Victory and Defeat: Book Five of the Restoration Series by Christopher Williams Page A
Authors: Christopher Williams
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, and he had no idea what they would have done if Danal had refused to help.
Chapter 9
Keenan walked slowly up the hill toward the abbey’s gates. He was nervous about entering the abbey. Though no one at the abbey should have any reason to recognize him, he was traveling with Kara. He glanced over at the former cleric of the Church of Adel, but she took no notice of him; her eyes were focused on the abbey at the top of the hill.
In truth , Keenan had been surprised that his partner in this pilgrimage was Kara. He had expected Leela to go with him. There had been a quiet but very tense discussion about the plan last night; Leela was fine going or staying, but Kara had been insistent that she go with Keenan. It was the most fire the woman had shown in some time. As a former member of the clergy, she would undoubtedly be able to spot things that Keenan and the others wouldn’t even notice. The problem was that since she was a former member of the clergy, it might be easier for the guards to recognize her as one of the outlaw Guardians.
Derek’s main objection was that she was too easy to recognize, and since the abbey guarded one of the four Kelcer signs, the guards would be alert. Kara wouldn’t listen to reason, and so they had turned to Enstorion. As usual, the mage had been listening to their discussions but not actually involved in them. Kara had asked if he could help alter her appearance, and his answer had been a nod and a cruel smile.
At the time, Keenan had not understood the elf’s smile , but as he cast a quick glance at Kara again, he understood it perfectly now.
Kara did not look like herself anymore. She walked slightly bent over, and her back looked deformed and had a small hump. Her blond hair had gone half-white. Her skin resembled that of a seventy-year-old woman; the skin was wrinkly and loose around her neck. Numerous lines and wrinkles covered her face, as did several ugly swollen boils.
Enstorion had spent the entire night working on several potions; potions which had done this to Kara. The poor girl had cried when she had seen her reflection in a mirror, but the mage had said it would wear off — eventually.
Initially, Keenan had thought her horrible appearance would draw the eye and attract unwanted attention. He knew better now; the path to the abbey was crowded, and while not everyone looked like Kara, there were quite a few who did.
He had to admit that not only had the elf given Kara an unbelievable disguise, but he had also given th em the perfect reason for traveling to the abbey.
“Quit staring at me,” Kara said.
Keenan started, just now realizing that she had finally pulled her eyes from the abbey and was watching him as he watched her. “My apologies,” he said.
He looked back to their destination, the Abbey of Enlightenment. The abbey sat atop a small hill, just to the north of the Elem. A twelve-foot wall formed a rectangular enclosure around the abbey and ran east to west for nearly a quarter of a mile; the portion of the wall that ran north to south was slightly shorter. The wall was not built to withstand a determined siege, but more to keep out unwanted visitors. A small structure was built at each of the four corners of the wall, rather like a small tower, and it was intended as a guard’s station. Directly in front of them, at the end of the path, was an enormous two-door gate. The doors swung outward and were made of wood banded by iron straps. Both doors currently stood open. The gate was not centered in the wall, but instead was near the southeast corner.
There was a steady stream of people going in and out through the gates of the abbey. Many were going in for the temple services; there would be many such services throughout the week. He and Kara did not plan on attending a service, but instead they planned on taking a quick look at the interior arrangement of the abbey and then they would be on their way.
Keenan glanced off to the left of the path;
Chapter 9
Keenan walked slowly up the hill toward the abbey’s gates. He was nervous about entering the abbey. Though no one at the abbey should have any reason to recognize him, he was traveling with Kara. He glanced over at the former cleric of the Church of Adel, but she took no notice of him; her eyes were focused on the abbey at the top of the hill.
In truth , Keenan had been surprised that his partner in this pilgrimage was Kara. He had expected Leela to go with him. There had been a quiet but very tense discussion about the plan last night; Leela was fine going or staying, but Kara had been insistent that she go with Keenan. It was the most fire the woman had shown in some time. As a former member of the clergy, she would undoubtedly be able to spot things that Keenan and the others wouldn’t even notice. The problem was that since she was a former member of the clergy, it might be easier for the guards to recognize her as one of the outlaw Guardians.
Derek’s main objection was that she was too easy to recognize, and since the abbey guarded one of the four Kelcer signs, the guards would be alert. Kara wouldn’t listen to reason, and so they had turned to Enstorion. As usual, the mage had been listening to their discussions but not actually involved in them. Kara had asked if he could help alter her appearance, and his answer had been a nod and a cruel smile.
At the time, Keenan had not understood the elf’s smile , but as he cast a quick glance at Kara again, he understood it perfectly now.
Kara did not look like herself anymore. She walked slightly bent over, and her back looked deformed and had a small hump. Her blond hair had gone half-white. Her skin resembled that of a seventy-year-old woman; the skin was wrinkly and loose around her neck. Numerous lines and wrinkles covered her face, as did several ugly swollen boils.
Enstorion had spent the entire night working on several potions; potions which had done this to Kara. The poor girl had cried when she had seen her reflection in a mirror, but the mage had said it would wear off — eventually.
Initially, Keenan had thought her horrible appearance would draw the eye and attract unwanted attention. He knew better now; the path to the abbey was crowded, and while not everyone looked like Kara, there were quite a few who did.
He had to admit that not only had the elf given Kara an unbelievable disguise, but he had also given th em the perfect reason for traveling to the abbey.
“Quit staring at me,” Kara said.
Keenan started, just now realizing that she had finally pulled her eyes from the abbey and was watching him as he watched her. “My apologies,” he said.
He looked back to their destination, the Abbey of Enlightenment. The abbey sat atop a small hill, just to the north of the Elem. A twelve-foot wall formed a rectangular enclosure around the abbey and ran east to west for nearly a quarter of a mile; the portion of the wall that ran north to south was slightly shorter. The wall was not built to withstand a determined siege, but more to keep out unwanted visitors. A small structure was built at each of the four corners of the wall, rather like a small tower, and it was intended as a guard’s station. Directly in front of them, at the end of the path, was an enormous two-door gate. The doors swung outward and were made of wood banded by iron straps. Both doors currently stood open. The gate was not centered in the wall, but instead was near the southeast corner.
There was a steady stream of people going in and out through the gates of the abbey. Many were going in for the temple services; there would be many such services throughout the week. He and Kara did not plan on attending a service, but instead they planned on taking a quick look at the interior arrangement of the abbey and then they would be on their way.
Keenan glanced off to the left of the path;
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