So, after all the events of that night had been settled, the Scholar was spirited away safe and the Brotherhood was deprived of its funds. A second meeting was held by some of the Guardians of the Cave at the farm kitchen where, some days before, they had made their plans.
The day was not in rain this time as the six Guardians travelled to the farmhouse, to sit at the kitchen table once more. Two bottles of wine and some water replaced the cider, again there was bread, cheese and apples to be had for those with hunger.
Chloe and Danial entered the room ahead of the others, then separated and while Chloe tended the fire, Danial stood and watched her. As Chloe stood and turned toward the table, Danial also turned away, so that it might not be seen that he was watching her. He sat down on a chair in the centre of the table, looking across into the fireplace as the fire began to gain in flame, he said, ‘We are too early by an half an hour or more, but that is good as I would talk with you.’ Chloe, still standing by the fire, said ‘Yes we are early, but that is not a bad thing, as I feel we have something to resolve, us two. What is it that you would say?’
‘I am undone Chloe, that is what I should say, I am undone,’ he paused, ‘I think that it was first I felt this when we danced together to the Seductive Tambourine,’ he paused again, longer this time whilst Chloe turned and came to sit by him at the table. He turned towards her, ‘I thought at that time it was only the power of the Tambourine that had undone my emotions, but my heart has been in turmoil since then, and I believe that there is another cause for my racing heart.’
‘I have seen this in you also,’ said Chloe, ‘and I…’ at this moment there came the sound of steps and the farmer’s son came into the kitchen shouldering a sack full of vegetables. Chloe had stopped talking as soon as the boy entered, and she smiled at the boy. ‘Hello,’ he said smiling back, he lugged the sack over to the sink and set it down there with a thump. ‘Is there yet anything to eat?’ he said scanning the table. He leant over and cut a heel of bread and a chunk of cheese, putting these in the pocket of his tunic he scooped up two apples and left the kitchen with one of the apples, held in his teeth.
As the boy left, Chloe turned to face Danial and continued, ‘I have felt troubled also,’ she paused to gather herself, ‘I have felt troubled and yet excited by our partnership, I..’ ‘Troubled! ‘said Danial, louder than he had intended, ‘ Is that the how you would describe your feelings for me, I..’ but he could not find the next words and stood up from the table, he went around the table to the fire where he leant against the great beam which served as a lintel over the fireplace, he kicked at the edge of the fire, pushing the unburnt logs onto the flames, ‘I had hoped,’ he said more quietly, ‘I had hoped that I was more than just ‘trouble’ to you.’
‘Of course you are!’ it was Chloe’s turn to speak more loudly than she had intended this time, and, so that she could speak more quietly, she also got up and went around to the fireplace where she placed her hand on his shoulder before she spoke. ‘You are more than trouble to me, I am afraid that you may be the only trouble that I shall ever need Danial, must I say this more clearly before you can understand, we ..’ but at this moment Danial turned towards her and drew her towards him. ‘I understand,’ he spoke very quietly, ‘because it is your trouble that I love, and I would that we would not separate till all trouble is over.’ And with that he drew her close and kissed her lightly on the lips. Chloe, pulled closer still and returned his kiss once, ’We must talk this through,’ she said before Danial kissed her again and then as the sound of steps was heard in the hallway coming quickly towards them, they separated and moved apart.
Violette entered in the middle of taking off her travelling coat and stopped when she saw them standing together, looking at her. ‘I interrupt?’ she asked. ‘No!’ chorused Chloe and Danial almost in the same instant and then they looked at each other and laughed. ‘No,’ continued Danial, ‘We were talking about the future and have concluded our discussions for now, I think,’ and he smiled at Chloe.
‘In that case, if your discussions have concluded successfully, some wine would be appropriate I think,’ said Violette, she poured three mugs of wine and handed them round. ‘I toast your discussions and hope that you both may continue to discuss in happiness.’ They all laughed and smiling, drank.
Chloe and Danial came back and sat at the table in the same places that they had sat at the previous meeting, which now seemed a lifetime ago, Chloe at the head of the table with Danial to her right. Violette went out to hang her coat and as Chloe put her hand on Danial’s arm, he raised his eyes to meet hers. ‘Do not forget what has been said and done here,’ said Chloe quietly, ‘This is important for us.’ ‘I will never forget this moment,’ Danial whispered. Violette returned and Chloe took her hand away from Danial’s arm, not caring that Violette had seen their contact and proud in some way that their new understanding had been witnessed by a friend.
After a few minutes they had all arrived except the farmer. Chloe and Danial, Vivainne, Davide, Jean and Violette. Chloe stood once again at the head of the table. ‘Well, it has been an eventful time for us but I would thank you all for your actions and bravery, the scholar is with her parents protected, and it is their intention to send her to one of the great universities. She has found that she can control her flames such that they are reduced into insignificance when she goes about her daily life and only becomes bright when she is in the enthusiasm and fever of learning and thinking.’
At this point the dog ran in with the farmer and his wife both close behind. The dog went straight to the fire and curled up there, closer to the flames than would seem wise. The farmer’s wife, Claudette, took a seat at the table whilst the farmer poured them some water and wine mixed, gave his wife her drink and then sat back in the left-hand window seat to listen.
‘The Order is broken, without their monies, the mercenaries will depart and with them any power that they might have accrued. As far as we could assay, there are but nine committed members of the order including the Count. We may have pulled their teeth but all the same we should not underestimate them. Let us keep a weather eye on their deeds in the future and hope that they wither away. As to their treasure, I am open to suggestions, the Guardians of the Cave do not need the funds, as you all know, we have friends in very high places who will provide for us and our adventures. So, what shall we do?’ asked Chloe.
‘Let us set up a charity which is separate from the Guardians and cannot be linked. Perhaps an home to care for children who are without families or homes?’ Said Violette.
‘Perchance we could give care to those that are sick and ailing?’ Said Davide Sandor.
‘We could make a school for those children whose parents cannot afford to pay for education?’ said Danial
‘Perhaps a hostel for the homeless?’ said Vivainne.
‘I think a fund, kept aside to aid people in the event of disaster or war,’ said Jean Jeager.
‘These are good thoughts,’ said Chloe, ‘We can put them to a vote amongst all the members of our oath that a decision will come, thank you all my friends and let us raise a cup together,’ at this she looked down at Danial who raised his cup in salute, as they all did.
‘What shall be our toast?’ asked the farmer’s wife.
‘Let us toast our friends and loved ones,’ said Chloe, glancing once at Danial with her face lowered. She raised her face again to say, ‘Let us toast our friends and loved ones, may they ever be in our hearts.’
‘Friends and loved ones!’ echoed the people at the table raising their cups. The dog, woken by the raised voices, raised its head and looked around the kitchen before settling its head once more on its paws and closing its eyes.
The Guardians of the Cave 