The odd thing was that nobody noticed what was going on here.

Some people were getting off the streets, and the Babarassians were pulling out. Amenos' people and the militia were organizing. Word came from Aras that the Babarassians were mobilizing.

"So there's going to be a real fight soon, I guess," surmised Tanith.

"It seems less likely now," said William, healing a broken arm.

Jehair, Amenos, and many others had been covertly speaking to many of them. According to them, quite a few companies had declared for Aras already. William loved to believe this was ideological. But he suspected it had something to do with many who still needed to pay their agreed-upon wages.

"A shame; I like killing priests," said Tanith.

William looked at her, wondering what had happened to her to make her like this. She'd never been the same since entering the Calishan Wars. Before, she'd been enthusiastic and energetic, but never this.

"The bad ones, obviously," said Tanith. "Priestesses of Baltoth regularly oversee crucifixions."

"We are not discussing this," said William.

On they went.

As they did, William saw a three-story building rising high. Then he saw a child scaling the walls as he and Felix had done back in Carn Gable. A smile came to his face as he remembered scaling cliffs and many others. Of course, the boy was taking a risk by climbing the walls. But without risk, you could gain nothing. Even so, William was surprised at how good he was at this. Of course, he'd observed such negotiations, but always in a controlled situation. Yet now, he found he had a knack for it.

At last, they came to one of the Healer's Guilds outposts and saw it there.

At the doors were several heavy-set men in heavy mail with metal helms. In their hands were spears crossed before the doors. A priest could be seen, but he was healing no one and was sitting at a desk, writing about his finances with a smile. Another was counting out some gold from someone who had been able to pay for treatment. Like many others, the sick and injured were disregarded for no real reason.

"Get back, all of you!" said the guards. "Only those who pay can enter."

"But we were told the healers guild was healing people freely!" said a person.

"You heard wrong!" said the guard. "Nothing is free; now, get away from the door unless you have money!"

"Enough of that," said the first priest, shutting his book. "There is more than one kind of payment." And he drew out another book. "Each of you will write your name into this book. You will all owe Coinfurth a service in exchange for healing."

"Set down my name!" roared Tanith, drawing both blades. "And know that my service would be removing the blight you place on his name!" The crowds parted, and Tanith went for the guards.

"Don't kill them," said William as he began healing people.

He should have started earlier, but he'd thought there might be useful information. Meanwhile, Tanith dueled both guards by herself, and they were quite good. Jehair also began healing people, though it seemed to have a different kind of power. There wasn't any light in what she did, though that didn't describe it. Nor did she lay hands on them or speak any words.

It was as if she were looking busy.

Either way, William soon had healed everyone in the crowd, pausing only to say a word as he moved on to the next. By this time, Tanith had thrown down the guards and had a blade to the priest's throats.

"You can't do this!" said the priest. "I am of the Healer's Guild!"

"You are under arrest in the name of Lord Rius," said William. Then he looked at where several members of the militia were standing. "Take these men to Lord Rius immediately; inform him I sent them."

"Right," said the man.

"Who are you?" asked a woman.

"I am William Gabriel," said William as he healed the last person. "How are there so many sick people here?"

"This is a major port of trade," said Jehair. "And the Healer's Guild has shut everyone else down with thugs." She looked to a plagued garment thrown by the wayside, and her eyes fixed on it. A look of distress went across her face.

"Are you alright?" asked William, wondering why it distressed her.

"Nothing," said Jehair. "It's just a bad memory."

"There were only two priests here," said Felix. "Where are the rest?"

"There are other operations," said Jehair. "I'm surprised no one has tried to stop us; there does not seem to be any communication here. These operations must be very poorly organized. Worse than I thought.

"And that is to our benefit."

"All of you," said William. "You are healed, but there are others who have not been. Go far and wide and get anyone who needs healing here. Tell them where I am if they can walk, and carry them if you must. Those among you who know fighting men of good character, I will need your help."

And they did leave. William became sicker and sicker in healing people by the moment. He'd never faced this kind of onslaught, and continuing to do it bothered him. What had the Bishop of Ascorn been doing?

"Tanith, Jehair, stand guard," said William. "See if you can get any men who come to our side to help. And someone gets word to Amenos of what is going on here."

"You realize the Healer's Guild is going to send everything they have at us," said Tanith.

"That's exactly what I want them to do," said Aras, coming by with the troops. "They seem to have not realized the full extent of what is happening here. They are uneasy but realize how much things have turned against them.

"They'll hear what I am doing and may assume they can shut it down quickly. Our enemy is complacent.”

But there was no time for any of them. Soon, he found himself in a repeat of the incident outside Rius' house.

"Where are they all coming from?" said William.

"News of your efforts spread during the night into the countryside," said Aras. "People have been filtering into the city all this time to try and be healed. The Healer's Guild is not a problem unique to Ascorn."

That was when Lilas arrived, hurrying. He was mopping his brow with a handkerchief and looked worried.

"Sir Gabriel," said Lilas. "I've come to meet you.

"You should leave the city now. The Healer's Guild has summoned its professional enforcers. I'm afraid you won't be able to defeat them with a sword."

"I appreciate the warning," said William, wondering why he was giving it. "However, I have no intention of abandoning my quest. You had best move somewhere safe before you are missed."

"Thank you," said Lilas, looking unsteady. "But you are being very unwise."

"If they intend to come this way, they'll have to go through me," said Cassian. "I'll repay my debt now."

"As will I," said Uther, coming forward. He had the knife from before. "The Healer's Guilds are cowards. They won't dare start a fight if they think they can lose."

"I thought you'd gone to the temple, Uther," said William.

"No, lad," said Uther. "I tried to get the people to safety. But the Bishop of Ascorn, Joffrey, threw a fit. He had us thrown out by armed men for dirtying up his floor and even threatened to sell us for slaves. I claimed sanctuary, and he said he'd kill me if I didn't leave."

"He's right," said a child. "I was there."

"This I can confirm," said Lilas. "Few things upset the church than having to attend to its responsibilities. I must go and report to Lord Rius." And he hurried off.

"Slime," said Cassian.

"Don't judge him too harshly," said William. "He is only doing his job."

"I meant Joffrey," said Cassian. "He paid me to shoot you."

"What?!" said Aras.

Silence.

"Why?" asked William.

"Joffrey makes a lot of money from the Healer's Guild," said Cassian. "He has hired me before to kill off troublesome healers. You have to eat."

"We'll discuss the matter another time," said William. "You and Uther will keep the order as I heal. Again.

"Felix will coordinate matters. Aras... can you help me?"

"I'll see if I can arrange some security," said Aras. "Be safe."

And he headed off quickly.

It was a warning.

They came in greater numbers than William expected, and he guessed it was their full force. There were nearly fifty men armed with cudgels and knives, and the Bishop of Ascorn was at their head. His clothing was pure white, with embroidered gold and a tall hat. In his hand was a staff topped with gold and a white gem, but the expression on his face could not be considered fitting. He looked enraged.

Also with them was a large contingent of armored men with spears and mail. Their armor was concealing, and they bore the emblem of House Rius, an open hand on a black background. With them was Gavkin, looking quite serious and melancholy. There were also many priests carrying clubs.

Abruptly, he halted as he saw William. He and his men sneered noticeably at him, and he raised a hand.

Then he saw almost a hundred rough and ready men looking at him in cold-blooded hatred. Some of them had been thrown out before and now had knives. There were Bretusians, Harlenorians, and even a few Babarassians.

William healed the person he was working on and met him. William expected the Bishop would have had good odds if there had been serious fighting. But the men here had come to put down a vastly outnumbered Paladin. Not a determined and vengeful mob.

As a result, a few of the thugs made a run for it. Then, a few more, all of them realized their numbers were dwindling. So soon, virtually all of them had sprinted away, except for the armored men. They sought to withdraw, but before they could, a line of men in shining mail blocked their path. Dust Elves appeared on the rooftops, pointing bows down.

Silence reigned.

But Joffrey looked almost demonic, and William wondered if he was possessed. "Traitors!

"Kill them all!"

No one moved.

"Bishop," said Gavkin. "We were not granted to you by Lord Rius for that purpose. And even if you did give that command, we would ignore it. We've got archers above us and nearly a hundred armed men."

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What was going on here?

It was as though the man was trying to make the church as repulsive as possible. This couldn't be real.

William heard laughter from some at the priest. "Silence! All of you be silent; let him speak."

The laughter shut down. This man looked thirty but not thirty. There was a kind of agelessness to him, and his eyes were wrong. Empty and unbefitting his petulant expression.

"What is this?" asked Joffrey.

"I saw many people in need, and I helped them. Didn't you?" asked William, surprised.

Dead silence.

Joffrey halted and seemed to shake off something, and he seemed almost human for a moment. "William Gabriel, I am Bishop Joffrey, the High Priest's representative in this city. And you are under arrest."

"For?" asked William.

"You've broken the laws put in place by Lord Rius and healed without a license," said Joffrey quite calmly as if he expected William to forget his earlier orders. "You've also sabotaged the operation of legal businesses. You've interfered with Ascorn's profitability. In so doing, you have disrupted the grain supply and threatened starvation."

Cries of anger, but Aras raised a hand to silence them.

"First of all," said William. "There was no grain supply when I arrived. It either hasn't arrived or doesn't exist. I saw only one or two instances of grain, which was by a former financier of King Gavin.

"I expect you haven't made any shipments in weeks. Second, there is almost always a backlog in ports for in-demand materials. Thirdly, you give me too much credit; this would have happened sooner or later to anyone. And thirdly, your orders mean nothing.

"I am a noble and cannot be placed under arrest by you."

"The order doesn't come from me," said Joffrey, looking oddly professional. "It is from Lord Rius himself. He signed it earlier today." And he raised. It was as if two men had existed in the same flesh, and one had walked out to leave the other.

William moved forward, grasped the contract, and came back to read over it. It all seemed perfectly legal, based on what he knew of Antion. "You realize my Father vastly outranks Lord Rius, don't you?

"Even if he did seize me, Raynald De Chevlon would descend on this city with an army.” He sighed. "Tanith, can you take this many?"

"Yes," said Tanith. "More's the pity; I won't get the chance." She looked up at the archers.

"These are Lord Rius' guard," said the priest.

"What of it?" asked William. "Are you willing to fight us?"

"If you do not submit to the city's judgment, you are no friend of Rius!" said Joffrey.

The basic problem was that Rius and his merchant friends were wrong.

They were wrong about the threat posed to them by the plague, about the lack of consequences for their actions, and about how the balance of power worked in this city.

Most importantly, they were wrong about William. Did they seriously think he'd allow himself to be arrested as if he were some wide-eyed idiot?

"You can get anyone's signature at knifepoint when they are defenseless," said Uther. "Who held the blade? You're fine friends who went to visit him last night?"

"They might," said Cassian. "Many of them are former clients. I've done much worse for them, and they don't care about anything but money."

Cries of anger from the moment.

"Silence," said Aras, drawing his sword. It was a magnificent blade and glittered like ice. "No mob will lay a hand on those under the protection of parley!"

Parley then. So, this was now a battleground. Father wouldn't want that.

"As for a legal business, I have doubts about that," said William. "But even if both were true, we need to hear no lectures from you. I am of noble blood and an emissary of Elranor himself. You have no authority to arrest or judge me. And Lord Rius, if I must be plain, is not as accomplished as my Father."

"But, for the sake of the law, I shall submit." Joffrey halted at those words, looking more human by the moment. "We all shall.

"You may arrest all of us. We shall accompany you to the house of Lord Rius. Since you cannot carry all our weapons, we will keep them until ordered. It is the right of defeated men under parley."

Silence. If they came before the palace with such force, Rius would immediately cave to Aras.

"...It would not be fitting to take so many armed men before him," said Joffrey, looking back.

"Then I cannot surrender to you," said William. "Please come back with a larger army."

Laughter, but William did not feel it.

"Traitors," said Joffrey, voice becoming like the monster from before. "Return at once. Return and plan our response. Our reply will come soon."

He turned to walk away, but an old woman crossed his path behind her. Joffrey pointed to one of his men. "Execute her at once! She's barred the path of a priest!"

And before anyone could move, a soldier stabbed her in the throat. William moved forward to heal her, and the mob surged. But Tanith drew her swords.

"Hold where you are! No man will attack them without an order!" said Tanith.

And Uther and Cassian stood with her.

William rushed to her and found her already dying. As he kneeled by her, the light of her eyes dimmed. His hand touched her too late, and he heard laughter. A low chuckle came from the armored guards.

Gavkin looked around in wariness. "...Joffrey, that wasn't necessary."

"That peasant cut me off in traffic," said Joffrey with an unnatural caricature of a smile. "I decided I wanted her dead." He seemed to think he had won great victory, and the guards looked uneasily at one another. The other priests around him looked uneasy, and his eyes...

They were dead.

It was as if the souls had vanished from them. Just as the souls seemed to be gone from the guards' eyes, who were they? What horrible thing had been undertaken to make this happen?

Gavkin looked at them and fled, and some guards went with him as though rousing from some dark sleep. But the others laughed louder; they weren't laughing, and their mouths weren't moving. Several people threw themselves down and screamed as Joffrey smiled wider.

"Then that is the standard you will be judged by," said William.

His voice was not his own.

There was an authority in it. But the priest smiled and walked past him with his men following reluctantly. "Come, let's leave the peasants to their rutting."

Some priests looked at Joffrey in horror and fled from his side to where the others were. Yet most of them laughed at it, fingered gold necklaces, and praised Joffrey as they walked off. William could not hear the voices or make out the words, but they hurt to listen to.

William stood up. Something unholy was in this city or on this land. This was not mere corruption. Turning, he saw the priests before him.

"Forgive us, Lord Elranor," said a priest.

"If you seek forgiveness, ask it by taking up your left duties," said William. "Put yourself at the service of Lady Farwa. Help her with whatever she needs.

"And give the dead a burial."

"I say we kill the Bishop and his cronies," said Cassian.

"Vengeance isn't going to do this city any good," said Uther. "His like always come to a bad end. We just have to contain the rot until they burn themselves out."

"Well spoken," said Aras, leaping down from the roof. "Let there be funeral rites. And more healing, since there is no end to the need."

So it went.

The woman had been named Kala. She had no family; apparently, she had been a beggar who lost her sons to plague. Her husband to war, and her parents to starvation. Her line ended with her being murdered by the priest responsible for it all. Joffrey had not done his job, so her sons died of plague.

Ham Hawkthorne had known all this, for he had given her a silver piece and gotten directions to a bar. He had drunk himself into a stupor and wandered the streets while beating muggers up. Vaguely interested in the prospect of a fight, Ham had rounded the corner unseen.

He had seen the woman and thought he might thank her for direction. Then Joffrey's men slashed her throat, and she fell, dying to the ground. Ham had watched as the old woman fell to the ground, unknown and unnoticed. So, watching, he thought he could heal her.

But he was not a healer.

She hadn't even been seeking vengeance. The priest had killed her for cutting him off in the street. Then, without even knowing who she was, he'd murdered her because it was the nastiest thing he could do.

Or was it to hurt Elranor?

William wondered what her name had been. But it didn't matter anymore.

But to Ham, it did matter.

That smug bastard, the priest, walked off laughing after taking everything from her. Ham would pay him out for this, the self-righteous bastard; he'd pay all these corrupt priests out. Just as soon as he'd had enough alcohol to drown the pain.

So he wandered off, but he remembered his promise.*

"Well," said Aras. "The gauntlet is thrown now. Some darkness is moving about here.

"Something that I've sensed before but never been aware of. This bears further investigation; I must speak with Farwa and pray. All of you should pray as well."

"Tanith," said William. "What would you recommend?"

"If I were you," said Tanith. "I'd say finish up here and leave the city unseen, which is impossible at this stage. So, failing that, kill every single one of their men, then kill them."

"...Who is them?" asked William, unsure who she was talking about.

"I'm working on a list at the moment," said Felix, coming out of the shadows and writing some notes. "I thought you might want to know; I got another offer to betray and murder you. They've been coming in with increasingly grandiose offers."

"Another?" asked William, continuing to heal. “This has happened before?”

"I turned them down," said Felix, blinking. "Why do I have to inform you whenever someone tries to bribe me?"

"This has happened before?" asked William. "Why don't I know about it?" It was unreal how quickly it had almost forgotten the shadow he had seen in the priest. William wondered if it had been real, so he quickly wrote it down in his book.

"I usually discuss it with Duke Vanion," said Felix. "I assumed you knew."

"What was the promised price?" asked William, finding it surreal.

"Does it matter?" asked Felix. "How much of a price would you put on your integrity?"

"I see," said William. The bodies were burned in a pyre while the priests said last right. William wished he could mourn them. "Give me their names."

"I have a list right here," said Felix.

"Is this the sort of public discussion we ought to have?" asked Jehair.

"It concerns them," said William to the people. "I might have to destroy some of these people. That affects their lives." William halted his healing, took it, and read over it. Then he folded it up and put it away.

For his part, William went into the building and began checking for financial records. Finding the books on a desk, he put them into his pack.

"Anything else?" asked William, healing more.

"Well, I have a report," said Felix. "That slave girl you sent me after has some very extensive records she minds on behalf of Reg. She sits in the office like she owns the place, though the guards sneer at her.

"I took several notable pieces.

"Including these;" He offered a letter.

William read it.

"Reg,

"What possessed you to allow Dust Elves to enter the city? Now Rusara has agents out here and may spread discord among your men. You had best do more to ensure they are made properly loyal.

"I have given you a city to do with as you will. If you endanger our operations, I will not deliver you. That port must be maintained if the shipments are to be made to other lands. I will not be providing you with the troops you have requested. My operatives are busy on the King's Road leading up from Gel Carn.

"You have a debt.

"I expect repayment in one kind or another. I hope you understand what I mean, for your sake.

"-Dinis."

"Dinis?" asked William. "That far away empire? Across the islands of power?"

"I do not think anyone would dare use that name in that Empire," said Jehair. The Emperor may, but he does not affix his seal lightly, let alone for something like this.

"No, Dinis stands for Neral Dinis.

"So it seems," said William. "What about the guards?"

"They were Emile's Babarassians," said Felix. "They let me right in as promised. He had a great deal of pull with them. All of them released their slaves, though I think they had already sold most of them to the compound.

He mentioned other fleets of Babarassians. Either way, I expect they will give us Reg."

"They have been very cooperative," noted William.

"They've made money here," noted Felix. "And they've probably gotten the sense this place could be more stable. Getting out is smart, and assisting you helps prevent a Crusade from coming after them later.

"It's all very pragmatic.

"But, we'll have to fight some of them."

William looked at another letter.

"To the esteemed and newly established Lord Reg,

"While I rejoice in your good fortune and success against all foes. However, you have put yourself in an inconvenient position. The sudden ascension to power you have arranged for yourself has disrupted my plans.

"It is also, technically, treason.

"I would be very interested in knowing what made you think you could get away with this stunt. My agent shall be along shortly to discuss matters. If Lord Rius has been harmed in any way, our discussion shall be much less pleasant.

"-Arkan Lantan."

A pause.

"I'll give Reg credit," mused William. "He did think of setting up countermeasures by bringing in the Babarassians. That makes removing him harder. But it'll also make more people want him dead at the end of this."

"What are you talking about?" asked Jehair. "Tavish set that up. He presented the option to Reg, and Reg took it without question."

"Reg was a dead man by the time we arrived," said Tanith. "Even if his side wins, they'll probably rub him out to tie up loose ends. And if the conflict escalates, he'll be the first one dead. He's the perfect scapegoat."

"Either way," said William. "We’ll have to try and save him. It is time we got to work.

"Tanith, go meet up with Kata and take some men to reinforce her. I want you to assist the militia however we can.

"Jehair, you and I will go to Reg's headquarters. He is now the only man who can stop what we have done. So he must be taken out of play quickly. Felix, go immediately to Lord Rius and tell him that victory is at hand.

"Let's go."

Reports came in of other Healer's Guild operations being taken. There were guards killed, and the priests held hostage. One after another, it seemed the Guild needed to prepare. All of it had happened too quickly, and their muscle was now against them. The battle had begun, a battle William neither desired nor sought.

But it would have to be fought in one way or another.

Would this never end?

And what was that shadow William had seen in the bishop's face? How had it taken hold of the priests?

*This passage is not of my writing. During my time in the Tournament of Kings, Varsus, Reginald, and Ham provided me with accounts. These have been interspersed where appropriate so that proper credit should be given.

My initial meeting with Ham seems to have been at the darkest point of his life. I wish I had been kinder to him. Especially since he was the part, it would have been best to have acted.