Cedric of RoseThorn by S. Thomas Kaza

Author:S. Thomas Kaza
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dystopian, medieval, psychological, adventure, castle lord, plague, bandits
Publisher: S. Thomas Kaza
Published: 2022-06-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20- Lord in the Chapel

The chapel took up most of the second floor above the East Tower Corridor. It had a vaulted ceiling supported by two rows of pillars. There were no windows on the east side wall of the chapel, which meant no distracting sounds rising up from the courtyards below, no glaring sunshine during the summer months. Instead, several tapestries depicting religious heroes hung there. By contrast there were twelve, tall, narrow windows on the west side wall of the chapel. Looking out through them one could see the quiet castle garden below, the formidable North Tower where Cedric’s chambers were located, and the great stretch of wilderness beyond the Black River.

The lords of RoseThorn always came to the chapel to find respite from their trials and tribulations. Many a lord sat alone in the silence the chapel afforded to gather their thoughts. Cedric was no different than his ancestors. On this day, the seventh day since the arrival of Lord Bane, he found himself feeling somehow disappointed. It was true that life improved as the peasants from the village became familiar with their chores around the castle. But it was also true that the relationship between the peasants and Lord Bane had soured. In his view it seemed to have started with Dak, then spread to the others.

Cedric sat on one of the benches along the east wall, intending to ponder this problem, but his thoughts turned instead to his wife, the Lady Milona. He realized he had spent very little time during the last week and a half mourning her death. He wondered about that. Did he not miss her? Did he not love her? Should he not feel more sorrow for his loss? It was peculiar that he felt no strong feelings. Instead he was left with an emptiness like he had been hollowed out inside. He wondered if perhaps Death’s touch had changed him in some way that morning in the East Tower.

But as much as it perplexed him Cedric decided now was not the time to think about it. He reminded himself why he came to the chapel. He needed to consider what to do about Lord Bane and the peasants. But a moment later his thoughts wandered again. This time he found himself thinking about the mysterious man that Lord Bane spoke with five days before. Who really was he? A peasant as Lord Bane insisted? Were there really others hiding in the forest not willing to come out for fear of the bandits? Cedric wanted to believe it. But he couldn’t without further proof. So every day for the last three days he rode out from the castle.

The first two days he went only as far as the grove of elm trees on the road overlooking the village. The bandits were gone. And as far as he could see the village seemed deserted. But he wanted to have a closer look. So that afternoon he rode down as far as the crossroads near the village.

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