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Evermore: The Gathering	By : RosaTenebrum Category: A through F > Dragonlance Views: 9663 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own the Dragonlance series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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CHAPTER 27

"There's no time, why can't Wargo see that? Even a child knows that organizing a meeting with the vestry takes weeks, and if - if - they're convinced, the paperwork will take months! Too bloody late by then."

"What I'd like to know," said Acolyte Beldinas in response to Acolyte Jankyn's tirade, "is why he's being so damn sweet on her. The letter makes it clear that it's time for swords, not words. She's impaired confidence in her personal integrity and the integrity of the church. It is Paladine's decree that she should be punished for her misdeeds."

"Too right," Jankyn responded through gritted teeth. "She can't be let off the hook. The people have the right to know."

Beldinas shook his hooded head in wonder. "A fling with a blackrobe. Who would have guessed?"

Who indeed. Acolyte Adik walked behind his two colleagues, listening to their exchange of words. Of course they wouldn't let her get away with it. The people would know, oh yes they would, and she would be punished - just not the way Zoltan Wargo wanted. Adik didn't get it. He didn't get Wargo. The Revered Son had been right about the lady's nature all along, and even though her misdemeanours were certainly of the lowest nature, Wargo seemed more concerned with the theological aspects of the situation. Sure, the Blood Sea Scrolls stated loud and clear that the leader of the church must be male, and someone of a very high moral character: obviously, Revered Daughter Crysania was neither. Adik could easily agree with Zoltan on that count. But the Scrolls also stated, even louder and clearer, that sinners must suffer, and that's where Adik Deverill and Zoltan Wargo parted ways. What a stroke of luck, then, that Paladine had sent to him these like-minded brethren at the most appropriate time! Swords, not words - that was indeed the answer, just like Acolyte Beldinas had so wisely put. Adik was particularly impressed with Beldinas, had been from the beginning. Granted, the man was rather shy, always keeping his bespectacled eyes on the ground, but anyone could see he was also pious and eager to serve the cause. He had sought them out on his own, appearing one night at a gathering at Farag's home, with a burning interest in Adik's opinions on the concept of holy war and the apocryphal segments of the Platinum Father's Word. Was it any wonder then, was it any wonder, that Adik was already starting to think of Beldinas as his future disciple, perhaps his right-hand man even, when he was the leader of the church? The leader of Paladine's Holy Church... The thought seemed incredible, unreal - but with the help of these men, and the others they would rally still, Adik felt certain it would actually happen, and an euphoric joy swept over him as he walked on. Holy War in Paladine's name - his loftiest dream ever since he had joined the church two years ago, now suddenly in his reach! He would purge the church of its morally corrupt members and bring back the original forms of worship. He would correct the course of faith, sadly derailed by Revered Father Elistan who had been so besotted with a pretty cleric that he had named her his successor against all the tenets of Paladine's truth. Well, no more of that. All would be healed. All would be fine again.

His friends were still on the subject of the Revered Daughter's wicked affair.

"Do you think she's really doing the nasty with the mage, still? I mean, really doing it?" Acolyte Seth wanted to know.

"Of course she is," Beldinas said in a bored tone. "That's what they're all like. Women. Crazy from birth. A cleric's robe makes not an ounce of difference."

"What does the mage see in her, I wonder. Not much in common."

Adik pitched in, cracking a dry laugh, "Perhaps he has a soft spot for holy maids. Look," he said, and they all stopped. "The main thing is, she's proven herself a worldclass hypocrite. I think, I know, this is Paladine's way of showing us the error of Revered Father Elistan's ways. The man tried to modernize God's Word. Laws that were laid down thousands of years ago in the Age of Might. That is arrogant and self-righteous. We're only humans. We cannot mould Paladine's will to our liking."

Acolyte Farag heaved a sigh. "Which brings to mind that the wizard, or should I say, Revered Daughter Crysania's paramour..."

"Don't call her that. She's not worthy," Acolyte Seth put in with a suffering expression.

"... tried to become god himself. That's not just arrogant. That's nuts. Not even your namesake went that far," Farag added, turning to Beldinas.

"The Kingpriest demanding godhood from the gods? Surely that's just an allegory."

"You know what I think?" Adik said loudly, his voice cutting through the beginnings of the theological debate he did not want to witness right now. "I think Zoltan's case is lost, with or without the letter," he said when he got the men's attention. "The sad truth is that the vestry won't listen, not now, not ever, not even if they saw the two of them fornicating right before their eyes. Why do you think they're there in the first place? Who chose them? Yes, Elistan. They all knew him personally and they're all smitten with the man, thinking that he could do no wrong. Especially Algernon and Selus. Isn't that right, Farag?" Adik nudged Farag with his elbow.

"Correct. Makes you wonder if they don't actually worship Elistan rather than the Platinum Father."

"Heretics, the whole bunch," said Adik sourly. "But we can still change the direction of the church. Take it back to the beginning."

"And our victory will be the judgment of Paladine upon the bitch's crimes," Farag concluded and then looked at Seth. "That sound better, Seth?"

"Definitely more suitable."

"I wish we had copies of the letter," said Jankyn wistfully. "Would be so much easier to convince the people."

"The sender said he was going to help us some more," Farag pointed out. "I wonder what he's up to."

"Whatever it is," said Beldinas, "we need to thank Paladine for him. A 'friend', he calls himself. We must remember him in our prayers with gratefulness and affection. I have no doubt that Paladine, in His great wisdom, sent him to us in our time of need. What clearer sign that the Platinum Father wishes us to save His beloved church, to put it back on the righteous path?"

"Thanks be to Paladine," Adik agreed. "As for the letter, Zoltan can sit on it, for all I care. All I want is for the truth to come out. We'll go out there and talk to people, especially the poor and sick and others of the destitute. We're gonna tell them of the new world order that's about to come in Paladine's name once the harlot is put aside."

"But we're bringing back a vengeful god," Seth said. "Do you think folks will be ready for that?"

"We're bringing back a just god," Beldinas corrected, adjusting the position of his thick spectacles. "Forgiveness for everybody is wrong. Forgiveness without repentance - now where's the sense in that? A just god, Seth. Those who are last now shall be first, and there will be no more clerics wallowing in riches. That is the language that the poor will listen to. That is what Paladine was until Elistan decided that he didn't like it."

"Listen to this man," Adik said to the others. "Truer words were never spoken."

Beldinas gave a modest shrug. "I'm only following Paladine's plan. Revered Daughter Crysania must die, and so must the mage. That's the Platinum Father's way with sinners."

"Yes," Adik said fiercely and spoke again the words he had spoken at the meeting, "The Platinum Father is a Great Lord of War, and when He shall deliver the offenders before thee, thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them.'"

Everyone pondered this for a while, until Jankyn spoke up. "So do we just go around the city spreading word? There must be something else we can do."

"There's a lot we can do," Adik said, "and we will start by abducting the vestry." The acolytes stared at Adik in silence: a good idea, perhaps, but surely it sounded a bit mad? "It'll be easy," Adik went on, not minding their sceptic looks. "You know Farag and I are acolyte members of the vestry. We'll summon the others under some pretense and then take them prisoner. Obviously we'll need to recruit help first."

"Excellent idea," said Beldinas. "In the meantime, we should spread the word in every tavern and every shop. We have to knock on every door, visit every market. Starting from the poor town."

"She does her usual round at the marketplace the day after tomorrow. Perhaps we could go and see what happens?" Seth suggested, giving his colleagues a meaningful look.

"Like, sabotage?" Jankyn said; he didn't seem to like the idea.

"Why, yes," Seth replied with a straight face. "Some people only understand force. And we need as many on our side as we can manage, don't we?"

"I second that," Beldinas said and then cast his eyes across the street at the community notice board which had a poster attached to it: The Inauguration of Revered Daughter Crysania, the eighteenth of Hiddumont, at the Central Plaza, at noon. "That's a lovely poster," Beldinas said with a sly smile. "It would be a shame if something happened to it."

The five acolytes talked for a quarter of an hour more, making plans and polishing details.

"Another thing," said Adik as they were leaving. "What should we call ourselves?"

Beldinas tilted his head, thinking. "How about... Agents of Paladine's Retribution?"

Everyone liked that.

"Acolyte Beldinas," Adik said, even more impressed with the young man than before, "will you lead us to a prayer before we part?"

Beldinas looked up shyly. "I... I was hoping you would do it, Adik. You're the leader. You're a natural born leader. You have a way with words."

Beaming with pride, Adik stepped into position, and then they all joined hands to form a circle.

"Valiant Warrior, Thak the Hammer, Skyblade!" Adik began. "Help us in our cause to bring greater glory to your name."

"Glory to Paladine," the acolytes said together, casting dark shadows into the white sun-heated pavement.
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Evermore: The Gathering