Spav- I owed you this, once I found where I had stashed the final portion of the story 
Sorry for the wait...
***
16.9.06
Caen (1) Noisy-le-Sec (0)
Caen- Reinaldo 78
Noisy-le-Sec- None
MOM- Steeve Elana, Caen
I must admit my apprehension is building over our plans. I tried to remain involved in our match with Caen, but found myself wondering what would happen in just 10 days. We played well enough to win, but Steeve Elana was superb in their net. The lone goal came on a pair of defensive mistakes by us as Michael Cerielo tried to cross from the left sideline all the way to Franck Jurietti on the right. Predictably, they cut the cross off and then Jurietti and Komi Tchangai missed chances to tackle Reinaldo before he fired a shot off of Christophe Revel's hands and into the net.
***
23.9.06
Noisy-le-Sec (2) Paris-SG (1)
Noisy-le-Sec- L.Lanteri 40 O.Daley 87
Paris-SG- Pauleta 50
MOM- Dejan Nemec, Noisy-le-Sec
I have to admit wondering if this would be my final match managing and it did cause me to focus closely. We didn't play well in the first half, but did hold the lead due to Laurent Lanteri snaking past two defenders before firing a shot past Lionel Letizi. They evened it early in the second half when Pauleta outleaped Taribo West and flicked a header past Dejan Nemec. They saw Amdy Moustapha Faye redcarded for a vicious tackle from behind. We managed to capitalize on the extra space when Lanteri flicked on a crossing pass and Omar Daley drilled a shot inside the left post for the match winner. If this is my final match, it has been a wonderful run...
***
Arnaud sat eating breakfast at the cafe. His blood turned to ice when a low menacing voice calmly asked, "Where is the Knight?"
"Knight? What are you talking about?" asked dos Addis as he spun around.
A cloaked shadowed figure sat in the darkened corner behind him. "I want the Knight, boy. Not you. Give me the Knight and nothing will harm you."
"I don't know any Knight!"
Arnaud could see the gentle shake of the shadowed head, "Don't play me the fool boy. You know where he is."
dos Addis grimly shook his head, "I don't know any Knights."
The figure stood up and started walking away before turning back. dos Addis could only see the glint of coal black eyes and no features on the face. A flick of the figures' wrist sent a small package into his lap. "We don't play games boy. Lead us to him."
With trepidation, Arnaud opened the package. He managed to stifle a wretch in his throat as he viewed the severed finger of Lachelle.
***
Arnaud spent the moment in silent prayer.
"Lord guide my actions, steps and words. Honor and Praise to you in the Highest. Amen."
He muttered to himself, "I refuse to succumb to fear. They will not drive me before their evil as a cow to the butcher."
Paul Quetin looked in on him in his office, "Are you Ok?"
"Yes, I am fine. Just a little preoccupied."
***
26.9.06
The sun was setting on the western coast of Scotland. Its fading light revealed only a momentary flash as the bejeweled knife was held up by the ancient hand of Phillipe Calvart.
"They will come now. Let us hope we are strong enough," said Calvart quietly to Arnaud dos Addis.
The two of them were crouched before a mere slit of an opening that only hinted at the cave behind. Their rocky ledge extended shortly and then dropped off a few feet to a wind blasted beach.
"I still do not understand the 'whys' of this?" said dos Addis without any emotion in his tone of acceptance.
"Without the dagger, the temple just beyond us remains vulnerable to the dark forces that have always lurked in this land. We thought the land rid of those forces when Wallace gave his life to renew the Stone, but we did not foresee the importance of this dagger. Lacking it there is a niche that can be exploited- that could eventually threaten the Temple."
"Why not just place the dagger in its proper place?"
Calvart shook his head, "It is not as easy as all that my son. We must have a tremendous force available to alter what Wallace set in place. We unfortunately need the massive force being brought against us very shortly. Can you not feel the flux of the evil force begin to tighten around us?"
dos Addis merely nodded as his throat tightened.
"I only hope that Wallace's ancient bindings are enough to see us through. Otherwise, we may all be undone."
Both men waited apprehensively as the blackness seemed to curl around them. A malevolent laugh spat into the air. "Did you really think we would miss the opportunity to attend to the destruction of your cursed temple," stated a disembodied voice. As the being came into clearer focus, dos Addis gasped- it was the same dark figure who had come calling on him.
Calvart stood, holding the dagger as high as his withered arm would allow, "No. I knew you would come. The lure is too great. You have sought this for some many ages..."
The dark being laughed again, "What cost to you dear Knight. All these years wasted for a vow that will result in nothing but ruin for your beloved Temple. Has it been a pleasant oath?"
Calvart shook, but never lowered the dagger. "It is always worth the cost that He demands. My life is nothing, given His sacrifice. That has always been known to the Templars."
"Fool! Wallace gave his life for nothing, just as you do."
The creature's hands danced in a weird sequence and the power being raised was palpable.
Calvart said under his breath, so only dos Addis could hear, "Be strong Arnaud. Be true. Faith in Christ will win out."
The creature cast its arms forward, the spell complete. A blinding procession of raw power pinned Calvart and dos Addis back into the crack of the wall. Breath would not come against the flurry of raw, dark emotion guiding the force.
As dos Addis thought he was fading from life, he could hear Calvart clearly, "The time is now Lord, take us into your bosom. Return us to Your embrace."
A blinding beam of light suddenly roared out of the small crack. It engulfed Calvart and dos Addis and pulled them in as they were absorbed into its glow. Seemingly, a rightness, a completeness brought them into its place and the protection of the temple was now complete.
The creature screamed in pained frustration, "TRICKED! They tricked me."
A gentle laughter was the last conscious thought of dos Addis as his soul was welcomed into a worthy place by a suddenly young Philippe Calvart. A voice boomed out to the creature, "Begone, your time upon this land is now measured in days evil one. The Light will encompass your land."
dos Addis felt himself fading out of of his body, as other hands welcomed him into their fold.
***
Noisy-le-Sec Manager Missing!
On the eve of their match with Kilmarnock, Noisy-le-Sec finds themselves readying themselves under Assistant Manager Paul Quetin. Arnaud dos Addis has been missing since shortly after the club arrived in Scotland and foul play is feared. He was last seen escorting an elderly gentleman into a bookstore and has not been seen since. The Manager of the bookstore was in the upper portion and stated he heard the door open, but never noticed who might have entered his store.
The End 
Linear Mode
