A Gap In The Heavens
an excerpt

Prologue
Spain
Early Eleventh Century

The Silence was Disturbing. Eerie, foreboding but strangely peaceful. There were no loud bangs, no screaming, no thunder from the sky and no general sounds of Mayhem that the citizens of San Maravilloso had become so accustomed to.
Teego risked a look. He poked his head through the sand-covered canvas his family had been hiding under, and peered over the pit. He ignored the protests of his mother; she could holler all she wanted. Nothing was going to stop Teego being brave like his father.
The village was more than quiet. It seemed like the entire place was waiting. The odd and painful silence of expectancy. What if the monster were to return? But where was the monster? It had been a very long time since Teego had heard silence.
He noticed he was not the only one chancing a look out of hiding. He could see other pits of sand rise, with citizens completely confused. Even Mother had risen next to him to see what was going on.

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Teego sat in the field, awaiting something delicious to eat. Mother had wasted no time, scrambling out of their hiding place to make their first decent meal in weeks. It felt completely unreal to him. On one hand he felt totally relieved that he was no longer in that wretched hole. But on the other hand he wondered why he was suddenly allowed this freedom. Had the monster moved on to destroy somewhere else? It certainly could not have gained a heart; he remembered how it had murdered Father. And he would not easily forget.
Mother called him in. She too was still recovering from Fathers death, but Teego knew better than to talk about it. He sat prodding his food, until he could bare it no longer.
“Mama?”
“This is not time for talking Teego, This is time for eating.” She said quickly and pointedly. She probably knew what was coming. Teego though was not finished.
“Mama, what became of the monster?”
Mother took a long sigh. Teego noted that Mother was not going to tell him to eat his food, and was going to try to answer. Battle won.
“I do not know Teego, maybe he has left us to hurt other people, and for this we cannot celebrate. As long as it lives, people will not know peace.”
And with this Teego went back to his food, slightly disappointed. He had expected Mother to say something that he had never thought of, but had only reinforced what he believed.
A familiar knock at the door signalled the arrival of Grandfather. Teego leapt to the door like a boy who had only found happiness for the first time and swung it open with abundant joy. Grandfather hugged him with the same force that Teego hugged him. The hug of two people who had never thought they would see each other again.
“It is good to see you Teego” Grandfather rasped in his comforting but strained way. “I come bringing news of the village! Our leader wishes to speak tonight to end the rumours.”

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Fernando Visesso stood alone and waiting. Outside were all of the remaining village people. His remaining citizens. He felt guilty for all the losses during these dark times, after all he was the Mayor, and under direct order from the King himself. But in turn he felt responsible for the events of today, for the feeling of hope within his people and the cautious peace that had arisen.
His aide Notollo entered and gasped “Leader! It is time now, the village has gathered.”
Visesso was already aware of the gatherings completion and Notello knew it. But it was tradition and after all the hardships, Visesso knew more than anyone that tradition was important. There would be no change in the way he ran things. Apart from the one big change for everyone living in San Maravilloso.

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Teego struggled to see amongst the group of adults. Granted there weren’t many, nothing compared to the numbers who had turned up at Fernando Visesso’s original crisis meeting. Grandfather lifted him onto his shoulders so that he could see.
Fernando Visesso had appeared. There was a mix of applause and abuse from the crowd, which angered Teego. Mayor Visesso had been in charge during these darker times, and he was grateful to their leader for trying to organise a resistance, keep the citizens safe, and most of all for keeping all the citizens under control, and preventing riots. Naturally some people took every opportunity to blame Visesso for all the villages’ problems, and the monster was no exception.
Visesso took his time before speaking, waiting on the fools who continued to boo him.
“My friends, today many of you have come away from your hiding places, and you have wished to know why the horrible destruction and suffering of the past few weeks has seemingly stopped.” He smiled and paused. Teego’s spirit began to rise. The mayor was a quiet and nervous man; only one thing could make him smile now.
“Our allegiance has won! We owe our lives to the brave warriors from the Kingdom of France. The Guerrero Malvado…. Is finally DEAD!!” He screamed the final word. Only just making it above the roar of applause. People danced in the street, hugging and kissing.
Visesso took a bow. Revelling in the reaction he had so hoped would come to be. Warriors behind him hauled in the body of the Guerrero Malvado, to make final proof to the people.
The small village of San Maravilloso, was in a fiesta mood, and surely would be for weeks to come. Then they could consider reconstruction. It was not important now. The only important thing now was the happiness flowing through the village like a rivers first burst of life.

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The French warriors met in the forest. Grave looks on each of their faces.
“We have defeated the Malvado” came the voice of the youngest warrior, Gerardo. “So then why, dear friends, do we not celebrate our victory?”
“Because we have not won at all, young one. We have made a fatal flaw.” barked Puinet, the eldest and wisest.
“I do not understand” said Gerardo looking around at his fellows.
“His power was stolen shortly after his death. No doubt that damn Danante De Regalos.”
“What will happen now then?”
“I am sure he will go into hiding. He will be aware of our presence. He is our greatest target. He could give the power to another, and all our hard work will be for nothing.”
“So our group must then track him down till the end of time!”
“Yes, Le Travail De Dieu commits itself to the mission. And we will never fail”
Each of the members raised their swords high and chanted.

“Le Travail De Dieu, Le Travail De Dieu,
We shall destroy the evil to serve the few,
Whether large or small,
Tiny or tall,
Our enemies shall no longer kill!
We live to serve and always will!”

All members mounted their horses and rode into the night. The celebrations of San Maravilloso, behind them and their eternal quest for peace ahead of them.