Hederick The Theocrat (5 page)

half naked and built like a Caergothi blacksmith?“ ”I could see only half of him,
Tarscenian. He flowed up out of the ground. His torso was covered with a loose shirt. It
could have been a robe, I suppose ...“ Hederick's voice trailed off, and he felt the
strength drain from him. The fallen priest was laughing! Mirth so filled Tarscenian that
tears streamed from his eyes. He fell backward against the rug, chortling. ”By the True
Gods!“ Tarscenian roared. ”He's as crazy as his mother!“ Ancilla reached across and placed
her hand comfortingly on Hederick's arm. ”You could not have seen a god that doesn't
exist, little brother,“ she murmured. ”You are hysterical. Forgive Tarscenian; he's had no
sleep in a week. Calm yourself. Perhaps when you have rested, you will come to see, as
Tarscenian has...“ Hederick snatched up the dragon figurine and leaped 1 to his feet.
Ancilla grabbed for the charm, but Hederick held it away from her, eyes flashing. ”I saw
Sauvay, I tell you!“ he roared. ”He warned me about you, witch. It was Sauvay, and he
spoke only to me. He praised me, Ancilla. He praised me! Whether you accept it or not, the
Old Gods are gone. I will lead the followers of the New Gods, and together we will
annihilate magic and cleanse the world. It is ordained!“ Alarmed by the boy's words,
Tarscenian stopped laughing and sat up. Hederick, clutching the dragon in his left hand,
launched himself at his former mentor. Hederick heard Ancilla chanting, and out of the
corner of his eye, saw her fling dried herbs in the fire and move her hands in a spell.
Sauvay guided his blow; Hederick's punch knocked the priest back on his elbows. Blood
dripped from one corner of Tarscenian's mouth, but he seemed not to notice. ”The magic?“
Tarscenian asked Ancilla apprehensively as he stood and pulled her to her feet. Hederick's
sister was noticeably upset. ”I tried, my love,“ she replied disconsolately. ”Nothing ...“
”Magic will not work against a true believer, you fools!“ Hederick thundered. They fell
back a step, surprised at his vehemence. ”What shall we do, Ancilla?“ Tarscenian pressed.
”Hederick has the dragon,“ she whispered back. ”We must get it!“ ”Sauvay!“ Hederick
bellowed to the skies. ”Kill them both!“ He yanked the cloth from a table and whisked it
toward the fireplace. The fringe touched the flames, and soon Hederick was whirling the
blazing cloth like a flag. The curtains caught fire, and likewise the sleeve of
Tarscenian's robe, but Ancilla's silk robe seemed impervious. ”Fire purifies!“ Hederick
shouted. The roof thatch seeped smoke. ”We must leave, Tarscenian!“ Ancilla cried. ”I'm
bound by my vow to him. I can't hurt my brother. I am powerless!“ ”Of course you are,
witch,“ Hederick snarled. Now it was his turn to laugh. ”I am the righteous one. You have
seduced Tarscenian away from virtue. You have doomed both of you. You are...“ Ancilla
hurled more of the herbs into the fire. ”Ranay nansensharn,“ she chanted desperately.
Again her fingers danced wicked figures. ”Ranay nansensharn." Hederick threw himself at
Tarscenian and Ancilla. One moment the two traitors stood together, arms entwined,
surrounded by flame. The next moment they were gone. Hederick found himself sprawled on
the smoldering rug before the mantel. He escaped from the evil dwelling just as the roof
began to collapse.

*****

It seemed as if no time at all had passed when Hederick returned to the sleeping village
of Garlund. The glow from the flames that were eagerly devouring Ancilla's cottage and the
copse around it lit up the sky. The moons had set. Hederick lit a lantern and set it on
the back of a wagon in the courtyard.

“People of Garlund, arise!” he shouted. Sauvay was watching over him; his voice had never
been so deep and confident. The boy crawled up onto the back of the wagon so that he was
gazing down

upon the sleepy Garlunders when they spilled out of their houses and into the village
courtyard. “A great moment has arrived!” Hederick called. “The New Gods are about to
present us with a precious gift!” In every face, from the youngest to the eldest, Hederick
detected godlessness. How could he have been so blind, creeping into houses one by one to
find evidence of individual crimes? It would have been better to search for those who
hadn't sinned.

“A gift!” Hederick shouted again. Voices churned around him. “What's the boy doing, waking
us at such an hour?” “What's wrong?” “Is someone hurt?” “It's Venessi's boy, causing
trouble again.” “Where's the priest? The lad answers to him now.” “Tarscenian is gone. The
prayer house is empty. His things are missing.” Hederick raised his hands. “The false
priest has abandoned us. He's betrayed us and joined the witch, Ancilla.” “What's the
idiot talking about?” “Tarscenian was as devout as I.” “Send the boy back to bed.”
“Where's his mother?” “Let Venessi deal with him.” “But where is the priest?” “Has
Hederick hurt him?” “That weasel, hurt anyone?” The voices surrounded Hederick, firming
his resolve. At last the boy's mother pushed through the crowd, angrily shoving the
villagers out of her way. “What are you doing, Hederick?” Venessi snapped, scowling.
“Haven't you sinned enough? Must I banish you permanently? See where your willfulness has
gotten us! Tiolanthe will punish you!” She reached into the wagon, but Hederick easily
slipped away from her grasp. “Venessi”Hederick would call her “mother” no more, for the
Seeker gods were his parents now “Tiolanthe is a myth.” He sneered down at her, glad that
at last the tables were turned. She was beneath him, and powerless to hurt him now. “You
imagined himto lead these people into sin and satisfy your greed. But Tiolanthe does not
exist, and never did.” “Hederick, get down!” Venessi ordered. “You are a mere boy. That
heathen priest has filled you with grandiose ideas. Get down, I say!” “No.” “Tarscenian
has fled like a cheat and a thief,” she continued, satisfaction ripe in her tones. “I knew
he would. Tiolanthe will forgive you, Hederick, if you stop this now. Even I will forgive
you. Recant at once.” Again he refused. “Then you will die,” she announced with smug
satisfaction. “I'll not permit such viciousness, not when I can so easily prevent it.”
Venessi pointed to three of the largest men in the crowd of villagers. “Peren Volen.
Willad Oberl. Jerad Oberl. Fetch my worthless son!” The men hurried to do Venessi's
bidding. “Sauvay, god of vengeance, stand for me,” Hederick prayed. He expected Sauvay to
strike the three dead, but they advanced up onto the wagon, towering over him with balled
fists. All looked delighted with their mission. “Sauvay, your servant awaits,” he
whispered. “Come to me now.” There was no rushing wind, no circle of brilliance. Sauvay
had said he'd be with Hederick as long as the boy was faithful, but now there was no sign
of the god. Had Hederick weakened? Was Sauvay angry with him for some reason? Perhaps this
was a test of his resolve. “I will show myself worthy, Sauvay,” he murmured. Hederick
searched his pockets for some weapon. There was nothing but the glittering dragon he'd
taken from the witch. Garlunders were simple people, he thought, perhaps the gaudy thing
would distract them like crows, just long enough for him to escape. He cradled the dragon
in his bare hand. It felt warm to the touch. “Stop!” he cried. He raised one arm to throw
the dragonthen halted, stunned. All the villagers, Venessi included, looked at him as
though entranced. The bauble was bathed in an eerie glow. A miracle! “The sign!” Hederick
breathed. “Sauvay is with me! Blessed be the Seeker gods,” he intoned, raising his voice.
“People of Garlund!” They gaped. Some actually beamed inanely. “Look,” said a woman who'd
berated him earlier, "it's

young Hederick. Hasn't he grown! Venessi must be proud.“ Venessi emitted a beatific smile.
”Certainly, Marta. Hederick is the joy of my life. All my trials become nothing when I see
his triumph. Everything I have done, I have done for him. I am blessed.“ Now all were
speaking, smiling, pointing. ”What a pious young man!“ ”Aren't we lucky to have a saint
among us.“ ”He is destined for great acts.“ ”I always saw promise in the lad.“ ”He has
been set apart for a higher calling.“ ”Blessed be the Seeker gods!“ They cheered, and the
boy who stood above them felt the power of their acclamation. Sauvay had been bountiful
beyond Hederick's imagining. He stroked the dragon and sighed a prayer of thanks. ”People
of Garlund,“ he repeated, purposely pitching his voice low. The villagers had to fall
silent to hear his every word. ”We are at a holy crossroads tonight. Venessi has led us
down a false path. For a long time we followed her fraudulent gods, but the real gods, the
gods of the Seekers, cry out for justice. Venessi deserves punishment. She cares nothing
for us.“ Frowns fell across their dull faces like flickering lamplight, and they began to
mutter. ”Lad's right.“ ”Venessi would see us damned before she'd admit to being only a
common woman.“ ”She's too proud.“ ”She murdered her own husband!“ ”See her fine houseso
much nicer than ours.“ ”We fed her, served her, and for what?“ ”She must think we are
fools.“ ”Cast her out! Banish her!“ ”People!“ Hederick interjected forcefully when their
emotions had been raised to fever pitch. All heads turned his way. Venessi backed away
from the wagon, but two women caught her arms and prevented further retreat. ”This woman
tricked you into duplicity and sin!“ Hederick cried, pointing at the woman who had been
his tormentor for thirteen years. ”That's true,“ one man shouted. ”Listen to Hederick.“
'This woman used your piety against you!” “That's so,” another man responded. “This woman
stole from you!” “Yes.” “She starved you and your families!” “Vile witch.” “This woman
endangered your souls by leading you to a deity she knew to be falseand by spurning the
very gods who could redeem you!” Peren Volen spoke from behind him. “She is evil,” he
said. “This woman led her own daughter to witchcraft, sent her away to study the black
arts!” “She is evil.” Jerad Oberl added his voice. “This woman slew her own husband!” “She
is evil,” Willad Oberl agreed. “And you would do no more than banish her?” Hederick's eyes
blazed, and he raised his hands before the crowd. “Kill her!” Peren and the Oberls howled.
“You would leave her alive to lead others into blasphemy?” “Kill her!” “The Seeker gods
watch you now, people of Garlund, to see if you will prove your faith. Do you love the New
Gods, villagers of Garlund? Do you fear them, adore them?” The people screamed and
shouted. They danced, leaping into the night air as though ecstacy forced them to take
vigorous action or die. “Kill the sinner!” Hederick shouted. He swept his hand toward
Venessi. She struggled against the women who held her, then cowered as strong, determined
hands twisted her arms and vicious fingers pinched and pulled at her. “Let not such an
evildoer remain alive to infect you and your children. Kill her!” With a roar, the crowd
fell upon Venessi, drowning out her screams with their cries of righteous rage. Hederick
caught one last glimpse of his mother's terrified face, then she was swept under

clawlike hands and booted feet like a leaf in a whirlwind. At length, the people drew
back. Some looked bewildered, as though they had awakened only that moment to find Venessi
inexplicably trampled and beaten to death on the ground before them. “People of Garlund.”
Hederick held the dragon aloft and offered another silent prayer to Sauvay. “See what you
have done,” he remonstrated quietly. “This dear woman lived only for you. She risked her
life bringing you out of the decay of Caergoth to the richness of these plains. Venessi
gave up her beloved husband for you because he had sinned and no longer could set the
example she knew you needed. She sent her daughter away for the same reason: to keep you
safe. It was through her actions that you, the people of Garlund, came to the altar of the
New Gods. She tried her utmost to warn you about the false priest, yet you have so little
love in your hearts that you...” Hederick sighed, gesturing at the body. He clasped the
dragon so tightly that the diamonds cut his hand; tears welled in his eyes. He let a few
drops spill onto his cheeks. “She was my mother, never forget.” He forced more tears to
flow, and several villagers began to cry. All avoided looking at Venessi's dead body.
“This is murder,” Hederick whispered, so piercingly that all could hear him. “You have
sinned, people of Garlund. You know such a heinous act cannot be expiated by prayer and
fasting, or by sacrifices and gifts to the gods and their priests. There is only one
punishment for such a crime. ”Willad, Jerad, Peren, attend me.“ The three men straightened
as if hypnotized. ”I order you, in the name of Sauvay, god of power and vengeance, to
execute the sinners of this village.“ To the villagers, Hederick said, ”I order you, in
the name of Sauvay and the Seeker pantheons, to accept your just punishment.“ The
villagers stood, sheeplike, awaiting their fate. Hederick rejoiced inwardly to Sauvay. The
three men set silently to work. Not one villager ran or struggled. The Oberl brothers and
Peren Volen strangled the life's breath out of each. Frideline Bacque, who'd worked so
hard to attract Peren Volen, did not even blink when he killed her. When there were but
the three men left, Hederick ordered Peren to slay the Oberls. Then, at Hederick's
command, Peren Volen walked obediently down to the river and drowned himself, and the
people of Garlund were no more. Soon Hederick had the Oberls' best horse harnessed to the
wagon. A short time later, the back of the vehicle was piled with items for his travels.
Then he set fire to Gar-lund. ”Fire purifies,“ he murmured, reveling in the heat and
cleansing power of the blaze. Once again flames lit Heder-ick's way as he left a place of
sin. Soon he and the horse and wagon were miles away, and the sun had begun to rise.
”Think of the converts I can bring to the Seekers, and to Sauvay!" he whispered to
himself. He wrapped the dragon figurine in a scrap of leather, tied a thong to it, and
slipped it around his neck, inside his shirt. Hederick faced the world alone, but he knew
a god watched over him.