The temple of Elranor stood above them, a surprisingly drab affair. Every statue was of simple tan stone, though they were well-carved. Some of these statues had survived centuries of conquests and reconquests. There was no gold or jewels on the walls, and the guards were clad in plain weaponry. Nendas looked over it and wondered how he was going to do this.

Jaha was not providing much help here, which made sense.

He could find a way to reduce Samrasa's harm to the worshippers of Elranor. If Nendas did nothing, Samrasa would murder them either way. Perhaps if they got them to leave? But it would have to be fast.

He mulled it over as they drew nearer.

The best thing to do would be to have Elranor's chosen to withdraw from the city and go underground. Move into the countryside. Samrasa would want them dead either way, but they were a moving target in the countryside. He had only been told to clear the temple, not kill those within.

"So, the Temple of Elranor," said Taha, looking up at it. "This place is nice. Think of all the daggers you could buy with the gold inside!"

"It looks fairly drab to me," said Rokas.

"Right," said Taha. "So there is probably someplace where the treasure is collected. Oh, can we loot the place after we finish beating up everyone in it? Or have our way with some priestesses-"

"We are not going to kill anyone if we can avoid it," said Nendas. "Let alone defiling priestesses. Besides, the priests of Elranor don't accept female members."

"I approve of that much," said Rokas. "Though Elranor's worshippers do have priestesses in Kulat."

"Well, what is our plan then?" asked Taha.

"We are going to talk to them," said Nendas.

"Ah, so I'm guessing you didn't call up that angry mob then," said Taha.

Nendas looked up and saw a horde of people rushing toward the temple. They were holding knives and clubs and approaching.

"Murderers!" cried one man.

"Betrayers of the King!" said another.

"Get them! Get them all!" said a third.

Nendas had to stop this. Stepping up onto the temple steps, he drew his sword and cried aloud. "In the name of the King, step back! Step back! I'll kill the first man who enters this place without leave!"

He must have looked more impressive than he felt because the crowd stopped.

"The Avatar of Jaha..." said a man.

"Why are you protecting them!" said a woman.

"I am here on behalf of King Samrasa to negotiate with the Temple and ensure justice is done," said Nendas simply. "Until such a time as I give leave, those within this temple remain under the King's protection.

"Step back, or you shall cross the King and the divine! Now disperse!"

It got through to them. They didn't all disperse, but many ended up hanging out around. Nendas provided to turn and walked up the steps with Taha and Rokas on either side. Reaching the top, he saw High Priest Surras standing before him.

"High Priest Surras, I presume?" said Nendas.

"I am he," said Surras.

"Then perhaps we should speak and quickly," said Nendas. "My guards will accompany me." Surras nodded and brought them inside. Within was a great, spacious hall with many statues of heroes around them.

"What is it the Queen of Peace wants here, and why is she doing the dirty work of Samrasa?" asked Surras.

"I am not doing her bidding at the moment," said Nendas. "I am here serving King Samrasa as one of his warriors. And I have been ordered to clear this temple of all within. You and your entourage have been accused of the murder of my father, the emissary of the King."

"We have done nothing of the sort," said Surras. "Others sent those assassins, and you know it."

"Who sent the assassin is irrelevant to you and me," said Nendas. "What matters is that King Samrasa has ordered the priests of Elranor to leave the city."

"Do you think the Gods will stand for such an atrocity?" asked Surras.

"What I think does not matter," said Nendas. "I have orders to clear this temple. And it will be done even if I do not perform this action; another will. Either you and your company leave the city of Tarasif, or when I come back here, not one of you will remain alive."

"...You would threaten to kill us on holy ground?" asked Surras.

"Nendas, can I talk?" asked Taha.

"What is it, Taha?" asked Nendas.

"This situation is pretty bad for both of us, High Priest," said Taha. "You see, Nendas must obey the King, or the worship of Jaha would suffer. And those people out there will be enraged if Samrasa lets this pass.

"He has to be seen to do something.

"At the same time, what happens if you dig in your heels here? Lile Nendas says, even if you kill us, others will come by and finish the job. At the very best, you'll inspire enough rage to start a civil war over your deaths. Then Kulat will use the chance to invade."

"What are you suggesting?" asked Surras.

"If you fight Samrasa on this, it'll only weaken Tarasif and won't benefit you at all," said Taha. "And if violence breaks out, the people of Elranor will suffer horrible persecution. Samrasa has already targeted other religions; you'll be put among them."

"What then?" asked Surras. "That I yield the holiest places of Elranor to him?"

"Why not? It's just a building," said Taha. "Declare that the murder committed has defiled the house of Elranor. That he has commanded, you leave it through Samrasa. That way, you'll be able to take the valuables here and get out without much violence.

"You'll deny Samrasa's soldiers the chance to loot the place. Not all of them are as nice as us, you know. So, you get to keep your money and set up a temple in the countryside or something. Nobody gets killed, and Samrasa is appeased, and he may even have a rift driven between him and his men.

"If you put up a fight here, though, it'll only make you look even worse."

"It is as Taha says," said Nendas, impressed by what she said. "You cannot possibly win in this situation. Either you will leave of your own will or die and bring curses down on all who follow you."

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Surras considered it. "...Give me some time to consider my response."

"As you wish," said Nendas before drawing out his sword. Setting it onto the ground, he walked in a circle and scraped the blade behind him. Coming to a halt in front of Surras again, the circle was complete.

"You have until you step out of that circle to give me a response."

Surras took the point.

But he did not panic. Instead, he sat down cross-legged in the circle, closed his eyes, and began meditating. Nendas waited, trying to keep his feeling of nervousness in control. Surras continued his meditations, and Nendas wondered if he was speaking with Elranor. Then he wondered why he should doubt the fact.

"I have spoken with Elranor," said Surras. "He has ordered me to accept your offer."

"...What manner of God gives personal audiences on a moment's notice," said Nendas.

"No task is unimportant to Elranor," said Surras. "Whether a farmer's toil or the machinations of kings, all have equal importance."

Nendas tried to regain control. "Good.

"Now go out there and express the horror of the worshippers of Elranor at what was done. And tell the crowd what you will be doing. I will escort you to the gates as soon as you have packed everything you can.

"I recommend not traveling too heavily. Those who walk heavily burdened can be prey to bandits.

"You will also donate a suitable sum of money to the King in apology for the atrocity. I don't presume to tell you how much. But I warn you that too small an amount would be worse than nothing at all."

Surras shrugged and turned to walk away. Nendas looked to see several monks standing by, looking at him. "Go.

"All of you, begin gathering what supplies you can for a journey. Take your weapons if you wish, but I want you all out of this city before sundown.

"Rokas, go with them. Ensure that no trickery is made here."

Rokas nodded and went off. Taha looked at Nendas in surprise. "You think Rokas will be able to take them if they decide to kill us?"

"No," said Nendas. "But I don't fancy my chances of killing everyone here. Rokas is merely there as a reminder of authority. Mine and the Kings."

"So, what does Jaha say about all of this?" asked Taha.

"Nothing!" said Nendas hotly. "Jaha has nothing to do with this."

And then Taha leaned in and kissed him. The sensation was brief and sudden, and Nendas stared at her. Just what was going on here? He stared at her.

"What about now?" asked Taha.

Nendas tried to process what had happened and her motives. "Now...

"Now is not the time for this."

Taha seemed to like his reaction, however.

Nendas observed as the priests of Elranor began their departure. Outside, he saw the crowds disperse. Nendas moved out to observe them, and eventually, Rokas came to meet him.

"Nendas, we've gotten what supplies they need. They have taken such treasures as they believe will be necessary for the road."

Nendas nodded and wondered what Jaha thought of all this. What other option did Nendas have? Wasn't he saving the men of Elranor by doing this? Either way, Surras eventually returned with his people, packed and ready. It appeared they had prepared to leave on short notice for some time.

"Do you have everything you need now?" asked Nendas.

"Yes," said Surras. "I fought for Tarasif as a soldier for twenty years. The same can be said for many of this priesthood. And now we are cast out by a beardless boy."

"It is not by my authority that you are cast out," said Nendas simply. "Move. Before King Samrasa sends someone else."

"As you wish," said Surras. "King Samrasa may have the temple and everything in it. Those funds within are for the benefit of his house alone."

However, they had yet to get to the base of the steps when Ralign arrived. He came leading a large force of men. Nendas halted as Surras tensed, and Nendas noted he was armed. This could get violent.

"You, stop in the name of the King!" said Ralign.

Nendas stepped between them, hand near his sword. "Ralign, I am acting in the name of the King."

"You were commanded to clear the temple!" said Ralign.

"Yes, and it is clear. The priests are leaving as we speak," said Nendas. "I was just walking them to the gates."

"You were supposed to slaughter them!" said Ralign.

"If King Samrasa wished them dead, I'm sure he would have told me as much," said Nendas. "He asked only that the temple be cleared, and it has been. The High Priest of Elranor has also cast out the assassin from the faith.

"The temple lies empty. And King Samrasa will be receiving an extensive payment in compensation. What more do you want?"

"What more do I..." Ralign shifted, looking around. "They killed your father! Don't you have any shame!"

"A worshipper of Elranor killed my Father," said Nendas. "It may have been a lone fanatic or part of a splinter sect. And since when do you care about what happened to my Father, Ralign? You were less than polite before."

"The King has been disrespected, and you think that giving the wealth of the Temple will change that?" asked Ralign. "Especially after what these worthless religious folk has done before now. "Now you're just letting them go and using the King's name to justify it!"

"He wanted to loot the temple," laughed Taha with a smile, spinning a knife.

"What did you say?" asked Ralign.

"Oh, come on, it's obvious," said Taha. "A distinguished soldier like you would have been called to deal with the defenders. If you'd done that, you could have torn the gold off the walls and had a great time smashing stuff. And you could have justified it all to yourself because 'they were evil' or whatever.

"But now Nendas has gotten the priests to leave the city peacefully. Crisis averted, and Samrasa gets all the stuff. Now, maybe you'll get some of it. But not as much as you would have otherwise.

"You're not upset because the worshippers of Elranor are getting away. You're upset you lost the chance to break and steal stuff with a clear conscience."

Ralign looked to Taha, then Sarras, and then went very still. "...Men form up. We will escort the worshippers of Elranor away from the city to ensure they cause no further harm.

"Nendas, you've done your job. Now, I will do mine."

So, Ralign intended to murder them all. Nendas looked to the crowd and wondered if they would change their views in any way. He looked to Surras, and then Rokas spoke. "You cannot-"

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do, Kulatian," said Ralign.

"...Don't do this, Ralign," said Nendas, trying to save them. "This won't help the King. A public spectacle will-"

"I'll do what I have to to save this nation from people like you," said Ralign. Then he turned to Surras. "We'll escort you to the next town."

Surras shrugged. "Lies become no one, Captain."

And the monks moved with Ralign toward the gates. Taha, however, seemed unconcerned. "I'm betting Ralign wins with mild difficulty. Ten coppers?"

"What?" asked Nendas. He saw Ralign and the priests being led away and followed after them. He would see this.

"Well, it's not like we can do anything about it," said Taha. "No way can we take a side in this. Even if the Priests of Elranor win, they'll be shot by the archers. And Ralign isn't going to be grateful. May as well have some fun, take some bets."

"...You are a very bad person, Taha," said Rokas.

"Good and bad are just words," said Taha with a shrug. "I do what I want to do without fear of imaginary figures."

They walked in silence after the priests. As they passed the gates, however, Ralign drew a sword. The monks drew their weapons in turn, and soon both sides were killing one another. Soldiers rushed down toward Nendas.

"Captain Ralign is fighting the worshippers of Elranor! What's happening!" said a man.

Nendas thought quickly and came to a possible escape. A means to move beyond this. "The worshippers of Elranor have been driven mad."

"What?" said the man.

"Their God is driving them to act against the King's men," said Nendas quickly. "We must save them from themselves and go to Ralign's aid."

"Quickly, we must aid them!" said a man.

Nendas led the charge himself.

By the time they joined the battle, the priests were already losing. Even so, they'd killed several of the guards. Surras had cut down a swordsman and was fighting Ralign. Nendas himself killed no one, hanging back as he let the clash begin. Soon enough, the Elranor worshippers were swept away. Ralign looked at him in what might have been a bit of respect. Respect for what? Nendas had only done it to cover for himself.

Did Ralign think Nendas had acted out of genuine devotion? He was dangerously naive as well as evil. "...How nice of you to show up.

"Bury the gold. Take their heads."

"No," said Nendas. "These men were deceived, not evil. They believed in the false promises of their God and were led to their ultimate destruction. Their bodies must be buried with respect.

"As for the money, it must be given to King Samrasa so that he might decide how it should be used.

"Wouldn't you agree, Captain?"

Ralign shrugged and drew his sword out of the corpse of Surras. Nendas reminded himself that there was nothing he could do to save them. "Do whatever you want with it.

"But it was I who gave the money, not you."

"You may take full credit for today's events, Captain," said Nendas. He wanted no attention drawn to his role in this. The point was that he'd kept himself from being included with the rebels.

Turning, he walked away from the corpses. Rokas approached him then. "Why did you do that, Nendas?"

"We must remain useful," said Nendas. "King Samrasa should be able to use these events to break up the religion of Elranor. A rumor can be a powerful thing. So long as Ralign is the one who takes all the credit for the murders, it should contribute to his disgrace.

"I hope King Samrasa will find favor in my actions."

"...What, no, we meant, why would you make it so we couldn't loot the bodies," said Taha. "We meant that, right?"

"No, that wasn't what I meant," said Rokas. "Why seek his favor at all?"

Nendas shrugged. "How do you think I intend to stay alive?"

Taha sighed. "Good point."

Things would only become bleaker from here.

His father was dead.

And Nendas had no time to mourn. But he was alive and had the means to advance himself to a position of power. Once there...

His first strike would be done with Samrasa's blessing. And it would come as a serpent. All he had to do was wait.