More Secrets and the Horse Race - Book 8 - The Frencolian Chronicles

Chapter 4

Luke dropped to his knees beside Granville. When Granville looked up from his private prayer, Luke said, "I need to pray with you and for you and please pray for my sister, my uncle, and for me."

He began praying, "I pray, Lord, help us to find Jobyna, please, she needs to be here, not out there; and, I'm stuck here, with enemies at the door. Thank you, Lord, for Granville, for Loren, for Sabin and for Minette.

"God, Father in Heaven; please help us. Grant wisdom for each step we take out from here..." He shook his head, then said, "But... should we leave here or should we stay? ... I don't know... I don't know anything anymore... but, how can I decide until there's a way to get out even? Lord, we need your help and for you to show us the way; give us all wisdom to do what is right according to you and your word..."

He could not help it... tears ran down his cheeks. He spoke his thoughts, "We're safe here, but what about Jobyna? I'm not there, I'm here... Lord... be with her..." He dropped his head into his arms and gave way to his emotions...

The others, having all knelt with him, prayed aloud, one by one, then there was silence.

The silence continued...

Feeling into the pocket in his jacket Luke said, "I've not got a handkerchief..." He blotted his eyes on his sleeve.

"Here," Sabin said, reaching over to push his into Luke's hand.

Blowing his nose, Luke said, "I've no idea what to do. My head's pounding."

No one spoke while Luke wept until he was spent.

Drying his eyes, he said, "How can I go out to my throne, and speak? I can't control anything if, if I weep... like this. I'm so weak... crying... like a child. I can't remember sobbing like that, not since we found out about father, and mother... Oh God, I can't lose Jobyna too."

Loren broke the next silence, speaking softly, "It's weakness that we need, to become humble enough to admit we need strength beyond ourselves. Humility admits to weakness. Confessing that the task is too great means God can work His power in and through us."

There was silence as Luke digested such a concept, new to him, so simple that it seemed complex, confusing. He rubbed his eyes and blew his nose again.

"It seems so simple, to hand it all over to God, but humanly, it's difficult. It means 'hands-off' altogether —giving it all to God...

"I remember memorizing a verse like that, years ago. We repeated it like mimic birds. I had no idea what it meant; it went something like, 'our weakness is —God's strength'..."

Looking up, Minette said, "Charles read a verse like that, just a few days ago..." she stopped.

"Yes?" Luke queried.

Minette shook her head.

"What is it?"

"I think it was our Lord who said that His Grace was enough... sufficient, for us and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness... that we should glory in our weakness because God's power will be with us... I find it so hard too. Charles —he's such a gem of a boy... it breaks my heart... he told me, but I shouldn't tell you..." she bowed her head and shook it, saying, "but I must, I must..."

Sensing his aunt's distress, Luke forced his voice to a softer tone, asking, "What is it Aunt Minette?"

"Charles said to me, 'Papa hates God and he hates me; he loves only himself. He doesn't love you, Mama. The people he should love are here just for him to use'..."

Luke waited. No one spoke. 

Minette continued, "'All those verses', Dorai complains. And he's started mocking you, Luke, saying things like, 'Our king imitates his father'... and he adds something like, 'I never thought I'd see the day!' He complained about the way you treated Konrad and Haroun over their duel. I heard him say that you're out of control... this was to his two closest nights, last eve... and..." Her voice shrank in volume, "One of them... one of them."