24/05/2020 – Rescuing the Survivors (5)
Village Suspicions
Almost the entire village has come out by now to see what is going on. Leofric is suspicious of everyone in the village at this point, no knowing who the members of the cult are. He tells Doerwine that the boy was in the mines, but ignores any further questions.
Æthelwyn notices that Aesc is not there and asks his wife where he is. She tells her that he went to York yesterday to buy more ale-making materials.
When Aelric questions why Joric is black and asks if this is a shade, Leofric chides him for being so foolish. Joric has been in the mines. All he needs is a good wash. Godgyfu volunteers to take him to the stream and clean him.
The villagers have been standing around discussing the return of Joric for a while and Doerwine reminds them that there is work to be done and they should return to it.
Father Dudda talks with Leofric and asks if he has found the dark power that has been threatening the village. Leofric confides in him about the evil Shrine in the mines. They need to perform a consecration. Dudda takes him to the church to get bell, book, candle, holy water and his crucifix.
An Expedition to the Mines
Leofric goes to see Doerwine again, who is cooler towards him since he felt snubbed by the monk, but agrees to Leofric’s request for villagers to come to the mines to help rescue some people there. Doerwine will go himself, plus Rolf’s groundskeeper Wigmund, Cyneric and his son William, and Osgar, son of Osgar, who is Godgyfu’s father. Father Dudda will also be coming with them.
Aelric asks if he should come, but Leofric tells him to spend time with his son. Aelric commits to starting work at the Mill with his son from tomorrow morning.
They set off, with Æthelwyn guiding them. The overweight and unfit Father Dudda is the slowest of them and they have to stop to wait for him occasionally.
As they approach Agnes’s house, they see thick smoke coming from it. Leofric tells them that Maethild has been killed and Agnes is likely cremating her. They avoid going near the house.
Night Falls
It is beginning to get dark as they reach Alexis and Eadbehrt with the victims from the cave. They have been talking to some of the victims and found out that they come from various places in the north, few near to here.
Doerwine quickly begins to organise everyone to help the victims get back to Welburn, after asking Lord Alexis for his approval. They are soon ready to escort, support and carry the victims back to the village. Leofric and Father Dudda agree it would be better to confront the power in the cave during daylight and they will come back tomorrow.
They set off, carrying burning torches against the darkness and begin their return journey, which is slower and everyone is a little on edge.
Agnes’s Motives
As they pass Agnes’s house, they see in the darkness that there are two fires. The scarecrows have been burnt down. This prompts a discussion amongst the Seekers about Agnes’s motivations. Leofric thinks she is part of the cult, but Alexis says he felt she had implied the Spider Cult had put a spirit into Maethild in order to ensure she did what they said.
Now that Maethild is dead, she will oppose the cult and she has burnt the scarecrows that they set up. Unfortunately, as he killed Maethild, she is not that likely to co-operate with them.
The conversation then turns to Aesc and they wonder if he is a willing member of the cult, or if they have some sort of hold over him too. He has likely gone to warn the cult of what has happened, who are probably in a near-by village.
The journey to Welburn takes a while and is difficult, but finally they reach the village. Father Dudda tells them to put all the victims into the church, where there is space for them and they can be cared for.
Church Hospital
Some of the other villagers come to see what is going on and Doerwine tells them to fetch food, water and bedding.
The victims are accommodated in the church as best they can be. Father Dudda and Leofric attend to them, while the others help as best they can, feeding them and keeping them warm and comfortable.
It gets late and the villagers return to their beds. The Seekers end up staying the night in the church and watching over the victims. One, a Welshman called Ieuen, awakens in the night, demanding to know what is going on. Leofric looks after him, reassuring him and telling him where they are. He comes from Conwy, hundreds of miles from here and he is an ironmonger and smithy.
Ieuen’s Tale
Rationalising that, as a victim Ieuen is not likely to be helping the cult, Leofric explains everything that has happened. Ieuen’s memory of what happened to him is patchy, but he recalls men in masks coming to his house. There was something strong that he could not see, which despite being strong from working with iron all his life, held him in a grip that meant he could not move.
They then held something with a strong incense-like smell in front of him and he passed out. After that, all he recalls is strange dreams, especially a recurring one in which he is trapped in a room with a man with horns.
The Victims
In the morning, the villagers return with more food and water. Rolf the Steward pays them a visit, but he seems more concerned about that is going to happen to these strangers. The village cannot handle another seven mouths to feed and there is not that much work here. Leofric is not impressed with the old man’s attitude but tells him they are likely to be taken back to York once they have recovered.
Four of the victims are awake and in possession of their wits by the morning. As well as Ieuen, there is Eawynn, whose husband is a Miller in Kirby, Yorkshire; Rand, a sheep herder from the Pennines and Tate, a fish monger’s wife from Shrewsbury in Mercia.
These seem to be the healthiest of the victims. The other three are weaker and are still unconscious. Leofric begins to wonder if they will survive, especially one of the women, who is sick with a fever.
Eadbehrt notices that, including Joric, there were eight people in the cave, four men and four women. Alexis points out that there are eight legs on a spider. They wonder at the significance of this and how long that Shrine has been there. Leofric speculates that it must be a place of power that they have chosen and brought people from far and wide to be part of their scheme.
Time Is Passing
The Seekers end up spending the morning in the church, calming the victims who have awakened and reassuring them, while looking after the rest and dealing with the constant stream of villagers coming to help, bring food and ask questions.
Doerwine asks Leofric who has done this to these people. Leofric explains at this point, knowledge is power and he needs to keep some things secret for the time being. Doerwine is disappointed but seems to understand.
Father Dudda reminds Leofric that they need to deal with the dark power in the mines. It would be better to do that during the day. Time is passing, it is already past noon. If they are to do this, they will need to set off soon.
Leofric then asks Doerwine for more help from the village. They need able-bodied men who can fight if needed. He suggests Cyneric and his son William, Wigmund and himself. They arm themselves with axes, clubs and Cyneric has a large hammer.
The Mission Against Evil
The Seekers discuss the details of their return to the cave. They will leave the villagers outside, as experiencing the power in the cave will be too much for them. Leofric and Father Dudda will consecrate the cave, while the others protect them.
They assembly Doerwine and his men, plus Father Dudda and set off, leaving the victims in the care of various women from the village.
On the way, they tell the villagers they are going to deal with an evil power that dwells in the mines. Cyneric asks what their role is, as he is no priest. He is told his job is to protect the Seekers and fight anyone who comes to stop them. Cyneric welcomes this. He does not know how to deal with evil, but he can deal with men anytime.
Contest of Power
They once again avoid going too near Agnes’s house and reach the entrance to the mines. They leave the villagers on guard outside, as Cyneric is likely too big to get through the gap, being more than 6ft tall. Father Dudda struggles due to his large belly and he gets his robes dirty.
They reach the cave itself and as they consider containing it in a circle, they see a wisp of smoke rising from the skull in the bowl of blood. It is forming into the shape of a horned man standing above them. Father Dudda is terrified by this visage and staggers away from it, blabbing in fear.
Alexis and Eadbehrt also back away in fear, but Leofric steps forward, holding up his cross and chanting Christian prayers. There is a contest of power between them and at one point, the spirit tries to pull the cross from his hands, but Leofric’s grip is tight. He splashes holy water at the skull.
Touching the Skull
Eventually, Leofric prevails and the smoky spirit dissipates. He is exhausted and sweating. Father Dudda has turned a little white, but he slowly recovers his wits.
The Seekers decide it is time to move the skull. It may not be safe to touch it, so they elect Alexis to move it, as he is wearing chainmail gauntlets.
Alexis takes a cloth, which Father Dudda baths in holy water and picks up the skull. As he does so, he gets a strange, painful shock. He drops the skull and knocks the bronze bowl of blood over. It falls to the floor, splashing blood everywhere.