsions for the journey. They said farewell, promising to return if God willed it.
Rolf gave his best friend a long and fierce embrace, and Julian could guess how much it hurt him to see Roland go.
As the sun’s light began to paint the sky, Julian, Leon, and Roland set off down the road, waving farewell to the Kleins, who stood and watched them go.
For the first half hour, the three walked in silence, thinking of the village they had left behind, and what they might be walking into. At last, Leon broke the silence. “Well, Roland, what’s next on our path to the Capital?”
“A small lumber village on the side of the mountain,” Roland replied.
“Well then, that’s the way we’ll go,” Leon decided. “Is there anything we should know about this place?”
Roland nodded. “The lumberjacks and their families don’t like strangers. They’ve had to fight it out with other lumberjacks for this spot on the mountain, and they don’t want anyone meddling with them.”
“Oh, don’t worry, we’ve met the like before in Ardenta,” Julian said.
Roland shrugged. “I don’t know. These fellas are as willing to stab a stranger as shake hands with him.”
“What pleasant people,” Julian quipped.
That afternoon, clouds began to gather, and halfway through their hike up the side of the mountain it began to rain. Fog shrouded the trees as the rain soaked their path, turning it into a treacherous, slippery assent. The sun was past its zenith, and they were cold, wet, and muddy from several falls, when the three finally came in sight of the village.
“There it is,” Roland said.
Julian and Leon followed his pointing finger to a group of houses a little higher up the mountain. The two paused to catch their breath as they looked at the village. There wasn’t a single sign of life, though with the weather that was not surprising. “Lord may Your will be done,” Leon said.
The three climbed the rest of the way to the village and entered through the wooden gates in a fence of sturdy poles. The log cabins were tightly shut against the rain, and the street was muddy and full of water. The three sloshed their way to the village square where a statue of the god of the forest was set.
Roland shook his head in disgust. “I have a mind to smash it,” he muttered.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Leon said, grabbing the impulsive youth’s arm. “That’s the best way to get us all killed. There are times for action like that, but this is not one of them. All that will do is make the people hate us and turn a deaf ear.”
Roland reluctantly agreed.
The three stood in the rain, wondering what to do. “Do you think we should knock on one of the doors and see if someone will let us in?” Julian asked.
“If you want to be knifed,” Roland said dryly.
Leon whistled. “Well, they obviously aren’t the friendly type.”
“I guess we could leave and come back,” Julian suggested.
“Oh no, it’s too late for that,” Roland replied as he wrung rainwater from his cloak. “They know we’re here, and they’re watching us. If we leave, they’ll send men out after us.”
Leon nodded. “It seems like a good way to initiate contact.”
“The only thing you would come in contact with would be the arrow in your back,” Roland replied.
Julian shuddered slightly.
Leon crossed his arms loosely over his chest and surveyed the village in silence.
“I suggest we settle down and wait for them to approach us,” Roland said.
“How long will that be?” Leon asked.
Roland shrugged. “Hours, days… at least not until after the rain is over.”
“Great,” Julian muttered.
Leon glanced over at Roland. “I suppose it’s against the rules to try and take shelter.”
“I’d say,” Roland agreed. “They’ll want you where they can see you. And another thing, the mountain people are highly superstitious. To lay a hand on any part of the god or his home is a crime punishable by death, so I would stay away from it,” he added nodding to the statue.
Julian sighed. “And I thought soldiers were superstitious.”
Leon turned slowly toward Roland. “I thought you were going to try and smash it.”
Roland looked a little sheepish. “I was. Before I thought about it.”
Leon sighed and looked at Julian. “Perfect, now there’s two of you.”
The three pulled their hoods lower and moved closer together, giving in to the fact that they would be soaked. “So, where have you two been all this time not to know these things?” Roland asked bluntly.
Leon and Julian exchanged a look. “Well, we both joined the army very young, and we were both from bigger towns and cities. It just isn’t the same there. I mean the Capital is dark… very dark, and they are tangled in superstition— but it’s a little different,” Julian said.
“We were soldiers, and we killed, honored the gods, and distanced ourselves from commoners,” Leon continued. “We saw all of you as beneath us, and we didn’t associate with those of lower class.” He smiled a little. “God taught us both a lesson. When we chose to follow Him, we became the dirt of the streets, and the Empire hunted us day and night. It was hard, humbling… and completely worth it.”
Julian nodded in agreement. “Made it so I look at what we once considered those beneath us with new eyes.”
“Sadly, because of our pride when we lived here, Julian and I don’t know the people of our own country. It is strange to look at with new eyes,” Leon finished.
The three were silent for a moment, and the rain splashing against the puddles in the dirt square was the only sound.
“So, tell us. Has anyone ever trespassed in the lumberjacks’ territory before?” Julian asked.
“None that has lived to tell the tale,” Roland replied. “Though one boy was found drowned in the river a few days after his friends dared him to go up here.”
Julian and Leon looked at one another. “What did we just get ourselves into,” Leon muttered.
Roland looked up at them. “What’s wrong?”
“Roland, if you knew all this, why on earth did you follow us into this death trap?” Leon asked, his voice tinged with annoyance.
Roland shrugged. “Because you said God was leading you to bring His word to the people, and I trust Him to protect us. Why are you worried? Is something wrong?”
Leon looked away, slightly ashamed. “No.”
Roland let out a breath. “Good. I was getting a little worried.”
Leon turned to face him. “Roland, this very well may be the place where one or more of us die. Just because God is with us doesn’t mean that our lives won’t be cut short.”
Roland stared into the misty forest and moment. He nodded slowly and looked at Leon and Julian. “I understand.”
For almost an hour, the rain continued to pour, and the three stood hunched up against the cold. At last, the storm abated, and the birds began tentative chirps.
Leon’s eye caught movement to the right, but his military training warned him not to jerk in that direction. He watched out of the corner of his eye as a figure darted from one house to the next. He felt a crawling chill down his spine and fought off a shudder. Oh, for Roland’s simple faith! He let out a slow breath. Father, help me trust. Still, the thought that any moment he could be shot in the back was not a pleasant one.
At last, a youth stepped from the shadows into the village square. Leon decided he must be about Ernst age, and he quickly looked him over. At the boy’s hip was strapped a long, straight knife, and he looked like he was used to wielding a heavy ax and carrying timber. He stood and stared at the strangers for a long time. At last, he stepped forward. “Who are you, and what is your business in our village?”
Leon slowly stepped forward. “I am Leon Fischer, and with me are my friends, Julian and Roland. We have come to bring a message to your village.”
“What message?” the boy demanded.
“A message for your entire village,” Leon replied.
The boy tilted his head slightly, as if considering Leon’s words. At last, he nodded tersely. He spun on his heal and strode back into the shadows.
Roland and Julian exchanged a look. “Wouldn’t it be better to try and get to know them first?” Julian asked— for once being sensible.
Roland snorted softly. “No one gets to know them. I say we have about ten minutes to say what we can before things turn wild.”
Julian smiled slightly. “Nothing like a little danger to wake you up.”
Leon shot him a look.
The three young men watched the figures moving back and forth, whispering and gesturing, and looking at them with suspicion and fear. At last, the people began to cautiously step out into the village square, and it was not long before a small crowd began to gather. The people were like the forest they lived in; rough, quiet, and wild. The boy who had addressed them first stepped forward. “Our village leader is busy at the moment, but the rest of us are here.”
Leon glanced at Julian, who nodded. There was no reason to wait. They had a small chance of getting through to the people, and it was best to speak while they could.
Leon nodded to the boy and took a deep breath. Father, guide my words and speak through me. May your will be done. He looked at the people before him and drew in another slow breath. Then, he spoke; “People of the forest, I and my friends have come to bring you a message. It is a message of hope, freedom, and salvation. My name is Leon Fischer, and I am a former Lieutenant of the Imperial army.”
There were a few murmurs, and Leon waited for the crowd to quiet. He let his eyes move over the people. There were a few women and children and standing protectively between them and the strangers were the men, most leaning on broad axes. Off to one side was a group of older boys, and in the shadows to the far right stood a lone figure.
The people grew quiet, and Leon continued. “Like all soldiers, I served the emperor, my country, and the gods. I fought every battle for the glory of those three, I competed in tournaments in honor of the gods, I observed festivals, days of worship, prayed, sacrificed… I was all that a soldier and subject of the Empire ought to be.” For a moment he paused, and his eyes rested on the statue in the square. “I was devoted to the gods, yes, but I believe that you are even more so than many a man I have known.”
A few nodded at this.
Leon smiled slightly and continued. “Julian and I were sent to the wars in Ardenta, and it was there that we encountered something astonishing. It was a young man who followed a different God. A God that he was willing to die for.”
Several of the people looked surprised, and Leon saw a few of them whispering to one another. Leon waited a moment and then went on. He told of Ardenta, and it’s fall. He told of Aaron and his death, and he told of his Adrian and his quest to understand what Aaron believed. He told of the change that came over Adrian and of his death. Then he told of how he, Julian, and a few others had come and learned the truth. He told of how they could have stayed in Ardenta, but God had called them to return to the Empire. Then he began to lay out the story of the True God.
The people listened in rapt attention, but it was unclear what they thought, for they showed little expression. When Leon had finished, he turned and motioned to Roland. “This young man has come with us from a village not far from here.”
Roland stepped forward and spoke with clear confidence. “My name is Roland,” he told them. “I believe what Leon and Julian have told you. I believe it with all my heart. They speak the truth. There is only one God, and Him alone do I serve. I have seen His power in my village, and I am ready to follow him through whatever may come.”
Roland paused to catch his breath after the bold outburst, and those listening stood in silence.
Before anyone could speak, two figures appeared. One was the village headman, marked only by the green embroidery on the collar of his tunic. The other was a man in uncharacteristically white clothing for such a setting. His cloak swirled about him, and his face was flushed with anger.
Leon felt a cold chill run up his spine. This was the village priest.
“My children,” the priest said, spreading his hands over the crowd. They parted with speed, and he walked to where Leon, Julian, and Roland stood. “My children,” he said again, holding his hands out over the crowd. “What has happened that you would suffer such evil in the sight of the gods?” his voice was smooth, but his eyes were filled with accusation. “How dare you permit such men in our village! Do you know what will happen to you? The gods will curse us all for permitting them to speak in such a manner!”
The people gasped in fright.
“That’s not true!” Roland exclaimed. “My village turned to Christ, and no curse has befallen us!”
Leon covered his face with a hand. Here it comes.
The priest glared at Roland. “He dares to call me a liar! Of course he would lie. He is trying to snare you all. Once your village is wiped out by the gods, the lumber here will be free for the taking. These men have come to steal what is rightfully yours!”
That did it.
“Kill them!” one of the lumberjacks yelled, and several roared in agreement. They sprang forward.
“No!” the village headman shouted. “We will not have blood on our hands. They claim to have been former soldiers. We do not want the army coming up here to avenge them.”
“What do we do then?” one man asked, hefting his axe.
The headman turned to Julian, Leon, and Roland. “Leave this village and never return, on pain of death. The moment you set foot within this village; your lives are forfeit. Now go.”
The village headman nodded to a group of young lumberjacks. “See them out and make sure they do not return.”
The boys grinned and began gathering up rocks. Julian, Leon, and Roland made a quick escape, pursued by the yelling of the village boys and the missiles they hurled.
When it was safe to stop at last, the three collapsed in exhaustion in the damp leaves of a small dale part way down the mountain. Roland lay back against the slope, breathing hard. Leon wiped blood and mud from the side of his face, wincing as his fingers found the cut left by a rock.
Julian looked at him with a wry expression. “That went well.”
Leon shrugged. “God knows what He’s doing, and for that I am very thankful because I—for one— do not.”
Roland slowly sat up, wincing as he discovered a cut in his arm. “Where to next?”
Leon grinned. “How about a place to camp for the night.”
“Do you think the lumberjacks will pursue us any farther?” Julian asked. “That priest wants us dead.”
“I don’t know,” Leon replied. “Perhaps we should get farther away.”
“It would be wise to do so,” said a voice from behind.
The three spun in alarm to see one of the young lumberjacks standing at the top of the small slope, looking down on them. His hand rested causally on the hilt of his long knife. For a moment no one moved, then, the youth dropped down to where the three sat. Leon scrambled to his feet, eyeing the young man.
Julian and Roland slowly rose, wondering what the woodsman planned to do. The youth looked from one to the other and then spoke. “The priest will convince some of the wilder young men to hunt you down, and they’ll cut your throats while you sleep.”
Julian shuddered and glanced at Leon.
“How did you find us?” Leon asked.
“You leave a trail anyone could follow. They’ll read your tracks like an open book.”
“Why did you follow?” Julian asked.
“Because I believe you,” the boy said, simply.
There was a moment of shocked silence. Then, Roland spoke. “Well, God certainly knew what He was doing. He sent us up here for you!” He held out a hand. “I’m Roland.”
“Aelic,” the boy said, grasping Roland’s hand. He shook hands with Julian and Leon and then spoke. “Come, we must get away from here before they find us.”
Aelic turned and strode off through the woods.
The three exchanged glances. “Dare we trust him?” Roland asked.
“I don’t think we’ve got much of a choice,” Leon replied. “He’s right, they know these woods well, and if they want to find us they will.”
“Besides, he said he believes, and he had every opportunity to take us by surprise, yet he didn’t,” Julian added.
Leon nodded and the three followed after Aelic.
The young woodsman moved with skill and seemed to glide noiselessly through the trees, moving and bending to take full advantage of the gaps in the foliage. Julian felt clumsy as he watched Aelic move. They traveled through the woods, going backward and forward, up and down, turning here and there, backtracking, moving through streams, and going so many ways that Julian found himself quite lost, never mind their pursuers.
Suddenly, they were out of the woods and going down a gentle slope to the roadway. Aelic turned with a triumphant expression and gestured down the road. Leon nodded to him and took the lead. They walked in silence the short remainder of that day. As the sun set, they came to a little dell near the road and built a small fire to cook a meal from the rations they had packed. After the meal, Leon finally asked what they had all been wondering. “Aelic, how come you left your village?”
Aelic leaned back against the slope of the little hallow and thought for a moment. “Well, I guess I should start before you came.” He thought a moment. “I’ve always worshiped and served the gods. It was what my father taught me to do. My mother died when I was born, and my father believed it was a curse on her. You see, I was born on one of the holy nights, and because of this, she could not go to the celebration to the god of the forest. Because of her lack of devotion, the gods killed her. But my father bound himself to the gods as their servant forever, swearing to give half of all he owned to them. That was what the priest told him to do. Because of this, they let me live, or so my father believed.”
Leon glanced at Julian and saw he was frowning angrily.
Aelic went on. “We were the most devoted to the gods of all our village, yet it wasn’t enough. My father was killed when a tree came down on him one day as he and the others were cutting timber. I was twelve at the time. The priest told me that this happened because my father had hidden something from the gods and not given them half of all that he owned. I knew this wasn’t true, and I said so. After that, the priest said that I was cursed and would bring curses upon any I lived with. From that day on, I lived alone and worked alone. My cousins were the only ones who dared to show kindness to me, and I saw the fear in their eyes when they did.”
Aelic picked up a stick and threw it into the fire.
“What happened,” Roland asked.
“As the years passed, I began to question,” Aelic confessed. “My father and I had barely survived all my life because we gave so much to the gods— or rather, to the priest so he might give it to the gods. Yet, it wasn’t enough, and the curse that was laid on our family was something we could not get out from under. It was a weight pushing us down, and we could never do enough, and the gods took my father after all he had done for them. After a time, I began to believe I was the one who was cursed, just as the priest had said. I was the one who prevented my mother from going to the festival, I was the one who brought the burden of no wife upon my father, and now, they were all gone, and yet the curse remained. I was an outcast in my village, and every time something went wrong it was blamed on me. From the milk going sour to a tree killing a lumberjack–– it was all my fault. I couldn’t live with that, and I went to the priest and told him so. He told me there was only one thing I could do if I wanted to save my village and make it so my father and mother could rest in peace, free of the curse.”
Aelic stared into the flames in silence.
“What did he tell you to do?” Leon asked, though he had the awful feeling he knew.
Aelic slowly looked up at him. “When the full moon rose, I was to surrender myself to the hand of the priest and break the curse by a sacrifice of blood and life— My own.” Aelic let out a slow breath. “He said that if I paid that price, it would cover the sins of our family’s past and break the hold of the curse. I was horribly frightened, and I dreaded what would happen to me, but if it would bring peace to my parents and protection to the village, I was ready to do it. There was no other way.” Aelic looked down. “I was trying to prepare myself to face that when you came. When you told the story of a God who not only loved me, but died for me, I could hardly believe it. He broke the curse over me with a sacrifice of blood and life— His blood and His life. When I heard that, how could I not believe!”
Aelic looked up, his eyes bright with tears. “I had never felt so much freedom and hope then when I heard you speak. I am ready to give my life to Him, for I believe He is the one true God. How could I not believe in a God who died for me? I have never seen any result from all my years of devotion except for a rich priest who grasps for more and more. But this God is different, and I heard you tell how He changes lives. He paid the price and now I see I could have never done that on my own. I am ready to follow Him and serve Him for the rest of my life, no matter what may come.”
Leon smiled and gripped the young man’s arm. “Oh Aelic, thank God.”
“You said all we must do is call upon God and He will save us,” Aelic said.
“Yes,” Julian nodded.
So, right there, Aelic fell to his knees and raised his hands. “Oh God of salvation, Oh God who paid the price and broke the curse. Save me! I give myself wholly and completely to You. You are my God, and I will serve no other.”
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
Good section!
Roland, I in no way want to go against God’s will, but are you sure?” Leon asked.
Roland nodded.
When I read this, I thought that maybe Leon and Julian should have prayed about it before letting him come with them.
Roland shook his head in disgust. “I have a mind to smash it,” he muttered.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Leon said, grabbing the impulsive youth’s arm. “That’s the best way to get us all killed. There are times for action like that, but this is not one of them.
Lol 😂😂 I like Roland. And I felt like there was a lot more humor in this chapter, which was great.
Aelic has a great story. The culture of the people seemed really interesting, and it was really cool how it compared to Jesus’s story.
Also, I’m starting to see the personality differences between Julian and Leon and I love them 😍
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
Okay I can change that. It won’t do anything to the plot.
Lol 😂😂 I like Roland
haha, me too.
Poor Leon. He is now stuck with two impulsive companions.
Also, I’m starting to see the personality differences between Julian and Leon and I love them 😍
ME TOO!!!!!
Just out of curiosity and to see if I’m getting everything across, what would you say are the main differences between Leon and Julian?
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
Leon is definitely more confident and the leader. It feels like Julian looks to him and gets more concerned about things. And Julian likes to make quips. That was just what I think I noticed from this chapter.
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
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