CHAPTER 12


   “Not what you were expecting?”
Kent got down off the horse and was too busy looking around to even consider Killian’s question. After hitching the horse, Kent wandered out in to the middle of the muddy little path that served as this communities main street. He fully realized that there was probably more mixed in with the black soup than just wet dirt. There were plenty of animals running around here and the only form of transportation that was allowed was of the four legged variety. The only good news there was, it would seem that most of the people could not afford such animals.
Kent did have an answer for the sheriff though, “Mister Rayne, if you’re asking me if I think this a poor attempt at recreating a medieval village then the answer is yes. If you were asking me if I was expecting a stone work castle, the answer is no.” There was almost no stone work here of any kind. Most of the village was made of wood and that was about as close as this place came to being authentic. The idea that the place was medieval was, too Kent at least, a sorry excuse for sloppy workmanship.
Doctor Dykstra got down off his horse and joined Kent in the road. Instead of looking around he pointed to the generally poor condition of the muddy street and said, “if there was ever a breeding ground for disease…”
Kent nodded, “yes Doctor, this is exactly the kind of situation that the Palace was concerned about. I shall convey to the Governor that you were not exaggerating in the least.”
The mention of the palace made Killian almost want to laugh, “I’m afraid that Crass is the least of our concerns out here.” He nodded towards a couple of men that were standing around at the end of a row of semi permanent looking tent structures. They were not dressed that differently than any of the others in the settlement. Kent thought it a poor attempt at dressing like one would suppose a medieval peasant might. There was one difference however. Besides the fact that both men were unusually large, they also carried weapons.
“Swords?” Kent found it amusing and looked to Killian, “I don’t suppose they think that such implements would deter the Wehrmacht?”
“I would hope not. Of course the Germans do not seem to have much interest in what goes on here in Valley.” Killian replied as he nodded towards a distant tower. It was nothing like you would see in a storybook fairy tale. It was crudely made with a skeletal support of logs, a platform that was semi barricaded and a thatch roof. Kent would have figured it was sufficient for being a look out but nothing about it would stop bullets. The man who was currently pacing around on it was armed with a crossbow. Killian noted, “the Rennies have all kinds of rules and restrictions. Weapons are not among them.”
Kent took it with a grain of salt and even a bit of curiosity, “I would hope not Mister Rayne. There are still dangerous animals that lurk in these forests. I suppose edged weapons and archery would sufficiently handle most of them.”
“Yes that is true,” Killian replied, “but not exactly what I was insinuating. The weapons they carry are also of sufficient volume and lethality to be more than a match for the weapons that the Governor has at her disposal. That being, none at all.”
“I see your meaning,” Kent replied and with a nod of appreciation he also noted, “I have to admit that had not occurred to me. Have these people given you any indication of hostile intent?”
“No,” Killian admitted. “They are peaceful enough. They certainly don’t bother the local farmers who tend to be armed with military grade firearms.” He even went on further and admitted, “usually when there is trouble I find it’s the farmers or ranchers who started it.”
“That being the case,” Kent said, “let us handle one problem at a  time, shall we?” Kent did quietly note to Killian, as they walked towards the three story log structure, “I shall pass your concerns along to Chief Agent Reilly.”
The over built log cabin was not very lavishly decorated on the outside or in. It made Kent wonder about this man they were here to meet with. Jim Dove had the reputation, back in the Arch, of being a cult leader. Kent had never bothered to look in to any of those rumors because, up till recently, there was no reason. People talked about the Rennies but, to Kent at least, it sounded more like the kind of thing that people did for amusement. The entire planet was, on the whole, a rather dull place. Anything out of the ordinary certainly rated conversation and the Rennies were most definitely that.
Kent did do some research when he found out he would be meeting with the man. The news reports on him were mostly useless. They were fluff at best. What little that Kent could find out came from a few reputable people who had made it their job to watch the most honored Father Dove. Kent was kind of surprised to find out that the man had not actually started the movement. There were some Rennies living out here before the war. Those original followers, of this anti technological movement, had migrated to the colony from Henry’s Star. They had apparently had any number of disagreements with the Argentinean government that ran the largest colony there.
Jim Dove was a relative new comer. The Rennies had already adopted pseudo medieval attire before he became a prominent figure in their religion. Now, he was most definitely their undisputed leader even if they lacked any official hierarchy. That much was very clear when he entered the room that he held his, “court” in. The man was surrounded by a group of heavily armed body guards, all of whom were wearing chain armor and carried two handed swords that they used for some little ceremony. They all had very fancy sir coats that looked to have been decorated by hand. Kent had no doubt that it was supposed to be some kind of coat of arms.
The man himself, was very much in contrast with that of his ceremonial guard. He was very plainly dressed in brown robes that lacked any decoration at all. He did not pull his hood off until after he sat on his “throne.” It was carved and polished out of the stump of a huge tree that had obviously been left when they built this place around it.
If there was any other thing that Kent might have said to describe Dove, it was pleased. The guy was beaming and he quickly clapped his hands and commanded a small army of servants, “please, make our guests comfortable.” Kent noticed the faces of his servants and they seemed rather eager to please this man. Kent did not see any fear or even a hint of dissatisfaction. What he was seeing from all of Dove’s people was eagerness.
Jim Dove then went on by addressing his guests, “welcome to the Barony. I am most certainly honored to meet with official ambassadors from the Office of Governor Crass.” Dove got a little personal after that as he looked to Killian, “Sheriff, it’s good to have you back. Doctor Dykstra, you look well.” Then the man pointed out Kent, “and are you the Colonial Ranger?”
Kent nodded and introduced himself before asking, “and I would assume that I have the honor of addressing Mister James Warren Dove.”
It was the reaction that Kent was looking for. Dove did not seem to be all that distressed about how his name was used. He even made a joke out of it, “we’re informal around here Agent Gold. Why don’t you call me Father Jim.”
It was not just Dove’s reaction that Kent noticed. There were several body guards, the ‘knights’ as Dove called them, who were standing behind the stump throne. A few of them did not seem to care for Kent nor how their leader was addressed. Kent would remember that.
“Now Gentleman,” Dove stated as he clapped his hands again. Refreshments and tables were being brought along with plates of food and drink. He was certainly not holding back and Kent got the idea that this little visit pleased him in the extreme. He told his guests, “if there is one thing we know how to do, that’s eat.”