Detective Liam Niles: The Last Crusade by BONITA HIGHLEY - HTML preview

The Penanced Priest

Upon a hill, a young woman of eighteen in toren maiden dress running across the hill suddenly falls to her knees in whimpering as though begging god for merciful forgiveness.

A man of six feet tall, in red cassock robe coming up behind her, walks passed her then stops to see a man standing in front of him. In brute lips, he snarles his sight at Squire Devon Niles upon his horse on duty.

Devon, seeing the maiden look up at him, his eyes widen to see, Brandy McKenzie, his wife, Breyen’s younger sister. As he dismounts from his horse, goes to her in aid, bends to her side, the penanced priest, goes to Devon snatching his daggar, then pointed it at him. “You dare to touch a lady of repentant prayer! And trespass onto my land!”

Devon, showing his outward peaceful plea of hands. “Whoa, calm down. Everything is ok. I’m just going to take her back to my place for safety. Just put down my daggar, give it back to me.” Devon, seeing the priest not abiding, taking brandy’s hand tight in his hand. “Alright. Keep it.” Keeping his sight on the priest taking her into his care of chivalry, helps her to her feet, while moving forward to his home, to The Chivalry Chapel.

But the Priest in retributed haste, pressed onward pursuing them, Devon escorting her a little faster as both looking back at their distance to the priest with little distance apart, managed their way back to the ground of the chapel, the priest continued to follow them.

Reban, now The Marquess in his own right, stood by the front ached doorway, seeing Devon in hands of Brandy, with questionable expression, as they bypass him, giving him a questionable look back to him, then hurried inside the foyer, going towards the sanctuary, the priest kept his hot persuit upon them.

Marquess Reban, following behind the priest, found his way inside the sanctuary.

Devon, seeing his grandfather, Pastor Connor Drake next to his alter, steadfastly takes Brandy directly with him as he reached for the alter’s cloth in sacrement, turned to see the priest waltz right into the room, stopped, stood staring at them with some sort of vengeance, his hand snugged on the dagger as though about to strike.

Marquess Reban, quietly crept behind the priest, quickly snatching the daggar fom him.

The priest, turned to the Marquess Reban in annoyance, then turned back to Devon.

Pastor Connor Drake, stood in alarm. “What is this monstrosity within my church?!!!”

The Priest, stood in protest. “I am Monsignor Venold, Priest of Gatlory Monastary. You shall address me as is! Your grandson has defiled with his tresspass upon my land! “

Devon, taking a step forward. “I was on my duty when I came to the aid and rescue of Brandy McKenzie, sister to my wife, Breyen. In a question of blind justice of defilement against her!”

Liam entering in the room. Seeing Reban with daggar of in hand but tame and the signatured initials of his son on it. Looked at Devon. “Son. Why does Reban have your dagger?”

Marquess Reban, with honorable respect. “Detective Niles. Its an honor to see you again. But this time I come as Marquess. I just happen to be on grounds to visit Miss Brandy McKenzie. Then all this happened. I simply took away the daggar that did not belong to the priest.” He showed the daggar to Liam.

Liam, giving the ok look to his son. “Go on Devon, take back your daggar.”

Devon,treading to the Marquess, taking back his daggar as Brandy, giving a thoughtful look to Reban, and he to her.

The priest gave a undignified disproval to Devon. “You have walked upon the holy ground of my church land. And while you placed your feet upon my land. you have seen of her defiled.”

Pastor Connor addressed him. “Of what kind of defilement do you speak of?”

Liam, press on after him. “And on what charges?”

Breyen, rushing into the room,goes to her sister in open arms. “Brandy. What has happened?”

The priest with grit teeth.” “She has done sacrilege!”

Pastor Connor, in high gear annoyance. “ WHAT DID SHE DO??!!”

The priest stood in mean revenge. “ She comes to me for handmaiden work for funds to help bare the cost of her dwindling father’s church.”

Pastor Connor stood in strange question. “Well that’s hardly breaking the law!”

The priest continued. “The next I find is, this maiden in arguemental position with the stable boy has stolen my money and denied it.”

Brandy, came forward. “I have not done no such thing!”

Marquess Reban protested. “That’s absurd. She is a lady in waiting. The reason I have come here. To discuss a possible arrangement with her father. Brandy can do no harm to no one for I have seen her do no harm for myself.”

Brandy, giving him humble, loving look to Reban.

The priest, with wrath at her. “Then how do you explain your ripped dress, in the heat of argument exchanged between you and the stable boy? Or Perhaps coming from a heat of passionate exchange.”

Brandy, with speachless words.

The priest concluded. “It seems, Miss McKenzie. According to the stableboy. You owe me collateral of money. And until you pay me back, you are a ward of possession to me.”

Marquess Reban taking one step in front of the priest. “I protest this preposterious monstrosity!!!”

Liam, in calm. “Monsignor Venold, you’d better had proof to back that up.”

Monsignor Venold, in wry. “Says the stableboy. He is now a man after years of employment with me. I trust what he says. I will take her back now for her penance.” He goes to her.” Liam, with Devon, Breyen and Reban, guarding like a barricade around her from him.

Liam, insisting. “Monsignor. We will deal with this on our part and will contact you later. I think its best you leave now.”

The priest, foiled, in agitation, turns to leave.

Liam with Trey, with Pastor Connor watching him walk out the foyer door.

Liam, in resuming. “Everyone, as you were. Devon. Stay here.”

Breyen making sure of her sister’s well being. “I will notify mother and father of what took place. I will be just down the hall if you need me,ok?”

Brandy ok’d her seeing her leave.

Reban, in his respects to Brandy, as gentleman goes to her. Offering his hand to her. “Miss Brandy.”

Brandy, taking his offer, as they leave from the room.

Liam, turned to his son in great annoyance. “Devon! Where is your sword!?”

Connor standing between them.

Devon, almost lost for words. “I did not have it with me.”

Liam, scolded. “And why didn’t you have it with you, and while on duty!?”

Devon, in naive embarrassment. “ I had misplaced it thinking it was safely stored above the mantel in my room so my young William could not get to it. But I could not find it. Being late for duty it was only when I had remembered where I put it just minutes after when it was time for my duty, I instead took my daggar with me.”He looked down in his own disgrace.

Liam, not amused. “Son, it is your responsibility to take your sword on active duty to use in case of acts of chivalry and if necessary in the use of active combat arises if it calls for it! Always have a back up weapon with you! Never leave your weapon behind!”

Connor stood in agreement. “Grandson. I stand with your father on this.”

Devon, stood as a man in accountability of his actions. “Yes Father, Grandfather. I shall redirect my thinking never letting it happen again.”

Liam, with sigh. “Devon. My son. I appreciate of your protection for our young William, but I insist in this learnt leason, Mind- your- Wits. See to it that it never happens again, my beloved boy.” Taking his caring hand upon his son’s head, swiftly shifting his hair, then pulls him close to give a bonded hug.

Liam ready to move on. “Right. Now go find your sword. I shall see you both later.”

Pastor Connor follows suit. “And I wil be in my usual office. “