Sanctuary (Dominion) Read Online Free Page B

before finally moving to the front bench where she sat, holding her face in her hands. Arkael stalked toward the front door and opened it, watching the raiders leave.
    "Wait here," I told Aedre, and I followed Arkael to the door. Then I stopped and turned back to her. "Don't leave the church, no matter what." I felt horrible that she must sit amongst the bodies of her family just to save herself, but that was Arkael's message, and it had held true thus far. The church was our sanctuary.
    I peered around Arkael, watching the raiders move back to the longboats beached on the coastline, their arms laden with various small treasures from the village. I could see four women in the boats already, under guard, but at this distance I couldn't tell who they were. I only knew what their wicked and undeserved fate was to be, and I wondered if the dead here in the church should consider themselves lucky. Ranulf barked at his men, his bellowing voice carrying throughout the middle of Rogwallow.
    “Back to the boats, you dogs! Back to the boats!”
    They were leaving. The village, whatever was left of it, was safe. I could finally relax, knowing that I would not die today. Although once I did the question that had been nagging at the back of my mind since Arkael arrived finally pushed its way to the front.
    Had I witnessed a miracle?
    Even the suggestion made my legs weak and my hands tingle, and it took more willpower than I would have thought to keep from falling to my knees. I knew about miracles. I’d read about more than I could count, and heard about twice that many from other priests, but to actually live through one was another matter entirely. Was I part of an actual, God-sent miracle, seen in my own lifetime? I could find no other answer while standing next to this man, this savior. Right now, it all seemed so wonderfully true. All my doubts disappeared; everything I’d questioned stood before me in knowing reproach. God himself carried me, and I wanted this moment to last forever.
    But that was not to be.

    Chapter 3
     
    The church in Rogwallow faced south, which was unusual. It was a meager, rectangular stone building that sat at the north end of the village, the front door opening to both the distant southern shoreline and the cluster of buildings in between that made up the village center. Typically, the church would have faced west, with the altar at the east end of the structure, but for reasons that had long since decayed into legend, this church had been built by men who didn’t follow that particular custom. I don’t know why I thought of this now, except to be glad that because the church faced the wrong direction, I could see with my own eyes the retreating raiders as they fled to their boats.
    "There may be survivors," Arkael said, not taking his eyes off Ranulf and his men. "Bring them here."
    It took a moment for his words to yank me from my reverie. I understood their meaning. I even agreed with them. But then I realized that to find these others, I would have to abandon the protective confines of this building. I would have to go where Arkael wasn't, and that sent a jolt of terror through my body. Outside was danger and chaos, or perhaps the miserably certain death I thought I’d already escaped. Raiders were still leaving some of the buildings and I didn't want to surprise one on his way out and catch a knife in my belly.
    "Of course,” I said, as enthusiastic as a rabbit venturing from its hole while wolves brayed nearby. “I'll bring them back here. Where they'll be safe." He nodded curtly, but other than that he paid me no more attention than he would a fly on his boot. Surprisingly, his lack of concern soothed my worry, and my sense of duty kicked in. I stepped out of the doorway, and onto the muddy dirt path that led from the church directly to the main hall about sixty paces away. I moved hesitantly at first, buffeted by the cold wind from the shore, and I imagined myself pushing against my fear as