Chapter 1: April 5

The robed traveler moved to the rear of the crowd and concealed himself in the few shadows that existed in the candlelit room. Although the others knelt in the presence of the old man - as if he were a king, and they were his subjects - the robed figure stood, unconcerned about the protocol of these people. He quickly scanned the crowd as if he were making sure no one took notice of him. Three men were on their knees near the aged man’s right side. The two men in the chairs were at his left side, but they stared forward as if conforming to unspoken etiquette.

Unlike the others in the room who wore their robes with the hood politely removed from their heads, the men kneeling next to the bed had on only knee-length white tunics with a pale, beige, woven belt at the waist. The one closest to the head of the bed had hair that was once medium-brown, but was now threatening to become solid grey. This man was holding the old man’s right hand tenderly. His kind but sad, hazel eyes, completely grey beard, and the few wrinkles around his eyes portrayed kindness and generosity to all who beheld his face.

The dying man looked first at those who encircled the bed, and then he looked up toward the Heavens and closed his eyes for a moment. The long hair on his head and face shifted, a silver-grey veil covering the shoulders of the modest tunic he wore. Time, hard work, and worry had worn away any appearance of youth, and the wrinkles on his tanned face looked as if they were carved out of stone. Opening his eyes, he looked deeply at everyone in the room but passed over the stranger. All who were present could tell that he had only a short time left on the earth.

The entire first chapter of The Corruption – Book 1 in The Age of the Watchers – will be published on this blog throughout the month of April!