The Chapel or Judge Eternity 12
In which Martin Luther begins his journey into darkness and doubt.
Unsure of what was expected of him Martin Luther walked to the front gates of the monetary. Expecting to see the specter of the previous night, he was taken aback by what waited him just outside the huge oaken gates.
A giant who's height must have been almost half again Martin Luther's 5 feet stood leaning against an equally gigantic horse. Both were encased in silver washed steel of the highest quality. The edges of the giants armor was set with gilt and etched with prayers in Latin.
"Are you Martin Luther?" the giant rumbled in a bass tone which was almost unrecognizable.
The monk could only nod the affirmative and then without ceremony the giant picked him up and sat him on the saddle of a small dun. On account of his robes the giant sat him downside saddle and then went to his own horse.
"We'll travel four hours before we make camp." the giant rumbled.
"I am Ridari Anthon Heiler, you will mind my instructions until I place you in the care of my master Graf Stoben, I have no desire to make your acquaintance so please remain as quiet as you can for the next week."
The giant rolled his legs so the spurs touched the huge horse who started forward without further prompting. The dun fell in behind and Martin Luther let it have its own head.
In the darkness it was hard to be sure of any details except that he was in the presence of the largest man he had ever seen. As promised they rode for four hours and arrived at a hostel on the edge of the great forest that spanned the breadth of Germanic lands.
Unsure of what he was to do Martin Luther sat the horse until the giant effortless lifted him off and to the ground then shoved him toward the door of the hostel. The big knight barked something and two boys rushed out and took the horse to the stables that were attached to the main building.
On entering the giant sat and waited for a time. When Martin Luther made to speak, the big man held his finger to his mouth and growled staring down the monk.
A few minutes later one of the boys returned and began loosening the straps of the giants armor. They mumbled to each other in Saxon only half of which Martin Luther understood, when the breast plate was off the giant pressed a silver into the boys hand and tussled his hair. The boy left smiling as the giant stripped off the rest of his armor then stood and stretched. His head nearly touched the ceiling and his arms seemed to span the whole room.
A woman of extraordinary beauty came from another room, she openly scowled at the giant and Martin Luther watched the huge man melt. Anthon mumbled something in that strange dialect that the monk had taken for Saxon but hearing it again he now knew that it was ancient Gothic.
He had never heard the language spoken and had only ever seen it in the most ancient of manuscripts, and even then it was often set down by Romans who didn't speak the language fluently. Martin Luther could hear the root words and sounds and guess at what was being said but he was an outsider in the conversation.
The woman's words were strong and she held her head aloofly knowing that she had advantage. Her golden hair was tied back in a single braid and her eyes were of sky blue without tint of any other color. One of the boys who ran into the room was sent away just as quickly by a look and bark from the woman who continued to accost the giant.
As her voice grew louder she moved closer to the immense knight until she was standing at his feet and yelling up into his face. Anthon's demeanor suddenly changed from shuffling clod to the widest grin of affection that Martin Luther had ever seen. The Giant dropped to his knees which put the woman eye to eye with him, with a twinkle of his eye he held up his hand and opened it showing a what would be considered a small hoard of silver which he let play out his hand. The sparkling white metal was shaped into twenty or more silver plaques which were chained together to make a belt.
The woman gaped at the richness of the belt which was enameled with all the colors of the rainbow and while she was stunned the giant fastened the belt around her waste and kissed her on the forehead.
He mumbled something to her in his bass rumble and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as only a wife can kiss the man she has given her whole heart to.
Ashamed at watching them so closely, Martin Luther went outside and found a stump to sit on. He didn't know the hour but he was sure that he was behind on his prayers and while he would have preferred the chorus of his brothers, the crickets and night birds would have to serve. Kneeling he resonated the words of the Psalters against the backdrop of the forest.
A giant who's height must have been almost half again Martin Luther's 5 feet stood leaning against an equally gigantic horse. Both were encased in silver washed steel of the highest quality. The edges of the giants armor was set with gilt and etched with prayers in Latin.
"Are you Martin Luther?" the giant rumbled in a bass tone which was almost unrecognizable.
The monk could only nod the affirmative and then without ceremony the giant picked him up and sat him on the saddle of a small dun. On account of his robes the giant sat him downside saddle and then went to his own horse.
"We'll travel four hours before we make camp." the giant rumbled.
"I am Ridari Anthon Heiler, you will mind my instructions until I place you in the care of my master Graf Stoben, I have no desire to make your acquaintance so please remain as quiet as you can for the next week."
The giant rolled his legs so the spurs touched the huge horse who started forward without further prompting. The dun fell in behind and Martin Luther let it have its own head.
In the darkness it was hard to be sure of any details except that he was in the presence of the largest man he had ever seen. As promised they rode for four hours and arrived at a hostel on the edge of the great forest that spanned the breadth of Germanic lands.
Unsure of what he was to do Martin Luther sat the horse until the giant effortless lifted him off and to the ground then shoved him toward the door of the hostel. The big knight barked something and two boys rushed out and took the horse to the stables that were attached to the main building.
On entering the giant sat and waited for a time. When Martin Luther made to speak, the big man held his finger to his mouth and growled staring down the monk.
A few minutes later one of the boys returned and began loosening the straps of the giants armor. They mumbled to each other in Saxon only half of which Martin Luther understood, when the breast plate was off the giant pressed a silver into the boys hand and tussled his hair. The boy left smiling as the giant stripped off the rest of his armor then stood and stretched. His head nearly touched the ceiling and his arms seemed to span the whole room.
A woman of extraordinary beauty came from another room, she openly scowled at the giant and Martin Luther watched the huge man melt. Anthon mumbled something in that strange dialect that the monk had taken for Saxon but hearing it again he now knew that it was ancient Gothic.
He had never heard the language spoken and had only ever seen it in the most ancient of manuscripts, and even then it was often set down by Romans who didn't speak the language fluently. Martin Luther could hear the root words and sounds and guess at what was being said but he was an outsider in the conversation.
The woman's words were strong and she held her head aloofly knowing that she had advantage. Her golden hair was tied back in a single braid and her eyes were of sky blue without tint of any other color. One of the boys who ran into the room was sent away just as quickly by a look and bark from the woman who continued to accost the giant.
As her voice grew louder she moved closer to the immense knight until she was standing at his feet and yelling up into his face. Anthon's demeanor suddenly changed from shuffling clod to the widest grin of affection that Martin Luther had ever seen. The Giant dropped to his knees which put the woman eye to eye with him, with a twinkle of his eye he held up his hand and opened it showing a what would be considered a small hoard of silver which he let play out his hand. The sparkling white metal was shaped into twenty or more silver plaques which were chained together to make a belt.
The woman gaped at the richness of the belt which was enameled with all the colors of the rainbow and while she was stunned the giant fastened the belt around her waste and kissed her on the forehead.
He mumbled something to her in his bass rumble and she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him as only a wife can kiss the man she has given her whole heart to.
Ashamed at watching them so closely, Martin Luther went outside and found a stump to sit on. He didn't know the hour but he was sure that he was behind on his prayers and while he would have preferred the chorus of his brothers, the crickets and night birds would have to serve. Kneeling he resonated the words of the Psalters against the backdrop of the forest.
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