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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 9.4, Shock and Awe

Aodhan and Sister Aurelie did not have long for goodbyes; the conflict in the Church did not wait for them and nor did the Bishop's men delay in their duty to deliver the Sisters Divine to the docks. Although they had traveled quite a great distance alongside so many of their allies the parting of ways was sudden but not entirely surprising... especially considering the current events. Tobias had held true to his promise to see to the rescue of the Sisters and neither Cruff nor Friar Arlowe were under any compulsion; even Sir Umberto had other obligations.

Personally Aodhan was reluctant to leave the battle with the Inquisitors still at large; they were the cause of all of the strife and there was no guarantee that things would improve until they were brought to justice. What tempered his drive for their defeat was the fact that Sister Aurelie depended on him to help with seeing the Sisters safely to the docks. Yes, he wanted to stay and help in the fight but his Eyara was far more important to him. Besides, he reasoned, Sir Umberto would not stop until justice was served.

The Wolverine Templar remained committed to putting an end to the Inquisitor insurrection and Aodhan could think of few men he would trust enough to see it through to the end. Having been given directions to the front by Friar Juun Sir Umberto was the first to leave. He had shaken paws with everyone and even embraced Sister Aurelie; Aodhan was surprised in a positive way that a man of the Church would be so accepting of his lover. There was not too much time to consider it however as Tobias, Cruff, and Friar Arlowe were quick to depart shortly thereafter.

The farewells involving the father and son were much more emotional for Aodhan and Sister Aurelie both. The two Raccoon Dogs had started the adventure with them and it seemed that they were two of a very short list of consistencies during such a chaotic time. Tears were shed by more than one eye; hugs were exchanged; promises were made that they would all meet again. The Wolf honestly didn't know if it would happen but he felt better thinking that it would. Either way it had to happen; Cruff and Friar Arlowe were staying with Tobias to try and help as many of the injured as possible while Aodhan and Sister Aurelie had a boat to catch.

Friar Juun made a very concise farewell by handing Aodhan a paper. "So you may leave freely."

The path out of the Church was cleared of combatants and wounded already. Since Sister Aurelie was familiar with the building it took very little time for them to reach the front entryway. In any normal circumstance the two large, reinforced wooden doors would have been left open for parishioners to easily make their way to and from services but the undertaking within the building meant that the exit was kept under guard. A squad of four Wyranese soldiers stood in the atrium with swords and shields at the ready; Aodhan didn't miss the spattering of blood along some pillars and pools of blood cast about on the floor in various areas of the room.

The Wolf approached the men with the paper given to him by Friar Juun in one paw. He held it up before him like a heraldry flag, using it to forestall any aggression on behalf of the warriors; thankfully it worked. The soldier in the lead, a rather imposing-looking Pitbull took the form from him and glanced it over. He motioned to the others, speaking something in Wyranese. The two closest to the door opened it while the Pitbull and his subordinate, a nervous-looking Hedgehog moved to stand in a defensive posture facing outward. It was only then that Aodhan took notice of the noise coming from beyond the entryway.

As he moved closer to the exit paw-in-paw with Sister Aurelie the Wolf saw an enormous crowd gathered at the foot of the steps leading up to the cathedral. There were shouts of fear and anger, questions all sorts-- some accusatory and others simply out of confusion. Rather than address any of the crowd the soldiers simply remained where they were. As the Wolf and Cat passed the Hedgehog held out an arm to stop them. He addressed them in a clear but halting Lehsunian. "Yous be... carefuls. Peoples not happies."

Aodhan nodded to the man and glanced to Sister Aurelie who had just pulled out a holy symbol. As the two emerged from the Church the crowd began to shout at them. Thankfully the cries and questions appeared much more benign than those they had slung at the Wyranese. It didn't take much to realize that many of the townsfolk had somehow come to believe that the soldiers from Wyra were invading and had chosen to use the Church as a forward base of some sort. This led the crowd to take a hostile view of the occupying force.

Since Aodhan and Sister Aurelie were two of a very small number of people leaving the Cathedral many of the questions leveled at the Wolf and Cat were about what the Wyranese wanted, if they had killed any of the clergy, and what they were doing inside the building. Several more frantic members of the crowd pleaded for information about various family members who had been within the Cathedral when it was 'invaded'. With little time to spare, the two pushed their way through without the time to answer anyone. Finally, as they emerged from the edge of the crowd Sister Aurelie hazarded a glance back at the gathering and shouted "Be at peace! The faithful are in no danger!"

Rather than calm the crowd the Cat's announcement had the opposite effect, stirring them into a frenzy for more information. Aodhan had to literally pick up his Eyara and race away from the men and women seeking more answers to their questions. It was four blocks, two streets and an alleyway later before the frantic townsfolk gave up the chase and it was another two blocks before Aodhan slowed. He set Sister Aurelie down; the Cat's cheeks were damp. "No cure is ever without pain... all of those poor people with no answers to their questions."

Aodhan nodded, reaching out to take Sister Aurelie's paw, leading the Cat onward. "There is nothing we can do for them, Eyara. There is pain in ignorance but all will turn out well in the end for them. They will have to wait for their own answers. In the meantime we need to seek our own. Friar Juun said the ship would not wait long."

Sister Aurlie looked as if an argument would be forthcoming but the Cat relented and followed after him. It was a block and a half before his Eyara said anything. "I will pray that everything here concludes for the best."

The Wolf nodded. "As will I."

Neither slowed as they raced down the hill that led to the docks. Aodhan had seen Newport's harbor from afar but he had never been close to the wharf; what he encountered was nearly overwhelming. Sister Aurelie however had originally come to Newport via boat and so it was not quite as unique experience for the cat. The Wolf followed his Eyara to where the frigate they desired was anchored, heart uplifted when he saw the uplifted scaled talon figurehead at the bow. The side of the ship was inscribed with its name 'Divine Reach'. They had arrived just in time he noticed as the sailors were beginning to unlatch the plank that led from the dock to the ship. "HOLD!"

The workers turned to regard the two of them as they ran toward the frigate. Several of the passengers from the ship moved to the railing and, despite the years that separated his last view of her, Aodhan recognized the portly Mouse who called his Church-given name in disbelief. "Arnaud?!?"

The Wolf did not bother stopping until he and his Eyara were aboard the ship. Sister Aurelie's paws strayed from Aodhan's arm as the Cat addressed the Sister, providing nothing more than a faint nod of the head. "Sister Vanesse."

The Mouse immediately stepped up and embraced Sister Aurelie. "Oh, Sister... had feared the worst! Thanks be to the Divine that you're safe!"

Aodhan kept his distance from the reunion, standing by the rail as the sailors passed by him, tying off the gate that had been opened to allow the passengers entrance. The Wolf glanced around at the rest of the Sisters Divine, six in total not including his Eyara. It was a young Fox girl he didn't recognize who asked the question he'd been dreading. "Where is Sister Antoinette?"

A long silence drew out even further before Sister Aurelie managed to answer. "She told us of what befell you and she helped us return to you."

Aodhan gave voice to what his Eyara hadn't said. "She is with God now."

Sister Aurelie moved from Sister Vanesse and moved to him; a moment later the Cat's face was buried in his chest. The Wolf embraced his beloved. "We promised her that we would do everything we could to return to you and see you to safety."

Sister Vanesse led the Sisters in a moment of silence for their fallen matron. Aodhan felt a dampness to the fur around his cheek as he gazed across the water, looking back to the harbor that they were exiting. He then turned and stared at the long stretch of ocean laid out before the ship. The Sisters slowly began to distburse, leaving him and Sister Aurelie on the deck. His Eyara finally spoke. "The Sisters Divine are finally are returning to Trevosse."

Aodhan nodded with a grunt. "Mm."

The Cat looked up, nose brushing softly at the Wolf's chin. "You're really coming with me... aren't you?"

He looked down at his best friend... his lover... his Eyara. "Grand-pere will be blossoming soon, I would imagine."

Aodhan hadn't thought of the Abby's great peach tree in many years. Truth be told there were many things from his childhood that he hadn't bothered to recall. The only one thing that had really mattered to him from so long ago was in his arms and Sister Aurelie was all he needed. The Cat let out a soft sigh. "Every year when Grand-pere put on his pink flowers I used to become sad because something was missing."

The Cat's paw gave his a squeeze, leaving no question as to what Sister Aurelie had lacked. Aodhan looked down to meet his Eyara's gaze. "We can watch him bloom together."

Sister Aurelie stood up on tip toes so their muzzles could meet. The kiss was soft, gentle, and appropriate for the nearness of the Sisters. "I know what you're giving up."

Aodhan didn't even have to consider the statement. "It doesn't matter where I am as long as you are there with me."