Chapter 2: Twilight Interlude

The mid-morning light shone in through the dining hall windows as Duncan went about his chores. If anything, the day was as cheerless as the one before. Rain continued to drizzle down outside, making for dreary work.

Duncan idly swept the accumulated breakfast crumbs out the door, paying little heed to the task. It was a mindless chore, anyway. He rounded the fireplace several times, making sure to sweep up stray ashes. Duncan’s heart had never been in such monotonous tasks.

His mind, as it was apt to do, wandered from the everyday tedium. For once, however, he had some real questions to ponder. The stranger, now resting, was chief among his thoughts. When will he wake up? Duncan wondered impatiently. The long look they had exchanged the day before played back in his mind a thousand times over, as if it had some hidden significance.

Whatever the meaning, Duncan was just as much in the dark about it as the sleepless night before. The mystery plagued his thoughts to no end. However, they were not the only reason for his restlessness.

No small amount of guilt had kept Duncan awake. The harsh words he had said to Father Michael echoed in his mind. And each time he remembered them, he felt another pang of shame. No need worrying about it now, he tried telling himself. What’s said is said. I can’t take it back. And so he tried to put the incident out of his mind, with very little success.

Duncan pushed several chairs to the side and leaned over, reaching under the table with his broom. When he looked back up, the same young nun that had been tending the stranger stood by the table. “Oh!� Duncan exclaimed, a bit startled, “Good morrow, Sister. How goes the work?�

“It goes very well, Brother,� she said courteously. “In fact, I’d say it goes miraculously. The stranger who came in a few nights ago is awake.�

Duncan was pleased for the first time in what seemed an eternity. He smiled. “Thank you, Sister. I’ll come by and see him shortly, then.�

“Actually, that’s why I’m here,� she said. “He has asked if he might speak with you.�

“Me?� Duncan said, quite dumbfounded. “He knows my name?�

“Well, no,� explained the nun. “He asked to see, ‘the well-kept man with the auburn hair.’ You were the first one to come to mind.�

Duncan set his broom against the wall, a look of mild surprise on his face. “Well, I can’t argue with that, now can I? I won’t keep him waiting, then.� The two left the room, making their way to the stranger’s quarters.

As they ascended the stairs, Duncan couldn’t help but wonder why the stranger was asking for him. What could he want with me? Duncan pondered. The question had become almost familiar.

They entered the bedroom to find the stranger standing by the window. He gazed out, apparently preoccupied with something outside the monastery. His dress was little more than dun-colored breeches and a plain white shirt, obviously borrowed from one of the monks. A bandage encircled his forehead.

The stranger turned around after a moment or two of staring out the window. He smirked as he saw Duncan. “Yes, this was the man I was looking for. Thank you, Sister,� he said in a deep voice. The nun bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment and left the room, pulling the door shut behind her.

The stranger approached Duncan wordlessly, looking him up and down. He cocked his head a little to one side. “You’re the one that saved me?� he asked.

A bit uncomfortable, Duncan replied, “You could say that, but all I did was open the door.�

The stranger smirked again, looking straight at Duncan. “Indeed you did, and I thank you. If I’m not mistaken, you are also the one I saw in the churchyard yesterday.�

Duncan felt a peculiar uneasiness about the man. His expressions and mannerisms seemed off somehow. “Yes,� he said, trying to subvert his growing anxiety, “I saw you as well.�

“Well, then, I’m sure you have some questions you want answered,� the man stated flatly, moving back to the window. Duncan’s mind reeled momentarily. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Without waiting for a reply, the stranger continued. “Very well, then. I shall speak with you later this evening. Not right now, though,� he said, pausing. He turned around and looked back at Duncan. “Meet me in the dining hall at sunset, if it suits you.�

Duncan maintained his outer composure, but felt as if he would burst. If it suits me!?! he screamed silently. “That would suit me just fine, sir,� he said cordially, and turned to leave.

As he walked out, he could feel the man’s eyes on him. A chill worked its way up his spine. Something about the man seemed uncouth. Duncan strained, but simply couldn’t put his finger on it. Later, he thought, trying to silence the burning questions in his mind. We’ll talk later.

Duncan paced furiously in front of the fireplace, sending his shadow darting from one side of the room to the other. What should I ask first? he wondered. Nervously, he glanced out the window. The light outside was fading quickly.

It seemed to Duncan that a million questions presented themselves. With so many thoughts to sort through, none clearly seemed the best. His mind spun in circles, searching desperately for the most pressing. “What’s keeping him?� he asked aloud as he glanced out the window again. It was nearly nightfall.

Suddenly, the stranger was in the room with him. As Duncan turned to make another pass by the fireplace, he started. The man stood beside the door, reclining against the wall with his arms folded in front of him. An amused grin played across his lips.

“Awfully pensive, aren’t you?� the stranger asked, looking at the monk. Duncan noticed the change in his apparel. He still wore the borrowed monkish garb, but had added several items from the clothes in which he had arrived. A black vest and leather belt stood out most to Duncan; he was not accustomed to such articles.

The stranger righted himself and walked past Duncan. Wordlessly, he retrieved a wooden chair and sat it by the fire. “Please, sit,� he said, surprisingly cordial. Duncan did so, watching as the stranger retrieved another chair and sat opposite him. The firelight flickered, sending shadows dancing across the room.

“So,� the man said at length, “do you have any questions for me?�

Duncan looked down momentarily, trying to pick one of the better ones. Suddenly, it hit him. “Well, for starters, what’s your name? It occurs to me that you haven’t told me,� Duncan inquired.

The stranger raised his eyebrows slightly. “Fair enough,� he said, “you may call me Marcus.�

Duncan furrowed his brow, wondering if that was really the stranger’s name. Something told him it was best not to pry on the issue. The stranger had seemed more at ease until the subject had come up. No matter, Duncan thought. I have more pressing questions to ask.

Marcus cocked his head slightly, observing the monk. “I’m sure that’s not all you wanted to ask me.�

Duncan snapped out of thought. This was no time for contemplation. “Quite true,� Duncan stated. “I was wondering what brought you to our monastery. After all, it’s not a simple matter to venture so far out into the wilderness.� The monk eyed Marcus, a secret smirk hinting on his lips. He had worded his inquiry as nonchalantly as to appear normal.

Marcus, however, did not appear pleased by the question. His expression grew grim. “I assure you, good monk, that I came here quite by accident.� He paused. “And,� he added in a low tone, leaning forward in his chair, “I have a feeling you know more of my journey than you would let on.�

Duncan was taken aback. His first reaction was to deny the claim, not wishing to lay all his cards before the shrewd stranger. He thought better of it as the firelight glinted off Marcus’ eyes. The man bent forward in his chair, folding his hands and staring at the monk. Something in his gaze was in no mood for games.

“Indeed,� Duncan stated at length. Marcus sat up partially in his chair, relaxing his gaze. Duncan felt some relief at this, but couldn’t think what to say next.

“Well, then,� Marcus continued for him, “the better question would not be what brought me here.� Marcus’ eyes narrowed on the monk. “It would be who.�

Duncan shuddered uncontrollably. Memories of the shadow creatures outside the monastery doors flashed back into his mind. Their crimson eyes stared back from the dark recesses of his mind. The reminder sent chills up his spine.

The stranger sat still in his chair, never taking his eyes of the monk. Duncan’s mouth went dry. Swallowing, he whispered, “Who?�

Marcus sat up and took a long pause. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, as if deep in thought. “How would you define evil, Duncan?� he asked without opening them.

Duncan pondered for a moment. “Evil, I suppose, would be to do harm,� he answered shakily, doubting his own words.

Marcus opened his eyes and turned his head, gazing into the fire. “But don’t animals kill for survival? Humans, too. Would you call a farmer evil if he butchered a cow to feed his family?�

Duncan looked into the fire, contemplative. The argument was a sound one. Turning back to Marcus, he attempted a refinement to his answer. “Evil, then, would have to be a perversion of the natural order.�

Marcus smiled a cold, grim smile, and turned back to Duncan. “Indeed it would be.� He rose from his chair, moving to place it back where he’d retrieved it.

Duncan reeled for a moment, more questions flooding into his mind. “Wait,� he insisted, standing, “You haven’t answered my question yet.�

Marcus walked slowly back to the doorway through which he had entered. He stopped, resting his hand against the wall, and glanced back over his shoulder. “Evil, Duncan. The answer is evil.� With that he left, his footsteps echoing behind him.

Duncan stood amidst the dancing shadows, an expression of confusion on his face. He moved away from the fire toward the windows. Evil? he screamed in his mind. How can anyone be chased by evil!?!

He looked out of the window into the black night, and froze. A solitary form, silhouetted in shadows, rose several feet in front of him. Two glowing eyes of blood stared at the monk, and a tremor of fear shot through him.

It seemed like an eternity that the two stood motionless, observing each other. Duncan’s mind was paralyzed. Cold beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His heart pounded violently, threatening to leap from his chest.

Then, just as it had appeared, the creature vanished. Duncan fell back, catching himself on the dining table. He gasped. Evil? he wondered again, trying to recover from the shock.

After many long moments, Duncan finally calmed down. He walked across the room and doused the fire. In the ensuing darkness, his mind refused to be still. He retired to his room, but would find no solace in sleep.