Bane

February 5, 1998

Karen surveyed their acreage. The winds kept up a lot longer than she anticipated.

Bart would be ecstatic.

The encroaching trees were not only pushed back from the property line, they were scattered farther back than she could have done on her own, at least short of an attempt at a controlled burn.

Karen called from the porch deck. "Hey!"

David came outside with a lemonade in hand. "What's up?"

"Lemonade?"

David sipped it through a straw. "It's a balmy sixty-two degrees out. Raining, yeah. It's about as lemonade weather as we're going to get."

"Call a landscaper, baby. See if they can cut those downed trees into firewood."

"You really hate those trees."

"Nothing gets to keep what I have. It's mine."

David cleared his throat. "Ours."

"It's ours, then. Whatever. Now that they're gone, we can do something with the land."

David sipped his lemonade and stared at Karen. He drank it down until the glass was half full. "Oh, now we can build on the land. Never mind the acres of land leading up to it."

"I want that part." Karen nudged him and presumed he would consider it cute.

"Fine. Our bags are packed, want to go see Bishop?"

"After you call a landscaper."

* * *

Bishop greeted them at the door before they had the chance to knock. "David and Karen Walker. I missed the wedding."

"You didn't send a gift, either." Karen folded her arms but she was grinning. "It's good to see you well, Bishop. How's ruling doing?"

"Oh, I don't rule. Nothing here to rule over, anyway. Your esteemed Grand Inquistor has rid us of that problem, has he not?"

Karen and David exchanges glances.

"No need to be secretive. My hunters managed me the information of your ongoing and successful inquisition." Bishop stared at Karen through dark lensed spectacles.

"Successful." Karen sighed. "Is it safe to speak here?"

"No one in my domain has any desire to speak with your Grifford. We keep to ourselves, training, and refurbishing Pridewater."

"For what?" David nodded a gesture behind him. "You have a population of what, fifty?"

"Fifty-five." David and Karen could hear the amusement in Bishop's otherwise dour sing-song voice. It's higher pitch lacked the whimsical tones it once held. "Fifty-five living residents of Pridewater. We get on well enough, and our economy is simple. We're invested in farming, ranching and a self sustaining environment."

Karen smirked. "So you're literally a Puritan farm community."

"From sunset Friday until sunset on Saturday, there is no work. We read, and enjoy our rest. The sabbath is a celebrated time here."

"So... Puritan farm community."

Bishop laughed. "You bring a great deal of needed levity here, Karen."

"Where's Penelope and Mark? Where's Cameron Dean?"

"Well, it's the fourth day. I imagine Mark is overseeing Mark Hulsey's Ranch. He keeps the ranch hands busy. Lots of sheep, goats, and cattle to look after. Penelope aids in textiles. She's become very talented a seamstress. Young master Dean spends his time overseeing work at Justin Weiss's farm."