Father Berry was a scrawny man.

He smiled as he bowed his head. His brown robe was… old. Frayed. Most of it was re-sewn and patched with layers of worn cloth.

I bowed my head as well, in greeting. “Father, thank you for seeing me,” I said to him.

“Of course my son. Come, sit with me,” the man gestured to a nearby seat. As he did I noticed the thin wrist and arm that snuck out of his robe’s armhole.

Following him to the seat, I was glad that Renn chose to stay kneeled in prayer… even if what she prayed was a little odd.

And especially so since she sounded rather…

She had more faith in her prayers than some of the nuns praying nearby.

Ridiculous.

“I apologize for calling upon you father. But we are lost, and new here… we knew not where to go,” I said to the man as we sat next to one another.

Although a little… painful, to act so meek to a man who genuinely was, it had to be done.

Father Berry smiled tenderly as he rested his thin hand onto my knee, patting it gently as if to comfort me. “Speak no more of such shame, for there is none. Any shame you feel, should be the shame of coming to the house of your god!” he spoke lowly, just a little more than a whisper… and spoke purely.

He truly believed in what he was saying… and such a fact only made me feel even worse.

This man was an ardent clergyman. A true man of his faith. A testament.

The man probably owned nothing more than the clothes he wore, and he’d in an instant offer them to me if I asked for them.

“Of course father, forgive me,” I said gently, playing my part.

He nodded, glad I understood. “Now I’m told you ask of the painter,” he said.

I nodded. “Yes father. My wife,” I pointed to the kneeling woman, and I noticed the hat on her head twitch a little. Hopefully no one else saw. “Was to be employed there. At the Sleepy Artist. Yet when we returned from our last trip home, to come here and make a new life for us… we found it on fire!” I said, a little louder than I needed to.

Father Berry raised his free hand as he squeezed my knee with the other. To tell me there was no need to shout.

“Sorry father,” I said quickly, lowering my head.

“It’s all well. I understand. Yes, the Sleepy Artist was found guilty of tax evasion to the lord of Ruvindale,” Father Berry said lowly.

My mind went blank for a moment… frozen at the sudden information.

Taxes!

Over taxes!

“I… I don’t understand, father…” I used my genuine confusion, and the clergyman quickly nodded as he fell for it.

“The owner failed to pay his proper dues, my son. Sadly you and your wife fell victim to the most common sinner amongst the wealthy. Those blinded by coins,” he shook his head as he explained; as if he was genuinely pitying those he spoke of.

“So… so they were evil?” I asked, and I did my best to not notice Renn’s body tremble.

Not here. Not now!

“They were, child. See this not as unjust suffering, but a blessing… Chances were our lord and protectors did not want you and your wife to suffer because of their sins. To be tainted and led astray! Take this moment as a wonder…” Father Berry lowered his head, and closed his eyes. After a moment he went to saying a small prayer. One of thanks.

I bowed my head and endured the prayer alongside him. His hand clasped my knee tighter, glad to see me do so.

While he prayed, I allowed my thoughts to process this information.

Tax evasion. It was most likely a simple excuse, given by the nobles of this city… but it told me that the church had nothing to do with it.

After all, they would never pass up the opportunity to display demons and devils to their flock. To burn them alive, to further instill their own dogma.

This meant no one in the church knew of us.

At least not yet.

“Blessed be,” Father Berry finished his prayer of thanks.

“Blessed be. Thank you father,” I said, nodding.

“Always, my son. Tell me, do you and your wife have a place to stay tonight?” he asked, genuinely concerned.

He was done telling me of what had happened to the Sleepy Artist. In fact he didn’t even seem to care of the fire, nor why the building could have possibly burnt down.

He only cared that we had not been involved in what he had believed to be sinful activity.

And of course, that we… children of his god… were going to be okay from here on out.

“We do father. I found a job on the boats. The son of the man who owns the boat has lent us a room for the season,” I said.

“Ah! What blessings. See? This is all by design. Fear not child, neither of you,” he beamed a smile as he glanced to Renn. She was still kneeling there, pretending to pray.

“I believe so, father. You’re right,” I said.

Father Berry stood, seemingly both happy and pleased with himself and the scenario.

In his eyes it all made sense. We had been saved from evil. From sin. So the end result was the best.

“Father, here,” I pretended to dig deep into my inner-pocket of my pants. I made sure to not allow the coins within to clank against each other as I pretended to scoop some out.

Although his face told me that he didn’t want me to offer any tithes, he still opening his hand to accept the few renk I offered.

“Thank you so much. She and I will sleep soundly tonight, now,” I said with a thankful smile.

“Always, my son. While under their watchful eye, we can always sleep without a care,” Father Berry said, looking to the statue looming over us.

I lowered my head in thanks as the priest gave me one last nod, and turned to leave.

Watching him go, I felt as weak as he looked.

Turning to Renn as she slowly stood from her kneeling, I noticed the way her eyes glared at me. Full of questions. Full of worries.

“Let us go,” I said softly to her.

She nodded quickly, happy to hear it. No longer looking like the dutiful devout woman she had seemed earlier.

I gestured to the nearest path between the pews, and we made sure to walk as calmly as we could to the exit.

“Voices carry here,” Renn whispered.

I followed her gaze, to a pair of women nearby. They were sitting together alone, and weren’t nuns.

They were gossiping about their children.

As we left I scanned the church. Looking to the nearby doors and hallways… There. Near a small hallway, where other priests were, I found him.

Studying Father Berry, I watched the coins he dropped into the tithe box.

He put every single one I had given him into it.

Sighing a little, I left the church with Renn and hoped I’d not have to come back anytime soon.

Why did the dead gods always get the honest ones?

“Vim,” Renn said my name lightly as we left. We drew closer to one another as I put my hand on her waist. I guided her to the road we had used to get here, since it was growing far too late for us to be out and about in the nobles district.

“What is it?” I asked her since she hadn’t continued her question.

She blinked, as if she had forgotten her question all of a sudden. “Taxes?” she asked, and I could tell she didn’t believe it at all.

“It’s possible Renn. Lughes and Crane, although a little more knowledgeable about humans than most… were growing old. Forgetful,” I said.

“Lughes…” Renn groaned and closed her eyes.

She had known then, it seemed.

Although we left the church, Renn and I continued walking slowly. As if we were both tired.

Glancing back behind us, I pretended to study the great cathedral and its towers… and instead studied the windows and doors.

Surprisingly… no one seemed to be watching us.

“What is it?” Renn asked, about to turn around as well.

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Patting her lower back, to keep her walking forward, I shook my head. “I was just checking to see if we were being watched,” I said.

“Were we?” she asked as she stood up straighter. Her back went stiff as I put my hand back onto her waist to make sure she kept walking forward.

“Not that I could tell.”

“Which means we probably aren’t,” she said with a nod.

Frowning at her confidence in me, I wondered what I had done to deserve it.

“You didn’t ask of the dead, did you?” Renn then asked.

“There was no point,” I said.

“Yes there was,” she argued.

I shook my head. “That would have aroused suspicion. If we had shown more interest in the outcome of everyone they would have begun to wonder if we were more involved. It could have led to them getting the knights,” I said.

“Knights…” she whispered.

“Now that I know their excuse I have other methods to use,” I said, hoping to get her mind away from confronting the knights.

“Which are?” she asked as we headed down the street towards the merchant district.

“Taxes are useful. I’ll be able to go to the business center in the noble’s district thanks to that excuse. From there I’ll hopefully be able to find the truth,” I said.

“Are you sure the church wasn’t involved?” she asked.

“I don’t believe they were. Father Berry was the genuine article. Probably rather well respected and has many responsibilities burdening him. If they had the paintings, or knew of them, he would not have acted like that. We’ll know more by tonight, however,” I said.

“Tonight…? Are we going to question the taxes now? Who do we ask?” she asked, hopeful.

“The business center will be closed by now. We’ll do that first thing in the morning,” I said.

“So… why will we know tonight?” she asked.

“We’ll know if the church knows about us if they try to capture us within the next few hours,” I said plainly.

“Oh…” she grumbled an understanding complaint, and glanced around. At the buildings around us.

Watching the way she studied the windows, and the alleyways… I realized I could probably use her in more ways than one.

“Think you can play that part again?” I asked her.

“Your wife? I suppose,” she said, and I noticed the way her eyes stayed focus on a nearby door. There was no reason to study it closely for long... It was a basic door to a warehouse of some kind.

Smiling at her, I chuckled. “No. This time I think something a little more… special is in order,” I said as my plan began to formulate.

“Special…?” she whispered, finally looking away from the door. She looked at me from the corner of her eye, as if she didn’t want me to notice her look.

I nodded, proud of my idea.

“You’ll see,” I said.

“Hmph…”

Walking close enough that anyone watching would see us as husband and wife, I tried to listen and watch for any followers.

“You…” Renn spoke up… then went silent.

“Hm?” I asked.

Was she upset I had my hand on her waist? Or was she simply peeved that we didn’t get enough answers from the churchman?

“Do you think it really could be simple taxes?” she asked.

“No. Or well, yes. It is possible. But once they saw the paintings… or worse, if Lughes or Crane had been seen…” I didn’t need to continue.

“What of Amber? Would that noble family do this? To stop others from realizing what they did maybe?” Renn asked.

“Also a possibility. Right now my focus is to find the paintings… and who stole them,” I said.

“After we get the paintings… can we go after the Primdoll family then?” Renn then asked.

Slowing a little, I had to forcefully step forward. My hand had left her waist since she had kept walking and I had slowed.

“We’ll see,” was all I said to that.

“Hmph…” she huffed, most likely keeping her complaints inside.

“This way,” I guided her down a different street. One that led towards the docks instead of the merchant center and the inn.

“What for?” she asked.

“To make sure we’re not being followed. I told the churchman we got a room from a sailor. We’ll… get food at the docks, and I’ll watch for anyone suspicious while we do,” I said.

“If we are being watched what then?” she asked.

“Follow the watchers, of course,” I said.

Renn frowned as she processed my words.

“You did well by the way. Although I noticed your ears and tail twitch a few times,” I said.

Her frown turned into an odd expression. One that told me she was a little shocked, and hadn’t expected my words.

Then she smiled. “You noticed?”

I nodded, wondering why she found that so amusing.

“I want to right any wrong I committed, Vim… so I’ll do anything that you need me to,” she said with the same smile.

“Hm,” I nodded.

“Plus… how could I not help you when it’s to protect the Society? To protect us all?” she asked.

“Yes. Many still alive have been painted by Lughes and the rest,” I said.

“He had painted me too. And Lomi,” Renn said.

Narrowing my eyes at her comment, I nodded. “I know.”

“Is there… no way to find out anything more? Today? Tonight?” she asked, glancing up at the darkening sky.

“There is, but I don’t want to resort to those methods yet. To be honest I had expected the church to try and seize us upon our asking of it,” I said.

“Seize us?” she asked.

Guiding her to the farther side of the road, since a large cart was approaching us, we were suddenly a little closer. She looked away from me, but not because she wanted to watch the cart of fish pass us.

“It was risky going to the church first, but necessary. And so far no one seems to be following us either… It’s honestly a better scenario, if the church really doesn’t know about the paintings yet,” I explained.

The cart stunk a little, and was dripping with water. I noticed the large blue fins sticking out of the barrels it carried.

“If… if they had tried to seize us, what would have happened?” Renn asked.

“Well…” I found a nicely lit building, with a large harpoon hanging off its sign. “How about fish?” I asked her.

She sighed and stepped away from me. Not so far that my hand had to leave her lower back and waist, but not so close that we were touching anymore. “Fine,” she said.

“I wasn’t avoiding the question, I plan to answer it,” I said to her.

“Sure sounded like you were,” she accused me.

Frowning at her it was my turn to step away from her. For the tiniest moment my hand felt cold, even out of place. As if it had already grown at home upon her, and was now homesick.

“I’d have forced them to take me to the paintings,” I said simply.

Studying her eyes, I watched the way they stared at me… The way her irises narrowed a little… becoming a little less human in shape.

“Doubt me?” I asked her. Did she really?

“No. Far from it,” she said softly.

“Then what is it?” I asked her. What was bothering her? What had I said?

“One moment you’re a valiant protector, prideful and stoic… the next you act as if we’re normal humans on a common date,” she said.

Glancing around to make sure no one nearby was close enough to hear our conversation; I was a little surprised to see the lack of people on the road. It wasn’t night yet, but was about to be… by now this area should be a little busier.

“Do you not realize I’m trying to make us seem as normal as possible, to those who may be watching?” I asked her.

“Of course I do. That’s the only reason I haven’t bit your hand off. But… I’ll be honest, when you had us set fire to the building… I had expected you to be just as swift with vengeance to the others. To be quick to act,” she said as she looked away. To my feet.

Ah… she was upset I wasn’t being as active as she herself felt we needed to be.

“Do I look that calm?” I asked her.

“You do. I can see your anger within. Your worry… but…” she shifted, and grabbed her elbow with her hand. The way she stood, holding her own arm, made her seem… very human.

Especially since she still had remnants of ash and soot on her chin. Usually I’d have told her about it, or helped her clean up myself, but it had helped the illusion of us being a poor wedded couple.

Poorer humans were always dirty after all.

“Come. Let’s talk over the meal. They have a table that sits near that window, it’ll be perfect,” I said with a gesture to the lit up building.

Renn grumbled wordless noises as she followed me into the tavern.

The tavern wasn’t busy at all. A few tables were occupied, but Renn and I didn’t need to wait a single moment to be helped.

Giving a muscular woman our order, I pointed to the table I wanted. “Will be right out sir!” the woman nodded.

Renn didn’t even wait for me to finish ordering. She sat down at the table I had pointed at, and glared at me as I sat across from her.

Glancing to the open window to my right, I smiled lightly as I took a mental painting of the scene before me.

Looking away from the scene, I decided to give Renn what she wanted… and looked her in the eyes.

She held my gaze as I nodded. “I’m not as patient as you think, Renn. But I need to be careful. If you had any idea how many times I’ve made mistakes over the years, out of anger and impatience, you’d probably become more sick to your stomach than you had earlier today,” I said, referencing her several moments of sickness as we searched the Sleepy Artist and its burning afterwards.

I had to nearly carry her away as it went up in flames. She hadn't taken it well. At least she hadn't tried to stop me...

Renn shifted in her chair, as if upset that I’d dare bring up such things.

Studying her as her eyes calmed down a little, and began to examine the tavern we sat in… I realized she was exhausted.

Even though not human, we weren’t gods. We still got hungry. Still got tired. Still hurt.

Not only had she not gotten much rest, or food, on our trip here… she has had a rough a day. How much longer could she go while under such strain?

“Plus, the humans won’t be able to do much too quickly. Odds are the Sleepy Artist had been seized several days ago. Either the paintings are in town somewhere, within a keep or castle, or already being shipped on a boat to elsewhere,” I said.

Her eyes wavered, trembling as she let loose a tiny whine.

“Don’t cry,” I warned her. The waitress was heading our way.

“Here ya are!” I dug out some coins to hand to her as the waitress dropped off two large cups.

The single penk and half dozen renk clinked in her hand.

“Paying first! Don’t want to go over budget eh!” she laughed in thanks as she took the coins and left.

“Over budget?” Renn asked.

“She thinks I paid ahead to make sure you and I don’t drink too much,” I said.

“Pft,” she made a noise as she went to taking a drink.

Indeed. I hadn’t even ordered alcohol.

“What if we don’t find the paintings?” Renn asked after a long drink. She looked relieved as she stared at the cup in her hands… looking at it like one would a friend.

“We will. We won’t be leaving this city without finding them,” I stated.

Renn looked away from her cup and to me. However she didn’t stare at me with that same longing she had for the cup nor that glare from earlier, but instead…

“What?” I asked her.

Slowly shaking her head she looked away from me… back to her cup. Then she took a drink.

Deciding to not try and understand what that look had been, I glanced out the window.

A few people were walking by, but they were obvious fishermen. They were laughing together over something.

Other than them, everything else looked the same. Two of the birds that had been perched on a nearby house’s chimney were still sitting in the same spot too.

“This will likely take a few days, Renn. Depending on what happens. Please don’t get impatient,” I warned her.

“I know already,” she said.

Glancing at her, I found an upset face.

Her cup was empty.

Sighing, I offered her mine… and got a smile in return.

Maybe with a full belly she’d be a little less likely to glare at me.

Keeping an eye on the world outside as we ate a simple dinner… I continued to plan our next steps.

We had to find the paintings.

We needed to find Lughes and Crane if we could too, but the paintings were priority.

Those paintings could lead to the end of the Society.

And I couldn’t allow that.

Wouldn’t.