"Brother Malcolm, can I go now?"

"Have you finished your work?"

"Yes." Jeremy crossed his fingers behind his back. "It's all done."

"Very well," Malcolm looked up from his work to see the desk by the window empty. He could hear the patter of sandals running down the hall. An open book lay on the desk with Jeremy's unfinished work underneath. Brother Malcolm chuckled to himself. "Young and carefree. Wish I could still be like that."

"Wow, Jeremy. You must have done really well with your studies today. Brother Malcolm let you out early." Jocelyn looked up from her drawing to see Jeremy walking across the orchard with big, long strides.

"Actually, I didn't."

"Didn't what? Do well?"

"No. I didn't do it at all."

Jocelyn laughed. "How do you expect to become a member of the abbey if you don't know any of its history?"

"Oh, please. You're starting to sound like Ol' Malcolm," Jeremy sat down on the grass next to her after plucking an apple off the branch above him. He took a bite of his apple.

"What 'cha got there?"

Jocelyn handed the parchment to him, proudly. "I did it all from memory."

"Hey, that's me!"

Jocelyn nodded. "I'm not finished with it yet. It still needs a little work."

"Well, when you're finished with it, draw a picture of yourself so I can have it."

"What would you do with a picture of me?"

"So I could remember your face. Whenever I leave here."

"Leave?" Jocelyn's face was downcast. She looked at him with sad gray eyes.

"Aww, don't look at me like that, Jocelyn. I would come back and visit you," Jeremy handed the sketch back to her.

"Where would you go?"

"Anywhere. Everywhere. I'll be a warrior, roving around the countryside. Defending the defenseless... protecting the unprotected.... defeat the undefeated-"

"Ok! Ok! I get your point. You're going to be famous."

"Yup. Then you can tell everyone you knew me."

Jocelyn smiled half-heartedly. "Yea, I guess so."

"Aww come on! You gotta give me a bigger smile then that. There is no way I am going to let you smile at people like that! Come on, let's see it."

Jocelyn blushed uncontrollably and looked at the ground to hide the smile that broke across her face. Jeremy lifted her face up to look at it.

"There that's better," he smiled at her. "Don't ever try to hide that pretty smile of yours."

"Jeremy!" The strong, bellowing tenor voice rang out across the lawn. Friar Rashton appeared to be running towards him with a ladle in his hand.

"Uh oh! Gotta go. See ya later, Jocelyn." Jeremy jumped to his feet

"Jeremy! You get back here, you rouge!" the fat Friar came panting up to where Jeremy was sitting with Jocelyn.

"What's the problem Friar?" Jocelyn asked sweetly.

Friar Rashton smiled back and patted the girl's soft, blond hair. "Never you mind, Jocelyn. It doesn't concern your sweet self. That little scalawag is supposed be on kitchen duty today."

"Perhaps he forgot," Jocelyn covered for her friend.

"Perhaps," the friar said not believing it. "You wouldn't happen to know where he's at would you?"

"No. Sorry Friar," Jocelyn said honestly.

"Well, could you tell him that he's supposed to be on kitchen duty?"

"When I see him, I'll tell him that." Jocelyn smiled innocently up at the old wrinkled face.

"You'll be sure he gets the message?"

"Yes, Friar," Jocelyn nodded, her soft, cropped blond hair shaking around her forehead.

"Ok then. I guess I'd better get back to my kitchen," Friar Rashton spun around hard on his heel and marched back across the abbey lawn.

Jocelyn looked over her shoulder and could see Jeremy fleeing across the courtyard in the other direction. She watched him until he disappeared behind a cluster of trees the blocked her view.

Chapter 2

Tink, tink, tink, tink, tink. "Attention! Can I have your attention, please!"

A hush fell over the hall, and all eyes were averted to Abbot Sander. The old man folded his hands and everyone did likewise. Abbot Sander blessed the food. As soon as he sat down, the masses of dwellers, sisters, brothers, and orphans alike dove for the food at the center of the table.

Jocelyn laughed as two small children next to her, also known as sprouts, battled each other for the first piece of pie.

"Hey, now. Stop fighting you two!" Jeremy seized the pie before the two could rip it in half. He picked one up out of the chair and sat down next to Jocelyn. He smiled at her. "You know, fighting is no way to solve things. Why don't you two share the pie? There's plenty here to go around."

"I want dis pieced," a little boy with blonde hair and bright blue eyes.

"No! Dat's mine!" The other retorted. Jeremy rubbed his tangled black hair disapprovingly.

"Hey! What did I just say? I have an idea. Why don't we give this very piece to this lovely young lady right here?" Jeremy cut the piece out and set it on Jocelyn's plate. "There now. Neither of you can say the other had it. And everything's fair!"

Jocelyn giggled. "Where were you at?"

"Hiding."

"Oh, really? How brave of you! And pray tell me how you're supposed to a fearsome warrior if you can't even face the Friar's dirty dishes?"

"There's a big difference between pan scum and evil scum."

"What's the big difference."

"The stuff in Friar's kitchen is evil."

Jocelyn laughed. "Jeremy, what am I going to do with you?"

"Nothing. I'm hopeless. Just a lost cause"

"Oh, Jeremy, you're not hopeless!"

"Well, then what are you going to do with me?"

"I don't know! That's what I'm trying to figure out!"

“Attention, please,” Abbot Sander tried to yell above the din, but no one heard his soft voice. “Can I please have you atten-”

A loud piercing whistle rang through the room. Everyone was quiet. Gwendolyn Haden, an Abbey defender, stood up. “I do believe Father Abbot has something to say.”

“Thank you, Gwen,” the kindly old Abbot said as the warrior took her seat. “I’m sorry to interrupt your meal, but I have an announcement to make. I’m sure most of you have heard through the grapevine somewhere, but for those of you who have not, there is a festival tomorrow evening. There will games, followed by a banquet outside on the lawn, then we have had several individuals who would be willing to entertain everyone with storytelling, dancing, and magic shows. The Skipper of the Owahtahn River Tribe has volunteered to provide some delicacies as well as dancing after dinner. We will be joined by some of the woodland people outside the Abbey. They will be arriving all day tomorrow. Some have traveled as far away as the other side of Pinegrove, so I will expect you all to show them the hospitality that Satchwill Abbey is known for. That will be all. Thank you.”

There was a cheer for the Abbot as he sat down. Immediately, everyone went back to

talking, and laughing, and eating.

“Wow, a festival! I can hardly wait.” Jocelyn smiled happily. Her blue eyes shined and her wispy, blonde hair brushed her forehead lightly. Jeremy smiled back, he couldn’t help staring at her for a few extra seconds longer. She had soft, blonde hair that was cut short. Most of the abbey sisters disapproved of her short hair, but for some unknown reason Jocelyn never tried to grow it out. She had an oval shaped face that had a small, dainty nose, two big, innocent, blue-gray eyes, and thin pink lips that formed the most heartwarming smile Jeremy had ever laid eyes on. Jocelyn was pretty, Jeremy decided, but he had never thought of her in any kind of romantic way before. At least he would never admit to anyone if he did, not even to himself.

He wondered if he should tell her anymore of his plans for tomorrow evening. Seeing as how Jocelyn didn’t like his fantasy of leaving Satchwill, he worried she would tell someone. Just to keep him from going.

“What?” Jocelyn looked up to see him looking at her.

“Oh, uh, sorry. Nothing. I was just off in another little world of my own again. Sorry,”

Jeremy said hastily and looked down at his plate and poked at his food. 

Chapter 3

“Let the festivities begin!” A cheer rose up from the tables of woodlanders and abbey dwellers surrounding a great bon fire in the center of the courtyard.

A group of young men began showing off their musical talents by piping away at their flutes, strumming their harps, and banging at their drums. A few of the braver woodland women joined. One had a washboard and the other violin. Everyone clapped and tapped their feet as an entire fleet of dancers began to jig around the fire.

Jeremy sat at a table near the back of the feast with his good friend Aidan. Aidan was an orphan like Jeremy and Jocelyn. Most of Jeremy’s friends were part of the group of orphans that the people of Satchwill Abbey took in. Most of the dwellers his age didn’t approve of Jeremy’s wild and erotic behavior, so he just kept his distance and they kept theirs.

He watched people dance, and sing, and talk happily. Mostly he just watched an small group of young boys gathered around a pretty young maid with short blond hair and soft gray eyes. Jocelyn smiled as each one tried to impress her with their talents. One began to dance and a few other joined, each trying to out dance the other. Another began to juggle fruit from the table. Another began tossing more and more to him. Soon the young man had too many and all of the food came plummeting to the ground. Jocelyn laughed. Jeremy felt a strange feeling sweep over him seeing Jocelyn smile at these strange boys . A feeling that was much like jealousy.

“She’s very pretty, y’ know,” Aidan watched Jeremy as he looked longingly at Jocelyn.

“Why don’t you go and ask her to dance before you burn a hole through her from staring at her so much.” He lightly punched Jeremy in the arm.

“I’m not staring. I’m making sure they keep their distance from her. Look at that. That one over there in the green tunic is all over her…wooing her and such,” Jeremy glared at Aidan. “Besides I don’t feel much like dancing. I’ve got a lot on my mind.”

“If you say so,” Aidan stood up to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“Why, there’s dancing to be done. I can’t disappoint the ladies, now can I?” Aidan smiled at Jeremy. He spun around and walked smartly over to a group of girls giggling and smiling at another group of admirers.

Jeremy watched Aidan bow and offer his hand to a pretty young girl with black hair and rosy lips. Jeremy wished he could be charming and charismatic like Aidan. She smiled coyly and curtsied, and Aidan lead her away to dance.

“Where have you been all day?” Jeremy jumped startled at the voice. Jocelyn sat down next to him. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Me? What for?” Jeremy looked surprised.

“Well, I… nothing in particular really. I was just wondering if you’d like to-”

“Why aren’t you over there pleasing your admirers. They seem to want you back over there.” Jeremy snapped with out meaning to as he pointed to the group of young men waving at her and whistling.

Jocelyn looked hurt and Jeremy’s shortness. He’s never been upset with her before. “I’m sorry,” she said, sadly. “I didn’t mean to bother you.” Jocelyn stood up and walked away briskly.

“Wait. Jo, I’m sorry-” Jeremy watched helplessly as she disappeared into the crowd of dancing people. He heaved a sigh and rested his head in his hands.