To the West, to Your Old Monastery

Otto and the rest of the men only see the area as an insignificant patch of trees and road. The lieutenant asks, "Begging your pardon, Sire. But what lays beyond for us?"

You eye Otto curiously. You look around to the rest of the men and they seem to be ignorant as well. "Why, the old monastery," you answer, "and the town surrounding it of course. I am a little perplexed none of you are aware it is there."

"Again begging your pardon, Sire. My men and I haven't ever traveled down this road. We were posted in the northern borders of Ostgrenze towards the coast." You gaze at the road to the east and a hard gaze at that. "To the west, men!" You order, "We make for the town beyond those trees." The men obey and the formation swiftly moves to follow your command.

"Have you experienced combat, Otto?" The trip to the town is, and likely will be rather uneventful; you think a little conversation would help pass the time. You inquire with no tone of mockery in your voice.

Otto is not deaf to your tone. He knows you mean no ill and this is not an examination of his skills. "I have, Sire. Your father ordered my men and I to be on stand-by in case the **** he lead to deal some of the barbarians needed reinforcements. No surprise to say, we received our orders."

You send Otto a simple smile, "Is this the conflict where you earned your rank?" Otto answers with a nod. "And are any of the brave men who fought with you with us today?" You inquire further.

"Some of them, Sire. Some died, some were reassigned elsewhere," was his reply. You feel a little safer with these men knowing some have have experience fighting against barbarians.

The sun is nearing its time to disappear from the sky to give way to the moon and stars. The town where the monastery is at is now in view. The men are all relieved to know they'll sleep on beds tonight instead of mere mats on the ground. You order a man to go ahead and inform the town and the monastery that you are coming.

"Is this truly the monastery you were sent to to become a priest, Sire?" Otto casually asks before he remembers who is speaking to and excuses himself, "My apologies, Sire. It was unbecoming of a mere lieutenant to ask that of you."

"Calm yourself, Otto. I am not offended. To answer your question, yes. This is the monastery where I was sent. I, a boy no older than seven at the time. Given away like I was not worth a damn..." You mutter under your breath with only Otto hearing you, though he makes no comment on it. It is tradition for the second son of the royal family to be groomed to be Ostgrenze's cardinal, but it's not a tradition you asked for.

You enter the town. It's quiet, unusually so. Most of the houses seem to have fallen into disrepair. There seems to be no sign of activity or anyone really. The shadows cast by the dilapidated homes were still long and served to obstruct the view of you and your men, making it harder to examine the town. The men are worried and disturbed.

"The town seems abandoned, Sire. The man we've sent ahead should have returned to us by now to report." Otto grips the handle of his sword. "At the ready, men!" He orders. "We could be walking straight into an ambush."

"At ease!" You overrule Otto's orders, much to the shock of the man and the other soldiers. Otto's mouth hangs open, "B-but Sire, we could be in danger."

"We aren't in danger." You calmly tell the man.

"With all due respect, Sire. How can you be sure?" Otto nearly hisses. You tell him nonchalantly, "I grew up here." The answer clearly doesn't not satisfy the lieutenant and it certainly does not put him and the rest of your soldiers at ease.

"Your highness! Lieutenant Otto!" One man at the front points forward, "Someone comes on horseback." The mysterious rider comes closer and closer until it becomes clear who he is. "It's our man. The one we sent first earlier."

"Sire," said the scout, "the priests and monks are informed of your arrival. They are expecting us at the monastery. Come, night will soon be upon us."

You and your retinue head straight for the monastery. "Sire, why is the town abandoned? I heard the priests and monks are humble men who yearn not and have not desires beyond what they need. They grow their own vegetables but surely the town's people would not have left them to fend for themselves."

"In due time, lieutenant Otto. We mustn't make the monks and priests wait." Otto makes no attempt to question you. The man dutifully nods, "Yes, Sire."

The sun had fully set by the time they reached the entrance of the monastery. The stars and moon were glowing dimly in the sky. A man stood just before the gates of the monastery with a lit torch in hand. It was easy to identify the man as a monk due to the rather obvious monk's robes he wore. He was old, gray and wrinkled. You dismount from your horse and with Otto by your side, you approach the monk. "Good evening, good soldiers of God." The old monk greeted with a smile which revealed how his old age effected his teeth. He lacked some, and those that remained were not impressive.

The monk sees your crown, the light from his torch reflecting off it. He draws closer to you to better illuminate your face. Suddenly a hateful frown quickly creeps into his old face. "Who made this bastard King?!" He snarled.