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Arlana was surprised to see so many people stepping through the door, but took it all in stride, setting out more dishes on the carefully arranged table.
"Hello Arlana," Marie embraced the blonde before stepping back. "How are you feeling today? The last time I saw you, you'd had a terrible bout of morning sickness. Did the tea I gave help?"
"Yes, actually. Thank you very much once again," Arlana smiled, stepping aside as Gavin motioned for his guests to be seated before once again seating his wives one on either side of him.
Gavin looked between Robert and Daniel, waiting for either of the two to say a blessing over the food. Appearances meant everything, and he had to impress Adelaide.
"Go ahead and say the blessing," Daniel motioned toward his old friend, Robert Cormier.
"...May this food that You have provided, give us sustenance that we may be able to serve You better. Give us the strength to stand for You even on difficult days.
We would pray that You would be with our brethren back home. Give them courage and come to their aid speedily. Thank You for each of our guests gathered around our table. Bless each one. Guide their footsteps, and may they know You, our Great Redeemer Who is life everlasting. It is in Your precious and holy name we pray, Amen."
Robert brought his long-winded prayer to a close just as the steam spiraling from the stew dissipated. It would either be the perfect temperature or frigid, Isabella supposed, waiting until the elderly man took his seat once again.
"This looks delicious, Arlana. Eat up," Robert grinned, his chuckle resounding as he motioned for the children to dig in. They didn't have to be asked twice.
Marie's eyes sparkled as she picked up her fork, whispering for her husband's ears alone, "They are one of us."
Robert glanced up, his eyes widening, but he kept silent on the matter, not risking exposure for either their family or Adelaide.
Gavin ate his stew but remained deep in conversation with Daniel, Françoise seated on his right side. Kyralie sat on Françoise's opposite side, but she and Arlana focused on the conversation between Gavin and Daniel on matters that concerned the fort. They were seated closer to Kyralie and Arlana than Robert and Marie were, explaining why it was easier to take part in that conversation.
Adelaide was painfully shy but she couldn't get the sermon out of her head.
"I was surprised to see a priest, a Jesuit no less, so adamant about missionary work."
"Ah yes, you mean Jean de Brebeuf? He is passionate about the savages, there is no doubting that. I cannot fault him although, as you know, there is bad blood between our religions.
I am certain that he wouldn't hesitate to turn against us should we ever stand against the ruling that we must attend mass, regardless of our beliefs. Yet, in his burden for souls, he puts many of us to shame."
"Although," Adelaide frowned, "If they do not hear the truth of the Gospel, they are just as lost. I think it may even be worse as they will have a false sense of security believing they are truly saved, when in fact, it is a lie."
Robert nodded. Adelaide was correct and it was something he had contemplated as well.
"The issue is that those who know the truth are fewer in number and are yet to answer the call of God to reach the lost. If those with the truth will not go..."
"The fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few," Marie murmured.
Robert ran his fingers through his thick hair before commenting.
"Very few have ventured far, and those that have-"
"They were never heard from again," Marie leaned forward, sharing a haunting secret. "It is very dangerous to bring Christ into the woods."
"Jean de Brebeuf is right, My Love, someone has to."
The room was unusually quiet as each was left with their thoughts.
Arlana discretely glanced over at Adelaide, watching a myriad of emotions dance over her sister's features. She'd only caught the last bit of the conversation, but it seemed as though Marie and her husband, Robert, were speaking directly to Adelaide's heart - reaching the childhood dreams that had long lay dormant within her sister.
A blind mind could see the glimmer of hope shining in Adelaide's eyes as she listened to Robert's impassioned speech - so much like their old Sunday School Superintendent from all those years ago, Mr. McLeod. Adelaide had been telling Jaira the truth when she confessed that she had given up her dreams when she married Gavin.
Discretely reaching for Gavin's hand beneath the table, Arlana entwined her fingers with his, needing to speak to her husband alone as soon as possible. An idea was percolating as Arlana listened to the conversations around her.
Gavin glanced over at Arlana but didn't pull his hand away, gently squeezing her fingers in response to her need for him.
"If we could negotiate a fair deal wherein the French could keep half of the bounty from the sales and the English would receive half as well - no more, no less - I am certain that it would ease the tensions between our people. It is the beaver trade and its lucrativeness that is dividing us. We have far too much in common once we set that aside."
"I disagree," Daniel grew thoughtful as he listened to Gavin. "We have fought many wars against each other. Mind you, many of us are from Brittany and therefore loyal to Britain as well, but the king is not taking us into consideration. If England wants war, France will not back down. We never have and I can't see that ever changing.
As for us, we are content to raise our families and farm the land. We are humble people who don't seek riches or fame, but, should our loyalties be tested, I can guarantee you that every last one of us will stand with France."
Arlana swallowed hard, glancing over at Kyralie who had turned pale. Both women were thinking the same thing:
All will remain loyal except for one. There is a Judas in your midst. A nameless, faceless Judas who must be stopped.
Arlana looked down at her tepid soup, her appetite long gone. She was standing at a fork in the road and didn't know which path to take. There was no guarantee that she could change the coming course of events, no matter which path she chose.
Dakota needed to return. He would understand and, Arlana suddenly realized, was the key to her problem. After all, it was his people who had saved hers all those years ago.
"Have you heard from Dakota?" Arlana's voice was soft as she began a separate conversation with her aunt. "He has been gone for some time."
"I had expected him back by now," Kyralie sighed. "He said he would only be gone for a few days and to hold on tight, but in a few days it will be two months since he left and I haven't heard a word from him. I can only hope that he is alive."
"I'm sorry I brought up such a sensitive topic, but I was just thinking he should be back soon. I have something I would like to discuss with him when he returns. Will you let him know when you see him?"
"Of course," Kyralie agreed, looking down but not before Arlana glimpsed her teary blue eyes.