more information on the workings of Mordelan and Ivo was just the man to provide it.
It was not the beyond natural happening that surprised Leon. It was the gentle smile on his wrinkled face. Leon witnessed a Mordelander smile for the first time since his arrival.
“My young friend.” He greeted as Leon took a seat in his parlor.
“You look great.” Leon smiled back. “What happened?”
“You happened.”
“Me?”
“It started after you lodged here.”
Leon chuckled. “So the rumors were true.”
Ivo leaned forward. “There are rumors?”
“I heard about it at the market. Well, actually I overheard two ladies talking about it.”
“Then that may spell trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?”
The old man leaned forward. “Look I don’t want to dampen the excitement of this supernatural happening. I can’t even stress how much I appreciate it. But I must intimate you on the truth. I must tell you what you’re up against.”
Leon listened intently. Ivo’s brown eyes glinted with knowledge. “Even though Mordelan has a ruling king, there is another body under him that is more directly involved with the affairs of the land. They are known as ‘The High Council.’ It is made up of a group of ten men. They take care of issues the king can definitely not take care of personally.”
Ivo spoke softly and with such disturbing seriousness that one would have thought this High Council were some beyond natural body watching his every move. Leon was tempted to be afraid.
The old man continued his explanation. “The Council has been using its influence to manipulate Mordelanders for years now. They dictate the lifestyle the people lead. They have succeeded over the years in striking fear into the hearts of Mordelanders so that the people can hardly think for themselves. And I suspect that anyone who tries to show them a different way of living will have the Council to contend with.”
Leon remained silent for a few seconds before he spoke. “My Father knew all these things when he sent me here. His not mentioning it to me tells me it’s of no consequence.”
The old man’s face took another expression that his young visitor found difficult to read. Was it hurt or puzzlement? Leon was not sure which it was.
Leon mounted Everest. It was late afternoon. Ivo had insisted on entertaining him with a drink and cakes saying it was the least he could do. Now it was time to head back into the city. Leon rode thoughtfully. As he rode he went over Ivo’s warnings. Mordelan’s problem was a deep one. The air was thick with unease and tension. The people were disheartened and had fallen into the sad traps of sameness and passiveness. There is only One who can help Mordelan out of the clutches of such subtle enemies. Leon thought. The temptation to get frightened was too strong but he resisted it with all he had in him.
His thoughts were cut short by a man’s echoed groan. He turned and immediately his eyes fell on a young trader fallen by the side of the quiet road. The trader lay on the ground with his fruits and vegetables. His portable cart also lay toppled beside him. The man pointed angrily at a rider who was now speeding away on a horse. That was probably the culprit.
Leon stopped. “Are you alright?”
The man raised his head. He wore a long cloak over his other clothes. The cloak had a hood which fell off his head as he looked up. He gasped softly and Leon thought the young man looked a little too concerned that his hood had come off. The trader pulled his hood back on quickly. But before he did, Leon had taken in his features. He seemed younger than Leon; quite a number of years younger. He was very handsome with thick black curly hair which for some reason he wanted hidden beneath his hood.
His grey eyes were intent on Leon. “You’re a foreigner.” He spoke with a smooth voice.
“I am. Are you alright?” Leon stretched his hand; assisting the man off the ground.
“I’m fine. Thank you.” He towered over Leon when he stood. Leon almost gaped.
“What happened?” he proceeded to help the trader raise his cart, arranging the fruits and vegetables as well.
“That reckless rider.” The trader fixed his eye on the road. The rider was long gone.
When the arrangement of the fruits and vegetables was complete the trader commented. “Your horse is brilliant. I haven’t seen such an excellent breed since I was little.”
This man seemed quite chatty. Something Leon was not used to experiencing from Mordelanders.
“Yes it is.” He replied the trader.
“Was it groomed in—Where are you from?”
“Yes it was bred in Adelon. I groomed him.”
“Really, are you a breeder?”
“Yes I am. Our king at Adelon even bought some from me.”
“Hmmn. I’ve heard some amazing things about Adelon. I hear it is like a paradise.”
“You heard correctly.”
The young trader nodded at the horses. “I know someone who will be very interested in your horses. That is, if you brought any others with you. He may want you to groom his own horses.”
Leon nodded. “I did bring a few others with me from Adelon.”
“Great. I’ll let him know.”
“May I ask who it is?” Leon was curious.
The stranger tilted his head toward Leon with a glint in his eye. “He’s a very important man. Don’t worry you’ll meet him soon enough.”
ELEVEN
EVERY EVENING FOR a week, Leon and his family received little Manno into their home. They let him stay for whatever length of time he wished to stay. Every evening his sister would arrive and whisk him back home. Her name—they found out—was Aelia.
“Don’t worry,” Manno explained to them one day. “She’s afraid of mama. Mama’s been very angry since papa ran away.”
“Does mama get angry at you a lot?” Cealia had to ask; her heart breaking for the little boy.
“Yes,” he answered like it was normal. “Sometimes we don’t even know what we’ve done wrong when she starts yelling at us. Sometimes we know we’ve not done anything wrong.”
One evening Manno came on one of his usual visits. This time he actually joined Leon’s children in playing around the house instead of sitting and watching as he had done on previous occasions. They’d been playing a game where they had to catch each other while avoiding being caught. And then he surprised them all by smiling when he finally caught Irene by her sleeve.
Cealia had been watching over them in the living room and witnessed the whole scene. “You are so handsome, Manno.” She couldn’t help complimenting.
“And look mama,” said Irene. “He has two dimples on his cheeks.”
Encouraged, his smile immediately widened. This sent the others in the room laughing. And he joined them too.
But their laughter lasted only a few seconds. Loud knocks suddenly sounded at the door. They came in quick successions. Assuming that it might be an emergency, Cealia wasted no time in getting to the door. She hurriedly opened it. It was a lady older than herself. She looked very irritated. Her gown was old and dull. Her brown disheveled hair was done in a loose ponytail.
She was in within seconds of the door opening. Her dark eyes darted a glance at Cealia. “Where is my son?” she asked in a low toned but clearly vexed manner.
Cealia who wasn’t expecting such a scene stuttered the answer. “He’s h−here. I mean he’s with us. H—He’s in the living room.”
The second the words left Cealia’s mouth, the lady marched to the living room and spotted him. He had run to a corner. His face had turned pale again; far from what it was a moment ago. His mother ignored his expression and snatched him by his left arm. Within seconds they headed out the door. And right away everywhere fell silent. Cealia stood in shock by the open door. Her children stood not too far from her gaping out the door also.
Then Tycho’s expression changed. He was no longer shocked. He was now angry. “I hate this place. A
re we going to live here with no friends?”
Cealia watched pitifully as he walked to the living room. She began to wonder how long they’d all have to put up with this before change happens. Leon was in for a story when he returned home.
TWELVE
FOR THE NEXT week Leon and his family did not see Manno. They guessed his mother must have punished him. From what he told them of her, they were not sure what to expect. They were worried for him.
It wasn’t long after that week when Leon returned from searching for a farmland, that he did see him. He was seated in front of his house like he used to do before they got to know him. His looked withdrawn again. Leon saw none of the happiness his wife described seeing on his face the day he first smiled at them. His heart sank at the site of the boy. He decided to risk talking to him.
“How are you doing Manno?” he stopped a short distance from the boy.
Manno shook his head and said nothing. Leon tried a couple of more times but got no response. His mother had done a good job. This angered Leon. However, he did the only thing he could at the moment which was to talk to the Father on behalf of the boy.
A knock on the door. They hadn’t heard much of that since Manno stopped visiting. Leon had left already for the town square so Cealia figured that it must be a visitor. Nothing prepared her however, for who she met at the door when she opened it. Standing in her dull gown was Manno’s own mother.
Not knowing what to do with this awkward situation, Cealia simply smiled and greeted. “Good morning.”