A Daughter's Love - Book 2 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Seven

The servant Gunhilda woke Elissa as usual and the baroness hurried to help prepare the great hall for breakfast.

Having organized the servants, she woke the children and soon the family was lined up, awaiting the guests to appear for breakfast. Sir Louis escorted Theon and his followers into the hall and the two elder sons, Louis Junior and Marcus, acting as pages, ushered them to their seats.

The baron's voice sounded out in the great hall, "Before we begin, I request Brother Theon to pray for us as he did last night,"

The evangelist stood and looked around at those seated. He asked, "How many of you had never heard a prayer given to the God of the Gospel Book before last night?" He looked around as Ellie and Marcus and all the servants standing around the walls raised their hands. His eyes met Elissa's and he smiled.

Looking at the children, his eyes linked with each of them. He asked, "Do you know, the best way to thank God for the food we eat, is to stand and join hands around the table." Smiling he added, "Tables." Motioning kindly to the servants, he said, "The whole chamber here, everyone; all of us; let's join together and be thankful. Without the blessings of the Lord, we would not have food to eat, or family and friends to eat it with. We take too much for granted, don't we?"

~~~~~

Sir Louis and Brother Theon left their horses with knights, soldiers, and some of Theon's followers who had come on this 'walk'.

Theon talked as he strode along beside Sir Louis', up the slope towards the shepherd's cottage, "I don't think you should accompany me on the rest of the tour, Louis. I've been praying about my Frencolian visit and thanking God for the way your heart has received His Word. I feel God has plans for you, other than to escort me about. My idea is that you send your three sons with me and take your wife and two daughters to Grior..."

The evangelist outlined his idea to the Baron, "God's plan is that fathers teach their children, this should continue, generation after generation. The perfect way is that the continuity isn't broken. But disobedience has come between, and men have lost their direction. The Word of God, today, in Europe, is rare. Men go their own way, and are lost in ignorance and superstition. Families are far from God's ideal.

"Since your father did not teach you, Louis, and you find yourself with a family growing up all too fast, you would benefit greatly to hear direction and advice from one who has been in the same situation as you, yet has triumphed.

"I know of such a man, and I will arrange for you to meet him ... I'll suggest he brings his wife with him as she would be of invaluable help to your wife."

Theon closed decidedly, "I'll send messengers to Spenola, today, and you should make the arrangements to travel to Grior for a few days."

"Will this man agree to meet me? He would come ... all the way from Spenola?"

"Yes," Theon answered.

The humble cottage loomed ahead, and the shepherd's wife, Jane, hastened from her chores to greet the visitors. She informed them that her two children had gone with her husband, John, to check on the lambs. Jobyna had accompanied them, but they all might still be at the first sheep fold where several ewes were close to lambing.

~~~~~

Jobyna looked up from where she sat beside a lazy fat lamb.

The lamb fed on the sweet tender grass she plucked. As her father and Theon drew nearer, she stood.

"Papa!" Jobyna exclaimed, unsure. She looked at the young man who strode beside her father. His bright face seemed to be full of sunshine, but his eyes weren't upon Jobyna, they were upon the lamb and its broken leg, the splint and bandage upon the limb. Theon knelt beside the lamb and stroked its head.