The moment I walked from the flagstone courtyard between the keep and the temple into the black and white tiled floor of the temple proper, I felt the warm feeling of Aggard's blessing flow over me.

In that moment I felt my back straighten and a courage and peace fill me I had not known I had been missing until then. Next to me my roommate was still clutching at my arm, unwilling to let go, despite how bad it looked to everyone watching.

Not that I cared. I knew I had to protect her to the best of my abilities, as she was another of Aggard's faithful.

Thick cloying incense was burning in a row of braziers leading from the doorway to the judgement scene, a fanciful picture of a blood crazed Aggard striking down a heretic. Truthfully, I could not quite picture the gentle goddess who had kissed me and given me her blessings with the depicted hellion.

Beyond either side of the barrier of incense burning braziers were almost every member, lay, trainee, and ordained alike. The exception being of the stocky and intimidating head trainer behind us, and the priest who was standing in front of the judgement scene.

The tall priest was wearing a black gown devoid of any overt decoration. His painfully pale skin, paler than even Alis’ skin, contrasted with his stark black gown. He was using a large two-handed sword as a staff. Only once before had I seen this stark black outfit, and that was when I had been new to the order and was on the other side of the brazier barrier.

Back then, a trainer had decided to go beyond what was proper with a different female trainee. That trainer had their hand amputated and dismissed from the order.

Off to the side of the judgement scene, stood a portable statue of Aggard. They had almost gotten the image of her correct here. The problem was that none of the five times I had seen Aggard was she serene, as depicted on the statue. All of those five times she had a lonely disposition despite my level best at being there for her.

'Trainees Tembleson and Bastard No Name,' the priest intoned in his strict voice which boomed throughout what should've been a haven for all of us faithful, 'you have been called here under the watchful eyes of the Goddess Aggard. You have been seen fornicating and spreading lies about the good goddess Aggard. For that crime you are hereby—'

The statue and the hellion judgement image of Aggard both started glowing. As did all other visible likenesses of her throughout the entire temple. With a high pitch scream that sounded like it should come from a horror film victim, the priest collapsed to his knees. The enormous sword thudded on the tiles next to him. His hands clutching at his face. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose.

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Suddenly, the scream died out. The priest fell forward, his pale face paler than ever before it smashed onto the black and white diamond tiled floor. His deep crimson blood flowing out along the lines of the tiles.

'Taking a false oath in front of the judgement image,' a gravelly voice said, loud and full of anger, 'what a foolhardy thing to do. Especially when you are making a false oath against one blessed by Aggard herself.'

There was silence in the temple, and I was unable to stop watching the deep crimson blood spread along the grout lines of the diamond tiles.

'Son, have you fornicated with that woman there?'

I carried on looking at the blood.

'Son, it is important,' a large hand squeezed my shoulder, his gravelly voice gentle now, 'have you fornicated with your companion there?'

The man who had put his giant hand on my shoulder looked wild. His ruddy face was craggy like the mountains which I swore he had been carved from. His dark hair and beard were as wild and tough like mountain grass.

'No, beyond what was forced upon us to do by those here, I have never touched her in any way which would be considered inappropriate. Nor have I fornicated with her.'

'Aggard, you have heard the words of your blessed solider,' the gravelly voice man said, facing the portable statue of her. 'If he has sinned, then send your divine punishment.'

I stared at the tall priest, surrounded by a pool of deep red, wondering if I would end up like him. A warmth flowed over me, filled with the longing love which I equated with her presence.

The arms which had been clinging to me so tightly slipped from my arm. My companion fell to her knees, looking up to the statue of Aggard. There were tears in her eyes, but I guessed this time they were grateful tears of joy, judging from the bright smile that lit up her freckled face.

'My Lady,' she muttered, 'your desire is now my will. I will be a truthful and honest companion for your loved and devoted servant, Klarric Tembleson the Blessed.'

'As you so wish, My Lady, so is my will,' the gravelly voice said from next to me.

'It is hereby noted, as per Aggard's decree, that Klarric Tembleson and Alis Aggardtet have completed their preliminary training and are now squires under Aggard's Knight Champion Hallvard Thorisson.

'If there are dissenting views, please speak of them now,' the gravelly voiced knight said in a low tone, one which boded promise of danger if any spoke against him.

Naturally, there were no dissenting voices.

'Come Squires, your training here has finished,' the knight said, walking out of the temple. When he passed the stocky figure of the head trainer, it surprised me to see just how much taller and broader the knight was. The head trainer shied away from close physical proximity to the knight, turning his head to avoid looking at the knight.

Alis stood up and brazenly took my hand in front of all the onlookers. With her warm and strong hand in mine, we walked through the sea of onlookers, locked behind the brazers, and into the bright day and the bright future which awaited us.

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