Self-Made Scoundrel (18 page)

What was really striking about the altar was it bore no depiction of their god. Instead, a large, golden ball hung in the air, suspended by thin chains from the ceiling. Carved depictions of the earth, clouds and the moon all had their place on the altar but the bright sun caught the light of the candles and gleamed like a thing alive. Derk marveled at the beautifully crafted arrows springing from the sun, its golden rays. Their shafts were coated in what appeared to be gold but their heads were made of glass. The altar table was made of glass as well, a huge thing remarkable to behold. Derk walked through the temple quietly, admiring the strange but beautiful craftsmanship the worshipers had used in reverence to their god.

A robed figure emerged from within the temple, jumping as he realized he wasn’t alone. “Uh,” he stammered, his eyes looking for an escape. “May I help you?”

“Yes, I’m one of the Valleymen here for the chalice. I was just wondering if I could see it?” Derk took his hands out of his pocket and rocked back and forth on his heels.

The priest’s mouth fell open and then he shook his head. “I’ve been instructed to not show it to anyone. The High Priest wants to be the one to reveal it himself. I’ve been ordered-”

“I understand,” Derk said, waving him away and turning to leave. “Orders.” Derk turned and left. He couldn’t help but listen as the priest’s steps quickened till he was running away, the sound disappearing within the temple.

Misplaced Trust

Derk found Sindra in the room, brushing her long hair loose after having it plaited for their travels. She smiled when he walked in, stopping mid-stroke. “Where’ve you been?” she asked. She set the brush down on the bed and stood up, looking toward the door before she put her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth. Derk kissed her back, glad to finally have some time alone with her. Still, Derk couldn’t make use of the newly found time for what he really wanted. He had to find out something.

“When do we get to see the chalice?” he asked. Sindra pushed his hair out of his face and put her hand on his cheek.

“Tomorrow, Father Solin said,” Sindra replied. “They’re going to give it at first light, as the moon and sun will be there to witness it both.” Her brows furrowed as she looked into his eyes. “Why?”

“I’m just curious,” Derk said, shrugging under the weight of her arms. “We came all this way for it, I wanted to know when we’ll be able to see it.”

“I’m excited to see it as well,” Sindra confessed, her eyes sparkling. “To have such an article of faith back in the Church’s hands would be wonderful indeed. The legends behind it!”

“Right,” Derk said. “The Healing of the Acolyte. And made by the Goddess herself! I’m sure many people will come to see it, to touch it. It’ll inspire people throughout the Valley.” Derk felt himself grow excited, thinking about the chalice. It was said to heal the Acolyte who drank water from it generations ago. She had been beaten and left to die on the side of the road. The Goddess had given it to the Acolyte and when she drank from it, she was healed of her wounds. Another version of the story said the Acolyte gave her attackers a drink from the chalice and it killed them, while yet another ending had the violent men beg her for forgiveness, giving up their lives of crime and devoting themselves to introspection. Regardless of the ending, it was supposed to have been made by the Goddess herself. The two horsemen and the exchange between the high priest and the man concerned Derk though.

“I think something is wrong,” Derk huffed. He had to tell someone and Sindra seemed like the one to tell.

Sindra narrowed her eyes at him, her lips pressing together with confusion. “What do you mean?”

Derk shrugged, trying to think of a way of telling her what he saw and thought without having it seem like he was starting at shadows. “I saw some horsemen come galloping from the north, with weapons. They spoke with the High Priest and Brother Riyin. They all looked upset.”

“If they came from the north, they came from the Freewild. It would be unwise of them to go unarmed,” Sindra said. “Maybe they went looking for something mundane. A water source, a lost animal perhaps.”

“That’s not it,” Derk admitted. “I went into the temple and…I saw one of the brothers there. I asked if I could see the chalice and he said the High Priest instructed him to not allow anyone to see it. Everyone looked nervous when we first arrived, Sindra.”

“Because we’re outsiders, Derk,” Sindra laughed. It was a nervous laugh. She dropped her hands from him and stepped away, looking out the window. Her shoulders drooped. Derk felt terrible. He didn’t want to be right.

“Well, you’ve seen it, right? When you went to get everything from the cart into the temple? The priest has shown it to you?” Sindra didn’t turn around and Derk brought his hands to his head, blowing out his cheeks.

“Come with me. To the temple.” She pushed past him and Derk couldn’t do anything but comply, not sure what she was going to do. Sindra walked out of the dormitories, Derk chasing after her, her grey robes fluttering behind her as she made a line for the temple. Asa, Jezlen and Devra called to them and Derk just spun around and waved his hands frantically before he chased after Sindra again. Sindra entered the temple, doing nothing to dampen her footsteps.

“May I help you?” a different priest asked. He was older, wearing a white stole whereas the priest Derk had spoken with had worn an orange one.

“Yes, actually. I was hoping to speak with Father Solin,” Sindra said.

“I’m afraid he is busy at the moment but perhaps I can help you. What do you need?” The old priest looked up as the sound of footsteps echoed in the temple. Asa and Devra entered and stood beside Derk.

“I have finally settled in and I was hoping I could perhaps view the chalice,” Sindra said. Her voice was strong but low, and Derk watched the priest’s face to see his reaction to her request.

“I’m afraid I’m unable to meet your request,” the priest said, bowing his head. “The Father is the only one with the key to its case.”

“Then I will wait for him,” Sindra said, folding her hands.

“You will see the chalice tomorrow, at the ceremony,” the priest said, his voice pitching slightly higher. Derk narrowed his eyes.

“I understand, but you have to understand, other relics have been thought to have been found in the past,” Sindra said. “It would be an embarrassment to both of our churches if this ceremony was performed and the chalice was found to be inauthentic. If I could see it, I could be assured it was in fact the genuine article. I am learned in the history of my Church, both before and in the Valley and could easily save both parties much face in just a few breaths.”

“Please wait here,” the old priest said wearily, shuffling back through the door leading to the rest of the temple. Sindra turned to them, her eyes wide and lips pressed together. Derk thought she looked as if she were about to cry.

“What’s going on?” Asa asked. Both he and Devra looked genuinely confused. Jezlen apparently hadn’t followed them in.

“I came in to see the chalice and they’re saying I can’t see it,” Sindra said, panic in her voice.

“They said the high priest has the key but he isn’t here.” Derk shrugged, hoping his words might calm the priestess down.

“He’s in the stables,” Devra said. “We just saw him. He sent out two men.”

“Which direction did he send them?” Derk asked.

“North, northwest?” Devra said, shrugging. “He said if they didn’t find anything by first light, to come back.”

“The riders I saw came from the northeast,” Derk said, wondering what reason the High Priest had for sending out the two men. Before he could ask, the sound of many footsteps made them all turn toward the doorway, where the High Priest and Riyin stood with several other priests.

“Sister Sindra, Brother Gilen informs me that you wish to see the chalice,” the High Priest said. “I can guarantee you it is not a false replica. It is a thing of beauty we will happily return to your Church tomorrow, at the agreed upon time.”

“I would like to see it,” Sindra said. Derk had never seen Sindra angry but he sensed she was getting close. “A few hours difference will not challenge the importance of the ceremony tomorrow or infringe upon the relationship between our two churches. The wrong item being delivered into our hands will, however.”

The High Priest held up his hand and the rest of the priests behind him looked to each other nervously. “Sister Sindra, we cannot show you the chalice because we do not have it.” The priests behind him all started whispering and murmuring. Some of them eyed Asa with dread. Derk looked at Sindra, walking up so he could stand by her. Her eyes were full of disbelief.

“What?” she said, confusion in her voice. “We…we came all this way. You said you had it!”

“We did have it,” Father Solin said. “And last night, some among us who were against returning the relic to you stole it and escaped into the Freewild with it. We have sent men out to find them and retrieve the item but have yet to find anything but tracks.”

“What are they going to do with it?” Asa asked. Derk cringed. He didn’t want to know the answer.

“I don’t know, to be honest,” the High Priest said. “They may destroy it. They may keep it as a piece to bargain with your Church. Their leader said as much, in his opposition to returning it to you. He said goodwill was not enough of a gain.”

“So he’s going to try and sell it?” Sindra asked. There was disgust in her voice. Derk found the notion sickening as well.

“Perhaps,” Riyin said. His previous agitation was gone. Now he just looked tired. “They could try to get something from your Church. Land. Or medicine. Kirin was tired of living in the Freewild. He wanted our people to be integrated into the Valley proper, despite the misgivings of most of us.”

“He might be riding for Whitfield,” Derk said. “If I had something I thought the Church wanted, I’d go there first.”

“You’re probably right,” Sindra said to Derk, turning to Father Solin. “Where are your people looking?”

“To the northwest, again,” the High Priest said. “We will send some of our men to check the trail. It could be you are right.” The priest came forward and took Sindra’s hands in his, bowing his head sadly. “I am truly sorry for this. I hope that you understand why we kept it from you. We thought they would be found by now and had several days before your arrival. Please forgive us.”

Sindra didn’t say anything for a moment, but she nodded slowly. “I understand what you thought you were doing. Let us hope your men can find the chalice soon. It would be a terrible thing to have it used for personal gain or worse, lost once again.” Sindra took her hands from him and put her hands together. “If you don’t mind, I must retire with my travel companions. I will keep this endeavor in my prayers.”

“As will we, as well as use our resources to find these men and your chalice.” The High Priest nodded his head and turned, he and the priests going back into the hidden area of the temple.

Sindra didn’t look up, her head bowed toward the ground. She walked toward the exit, the three of them following after her. The light had faded and as they left they heard the bells signaling dinner. Jezlen stared at them as they filed out. “Well?”

“They don’t have the chalice,” Sindra said wearily, walking back toward the dormitory. “They did, but several among them stole it, not wanting to return it to us. They have other men looking for the chalice and the people who stole it.” Derk thought now the tears would fall but they didn’t. He couldn’t imagine how frustrated she was.

“What should we do?” Devra asked. She was rubbing the inside of her hand with her thumb. Asa stood by, his eyebrows furrowed across his face.

“We could go find them ourselves,” Derk shrugged. “If they’re not back by first watch. Since there won’t be a chalice for a ceremony, there’d be no reason to stay.” He watched as Sindra winced and kept his head down, thinking of something else to add. “And doesn’t Jez here have extensive knowledge of the Freewild? And at finding people?”

“I would be able to find something,” Jezlen said, too flatly for Derk’s taste.

“Of course you could find ‘something’,” Derk said. He turned to Sindra “And Asa and I are here to defend if anything happens. They might respond better to you than the high priest. You’re the representative of the Church. You could negotiate with them. If the High Priest finds them first, what do you think he’ll offer them?”

“It’s an opportunity to show the mercy of the Goddess,” Asa said.

“You’re not going to hit them?” Devra asked, obviously surprised.

“Maybe a little,” Asa admitted. “I mean, they did steal from the Church.”

“I’ll give you my answer later,” Sindra said, looking overwhelmed by what they were saying. She put her hands up and then dropped them to her sides. “I’m actually very tired. I don’t have an appetite. Please, go on to evening meal without me.” Sindra hugged herself and looked toward the dormitory, blinking.

“Are you sure?” Derk said. He looked to the twins and the Forester. “You go, I’ll be there in a bit.” Jezlen left first, Asa and Devra lingering, their concern for the priestess evident in their faces before they turned and followed the Forester. Derk nodded his head toward the dormitory and he and Sindra walked slowly in that direction.

Derk thought maybe now she would cry but she didn’t. He slipped an arm around her waist and she let her arms drop from her chest. She sighed heavily, shaking her head and chuckling.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Sindra huffed, laying her head on Derk’s shoulder. “I can’t say ‘I knew it.’ Or blame myself for trying to do this. We haven’t seen how it all ends yet. Only the Goddess knows.”

“That’s a good attitude to have,” Derk said, resting his head on top of hers. “Try not to get caught up in blaming people. Better to make a plan to get out of it.” He heard music starting in the schoolhouse, and the smell of food permeated the hot summer air. “You can’t blame yourself for what happened. You didn’t make those men steal the chalice.”

“I know,” Sindra said. They walked through the doorway of the dormitory, into the room. Someone had placed a low bed in the middle, making it more cramped than before. Derk and Sindra laughed as they tried to maneuver around it, sitting down together on one of the bunks. Derk rested his hands on his stomach, the both of them leaning their backs on the wall. “If they find the chalice tonight, I would be so relieved.”