The Chapel or Judge Eternity
Can a 10,000 year old Judge affect the future and in the process seal his own fate.
As one writes historical science fiction set in the medieval period it is necessary to recognize that the church played a huge role, and therefore it will play a part in any story set during that time period.
The actions of Martin Luther lead to him being proclaimed heretic and outlaw and when one examines the period, his rebellion should have ended in his trial and execution except that he was protected by some very powerful individuals who somehow manage to keep him alive. Whether he was right or wrong has no bearing on this story as it is a work of obvious fiction.
The Science of this story is tenuous and relies on you the reader deciding to accept or not accept my speculation which is that a series of protein ions or 'prions' can cause DNA mutation to mirror abilities of vampires, werewolves and other creatures that go bump in the night.
My stories range over 40,000 years so far, and there is a possibility that I will expand them to encompass even more time and space as I speculate on what things might have been like if there was a genetic condition which caused immortality.
The Chapel or Judge Eternity is written specifically for Buzzle in keeping with Buzzle's requirement for its submissions.
* * *
Wennal stared into the coals of the fire and absently poked at them with a stick.
He had satisfied himself with the flesh of a rabbit he had caught here in the ruins of a ancient keep that was most likely a Roman outpost and fifteen hundred years old. The Romans had tried to pacify the German tribes and while they had some success, they had also been slaughtered by the thousands.
The weight of his burden pushed down on him like the weight of the Earth and he wished that he hadn't chosen this path.
If Aeratu the monstrous ghoul that had made him immortal suspected what he was doing his death would come quickly, or worse Aeratu would stake him in one of the plague pits where the diseased Blood writhed in eternal suffering. The best that he could hope fore was that Aeratu would send Grendel for him and the troll would consume him just the way Wennal had consumed the rabbit.
There were numerous immortals who had sworn themselves to the plan but it was Wennal who carried the greatest risk. He had opted for a plan that included none of the most ancient of the Blood. It was a plan that would let the whole world know of the existence of the Blood and the manipulations of mankind. If it went the way he hoped then mankind would be armed and the immortals would be hunted down and held accountable. If it didn't then he and everyone involved would be slaughtered or imprisoned. It all came down to the monk.
Wennal had carefully chosen Martin Luther based on a letter from Johann Staupitz the abbot.
Wennal had seen the letter while visiting one of his contacts in the church who was Staupitzs superior.
The abbot had commented that Martin Luther was having moments when his faith was not as strong as it had been, and Staupitz had struggled to find more for the young man to do. He had also commented that it was Luthers training in logic and his incredibly sharp mind which were the real issue.
It had been Wennals intent to test Luthers courage because to be an agent of change he would have to be very brave and realize that he faced the possibility of burning a s a heretic.
That form of execution was hardly used anymore but in the face of open rebellion the church might use it to set an example.
Wennal had tried this before, almost eighty years ago with a French peasant girl, it had not ended well, but it hadn't been as disastrous as the debacle with the Templar's but each event had set the groundwork for the next.
The fire was down to coals when Frederick walked in. Wennal had heard the horse when it was some distance away and knew it was the nobleman since it traveled directly to the castle and was alone.
"October is not a good month for you; I'm surprised that you are starting this process in this month"
Wennal glared across the fire and curled his lip so his canines showed in the red light.
"You are brave or a fool, and I think a bit of each, but you are also as good as your word so I will let you live. If I could walk in the daylight without pain I would raise my own army and would not need the likes of you."
"And if I did not need you for your unique abilities I would have had you staked in full sunlight until you wept blood from your sensitive little eyes."
Wennal growled openly and the Elector drew back and rested his hand on his sword.
"It was your whispering of church reform that got my attention, if you wish, I can stop here, maybe the French or English will be more welcoming, There's also the Scots and Portugal."
It was a classic problem anytime two strong personalities met, Wennals knowledge of what was happening didn't make it any easier to stomach. He had been a Judge before people even had the idea of a king, let alone an elector.
The nobleman squatted down by the fire and asked, "So is this monk the right one?"
"Yes I think so, but I am still learning him. He is brave to the point of reckless, like you."
The heavy noble snorted a laugh. "Princes must be strongly brave or they will be used by Emperors."
Wennal nodded his agreement and went back poking at the coals. "There is some cooked rabbit and bread with cheese there in that bag."
"Cooked?"
"Yes cooked! I prefer the flavor, and though I have to eat more than I would if it was raw, it helps me to refute my carnal urges." He showed his teeth again to punctuate his point.
"Hmph." Frederick threw a branch with leaves on the fire and examined the rabbit then bit into it strongly.
"I love rabbit, it reminds me of my childhood when I was learning what it meant to rule Saxony. I lived with an uncle who had a wonderful hunter that always caught rabbits and cooked them with sage and basil."
Wennal watched the other man eat. It was that dichotomy that had drawn him to Frederick, one moment he would be snapping and blithely insulting, the next moment he was nostalgic, in that respect he was much like Wennal.
The actions of Martin Luther lead to him being proclaimed heretic and outlaw and when one examines the period, his rebellion should have ended in his trial and execution except that he was protected by some very powerful individuals who somehow manage to keep him alive. Whether he was right or wrong has no bearing on this story as it is a work of obvious fiction.
The Science of this story is tenuous and relies on you the reader deciding to accept or not accept my speculation which is that a series of protein ions or 'prions' can cause DNA mutation to mirror abilities of vampires, werewolves and other creatures that go bump in the night.
My stories range over 40,000 years so far, and there is a possibility that I will expand them to encompass even more time and space as I speculate on what things might have been like if there was a genetic condition which caused immortality.
The Chapel or Judge Eternity is written specifically for Buzzle in keeping with Buzzle's requirement for its submissions.
* * *
Wennal stared into the coals of the fire and absently poked at them with a stick.
He had satisfied himself with the flesh of a rabbit he had caught here in the ruins of a ancient keep that was most likely a Roman outpost and fifteen hundred years old. The Romans had tried to pacify the German tribes and while they had some success, they had also been slaughtered by the thousands.
The weight of his burden pushed down on him like the weight of the Earth and he wished that he hadn't chosen this path.
If Aeratu the monstrous ghoul that had made him immortal suspected what he was doing his death would come quickly, or worse Aeratu would stake him in one of the plague pits where the diseased Blood writhed in eternal suffering. The best that he could hope fore was that Aeratu would send Grendel for him and the troll would consume him just the way Wennal had consumed the rabbit.
There were numerous immortals who had sworn themselves to the plan but it was Wennal who carried the greatest risk. He had opted for a plan that included none of the most ancient of the Blood. It was a plan that would let the whole world know of the existence of the Blood and the manipulations of mankind. If it went the way he hoped then mankind would be armed and the immortals would be hunted down and held accountable. If it didn't then he and everyone involved would be slaughtered or imprisoned. It all came down to the monk.
Wennal had carefully chosen Martin Luther based on a letter from Johann Staupitz the abbot.
Wennal had seen the letter while visiting one of his contacts in the church who was Staupitzs superior.
The abbot had commented that Martin Luther was having moments when his faith was not as strong as it had been, and Staupitz had struggled to find more for the young man to do. He had also commented that it was Luthers training in logic and his incredibly sharp mind which were the real issue.
It had been Wennals intent to test Luthers courage because to be an agent of change he would have to be very brave and realize that he faced the possibility of burning a s a heretic.
That form of execution was hardly used anymore but in the face of open rebellion the church might use it to set an example.
Wennal had tried this before, almost eighty years ago with a French peasant girl, it had not ended well, but it hadn't been as disastrous as the debacle with the Templar's but each event had set the groundwork for the next.
The fire was down to coals when Frederick walked in. Wennal had heard the horse when it was some distance away and knew it was the nobleman since it traveled directly to the castle and was alone.
"October is not a good month for you; I'm surprised that you are starting this process in this month"
Wennal glared across the fire and curled his lip so his canines showed in the red light.
"You are brave or a fool, and I think a bit of each, but you are also as good as your word so I will let you live. If I could walk in the daylight without pain I would raise my own army and would not need the likes of you."
"And if I did not need you for your unique abilities I would have had you staked in full sunlight until you wept blood from your sensitive little eyes."
Wennal growled openly and the Elector drew back and rested his hand on his sword.
"It was your whispering of church reform that got my attention, if you wish, I can stop here, maybe the French or English will be more welcoming, There's also the Scots and Portugal."
It was a classic problem anytime two strong personalities met, Wennals knowledge of what was happening didn't make it any easier to stomach. He had been a Judge before people even had the idea of a king, let alone an elector.
The nobleman squatted down by the fire and asked, "So is this monk the right one?"
"Yes I think so, but I am still learning him. He is brave to the point of reckless, like you."
The heavy noble snorted a laugh. "Princes must be strongly brave or they will be used by Emperors."
Wennal nodded his agreement and went back poking at the coals. "There is some cooked rabbit and bread with cheese there in that bag."
"Cooked?"
"Yes cooked! I prefer the flavor, and though I have to eat more than I would if it was raw, it helps me to refute my carnal urges." He showed his teeth again to punctuate his point.
"Hmph." Frederick threw a branch with leaves on the fire and examined the rabbit then bit into it strongly.
"I love rabbit, it reminds me of my childhood when I was learning what it meant to rule Saxony. I lived with an uncle who had a wonderful hunter that always caught rabbits and cooked them with sage and basil."
Wennal watched the other man eat. It was that dichotomy that had drawn him to Frederick, one moment he would be snapping and blithely insulting, the next moment he was nostalgic, in that respect he was much like Wennal.
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