laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

"I'll be right back," he stated, confusion in his voice.

Kavayen watched as the priest quickly headed to the far right corner of the temple whose shadow grew longer in the orange torchlight. Childish callings from the brown cradle hanging from his beefy left hand cut to his heart again. Maybe he could escape before Alisandro emerged from his dungeon laboratory, keep his granddaughter with he and his wife forever. His attention swung right to a small alcove and he noticed a small group of boys sitting attentively as they listened to their master's instruction.

'She belongs there, you know this,' his wife's voice stated in his mind as tears welled up again.

'I can acquire the money to care for her,' he argued with himself as he wiped his tanned cheek. They had had this argument before her reasoning sent him on this two day journey.
Suddenly, the creak of a heavy door echoed in the cavernous chamber and he again peered to the far side to notice the young alchemist slowly emerge from the dim light and approach. His wry smile made Kavayen's desperation turn to anger.

"I was informed you had arrived," Alisandro greeted as his brown eyes drifted to the basket. "It's good to see you again, how's Bianka?"

Kavayen bit his lip as his arm extended Kailee to her father. "This young lass is now the church's responsibility. My daughter is gone and we aren't able to care for young Kailee."

Alisandro stared dumbly for a moment, then reluctantly took the basket as he sighed. "My heart aches for your loss, sir."

"Spare me your empty sympathies, young man. You got what you wanted, all I ask is that you take responsibility for your actions," Kavayen huffed, turned on his heel and nearly ran to his wagon as Kailee's cries tore the peace in the temple apart.

* * *

Alisandro watched as the elder carpenter reined his tired horses and smacked them on the rump. The rumbling of wooden wheels and horses hooves quieted the baby's pleas for a moment as he looked down to the young girl. His heart warmed as he thought of Bianka and he on the banks of the Dovey River, not very distant from Laksay, the temple he lived and worked in now for seven years.
"I have much to tell you of your mother, young one," he beemed through misty eyes as another priest approached.

"What have you found, my friend," Brenan asked.

"My daughter," Alisandro proudly announced.

Brenan eyed him for a moment. "Surely you jest. You know you can't keep her here, the bishop would never allow that."

The realization hit him like a ton of bricks - more to add to the pile. He looked to the priest, "You're right, of course," then back to Kailee. "There's an orphanage in Inellan, I can take her there tomorrow. I have to attend to the market anyway."

Brenan softly brushed Kailee's cheek as the girl's cries softened. "She is beautiful, isn't she?"

Alisandro smiled, there had to be a way to postpone his trip to the eastern town for a day or two. His visits to the orphanage wouldn't come often enough and if Kailee was all he had left to remember those summer days, he wished to hold on to them as long as possible. His mind drifted to Bianka's blond hair and hazel-green eyes in the bright sunlight as they lay in the grass. He could still smell the wildflowers around them.
With a sigh, he turned and headed passed the beautifully adorned podium decorated with a brilliant maroon carpet, mahogany railings and hanging heraldry to the deity of justice and war hanging on the back wall. He pulled on the thick metal ring and opened the door to the stairwell that descended to the bowels of the compound. Down a well lit hallway and into the small study, he noticed the heavyset frame of Bishop Arcallah sitting on the long, red velvet couch. He shifted the basket to his left hand and hurried his steps in the hopes of not being discovered.

Kailee's soft cooings alerted the elder priest who lowered the book in his hands and glared. "Where are you taking that child?"

"To my chambers, my lord," Alisandro stopped.

"Why is that child going to your chambers?"

Sweat began to bead on his forehead as he shifted his weight. "I was just given charge of his child, sir, by her father. I'm going to take her to Inellan on the morrow."

Steel-grey eyes coldly stared, boring holes through the young alchemist from Solway who swallowed hard. "Why wasn't that child given to the Brother standing beside you?" the bishop referred to Brenan who had become his accomplice in this failed smuggling attempt.

"I happen to know the family, sir. I promise that she will be gone at daybreak."

The bishop lowered his arms, allowing the closed book to slap on his beefy thighs. "You're bringing a female into the chambers of the Templar of our great deity? Are you mad?"

"Kailee is not even a year old, sir. I promise that on the morrow she will be gone and I will keep her in my chambers until that time."

The bishop sighed heavily as he glared. "See that she is gone from here before breakfast." Alisandro nodded obediently and quickly continued on to his small bedroom, Brenan in tow.