Industry & Intrigue (13 page)

After
forty minutes, he came to a large
three-story house and entered. She stopped, thinking about what to
do. She didn’t know what the man did for Mikono, but it was clear
that he was no tojitsu student

The best thing would be to head back to
meet Snar. They could set up a proper shift on watching the house.
In addition, there was Selim’s snitch, who could have more
information about the house and how it related to Mikono’s
operation. Either way there could not be much gained from standing
here by herself and waiting for the man to exit.

She headed back to the academy,
hoping Snar would not b
e annoyed at her diversion. Though he didn’t
strike her as the type to get annoyed, so polite as he was. As
skeptical as she had been initially, the last week had shown that
he was an excellent watch officer.

His agorid senses were far finer than her
own and he picked up on clues that even she missed. Whatever agorid
savagery he may have been born with, had disappeared with his Alkon
upbringing and education.

Her time with Snar had made her question
much of what she assumed about the beast-men of Kangur. Their
savagery could be purely cultural and environmental phenomena
rather than part of their inherent nature. If that was the case,
then they could be dealt with in more ways than the standard show
of force the Imperial Army used in western Naikos Province- Alkos’
main border with Kangur.

Matters like
th
at were
out of her hands though. She was a watch officer, not in politics
or the military. Having an officer like Snar was a step in the
right direction and if he proved to be as good as he appeared then
he could help reduce the assumed prejudice towards his
people.

Chapter 12

His
loud voice carried throughout the
hall, which was still full of the faithful, something which Cleric
Isaac Gall of the Church of Varos was glad to see. The church’s
numbers had been undergoing a decline for many years but he had
managed to retain his flock. Unlike other branches of the church,
Isaac had not remained mired in past doctrines, he had kept his
membership up by adapting to the new shape of the world.

“
And he let his head be still as
the flames licked higher; his disciples watched as his body began
to burn, but he did not scream out in pain. Varos did but stare at
his accusers with solemn eyes.

He
looked upwards at the sky and cried
out in the name of the Creator. The guardsmen stepped back in fear.
The fire suddenly leapt upwards covering the prophet’s entire body
and yet he still uttered no sound of pain. He raised his hands and
held them out towards his disciples, his brothers, his friends. The
fire exploded and then as suddenly collapsed into nothing but ash.
As Hedoric’s guards poked through the remnants they could see no
sign of the prophet, no earthly remains.

The disciples
we
re allowed
to leave freely. Hedoric had completed his mission and saw no point
in further death. The prophet leading his people into rebellion was
gone.

But his disciples took heart at what had
occurred. They wandered far and wide, spreading the message of
Varos and the Creator, they did so until the time Varos had
appointed arrived.

They converged with thousands of followers
to the furthest eastern point of the land and at the fall of the
night, the brightest of moonlight fell upon the disciples and
bathed over them. Then as the crowds looked up they could the
spirit of Varos in the light, descending towards them. At his
landing he said only these words, ‘Let the Creator guide your
shape,’ and his disciples bent to their knees.

The youngest of them, Davil asked, ‘Are
you here to stay?’ Varos replied, ‘I have taught you everything
there is to know of the Creator. Go now and spread the message far
and wide, so that all throughout the world would know as
well.’

And
Varos waved his hand, a path of light
passed over the entire crowd. And those with illnesses were cured,
those with injuries were healed, those with ailments-lifelong held,
were made whole. Then Varos lifted upwards to descend into the
heavens and returned to his place at the Creator’s
side.”

Isaac
stopped speaking there to see the
faces of his flock. They were enthralled, the tale of the Miracle
of Varos always did that. Isaac felt something deep inside him when
reading or listening to it, there was no doubt that it was the
shape of the Creator himself. He closed the dark-black leather book
on the stand in front of him. His copy of The Caelein, the holy
book of the Church of Varos, was well-worn. He had owned it, since
he was eleven years old.

Isaac
continued his sermon, “The Miracle of
Varos is a moving tale. As I can see how it affects us, the
prophet’s teachings and sacrifice gave us our church and our chance
at salvation with the Creator. These are changing times we live
in.

T
his city, this entire nation has adopted
the way of science. So much emphasis is put on the expanding engine
driven mechanisms-those driven by flare-rock and the wave of
electrical device which we now use. But we must never allow these
advances to let us set aside the teachings of Varos, as far too
many have.

O
ur ancestors watched these developments
with fear and thus they made a new home for themselves to the east,
in a new land of plenty across the seas. A home which they had to
fight to make their own, the Kordate Union; a nation whose rule of
law is based on the teachings of Varos. The church elders of the
time saw fit to move themselves to this new land which had been
divinely given to them by the spirit of Varos. But they did not
forget this land and the loyal Varonites who chose to remain. To
them and passed on to us, is the task of keeping the faith of the
Creator alive, despite the discrimination we face each and every
day.

I am proud to be the cleric of
such loyal and good-hearted folk that keep Varo
s alive every day in Alkos by
being here. After you leave today I would ask that you try to think
of one other way in which you can help spread further word of Varos
in your daily lives. It doesn’t need to be something complex,
something as simple as small words to friends and family that may
not keep with our beliefs. Try to let them see the same light and
faith that you yourself have seen and in time the shape may take
root in their heart. May the Creator guide your shape and your
words.”

And with that sentiment he was
finished, he made the Gesture o
f Varos with his hands, the one that had
first been made by the great prophet in the passage he had been
reading. His flock began to exit the rows and make their way out of
the church, while Isaac began to tidy up and collected the weekly
donation tithes. As he was opening the door to his office he heard
his name.

“
An excellent sermon, Isaac,”
someone said from behind him. He turned to see the High Cleric of
Varos for Alkos City, Ethan McSheora, standing there. He smiled at
the middle-aged man. The high priest had a kindly looking face with
rounded spectacles, and like Isaac he was wearing white and silver
priestly robes.

“
High cleric sir, it is good to
see you,” said Isaac. “Do you mind if I take care of this first?”
he asked, and moved the box of money up and down to draw Ethan’s
eyes.

“
Of course
,” replied the older cleric
“I’d prefer to speak in your office. It’s a more appropriate place
for business discussions. Out here should be reserved for matters
of faith and our shapes.”

Isaac
nodded in agreement and held open the
door to his office for the senior priest. Ethan thanked him and
walked through, Isaac closing it behind them. He then moved to the
south wall and began unlocking the safe where he kept the
collection tithes

The high cleric sat down in the
ar
m chair at
Isaac’s desk and asked, “How have you been Isaac? I haven’t seen
you in, oh, how long has it been?”

“
About a month
sir
,” said
Isaac, as the safe clicked for the final time and opened. He took
the money out of the box and placed it inside, then relocked the
safe. “I’ve been well, still keeping my flock in good order.” He
was proud of his loyal flock.

“
Yes, so I’ve
seen
. You’re
one of our best clerics you know. Your church has the highest
attendance records in the city and your sermons are inspiring,”
said Ethan.

“
Thank you sir,” replied Isaac,
pleased at the compliment.

“
Y
ou’ve heard of the problems we’ve been
having with the Kartecs lately?” asked Ethan.

Isaac frowned.
Kartism was the one
of the major elven religions, dominant in Ze Feros and their church
frequently clashed with that of his own. The vast doctrinal
differences aside, both churches claimed that their belief system
was the one and only true religion and all others were heretical.
That fact alone was enough to create animosity between them. But
Isaac had not heard about a particular problem of late.

“
I’m afraid I
haven’t,
” he
replied. “I must be behind on the latest events.” He wondered what
the development was.

“
That’s fine
,” said Ethan. The older cleric
explained further. “The Kartecs have been pestering for the right
to allow their disgusting practices to be allowed within the city
limits, in particular their religious use of that dreadful
mind-altering tarcaine.” Isaac nodded, the Kartec religion, used
the drug in religious ceremonies, claiming that it allowed them to
be one with their god-king.

“
S
everal our more active members decided to
take it upon themselves to stage protests outside the Kartec
churches. Unfortunately one of the protests resulted in violence.
The city watch made arrests on both sides, but the damage was
already done. I’m afraid the government will be conducting an
investigation and I fear it will penetrate the sanctity of our
churches. But if we must operate under such oppression then that is
the Creator’s will. It is times like this that we know he is
testing us.”

Isaac
smiled and Ethan continued. “Though I
disagree with the violence, the fault of this lies with the Kartecs
for attempting to enforce their values upon us. The brave men and
women that organized the protests are to be commended. If the
Kartecs have their way, this nation would be nothing but an outlet
for Ze Feros, imposing their hedonistic and immoral values and
drugs upon us. They would corrupt our youth away from the sacred
shape of Varos and the Creator.”

“
I agree
,” said Isaac. The Kartecs were more
immoral than any of his own atheist fellow Alkons.

“
Good
,” said Ethan. “We must take action
if we are to prevent this moral decay. We need strong leadership
for our church in order to take this fight as far as it needs to
go. Now when I say fight, I of course do not literally mean
fighting with weapons. I am a man of peace as the shape of Varos
teaches us. I mean fighting with good deeds, fighting with
political action and fighting with inspiring words, such as those
that come from you.”

“
I am only a cleric, but
whatever I can do in service to Varos
, I will willingly do so,” replied
Isaac.

“
I want to arrange
for you to be
involved in public events, as a speaker,” said Ethan. “I plan for
our church to organize more protests. This time under control so
that there will be no violence and I need a cleric such as you to
be the voice of guidance.”

Isaac
was overwhelmed with gratitude. “I
would be honored sir,” he said in a gracious tone.

“
Excellent
,” said Ethan. “In order for
our protests and organizations proceed, we will also need
protection. In case the Kartecs decide to turn violent again.”
Isaac nodded, but was hesitant about this part of the older
cleric’s plan, depending on what ‘protection’ meant, it could
inflame the protests.

The older cleric must have
seen
the
worried look on his face and laughed. “Don’t look so concerned
Isaac. I’m not talking about anything illegal, nor I am proposing
we do anything as drastic as hiring mercenaries. There are
Varonites who agree with our cause and aims, but are also skilled
in other areas. There is someone I would like you to meet. She
should have arrived by now.”

Ethan stood up and opened the
door to the office, he glanced back at
Isaac. “She’s here, waiting in the
back seats as I asked. Come Isaac, she’ll be eager to meet
you.”

Isaac
followed Ethan out the door. There
was a woman in plain, brown clothes seated at the back of the
church. Her brown hair had grey streaks and flowed behind her
shoulders. She stood as Ethan approached and clasped his left
hand.

“
High Cleric
McSheora
, it
is good to see you,” she said.

Ethan put his right hand on top
of hers and said
, “Inissa, thank you for coming.” He looked over at Isaac.
“This is Cleric Isaac Gall, one of the most talented speakers of
the words of Varos I have ever had the pleasure to
know.”