For those who haven’t been following this blog, let me introduce it a little. I am currently blogging my 21st novel that has the working title Daemon. The novel is about Aksinya, a sorceress, who, to save her family from the Bolsheviks, called and contracted the demon, Asmodeus. Her family was murdered anyway, and she fled with the demon from Russia to Austria.
Father Dobrushin and Aksinya have decided to marry so that they can get rid of the demon. They need to be married by contract in the church. They return to the Ecclesia for this reason. Father Makar doesn't give them a very warm welcome...
“Yes,” Aksinya still held to Father Dobrushin with one hand. She put her other arm around Ekaterina, “Father Dobrushin defended me. I am not going to prison.”
Father Makar sat at the table. He scowled at them, “You should call him Dobrushin or Herr Lopuhin.”
Aksinya asked, “Why?”
“Didn’t you note his beard, his clothing? He is no longer a priest because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Dobrushin, didn’t you tell her. I can’t believe she is so slow. I would not permit Dobrushin to defend you in court. Because he opposed me, I took away his right to ordination in this Ecclesia. When I send my report to the Patriarch of the Church, he will likely not be ordained anywhere else.”
“You can do that?”
“Yes. I am his superior and an archpriest. I can make any decision I desire concerning his future in the Church.”
“He will never be a priest again?”
“Not likely unless the White Russians prevail. The Reds want to destroy the Church there.”
Dobrushin led Aksinya to her usual chair, “Sit, Princess.”
Aksinya would not let Dobrushin go. She held to him even as she sat and would not release his arm. He moved his chair closer to her so he could sit. Ekaterina placed a mug of hot dark tea before each of them. She sat down.
Father Makar squinted, “Look how she clings to you. Didn’t I tell you before, Dobrushin, she displays every indication of insanity? You traded your future for this,” he pointed at Aksinya.
Ah, now we discover what Dobrushin truly gave up for Aksinya. Father Makar says it. He tells Aksinya that she should call Father Dobrushin simply Dobrushin or Herr Lopuhin. Father Dobrushin is no longer a priest. When he decided to defend Aksinya, Father Makar removed him from his position. Remember, I gave you all the evidence you needed. His beard had been cut and he wasn't wearing his collar. Aksinya should have caught on too, but she was not thinking about that at all--not until now.
Father Makar would not permit Dobrushin to defend Aksinya. He forbade Ekaterina to attend the trial. We get a little history of the Russian civil war--the Reds did indeed try to destroy the church.
Watch Aksinya. She is clinging to Dobrushin. This is more than ever her small attempt to hold her world together. She just learned of the sacrifice Dobrushin made for her. She clings to him because she doesn't know any other way to comfort another person. She clings to him because he is suddenly her only hope. You can't miss the fact that she is also his only hope--he has given up everything for her. Father Makar misinterprets Aksinya's actions. He sees only that she is insane. He can't understand her actions in any other way. Aksinya does show such signs, but it is the result of her decisions. She finally has someone she can cling to. This has been Aksinya's greatest desire from the beginning. She has put her love and attention completely on another person. Tomorrow, the question.
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