Chapter 2
The next morning came just the same as all the others in Rose’s life; cold and alone. The day seemed to drag on forever as she was lost in her thoughts. Who is this man? What is this man? There was some kind of soft and comforting way about him, yet those eyes…
Those glowing eyes took her apart inside. As she saw it, her only hope was to take him up on his offer, strange as it was, and try to escape.
A harsh bang on the door startled her from the restless thoughts.
“Back off and make room for a visitor, you worthless sow!” said the guard.
The ghost like figure, from the day before moved quietly into the room. “Leave us please.” he said to the guard. This time the man pulled back his hood to reveal a rather kind face. His dull black hair was cropped short and marked with patches of grey to match his scruffy beard. The brightness in his eyes was still there but the glow seemed less eerie when his hood was off.
“This one has a mean bite,” said the guard, “I would be careful if I was you.”
“I will be fine constable.”
The guard left, but not before spitting on Rose and sneering, “Be a good dog, or I will make you regret it later.”
Sadness seemed to sweep over the strange man’s face as he asked, “Have you thought more of my proposal, Rose?”
Last night’s abuse was more than enough motivation for her to accept, but she still had one question. “I will accept, but under one condition. What is your name?”
He pondered the question for a moment, as if he would be revealing too much if he told her.
She impatiently chided, “Do you not have a name? ‘Cuz I will not be calling you master or anything like that. You know my name, even if no others do, so I want to know yours.”
“You can call me Brother Joshua. Will that do?”
“Brother Josh it is then, and yes, I will accept your deal.”
He paused a moment with his brow furrowed, as if he was surprised at her response.
“Do you fully understand that I will need you for an unforeseen amount of time and you will not know where we are going at first?
“What do I care? It’s not like I have so much to do here do I?”
“Very well then, I will go and make the arrangements for your release.”
As Joshua left the cell, she could not help but wonder what she had got herself into. One part of her felt that there was something very compelling about this man. She wanted to know what he was all about. Mostly though, this was simply a decent enough opportunity to get out of this miserable hole and make a run for it. She would have to choose the time of her escape carefully of course. If she ran too soon he would no doubt just report her, and she would be right back in prison again.
Soon the guard returned and they left the prison building, but not before the guard took one last chance to call her some foul name and gesture rudely at her.
“So, where to now Josh?” Rose asked as she followed him down the street.
“Brother Joshua is fine, please.” he said with a frown. “We are going to my place to pick up some things.”
“Why the sad face Josh? You got what you wanted. I am your woman for the time being. Am I not all you hoped for in a lady friend?”
He responded in a voice that was colored with sadness, “If you wish to know the truth, I am rather disturbed by the way you let those guards treat you; as if you are a worthless slave. Do you not get tired of being treated that way?”
“And how is what you are doing any better brother Josh. You have just purchased a prostitute. Is being your slave gonna be any better?”
He sighed and was quiet for a moment before responding. “I regret having to purchase you, but it was the only way I could persuade you to come along with me. I have no intention of treating you the way those men did.”
She continued to chide, not noticing his growing frustration, “Am I not attractive enough for you then? Is that it? Most men that pay money for me are quite pleased with the services I provide.” Rose had always known she was a physically attractive woman. Her long red hair and generous figure made it easy for her to sell the wares of her trade. Her words were designed to goad the stoic man into some kind of reaction.
“That is enough!” he firmly stated. “Please do not mock me further on the subject.”
Seeing that she had upset Joshua, she chose to be quiet for the remainder of the trip.
They soon arrived at the old temple that Joshua spoke of.
“What is this place?” Rose asked. “You actually live here?”
“I am only here for a bit at a time. I travel the world mostly, so I would not really call this my home. It is a temple for the worship of the Eternal Ya.”
The Eternal Ya? Rose had never heard the name before and she wondered what kind of weird religion this guy was into. As brother Joshua went off into another room to grab some things she cautiously asked some more questions.
“Where are all the other priests? I have never met a person who follows this Ya or talks about him.”
“I am all there is,” Joshua responded with a sad voice as he scratched his hairy face with both hands. “I am usually called a Cleric.”
As far as Rose could see, all that was kept up in this building was the altar in the center of the large sanctuary. There were no pews, pulpit or furnishings of any kind. Musty carpet lay on the floor surrounding the altar, and there was a plain glass skylight in the roof overhead. The sunlight cast an eerie glow over the simple stone table that was adorned with a single white candle.
Joshua came out of the side room with two packs hung at his side and a plain white dress in his hands.
“Changing from your boring old grey robes I see?” Rose teased.
“The dress is for you Rose. You can hardly walk around in those torn rags for the rest of your days. It should fit you well enough and will cover you up quite a bit better too.”
She worded her response carefully this time. The way this man was acting toward her had her feeling rather confused and slightly offended. “No offense brother, but I am used to not covering my body so much. I would rather not cause you too much distraction though, so I will wear it.”
She began to strip off her rags and the holy man quickly covered his face. “Please use the side room to change. I will remain here and wait for you.”
Rose was not used to this type of reservation when it came to the viewing of her body. She grinned at him slyly and conceded. “Very well then, brother. Is there a place I can wash up as well? I would not want to spoil your dress with the stink that the guards have left on me would I?”
“There is a wash basin and some soap in the side room. Come out whenever you are ready.”
She started towards the side room and briefly glanced back to see if he was watching her go, when she saw a strange sight. Joshua was facing the altar with his head bowed. He gave a small flick of his right hand and the candle at the altar lit with a flash. He bowed low as if to pray so she continued on to get changed. What did she just see? She saw no tinder or fire in the room that would enable the lighting of a candle, yet the candle was burning brightly now. Ah well, she thought, not the weirdest thing that has happened today.
As the Cleric finished his prayer, he heard the soft shuffle of footsteps behind him. He got up and turned to see an unexpected sight. There before him stood a woman of great beauty in a radiant white dress. The plain white gown did not fit her perfectly, but it was a dramatic change from the torn prison garb she had changed out of. The sun shone down through the temple’s skylight and glistened on her bright red hair, almost bringing more light to the dim room. Most stunning of all was the big lustrous smile that adorned her elegant face for the first time in years. Joshua took a moment to catch his breath and turned away slightly so she would not think he was staring.
“So, what do you think brother? Does this cover me enough?”
she asked as she nervously curled her hair around a single finger.
“Yes.” He said. “You are a testament to the Eternal Ya, creator of all things beautiful.”
Rose could not have expected a response like that. She was used to being the object of desire, rather than a beautiful creation. She shyly bowed her head and her eyes began to well up, making the green color glisten. “Thank you so much Josh. I have not worn a dress like this, well, ever.” It almost felt wrong for her to be wearing a pure white dress when she had been living a life full of impurity and shame.
There was a bit of an awkward silence for a moment, then Joshua spoke, “We should be going then. I have a few more errands before we head out of town.”
A loud rumble in her stomach reminded Rose that she had not had much to eat in a long while. “If it would not be too much trouble, could we get something to eat before too long, or do holy Clerics of Ya live on prayers alone?”
He smiled in spite of himself, “Yes Rose. One of our errands is to stop by the Inn for some food supplies. We will need to get you some decent shoes and a warm robe for the journey too I think.”
With that, they left the old temple and headed into town.
***