Chapter 4
Aidan was led from the edge of Doncaster as he and his already grieving parents traveled north to the moors. Without horses, they were forced to move on foot. Many in the town had been forced to its outskirts by poverty and overcrowded conditions. Not being able to afford a roof to cover their heads, people made due with animal skins, rocks, and earth. Those who'd had everything, now had nothing, while those who'd had little now had the face of starvation staring them down on a daily basis. And although they lived in squalor, they were in possession of one thing. They somehow managed to cling to their faith, that God would deliver them from their shackles of suffering and fear.
The path away from town was littered with the stench of human filth. The dead simply lay where they had dropped, while the living hobbled around as nothing more than skin clad skeletons, robbing the decomposing of what little might be tucked in their pockets. Aiden's mother had always tried to shield him from the horrors of the world, but there was only so much she could do, and she didn't want him growing up without a firm grasp on the real world. He had to learn sometime and the real world seemed to be falling in on him at a rapid rate.
Finally, making their way from the human cesspool that Doncaster had become, the first thing Aiden noticed was that the air cleared. It smelled clean and sweet with the fragrance of grass, elm and oak trees. Having never ventured beyond the town, he had become too accustomed to the odors associated with human activity. He'd never known anything else until the warm smell of the earth struck his senses. And as they passed into the grasslands of the English countryside, Aiden's mind would give birth to another experience. For all of his six years, he had been surrounded by wooden walls, dirt streets and the bustle of traffic. He, like all the children of Doncaster, had been warned against straying away from the village. They had been told stories of a host of demons and witches living in the shadows of the forest as creatures cowardly hid behind trees and beneath rocks. They waited for those who refused to heed their parents' advice. And once within reach, they would become ensnared in the evil, greedy grasp of the things the devil himself had made. But, with his parents, Aiden felt safe to let his eyes drink in the landscape he had never before been allowed to see. The grass grew high atop the fertile ground and shifted with the warm English breeze, together, as one living creature beneath the watchful eyes of the creator. Beyond this waving sea of endless emerald autumn scape lay the distant hills of central England's lowlands. Aiden had never seen such magnificence and stopped to admire its beauty. But time was short, and with the day passing quickly, so too would the night make its presence known. His mother was both patient and understanding of how his world had suddenly changed and looking down at him, saw the wonder in his eyes, the admiration let loose from within his soul for the handiwork of God, the architect of life.
Pushing on, Aiden's mother prompted him to continue, still troubled about what they intended to do, giving their son up to a handful of robed strangers. Even if they died before returning to Doncaster, Aiden would be safely in the company of holy men. The monks would take care of him, teaching him the ways of God, revealing to him the one and only truth. The secrets of life and death. But first, they had to reach the monastery. And after nearly four hours, the small family stopped at the edge of the woods, north of the grasslands. At one time, the grasslands had been home to an ocean of rye. But, the constant rains of the previous year left the grain poisoned and the family-owned business quickly failed. People, it seems, do not enjoy a diet of poison-induced psychosis and the rye fields quickly became overgrown with wild grasses.
Aiden's family was not accustomed to walking such distances. His father was used to more elaborate means of travel, while his mother managed the household and after several hours walking, they were both tired and hungry. Always hungry. They settled down just inside the tree line. Having the woods for shelter against the elements, it would also have the benefit of being hidden from the eyes of anyone else who might wander by. And while his father was convinced they would be safe from any creatures, moving on either two feet or four, his mother was not so certain. The man of the family typically acted from both strength and courage, providing a sense of security to those he loved. But, a mother's instincts were always in a state of alertness, even when there was no danger.
Usually, they would turn in for the night on empty stomachs. But away from the crowded towns, food was available. It bounded through the woods and poked up through the earth. It was certainly not in abundance but could be had by anyone possessing the patience and wits by which to obtain it. And after several attempts, Aiden's father managed to crush the skull of a hare with the throw of a well-aimed rock. It didn't offer much in the way of meat, but they were unable to remember when they last ate anything. So, what little they had was far more than they expected.
The cool night air settled in on them as Aiden's father continued nursing the fire. It's flickering blaze illuminated the surrounding trees, sending a legion of shadows bounding through the darkness. Overhead, the moon had taken center stage against a backdrop of celestial sparks. Aiden drifted off on his mother's lap. The fire's constant warmth sheltered him from the chill of the English lowlands and kept the prowling of the night's hungry predators at bay. With Aiden fast asleep, his parents quietly discussed his immediate future. They realized that they were acting for his benefit, to ensure that he would survive. Having seen many children reduced to skin and bones, only to watch their parents grieve at the sight of their earthly remains, they loved him enough to give him up. Both knew that, had they chosen otherwise, Aiden would likely never see his passage into manhood and even though his mother and father saw no other options, they were still plagued with doubts and hesitation. Especially, his mother. There is no bond stronger than that between a mother and her child. Aiden would be safe, but it would be his mother who would suffer. Even the mercy of God would not be enough to comfort her.