Chapter 9 - A Knight Appointed

 

Chapter 9 - A Knight Appointed

James could hear the sobbing from the hallway. The silence of the church building was marked by whimpers of pure sorrow. It was something James hadn’t encountered before. He instinctively knew who it was before ever entering the office. Faith sat awkwardly on the floor, kleenex crushed in her hands. She was shaking so badly he almost couldn’t pull her into his arms. Along with the kleenex was a printed sheet of paper, crumpled and stained with her tears. He eased it from her and cringed. Where had she gotten this?

The police techs had only brought the computers back this morning. Someone must have planted this for her to find. And he had a good idea who had accomplished this aim. He held tight to Faith while he called Danny and explained the circumstances. Noah was still on the missing list but he knew just where to find Jax. Apparently Jax’s animosity toward Faith hadn’t eased in twenty-five years and he was the one to break it off with her. Sometimes he didn’t understand men’s motivations and he was a man.

He brushed the hair out of Faith’s face and dabbed at her tears. “You gonna be okay?”

She nodded. “I don’t know why I broke down like that. I guess I had an emotional dam built up and that just broke it all down.” She gulped and took a deep breath. “I really feel like a fool.”

“Believe me. He's the fool, not you.”

“Let me take you to dinner and we can talk about this.”

Fatih was too weak to argue and she wasn’t in the mood to cook. “Maybe I can get some take out for Dad.”

“No problem. I’ll just make an extra steak.”

“You’re going to cook?”

“I’d rather cook than go out. The food’s always better.” James smiled and it lightened Faith’s mood which had been his goal. He’d deal with Jax later. And he was currently feeling no mercy.

***

Danny Cornelius couldn't believe what he was seeing. This man standing inside his house looked the epitome of a medieval magician.

“Can I help you?” he asked guardedly. 

“I am actually here to help you. Apparently, you have been speaking with God about a situation. I have been apprised of the details. These time glitches are about to give me a migraine, as you twenty-first century people say.”

“Excuse me?” Danny was baffled and concerned. Maybe he needed to call in the mental unit.

“There is no need for me to explain to you the details. God has appointed you as a knight and I am here to do God’s bidding.”

“A knight? Like a shining armor knight?”

“Sort of. Protectors of the Realm come in all time periods.” Merlin waved his hand and an energy bubble encased Danny. Before he knew what was happening Danny disappeared from the bubble leaving only Noah Stone behind.”

Danny appeared behind Merlin peeking over his shoulder. “Son of a bitch!”

“Exactly,” he said to Danny, then turned to Noah.  “We had wondered where you’d gone, Noah.”

Noah didn’t speak. He just turned away from Merlin and disappeared into the ethers.

“What the hell was that?” Danny muttered.

“That's a problem that you and Mike need to iron out. Tell Mike you’ve been knighted and he will explain things to you.” Merlin clamped a hand on Danny’s shoulder. “Welcome to the team.”

Danny turned to him and asked, “Who are you?”

“Merlin from Camelot.”

Danny’s mouth dropped open as the magician disappeared from his apartment. What the heck had he just gotten himself into?