By sundown, Falcon was completely healed and somewhat anxious to be on his way. Demas had attempted to wake Sebastian once, and had been lucky that Falcon’s axe was out of reach. As it was, Falcon had picked the man up and removed him from the hospital ward, ignoring the threats and sputtering the impotent man threw at him. By morning, they would be out of reach, thank God, and Sebastian would be safe from the man’s evil plots.
Sebastian took the freedom of nightfall to do exactly as Falcon expected–to heal everyone in the ward. Falcon considered telling the young priest not to overdo it because he’d rather not carry his scrawny, unconscious body out of Sacarosa on his shoulder. However, he did understand Sebastian’s need to redeem himself, even if Falcon himself was of the opinion that the seer should be hailed as a hero. The hospital was also the only home Sebastian had ever known, and Falcon wasn’t about to tear the young man from that any sooner than necessary.
So Falcon took the preparations upon himself, gathering his weapons, armor, and clothes as well as basic provisions with the help of Father Mattias and the acolytes.
Falcon was tying a cloak that covered both the axe strapped to his back and the sword strapped to his side around his neck and mentally checking if they had thought of everything, when Father Mattias returned with another bundle in his hands.
“Sir Peregrine, I think you need to know something before you go. Sebastian may have been raised by the Church, but he’s not an orphan.” The old priest waved the bundle as if it held significance to his story. “Twenty-five years ago, a woman dressed like a servant but with the manners and speech of a noble came to the cathedral to pray for a child. We talked, and she pledged to dedicate the child to God if He would give her a son.”
“Like the story of Samuel.” Falcon nodded. His father may have prepared him to be a soldier, but his mother insisted that no one needed God more than a man who stood to face Him every day.
“Exactly.” The old priest looked pleased that Falcon knew the Bible story. “But unlike Hannah, when the time came for Sebastian to be dedicated, she did not return.”
Falcon looked over at Sebastian healing the blinded eyes of an elderly woman across the ward. “So how did he get here?”
“On the fourth anniversary of his conception, Sebastian took very ill. The physicians of whatever realm his parents were from could do nothing and gave them no hope. His mother traveled back here, this time with an entourage. She demanded I heal him. I reminded her of her vow. She agreed to honor her vow if the child lived. I prayed for him, and the rest you can guess.” The old priest laid the bundle at the foot of Sebastian’s cot and began to unwrap it. “She was gone by daybreak, leaving Sebastian with the clothes on his back, the blankets he was wrapped in, and a bag of gold for his care.” He lifted out a blanket with an ornate seal woven in. “I don’t recognize the seal, and I doubt that the reappearance of a disowned heir will make many people happy. But these are all the belongings Sebastian has to his name, and God knows they may come in handy.”
Falcon did recognize the seal as belonging to the ruler of a small but rather aggressive kingdom to the west. He agreed with the old priest’s assessment that revealing the existence of a disowned prince turned priest would likely draw assassins rather than assistance. He was of half a mind to burn the artifacts before they left. “Does Sebastian know?”
“He knows the blanket exists, and that he was likely of noble birth. But if you ask him, God is his Father and the Church is his mother. He’s never expressed any interest in discovering his lineage, and I doubt the events of this week will change that.” The priest shrugged and wrapped everything but the bag of gold back together. “You may need this on your journey. His needs are few, but as a man of the world, you know better than even I do that gold is power. It will go far to keep him safe.”
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“A seer, a prince, and a man of God.” Falcon took the bag with a renewed sense of awe in the task God had given him. “Just like the Magi of old, eh, Father Mattias?”
“A fitting analogy, but I fear that, unlike the Magi, you may be setting out on a journey with no end.” Father Mattias’s eyes tracked Sebastian as he moved on to the next patient. “News of his miracle has spread quickly, and has been met with more fear than praise.”
Falcon had expected as much. People feared what they didn’t understand, and frightened people were aggressive people. “God has placed me at Sebastian’s side for a reason, Father. By His grace, I’ll make Sebastian’s quest for penance as safe as possible.”
“I’ve seen your opinion of his penance in your face.” Father Mattias shot a sharp look at Falcon.
“I don’t approve of telling the hero of Sacarosa that saving the lives of tens of thousands of innocent people needs penance, no.” Falcon raised a hand to stop the old priest’s protest as Sebastian started in their direction. “But since we both know that Sebastian is going to heal everyone he comes in contact with, even without penance motivating him, you don’t have to worry about me getting in his way.”
Father Mattias nodded his satisfaction. “I did some checking, and the Knights of the North Star completely dissolved. There are reports of some falling as they fled, others seeking refuge in other realms as soldiers of fortune, and still others becoming highwaymen. It seems you are free from your obligation to your order with no risk of breaking your vows.”
“If you’re trying to offer me a way out, I’ve made my decision.” Falcon pulled both his axe and sword free and nodded to the priest. “All that’s left is to make it official.”
“I think that was the last one.” Sebastian gave them a tired smile as he dropped down on the cot he’d occupied earlier in the day. “When do we leave?”
“If you’re not going to pass out on me, we’ll leave as soon as possible. I’d like to be out of reach of Demas and the governor before they realize you’re missing.” Falcon gestured to the pile of supplies with his axe. “And I’d rather not carry both you and that.”
“You’re not going to have to carry me. And I can take my share of the load.” Sebastian frowned at Falcon’s weapons. “You don’t expect trouble in here tonight, do you?”
“No. I had something else in mind.” Falcon laid both weapons in his open hands, went to one knee in front of Sebastian, and offered them to him.
Sebastian caught a breath, confusion fading quickly from his face to sober intensity. He nodded curtly and laid his own hand on the weapons between Falcon’s hands.
“I, John Peregrine, pledge my axe, my sword, and my strength to the protection of Sebastian Alexander, my hands to support his gift, my life to preserve his life, and nothing but death shall free me from this oath.” Falcon bowed his head. “May Christ’s blood bind my soul to this vow.”
Sebastian hesitated for only a moment before making the sign of the cross between them and laying his other hand on Falcon’s head. “May your oath be accepted in the sight of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” A faint hint of amusement tinted his earnest tone. “And may you not be freed from your vow for a very long time to come. Amen.”
“Amen,” Falcon echoed, then stood. He slid his sword back into its scabbard and replaced his axe beneath the cloak on his back. “Now, we can go.”
Apprehension clouded Sebastian’s face for the first time. He also stood and turned to Father Mattias. “Father, thank you for the care you’ve shown me here. I am certain I would not be the man I am without your mentorship.”
Falcon turned to attend to the supplies to offer them a bit of privacy.
“God’s grace brought you here, Sebastian, and your presence was a blessing to this hospital and every citizen of Sacarosa.” Father Mattias embraced him tightly. “Go with God, Sebastian. I will pray for you every day.”
“Thank you. And I will pray for all of you here as well. Father Peter is going to need to step up after I’m gone.”
Falcon coughed to cover a scoff of pity for the poor priest forced to fill the gap left by the absence of a healer and seer.
“I can hear you laughing, Falcon.” Sebastian scolded with a hint of amusement of his own as he turned from Father Mattias.
“Well, when Father Peter can heal an eviscerated man, perhaps then we can fairly talk about him stepping up. But perhaps I’m a bit biased.” Falcon hit Sebastian in the side with the smaller pack he’d prepared and hefted the heavier one onto his own shoulder. “As unfortunate as it is that poor Father Peter and the others will have to muddle on without you, we need to be going.”
Sebastian shouldered the pack with a wry shake of his head. They paused a moment as Father Mattias blessed them both, then Falcon placed his arm across Sebastian’s shoulders and led him from the hospital. By both Sebastian’s vision and Falcon’s own vow, their futures were now bound together.
