The Staff of Ramah, Page 2

  Chapter 1

  The nameless woman awoke from the same dream she had had for as long as she could remember; a nightmare. There was no escape from the dark ones that ceaselessly chased her through a deep and endless forest. She could feel their cold wet claws digging into her very soul while on and on she ran, till she came to the opening of a menacing stone tomb. Plunging into its black maw she hoped to find refuge, yet on the evil spirits came with relentless fury. A dim light at the end of the cold wet passage gave some direction but little hope. She knew that she must get to the light but did not know why. What was there?

  She awoke with a scream. Waking to reality from this terrible dream gave little comfort to the young woman as she pulled her torn clothing closer around herself in a vain attempt to warm up. She wiped the cold sweat off her brow and remembered all too quickly that she actually was in a cold, dark stone tomb of sorts. A musty prison cell had been her home, on and off for most of her young life. Good a place as any for the likes of me, she thought. At least in prison, she got a regular meal, even if it was only stale bread and warm water. The guard was a decent sort of man for once too. Usually the guards would force her to give favors that only someone in her profession normally would. Being beaten and used was the only way of life she had right now.

  A shout came out from the small window in her cell door. “Whore, there is someone here to see you”.

  That name she knew all too well.

  “I’m very busy at the moment” she mocked. “Tell the warden that I will make him an appointment for next year some time.”

  “It’s not the warden, and you are not earning yourself any favors by being so mouthy.”

  “Who is it?” she asked. It was not like she had any family that would be coming to bail her out or even give her some decent clothes to replace the filthy torn prison rags that she wore.

  “Never gave his name; just wants to talk. I would be nice if I was you.”

  There was a popping sound as the lock turned and the door creaked open to reveal this mysterious stranger. He wore a dark grey robe with a large hood that covered him head to toe, but she could still tell the man was very thin, and most likely, very old. All she could see clearly were his piercing white eyes, glowing like the moon when it hovers over the surface of calm water. She immediately looked away from his penetrating gaze and shuddered as she thought to herself; he can see right through me. If she felt exposed before, now she felt completely naked in this man’s calm yet powerful presence.

  “You are well I hope?” he asked with a quiet, wispy voice.

  Again the sarcasm came freely as it always did for her. “I’m great, never been better. I’ve only been raped three times this week by the guards. It would seem that Galvin here doesn’t have a thing for my type.”

  He showed no reaction and her harsh words did not seem to have any kind of impact on his calm demeanor. She was good at playing this game. Her caustic language was a comfort to her, a shield to hide that small part inside her where there might actually be some feelings left.

  The man continued on is his calm voice. “I have a proposal for you. I will pay all of your outstanding fines if you will agree to accompany me on a trip.”

  Interesting, she thought. “Are you telling me that you will pay the thirty silvers that the crooked warden thinks I owe him, just to get a companion? I’m not so sure you understand what kind of company I usually provide.”

  There had to be more to this man than appeared on the surface. He looked like some sort of priest or holy man so what would he want with a prostitute? Sure, she had given her services to so called “churchmen” before, but there was something quite different about this man’s demeanor.

  “I know full well what it is you do for your meager living, Rose. I am here to purchase you, as it were, but the choice is still yours.”

  Rose. It was a long forgotten name she had not heard since she was a little girl living in the rundown orphanage here in the city of Sharron. She had only heard it for the first 15 years of her life, as it was a name given to her by the holy mothers who raised her. Perhaps she was so named because of the full head of bright red hair that now hung in clumps around her dirty and bruised face.

  “You are a beautiful girl my little Rose, but you always seem to prick those around you with your thorns.” This is what mother Eunice would say to her. She could not even remember any other name other than Rose, so it had stuck with her. Since leaving the orphanage at a young age she lived without a name of any kind, other than the cruel titles given to those of her trade.

  “I see you have been talking to Mother Eunice. I have not been called Rose for a very long time.”

  “Sad to say, the dear mother Eunice died many years ago.” the man replied, “As a result, finding you was very difficult. If you wish me to use another name I can. Would you prefer the rude names given to you by all the others I have spoken to in my search for you?”

  The woman thought deeply for a moment. For some strange reason this seemed like an important decision. Was she to be called “whore” for the rest of her life? Somewhere deep in the recesses of her soul, Rose still believed that she could come out of this prison of pain.

  “Rose is just fine. Remember though, I may be nice to look at, but I can make you bleed if you touch.” She said theses words as if spitting in his face, yet he seemed once again unfazed by her foul speech.

  “Rose, I will need an answer. I wish to hire you for an indeterminate amount of time. I will pay your fines, and I want you to accompany me on a journey.”

  This seemed to be a simple enough job on the surface, but she was still sure there was more to it.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I can’t tell you that right now.” He said. “Give it some thought if you wish. I will return tomorrow at this time and ask you again.”

  “Why were you searching for me? Are there no other girls on the street that suit your fancy?”

  “No more questions” he replied rather firmly. “Tomorrow you will decide one way or the other. Goodbye Rose.” And just like that, he was gone.