The Shield Bearer

Chapter 7

Rene just held his dead body in her arms, like a mother holding a sleeping child. Tears kept flowing down her cheeks as she found herself rocking slightly. After a moment, she finally came free of the trance like state she had been in and looked around the office.

Gregory was where she expected him to be, on the other side of the bishop's chair, his face overrun with a myriad of emotions. From the look in his eyes, Rene suspected that he had seen Astra too. She wondered if his vision of Astra was centered behind Rene as she had perceived or did he witness what the bishop had, Rene appearing as Astra. She would have to ask him, when this was all over. When he realized that she was looking at him, his face seemed to clear and his eyes filled with a new resolve. Whatever he had seen, had changed him.

The sound of soft crying pulled Rene's attention to the others that were now in the room. The next people that she saw, were not who she had expected. Her mother and sister were on their knees, their hands clasped together in the gesture of prayer, tears were running down their cheeks as they stared at Rene as if she was Astra. Rene was beginning to think that Stein was not the only one that had seen Astra, through her. She had forgotten that her mother had recently earned the title of High Priestess of Astra, the highest position that a woman could hold in the temple. So, of course, she would be the one that the acolyte brought.

At the door, stood Adam, a somber expression on his face. He offered Rene a firm nod, an indication of his approval of something. Next to him was the ten year old acolyte that had brought Rene and Gregory to meet with the bishop. When Rene's eyes met his, she could see a well of great potential that seemed to be glowing from his center, the same place that she felt that warmth, when she needed it.

Without her prompting, he crossed the room and around the desk, to kneel next to Rene. "My name is Tomickus." He smiled warmly at her. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Mistress."

His words felt familiar to Rene. There was something, in the old stories, that her mother and father had told her, when she begged for them as a child. The Mistress was a warrior priestess who would sweep across the battlefield to lift up those who had fallen and to carry away those that didn't make it. But those were stories of long ago. How could she be The Mistress?

His words must have struck a cord with the other occupants of the room, as they all went silent and still. After a brief moment, they all looked at one another and then at Rene again, their eyes alight with hope and excitement.

All, except for Adam, who stood steady. His expression was still somber, with a hint of sadness. There was clearly something about all of this, that bothered him. It made sense, that he would be the one to finally speak up and break the strange spell. "Enough of this. It is not right for you to title her as such. If she is The Mistress, then we will learn of it in time. Do not put that burden on her shoulders, unless it is proven to be her burden to carry."

Adam pushed his way through the room. Somehow, his seven foot, height did not impair his movement in this restricted space. He gracefully ducked and stepped around Rene's mother and sister, then around the desk, to lift the body of the bishop from Rene's arms, before anybody could object. Rene was relieved to no longer be the object of so much attention. Everybody's eyes followed Adam as he walked out of the room, carrying Stein's body in his arms.

Rene's mom and sister promptly rose and followed him as was the tradition. The acolyte quickly rose and followed. They were going to the infirmary, where her mother would perform the rites of passage and ready the bishop for burial.

Rene pushed herself to her feet and then just stood there, next to the seat of the highest priest in the temple, with Gregory on the other side. There were so many things she wanted to say, but the words just wouldn't form. She felt more exhausted than she would have after an entire day of training.

"You okay?" Gregory asked. Rene looked at him and noticed that something had definitely changed about him. His eyes looked much older than they had that morning. He looked as mature as Elric, without the age on his face. Rene wondered if she looked different to.

"I will be." She paused and shook her head. "No, I am okay. How about you?"

"Yes, I am okay. But I'm beginning to wonder just what I signed on for." He smiled at Rene. "I get the feeling that being your battle partner is going to be a very unique experience."

Rene nodded. "I'm sorry. It is..." She couldn't put it to words yet.

"No apologies needed. I didn't mean that it was a troublesome thing. If anything, I can say that I have learned more, in the few hours that I have been your battle partner, than I think I have in all of my life. I have witnessed two grand miracles in less than a day and have seen the face of Astra. I think that we just might be blessed."

The rest of the day was spent at the temple, helping with the funeral arrangements for the Arch Bishop. Word quickly travelled and the temple filled with townsfolk, hoping to get a glimpse of the 'miracle worker' and to mourn the loss of their spiritual leader.

Adam kept Rene and Gregory close, not letting them get caught up in any more than was necessary. But, Rene had to attend, because she was the one that carried him over to the other side, in the literal and spiritual sense. It was all, very emotionally draining for both Rene and Gregory.

Rene did get a brief few moments, to see her father, who came to her at the temple. He congratulated her on her graduation and took a few minutes to get to know Gregory, the man who would be spending more time with Rene than anybody else, for awhile. He then excused himself. He had always been uncomfortable in the temple.

James made an appearance when it was announced that he had been chosen to become the new Arch Bishop, a choice that would stir much controversy, considering his young age. He took a few moments to reassure Rene and to thank her, for all that she had done. She didn't really feel that she deserved those thanks. All that she had done was be there, when things had gone crazy.

The rest of the day was a blur of unfamiliar faces and events. Rene felt overwhelmed by it all. She felt like the battlefield would be so much easier to deal with, than all of this. She really looked forward to leaving in the morning, with her fellow Shield Bearers.

When the funeral was finally finished, night had fallen. Rene and Gregory were relieved to finally reach their quarters. They were so tired, that both entered the communal bath at the same time, with no incident. Afterwards, they fell into their beds and into an exhausted sleep.

The next morning the two of them rose before dawn, packed their things, put on their armors and set out to join the others, for the long march to their new home. During this march, Rene learned more about her battle partner.

Gregory was from the western town of Ridlen. It was a coastal town that was relatively peaceful. On occasion, pirates would make an attempt on the port, but the strong navy, kept them at bay.

His father was a navy captain, that had hoped that Gregory would follow in his footsteps, But Gregory learned early on, that he didn't like life on the sea. He still had his father's drive for action, which eventually lead him to the Academy of Shield Mastery in Karos, where he studied with Rene.

His mother had died a few years ago, from frailty. That was the best explanation that the local temple could offer them. Gregory still wasn't happy with that prognosis, but there was little he or his father could do about it.

Gregory met the love of his life, in Karos. She was the daughter of the head of the local militia. Her name was Cryssa and he intended to marry her, after he finished his term in the military. That was the condition that her father had placed on his blessing. "Prove that you will stick it through to the end. Then I will bless your union with my daughter." Being a military man, himself, he felt that completed military service was a badge of honor and persistence.

As for the other six, from their class, they kept their distance from both Rene and Gregory. They had heard of the strange things that had happened at the temple and apparently wanted nothing to do with it. This bothered both of them, at first.

But Elric and Adam stayed with them, training them in their specialized skills as they travelled. Elric reassured them about being separated from the others, by reminding them, that both he and Adam experienced the same issues, especially with Adam's talents. "A lot of people are uncomfortable with what they don't understand. On the battlefield, they will come to appreciate what you have to offer. Just be patient with them." Those were Adam's words. And they would prove to be true, in time.