Chapter 119 - The Peteran Priest & Merchant

Ermine finishes her sermon with a final prayer.  With all heads bowed, she prayers that the Watcher keeps Archolia and Snordwich safe from evil.

She carefully puts away the Sacred Text and blows out her candle.

“Snoozemeister, I will now escort you to the castle.”

Snoozemeister Elton looks very pleased.  “Very good!”  He replies.

“Might I ask you a question before we set out for the castle?”

Snoozemeister Elton, suddenly sounds very impatient, “Aye, aye if you must, but I need to see your queen quickly!”

“Should I be concerned about this demon that I heard your guard mention last night?”

Elton clears his voice,  before answering, “So you heard that?  Please, I will reveal everything once I have spoken to your queen!”

“OK, let us go at once!” Ermine says, not willing to push the Snoozemeister’s patience any further.

Percival has one last pendant left.  He considers selling it to one last customer, but knows of someone who could really use it.  He has made a fair amount of simoles from them already.

He walks over to the pigeon post.  He has decided to send a pendant to Prioress Ermine.  He has heard that she has problems sleeping and is often seen walking around the church courtyard at night.

Since marrying, Percival has become  a fairly religious man; believing in giving back to the church. He is sure that his pendant will cure Prioress Ermine of her insomnia.  He attaches the pendant to a note and secures both to the leg of a pigeon.  

Percival releases the pigeon, hoping that Ermine gets it right away.

Ermine begins to walk the Snoozemeister to the castle, when he stops her.  “Actually Your Grace, before we leave, I could actually use a bit of protection from the Watcher.”

Ermine leads the Snord Leader through the convert’s prayer and converts him to the Peteran Faith.

She then prays the Watcher’s favor over him.

“Now I must see your queen at once!” 

As Ermine leaves the church behind the Snord leader, a pigeon flies by and drops a small package at her feet.  Ermine examines the package briefly before sticking it in her pocket.  I will take a look at this later, she says to herself.

When Ermine reaches the castle, she is directed upstairs by the castle guards.  The Snord leader and his guard are escorted to the tactical map room where Queen Chalyela will meet them.

Queen Chalyela changes into a crimson and cream gown rich with gold plated accessories.  “Is this more fitting for a meeting with the Snord Leader?” She asks Ermine.

Chalyela restyles her hair and finishes her look with her crown.  

“Now to meet the Snords,” Chalyela says and proceeds to head for the door.

“One moment your majesty.  I had something that I wanted to tell you.”

“What is it Prioress?  I must not keep the Snord Leader waiting.”

“Your majesty, I believe that they are here for more than just a visit.”

Chalyela chuckles, “What do you mean Your Grace?”

“I heard the Snord Guard make mention of a demon and when I asked the Snord Leader about it, he became anxious and said that he must speak to you first.”

Chalyela thanks Ermine for the information, for greeting the Snord Leader at the forest and for hosting him at the church.  Ermine begins to leave the room, hoping that the queen takes her information seriously.

She heads downstairs with Queen Chalyela right behind her.  She wants to say her goodbyes to the Snords before heading back to the church.

Prioress Ermine announces the queen as she enters the tactical map room.  After giving Queen Chalyela a few moments to finish up with the formalities, Ermine pulls the Snord Leader to the side to say her goodbyes.

I would not say goodbye just yet.  I may have some use for you later on during my visit,” Snoozemeister Elton replies.

“Well I am at your service.  I will leave you and her majesty to talk.  If you need me, I will be at the church.”

Ermine turns and walks away, wondering what use she could possibly be for the leader of Snordwich.

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Chapter 118 - The Peteran Priest & Merchant

 “Excuse me my friend, I have a few items to sell before days end,” Percival says before walking out to the market.

 Percival approaches a potential buyer who sounds very interested in purchasing a pendant.

 Percival pulls a pendant out of his pocket. “How much will you sell it to me for?” The villager asks.

“For a lovely wench like you… just 300 simoles!”

 After another refused sell, Percival approaches Squire Dante  who is standing by the well.

 “I am going to make you an offer that you cannot refuse,” Percival begins his sales pitch as the Master Builder of Burdley walks over to listen.

 “So what is the appeal of your pendants?” The Master Builder asks as Squire Dante buys one.

 As Percival attempts to come up with a good answer, Squire Dante places the Pendant around his neck and begins to get woozy.

 Squire Dante passes out cold.  “It is a sleep aid!” Percival blurts out just as the Burdley leader is about to refuse.  “You will get a night’s sleep unlike any you have ever had!”

 “Well I have been stressed lately,” The Burdley leaders says considering what Percival has said.

 “This pendant will cure all of that! You will never have another restless night!”

“That sounds too good to be true.” 

 “Oh but it is true.  You have seen it for yourself.  Squire Dante is enjoying the best sleep of his life.  So, would you purchase my pendant?” Percival asks pulling the pendant out of his pocket.

“How much will you charge me?”  

 Percival considers that this leader of Burdley must be very rich.  “Is a stress free life worth 3,000 simoles to you?” Percival asks.

“Absolutely not!  You just charged the Squire 300 simoles.  I will not be robbed blind!”

 “I am just about to give my sermon on the importance of strong allies, if you want to pick out a pew,” Prioress Ermine says approaching the Snord leader the next morning.

 Ermine enters the sanctuary.  There are not many present today, but she is still determined to deliver a powerful sermon.

 Ermine begins setting up for her sermon.  The few parishioners that are present begin to take their seats.

 Ermine begins, “Thank you all for being here on this fine day!”

 “I first want to extend my warm welcome to Elton, the Snoozemeister of Snordwich and Snoozeguard Meitane,” Ermine says extending her hand toward Elton and his guard.

 Snoozemeister Elton acknowledges her welcome with a nod and Ermine continues the rest of her sermon.

Meanwhile, Percival sales another pendant for a fair amount of simoles. 

 The buyer begins to walk away, but as soon as he places the pendant around his neck…

 …he passes out cold just like the other buyers.

Percival makes a few more sales at his stall.  Witnessing all of the sleeping buyers gives Percival an idea of what to do with the last pendant.

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Chapter 117 - The Peteran Priest & Merchant

 Snoozemeister Elton is pleased with his victory.

 “Greetings Snoozemeister Elton of Snordwich,” Prioress Ermine says bowing before the Snordwich leader.

 Percival fails at selling a pendant to his first target.  He attempts again with Shady Alexandria.  “Could I interest you in a beautiful pendant?”

 “Pendant?  Do I look like a pendant type?” Alexandria asks.

“Look, I will sell it to you really cheap and you can resell it if you like,” Percival says pulling it out of his pocket.

 Alexandria peeks into the bag.  “Ah yes, I can get a pretty penny for this.  I shall purchase it.”

 Alexandria takes the pendant and decides to place it around her neck.  “I actually might like this for myself,” she says.

 “I hope your trip was without problems,” Ermine says making small talk.

“It was, thank you,” Elton answers.

“My queen has requested that I host you at the church overnight,  so that you might hear my special sermon in the morning.  I am then to escort you to the castle.”

 A flash of concern flashes across the Snoozemeister’s face, but quickly fades.  “That would be fine,” he finally agrees.

 Soon after Percival leaves the room, Alexandria falls to the floor with a loud thud.

 Downstairs, Percival hears the thud, but figures that Alexandria has dropped something.   Right now, he must look into selling the other pendants.

 Ermine is about to walk into the sanctuary  when she overhears the Snordwich guard  speaking to the  Snoozemeister  quietly, “No sign of the demon’s tricks yet.  We may have actually arrived in time to stop him.”

“Let us hold this discussion until we meet with the queen,” Snoozemeister Elton answers in a hushed voice. 

 Demon?  Ermine asks herself as she enters the sanctuary.

 Ermine wants to know what the guard and Snoozemeister are hiding.  When she sees that Elton is busy speaking to one of the church parishioners, she decides to approach the guard.

 “I could not help but overhear you and the Snoozemeister speaking.  What is this you were saying about a demon?”

 “Is there more to your visit?” Ermine asks.

 “Oh please, I have said too much.  Do not fret,” the guard answers.

 “Are you sure that it is not something I should know about?  Maybe I should be praying for protection.”

“Perhaps it would not hurt, but I cannot give you any details until the Snoozemeister has spoken with your queen.”

 Ermine drops the subject, figuring that she will not be getting information out of the guard.

 As she lies down to attempt sleep, she cannot help but wonder why the Snords were discussing a demon.

 Percival is on his way to bed when he is approached by his daughter Illiana.

 “Father, there is a strange woman asleep in our sleeping chambers.”

“What? Is she in our bed?” Percival asks confused.

 “No father.  She is on the floor,” Illiana answers.

 Percival hurries upstairs and sees Shady Alexandria right where he left her after selling her the pendant.

 Percival realizes that this is odd.  He cannot figure why she would pass out soon after he handed her the pendant.  However, he does not want any reasons to get in the way of his selling the remaining pendant.

 Maybe she was just really tired, Percival says to himself, shrugging his shoulders.  He steps over Alexandria, walks over to his bed and prepares himself for the night.

 Felicia and Illiana follows Percival’s lead and proceed to their beds for the night; ignoring the woman on the floor.

 Ermine tries really hard to go to sleep, but images of demons invade her dreams. 

 She wakes with a start.  She is convinced that the Snords are here for more than just a visit…a lot more.

 Again, missing her naptime tea, Ermine prepares a hot stew in hopes that the warm meal will calm her and soothe her to sleep.

 When the stew does not work, Ermine turns to prayer to ease her mind.  “Watcher, please watch over us and protect us from evil,” she repeats over and over again.

 When even that does not work, Ermine decides to go out and bless the well.

 If there is evil roaming around Archolia, at least drinking blessed water will help to protect those that partake.

 Finally, Ermine feels calm enough to return to her bed.  Alas, the Watcher protects her from the bad dreams and she rests until morning.

 Shady Alexandria is still sleeping on the floor when Felicia wakes the next morning.  She ignores her and goes out to complete her hunting duties.

 Illiana wakes up next; concerned for the woman who is asleep on the floor.  She knows that something is very wrong, but keeps it to herself; realizing that no one ever listens to the concerns of a child.

 Percival is awake next.  He expected Alexandria to be gone by the time he woke, but is startled to see that she is still in the same place.  He can see her chest rising, so he knows that she has not perished.  Maybe she is really, really tired, he says to himself in an attempt to justify the situation.

 “Good morn, Knight Captain,” Percival says greeting his friend Ivan before sitting down to enjoy his hot bowl of stew.

Ivan nods in greeting.

 Illiana entertains Ivan while Percival finishes up his stew.  “There is a woman asleep on the floor in our sleeping quarters.  She has not awaken yet!” Illiana tells Ivan.

 “Run along Illiana,” Percival says jumping up.  He does not want Ivan to know that he may be responsible for Alexandria’s sleeping spell.  

“Charming girl,” Ivan says watching Illiana as she walks away.

 “Do not mind her…active imagination,” Percival says hoping that Ivan disregards what Illiana has said.

 “So what brings you here friend?” 

Ivan goes on to describe his adventures with the Fighter’s Guild. “I have a feeling that Archolia will soon be the best guarded kingdom in our land once I am done training new fighters for the Guild.”

 “That is great news my friend.  It would definitely make my job of trading much easier and safer,” Percival replies.

 “That is my goal,” Ivan says with a chuckle.

Outside, Illiana tells Ivan the 2nd all about the sleeping woman .

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