The Dou-Jin Apprentice of Monsters and Men In the Beginning

Chapter 23 Discussion of Stephanous

Chapter 23

Discussion of Stephanous

By the time the Thanksgiving had past and the Winter Festival was approaching the Dou-Jin were no closer to obtaining the Orb of Solomon or the other artifacts that had been stolen from the Dou-Jin temple vault.

Donaldrid Vorhelm had Michale Brody and J. D. Petro as well as all the guild head Masters and Mistresses, teachers, and other Dou-Jin council members. The large chamber was filled with seats and nearly all of them were taken.

Donaldrid stood before everyone. "I know that I'm not on the council of the Dou-Jin but we face a very dangerous problem. The Solomon orb still hasn't been recovered and we have no leads to where it is."

"The only way that we have to find it is if we send Stephanous Dragonsbane after it. I know how important the boy is, but I also know how important the orb is. If the Roda-Ki where to have both the orb and the boy I don't know what we would do. We must consider sending the boy to help retrieve the orb. I don't believe that the side of darkness is so strong that we will not overcome it."

A tall willowy black man took Donaldrid's place. He appeared as though he hadn't eaten in weeks, but he stood straight and proud in his dark navy blue formal robes before the administration.

"I know that Stephanous is important and that if the enemy got their hands on him it would go badly for us, but I don't think the Creator would allow this to happen. Our prophets have not foreseen him being taken and we can't keep neglecting the loss of the Orb of Solomon."

"We must send a group with Stephanous to find the orb."

"But he's just a boy." Holiday said with grave concern etched in her voice.

"But he's a powerful boy." A rather huge rotund man said from within the crowd. He had a pencil thin mustache and a small triangular beard that was about an inch wide and went down to the crease in his chin.

"Stephanous is still having his nightmares, although controlled, he's still having them." Holiday informed them in a pleading tone. "Sure he's strong in the Spirit, but he's still only fourteen. His mind isn't ready for battle, he's not ready to kill, or to be injured. He's just too young for this kind of responsibility."

"He's here to become Dou-Jin." The man insisted with the pencil thin mustache.

"Williambur Howard Galahad!" Holiday shouted in brazen anger. "How can you even think of sending a fourteen year old boy out on such a journey? Have you no heart, have you no soul, and have you no children of your own? Would you send your own sons or daughters on such a quest?"

Williambur took in a deep breath to gathered his patients with Holiday Chase. "Holiday," He said in a too cool tone. "I do have children of about Stephanous's age, I do have a heart, and I do have a soul, but they aren't the chosen one by the Spirit."

"Stephanous was chosen to undertake great deeds and no matter what his age he will be ready for the challenges ahead. The Orb of Solomon is but a small task in the line of many tasks that will be ahead of the boy. We can't breast feed the boy the entire time he is at school, because if we do he won't be worth his salt."

Holiday knew that he was right. Stephanous had to take his baby steps sometime and that she couldn't protect any of her children forever. Maybe this was the first step that Stephanous would have to take, but she didn't have to like it.

The administrator gazed down at all the occupants and sighed heavily. "We all have the burden of sending a very young boy out into the world to retrieve the Orb of Solomon. This is not a burden any of us take lightly, but we must vote upon it as councilors in was we feel is wisdom."