“To think I had to come out of retirement to deal with such selfish antics...” the officer let out a disapproving snort as he rubbed his bushy white mustache. “The youths of today fail to see how their blatant disregard for others puts their fellow man in harm’s way!”
Excuse me?!
“Steady now,” Aleph advised me calmly as he put a hand on my shoulder. “We’ve done nothing to warrant any hostilities.”
Did he mean from them, from us, or both?
None of the two dozen or so surrounding soldiers in crimson livery brandished any of their weapons. Instead, they stood impassively, awaiting their leader’s next command. A few faces even seemed somewhat sympathetic to our current situation. However, the condescending tone in the officer’s voice set me on edge. “But—”
“I believe a conversation with Duke Chadwick won’t interrupt our plans all that much,” Aleph explained as he gestured at the man in charge. However, upon hearing his name so readily offered, the duke turned his stern gaze up at least three levels.
“Robes from the wastelands... Have we met before, ox?” the officer asked suspiciously after looking at Aleph for the first time.
His eyes narrowing ever so slightly, Aleph gave the man a shallow bow, his horns still elevated above the duke’s head. “Mm, I don’t believe so. However, your reputation precedes you, Your Grace,” he rumbled in a barbed response.
Instead of taking it as what I thought was a blatant insult, the officer straightened and stood taller, showing even more confidence than before. “Yes, I should have realized that even your kind has heard of my great accomplishments!”
“Indeed,” Aleph continued to respond in a low voice. “Your Grace has the gratitude of the entire ox clan for your role in the great hybrid exodus. We hope to one day show our appreciation properly.”
“Truly, I believe it the most peaceful compromise!” the nobleman agreed, clearly missing the sarcasm. “Lots more room out there for you big beastmen to roam, right?”
Aleph sighed, rolling his eyes some. “I can’t deny that you’re wrong about that...”
Double… triple negative?
“And all of our annual contributions...” The duke paused to puff out his chest in a self-congratulatory manner. “Tell me, ox, how have they been used? Have you built a capital yet? That’s what I would have done to invest it properly, yet I’ve received no word of such a place to visit! My wife is begging me to take her to Raelynn’s Altar!” That would make quite the tourist trap if it were cleaned up some...
“...Annual contributions?” Aleph echoed in confusion, his tone softening. “Your Grace, this is the first I’ve ever heard of such...”
“Hmm. Well, I’m sure your elders are most likely in charge of receiving and allocating our donations!” the commander waved his hand dismissively.
“Your Grace...” one of the braver soldiers interrupted. “About the theatre...?”
“Oh, yes, right,” he cleared his throat, turning to me. “Young lady,” he began to admonish loudly. “We all, including the nobility, lament the loss of the Chosen One. However, these demonstrations of pure arson and anarchy do nothing for your cause! In these troubled times, it’s imperative that we maintain rational order among the people!”
My... cause? Arson and anarchy? It sounds more like a Nora campaign to me...
“Private discussion, Your Grace! Private...” the soldier interjected again, nervously eyeing a small gathering of annoyed spectators, all wearing bright pink makeshift wigs. What the... My hair’s more of a rose gold... right? It’s not... ‘pink,’ is it?
“Down with the establishment!” someone cried out rebelliously as one of the men in the group hurled a rock. Thankfully, it didn’t make it anywhere close to hitting anyone. Though, five soldiers took the threat seriously enough to quickly split off and move towards the instigator, but he and his comrades scattered in various directions, evading capture.
“Your hardcore fandom...!” Nora whispered in excitement as I started to put two and two together. They really do think I did it on purpose!
“I don’t know those people!” I declared as the rest of the soldiers started to march away, forcing us to fall in line. They in no way represent me or what I stand for! Whatever that is!
After being forcefully escorted from the festival fields, we entered the castle town’s gatehouse. It was dimly lit, with narrow slits in its stone walls that allowed only thin shafts of light through. The guards that bustled within its echoing halls also wore red uniforms, though here and there, I could hear the occasional clank of full plate.
“For the safety of all, I will speak with each of you separately about the recent... incendiary incident.” He gestured to a row of small doors. “Your level of cooperation with this investigation will be shared with the magistrate prior to your trial.”
Trial?!
“My friends didn’t have anything to do with it!” I stated loudly, hoping to get some of us out of trouble. “I was the one who—”
Relias’s voice snapped sternly in my mind. “Refrain from divulging any more incriminating information. Merely express your desire to confer with a priest.” I looked around, startled as it sounded like he was right behind me. Since when could he do something like that?!
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I... Okay...
“I wish to speak to a priest,” I concluded lamely.
To my surprise, the duke agreed. “A wise choice, young lady,” he murmured, gesturing for a soldier to fetch one. “Never too soon for atonement.”
I was the last one to be locked behind one of the iron doors in what appeared to have been a small storage room. In the gatehouse, they favored oil lamps over the open flame of candles, though the single source of light here had been prudently hung out of reach. There was nothing to set fire to in the stone room anyway. I sat down on the dusty floor with a long sigh, wondering if Relias had heard my response. I’m probably nothing but a giant disappointment to him...
Footsteps outside the door echoed up and down the hall for about half an hour, but no one came to call upon me. As I waited, I tried to figure out what to do once the priest arrived. Do I beg for forgiveness? Reveal myself? State my Name and Purpose? Hey, does anyone have any good ideas? ...Raelina? …Raeonna? …Raedine?
No one answered me, however. One of the rare times I’m honest enough with myself to know I need expert advice, and no one is around to give it!
A light tap at my door interrupted my self-deprecating thoughts. “I am known as Father Irijah, and I approach you with intentions of peace and goodwill. May I enter?”
“Yes, Father,” I agreed, standing and moving towards the back of the room with my hands visible as the door slowly creaked open. Two soldiers briefly surveyed the scene before moving out of the way, satisfied with what they saw.
A serene smile was plastered over the older priest’s face, the minimum requirement for any clergy finding themselves in an awkward situation with a confined criminal. “Why don’t we start with your Name so we may better...” His eyes suddenly widened in fear as they landed on the hachimaki tied in my hair. I felt a tingling sensation on my scalp as he confirmed its status as a holy relic. As he dropped to his knees in flustered supplication, he asked me with a tremble, “He... He’s here as well, isn’t he?”
“I… think so?” I said uncertainly, trying to read the expressions of the two confused soldiers who moved to retrieve the priest off the floor.
“Please,” he begged me as he shook off the soldiers. “Give me a chance to make things right!”
Not the reaction I was expecting. “Uh... okay?”
Father Irijah struggled to his feet, clutching onto the olive jerkin of the soldier next to him. “Take us both to the man you apprehended for impersonating a priest!”
The soldier stared at me with a puzzled expression. “But that’s against—!”
“Do not make me revoke your Purpose,” Father Irijah threatened him with a wild look in his eyes. “If I fall, so will you!”
The soldier started to shake just as much as the cleric holding him, then glanced at his companion pleadingly. The other soldier sighed heavily and gave a slight nod in agreement. “I’ll fetch him after I clear out the guard’s lounge. We’ll meet you three there.”
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The room I was led to was almost inviting, well-lit, and with padded wooden seats scattered about a large, round table. Not bad for a breakroom.
The clergyman with me busied himself by straightening his robes several times, standing and sitting with a level of anxiety that rivaled mine. What’s eating this guy?
“Considerable time has passed since I last saw you, Father Irijah,” Relias murmured in an oddly disquieting tone after he entered and took a seat. His face held a slight smirk even as his eyes bore into his colleague’s face. “Nevertheless, it is heartening to observe that you have preserved your acumen, swiftly discerning the nature of the circumstances in which you currently find yourself.”
Father Irijah whimpered, once again finding solace in throwing himself to the floor. “Had I but known you were involved, I—”
“Yet, as you have witnessed, this matter goes far beyond my assigned Purpose.” Relias shifted his gaze momentarily to me before narrowing his eyes at Irijah. “Thus, I beseech you to make your choice at this juncture. Shall you align with our united cause or continue to cast your lot with Pravum?” He began to tap his fingers on the large wooden table before us, clearly in control.
Irijah swallowed audibly and looked back and forth between us both, straining his neck to see over the table from below.
“Your cause is the Goddess’s cause,” he agreed in a trembling tone. “Even as it is mine.” A crony converted!
“Arrange for my companions and I to speak with His Majesty discreetly and without delay,” Relias ordered. “And instruct your associates to maintain the secrecy of this arrangement, lest word reaches Pravum himself. I wish to be confidently assured of your recent commitment to the path of righteousness once again.”
“I... will have to tell His Grace something...” Irijah conceded with a shiver as he stood slowly.
Relias turned to me with a slight tilt of his head. “Did you find any fault in Duke Chadwick’s etiquette? Or should he bear responsibility for a breach of conduct?”
“His Grace was courteous enough, I suppose,” I replied in a bit of bewilderment. “He did what he thought was just.” I wouldn’t say I liked being locked up, but it’s not like he physically threatened any of us.
Relias nodded slowly. “Then have His Grace join us all for the discussion.”
“Father Irijah!” One of the soldiers suddenly gasped. “This woman! I’ll admit she has some command of amity, but she can’t truly be—”
“Do you wish to challenge her and find out?” Father Irijah retorted.
The other soldier cleared his throat nervously. “You could just divine her true Name and Purpose...”
Was that... something he could genuinely do? I stared at Relias in silent panic, but he merely smiled. “Feel free to do so, Irijah. I look forward to your efforts.”
Irijah inhaled sharply, paling somewhat at the hidden challenge Relias had offered. “F-forget it! I place my faith in His Holiness! Should you hold any regard for your own well-being, I urge you to do so as well!”
“Um... About the others involved in the play,” I asked to cut the increasing tension. “They’re all cleared of any charges, right? The whole thing really was an accident...”
“I’ll make sure of it, Chosen One,” the clergyman promised earnestly, obviously seeking my favor.
Relias folded his hands and set them on the table. “We shall remain here in patient vigil for the arrival of our companions and Duke Chadwick. As you take your leave, keep the door ajar.” His authoritative tone left no room for argument. He watched with a steely gaze as the trio dispersed to do his bidding.
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