5/9/2006

08:18 PM
Logfile from Foundry.


There are some folks who are a little too good to be quite real. The dust and
  the crap of the world just doesn't seem to stick to their boots. Of all the 
  folks like that you've ever met Brother Cyrus may well be the most angelic. 
  He's so damn good lookin' that it isn't just the female dogs in training who 
  watch him. He's so damn good with a gun that even Brother Kishkumen can never 
  find fault in him. He never seems to get mad, never seems to be at a loss. 
  That he's only 16 and already in Temple, called by the Ancients themselves, 
  only makes the aura that much more radiant. So it surprises no one when 
  towards the end of training he's paired with Sister Hannah for the final, 
  grueling two week examinations and dedications. After all, who better to put 
  with the boy that can do anything than the girl that half the other girls 
  whisper about?

From the first moment he's with her, Cyrus is kind and open. He's friendly and
  smiling even when shouted at, and he is always willing to fetch, to carry, to 
  comb your hair or do whatever thing you ask of him. Whenever someone else 
  tries to cut you down, he's there too, like a strong right hand. Then one 
  night he proves his lack of perfection when he asks, point blank in the 
  unabashed way of someone who’s had little pain in his life, "Sister Hannah, 
  why did you come to Temple? You don't always seem like you enjoy being a Dog."

Sister Hannah puts down her mending, sighs, and looks up at brother Cyrus from
  the chair she's sitting in by the window "It's a lot of work, Brother Cyrus, 
  but I do enjoy being a dog. I enjoy helping people and learning from The Book 
  of Life. I came to Temple because it was my duty to my family. They wished 
  for me to come learn more about the scriptures and how to teach people to 
  live their lives according to God's will. It is my duty to serve God and 
  God's people.

Cyrus nods throughout the words Hannah speaks, patiently rolling up the excess
  thread and yarn from her mending, wrapping them round and round his strong 
  young hands to make a ball. "I can understand that." He pauses a long moment, 
  and says, "Sister Hannah, I know you do not like me much. I know I'm too 
  young for you, and haven't seen half of what you have seen. But I want you to 
  know that I love you like my sister. I love that you stand up to your pain 
  and never let it show. I love that you... that you let me be around even 
  though I drive you mad as a drunk old miner."

Sister Hannah looks Brother Cyrus in the eyes, once more putting her mending in
  her lap. She gently takes the wool away from him and finishes rolling up the 
  last bit, focusing all her attention on that task. Then she finally speaks 
  "Brother Cyrus, how could you love me? I cannot do what women are supposed to 
  do: raise a family and care for the household. Perhaps I could be someone's 
  second wife, if the first allows it, but I will never have my own family. 
  You, you do everything so well and can have your pick of any of the women, 
  especially since you're a dog. Go spend your time with someone who can fully 
  appreciate all you have to offer, rather than someone who can never be whole. 
  And before you ask, yes, I'm jealous! Now go away and leave me alone!" She 
  picks up her mending basket, turns away from him, and stands up to go put her 
  things away.

For a long moment Brother Cyrus just sits there blinking like he'd been struck
  by lightning. Finally he says, "But..." and then his face tightens up slowly 
  and he nods. "Right then, Sister. I'll ask the Elders to give you a new 
  partner. You won't be seeing me any more." Flushed with shame and just barely 
  able to choke back the tears he practically runs out of the room.

Outside, Sister Abigail raises one eyebrow as a tearful Brother Cyrus rushes
  past her. "I wonder what-" she says to Sister Clementine as he passes them, 
  then notices Hannah in the window of the hut. "Oh. Never mind."

In the women's dormitory that night, muffled tears could be heard coming 
  from Sister Hannah, but there was no one to comfort her...."

------------

There are Dogs that come to Bridal Falls that are so deep in the Faith that
  they're baptized from the moment they wake till the moment they sleep at 
  night. There are Dogs that come in ambition for of the glory of God that 
  awaits them. There are those that come from a deep and abiding love to make a 
  better life for themselves and their families. 

Then there's Sister Chase.

She is exacting and methodically devoted to every undertaking she's given, the
  aim of her gun has been flawless. Her willingness to get hurt, to take orders,
  to work her fingers to the bone... they're all unquestioned, even by Brother 
  Kishkumen, the hardest ass of Hard Assville. The astute among the gathered
  teachers and Dogs to be might say that she's -too- devoted. It's not in the
  name of the King, nor her community, and she's got no family to speak of. 
  So what is it that drives her unwavering devotion to duty? One thing is for 
  sure: Chase ain't telling. In fact, she's not saying much of anything to
  anyone; she's too busy holding her breath.

Brother Kishkumen sort of kind of comes to like Chase. He knows that silence,
  the Mountain Boy who became a Dog, and he watches but does not press. Even 
  the hardest men have their limits. The other Dogs-in-training either love 
  Chase, because she does their work for hem, or hate her because it seems to 
  come so easy. Even Dogs to be have limits to what they can see. But Sister 
  Asenath is kind, and Sister Asenath is loving, and Sister Asenath was a Dog 
  for 20 years and has the kind of faith that makes even Brother Kishkumen 
  tremble when she speaks testimony. And it is Sister Asenath who finds Chase 
  one night alone, while she is scrubbing the floors of the chapel and sits 
  down on the pew and smiles and says, "Sister Chase, do you mean to hide from 
  me, or from the King himself?" in the softest, most motherly voice Chase has 
  ever heard.

At the other end of the chapel, Abigail carefully oils the polished wood of the
  lectern. Only someone who knew her well could tell that her head had cocked 
  slightly, listening to the encounter at the other end of the room.

Sister Hannah is praying beneath a stained glass window of the Tree of Life
  sheltering believers from the storm. She goes unnoticed by the others.

Fingers rubbed raw and red and chafed grip the bristle brush in her hands and
  though the perceptive can see the swallow that overtakes her throat at the 
  sound of that voice, her hands never pause. Her long black hair is tied 
  into a shank off the back of her neck, and loose strands are half wild and 
  half glued to her damp forehead. She looks up as she scrubs the floor and 
  blinks at the elder Dog in earnest. "No Ma'am, Sister Asenath. I'm sure not 
  hiding from anyone. I thought I'd just get a head start on tomorrow's chores. 
  I'm not late for lights down, am I?"

Sister Abigail pauses for a moment to stretch her aching back and rest her
  arms. If she hadn't spent the afternoon helping Sister Bountiful in the 
  laundry, she'd be in bed by now. On the other hand, if she were in bed now, 
  she wouldn't be hearing this . . . .

Sister Abigail takes a step back to admire the now-shining lectern, then turns
  to start on the choir stand. She dips her rag neatly in the bowl of oil and 
  starts, methodically, from the top.

When her eyes meet Sister Asenath's and she sees the concern that lies within
  them, she knows that trouble has come to her at last. Her eyes shift off to 
  the left for a moment, and she draws back on her haunches like a rabbit that 
  smells a fox. "Sister. I've been... I've been meaning to ask you a question, 
  if you don't mind." She drags the back of her hand across her forehead and 
  smiles as open as she can manage - which is none too far. "How is it that you 
  show the world so well how the King works in you? I spent so much time alone 
  in my life that sometimes I don't know how to say the things I should, and it 
  -looks- like I don't belong here."

The old Dog sits back into the pew, letting her coat spread out around her like
  a halo of orange and red. She watches Chase for a long, long time, with a 
  look in her eyes like she's reliving something out of her own past. Chase and 
  Abigail can both almost see the ghosts moving behind her eyes, the old pains 
  revisited as she ponders the hard working woman on her knees. With a soft 
  sigh she finally says, "Chase, you can't show people you belong here unless 
  you do. The King works through us, he doesn't come to our tune like a rat to 
  a piper. Don't you see that yet, girl?"


Rag in hand, Sister Abigail has given up any pretense of choir-stand-cleaning.
  She's curious just how the wild girl will handle this - and whether Sister 
  Asenath's fabled patience will hold out.

This is it. It's the moment she's been so sure would come since she showed
  up at Temple. She looks now like she looked then, plaintive, desperate, and 
  filled with a hot, searing humiliation. The pleading request she wants to 
  make falls apart before it's even out of her mouth; it breaks into stuttering
  little syllables that belie how little she has to say in defense. 

In this moment, she can feel the terrible meaty hands of the old butcher
  back in Fallow Field that's claimed her for his second bride. Her face grows
  pale, and she scrambles up to her feet, backing away from the holy woman 
  as if she might get burned by her judgment. In so doing, she trips backwards
  over the bucket and spills her own shame all over the floor of the Chapel
  for the King of Life to examine.

Sister Hannah turns around at the sudden noise to watch what's going on.

Sister Abigail looks from the wet, soapy Dog who's just landed at her feet to
  Sister Asenath, then back again with an exasperated sigh. "Here," she says, 
  extending a hand to Chase to help her up. Looking back to Asenath, she says, 
  "Perhaps Sister Chase could use some help learning to express her faith with 
  fewer . . . pratfalls. I have an hour after theology lessons which is free. 
  If it would be of some use, I would be glad to help Sister Chase understand 
  her place here." She ineffectually brushes at the drops of water clinging to 
  her skirts, and adds with a smile, "If nothing else, it'll be easier on my 
  wardrobe."

Sister Chase looks from Abby's face to her hand, and then back to her face, 
  and nearly comes to tears in the moment of charity. Blinking them back she 
  takes Abby's soft hand, and at it's touch, finds her spine again. She stands,
  mostly of her own volition, and holds on to her hand just a moment longer 
  than perhaps she should. When she lets go, she realizes that this life as
  a Dog must, absolutely, be protected with every ounce of her courage. She
  turns to face Sister Asenath with her chin up, face flushed, voice restored....

Sister Chase says "Sister Asenath, the King of Life doesn't follow my pipe or
  anyone else's, and he works in ways that I don't pretend to understand. But I 
  came here, and the Ancients prayed, and he welcomed me in to the Temple. I'll
  be a Dog my whole life just trying to figure out what it is he's got in store 
  from me. With the help of great hearts," She look sidelong at Abby for just a 
  second, hardly able to look at her full on, "and with His grace? I'll find my 
  voice, my way."

Slowly those old, haunted eyes move between Abby and Chase, then back. And just
  as slowly the Dog says, "You may find your voice, but will it be the voice of 
  the King, or the voice of something else?"

Sister Chase says "Ain't nothing in this world happens that he don't know
  about, Sister. He doesn't make his decisions like a fool. I'm here, and there 
  must be something to that. So I'll keep listening, and eventually, he'll get 
  around to telling my why. But it's not for you to tell me, neither."

Sister Chase squares off her shoulders and looks the older woman level in the
  eye, her brow and jaw setting like the law.

Sister Abigail looks shocked at Sister Chase's defiance, putting a soft hand on
  the other woman's sun-browned arm. "Sister Chase, please. There's a place
  for every one of us here, and Sister Asenath's is to teach us." She bobs 
  her head apologetically at Asenath. "And I certainly will be most careful to 
  do the will of the King, Sister Asenath."

Sister Asenath watches Chase for a long, long time while the other girls look
  on. Finally she nods and stands up, "Well then, Sister Chase, I think you'll 
  do well. You sure did stop hiding mighty quick." She smiles at Abigail, 
  "Don't apologize for her, its about time she grew out of her shell." Back to 
  Chase go her eyes and she says, "I'll leave you in Abigail's hands then. I'm 
  sure you'll do well there."

Sister Chase 's stance melts down at the touch before she nods, and finally
  drops her eyes down. "Thank you, Sister Asenath." and nods, thoughtfully and 
  quite sincerely. "Much obliged."

After Sister Asenath has left, quietly, shyly she does turn to Abigail. "And
  thank you too, Sister, that was mighty kind of you."

Sister Hannah gets up and leaves the church, looking back once at Sisters Chase
  and Abigail, amazed that they had beaten Sister Asenath.

Sister Abigail shakes her head, smiling. "It's my duty, Sister - and the least
  I could do. If nothing else, I've been itching to put you in some decent 
  clothes since the day you arrived, and now I finally get the chance. I'm 
  looking forward to this!"

Sister Chase winces softly at Abigail's words, but resolutely puts a smile on
  her face.

--------------------

For perhaps the first time since her arrival at Bridal Falls, Sister Abigail
  looks nervous. She can't seem to stop fidgeting with the left sleeve of her 
  beautiful, embroidered red coat, and she's chewing on her lower lip. "It's 
  important, you know," she says to Sister Chase. "The Dogs you're partnered 
  with can affect, well, everything! I don't see how you're not worried. I'm 
  worried." She shakes her head. "Imagine two years with Brother Wiley."

Sister Abigail says "I think I'd know the names of all his father's cows by the
  end. First AND last."

Sister Clementine says "Oh, Sister Abigail, he's just being nice. I know I'd be
  proud to be grouped with any of you."

Brother Wiley hears his name and peeks up hopefully, but then when he realizes
  it isn't the Elders that called him he puts his face back down and returns to 
  his prayers, "Oh King who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, please let me 
  ride with Sister Abigail who is the most perfect woman you've ever made...."

Sister Chase smiles quite brightly, and watches Abby with a certain amount of
  fascination. "Aw... Wiley ain't no thing to worry about. You'd have him cowed 
  in a blink if you needed to. He's so struck with you, he'd fetch your water 
  from way out east."

Sister Abigail says "Well, of course, Clementine - I'd be glad to ride with
  you. You seem a nice, sensible girl from what I know of you. But Wiley! He'd 
  manage to talk my ear off from across half a continent."

Sister Abigail smiles with just a touch of vanity. "Fetch my water from out
  East indeed."

Sister Chase says "On foot. In December."

Sister Abigail giggles.

Sister Chase says "He's just like a big old hound dog."

Sister Abigail giggles more. "Oh dear. And those big eyes of his.

Sister Hannah mutters a fast prayer that the others near her can hear: "King of
  Life, grant me strength to do what I must and help me be humble." Then she 
  squares her shoulders within her plain, humble coat and walks across the room 
  toward Brother Cyrus. When she gets to him she bows her head and says: 
  "Brother Cyrus, please forgive me. What I said was not kind. I was rude, and 
  mean. I was hurt so I said things I shouldn't. I'm sorry, Brother Cyrus. 
  Please, forgive me." And she stands there waiting, head bowed, waiting for 
  Brother Cyrus to reply.

Sister Abigail pokes Clementine in the ribs. "Look - Hannah's speaking to
  Cyrus. You know, I never heard what it was between the two of them, but we 
  might very well all find out right now."

Sister Abigail smiles at Chase. "He's a bit young to have proposed, but I can't
  think what else would make the golden boy run like that."

Sister Clementine says "Sister Abigail, I do wish you'd stop tempting me so
  with your gossip." But she does sneak a peak at Hannah and Cyrus."

Brother Wiley keeps on praying, "And please don't let that beastly Sister Chase
  ride with us, for she is an ornery she devil..."

When Sister Hannah first comes to Brother Cyrus he flinches. When she starts to
  speak he stands up from the chair he'd been settled into with such grace, and 
  steps around behind it to put the heavy wooden body between himself and 
  Hannah. But as she speaks his beautiful face softens, and he smiles. It's a 
  thin smile, and wan. He swallows deep and then replies, "Thank you Sister. 
  But the fault was mine. I... I am young, and was foolish. You never need fear 
  that I will bother you like that again. You or any woman. I've learned the 
  name of my sin, and I will fight it all my days."

Sister Abigail shakes her head and smiles. "Hannah's my friend, Clementine.
  Shouldn't I look out for her?"

Sister Chase follows the other girl's gaze across the room to see Hannah. She
  doesn't know her so well, but feels like she ought to. Every night for the 
  last two weeks she's been listening to her not sleep in the darkness; 
  listening to both the sobs and the prayers. There's something hurting in 
  Chase's stomach about it, like the time she killed her that starling when she 
  was going on 7, its feathers black and slick and twisted under the bloody rock.

Sister Clementine says "Well, yes, but there's a difference between looking out
  and listening in, Sister Abigail."

Sister Chase says "He asked her to marry him?" and nods, slowly, as if the crying  made sense in light of the proposal.

Sister Abigail flushes. "Of course you're right, Sister. Thank you."

In a tone more biting than the remark strictly called for, Sister Abigail
  answers, "No, Chase, that's only gossip."

Sister Chase blinks. "Oh. Then why is she so sad?"

Sister Abigail says "That's none of our business, Sister. Hannah may be our
  friend, but we shouldn't poke our noses into her affairs."

Sister Hannah says "No Brother, the sin was mine in not accepting the
  friendship and companionship you offered. I'm not used to that. Brother 
  Cyrus, you did everything right and in my stupidity and jealousy I pushed you 
  away." She is quiet for a moment. "I've missed you."

Sister Abigail has more than a hint of acid venom in her tone.

Sister Chase nods, and drops her eyes down. "Ayuh... 'course. Ain't nobody's
  business but the King's."

Sister Hannah can hear the women talking about her but she stands her ground

Sister Abigail smiles at Chase, her irritation forgotten. "Well, I'm sure the
  King will see things set right, one way or another."

Sister Chase brightens at the woman's smile, and lets herself look back up and
  over to the puzzle of Hannah and Cyrus.

Sister Abigail goes back to busily chewing her lip and trying to figure the
  odds of who's going to be paired with whom. She doesn't seem to like the 
  answer she comes up with, and starts counting on her fingers quietly.

Brother Cyrus, perfect and beautiful, bites his bottom lip. Its the first time
  most of those gathered in the room have seen the boy show uncertainty, seen 
  his quintessential faith shaken, and it makes Brother Joshua, seated nearby, 
  look mildly alarmed. Finally Cyrus says, voice very low, almost trembling, 
  "I.. sister... how can you miss me? I am... not good..." 

He is cut off by the loud, sudden as a shot voice of Brother Kishkumen,
  "Brother Cyrus, Brother Wiley, to the Ancient's for assignment." When Cyrus 
  hesitates a second, Kishkumen snaps at him, "Now boy! You may be a Dog 
  tomorrow, but tonight I'll still turn you black and blue if you keep the 
  Ancient waiting." 

Forcing a last smile, full of regret, Cyrus nods to Hannah like a benediction
  and goes to receive his assignment.

Wiley, for his part, bounds to his feet and rushes off with only three separate
  looks back at Abby.

Sister Abigail answers Wiley's looks with smiles, then lets her face sink into
  an expression of relief.

Sister Chase gives Wiley an ornery she devil glaring scowl as he takes his
  third look back.

Sister Hannah follows Brother Cyrus. "You are good. You are good that's why I
  couldn't believe it was true that you would want to spend time with broken 
  little me." She gestures at her humble coat. "I was sent here because nowhere 
  else would have me. If you won't forgive me, at least take my blessing that 
  you are indeed a good man and a kind man. I don't want my actions to change 
  that. You will be a good friend to many, Cyrus, and I'm sorry that I ruined 
  the chance to be one of them.

Sister Abigail raises her eyebrows. "Broken little me?" She shakes her head.
  "She could have at least done this in private."

Sister Abigail says "It's undignified."

Sister Abigail says "Half the people here would have no trouble with Sister
  Hannah if she weren't constantly reminding them that they should."

Sister Abigail looks disapproving.

Sister Chase blinks and forgets, for the first time today to pay any attention
  to Sister Abigail. That ache in her gut is back, because behind Hannah's voice
  she hears the flapping of the broken wing of the starling. She takes a step 
  forward impotently. She's unsure what the situation calls for, but knows only,
  and all too intimately, the deep dark well that Hannah's voice comes out of.

Right under the eye of Kishkumen, Brother Cyrus stops and turns to face Sister
  Hannah. He smiles at her, with no hesitation this time, and says, "I forgive 
  you. I never held anything against you Sister." Kishkumen starts to bark 
  something at the boy, but when Cyrus turns his eyes onto the older man,
  Brother Kishkumen goes silent, then Cyrus continues to speak. "Maybe
  we'll see each other on the road some day, and maybe we can start over. 
  Praise be to the King." And with that, he turns and is gone.

Sister Clementine says quietly, "Some things are more important than mere
  dignity."

Sister Abigail sniffs. "If Sister Hannah truly wanted to apologize to Brother
  Cyrus, she had plenty of opportunities before tonight. I don't see why she 
  had to make a show of herself."

Sister Hannah looks like a burden has been taken from her shoulders. She turns
  to Brother Kishkumen and bobs her head. "I'm sorry for disrupting things." 
  And she turns and rejoins the other women, keeping her head down humbly.

Sister Chase is halfway to Hannah when she comes back to the room. She looks
  right at her full in the face, really not the right or polite thing to do in 
  the moment, but Chase, oblivious, wants to do something. Make it better 
  somehow. But when Hannah is there, right there, she can't find words to make 
  it better, has nothing to offer.

Sister Hannah bobs her head to Sister Chase, lowering her eyes. "I'm sorry for
  disrupting things." she says quietly as she walks past.

Sister Chase shakes her head. "You didn't. Wern't nothing for us, don't give it
  a thought."

Sister Abigail raises her chin and looks calmly at Hannah - the first look
  she's given the girl since her arrival that's been less than friendly.

Sister Hannah says "I'm sorry for disturbing your enjoyment of this day, Sister
  Abigail."

Sister Abigail raises one eyebrow. "No, Sister, of course not. I'm certain we
  all enjoyed hearing what you had to say." Her tone is cool and even - not 
  unfriendly except in its stark contrast to Abigail's usual warmth.

Sister Hannah hugs her arms around herself and stands quietly looking at the
  floor.

When Sister Hannah looks hang-dog, Abigail noticeably warms. She leans forward,
  giving Hannah a gentle pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Sister," she says 
  in a voice with some of its usual warmth returned to it. "I'm sure everything 
  will work out for the best."

Sister Chase looks between Abby and Hannah, at a real loss, rocking back and
  forth on the balls of her feet, finally relaxing when Abby comforts Hannah in 
  the way she doesn't know how to do.

Meanwhile, there are four male Dogs in the room, Brother Joshua and several
  smaller boys who've mostly been unimpressive in class. The three are gathered 
  together, huddled almost as if needing protection from the girls. Joshua, on 
  the other hand, watches Clementine with a steady, friendly regard.

Sister Clementine is concentrating on Sisters Hannah, Chase and Abigail, but
  occasionally sneaks a look at Brother Joshua to see if he's still watching.

Oh he's still watching. And every time Clementine looks his smile gets wider and
  warmer. Like the sun over a meadow in high summer.

And then Kishkumen is barking again, "Sisters Chase, Abigail, Clementine, and
  Hannah, report to the office of the Ancient at once!"

Sister Chase reels about.

Sister Clementine gulps and turns around.

Sister Chase says "It's us four?"

Sister Abigail takes Hannah's elbow. "Come, Sister," moving the two of them
  toward the Ancient's office before Kishkumen can bark at them again.

Sister Abigail is chewing her lip again, though.

Sister Hannah walks along beside Sister Abigail, head up, eyes forward, looking
  around to see if Sisters Clementine and Chase are following

Sister Clementine trails after, keeping the other Sisters between herself and
  Kishkumen.

Sister Chase grins and looks sidelong at Sister Abigail. She hits (lightly!)
  Abigail on the shoulder. "And you were worried you wouldn't have good folk to 
  ride with!"

Sister Abigail glances at Chase over her shoulder and smiles, but doesn't speak
  with Kishkumen watching them all like an old, wrinkled hawk.

Sister Chase smiles at Hannah and follows along, feeling that now that they'll
  ride together, that maybe she'll find a way to tell Hannah that she's sorry 
  she's hurting so bad.

As you four pass Brother Kishkumen and pass up into the hall he coughs behind
  you to get your attention. When heads turn he says, "Welcome to the Order, 
  Dogs. May the King watch over you, and may Hell tremble from knowin' you four 
  are coming."

Sister Chase whoots!

Sister Hannah is the only one close enough to see tears of . . . anger?
  frustration? hurt? standing in the corner of Abigail's eyes - but Abby keeps 
  her chin up and her eyes front and a smile plastered on her face as they head 
  out for their first ride.