AN: So here is the next part of the chapter, sorry if some of you think it's boring I'll make it up with some actions chapters later.
Chapter 13
Wolf and Extended Horizons
Both Ranger and Holo swiftly made their way to the wagon with Ranger's sprint vastly putting the distance between them as he outran her. He held his sword at the ready while Holo withdrew some wheat. She stopped at the border of the woods when seeing Ranger holding his blade to a man who was assertively holding up his hands and asking for mercy.
It was the Holy man they had seen in Valenfurt the day earlier, the same one who was also expelled from the tavern. Holo knew he was not a threat but then rubbed her head in a panic when feeling her exposed ears. The ushanka was laying atop the the seat of the driver's box.
A man of God would not approve of her existence, or so she was led to believe and was now scheming of ways of how she could retrieve her head ware without the him knowing.
"State your business while you can." said Ranger with swift arrogation.
The man, though alarmed, remained unusually harmonious when in the face of certain doom, "I am a traveler like you friend. I mean you no ill intent. I saw that the wagon was empty and feared that either the owners were in peril or it was a ruse used by bandits to lure me into a snare."
Holo's ears did not flutter, the man was sincere. It was then that she noted something. Ranger began to circle about to get the man to follow in pattern to put his back to the seat. This gave Holo the chance to advance on the coach and retrieve the ushanka without the holy man knowing.
She abruptly had done so, and had it quickly applied as the man turned his head and acknowledged her introduction to the scene.
"Hello madam." he greeted with a warm smile that caused an unusual buzz to tingle through her flesh. He brought about him a rather warming sensation that even put Ranger at ease.
Sheathing his weapon, the masked man replied, "Apologies then, I mistook you for a threat. Good day to you sir, we must be off."
As Ranger pushed past him, the missionary pled with humble feeling, "Sir, if you be heading to Cross Iron, I would much rather…"
"The wagon is full." interjected the hood.
The Holy man then spoke softly, "Oh, I was not wishing for a ride, just some company along the road. If you are so cordial as to simply let me walk beside your wagon. I ask for no charge, and will not be a burden to you."
Holo looked to the man in charge as if to say she was in approval, however it fell upon the shoulders of the masked man to give consent. He finally turned to the hound who was still anticipating a moment to strike and said while pointing to the holy man, "Kaytaff, guest."
The missionary was unsure what this was to imply until Holo informed, "That means you may accompany us."
They were then put back into motion with no further argument.
Holo kept eyeing the man, though he was an individual who professed to live a life devoted to the commands and requirements of the Almighty, he was not as typical as other zealots she had come across before.
He blindly acknowledged her staring and replied, "If I'm being a bother I can leave you in peace."
Holo quickly went to correct that impression and said, "Oh no it is fine, I am curious, I have seen you in Valenfurt yesterday yet never heard your name."
The missionary slanted, "Edmund, Edmund Whelzling. And my fair creature I failed to even be considerate enough to inquire whose hospitality I'm enjoying."
She blushed slightly at his warmness and said, "My name is Holo."
Edmund looked upon her ever so fairly and commented, "My what an unusual yet lovely name. Your parents have done well in naming you."
Then looking to Ranger, the missionary inclined likewise, "And you sir?"
The masked man made no movement, he only muttered, "Fivel."
Holo's ears twitched at his pronunciation, for once more he did not deliver his true title. Yet even though it was a name given by pretense, Holo sensed that the name held a deeper meaning for him which only she could detect.
Edmund continued his cheery disposition while continuing the sluggish venture of engaging light hearted conversation, "So what brought the two of you together?"
Holo kept her eyes forward on the road and answered neutrally, "I am a merchant and this is my escort to see me safely to Cross Iron."
Then changing subjects she turned the tides on him and asked, "So you are a messenger from the church? Are you the first waive of assault before the raids and inquisitions commence upon the people of the north?"
Holo knew well the methods of the church. Each year a crusade was launched upon the pagan lands which were northward bound. The very territory where Holo acquired residence. Before her time with Lawrence, she would quarrel with the saints and armies the church produced. Naturally this created some pre hostile feelings towards Edmund, seeing how not only did she have contentions in the past with these believers but also found it dubious to believe in the God they professed to worship.
Then to her astonishment Edmund replied, "That is not the Lord's way in convincing his children the ways of salvation."
"So you do not support the crusades?"
"I preach the word, which can have more powerful effect upon the minds of men than the sword."
Holo's interest attuned slightly, "Of which church do you belong?"
"I no longer associate myself to any denomination."
She then turned completely towards him, "I have heard of nuns doing such things but never have met nor even heard of a non denominational missionary."
Edmund seemed to take the remark rather as complimentary which led Holo to further her inquiries, "So you preach from the good book independently?"
"Precisely so."
"What of housing, food or money?"
"The Lord will provide for my needs."
Holo let out a light giggle, "That is sure amount of faith you put in a myth."
"You are not a believer then?"
Looking up to the sky which was obscured by the tips pines just coming to an end of their freshness she answered, "Nature is something more complex for one and only one being to construct and monitor in one eternal sitting. I would need more of a sign if I were to be compelled to believe."
It was Edmund's turn to give a slight chuckle, "Have you not had signs enough?"
Holo's eyebrow curled at his question, "What do you mean?"
Edmund extended his hands, "How can any deny the wonders of God? The air we breath, the cycles of nature, the circle of life. Even the moon and planets which circulate about in their regular motions do acknowledge that there is a supreme creator."
Hardly convinced yet detecting more to his claims Holo came back, "What of the pagan gods?"
"What of them?"
"They are claimed to be real and in fact have been seen before, what of your God."
Edmund then made a powerful statement as he withdrew the holy book from his carrying bag, "People forget at times that God has been seen by men. But not just anyone. Special men who were called and anointed to be His holy messengers. Men who had seen the Almighty face to face and had heard his words and wrote them down. These men were known as prophets, seers and revelators. And we have their writings here, in the scriptures."
Holo became blank in her expressions then said, "I have attended sermons yet I have never heard this much importance with these men."
Edmund then simplified, "It was through the seers that we learned what the will of God is, and his commandments. Through them are hidden things brought to light and things that could not have been known, are known due to their teachings."
"So do you claim to be a true messenger of God?"
"I only attempt to teach the truths as found by the teachings of the men who were."
"You yourself have never laid eyes upon the deity you worship?"
"Well, I did say that I put my faith in the Lord that he will provide for me, and I have yet to starve or freeze to death."
"You know what I mean."
Edmund pondered a moment then returned with an unforeseen conviction, "Though I may not have seen him, I have experienced a rather mighty change of heart that has led me to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is a God."
"Do you think you could explain?"
"Oh my dear, it is a rather long story, and it is one I do not wish to share for it was a very sacred event for me that changed my life forever, or may have just ended it there."
Holo adjusted herself, "Well seeing how you have caught my interest, and also seeing that we still have a ways to travel, I will listen and spare you any judgment."
Edmund scratched the back of his neck and said with the anxiety of being deduced as an absent minded, "Before I start do know that I would not blame you for not believing my history. Had I not experienced what I had, I myself may not believe it either if unfolded to me in the same manner as I am to you."
"I am all ears." said Holo in the attitude that her undivided attention would also grant him freedom of any interruptions.
"To start,' began the humble missionary, 'The man you see now, was not the same man five years ago. I was a very wicked and idolatrous man and it shames me to say that I did not keep the commandments or align my life with the Lord's will the way I ought to have done. My father was religious, he was an alter boy who became a deacon later on. That all changed when he fell in love and chose to hang the cloth."
"Your mother?"
"Yes, she passed on when giving me birth leaving my father to raise me and my eldest brother alone on our farm. When I was older, yet young and reckless, I chose to leave my family after looting what I felt was rightfully mine from my father's hard earned savings that was to be our inheritance when the time was right. I left home and began to live my life as a gambler, whoremonger then eventually a thief. I had burned through my inheritance and was left as a young man with debt and resorted to thievery to provide the means to appease my creditors. But these were not the worst of my sins."
"How so?"
"I would openly deny the Lord to anyone I met and eventually my resentment for religion grew to the point that I was actively seeking to destroy the beliefs and testimonies of others. You must understand that the reason for me doing this was that I was not a happy man, though I could indulge in any unhallowed endeavor whenever I wished, wickedness still was never happiness. Looking back I realize that I hated people who had found something that brought them true inner joy, I festered within as to why I did not have that. My jealousy and hatred drove me to want my misery to be another's burden as well."
"Well I am sure this story has a favorable outcome, for here you are now."
"Indeed. While I was going about my business I suddenly fell sick, as if I were stricken. I collapsed upon the roadside with fever, unable to move, speak or even open my eyes. Some roadside travelers found me and had compassion and took me to a physician. However the doctor could not find a reason for my decline in health. And for the next three days I was convinced I was dying."
"Goodness." murmured Holo.
"But that was not all, not only was I suffering physically, but I endured a spiritual torment unlike any other. It felt as though my spirit was being crushed by an olive press. I could describe it as nothing less than the very pains of hell afflicting my soul. Then in my mind's eye, I heard a voice of perfect mildness say, 'Edmund, if thou wilt of thyself be destroyed, seek no more to lead my children astray.' It was then that I realized what I was enduring was only a taste of what was to come should I continue this course. I was suffering the fate of the souls who spend the rest of eternity in realms of damnation."
"I couldn't imagine." exacerbated Holo.
"Yes but it was during this time that I recalled the teachings of my father concerning the mercy of the Lord and that he is willing to forgive. Therefore I called out to him, saying inwardly, 'Oh Lord, thou King of kings, have mercy on me who is in the fiery pits of bitterness and bound down with the everlasting chains of death….'"
"Then what?"
"I had awoken and had use of my limbs. My pain was gone, my affliction healed and my heart overflowing with joy that was as exceeding as my suffering. My life had been spared yet I knew now what the Lord expected of me. Though my knowledge was limited I knew I needed to repent. To start, I returned to my father."
"What was the reunion like?"
"He ran out to me as soon as he saw me in the horizon. Though I did not feel so deserving of his love, I offered to work my share of earnings on the farm that would equal what I stole. I had labored in the field for about a year, while also studying the scriptures my father had kept around. I became restless when considering all the lives I had harmed due to my selfishness. Eventually this led me to leave and join a clergy to serve my God to the best of my abilities."
"What caused you to leave the church?"
Edmund crooked his head, "Well it started when I was in the record rooms of the monastery and I noticed many books and scrolls that had long gathered dust and cobwebs. My curiosity ran wild and I began to examine their contents. Upon doing so I noticed that the language was old and unreadable. I inquired of the bishop about them and he told me that the language they were written in was ancient and only few had the ability to translate it. Then he scolded me to never bring the subject up again. Naturally this made me all the more convinced to uncover what treasures and knowledge they may contain. To make this already long story shorter, I came across a man who claimed to be an exile from the church. We were instructed to ostracize these people from our lives so the devil may not influence us, but I found out his fate was due to the fact that he learned the language and had the means to translate."
"I believe I can see where this is going." remarked Holo.
"Indeed, he never told me what he found, so I asked him if he could teach me. Of course to do this, I would have to take a book from the library without their knowing and meet with him every night. It took time but I eventually could dictate the scripts though I could never really speak it, only decipher it's lettering. That is when I found something disturbing."
"Such as?"
"These texts were written by other seers and prophets who I had no idea existed. Their words expressed the simpleness of the gospel and its practices in such marvelous ways that I discovered that their teachings contradicted modern church practices. I was determined to find out why only to have further discoveries feel my soul with sorrow. Other texts were scriptures already found in the Holy book yet they were different."
"Different?"
"Certain phrases, verses and entire passages had been changed from the original texts to conform more with the beliefs of today. The original teachings are not available to the children of men."
"So this is why you openly denounced the church?"
"Yes but never the God whom they worship."
Holo nodded then made another inquiry, "I do recall hearing of saints and such but never really have I heard the importance of a seer as you have explained it, what happened to them?"
Edmund bowed his head, "When earnestly reading the Holy book I had noticed that another responsibility of a seer was to cry repentance unto the people when they had gone astray they would become angry and either killed them or exiled them. Leaving God to have to call a new one when the time was right and the people were ready. I remember asking one of the bishops if God would call another one and he nearly had my head. He told me that the era of visions, revelations and the ministering of angels were done away with and that the church and the Holy book is all that was needed for God to guide us."
Holo nearly stammered, "But if your findings are true then it means that the guidance found today does not come from the one true God."
"Such are my opinions, yes. But when I heard that, a light in me died out. I cannot describe the feeling any other way than feeling, jipped, as some people call it. Eventually I confronted the church with my findings because some practices are not found in the scriptures even today. I wrote thesis' with proof that the way the church was going about God's business was not in harmony with His will and that the things that were ordinances and doctrine were not being exercised and the things that were had no scriptural support."
"So you set out on a pilgrimage to teach about God as found in your Holy book and not from the church?"
"To put it bluntly. You mentioned God as a myth yes? The God that is being portrayed now, I'm afraid is very much myth like. Though the church will draw near to him with their lips, they have removed their hearts from him. Teaching the precepts and commandments of men, with a form of godliness, yet denying the power thereof."
Holo then pushed another theory to debunk his sincerity, "And what of the pagan gods? Your Holy book even states from the mouth of the Lord, 'thou shalt have no other gods before Me.' Can a pagan god find salvation, or would you wish to see them removed from the world as well?"
"Ah, you are familiar with certain passages!' exclaimed Edmund, 'Let us read on and we find that God created the heavens and the earth and ALL things that dwell thereon."
"Yes but some church preachers claim they were created by the devil." said she to playfully ensnare him.
"Once again, where is the scripture that supports the devil's ability to create? I answer that there is none. Though the prince of darkness can tempt, blind and deceive man, only God can create. This leads me to believe that the pagan gods have a role in this world and would not be here save it was apart of the Lord's plan. And the Lord does not make mistakes."
Holo was silenced as she looked down and pondered his sayings. Never had she considered that if a one true God were to exist, he desired her to dwell upon the earth as well.
Edmund continued, "It is true the Lord does not want other gods before him, most likely meaning he does not want any other to be worshiped than himself. But there would be nothing wrong asking for the help of a pagan god."
She chewed on her lower lip then said with some dismal bitterness, "Well how very fortunate we live in a world with such a just and merciful God."
Edmund changed his disposition towards her sudden detour in demeanor, "I hope I have not upset you over this conversation we've had."
Holo looked up to the sky, "It is not that, if there truly is an omnipotent one, then why does he allow such terrible things to happen?"
Edmund evened out his expressions and said, "Of all the things God has given us, it is our agency, or the ability to chose that is His greatest gift. If He intervened on every account then He would be denying us our agency and therefore cease to be."
She made an aggressive shuffle and returned, "He need not intervene, only hasten his punishments."
Edmund stooped his head and stated, "It appears that you have been heinously wronged by someone…."
Holo's lips began to tremble, "Something very terrible has happened, yes. Something very special and precious has been taken from me by an enemy I did not even know I had. And know I am unsure if I will ever recover."
With great empathy, Edmund responded, "Oh yes, all of us at one point or another may have pled, 'why has this evil happened to me?' I too have been mistreated and abused, yet what keeps me going is faith, that with an eternal perspective, that all will be well."
Shaking her head, Holo muttered, "What good is faith? Nay, what is faith to begin with?"
"Faith,' said the missionary sincerely, 'faith is knowing that good will happen and that our losses will be made up for in the end. Without the faith, we may find that our ability to endure will crumble underneath the onslaught of troubles we will surely find ourselves in."
"But why does God allow evil to persist in this world he has created? Why does he allow a devil to roam freely in his own kingdom?"
"Because there must be opposition in all things." said Edmund earnestly, "Think of our first parents living in a state of paradise. Though yes they were not susceptible to the follies of mortality in their current state they were in a state of innocence, doing no good for they knew no sin. Knowing no happiness for they knew no tribulations."
Holo let out a huff, "Yes I have heard that because of their fall, mankind is doomed and inherently evil. That their first sin had passed on through their posterity by inheritance." said she with heavy speculation.
Edmund then corrected, "No, they fell that men might be, that they might have joy. When they were cast from paradise they were the first to comprehend that everything has its opposites; Health and illness, happiness and sadness, virtue and vice, pleasure and pain. If the Lord did not intend for it to be this way then the forbidden fruit would not have been so easily accessible and the serpent would have never been allowed to tempt them."
"So God destined them to fail?"
"God gave them the opportunity to be tried and exercise their free will. All things are done by the wisdom of He who knows all things. By doing this, God is able to test us, to see what we will do with our agency. Do we enact our freedom to be free by following the commandments of God, or do we chose to be bound down in captivity by the devil through sin?"
"But what of the sins of others that directly impact the innocent? Murder, thievery, taking advantage of the unsuspecting. I would hardly call it fair for God to simply let the demons run amuck…"
"No loving Father in Heaven would allow his children to be left alone on a world where the devil runs free. He is far but he is near. We can reach out to him for guidance through prayer and follow the promptings that come after. He would never lead us down crooked paths."
"I know what happens to the righteous, they are to go to heaven and the wicked burn in hell. What I am saying is that God seems to be absent when He is needed most!"
Edmund nodded then rejoined, "Heartaches come at times, but we must never succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or that he does not hear our prayers. I promise you that after all that he has done for this world he is not going to abandon us now. What we must do is look around and see if he truly is absent in our lives. With your situation, is there really no help for you? His hand may be invisible and his way mysteries, but I swear to you that he knows what you're going through and is actively involved in seeing you to the other side."
She suddenly glanced over to Ranger whom she forgot was still present due to his unceasing silence and wondered if their meeting those few days ago was by mere coincidence or if there was a divine guidance from above that brought them together. For she could think of no other companion suited for the task in helping her save her husband.
Edmund then continued, "When we are faced with trials, it seems that God is nowhere to be found only when realizing it was us who erred."
"How so?"
"We run away and cut ourselves off from the one being who could have been our first support, instead of falling to our knees and asking him for strength."
"So if I asked God for help, he will fix everything for me?" said Holo with some humor.
"He will either lighten our load or strengthen our backs, it all depends on what he knows would be best for us."
Holo shrugged, "I hope you can see why so many people do not believe in Him, and chose to worship the pagan gods. You do realize how difficult this gospel would be for others to live by?"
Edmund then sweetly replied, "Oh no, the gospel is easy, life is difficult."
It was a fitting comeback that Holo could only salute her head to.
"Just remember that what we endure in this world will be made up for in the next." said he.
Fearing that Lawrence would be killed before she could see him again, she asked, "And what would this reward be?"
Though she was not a believer, Lawrence was, and she desired closure to know what would be in store for him according to his beliefs should the unthinkable happen.
Edmund then spoke with a sure knowledge, "The spirits of all men, whether they be good or whether they be evil are taken home to that God who gave them life. And there the spirits of the righteous will be in a state of rest and happiness, where they are free from all cares and all sorrows. Just think, a world where no one seeks you harm, a world where the lamb and the lion can lay side by side without any ire. A world were nothing will ever worry or upset you again."
"And the wicked?"
"The price of sin must be paid, they can either seek the miracle of forgiveness from God now or they can procrastinate the day of their repentance and there suffer the consequences of their actions as I had done, but for time and all eternity. In the end of it all, we bring upon ourselves the fruits of our labors."
"What of killing?" she asked with some hesitation, "The Holy book says 'thou shalt not kill.'"
She was obviously referencing to the bloody deeds that she and Ranger had commenced the other day. They both were equally guilty in the spilling of blood and more was sure to come.
Edmund's reply was rather surprising, "The Lord himself commanded of his servants to slay others, only to bring about his righteous purposes. Other times he smote others off the face of the earth. When reading that text I did cross reference it with the originals and it translated more to, 'thou shalt not murder.' The difference is murder is used for selfish and twisted means, the other is for the defense for ourselves or others. However in the end, only God can judge."
"And what of those who kill in the name of God, claiming it a tenant of their creed?"
Edmund's complexion changed to that of sourness and disgust, "It is the worst offense of all. Religion is no shield to bar one from the eternal consequences of such actions for he who believes in a cruel god is destined to be a cruel man."
"Well there are many within the church who have no such qualms in killing those who do not conform their views with theirs. Tis' why we have these crusades. What is your opinion? If God commanded men to be slain in the past does this not make it all the more contradictory?"
Edmund let out a sigh, "This is why a seer was so important in those times. We have no seer today to tell us if what is happening is divine or not. I wish I could put it in better terms, but only if God commands it in certain cases is it justified, other than that such things are to be done away with. It is not God's doctrine to stir men's hearts in anger towards each other, but the devil who is the father of lies and contention. What we see now are men's blinded views of what the Lord would want and here is the result of it."
This faintly put away any uneasiness she felt in regards to the subject, yet was not completely worried, for she still did not believe in a one true God.
As they were coming around the bend they saw a large wooden wall that was made of massive beams lined perfectly with each other, and at the front was a draw bridge that was partially up. Seeing this structure left Holo to deduce that it was none other than the entrance to Cross Iron. The reason for the draw bridge not being wholly lowered was due to the fact that there was a checkpoint at the entrance and it was to prevent anyone from simply walking in while the man manning the the pulleys did not have to fully raise it, only enough to prevent a bystander or horse and wagon to go through without approval. It was an obvious precaution that was taken considering the dangers of this part of the world.
The wagon was halted at the gate with a man who supposedly could qualify as a soldier yet had no armor or tunic approaching them. Instead he wore a light fur vest with a cloak around his shoulders and was only equipped with an axe.
The last thing Edmund said was, "See God watched out for us, we did not get attacked."
Though the statement was true, Holo could think of several ways to refute it. She then leaned over to Ranger and whispered, "Be on your best behavior please, and please comply with whatever they may ask of us!" She did not want a scene of any kind transpiring due to the masked man's history of making his displeasures known.
The guard came up to him and seemed friendly enough when he asked, "Hello, what business have you today in Cross Iron?"
Ranger leaned back allowing Holo to enter the line of sight and whispered, " You signed for it therefore it is your merchandise."
Holo then withdrew the parchment with the invoice on it and showed it to the guard and said, "We have a delivery of wine for the Nabakov trading company, here is the invoice and signatures of approval."
The guard reached up and took hold of it and reviewed all of it's contents. After handing it back the guard saw Edmund and kindly questioned, "And you sir?"
"I am a traveling missionary and wish to proselyte in this town for a only a few days."
The sentinel nodded and informed, "Yes we do allow that here but mind you, we do have regulations. Within our main plaza is an erect monument, that is our free speech zone and you can evangelize between the hours of high noon to dusk. For every two hours you preach you must relinquish one hour to silence as to maintain the peace."
While Edmund nodded, Holo was bewildered, she had never heard of such terms and conditions.
The holy man only nodded in agreement and assured, "Very well, and I will try not to trod upon pagan beliefs."
The soldier smiled, "If you have any trouble inform one of us immediately and we will put an end to it."
He then looked at Ranger and asked, "And you sir? Were you the escort?"
"I was."
"Thank you for seeing these two through safely, however if you are considering staying in Cross Iron, even for a day, you will have to relinquish any weapons to the cache just within the city walls."
Holo's heart skipped a beat as she knew this would cause great contention. She grasped the hems of her skirt and awaited the fiery rebuttal of the masked man.
"Very well." said he.
Surprisingly, Ranger complied which brought great relief to her yet compelled her to ask, "Is that precaution for outsiders?"
The sentinel then answered, "Oh no, anyone within our walls are not to be armed save the city guard, citizen and visitor alike."
Holo's eyebrows knitted together, she had never heard of such a law anywhere. Though in many towns, people were unarmed only due to the fact there was never a reason to be, this notion was highly questionable considering the types of perils the northland was plagued with and especially when taking into account the crusades that came every year from the south.
The draw bridge was lowered and the wagon was then led inside. After the stop at the cache, Ranger dismounted and pulled out a chest which contained a few daggers and his bow and arrows. He was then inquired of a few other crates which were under lock on key.
"They are not weapons."
The man at the checkpoint then informed, "Well, May I take a look inside them? Just to be sure."
"I would rather you not." came his reply.
"Then you will have to store them here, I'm sorry but we do not take risks."
Ranger's only response was to unload them as well and move them inside the cache. When it was all said and done the man then pointed to his hip while extending his hand, "Lastly, I'll need your sword."
Instead of unfastening it, Ranger went inside and untied it there and left it standing in the corner. As he exited he made a peering demand, "It had better be there when I return."
Putting his hands up assertively the man responded, "We have never had an issue before, rest assured all will be accounted for when you come back."
Ranger pushed past him leaving Holo to ask, "Where is the Nabakov trading company?"
The man pointed in the direction, "Head west about five blocks and turn right onto Gretchin street. You'll eventually come by it. It's impossible to miss, it's on the docks of the river."
Holo nodded and gave her first attempt at a merchants smile before entering further in.
Now the city of Cross Iron was nothing like it's sister town of Valnfurt. Instead of marshy roads and foul individuals, was evenly cobbled roads of fine stone and walkways with street lamps on each corner. There were no structures made of wood, in fact each building and apartment was finely crafted in cement and rock. Most of the town's structures had their own fences of black iron. As for the inhabitance, not one was seen in torn and ragged clothing. They were clean and hygienically sound in every sense.
It was at this point that Edmund said, "Well I thank you for allowing me to travel with you, but sadly here is where we part ways."
"If only the men who ran the church were as noble and sincere as you Edmund." said Holo as a parting word.
He scrunched his lips then offered on final piece of advice as a final parting, "Good luck to you and remember, some blessings come early, others come late and for some they don't come until heaven. But for those who embrace the gospel, those blessings come."
He then turned and receded from view into the crowd.
As they were following the directions, Holo turned and told of Ranger, "Thank you for resisting the urge to bludgeon the masses when asked to forfeit your arms!"
Ranger let off a simple shrug, "Thank you for not vomiting on the side of my wagon again…"
She grunted at his rudeness then changed subjects, "That man surely did have interesting ideas. It makes me wonder if any will believe him, or if what he said was true concerning his conversion."
"You are the one with ears that can detect lies, what do you think?"
She paused when realizing that she detected no deceit in his testimony then asked of him, "What of you? Do you believe in such things?"
Ranger straightened his neck, "I have my beliefs that differ, but it matters not in this world."
"But do you believe in a God?"
"Of all the things in this world that have been raised up and destroyed, the only thing that has endured is the concept of a higher power."
"So is that a yes?"
Ranger did not answer which only left her to wonder exactly what the mysteries of heavenly kingdoms may be. In fact the concept of God always seemed to differ from man to man. Some claimed him to be only a spirit, others said He man with a body of flesh and bones. Others claimed him incomprehensible, without form or shape while others did not believe him to belong to any gender and was nothing more than a mysterious force of nature.
This left Holo to only wonder as to why there were not more atheists in the world.
They made their turn onto Gretchin street and looked down the funnel of structures as they progressed towards the end. Holo's ears allowed her to hear the river in which her heart began to pound. Evgeny was close.
"So how can we be sure this Evgeny will know anything about Lawrence?" she asked of the man next to her.
"We cannot really, we must only exercise faith that our informant was accurate."
With a roll of the eyes she returned, "Oh faith, I supposed it is all we have to run on at this point."
This left Ranger to simply state, "When faith is lost, all is lost."
Holo gave off a smile of fulfillment, for it seemed that one phrase stressed the importance of that word in such glorious simplicity as to why it was important than the entire conversation with Edmund had.
Once at the end of the street there was an intersection in which one could see the river flowing smoothly through the divide and could only turn left or right. Holo looked to her right and saw a framework very much after the manner of a trading guild and warehouse Holo had seen in the past.
Once making mention of it, the shire was steered towards it and eventually parked. There was a sign above the guild that read, Nabakov trading. Holo was the first to dismount and gave the structure a more detailed inspection from the outside while Ranger did likewise for the wagon.
The door opened and out came a man who suddenly stopped in his tracks when seeing Ranger face to face. The masked man immediately recognized him as Libert who was with Jacopo the night before.
Libert nervously greeted him with his hands as he walked past with Ranger giving him a nod will eyeing carefully. He turned about to find Holo and saw her standing off at the planks that led to the docks, looking deathly still.
Ranger began to make his way towards her and became more on edge as his advance did not stimulate an acknowledgment from her. She seemed to be locked in a state of incapacitated discovery.
Once within talking distance he inquired, "What do you see?"
She slowly raised her hand and pointed towards the river and said with a shiver, "It appears your informant came through."
Ranger looked down upon the river and saw just tied off to the docks, was the raft in which Lawrence was taken in.
