Chapter 4: Sun Is Shining On Me Now

Cup of hot cocoa… some people gathered around the fire spot… and Talim was shivering like she had a cold. "'Zere you are, madam" said Gabrielle, giving Talim a cup of the new cocoa that came in from the south… "Thank you" said Talim, sipping it down… a hundred coins Gabrielle still felt a bit guilty, from that look in her eyes…

"Is the Greek mistress ok?" she asked, looking at the unconscious heretic on the floor, "I guess she is… she's lucky you guys came along! She would probably have drowned along with me…" and then Talim looked at Gabriel, "Thank you; you saved me Mr… um…"

"Gabriel" said Gabriel, "and please don't call me 'Mr. Gabriel'… please don't" he added, making Talim and Gabrielle giggle a bit, "we call zim Father Gabriel because he is so religious!" said Gabrielle, looking fondly at Gabriel, "I guess I'll call you that too; Father I'll call you from now on"

Gabriel smiled, although he groaned silently: he felt a bit old and alienated already because the kids called him that… did such a pretty young woman call him by such a humiliating name too? Ah well… he kind of liked it too… it made him feel… superior if you will… oh, whatever… "Ow… my… head…" murmured someone…

They all looked at Cassandra, who was stirring a bit, but did not wake up completely… "Oh, dang it" said Talim: one of the strange… sword/ wooden sticks got stuck on the strap of her knapsack…. When she pulled… Gabriel's heart stopped as it hit the hidden closet… and the door opened…

"What the heck…" said Talim, picking up the long pole arm Gabriel had used earlier to pull her to safety… "Oh no…" muttered Gabrielle… "NO, DON'T…" "OW!" yelled Cassandra; Gabriel had stepped on her foot… and as he looked at her to check if she was alright, Talim said "Oh, this is that spear…"

"NO, DON'T LOOK AT THAT!" yelled Gabriel, lunging at Talim, ready to steal the spear from her… however, Talim apparently had incredible reflexes, and she was VERY strong… because she was holding the thrashing Gabriel from her with one of her long, smooth, bronze legs as she inspected the spear…

"Hmm… polished regularly… six inches in width… a classical Roman long arm… it's an old version… really old… what's that?" Oh no… she found the inscription… "It's in Aramaic… lucky I read that old language book back home…" "NO, DON'T READ… IT…" struggled Gabriel, only to be pushed on his butt by Talim…

"He who holds this spear will have his destiny given to him…" translated Talim… "oh my…" she said… and she looked at Gabriel… "The legends are true then… it's not all rumours at all… the church is the one who delve with the Merovingian collections…"

"Ooo… ze Merovingian… the kings of the French chapters… they are so mysterious!" said Gabrielle, sounding extremely interested… Gabriel sighed… "Yeah, yeah, you found us out…" said Gabriel, sitting down… "Then… if I'm right… then this is the Spear of Destiny… this is the…"

Gabriel, however, finished her guess for her… "The spear rumoured to have pierced the side of Christ by the Roman Longinus." Gabriel sighed again, and then said "yes, that's the very one" "Amazing…" Talim said, handing the spear to Gabriel… "But… I just never thought it would be… protected by… by…"

"By what?" Gabriel encouraged her… "By someone so young" Gabriel bowed his head… a feeling of disappointment and embarrassment making his intestines twist and turn… "Hey, Father Gabriel is not a little boy!" exclaimed Gabrielle, making her raggedy dress sway a bit, "I personally zink he is extremezzly worthzy of keeping the Spear of Longinus"…

"Yes… but… still, what kind of dangers could someone take holding such a precious weapon?" Gabriel suddenly got up and left… "Oh no…" said Gabrielle… "What's wrong with him?" Talim asked Gabrielle… "Well…" said Gabrielle…

The blonde seemed a bit uncomfortable standing there… she played a bit with her hair before she spoke again… "Let's just say zat… the spear is also ze reason why Father Gabriel is here in the first place…" "wait… you mean…" said Talim, "please forgive me, but Father Gabriel has asked us all not to talk about it with strangers…" said Gabrielle, tears crawling out of her eyes as she bowed to Talim in apology…

"I understand" said Talim kindly, "Well… I shall leave you now so you may rest… you may leave whenever you like…" said Gabrielle… "Good night" and she ran off, her rag-made dress and long, blonde hair flying behind her…

"So, we are going to that town, right, Cyrus?"

"Yeah… maybe those chicks we saw with the shard will tell us something…"

"We should be careful though…"

"Hippie, Tobias… hippie…"