Adec's invitation

Adec slows his horse and stares in amazement at the castle rising before him....How many times he has ridden through these lands and has never gazed upon such grandeur ...

As he nears the castle he is addressed by the guards....

Halt! State your business here. cries out an unseen voice

I have received a letter of invitation from Sir Loyats....He says I am to meet him here....

"Hold," the Guards confer with one another for a moment before shouting back over the parapet, "be you Sir Adec. Yes? One moment then."

After a while the large wooden doors begin to swing open, just wide enough for another rider to pass through. The man approaches and salutes, it is Loyats himself, as promised.

"Adec, is that you, nice to finally meet you in person," he hands a small wrapped bundle to the man, that clinks as he passes it, "inside this you will find keys to the Bailey, with Chapel inside, I would deny no man access to mass and prayer, and also the Keep proper, particularly the Great Hall and the Conclave.

"I'm afraid for now that's all I can offer. I'm sure in time we will need and want to show you the rest of the Castle, but we are new and unused for the most part, so you are not missing much either.

"If you'll follow me we can deliver our mounts to the stable lad who will care for them while we confer?"

Agreed.

Adec turns his horse to follow Loyats.They ride into the castle and once again Adec is taken aback by the size of the Castle.As they reach the stable yard, Adec turns to Loyats

Tell me friend, for how long has this castle stood here? It amazes me that it has only now been revealed to me.In the days of my youth I hunted in woods that are but a stones throw from the main gate here.

Loyats glances around at the mostly unfinished Castle, and points to several piles of timber and stone.

"We are not currently finished yet, this was begun well before we, honestly, should have. As soon as I received word from the Cardinalate that the Order would be considered for reestablishment I began pursuing the masons and carpenters that might be required. You see, being the son of a Saint might not lead you to fortune, but does give you pull with the wealthy and willing parishioners of some Diocese.

"Ultimately it is not my castle but rather that of the Order, our first was destroyed in a fire during our absence in Cyprus, on Holy Mission. So among other things, our mission is also to repopulate our library with books of the Church and the Order. The masons, carpenters and I have been here for many months now, the council and a few hired guards, until we can commission some from the membership of the Order itself, are much more recent.

"We received License of Crenelate from the County of Sussex, and are currently pursuing the same from the Crown via the Regent. So while you may not have seen it, that is indeed a good thing, for until such time as we have all of our permissions it may be declared an illegal structure, even if on lands of the Church. Still it is good to try and maintain good relations with the temporal authorities in most cases, no?"

Loyats continued to ride, hoping that his explanations would meet the approval of his companion.

Yes, Indeed.Thank you for answering my questions.I must admit to having one more though.In what capacity does the Order see fit to use such a lowly deacon as myself?Though I do have many good qualities( forgive the self-aggrandizement if there be any) It seems to me to great and wonderous a collaboration for one who has yet to leave his home town for any extended periods of time.

Yes...

Adec takes a deep breathe and eyes the great door to the main keep.

I am ready for whatever duties and challenges await me in the Order.