Courted Sanctuary

Chapter 3

  Still lacking for sleep, Luitgard rose with the sun the next morning and dressed quickly. She hurried to the alcove to speak with the Dominican. When she pulled back the curtain, she found that he was not there and after confirming that he was nowhere else in the hall, she went outside to look for him.

  Adalbern was already up and giving instructions to a group of builders about what they would work on next for the storehouse. The previous day's work with the barrier had occupied so many that little progress had been made.

  When Adalbern saw her searching expression, he called, "The friar's around the back of the manor."

  She nodded in acknowledgement and thanks before turning to walk in the indicated direction. Along the shore behind the manor, she found the Dominican kneeling with his palms pressed together in front of his face.

  "I thank you for finding a place in private to do that," she said as she walked up beside him.

  Without lowering his hands, he looked up at her. "There were too many girls walking in and out of the kitchens," he said. "In the interest of preserving my own life, I came here."

  "A wise decision," she said as she looked out over the water. It was early enough that the surface had not been disturbed by animals and a mist hung low over it. She remembered sitting upon the shore one morning snuggled into the side of her Dragonfather. It had been the morning after her parents had died. He had let her cry the night and to cheer her up he told her stories about dragons as if they were real.

  "Did you wish to discuss something with me or may I return to my prayers?" the Dominican asked.

  His question brought her out of a reverie she had not noticed entering. "Yes, I did wish to speak with you," she said. "I hope you can offer me more help than you have until now."

  "I can only offer my best," he said.

  "By the Great Mother, tell me that is not what you have been giving me so far."

  His face did not change. "What is it you wanted from me this morning?"

  "What would you do if you could return to Rome?" she asked.

  He blinked. "Are you offering that as an option?"

  "You presume much," she replied. "And you did not answer my question."

  His eyes and his hands lowered as he seemed to consider for a moment. "I am not sure," he said.

  "Would you tell your superiors what they wanted to know?" she pressed. "Would you tell them about us, thereby risking the lives of all those here simply to satisfy the lust of conquest of your god?"

  "My God does not want conquest," he said.

  "Surely even you are not foolish enough to believe that."

  "Perhaps I am."

  He was very good at avoiding questions; a quality that would easily help one climb the hierarchy of the Church. But did he have the ambition for it? Was he as innocent as he seemed or tricking her to create his own glory? Bringing her back as a prize would likely be a grand payment for a higher office.

  Was that what he was doing? Had it even been he who had taken pleasure in torturing Dragonfather?

  "You need to figure out what you would do if you returned to Rome," she said. "Until then, you can assist the men in completing the storehouse. The rest of your prayers will have to wait until later."

  He nodded, climbed to his feet, and left. As she watched him walk around the corner of the building, she saw Sieglinde standing there. She had been watching them.

  "Do you need anything?" Luitgard called, trying to sound natural.

  Sieglinde approached, crossing her arms over her chest as she did so. "I know you are still considering returning to Rome," she said. "That's why you asked him that."

  Luitgard looked away, forcing her eyes to focus upon a goose that had just landed on the lake. The ripples of its landing reached out and broke the stillness all the way to the shore. "It is nice to know you feel you must spy on me," she said.

  "If it means saving you and our people from your emotions, I will do what I must," Sieglinde replied, her tone as devoid of remorse as her words. "You would do nothing less. In fact, you would likely tie me to my bed if I ever suggested going to Rome and you know deep down that I am right."

  But that was the problem. No matter how logical Sieglinde was being, deep down Luitgard did not know she was right. Everything within her told her that Sieglinde was wrong. And if the Dominican could arrive at their gates, what was stopping the army of an empire?

  Though the lack of such an army supported Sieglinde's view, Luitgard could not be sure. Until she was, she would feel such an army really was out there waiting to attack.

  "I need to check in with the men on the walls," Luitgard said, both as an excuse to get away from Sieglinde's scrutiny and because she planned to reassure herself that such a threat was not outside the walls.

  Sieglinde gave a weak smile and nodded. "I will see you at the morning meal," she said before turning and walking back the way she had come.

  Luitgard waited several moments to give her a head start before walking that way herself. When she turned the corner of the manor, she saw Adalbern instructing several shirtless men where to place the next large log.

  One of the men was not shirtless. The Dominican, in his black robes, had his end of the log hoisted onto his shoulder. To Luitgard's surprise, he did not appear to be struggling under the weight. Perhaps he would be useful after all.

  She walked by Adalbern with a curt nod of acknowledgement and headed to the gates. She walked by several priestesses who were heading to the manor for the morning meal. She too would need to hurry.

  She climbed the ladder to the wall and greeted Humbert who was standing at the top.

  He nodded to her. "Nothing amiss this morning, my Priestess," he said. He waved to the man at the opposite end of the wall from him. The man nodded and turned the spear he was holding upside down so that the point was pressed against the stone at his feet. That was the signal for no trouble.

  "Thank you, Humbert," she said. "I appreciate you working so hard."

  He beamed at her. "I have been taught well," he said in his deep voice.

  "If you do not mind, I would like to stay up here a few minutes."

  He nodded. "Take as much time as you would like."

  She walked to the middle of the wall, and looked into the forest. More specifically, she looked to the same spot where she had glimpsed the strange woman two days earlier. There was no sign of her now.

  Luitgard could not help but feel disappointed. Her mind craved new information to explain the old. With no new developments, her thoughts remained on their circular path.

  She said farewell to Humbert and climbed down the ladder. By the time she was walking back to the manor, the village was nearly fully alive with people. Sieglinde hurried by her with fresh rolls in her hands and muttered something about being at the morning meal shortly.

  At the base of the stairs, Adelina was folding several un-dyed linens and placing them into a neat pile.

  "What are you doing?" Luitgard asked. "You will be late for the morning meal."

  Adelina jumped and looked up at her. "Sorry, my Priestess. I was just getting these ready for dying today. Is that not what we will be doing?"

  The reminder of her normal tasks dazed Luitgard for a moment. She had to gather her thoughts and recall what it was she was supposed to be doing. After another hesitation, she said, "Yes, of course." To cover her fault, she added, "I just think it might be better to do that after the meal so that we are not late."

  Adelina nodded. "Yes, of course, my Priestess."

  Adelina tossed the cloth she was holding onto the pile and ran up the steps to the hall. Luitgard followed, wondering how she could ever leave the village without anyone noticing.