It has now been a total of 6 days since Jarl left Shantown (to Sophie—and Hagen) with the Mage.
Sophie’s various sign-in sheets have since become overfull with meeting requests—most of which are confessionals (although she’s quite certain half of them are really complaints in disguise…)—to the point that she has had to create multiple news ones to free up more space.
She doesn’t want to think about what that means.
Or about how it’s been less than a week.
~
It’s been a total of 6 days since Jarl left with the Mage and Sophie’s come to realize something important.
She can’t NOT have mass. As much as she, as a woman, can’t hold one: she MUST have masses in Shantown.
So, she does.
Or, rather, she has mock-masses: gatherings of the people of
Shantown inside the church once a day where she speaks to everyone about how
far Jarl has come in his quest, how well he is fairing (always positively hyperbolic
to keep herself people from freaking out), and all the small hints they’re
getting that Jasey’s well, too. She doesn’t read from the good book, doesn’t
invite anyone to sing, and definitely doesn’t preach.
But it works.
People are calmer and more compassionate after each mock-mass. They don’t complain or critic her as much as they used too and, after day two of these, they even begin staying after as they did with Jarl and chatting.
Sophie feels, in a way, victorious.
The chats aren’t confessions and people are still upset about many things (mostly marriages and money), but the sign-in sheets begin seeing less and less use while people in the parish begin seeing Sophie as a confidant.
(Of course, Sophie’s is still Hagen.)
~
It’s been a total of 6 days since Jarl left and Sophie still feels like she’s leapt into the fire.
The pan, as the proverb goes, was handling Jarl’s priestly duties. She thought that would be the worst.
But no: she was so wrong.
She’s managed that: mitigated it to the point that most people don’t seem to second guess it anymore. No: the problem is the old things—the stuff she and Jarl used to tackle together—the BIGGER PICTURE.
The MONEY.
She thought it’d be fine—not on FIRE—because so many things
that cost money aren’t able to be done: marriages, for one, are something they
can save on as she can’t wed anyone and weddings are pricey as balls; choir
(specifically: performances) aren’t required since all masses are mock-ups, now,
and don’t need them; multiple extravagant things that the church used to
provide (and will go back to providing once Jarl returns) are no longer being
done because they need a priest to do them—including the much coveted
confessionals.
(So: WHY ARE THEY RUNNING OUT OF MONEY‽‽‽)
~
It’s been 6 days since Jarl left and Sophie’s concerned her methods of coping are costing Shantown.
It’s very possible that all the paper and ink used in making and signing her sign-in sheets are too much—taking the place of marriage documents or whatever else and actually costing them more than weddings.
It’s also possible that her poor handling of Shantown’s socioeconomics is to blame: without Jarl’s input, Sophie’s struggling to come up with apt solutions to a number of problems arising in the parish—normal and abnormal—like food and farming issues, mass and marriage problems, residential and repairs, and so on.
Even managing trade is becoming problematic as Hagen’s increased workload is running out his supplies.
~
It’s why, on day 6 of Jarl being gone, Sophie lets herself into the apothecary’s world.
Initially, she did this to help him. Her original idea was to get an idea of what he needed and see if any of the admittedly odd things the church had in stock could be used to help him, either as alternatives or actual stuff.
She isn’t confident there’s enough money in the church to help him so their odds-and-ends will have to do.
Instead, her visit turns into a more… personal one.
~
“It’s been what?”
“Blacklisted,” Hagen repeats as he finishes pouring them both some tea. At his unexpected guest’s frown, however, he purses his lips and tries not to mirror her expression as he tries to think of a good explanation
She doesn’t think he manages it.
“It’s been… locked, so to speak.” He winces at her blank stare but she can tell he can’t word it better.
She sighs, “So… they can’t go there… how is this new???”
Here, he perks up, appearing to be glad they’re moving on. “It is new because of who it means did it.”
“… What?”
“If it had been zhe kidnapper—vhich ve vill get back to soon—it vould have just been blocked,” Hagen says, appearing more excited that Sophie can fathom WHY. “But since it vas blacklisted, ve know it vas zhe Elders!”
The Elders.
Manus has mentioned those—many times. Most of those times, it was with aggravation or abhorrence. But, he’d never really explained to her what or who they are (not that she ever really gave him the chance…)
“And that means…?”
“Ah… it is hard to explain…” Hagen sips his tea, appearing very contemplative for a moment. Sophie watches, confused but curious, and holds her own tea tightly in her hands. Part of this is due to nerves from the day—the past 6 days, even, since Jarl left her with Shantown—but the rest… she just needs to hold something.
The warmth of it doesn’t hurt, either.
“Manus disagrees vizh me—hating zhe Elders as he does—but I zhink…” He trails off, appearing to reconsider his wording. After a thought, he starts again: “If it had just been someone putting up a blockade, so to speak, zhe Elders vould probably not pay much attention: vhy look at an eddy—it is not a dam. A small problem—however big to US—vill not be enough to get zhem to help us.”
Slowly, Sophie begins to fathom Hagen’s excitement.
“But a blacklisting… Zhat is zhe Elders looking.”
“So, you think they’ll help?”
“Zheoretically.” Hagen shrugs, seeming to be much calmer and more nonchalant about the whole thing, now. He leans back in his chair and holds his tea cup (empty) much like Sophie does hers (full) and stares into it. “According to Manus, zhe Elders vould not blacklist a place vizhout very good reason. And a good reason deserves zheir attention. Vhether or not zhat means zhey help US…”
The Head Nun’s brow furrows in confusion, “Why wouldn’t they?”
“… Because someone HERE did it.”
~
It’s been 6 days and almost 6 nights since Jarl left and Sophie’s ears are ringing.
“Someone… HERE???” Hagen’s statement could mean a lot of things: someone could be anyone just as HERE could be anywhere; but, somehow, Sophie thinks she knows exactly what he means. Still. She must confirm.
“Someone from Shantown summoned a daemon and had zhat daemon kidnap Jasey.
“Zhat is vhy zhe Elders blacklisted zheir hideout; but zhey began HERE.”
(So, the Elders might not help them because they suspect them…)
~
It’s been 6 days, coming on 6 nights, since Jarl braved the world for Jasey and Sophie wishes he were here.
If he were here, he’d know what to do. He’d know how to handle this—all of it: from the money problems to the people to the Elders to the thought of someone in THEIR parish taking THEIR Baby Brother.
But he’s not here.
She is.
~
Sophie’s tea is long cold by the time Hagen relieves her of it.
She starts when he does, having gotten lost in her own thoughts—her own worries and woes and what-nows—and forgotten where she was or who she was with. She finds she can barely see him due to the dark and her drying tears which pool in her burning eyes like a drunk’s wineglass turned witch’s brew.
Outside, the shade of the sixth night silently befalls them, shadowing both the world and her mind.
As it does, new tears threaten to spring forth, welling in her eyes like the bubbles of Manus’ rusted cauldron, because she knows this will not be the last Jarlless night or the last Jarlles day. There are more to come.
So many more…
Hagen’s hands are surprisingly soft. They’re large and Sophie knows all the hard work he does with them; so, to find them smooth and supple along the sides of her face is jarring—more so than him touching her. Gently, he brushes the tears from her face and cradles her head in his bare palms (that’s probably it: his gloves—normally he has them on so they must help protect his hands! Sophie stifles a laugh: his famous cream, which all the ladies in town love, must help as well; perhaps she should ask him about it—and then praise him for it).
Then, he smiles, “Ve do not need zhem: ve have Manus and Jarl and zhe trees of zhe vorld on our side.
“Zhe Elders are nozhing.”
~
It’s the sixth night since Jarl left and Sophie finally enjoys her tea with Hagen.
“So, Manus can find him? This Kane… person.” A sour taste floods her mouth as she says this—calls this MONSTER who took her BROTHER a PERSON—but the agreeing glint of disgust in Hagen’s eyes calms her.
The apothecary nods, “It might take him some time but he vill; and zhat vill help zhem fight him.”
That thought gives her pause. In all the 6 days she’s been praying for them, she never once thought of that: that they’d have to FIGHT this monster—Kane—to get Jasey back.
Something else to add to her prayers every night.
“And what about…” She swallows thickly, still shook by the reality of today’s worst revelation: the betrayal. “The one who… summoned him? Can… Can Manus find THEM as well?”
Hagen hums in thought, seeming to ponder that idea only now.
Then, he smiles, “Ve vill ask him zhat together.”
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