Archolia 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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