05-13-2012, 12:21 AM
Karen started at the open doorway. His words rolling around in her head. She felt self satisfied that she wasn’t the only one who discredited the so called ‘Gods’ the villagers worshiped – but of course she was skeptical of Benny... Preachers didn’t really have a good track record in her life. He had given her a lot to think about.
Standing up, she stood erect; with a sort of determination that belonged to the person she had been before her father had died. Walking towards the door, she stared hard at him for a moment. “Thank you.” She said, before walking out – the words being raw on her tongue. It had been so long since she said them and actually meant them. Halfway down the hall, she said over her shoulder without looking back: “See you at tomorrow’s service.” Almost ironically.
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The crowd was large, almost too big for the church as the entire village was in attendance – any of the usual absentees here to catch a glimpse of the traveler who was still the hot topic of the town gossip. That of course, is what her dear husband had wanted... so he could show off. And, she had given him the exact fuel he needed.
As he started the service as usual, he hushed the group – and announced the topic for today. How being ungrateful was a bad characteristic, and should be punished early on so that the undesirable quality could be gotten rid of. “Sadly, I was too late with my wife.” He said, and at this the crowd made sympathetic noises towards him. It was at this moment as well, that he had Karen brought out. Her neck and wrists were tied up in a pillory, her lip even more puffed up than when she had arrived home that night. “She, after all I had provided for her – attempted to flee the city last night.” At this, he moved towards her, his hand delicately rubbing the side of her face. “I’m afraid after trying less strict measures, I’m forced to resort to this.” It was at this time that Karen, with hatred in her eyes looked up at him and spat in his face. A gasp of horror went through the crowd, and he priest quickly ordered her to the stocks for the rest of the day. Before they took her away, her angry eyes found Benny, and started accusingly at him.
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