The Silken Key

Chapter 2

Detlef was stunned. For a moment it felt like a cruel joke, but Boso was not the kind of man who liked to make jokes. Even more than that, the Earl looked impatient and not at all like someone who had come to help bestow an honour upon a new acolyte.

"I...don't quite follow you, Rector," Detlef said.

"The Earl requires safe passage to Braefon," Boso explained. "He is going to look into all this talk of necromancers rising in the east."

"Necromancers?" Detlef balked. "I didn't think there had been necromancers in the east for two hundred years?"

"And I'm sure it's nothing but idle peasants' talk," Boso sighed. "Even so, it must be investigated and parts of the road to Braefon are still quite unsafe for a man of his status. I promised him that I would contribute my most capable bodyguard in return for the great service he's done for the temple over the years."

"And I am grateful," the Earl interrupted, his voice barely calm. "I am also anxious to leave as soon as possible. I trust this will not be a problem?"

"Of course not, Earl." Boso bowed a low, fawning bow. "The boy has endless stamina and will be ready to join you right away. Isn't that right, Detlef?"

Something felt immensely wrong about all of this. Detlef was silent for a moment, an itch deep in his brain making it difficult to think straight. He was thirty-two years old and the Rector still called him 'boy'...

"Rector," Detlef struggled to keep his voice steady. "Could I possibly have a word with you in private?"

Boso laughed and turned slightly red. He glanced at the Earl. "Just a brief moment, if you please? I should take the time to give counsel to my loyal servant."

"As you wish." the Earl huffed, clearly annoyed. As he left the room via the door into the main temple, he added, "I wish to be on the road inside of the hour. I will return shortly."

When he was gone, Boso leaned closer to Detlef. His breath smelled of olives and wine.

"I know what you were expecting to happen today," he said in a hushed voice. "I wished for you to begin your ministry today too. But this is a favour that needs to be repaid. This is a service to God."

"I understand that, Rector," Detlef replied. "I do wish to serve God, but how long must I do it by escorting people up and down roads which are perfectly safe now that there is no more war going on?"

"Safety is something that exists in the mind, Detlef," Boso shrugged. "People like to feel someone is close by to help them if something bad happens. It is peace of mind we give to the faithful."

"Then let someone else give peace of mind!" Detlef protested. "I feel like I have so much more to offer the temple! I've been waiting for this all my life. I've put it off all these years because of the war but...that's over now. Must I really wait any longer to take up my vocation?"

Boso sighed and waddled around behind his desk before slumping into the velvet-lined seat.

"Detlef, you remember how awful times were when the war was upon us, don't you? When the pirates from Krespan raided our lands, so many people were left unprotected. Other temples lost their priests and acolytes. The poor hobbits - totally undefended in their village - almost all of them were carried off as captives! There were so few of them left, they moved away and now the village sits abandoned."

"I remember it all well, Rector," Detlef said sadly. "It will stay with me always."

"Of course. But there are other stories too. Stories of a temple - this temple - which did not suffer so much as a stolen candle. And why? Because it had strong, faithful lads who were willing to take up arms and defend it. Lads like you, Detlef."