Canticle of Twilight

Posted on 07 Sep 2020 @ 3:51am by Rogue Elinowy Ursulas

1,330 words; about a 7 minute read

Mission: Prologue
Location: Near Raven's Roost Tavern

Sky sky faded from gold to crimson as the sun descended in its traversing of the firmament. The smell of hearthfire permeated the evening air as villagers made their way home from their day's labor. On a hill above the village a voice carried on the breeze.

"...I cannot see the path.
Perhaps there is only abyss.
Trembling, I step forward,
In darkness enveloped."

Silhouetted in the corona of the setting sun, a figure moved in graceful rhythm with the words of the melodic song. The tall woman moved her arms in wide arcs, circling left then right. A forward thrust, a step back and a flowing arc to the side, her arms thrust outward and her leg extended in a balanced stance parallel to the Horizon.

The woman held the rigid horizontal form until she completed her song and slowly retracted her arms and leg and settled into a calm seated position, her arms laying upon her knees. Her blue eyes opened, catching the last spark of sun as it dropped behind the horizon. She concentrated on her breathing, bringing her heart and her lungs to a reserved calm.

Her prayers remained the same each day. She would sing from the Canticle of Trials as she weighed the grace of the Maker upon her day. She was thankful for all she had, which was very little. This time of wandering was meant to prepare her the Vigil to come. A time of seeking clarity in turmoil, graciousness in poverty, and courage in powerlessness. This was her final venture into the outside world before the vigil.

Andraste had undergone the Exhaulted Marches, never lifting a sword or engaging in combat. That was her husband's task. With modesty and endless compassion, she changed the world to embrace the maker. This, the first scrutiny for the initiate, was embrace the will of the Maker, a challenge Elinowy had never found easy. So little in this world occurred from kindness or through grace of the Maker, it took determination, perseverance and at times force to reshape the world for good. The scrutinies were meant to refine the focus and spirit of the initiate in preparation for the ordeal of the Vigil, so she resigned herself to less efficient means to achieve ends. She surrendered herself to the will of faith.

As darkness spread across the land, Elinowy made her way into the village. The sounds of family spelt out into the emptying streets, sounds of joy, sound of strife, sounds of isolation and loss. She made her way along her eyes moving across the increasing shadows to those on the outside, the marginalized, the poor, the desperate.

A dirty disheveled woman with a small child clinging to her leg leaned out from the shadows. "Please Mother, A couple coppers. Anything will help. my daughter and I aint had nothin to eat in two days."

Elinowy looked on the woman with deep compassion. She smiled at the scrawny empty frame of a child. She reached out and brushed the girl's hair out of her face. "What an angel we have hidden under there. May the Maker bless you both. Go to the local Chantry, they will never turn you away. Take heart, the Chant of Light will bring the Maker's blessing upon this earth." she said placing her hand on the child's head.

"Would that he did, Mother; but today we have to fend for ourselves." the old woman said dejectedly.

"Have faith, my sister, together we build a tomorrow of glory." Elinowy responded wishing she could do more. The woman and her child faded away ,into the dark.

Elinowy ventured onward, walking calmly into a short alleyway behind the local tavern. "Hey lady, got any copper?" came a gravelly voice. She looked over at the grizzled figure in the shadows. "I bring you a gift greater than gold." she responded, her hands out to her sides displaying there was nothing to fear. The large rough man looked at her and rolled his eyes. "Oh sorry sister, I couldn't make out the robes in the dark," he said, sliding a short knife back into his sleeve.

"If you require shelter of food the local Chantry will never turn you away." she said kindly.

The big man brushed his hands against his pants and jingled a small sack of coins" No need for your Charity tonight sister. I got more pockets to empty."

"Please, let me help you. Together we can bring the Maker's blessings upon this world." she said in a soulful voice.

"The Maker gave up on me along time ago." he said as he started walking away down the alley.

"Please brother, let me get you a meal." Elinowy called.

The man stopped and turned back. "You got coin sister? I thought y'all didn't carry any." he said quickly closing the gap between them.

I assure you I have none. But together we can bring the Maker's blessings upon this world." she said gently.

"Yeah you said that. Whatcha got in mind sister?" he said suspiciously.

"Please let us see if the Tavern owner is a man of good faith." She said optimistically.

"Fine sister, but I tell ya, the Bartender in there is a bastard. I mean no offense." he said relenting to her request.


The door to the tavern was think and intricately carved with relief of a large Raven alighting upon a branch. Elinowy opened the door and entered, the large man following. All eyes turned to her as the light hit her scarlet robes. She paid no attention but made her way to the bar against the far wall.

"Tavern keeper, I have a man in need of help and hope you might bless us with your assistance. My brother here is in need of a legitimate trade. He was waiting to rob patrons of yours behind the tavern." she said kindly and earnestly.

"What are you doing sister?!" the big man said pushing himself back to clear the area around him.

"Perhaps you need a bouncer or security? Something that can use his violent tendencies for good instead of evil." she continued.

The tavern keeper lifted his hand and made a gesture for his security men. "Robbing our patrons are you. Can't be having that now." he said as two large men walked toward the big man.

Pulling the knife back out from his sleeve. "Get yourselves back! This woman is setting me up!" he bellowed.

Elinowy's face remained stoic and placid as the big man slashed out with his knife at one of the approaching men. The bouncer dodged and continued to close in. The other lifted a long blackjack and smacked it down on the man's head sending him hard to the floor.

"Its all over folks! Get some drinks as the boys lean up the mess." The tavern keeper called out to the patrons. "Thank you sister for bringing in a blight on this business. Anything I can get for you?"

Elinowy reached down and removed he small coin sack from the unconscious man. She looked back at the tavern keeper and smiled. "A bowl of soup would be lovely if you are offering."

"Sure Sister, I can part with a bowl of soup." the Tavern keeper said generously.

"Thank you kindly brother. Together we bring the Maker's blessings upon the earth. I will return in a moment." she said walking to the door way.

Out in the Dark, Elinowy sought out the woman and her child, dropping the bag of coins at their feet. The woman in amazement scooped up the coins and hurriedly stuffed them beneath her shawl. "Bless you Sister! Thank you so much."

"The Maker provides when we work together." Elinowy assured her. "Go and buy food for your angel, and follow the Chant of Light to bring more blessings."
Touching the child's cheek, she turned and walked back into the Tavern and sat down by her bowl of soup.

 

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