(THOB) Chapter 96: The Faithful Departed (Patreon)

The rise of the moon found Ezril in his room conversing with Lenaria. Tonight, she told of the god Berlak.

According to her, some thought him the god of the sun but Rin said he was nothing but a child amongst the gods; weak and not truly a god of anything. Although he had a limited control over the sun and his power rose with it, it did not make him the god of it.

“Sounds like she simply didn’t like him and just doesn’t want to accept he was a god of anything,” Ezril said.

“Is.”

“What?”

“Is,” Lenaria repeated. “Berlak is still alive, and is still very much a god. And yes, she does hate him. According to her, once, when the gods had a problem, he refused to fight.”

“What of those who worshipped him?”

Lenaria shook her head. “He didn’t have any,” she answered. “Although humans recognized him as the sun god, he was one of the gods that were simply revered or venerated; never worshipped.”

“What of the moon god?”

“Goddess,” Lenaria corrected. “Not much is known of her. Rin said she was the kind to keep to herself, watching over humans while they slumbered. She was also the goddess of dreams, watching humans dream, and manipulating them as she felt was required. Rin said the gods often suspected her of giving them dreams.”

Ezril noted the accusation in Lenaria’s words and found himself asking: “What’s so wrong with that?”

“Gods do not dream,” she answered. “Giving them dreams made them feel closer to the humans who worshipped them. It was a form of degradation they couldn’t condone.”

“Then why didn’t they punish her?”

“Because most of them needed her. Not all gods can communicate with humans without the use of a dream or a vessel. They referred to her with their messages, trusting her to present it to the human they chose through dreams.”

“Wait, you said was,” Ezril pointed out, suspicious.

“Yes. Was. Rin said she’s been lost for a long time. Apparently, she’s been missing since long before the war of the Scorned.”

“Is she dead?”

Lenaria shook her head. “Just missing. Rin said none of the gods know how to find her.”

Ezril sighed. Angry gods and missing gods were not among the things he’d ever thought he would learn about. There was a time you never thought you’d be in the seminary, or become a priest, he reminded himself.

“What was her name?” he finally asked, wondering if Lenaria knew it.

“Medra. Although, there were those who referred to her as Lunar.”

“The eclipse?”

“Yes, the eclipse.” Lenaria smiled. “I must admit; I didn’t expect you to know of the eclipse.”

Ezril frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean? We were taught these things in the seminary.”

Lenaria grinned. “Were you, really?”

“Yes. It’s when the moon passes directly behind Vayla and into her…” Ezril frowned. “Why am I even explaining it to you?”

Lenaria smirked. “I’m not the one who doesn’t know what a lunar eclipse is, now, am I?”

First light hadn’t risen long when Ezril trained Foln, continuing in his training to help the boy attain accuracy along with his power, hoping that in due time he would be able to teach the boy control, something he truly required. The lesson was as vibrant as the activity in the tower. Foln proved determined to beat him, if not learn. And Ezril had half the mind to prove the boy was too inexperienced to achieve such a feat.

At noon the fort was drowned in an ominous silence as Ezril walked the grounds. He watched two sisters standing in a corner, one consoling the other as she wept. It demanded questions, but questions he would ask Alanna, and no one else.

He found her in the infirmary as was expected. But she was not attending to the patients, as he always found her. Doctor Nixarv had been the one to show him to the quarters she occupied within the infirmary.

Ezril found her reading a piece of paper with a sadness to her demeanor; a woman slightly defeated.

“You know, I never knew the woman very well,” she said after Nixarv left the room, closing the door behind him. She didn’t trouble herself to look up from the paper. Though she was looking at it, Ezril doubted she was reading its contents.

“Despite being the leader of my group, I knew very little about her and spoke with her very rarely,” she continued. “It was the way she was, never seeking disturbance and never allowing it. But she was playful when she wanted to be, jovial and so full of life. Most of the sisters didn’t like how much she favored Sister Snow, but she did her best to hide it. We females,” she scoffed. “It’s not so easy a task to hide the attention shown to someone else from us. We are terrible like that. I cannot say I cared for her very much. I must say, I didn’t even like her.” Now she looked at him and he saw the tears in her eyes as they implored him. “So why does it still hurt so much?” she cried. “Why can’t I stop the pain?” she asked of him, pain coloring her voice. “Why do I miss her already?”

“What has happened, Alanna?” Ezril asked, making his way to her side.

She regarded him one more time, but rather than speak, she offered him the paper.

Taking it from her hand, he rose to read its contents.

Dear Sister Alanna,

Your monthly report has been duly received and reviewed by the abbess, and it is with deep disappointment that I wish to inform you of your lack of leadership in controlling the priestess in your care. In due time the matter of her attachment to the priest will be reviewed and dealt with. This, however, will be done in consultation with the seminary, and only then will a decision be come to. Feel free to inform Priestess Lenaria that the Abbess has given exclusive orders that she return to the battle field upon receipt of this letter.

All sisters and priestesses in your care are to return to the convent by the end of the month. That said, it is with deep regret that I wish to inform you that the convent finds itself with a reason to mourn the loss of one of our very own.

Abbess Lyniah has returned to Truth’s embrace, and will be given over to the pyre come the end of the month. It is for this reason that all sisters and priestesses are to report to the convent for the funeral of Abbess Lyniah and the appointment of the new Abbess of the convent, Mother Bererevine. It is to be noted that attached to this report is a letter penned by Abbess Lyniah before her death. It is to be given to Priestess Lenaria and is not to be read by anyone else.

May the soul of Abbess Lyniah and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of Truth, rest in peace.

Signed,

Arch Bishop Grenis Elvress

Ezril gently returned the paper to the desk when he was done. His silence weighed down on him.

“When was this received?” he asked quietly.

“Yesterday.”

Yesterday? he wondered. Then why did the tears wait till today? “When did you give the sisters the information.”

Again, she turned her eyes to him, red from tears. “A few hours ago.”

“And Lenaria’s letter?”

“I gave her hers after I broke the news to the sisters.”

Ezril felt the weight of panic flood him. “Where is Priestess Lenaria?”

Alanna watched him through swollen eyes. There was a hesitation as her lips trembled, but she answered. “She’s been in her room. She has refused to open for anyone. Some of the sisters have tried but to no avail. She’s never been one to talk to so easily. I doubt they’ll be able to make her leave her room…”

Ezril turned on his feet, ignoring whatever else Alanna was saying and rushed out the door. Leaving her to mourn in solitude, he made his way out of the infirmary.