Chapter One
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Woven with a skein of pure, lush silk, the tapestry depicted a medieval forest in all its earthly glory; a rich collection of tall trees, emerald-hued ferns, and roses red
and gold. For its current beholder, the tapestry served a dual purpose; both as a teaching tool and an object for fantasy.
Andrew Bergen taught a renaissance history course at Pineview University in Morris, Indiana. He savored sharing the details of his favorite time period with his students;
and particularly liked to show them his collection of art from this period.
"In the time of the renaissance, ladies and gentlemen, people could not entertain themselves with television or movies..." Hands folded behind his back, he addressed his
students in a friendly but authoritative tone.
"They didn't have TIVO?" A student in the front row, a self-proclaimed slacker named Duke, looked vaguely suicidal at this news.
"No TIVO to be found." Andrew Smiled. "Even so, they found much joy in feasts and balls, music, and classic art." Andrew's thick English accent lent a defined emphasis to these
last words. "And they communed with nature, which at the time was pure and untouched."
"Like that one chick the Virgin Queen?" Duke smiled, drawing a smattering of nervous laughter from his classmates.
Andrew, for his part, pinned the young man with a cool, unyeilding stare. "That 'one chick' was perhaps the greatest ruler of her time, if not of all history." He placed
his hands on this hips. "We should revere her and her accomplishments." With this, he gestured broadly toward the tapestry behind him. "And we should respect and enjoy
the many works of art produced during this enlightened era." His shoulders relaxed as a loud bell resounded through the halls of his classroom. "I believe we've
'respected' and 'revered' enough for one day, ladies and gentlemen. "I'll see you next week."
***
Minutes later, Andrew carried his tapestry across the campus of Pineview University, shielding it from the crisp fall wind that swept freely through the streets.
He longed to show the artwork, procured at a recent auction, to his live-in girlfriend Courtney; a modelhe had met more than a year ago at a renaissance fair.
Of course, she was only there to hand out tankards of ale on behalf of a local beer company, he shook his head. When she told me I likened to a righteous dude in
my gold tunic, I should have known as much.
Thus far in their relationship, Courtney had expressed little interest in his field of study, or in stories of his childhood spent in Manchester, England. Yet as he
approached the front door of their modest campus apartment, he lifted the tapestry proudly before him. "One always can have hope," he shrugged. He opened his front door
to reveal a sparsly furnished living room; one that was curiously empty.
"Courtney?" His brow furrowed as his bedroom door opened to reveal a former student, Clyde Wilson, a recent graduate of Pineview U. "Clyde, what are you doing here?"
He frowned confusedly. "Did you have an issue with your grade?"
Emerging slowly from the bedroom, the young, bookish-looking man fixed his former teacher with a hard glare. "I have an issue with your girlfriend, Mr. Bergen. I'm in love
with Courtney."