CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  FAITH AND DOUBT

  “It is getting tiresome saying this Deelah, but it is the truth. I hope this is the last time you are here,” announced Maxwell. Then he gestured to the door. “Your sister and her friend are outside.”

  Deelah blinked quickly, thinking, as Maxwell closed the cell door behind her. Anya and a friend? Then the thief smiled as she twisted Maxwell’s long mustache playfully.

  “This should be interesting,” spoke Deelah, fancifully.

  As Deelah left the constable, out of the corner of her eye she saw him shake his head and then nod at one of his men. When he opened the door to the street, the thief looked out at a big Knight of Providence standing next to her sister. Then after a closer look, she realized he was the same knight she had seen walking down the street before her encounter with the mercenary.

  “Well, my young knight. You are more handsome close up,” said Deelah with a big smile.

  Confused, but still not wanting to be rude, Elias nodded a thank you.

  “Perhaps you will schedule some time with me after your business is finished with my sister,” continued Deelah. Then she looked over at Anya. Her face was calm and serious. When Anya’s face did not change, Deelah continued. “What sister? No anger? No sadness at pulling me out of the jailhouse yet again?”

  Slowly, Deelah’s face changed from playful to concerned when Anya did not speak. It was not like her to act like this. Anya always acted more like a mother than her sister.

  “Deelah, something important has happened,” replied Anya, after a moment. “I do not wish to tell you now.” Then she gestured to the knight. “But I will once Elias Romwell, here, takes us to The Gallant Night Inn. It involves his three friends, as well.”

  As they began the walk to the inn, Deelah became silent. It wasn’t absurd for Anya to be with a Knight of Providence, but to go to an inn with him? Not to the temple?

  Suddenly, an uneasiness came over her. Who was this Elias Romwell and who were his friends? Then, while more and more people passed by them, either greeting Anya or just going about their business in town, Deelah stopped and pulled her sister to the side of the street. Once Elias stopped, Deelah whispered near her ear.

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  “How do you know this man, sister? I know you are not stupid, but even in my young life I have seen many things,” whispered Deelah, holding onto her hand tightly. “What if he is not a Knight of Providence?” The thief looked over Anya’s shoulder at Elias. “What if he has stolen this armor, or worse killed its owner to take it?”

  Elias pursed his lips, knowing that he was the subject of discussion and turned, looking out over Valtross, at its recently made beautiful fountains and shops that were on the way to their destination.

  “I met him today in the temple, Deelah, as he was praying in the sanctuary. He is very pious. He and his friends are on an important journey. Do not worry,” explained Anya. “Once we get to...”

  “Sister, as a cleric, you are too trusting,” cut in Deelah, shaking her head. “It can be a strength of yours, but it can be a weakness as well. Many times in Aubrelon have I and my friends taken advantage of...” Then Deelah stopped. A moment later she looked back at Elias. “I want to speak to him!”

  When she could see that the situation was going nowhere, Anya sighed and looked over at the knight. When he finally caught her gaze, Elias stepped over to the two sisters.

  “Yes, ladies?” asked the blonde knight, slightly nodding.

  Anya looked up at him with an uneasy smile. “I am going to tell her now. I agree with you that it would have been better to wait until we were all together, but...”

  “But what, Anya?” asked Deelah impatiently.

  “As you wish,” replied Elias, smiling back. “She is your sister.” Then he nodded. “You know her best.”

  Getting more agitated, Deelah stepped up to Elias. “Who are you? And these other knights. When do Knights of Providence ask a cleric to meet with them at an inn and not the temple!?”

  “Your sister never said that my friends were Knights of Providence, and neither did I,” pointed out Elias in a quiet voice. After looking around he continued. “Even so, we are on a quest to find the Scepter Sword of the King Priest.” Elias put his right hand on Anya’s shoulder. “And Elion, my dear thief, has chosen your sister to come with us.” Then he pointed at Deelah. “And you as well.”

  Dumbfounded, Deelah’s eyes widened. Then she laughed and looked back at Anya. “Surely he jokes, sister! The Scepter Sword?” When Anya did not speak, Deelah laughed again, nervously. “The tale father would tell us before bed? Both mother and father believed strongly in Elion, but that tale is just that. A tale. A bedtime story for little ones!”

  Anya opened her mouth to speak, but when she finally found the words to say, Elias continued, his demeanor and voice sharp and defensive. “I tell you the Sword is real. I travel with a man who wears one of the Holy Stones that used to adorn it.”

  Before Deelah could reply, Anya grabbed her sister's chin and turned her head to face hers. “Deelah, I have had a dream. You know as well as anyone that my dreams are prophetic. Some can take a long time for me to interpret,” reminded Anya. Then the cleric of Valtross spoke clearly and with assurance. “But not this dream. It was as clear as the water in our fountains.”

  Thrown by the unbelievable news, Deelah started to walk behind her sister and the Knight of Providence, astounded and confused. Then she heard Anya say something she would never forget.

  “My sister. Since returning, you have told me over and over how much you have wanted to leave Valtross.” Then Anya looked back at Deelah. Once the thief’s eyes met hers, Anya finished her thought.

  “Deelah, whether you have prayed for it or not, it looks like Elion has heard you.”