Treasures - Book 4 The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter 6

In the distance, Jobyna saw a three-way fork in the road. It was still early and so far she had met no one.

Litton was her destination if she wasn't apprehended along the way, but like her brother, she had the compelling desire to see her home again. Frencolians were home-oriented. Their abodes were their joy and delight. Often drab on the outside, the women sought to make the inside bright and cheerful. Rich tapestries and glittering wall hangings had adorned the brightly painted walls of the Chatelain manor house.

It did not take long to arrive on the hill, the spot they secretly called 'Spy Castle' where Luke had looked down on the destruction of his home. The brother and sister had ridden their horses up here many a time to watch the comings and goings around the countryside.

Dismay and desolation flooded Jobyna as she gazed down on the smoldering ruins of the cherished home where she had spent her life. So Elliad had his way, she told herself, allowing tears to flow down her cheeks. He wants to take away our very existence —as if he hadn't done enough of that before...

Jobyna hadn't known where the three Gospel Books were hidden and she supposed they must have been found and burnt. Grief and heartbreak overcame her. She gave way to the flooding torrent of tears and sobs that wracked her weakened frame. She missed her parents so much... how could she go on living without them? The shock of their untimely deaths had not impacted her like this before.

Allowing herself to lament until there were no more tears, it was still some time before she could bring herself to remount Brownlea. Without a backward look, she rode off.

Nothing more traumatic than this could happen to her. If Elliad takes away my life, she thought, then I'd be no worse off. But, please God, take care of Luke. But he's probably dead by now. Please God, no. Keep Luke safe, please!

At another fork in the road, Jobyna met some travelers who were on foot, and when they said they were going to Litton, she asked if she could ride with them. A young husband and his wife were going to visit relatives. He told Jobyna, "We were married last week, and I want to introduce my beautiful wife to my cousins in Litton."

Jobyna heard the tones of pride in his voice. His excitement in traveling like this was obvious. The conversation was cheerful and relaxed and they dropped behind the group a little. Jobyna dismounted to walk with them, telling told them she was going to visit Baron Tolard and his family. They voiced their disapproval about Jobyna riding alone as this wasn't socially acceptable. Jobyna decided she had nothing to lose, so, with tears on her cheeks, and in halting tones, she told them about her parents' murders.

Listening in silence until Jobyna had bared her heart, the young bride said, "That is so sad. What evil times we live in! My mother has a Gospel Book, just one volume, the Psalms. When the soldiers came to the house and knocked on the door to ask her about it, she put it quickly in the bread dough and it went into the oven. It has a leather case on it, and as far as we know, the book is still inside the bread. They ransacked the whole house, but did not think to look in the hot oven!"

Jobyna dashed her tears away. It cheered her immensely to think someone had outwitted Elliad. Then, they held their breaths as a dozen soldiers riding in formation came around the distant corner. Jobyna moved Brownlea into the trees and turned, looking for a knight, but there were none with them. Drawing their wagons and themselves off the path, the rest of the group watched the soldiers ride by. Hardly a glance was sent their way for which they were thankful. Jobyna did not wish to lead her new friends into trouble.

As Jobyna and her new friends neared Litton, promises were made to pray for each other. They parted before riding into full view of the town. 

The gates to the moat-bridge at the entrance to the manor house property were closed. Jobyna worried something was amiss. She counted four soldiers on guard at the gate; a double guard. Again, she could see no man in knight's costume.