�The storm is coming down harder Marc. It won�t be long until we�ll experience some leaks through these old walls.� The rain struck its music upon the rooftops of the cathedral.
�No worries Pieter. The walls of Our Lady du For�t have never failed to keep us shelter.�
The two friends wandered the chapel by candle light. The strikes of lightning shown through the stained glass windows revealing the images of the twelve. A drop of water fell from the wooden rooftop and extinguished one of the candles that rested against the brick walls.
�Father Piet - we can�t fall asleep in this storm.� Two young men approached the holy man dressed in simple village clothing.
�Well then young Ahdam, I guess that means you and Sol will be staying up with Father Marc and I during this storm,� the pastor responded. �It�s a good thing too since we were just about to discuss the amazing translation differences in the Codex Vetus. You can help us with your input.�
�Actually Piet, I�m a firm believer that the Codex Novus has the most interesting translations,� replied Father Marc. �Which do you young lads prefer?�
The boys were not amused, but contemplated on a good response.
�I don�t know anything about the translation Father, but I do enjoy the stories in the Codex Novus more so than some of the stories in the Codex Novus,� answered Sol.
�And you Ahdam? Which book do you prefer?�
Ahdam didn�t feel like answering. After a moment he gave what he felt was a good enough response.
�I believe that both books are needed in order to find salvation,� he said. The boy walked back towards the back of the chapel. �I�m going to try to go back to sleep.�
�Very well son.�
The thunder increased in intensity.
�Is The Holy King angry with us this night?� asked Sol.
�Oh a good rainfall has nothing to do with The Holy King�s wrath. If there is anyone to worry about, it should be the wrath of Lucifer.�
�Life isn�t safe anymore.�
Sol turned and looked at Ahdam and his response.
�Nothing is safe anymore.�
�It is true that great evils still exist in this world my son, but never doubt the hope and faith that lie in the deeds of good men. As long as there are those who believe in life and salvation, there will always be hope among men.� Marc looked up at the leaking ceiling and brought his eyes downward towards the crucifix in the back of the chapel where young Ahdam rested. �You boys will hopefully be able to carry with you the secrets of salvation. If there is anything I hope you will learn from here - I hope it will be the strength to resist evil and banish it from our good world.� Sol was fast asleep. �If you cannot�� he spoke softly to himself, �Then this world shall slowly die indeed.�
A strike of thunder startled the old men. That is when the wooden doors of Our Lady du For�t began to beat.
�Open the door!� A man was shouting from outside the chapel. �Quickly! I demand sanctuary!� The old men walked towards the wooden doors. Sol and Ahdam awoke at the commotion. They hushed the boys and silently ordered them to hide themselves.
�Who is it that asks for sanctuary?� demanded Father Piet.
�It is a friend. There is no time! Hurry! Open the doors!� the voice from outside continued.
Marc nodded his head towards his friend and they released the locks of the doors.
A dark man in a long black hooded cape stepped through the doors. His long dark hair was dripping rain water onto the wooden floors. The boys saw the glimmer of a half-sheathed sword. Thunder crashed again. As the holy men and the young boys peering from their hiding spots saw the face of the man who had entered.
�Lord Th�!�
The man opened his cape and revealed a young boy - covered in wounds. The boy fell to the ground. The man himself had been injured, but seemed in stable condition. The boy however was unconscious.
�His name is Vin. Please Fathers - take care of him well. He no longer has a past to return to.� The man looked down solemnly at the boy. �Teach him the arts. I fear one day that they will come again. I pray you give him a future� so that his past will not return to him and plague his life once more.�
�Are you heading back out into the rain friend? What evil strikes your face?� inquired Father Marc.
�I must leave now fathers - or none of us shall have a future to speak of,� he answered in haste. �Do as I request. Lock the doors behind me. I bid thee well.�
With that, the man ran back into the storm leaving behind a faint life form. The priests quickly closed the doors back and locked them with iron bars.
�Quickly boys! Come tend to this boy!� signaled Father Piet. He faced his old friend Marc and they began to whisper.
�Something is amiss. Surly these are omens that the quest has failed.�
In deep sorrow, Marc spoke. �I fear the worst Piet, but there is nothing we old men can do. The only hope that we have left rests in these boys.�
�Ahdam. Sol. Please take the boy into your room and clean him up. Make sure you dry him off or he will catch cold. There should be extra linens and clothing in the back.� The boys nodded in confirmation. �Father Marc and I must keep watch for the time being. Now hurry and tend to him. Let us know if something serious arises.�
With that the boys carried Vin to their room which extended from the side of the chapel. They set him down on a blanket by the fire place. Sol pulled out a wound kit.
�Get him out of those wet clothes while I go find some blankets,� Ahdam went into the back room.
Vin began to seize momentarily and then stopped.
Sol began to strip what was left of the torn clothing off of Vin unveiling a multitude of injuries and lacerations. He was taken back by the damage that had been done upon Vin�s naked body. He placed the soaked pieces of ripped clothing in a pile next to the fire.
�What foul demon did this to you?� spoke Sol. Vin did not reply. �It is sad to see a handsome boy like you beaten like this.� He soaked a clean cloth into a bowl of medicine water and began cleaning Vin�s wounds. As he tended the new boy, Sol flinched at the thought if he or Ahdam had been attacked the same way. �No one should ever have to go through such pain.� He noticed deep cuts above and below the boy�s left eye.
�This is going to sting a bit.� He gently wiped the blood off of the cuts and saw Vin subtly flinch. He carefully leaned the boy up and attended the wounds on his back. Vin began to shiver. �Hang in there. Ahdam will be back with some warm clothing shortly.� He laid Vin back down and finished cleaning off the blood on the boy�s body. He then poured some holy water over some of the deep wounds, tried him off with the blanket, and began to wrap parts of the boys arms and legs with bandages like he had been taught to and performed many times before to wounded travelers.
Ahdam returned with some blankets and an old priest�s robe. �You better wrap up his waist too. That wound on his back doesn�t look pretty.� Sol did as Ahdam asked. They placed the robe on the boy and set him back down.
After a few moments had past, Vin began to return to consciousness. He sat up and let out a gasp.
�Hey, it�s alright. You�re safe now,� Ahdam spoke. He was sitting in the corner of the room.
Vin was breathing heavily. Drops of sweat came down from his brow.
�Where am I?� he asked.
�You�re in a chapel,� Sol replied. �A sanctuary.�
Vin collapsed again.
Father Piet walked into the room.
�It is safe now boys. Please. Try and get some rest.� He picked up Vin and placed him on Ahdam�s bed. Ahdam took that as a hint that he would be on the floor that night. �Sleep well.�
�Father, what has happened?� asked Ahdam.
�Let it not concern you tonight,� Piet answered. He walked out of the room.
�Where do you think he came from?� Asked Sol.
Ahdam was silent as he arranged some of the blankets on the floor.
�I don�t know Sol. Perhaps he is another victim of the demons. Who knows if he�ll even survive the night.�
�Don�t say that. We must have faith. Maybe this boy will help us on our path to find salvation.�
�Maybe. Then again maybe we should be worrying about how we�re going to find that path ourselves.�
They boys let an air of silence pass as they began praying. When he was finished, Sol stood up and walked over to Vin. He leaned close to him and closed his eyes.
�Protect this boy oh Holy King. Let him get through this difficult night.� He reached behind his neck and took off a silver crucifix. Ahdam watched in contemplation.
�This used to belong to my sister. It has helped me get by thus far,� Sol spoke to Vin as he slept. �I hope it will help you as well.� He attached the necklace around Vin�s neck. He walked back to his bed and fell asleep. Soon, after his mind was quiet once again, Ahdam followed.