William R Crosgrove

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

 

Edition 2.0

Copyright © 2018 William R. Crosgrove

Cover design by Melanie Crosgrove, Darcydoll Art

 

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. All rights reserved.

 

ISBN-10: 1540689018

ISBN-13: 978-1540689016

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Chapter 1

 

     Jon Cai finished placing the eggs his wife, Jorie, had collected in the basket.

     “I will take them into the village, today. And I will see if that stool you wanted is ready.”

     “Do not forget to give a few of the eggs to Father Claudius.”

     “I will not forget, Jorie.”

     Jon walked the narrow trail from his farm through the trees to the village of Gwylyn. The sun had not yet risen above the tree tops but the sky was light and many people were already beginning the day’s work. At the edge of the forest, he eyed the tiny church on the far side of the green sward. He and Jorie were members of the new Christian church run by Father Claudius. They had once listened as an itinerant preacher told them of the sacrifice and forgiveness of Christ and liked what they heard. When Claudius arrived a few weeks ago with enough money to pay for labor in cash, the villagers, all non-Christians eager to earn their share, showed up and the church was built in a very short time.

     The first rays of the morning sun cast Jon’s long shadow across the porch as he stooped to place four eggs on the step leading to Claudius’ thatched roof hut. The sound of horses plodding and tack squeaking and rattling filtered around the church and Jon walked toward the single village road to see what was coming. On the portico of the church, Father Claudius stood gazing down the road as well. Moments later, Jon saw a weary cavalry unit appear from beyond Claudius and the church. They looked as though they had already been traveling for hours. The captain of the troop called to Claudius.

     “The peace of Jesus be with you, Father,” said the captain.

     “And with you, sir. Welcome to Gwylyn.” said Claudius.

     The captain pressed his knees into the saddle and raised himself to look around.

     “We passed your village at a distance some weeks ago while chasing a fugitive. Alas, we were unsuccessful. I am pleased to find a new Christian church here. Might we enter and receive the sacrament and a blessing from you, Father?”

     “Of course. You are all Christians?”

     “We are, Father. Many of the men I have brought to Jesus myself. On the road, I have done my best to make them soldiers of Christ. I often lead them in prayer and teach them the lessons that Jesus left us.”

     “Is that true? I was not aware that Jesus had need of soldiers, sir. He is the Prince of Peace.”

     “Ah, that is true, Father. But how is peace attained? Upon his return, I expect that He will want to find His peaceful kingdom waiting for Him.”

     “You do not think He and the heavenly host will accomplish that themselves?”

     “If peace is the desired goal, Father, how much nicer it is to find it already in effect.”

     Claudius wasn’t so sure but was unwilling to argue the point in front of the captain’s men.

     “Well,” he said, “come in and make yourselves comfortable. My name is Father Claudius.”

     “And I am Captain Sergius Liber Sabinus of the emperor’s cavalry.”

     Claudius opened the door and the soldiers trooped up the two steps and entered the church. Jon walked across the village to check on the stool a carpenter was making for Jorie. It wasn’t ready. The man promised to have it by mid-day and Jon returned through the trees to his farm. When he returned at noon, the troops had made camp and were gathered in a semi-circle around their captain who seemed to be preaching to them.

Interested, Jon moved closer to find out what it was about. As he neared, he was excited to hear the man preaching about Jesus. Not only was he preaching about Jesus, but about His imminent return to this very parish if only it could be made ready for Him.

     Jon felt validated as the man, Sabinus, condemn the druids, pronouncing it drujids, and claimed they were the purveyors of lies, disorder, and hate. The Celtic gods had never done anything for him. Yet, he watched as others carried out rituals and practices and saw their farms prosper while his merely survived. Then, when he complained of the unfairness of it all, they accused him of laziness and incompetence.

     “The gods do not help those who do not help themselves, Jon Cai,” they told him.

     “What is the point of having the help of the gods if you still have to do all the work?” he would ask.

     When Father Claudius first arrived, Jon was one of the first to attend his services. Soon, he brought his wife and two little girls with him. Although she wasn’t as eager as Jon was, Jorie was willing to go and support her husband. The two found Claudius to be a pleasant man, full of wisdom and good advice, and preaching a genial religion. The family became members of the Church.

     But Sabinus was different. His tone of angry blame aimed at the druids exactly matched Jon’s own feelings. He found himself moving closer and closer until he was kneeling with the soldiers and raising his right hand in the air when they did. When it was over, the captain came up to Jon and clapped him on the back. There was great comradery as more of the men joined the group. Sabinus had Jon kneel again and gave him a blessing.

When he was done, the captain invited Jon to join him in his tent for a meal. They talked for an hour. Jon left to walk back to his farm feeling as though he was part of something special. As he passed the village church again, he heard Father Claudius call out.

     “Jon Cai, how are you this morning. Do I have you to thank for the eggs?”

     Father Claudius stood on his porch and Jon changed directions to join the priest.

     “Yes, Father. You are welcome. My wife sends her greetings.”

     “Tell her I will be by to thank her later, Jon. What did our friends in the field have to say this afternoon?”

     Jon was a bit embarrassed to have been caught out. “Oh, you know, he was just preaching a little of what you preach to us.”

     “I do not think we preach the same thing, Jon. I may not know everything about Christianity, but what I do know does not support what he is preaching.”

     “He was just talking about how Jesus will come back to us someday soon.”

     “He preaches violence and war, Jon. Jesus never did that. Jesus would not approve of that.”

     “Well, yes. Maybe he is wrong in that, but I think he means well.”

     “He does not mean well, Jon. Be careful of him. I think he is dangerous.”

     “Surely not, Father. He only wants what we all want.”

     “And what is that, Jon?”

     Jon Cai shrugged. “He wants Jesus to return and make His kingdom on earth.”

     “Jon, what do you think the captain wants to do with the Celts who are not Christians when Jesus returns?”

     Jon shrugged again. He looked past the house and across the fields at the camp. He suddenly felt a little uneasy but wasn’t sure if it was Sabinus or Claudius who caused it. He nodded at Claudius and turned back for the farm. He forgot about the stool. As he walked away, he spotted Cadeyn, the Druid priest who had just shown up on the village green recently. The bearded, wild-haired man stepped out of another small house and stretched in the afternoon sun.

     “Good morning, Jon,” called Cadeyn.

     Jon just looked at the man who had been befriended by the priest. He nodded politely, but glanced at Father Claudius who stared uneasily at the cavalry encampment across the empty field. As Jon resumed his walk back to the farm, he wondered if the priest was under the sway of a drujid sorcerer. 

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End of Chapter 1 of Celtic Fire

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     Continue the story of Darcy's life, in Celtic Fire, as destiny takes a firm grip on her course and, just a few days short of home, turns her north. The fate of the Celtic people rests in her hands, whether she likes it or not, and she reluctantly takes up the burden. As her home disappears behind her, the Burning Man lights the path forward.