27.
I will remember." Looking at the body one more time he closed the lid and fastened the latches, and then raised his arms to the altar of The Oneness.
"Holy Spirit hear me!" he said, "By Your Name I swear vengeance for this innocent blood. Though I am but a child, someday I will be a man, and when I am I will bring this family down from their high position. I shall destroy them with the power of my vengeance. From this day forth I am the enemy of The Lovers Of Men. Any who are bothered by them shall find in me an ally. Any who oppose them shall find in me a backer. I shall rid our world of their insanity. By this blood so I swear!" North lowered his hands, and again stared at the closed coffin where his father lay.
"May I join in that oath with you, Northern Star, if I swear to follow where you lead, to the death?"
Northern Star was so startled he spun around and took up the fighting position before he even saw who had spoken. He recognized the young man before him as a schoolmate, but did not know his name. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Grey Mountain," answered the other. "My father is a captain in your father's service."
"Oh," North signed in relief, "I re--" but he never got to finish the sentence, because he heard the same noise his companion had. Someone was unlocking the doors to The Hall!
"Behind the coffins!" whispered North, and dove for the only available hiding place, the other following suit. A moment later the doors opened, and two guards entered, swords in hands.
"I tell you I heard someone in here!" one was saying. "I heard voices. You go that way and I'll go down here."
North could hear the footsteps coming closer when suddenly there was the sound of a bell.
"Who, by The Lord, could that be?" said one of the guards.
"I don't know," said the other guard, "but we'd better go find out before we get in trouble. We're not supposed to be in here without calling in first!"
North heard the two men hurry out and lock the door. Quickly he got up and peeked over the coffin. When he was sure they were gone he leaped to his feet.
"Come on!" he said, "We've got to get out of here. If that's someone who has come to pray over the body, they'll be back any minute!"
Quickly the two boys climbed the stairway and headed for the windows. North saw a second open one where his companion had come in. Neither wasted any time getting through the windows and becoming air borne. They did not light until they were far away from The Temple.
"What were you doing in there, Grey Mountain?" North finally got to ask.