The Willowsbrook Chronicles - Chapter 24: Newfound faith
The big Innkeeper watched the vision before him, as Terrel narrated. “In the weeks that went by, I tried many times to escape. How Master McKinnett kept his patience, is a miracle of Mallastra’s.”
Gunther watched as the scene showed the times Terrel tried to flee. Every attempt resulted in the older priest catching him. Every time, McKinnett defeated him with the Shepherd Staff as a result. “Finally,” The priest explained. “I learned how to read and understand numbers. As I did, I found myself taking time to read the philosophy tomes the Master had in the library.”
The vision changed. Terrel was now in his early twenties. He was sitting in the library reading. “As I read those books, I began to understand the power I’d been lacking.” He explained, Gunther listening.
“True strength, comes not from control of others, but control of one’s self and one’s baser instincts. That energy should go to self-improvement. This was the important lesson I failed to learn from Mother Allegra and Hedron. This was the lesson I finally understood with Master McKinnett.”
The innkeeper turned back to the vision, as a new scene appeared before him. Zachariah McKinnett and Terrel were dueling with the Shepherd staffs again. But unlike the other times Terrel had fought, this time the moves were more fluid and disciplined. There was still power in his attacks, but it was also tempered by skill and technique. He’s learned, Gunther thought to himself.
The older priest tried to hook the good leg of Terrel. But the cleaner looking young man, dressed in acolyte attire, leapt over the attack.
He launched his own strike which hooked the older man’s left leg. Terrel landed, and pulled the man off his feet. The acolyte swung his staff around so the lower bunt pointed at the older man’s face. The priest nodded his approval.
“Well done boy,” He managed to say as he panted. To Gunther’s surprise, Terrel helped the man to his feet. “You’ve beaten me, so there’s nothing more I can teach you.”
The older priest stepped aside. “There's the door lad. Feel free to take your things, and go.”
But Terrel gave the old man a warm smile. “Master McKinnett,” he stated showing proper respect. “As much as I enjoyed finally defeating you, I must speak Mallastra’s truth. I don’t want to leave now.”
The older priest looked puzzled. "Last night Lady Mallastra came to me in a dream, a vision," the young man explained. "She said that once I have defeated you, I must continue down this path. It seems the Blessed Lady has plans of her own for me. So, I ask you, will you help me become a member of the order of the Firm Hand, and aid me in finding my redemption?”
A smile spread across the older man’s face, one bigger and more joyful than anything Gunther had ever seen. “Those who come seeking to embrace the word of Mallastra and her love, will find it. Of course, I will help you boy, this is an unexpected, but not unwelcome, turn of events.”
The scene before the big man changed again.
Gunther recognized the city of Ellistrea, capital of Velstand. In the bustling city, Terrel and the head of the Order walked down its cobbled streets.
Magnificent churches and places of worship stood tall and proud. The afternoon sun glistened off the river that flowed through the Temple District. The water sparkled with the light of hope. This district of Ellistrea shined, as a beacon of hope, for the Kingdom.
Peasants, merchants, and priests alike went about their daily routines. From the various temples, bells rang and choirs chanted in the various hallowed halls. “Gods,” Terrel gasped in awe. “I had heard the capital of the kingdom was a busy place. But seeing it makes Ansolar pale in comparison.”
The older priest shrugged. “You get used to it after a while,” he commented.
The two continued their journey down the cobbled streets. Carriages and various people passed by them.
Then they came to a large walled temple complex that seemed as much a fortress as anything else. The banners that hung from it, showed off the various factions of Mallastra’s faith. “The Prophetess’s sanctuary,” Terrel whispered. He then made the sign of blessing for his faith.
The two approached a large set of iron double doors to the complex. The doors had figures carved into them, in glorification to the Goddess.
The portals opened, and a woman dressed in bright white garb stepped forth. She approached the two, and Gunther noted she was the same age as McKinnett. The woman had covered herself from head to toe in the attire of a Matron. “Father McKinnett," she greeted. "Prophetess Josephine told us to expect you. I see you’ve brought the young man who seeks to join us.”
The woman gave Terrel a critical gaze. The young man did his best to stay calm. Finally, she nodded in approval.
“Yes, yes, the Prophetess was right, a certain strength of spirit. You are welcome here applicant Antonius. Come, the others are expecting you.”
They walked towards the entrance, then the woman turned back to them. “Oh, forgive me, I sometimes forget my manners. I am Matron Marianna Virtu from Roccaforte. It’s a pleasure to see someone from my homeland seek Mallastra’s path.”
Terrel looked surprised. “You…you are from my homeland? In all honesty, I’ve never seen it. My um…origins were not the greatest.”
The Matron smiled. “Fear not young man, through the power of the Blessed Lady, you will come to know our birthplace. You may even come to love it, as I do.”
They entered the large complex. Various church officials and servants were heading to and from their destinations. Others were talking with their fellows in hushed tones. Throughout the complex, the sounds of men and women chanting sacred hymns echoed.
Everything there promoted a feeling of comfort and holiness. Even though it was only a vision, the big innkeeper could feel the benevolence. His former enemy had indeed walked on sacred ground.
Marianna led the two down several hallways. They came to a set of golden doors carved with a visage of Mallastra herself.
The older woman pulled from her robes a silver colored stave. She walked up to the door, and tapped on it three times with the stave. A pair of powerful looking paladins opened the inner sanctum doors.
Before them, stood two rows of women of varying ages dressed in the attire of Matrons.
At the front of the two lines, stood a woman dressed in white with gold trimmed robes. On her head, she wore a golden crown with rubies and gems.
The big Innkeeper recognized the face of Prophetess Josephine the Second. Even in her middle years, she still bore an air of command, and some semblance of the beauty she’d had when she was young.
“This is your time boy,” McKinnett whispered to him. “Go forward, and fulfill your purpose from the goddess.”
Terrel nodded and walked forward, looking nervous. He approached the leader of the Mallastra church and lowered his head. He knew this was a gesture of respect.
“Honored Prophetess, I thank you for the chance at anointment into the church.
“Forgive me for not bowing, but my injury makes sitting difficult. I know that the lady has a plan for me, and come to ask your guidance in fulfilling the Blessed Lady's will.”
The powerful woman smiled, and placed her hands on younger Terrel's shoulders. “Look on me Terrel Antonius,” she commanded.
The man obeyed. “Lady Mallastra knows of your past transgressions, and your desire to make amends. You did well in coming to me young man. Listen Brother, this is what she asks."
The scene froze. Gunther turned his attention back to his former childhood foe and Healer Marshan. “As per my instructions,” Terrel explained. “I have gone around the land of Velstand making amends to all who I wronged. And while at it, I've had many adventures with Paladin Korman and his crew.”
The Master Healer nodded his confirmation. “I’ve fought many battles alongside my captain. Each member of this ships’ crew can say we trust Terrel here.
“He has done more to make amends for his crimes than anyone. His faith and his dedication to the good are an inspiration to all.
“On more than one occasion, this young man has even saved my life. One such time, was when I received an arrow of Pyre Viper venom, courtesy of the Dread Witches of Flame.”
Something deep down in Gunther wanted to hate Terrel. Yet seeing the visions, and hearing Master Marshan's testimonial, reached the Innkeeper's soul. More and more, he realized that Terrel Antonius had changed.
The younger priest gave the big man a reassuring smile. “You see Gunther, when you gave me that injury, you saved my soul. Because of you, my Master came to save me, and set me on this path.
“It was all because you showed the courage to stand up to me when I was a foolish thug.”
The last of Gunther’s suspicions slipped away.
The big man then grabbed at his head, as he heard a female voice shriek in pain and fade away. And with her, the red-hot rage also vanished. The innkeeper felt himself able to think again, in time to remember something.
To everyone’s shock, the vision before them changed. It became a tavern in Ansolar, one Gunther knew very well. “What is this?” Terrel asked.
Gunther felt a tear come to his eyes. “That’s Ansolar, and that's the Street Hopper Inn. Twas old man Vanderbross’s place, the first actual Inn I ever worked.”
“Leopold,” Terrel asked. “How is this showing to us?”
“Because," the older priest explained. "The memory is so strong in Gunther’s mind."
“That’s truer than you realize Master Healer,” The big man answered.
Before them, a Gunther Willowsbrook of eighteen years, was finishing up cleaning things. A man with pepper hair dressed in the attire of an Innkeeper walked up behind him. The owner tapped the young man on a shoulder.
The youth looked up. “Is everything ready to go Gunther?” the man asked.
“Yes Mr. Vanderbross. The floors are clean, the stove scrubbed with soapstone, and all the pots and pans cleaned as you asked.”
The older man nodded in approval. “Good lad Gunther, I knew that hiring you for my Inn was a good idea.”
The door to the inn opened. A man dressed in grungy clothing stumbled in. The man looked to be about the same age as the Inn owner. The face of teen Gunther's employer lit up in surprise and recognition.
“What the, Morovic, Morovic is that you?”
The man stumbled forward and fell to the floor. Gunther saw Morovic had suffered many injuries. The owner looked at the young man. “Fetch the healing kit from the back-room Gunther.”
The young man did as asked. Soon the older man was sitting in a chair. The owner was applying healing salve to the other man's wounds.
“It has been a long time Morovic. Are you all right?” Vanderbross ventured in a cautious tone.
The older man grimaced. “No Jonathan, no I’m not!" he groaned, an anguished expression on his features.
"Damn it, you were right, all this time you were right! Gorvin and his goons were no good. I've left that wretched gang, and I got nowhere left t'go!
“And…I was wrong for what I did to you all those years ago.”
Gunther looked perplexed. “Mr. Vanderbross, did this man admit that you and he were enemies?”
The older man nodded. “Aye lad, tis true. Morovic and I were enemies when we were younger.”
The younger Gunther looked baffled. “But why give aide to an old nemesis of yours?” he asked.
The Innkeeper gave the young man a soft smile. “My boy, you’ve been through bad experiences of your own in Faith Lane. The world can be a cold and cruel place. But holding grudges against people can only destroy the heart and soul.”
To this young Gunther’s face creased in thought. “Holding grudges, can only destroy?”
Innkeeper Vanderbross nodded as he continued to tend his old enemy’s wounds. “Aye lad, tis the truth. There comes a time when one must let the old grudges go, to grow as a person.”
The young Willowsbrook drank in the information before the vision froze.
Gunther looked on the two priests. “I forgot that important lesson Mr. Vanderbross taught me. Thanks to Kosarr and that witch of his, I got so caught up in my own hatred I lost sight of what was important.”
“I can’t hold this for much longer you two.” The Master Healer explained.
Gunther looked at the younger priest. “Let’s settle this back in the living world.”
The younger priest nodded his agreement. The world before Gunther faded.
So, Gunther now knows the full story of Terrel’s transformation. And he remembered something from Jonathan Vanderbross, the first innkeeper who hired him.
But what will happen when Gunther and the rest return to the real world? How will they be able to defeat Morgan Kosarr and his gang when they get back? You’ll have to come back and see next time as Burying the past continues. In the continuing saga of the Willowsbrook Chronicles.
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Previous: Chapter 23: Redemption begins
Next: Chapter 25: Confrontation
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