If You Fall, Hold My Hand Who: Bleddyn Cadoc, OPEN What: A Dire Arrival When: Saturday, Heuris 19, Late Morning Where: Glynn Station to the Temple Grounds
The train rolled to a stop with a hiss of steam, a groan of steel, shedding the last vestige of speed with the exhausted shuddering of a new-skinned serpent. The porters began their work, excavating the trunks, valises, and carpetbags into ordered piles upon the landing, away from the cooling wheels. The doors opened, and a stream of passengers disembarked, eager to stretch their legs and breathe in fresher air.
A porter reached for the handle of a large chest, bound in thick leather straps, and pulled to slide the case from the belly of the train onto the wood. The chest remained obstinately in place. With a surprised curse, he managed to catch himself before popping the shoulder. He planted his feet, and pulled again, dragging the case a half foot closer to the goal before the exertion stole his held breath. The boy began to call for aid from another porter when a heavy hand fell with a resounding thump against the leather-clad wood. The voice attached to the implacable limb spoke in flowing Aurellian, but carried the solidity of stone in the tone.
"This burden is mine."
Though wrapped in traveling clothes, a loose shirt and baggy trousers tied at the joints for movement and cooling, there was no mistaking the size of the man. The boy backed away, surprised by the silence in which someone so </i>large</i> had approached, and stammered an apology in Aurellian. At the sound, Bleddyn smiled, and shook his head. "No harm is done, son. It is not for all to carry."
With a solidly set foot and a leveraged step, a fencer's lunge in reverse, the Robor pulled the case out of the hatch, placed a hand beneath the straps, and lifted the chest across his broad shoulders. He nodded to the boy. "I hope to see you again in service. Grow stronger."
His luggage secured, Bleddyn took the moment to look about the station. So many sickly faces, travelers from the mountains, tourists in a holy land. But, among them, newcomers to the town, fellow Faithful. Pilgrims, some of them well familiar to him, come to lend hands to the rebuilding of church broken, the unwitting and unintentional figurehead toppled.
Antibodies.
Bleddyn allowed himself a smile, though it was lacking in warmth, and spoke to nobody in particular.