Thursday night was very different. I had a few dozen kith coming up to me at church, wanting to shake my hand or slap my back. I didn't really know a bunch of them, and several of them hadn't even been there on Saturday. I wasn't quite sure how to handle all the attention; I just tried to be gracious and say "thanks" a lot and not much else.

As eventide school finished up and I was heading out, Esott Daniels walked up to me and asked if I could come to his office for a few moments. I followed him, figuring that either I was about to be reprimanded, or asked to take on some level of responsibility in the church. Either way, I was in trouble; it felt strangely like being called to the principal's office.

"Brother Webb," he said once the door was closed behind us, "I can't help but notice two things this evening. First, that you enjoy a newfound level of popularity, and second that you are not particularly enjoying it."

I gave him a slow nod of acknowledgment. "Status and honors and... uhh..." I waved my hand in quick little circles, looking for the right word, "and acclaim have never been something I've sought after."

"Have you not?" he asked. "Brother Mitchell tells me that when he spoke to you regarding the division of funds obtained from the recent act of service, that you were lavishly generous in distributing money to those who had come to labor expecting none, and even treated them to an expensive dinner afterwards."

Mitchell. So that was his name. "Just trying to do the right thing," I said. "Treating them as I'd like to be treated. Isn't that part of the Path?"

"it is. But so is selfless service to those in need. I worry that, though you may not intend it, this may have a corrupting effect on the congregation."

"How do you figure?"

"If this sets a precedent, how long before many of them feel less willing to give service to those who cannot pay? Why spend their time there if they could cut trees for you instead?"

"Is Brother Mitchell among them?" I asked. "Seemed like he didn't approve of it much either, and there won't be much money being made without him to haul trees to the lumber mill in that truck of his."

"That's beside the point," he replied.

"Perhaps for any one given member, though one thing does occur to me. I was recently told that a belief is more than just an idea you agree is true; it's an idea you act on, and that faith is the motivating power behind acting on a belief with an expectation of a certain result."

He nodded. "Yes?"

"If, when presented with such a choice, some people choose something that is not in line with the Path, doesn't that simply reveal the truth of their beliefs?"

He shook his head. "It does more than that; it tries their beliefs. We are taught that trials are unavoidable in life, that the world around us will test and try our faith as a part of the natural order of things, and therefore there is no virtue in inventing new trials oneself."

"I guess that makes sense," I admitted. "Honestly I was only trying to do what was right for the workers. How does that end up becoming the wrong thing to do?"

Esott Daniels gave me a gentle smile. "If every kith could simply follow the desires of their hearts, or even only the noblest desires, and end up doing right consistently, there would be no need for a Path to follow. Life is difficult and complicated, often making demands that pull you in multiple different directions. There can be choices at times, not between good and bad but between good and better, or between bad and worse; wisdom lies in not simply picking a good outcome but in knowing what to prioritize. This is why the Gods gave us their words, to guide us towards the best of outcomes."

"All right. So how do we define the best outcomes? My guiding principles here were to treat them as I would wish to be treated, and Saint Joseþ's condemnation of those who oppress their laborers."

He nodded. "Noble thoughts. But there are two problems with invoking Joseþ here. First, what is oppression?"

I had to think about that for a moment, to figure out how to put the concept into words. "To refuse to deal justly with someone when you have the power to do so."

"And what precisely constitutes being just or unjust in your dealings with others?"

"Uhhh..." That was such a massive topic I wasn't sure where to begin.

"Yeah, things get tricky there. Philosophers have been debating that question for Ages. But in our Age, in our culture, we have three points that are broadly agreed upon, ideas that, while not universal, are common enough. The first is the idea of sufficiency, that kith should be capable of supporting themselves through their labor."

"A living wage?"

"Precisely. The second is proportionality, that payment should be given for work performed. And the third is contract, that work and payment should be rendered based on terms previously agreed to. These three are all somewhat in tension with one another, but each alone is generally accepted as just. We can dispense with the third immediately, as there was no formal agreement in place."

"Right."

"So let's look at sufficiency. Between the cash and the food, your compensation to these workers was worth a bit less than 1,400 crowns each. That's quite generous for one afternoon's labor, but I'm sure you agree that it's not a long-term project. Felicity told me that the work to clear a roadway is around halfway finished already. Once the access road is built, there will be land clearing to build a home, and what beyond that? Do you plan to go into the timber business? Your land will run out of trees soon enough if you do."

I shook my head.

"Brother Mitchell is a wealthy man. He owns that truck and several others besides, and he and his employees make a good living hauling freight with them. He had no need of your money to support himself or his family. Meanwhile, there were a few there who live in poverty, and at least one who has great debts to repay. But you paid the same to each of them. So this does not square well with the ideal of sufficiency.

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"And you paid the same to each worker, but not all of them did the same work, though. Some did different jobs, some who did the same job did more or less than others, either through varying capability or simply some being diligent and others lazy. So this clashes with the ideal of proportionality."

That was a lot to take in. "So it's not simple to pay them justly," I said after thinking it over. "What was the other problem with applying Saint Joseþ's warning here?"

"Oh, that one is much simpler. They're not your laborers. They came as volunteers to perform an act of service, to keep promises and covenants they had made with Meþas to give help to those in need. Ask yourself, do you seek to edify the congregation, or to build up the House of Webb?"

I tensed up at those words. "Did Felicity tell you to ask that?"

"No, why would she? What's wrong?"

"Do you know why I bought that land in the first place, Esott?"

"Why?"

"I came into some money, a bit of a surprise windfall. I asked Felicity, as a friend, for her advice on what to do with it, and unexpectedly received a Guidance instead, to not only buy a house but to 'let House Webb stand as a bulwark against the darkness to come.' Through one thing and another, I ended up determining that this was the right place to buy and build. ...what, why are you looking at me like that?"

He looked shaken. "I'm aware that I'm not a popular man, nor by many measures a successful one," he said slowly. "I've been called a hard-liner and a fanatic, and at times worse things still, for preaching the Path in its purity and warning against the depredations of Evil in a time when our society would prefer to move past such concerns. My congregation is a scant few hundred where many of my colleagues draw thousands by preaching light hearts and easy days of prosperity and effortless happiness. Unlike many of them, I take no pay for my work as Esott; every crown of tithes goes either to the maintenance of this building or to aid the poor and needy among the congregation. And still I live this way, work this way, for one simple reason."

"Because it's what you believe is right?"

"I don't believe you ever knew Rebekah Ellis, Charles's mother? She passed on twelve years back. A wonderful woman, somewhat of a pillar of the community and loved by all who knew her. She was an itinerant paladin who ended up meeting Warren and settling down here with him; said that it was our god's will. She helped me found this church when I was young, over forty years ago now, and gave me a Guidance that has shaped me ever since. 'Dark times come as evil grows in might. Work to counterbalance it, and build up a church unto me, a church that can stand as a bulwark against the oncoming darkness.'

"I have never shared those words, not with my congregation and not with her family, but have held them sacred in my heart, to guide me in my work. I have often wondered if I would live to see their fulfillment, and wondered whether or not I truly wished to. To hear those same words now repeated back to me, from another Guidance, issued through Rebekah's granddaughter.. it fills me with awe."

"Awe really isn't the word I'd use for that, Esott," I admitted. "A prophecy of ruin and darkness, and a calling to fight against it... that would kind of freak me out."

"Did it freak you out when you heard those words from Felicity?"

"Well... yes."

"But you remained faithful to them anyway. We have need of kith who can do what they know is right even when it scares them. Is that not the heroes' code of old, that courage is not to not feel fear, but rather to refuse to let the fear turn you away from acting?"

"But I've never been one to believe in heroes or the old ways, Esott," I admitted. "The only reason I came here at all is because it was the closest Meþasite church to where I moved in. In all honesty I'm one of the ones who's uncomfortable with your preaching."

He nodded. "And yet you've stayed," he pointed out. "Was it not you who said, just a few minutes ago, that a kith's choices demonstrate the truth of their beliefs? By your own definition, you believe in this congregation and in Felicity's Guidance, do you not?"

"I'm really not sure. Some of it might be motivated by belief, and some by just... you know? Doing whatever ends up being the least difficult or painful."

"I do know," was all he said.

"It feels like I've been caught up in an avalanche lately. All sorts of things are happening around me, things I never wanted to have anything to do with. I've spent my whole youth training for a peaceful, orderly life as a modern-day enchanter. And now all this is happening to me; what do I even do with that?"

"You seem to be mostly doing well so far."

"From the outside looking in, maybe. But if all this is just the beginning of a period that gods would call dark times? I really don't know what I'm doing here."

He gave me a gentle smile. "Then be grateful that there is a Path laid out for you. You have the knowledge you need; now you just have to walk it. Even when times are difficult, the Path brings comfort, for you can always know what the next step is."

"Even when it involves getting caught up in divine-scale struggles that have been brewing since before I was born? You make it sound suddenly as if the whole purpose of this church is to be ready for me to buy that land, and none of that makes any sense. I'm not some sort of prophesied savior or chosen hero. I never wanted to be one. I just want to be... me."

"And who are you?"

"A year ago, I thought I knew. Now I don't know if I know much of anything at all."

"Could I offer some advice?"

"Go ahead."

"Read through the hero tales in the Codices. See how many of them were born princes and lordlings, how many were hot-blooded youths who set out on a personal quest or simply to seek adventure, and how many were simply ordinary kith that got swept up in events larger than themselves, but ended up doing things that earned them renown forever after. You might be surprised at just how overrepresented the latter category is, including Saint Valaminaþ himself in its numbers. Some kith are born to chances for greatness; others, it's something that happens to them. What truly matters is how you respond when the opportunity arises."

"I really don't want anything to do with heroes or adventures," I said. "But... I think I've been coming to terms lately with the idea that what I want doesn't mean much in the broader scheme of things."

"That's a difficult idea to grapple with, but everyone has to learn it at some point."

"So do you have any idea what's going on with all this, and how my land relates to your church?"

"I'm sorry, I really don't. I just know we need to keep our eyes open. Whatever is coming, I believe it's coming sooner than either of us realizes."

"Well that's a comforting thought."

He ignored my snark. "I'll ask our members to work on developing your land, as a project for the whole church."

"And the money?"

"Legally, it remains yours to do with as you wish. My advice, though, is to give it as an offering to the church."

"Why is that such a big deal to you, when you don't take a cut of it?"

"Do you know the origin of the word 'esott,' Brad?"

I'd heard it before. "Isn't it from an Eld Gnomish word meaning architect?"

"It is, but not just a planner of architecture; the gnomish esott was also the foreman. The one who oversees the builders, who knows the crew in addition to the design. I'm aware of who in the congregation is sick, who is poor, who is in need. Instead of randomly passing out cash equally to whoever shows up, whether they need it or not, I know who could benefit the most from a gift of money or goods, and how to distribute it in ways that will do the most good and cause the least disruption. You want to do right by the congregation? I'm the one with the knowledge and experience in actually doing so, if you're willing to trust me."

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. Umm, is there anything else?"

He thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "Not right now."

"You don't talk like you preach, Esott," I remarked as I stood up.

"I told you, it's my job to know my crew. If you're not someone who would respond well to passionate sermons, why should I direct one at you in person? It would be a waste of my time and yours. Felicity tells me that you enjoy reason and philosophy; why not meet you on favored ground then?"

I wasn't sure how to feel as I left. Reassured on one hand, because I wasn't alone in all this. On the other hand, this wasn't just me. Whatever was going on in Sharliya had been building at least since my parents were young, and I'm apparently just the next step in it. And that's kind of the exact opposite of reassuring!