The door opened, and an unfamiliar woman blinked at Callan. A moment later her face curled into an overly friendly smile. “Evening! You must be the av—” She cut off, glancing nervously at the house across the street. “Er, you must be my husband’s new worker. Please, come in, come in!”

Callan glanced over his shoulder, in time to see someone let a curtain drop back into place, hiding them from view. Right. Secrets and schemes.

If it weren’t for Veritas, he’d have found all this cloak and dagger nonsense hilarious. As it was, it just left his stomach twisting in knots.

Still, he tried not to let that show on his face. “Thank you for your hospitality, Mrs...?”

“Call me Pivale, please.” That hyper smile was back on her face again.

For the first time, it occurred to Callan that nobody here in Aos seemed to have a last name. It was the same with the lud, though Kivi had told him that her people often used their caste status in place of a family name, so they must at least be familiar with the concept. Maybe Xeph could offer some insight later.

Speaking of the lud girl, he stepped aside. “Kivi, after you, please.”

“Why thank you, Callan.” The priestess stepped inside and bowed to their hostess. “And thank you for welcoming us into your home.”

Pivale’s smile had tightened, Callan noticed. “Oh? I wasn’t aware that you were bringing company with you. You are...” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “...A merchant?”

“My cult,” Callan said, closing the door behind him. With the outside world shut away, he didn’t see a need for further subterfuge. “Pivale, allow me to introduce Kivi, high priestess to Xeph-Zul-Karatl.”

“High—?” The woman gaped, then seemed to recover herself. “Of course. All are welcome in our home, even... please, come in, the family is waiting!”

As they made their way down a short hallway, Xeph chuckled. “What’s so funny?” Callan asked from the corner of his mouth.

Oh, nothing, nothing. That was very elegantly done, mortal. There might be hope for you yet.

Callan rolled his eyes over the backhanded compliment and followed after Kivi.

Pivale led them into a living room of sorts—at least, Callan assumed this was the yeth idea of a living room. There were several wooden benches set against the walls, and a sizeable table dominating much of the center space. Shelves lined the walls, containing several potted plants and a cluster of books. No artwork that he could see, though that came as little surprise.

Then again, the benches here were carved with the same patterns as the ones in Belinda’s kitchen. Maybe chairs fell under the whole ‘it’s not artwork if it serves a purpose’ argument that Alyssa had made.

As he and Kivi took their seats on a bench, Radavan entered from a doorway opposite.

“Dearest, since we have an unexpected number of guests, I need to put on more water for tea.” Pivale rested a hand on her husband’s shoulder as she passed from the room. “I’ll be just a moment.”

“Kind of glad we didn’t bring Sworv and Paeral along, too,” Callan whispered. Kivi gave a conspiratorial nod, while Xeph chuckled again.

Turning back, Radavan’s face was impassive. He looked as if he was trying his hardest not to frown. “Welcome, Avatar. High Priestess. I see you’ve already met my wife, so allow me to introduce you to the rest of my family.”

Four girls followed in their father’s wake, all of them somewhere in their mid-teens to early twenties, if Callan had to guess.

“This is Loxie, and Lem, and Bellatina, and finally our youngest, Tammy.” The girls all murmured hellos as their father introduced them. Callan tried to return the greetings as best he could, while Kivi merely inclined her head at each.

The last, Tammy, caught Callan’s eye as she was introduced, a playful smile creeping onto her face, followed by a wink when her father turned away. Callan felt his face heat up, and the girl giggled, stifling the noise immediately as her father turned back to look at her.

Was... was she flirting with me? Callan wondered. The girl looked almost identical to her aunt, sans a decade or two, but that just brought Callan back to memories of the previous evening. Even if she was, I don’t know if I could trust that she wasn’t being set up by her grandmother. Whatever, I’m here for business, not to find a girlfriend.

Remember, human, we’re here for their faith, not to make one of them a concubine, Xeph said, echoing Callan’s own thoughts. He ground his teeth.

“Seriously?” he muttered out of the side of his mouth. “Who uses the word concubine in this day and age? It’s archaic.”

And I’ve likely been alive longer than that word has existed, the god reminded him. Callan had no retort for that, so he let the matter drop.

Following the girls was Lisson, and finally Callan was able to return a genuine smile. At least there was one person in this family he thought he could count as an ally.

Once they were all gathered, Radavan seemed to lose much of his confidence. He glanced between Callan and Kivi nervously. “So, how do we, er, do this?”

“It is quite simple,” Kivi said, rising to her feet. “You simply profess verbally to offer your faith to Xeph-Zul-Karatl, to honor him above all others, and to never betray his cult or temple, lest the wrath of mountains descend upon you.”

Elegant, though unnecessary, Xeph noted. A simple profession of faith is enough to ensure transference.

“I’m sure the high priestess has her reasons,” Callan said. For his own part, he thought he understood Kivi’s reasoning. After doing his best to play devil’s advocate for his mother, it wasn’t the worst idea to make sure they covered all their bases with Radavan. Besides, it was the least of what he deserved.

Though admittedly, that might have just been his sore muscles talking. After spending a day and a half working the fields, he felt like he was getting a repetitive motion injury.

“Very well.” Radavan echoed most of Kivi’s oath, swearing never to betray Xeph or his cult. He left out the part about honoring above all other gods, but given that the town’s only other real option for worship was Veritas, Callan thought it was sufficient.

Apparently, so did Xeph, because a moment later he received a notification.

You have been awarded 1 additional faith.

Yessssss. More... The words from Xeph were almost euphoric. Callan repressed the urge to snort. Instead, he muttered, “Careful, or you’ll end up an addict as much as poor Rym.”

He must have spoken louder than he’d thought, as Radavan glanced at him with a frown. Callan shot the man a reassuring smile while Xeph muttered inside his skull.

It is hardly an addiction. Gathering faith is integral to my very survival. Yours as well, while we’re on the subject.

“Pretty sure every addict professes the same argument, Xeph.”

Hmmph. Forgive me from taking what little enjoyment I can from this cruel and unforgiving world. I have so few sources of pleasure left to me, I must seek out what opportunities present themselves.

Now Callan did roll his eyes. “Oh, come off it, you feel everything I do. I’d hardly say you’re lacking for pleasant experiences.”

Have you seen our circumstances? We are living in a forgotten hole in the ground, with barely enough followers to fill the front pews of our temple! Perhaps one day when we are enjoying plush cushions in a golden palace, I will agree with you. Until then... let me have my moment.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Callan almost needled the god further, but... well, truthfully he was rather looking forward to this faith himself. It would be somewhat hypocritical to push his head-mate when he was equally eager to reach his next tier.

“Girls, you all go next,” Radavan said, oblivious to the ongoing inner debate. When Lisson stepped forward with his sisters, the man clamped a hand down on the boy’s shoulder. “Not you.”

“But I want to offer my faith!”

“I don’t care what you want.” Radavan stared daggers at his son. “You’ll do as you’re told. Sit down.”

“Does it really matter?” Callan asked. The yeth man glowered at him.

“My boy is far too young to be part of a cult. Even someone from a backwater village like myself knows that much, Avatar.”

It is true, Xeph said in agreement. A god typically will not accept someone’s faith until they reach thirteen years of age. That is why none of the children back in the lud village swore their loyalty to us, either.

Callan frowned at that, mostly because none of the lud kids had looked older than, like, five. Lisson had to be at least twice that. If he wasn’t thirteen already, he must have been darn close.

But they had only come for six additional faith tonight, which between Radavan’s daughters, his wife, and the man himself, they were getting. No sense creating more animosity where it wasn’t necessary.

When he settled back without further argument, Radavan relaxed visibly. His son sat in a nearby chair looking petulant, but he didn’t argue with his father further.

One by one, the daughters offered their faith to Xeph. Slowly, Callan’s total faith ticked upward.

You have been awarded 4 additional faith.

Only one more to go until tier two. Callan didn’t know exactly what that would entail, but he’d have been lying if he said he wasn’t excited. Would reaching the second tier give him more powers? A boost of strength? The ability to phase through walls?

He kind of doubted that last one, but still, the suspense was killing him.

Plus, now he’d have twelve points to spend. On Xeph’s advice he’d held off using the faith he received at the dinner the other night, since the god hinted there might be new uses for it once he reached tier two. So he’d been sitting on extra faith now for days, and it was eating him up inside not to put it somewhere.

Oaths complete, the girls sat back down on the bench. Tammy kept trying to catch Callan’s eye again, but he had no attention left to spare, focused on the door as he was.

Never thought he’d be picking a mother over her daughter, but here he was.

The sound of Pivale busying herself in the kitchen drifted through the room in the accompanying silence.

What is taking the woman so long??? Xeph muttered. He could practically feel the god bouncing around inside his skull. Xeph’s impatience was infectious, in that Callan could feel it raging through him like a tangible thing.

“Hold the line... hold the line...” he said, as much to himself as to Xeph.

Finally, Pivale emerged, carrying a tray filled with steaming cups. “Drinks are ready, Avatar. I hope you enjoy...” she trailed off, noticing everyone watching her. “What is it?”

“It is time to make your profession of faith, dear,” Radavan said, his voice sounding like he’d just informed his wife she was due on the gallows. Pivale set down the cups on the table and wrung her hands on her dress.

“Are you certain it is necessary? I thought your mother assured us she could find others in the village to step forward.”

“The mayor said she would try. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what she said. She’s ordered us to offer our faith, so we shall.”

“But...” The woman bit at her lip.

“What is the matter, dear? You told me this morning—”

“Yes, well, a woman is allowed to change her mind.” Pivale cast a glance back at Callan and Kivi.

“Seriously, she’s getting cold feet now?” Callan muttered. “What’s the big deal? Not like it costs her anything.”

I think I understand the problem.

“Oh yeah? You want to explain it to me?”

You will see for yourself in a moment.

Callan glanced up. Kivi had risen to her feet and approached the arguing couple. The two lud went silent.

“Pivale, while Xeph-Zul-Karatl would never force another to worship him, the fact remains that this community has promised their devotion in exchange for our services. Belinda, your mayor, has placed her faith in our god, both literally and figuratively. Are you so untrusting of your mayor’s leadership that you would sabotage the very work she is doing to try and protect you all?”

It was a good speech, even if it was mostly bullshit. Belinda was clearly more concerned with protecting the status quo than her people, but Callan decided now wasn’t the time to correct such misconceptions.

“Sabotage? What do you think I am you little mudrat—” Pivale cut off mid-rant, but it seemed the damage had been done. Kivi’s expression hardened, and several of Pivale’s daughters let out audible gasps. Even Lisson’s eyes went wide.

Callan wasn’t exactly certain what sort of faux pas had just been committed, but it felt like a big one.

“I would never dream of opposing our mayor,” Pivale said, enunciating each word as if she was picking them as she went. “If she requires me to place my faith in a—in your god, then I shall.”

“Very good.” Kivi’s smile was strained. “Then repeat after me: on my honor as a yeth, I shall serve Xeph-Zul-Karatl, now and forever. I shall worship no god before him, and will honor his priesthood as I would the god himself.”

Pivale had gone pale as a sheet, but she nodded. Turning to Callan, she said, “I Pivale, on my honor as a yeth—”

Followers lost. Available faith decreased by 1.

“What?” Both Callan and Xeph’s shouts overlapped each other to the point that he couldn’t even tell which was which. Everyone in the room including Kivi jumped.

“Ah, sorry about that everyone, I... just a minute.” Callan dashed out into the hallway. He could hear murmured conversation behind him, but his mind was too focused elsewhere to pay much attention.

Once he was away from the others, he started pacing back and forth. “What the hell, Xeph? What. The. Hell???”

I do not believe that was due to the yeth’s profusion of faith, mortal. It was merely an unusual coincidence that—

“Yeah, yeah, I got that. More importantly, what does that mean?” A thought occurred to Callan, and he felt the blood drain from his face. They’d just lost a follower somewhere out there in the world. That meant...

“You don’t think it was one of the missing children, do you?” Several weeks had passed by now since Ziln first disappeared. Though this could also be one of the other children. Or one of the elderly lud. Or a dozen other possibilities.

There is no way to be certain, Xeph noted, confirming his suspicions. Either we will receive word of one of our follower’s deaths, or it will remain a mystery. Best prepare yourself for such. No mortal can live forever.

For that matter, it may not have been a death at all, he added, almost as an afterthought.

“What do you mean?”

We can lose faith for many reasons, not the least of which is death. But followers also sometimes abandon their faith in favor of other gods, or simply because they feel underserved by their current deity. Do not waste too much time dwelling on the particulars. Not when there is still faith to harvest in the next room.

“Yeah, but now I’m not going to reach tier two, am I?” Callan tensed, knowing the answer, but still needing to hear it.

You will not. I’m sorry, mortal.

“It’s fine. It’s—that’s fine. Everything is fine.” Callan’s mind was already considering what their next move should be. Challenging Veritas would be all the more difficult at their current tier, but it was still doable. Maybe.

Right now, though, he needed to march back into that living room and apologize for his sudden departure.

Taking a deep breath, he stepped through the doorway. “Sorry about that, everyone. Emergency god stuff I needed to deal with.”

“It is alright, Avatar,” Kivi said, nodding. “I already explained the situation and have gathered Pivale’s faith. Isn’t that right?”

She gave the woman a wicked smile. Pivale, for her part, looked as if she might vomit. With another nod of satisfaction, the high priestess clasped Callan’s hand, passing the last bit of faith to him, leaving him at only a single point away from tier two.

Woo.

Then she dropped back on the bench, selected a teacup from the tray, and set about sipping it. “Oh, you are right, this tea is excellent.”

“Shouldn’t we get going?” Callan asked. “I mean, we got what we came for.”

“What, and let perfectly good tea go to waste? Sit, Avatar. There’s no need to be rude to our hosts.”

Glancing at the others, Callan sat down and selected a cup. The others did so as well, some taking sips, others like Pivale just clutching the drink in her hands. Lisson sniffed his suspiciously, made a face, and set it on the floor next to his chair.

After about five minutes of silence, Kivi drained the last of her drink and returned the cup to the tray. “That was wonderful. Radavan, Pivale, thank you for so graciously welcoming us into your home. I believe we’ll be departing now.”

“Very good, High Priestess,” Pivale muttered. Radavan glowered at the lud girl, then turned his attention to Callan.

“See you in the fields tomorrow?”

“Of course,” Callan said in surprise. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Hmmph.” The farmer said nothing further, so Callan just left it at that.

They stepped out into the dark of the night, with nothing more than starlight to guide their way. No sooner had the door closed behind him than Callan rounded on Kivi.

“What, exactly, did you say to—”

“Shh.” One of Kivi’s hands slipped into his own. “Not here. Walk me back to the lud barracks, please, Callan?”

Together they made their way through the dark streets until they reached the outskirts of Aos, what little of it there was. Kivi led him towards a shadowy lump in the distance that was probably the guest house the village maintained for Etruscian merchants. Though it could have just been a medium-sized boulder. Callan suspected he wouldn’t know until he stubbed his toe on it.

“Alright,” he said finally. “Care to tell me what you did to that poor woman while I was out of the room? I thought she’d break her teacup she was shaking so bad.”

It was hardly that bad, Xeph muttered. She seemed more perturbed than scared.

“Thank you, Xeph, it’s called exaggeration for dramatic effect.” Callan rolled his eyes.

“I will be happy to explain, Avatar,” Kivi said, ignoring the side conversation. “But first I wish to know what distressed you so badly you needed to flee the room in the first place.”

Right. For a brief moment, Callan had forgotten about that. He came to a halt and turned towards Kivi. “Let’s wait and discuss that with Paeral and Sworv. I have some potentially bad news about back home.”