The Farmer's Wife #006

The first person Matthias saw as he stepped out of the room was Brother Valdis. Speaking quietly, so that the woman in the next room would not hear, he said, "Brother, her child has been Taken."

"Are you certain?"

Matthias walked towards the Purgator and held out the doll. "This was in the bed, and a child's clothes are in the room."

Valdis took the doll from him, sniffed it, and wrinkled his nose. A grim look crossed his face. "Sage." Matthias nodded.

The door behind Matthias swung open; he jumped, but relaxed when he Brother Thanos stepping through the doorway. The old man saw the look on their faces and the doll in Valdis' hand; he needed no more to know what they had found. "A child?" he asked. Valdis only nodded.

Thanos led them through into the kitchen. The woman was sipping a steaming brew from a wooden cup, while Anat stood in front of her, one hand on her forehead. On the table beside him, he had poured a few drops of anointing oil into a shallow bowl.

The old man held up a hand as they entered, asking for silence. He was performing one of the Aleian Pleas; Matthias did not know enough to say which.

"Blessed Aleia, Healer of Men, heal this illness of mind." He dipped his thumb in the anointing oil and drew the Silver Blessing on the woman's forehead. "Blessed Aleia, Giver of Rest, bring piece to this soul." He drew again on her forehead; Matthias did not know the symbol. "Blessed Aleia, bring your healing." Again, he traced the Silver Blessing on her forehead.

For the briefest moment, something washed over Matthias, a lightness that bouyed his heavy heart. The fear that pervaded the farmhouse melted away, and all was well with the world.

Then it was gone, and the reality of the stolen child and Ygn's darkness came flooding back; but even so, the shadows in the corners of the house did not seem as dark as they had before.

The woman slumped back in the chair, and Anat deftly snatched the steaming cup from her limp fingers before it spilled even a drop. "She will recover shortly," he said, seeing Matthias' worried look. "Aleia's blessings can be... overwhelming." He turned to Thanos. "What have you found?"

Valdis proffered the doll. "A child has been taken."

Anat nodded. "She said she had a son. Eugen. And her husband?"

Thanos shook his head. "Dead." Anat simply kept looking at him until he continued. "She sleeps alone, and has for some time. There are no tools or men's clothing anywhere, but she keeps a few trinkets beside her bed. Memories."

Anat nodded slowly. "A dead husband and a Taken child. She has nothing left."

Thanos nodded. "Then there is nothing to be done here. When she awakes, we leave."

Anat looked sideways at the Purgator, but said nothing. Matthias, however, could not stay silent. "Perhaps he is still alive," he said. "Perhaps we can get him back."

Thanos scoffed. "He is dead, a Vessel now, or worse. We have a duty to perform, and we have already lost time in coming here."

"I do not know what you hold as your duty, Brother," said Valdis, "but mine is to stamp out darkness wherever it may rise. And if children are being Taken, darkness is rising."

"Your duty is to do as the Silver Crown commands you!" barked Thanos.

Valdis looked up, unflinchingly meeting Thanos' gaze. "The Silver Crown has fallen, Thanos. All that remains is to do their work. Their work, not the work of agéd men sitting safely in their cold stone temples commanding others to face the dangers of the world."

Thanos placed his hand on his sword-hilt. His gaze was fire and wrath, but Valdis did not look away. "Disobey an order of the Conclave and I will see you stripped of your rank and cast out from the Purgatai and from the service of the Church."

In contrast to Thanos' anger, Valdis' words were calm, his gaze cold as steel. "If the Church would have me abandon a child to darkness, I do not wish to serve her."

They stared at each other, fire against steel, for what seemed like forever. Thanos grasped his sword-hilt, and Valdis' hand slid slowly closer to his mace.

Then Thanos looked away, releasing his grip on his sword. "Do as you will," he spat. But the Conclave will hear of this." He turned and walked out of the door, treading heavily on the splintered wood.

"I assure you, Brother, they will hear every word," said Valdis after his retreating back. He turned to Anat. "Will you help me search the house? We may find something of use."

Anat nodded. He gestured to the unconscious woman. "Watch her, Matthias. Keep her calm if she awakes."

Matthias nodded, and the two turned and walked into the corridor toward's the child room.