Page 27 of The Warrior Priest
My attempt to lighten the mood fell flat. He merely sighed. “Goodnight then.”
“Goodnight, Rhys.”
I walked away and did not look back. Whether he watched me leave or whether he immediately left, too, I didn’t know. I didn’twantto know, nor did I want him to see me crying.
I tried walkingoff my listlessness the following morning. With my hood up to obscure my face, I maintained a brisk pace through the market where hawkers sold fresh produce from their stalls and carts. The permanent shops in the surrounding streets seemed to buzz as shopkeepers and their customers discussed the two important events affecting the city. Few mourned the passing of the deputy governor, although not everyone voiced a negative opinion of him. Some thought he was a good support for the governor. Uncle Roderic wasn’t particularly liked, but many respected his aim to clean up the city’s crime. Others were not so enthusiastic, having seen firsthand how brutal his methods could be.
I avoided the square housing the municipal buildings so as not to accidentally run into him again, and instead headed past the castle gate. There was no word on when the newly found prince would arrive, or where he was now. I stopped at the forecourt in front of the high temple. Should I report to the high priest? If so, how much about Giselle’s activities should I tell him? Would he even be prepared to receive me?
Some things are best to get over and done with. It might ease the knots in my insides.
The high temple’s guards didn’t look as intimidating as those manning the castle gates. For one thing, they were dressed as priests, albeit in black like the high priest instead of brown. For another, they didn’t simply stand there looking stern. They welcomed me and asked me how they could assist me.
I stated that I’d been tasked by the high priest himself to run an errand and needed to report back. One of the guards directed me to an antechamber to wait. I expected the high priest to send one of his staff, so was surprised to see the high priest himself enter the room. I remembered to bow.
Apparently, it was the right thing to do because he seemed pleased to see me. “I would have called on you, Jac, but it’s good of you to come here.”
“You don’t know where I live,” I pointed out.
He smiled and invited me to sit on one of the four chairs pushed against the wall. The rest of the room was empty, and entirely devoid of comfort. No rugs covered the cold stone floor, and the chairs were hard. A single painting took up one entire wall. It depicted the handsome, strong Merdu pointing sternly at a swirling black pit in the ground. Ugly figures tried to escape from the pit, their claw-like hands scrabbling at the earth and each other. Partly obscured by Merdu, the beautiful goddess Hailia gathered two children to her side. It encapsulated the religion of the Fist Peninsula, with the divine fatherly figure banishing evildoers into Merdu’s Pit, while the matronly goddess comforted the innocent. I used to think it unfair that the poorest part of Tilting was called Merdu’s Pit by the rest of the city, until I’d accidentally stumbled into it soon after I ran away from my uncle’s house. As a stranger in their midst, some of the slum’s dwellers had chased me for sport until I’d managed to escape, a little bloody and bruised, but alive. Yet unlike the figures in the painting, its evil went unpunished. It seemed to thrive, much like mold under the right conditions.
If my uncle wanted to clean up the city, he should start there. Yet he was targeting the whores and petty thieves of other slums, good folk who were forced to be whores and thieves out of necessity rather than desire. No doubt it was easier to tackle crime where ruthless gangs weren’t in control.
“Have you discovered if Giselle has returned to Tilting?” the high priest asked.
“She has,” I said.
“And has Brother Rhys seen her?”
“Only from afar.”
“They haven’t had a liaison?”
“No.”
“Did she attempt to meet him?” he asked.
“No.”
He regarded me with a frown. “How can you be sure?”
I simply smiled as he had done when I pointed out that he didn’t know where I lived.
“She’s an interesting one,” he went on, his tone matter-of-fact. “She’s not typical for a woman. Some men find that tempting. I’m glad to see Rhys isn’t one of them. Thank you, Jac.” He rose. “You’ve been most helpful.”
“Before you ask, I won’t do any more spying on Giselle or Rhys.”
“I wasn’t going to ask that of you. My questions have been answered.” He walked with me out of the antechamber. “It’s good to see that Brother Rhys is taking his new position as second-in-command seriously.”
I wasn’t sure if he expected a response, so I remained silent.
“He’s maturing,” the high priest went on. “Master Tomaj has noticed it, but others in their order were worried about Rhys’s future and therefore the future of Merdu’s Guards since he will lead the order one day. They lay blame at Giselle’s feet for tempting him to break his vows, but you have reassured me, Jac. Thank you. Now I will reassure them. Rhys will make a fine leader. Perhaps the strongest the order has had in over a century.”
“Your Eminence,” I said, bowing.
We were once again in the large entrance hall with its high vaulted ceiling. Like the antechamber, it was sparsely furnished, in keeping with the vow of poverty taken by all priests, no matter which order they belonged to. The only exception was the head of the religion in Glancia, standing before me, with his cloth of gold belt.
“Good lad,” he said. “May Merdu walk beside you.” He laid a hand on my shoulder.
