Few members of the Order would have coped so well with demons and secret alliances.
The High Priestess? she asked.
Creegan smiled. Shell object, of course, but as she has no standing within the Order, Ill smile, nod, and suggest that she should pack if shes to leave with me on the ride to Salador.
Sandreena nodded. The High Priestess Seldon had ambitions of her own and would be actively seeking a nomination to the office of High Priestess of the Grand Temple once the convocation began.
Creegan said, I suspect shell dismiss you quickly and begin the endless flattery I will be subjected to on the journey.
Sandreena couldnt help but smile. The High Priestess might be pleased to see Creegan leaving Krondortheir relationship had always held a contentious elementbut his elevation to the highest calling in the Order, would make him an even more important voice in the temple, and he would have a great deal of influence over the succession when the current High Priestess stepped down.
Youll only need to make one quick courtesy call, which I suggest you do now, before I let her know of your promotion.
Promotion?
Of course. I cant leave a Knight-Adamant in charge of the Order in the Western Realm. Effective immediately, you are now a Sergeant-Adamant of the Order, but will bear the office rank of Adiuvare. Its an old title we rarely use, but its still recognized. So your official title will be Adiuvare-Sergeant-Adamant. Once Bellamy arrives, you will become just another Sergeant.
She tried not to smile. Just another Sergeant, he said. As a rule, Knight-Adamants had to serve for twenty years to obtain the rank of Sergeant and few lived long enough. She was certain she not only was the youngest Sergeant in the Order, but perhaps in the history of the Order.
I will do my best not to disappoint you, Father-Bishop.
If I thought there was even a remote possibility of that, I would have given the job to someone else, said Creegan. Now, go make your call on the High Priestess, get something to eat, and rest. I think youll discover the post is not as easy as you think. He motioned to the pile of papers and said, More men have been defeated by reports than all the steel throughout history. Then he made a dismissive gesture and she rose, bowed slightly, and left his quarters.
Under normal circumstances, she would have been elated by the promotion, for it would have been a signal that the Goddess had found her service worthy. In this particular circumstance it felt not like a gift, or reward, but a heavy burden. Then she chided herself: if an even bigger burden had been placed on her, it simply meant that the Goddess deemed her able to meet the demands of office.
Still, she thought as her stomach growled, she wished she could get something to eat before visiting the High Priestess.
Sandreena made her call on the High Priestess, who was, as Creegan predicted, distracted by her preparations to leave the next day for the arduous ride to the port of Salador where she and Creegan would take ship to Rillanon to attend the convocation to elect the new Grand Master of the Order of the Shield of the Weak. The High Priestess had no official duties regarding the Order, but as every prelate of rank would be in attendance while they conducted their ceremonies and elected Creegan, everyone else would be playing temple politics. Sandreena was glad that she was to remain behind, even if she had been handed responsibility for the Order in Krondor, which involved supervising the Order in the entire Western Realm of the Kingdom of the Isles.
After she had finally eaten, Sandreena returned to the common barracks of the order and gave her dirty tabard and clothing to a servant to be cleaned. She preferred to care for her own arms and armour. She went to the communal baths and, pleased to find it empty, gave herself over to a completely thorough cleaning.
While she scrubbed her filthy hair, she considered her feelings about Creegans departure; his promotion was as good as ordained since she had first met him, yet there was always this feeling. She sighed.
Encountering Amirantha after that near fatal attack on Sorcerers Isle, had reignited feelings she would rather ignore. Creegan had the same effect on her. But, although her intimacy with Amirantha was something she wished had never happened, she suspected it was something she would regret with Creegan.
Her order was not celibate, though like most people given over to an important calling, personal issues were always of lesser importance; but, as a woman in her prime, she felt certain needs assert themselves from time to time.
She had never considered family a blessing, given how she grew up, yet now she often wondered about being a mother. She knew nothing about raising a child; her mother had been lost to drugs, drink and men, and no permanent father had been at hand. Being ill-used by men since she had begun to blossom had given her a very unforgiving perspective on them.
There were only two men she had come to care for, Brother Mathias who had rescued her from her Keshian slave master, and Father-Bishop Creegan, who had been her mentor, but now she was beginning to think he was more important to her than that.
There were two men she wished dead: A black hearted rogue called Jimmy Hand by some, Quick Jim by others, who had controlled the brothel where she had served as a high priced whore when she was little more than a girl, and who had sold her to the Keshian; And Amirantha. He had charmed her, lied to her, and used her, and had lived up to her general judgment on the worth of men.
A tiny pang told her she didnt truly wish Amirantha dead, but rather she wished that he had told her the truth. Even when she had lashed out and knocked him to the floor she had felt instant regret. She wished she could have told him that he had hurt her, but that would make her look weak.
Picking up a bucket she poured water over herself, cleaning away the dirt and soap, then bent over and ran a comb through her hair. The water was hot, but the air was cold after the passing storms and she felt gooseflesh on her skin.
She decided to forego the meditative steam room and retired to the barracks. She donned a simple white shift and turned in early. She was a sound sleeper and should others of her order enter, she was sure they would not wake her. All she wanted for this night was a sound sleep with no dreams.
Morning brought the departure of the group travelling to Salador, led by the High Priestess and the Father-Bishop. As Creegan had predicted, Seldon was being as deferential as humanly possible to the prospective Grand Master of the Order of the Shield of the Weak, to the point of being cloying.
When she had awakened, Sandreena had discovered a new uniform laid out for her across the chest at the foot of her bed, and on top of it a new tabard, this one emblazoned with a chevron and crown above her heart, signifying her new rank of sergeant. She couldnt resist smiling as she beheld it. She was not a prideful woman by nature, but she did like how this badge of honour made her feel.
She had dressed and postponed a morning meal to be in the marshalling yard for the Father-Bishops departure.
Creegan smiled when he saw her, and put his hand on her shoulder. The fate of the Order in the west is in your hands now, Sandreena. He leaned in so no one else could over hear his words and he said, Theres something on my desk that you need to read; its the report you brought to me. Act on it at once. Im not telling you what I would do; this must be your decision.
Impulsively, he kissed her goodbye; but rather than a mere brush of lips, he lingered slightly, pulling back just before it became something both of them needed to worry about. May the Goddess go with you, he whispered.
Words failed her, she could only nod in response. As he mounted his horse, she only just managed to return the benediction. May the Goddess go with you, Father-Bishop.
The High Priestess was fussing over her mount, a mild palfrey but still spirited enough to make the older woman show concern as she sat uncomfortably on the small horse. It was obvious that Seldon would have preferred a litter, but the need to be in Rillanon by the date of the convocation prevented the more sedate mode of transport. She would be very sore and unhappy by the time they reached Salador.
The party moved out and as soon as they cleared the gate, Sandreena hurried to Creegans office. On top of his desk lay two letters and the bundle she had carried from Durbin.
She looked at the first paper, which had her name on it. She opened it and read:Sandreena, if the Goddess wills it, we will meet again. Know the trusts rests with you and I have faith you will discharge the duties Ive given you as well as if I understood them myself. Ive left you a list of those who you may rely uponshe knew he meant those who could be trusted in dealing with the Conclaveand a report you must attend to at once. May the Goddess go with you. It was signed onlyCreegan.
She examined the list and saw only five names on it. Four were priests and one was the orderly assigned to this office, the only members of the Order of the Shield who apparently knew about the Conclave of Shadows.
She looked up to see the man named on the list, a Pryor of the Order, Brother Willoby. He was a round-faced, stocky man with a constantly worried expression. He said, Sister? May I be of service?
She sat down in Creegans chair and said, I will let you know, brother.
I will be outside if you need me, he answered. Unlike the Knights, the clerical branch of the Order worked within the temples, as lay priests, but they were not administrators by choice. They were men and women who had wished to serve the Goddess, but found they lacked the strength of arm to serve in the field. Like most of the Knights, Sandreena hardly gave the pryors a moments thought, but she suspected that she would come to appreciate them much more as she looked at the rest of the documents beside the desk that required her attention.
She took the list of names and folded it up. She had already memorized the names and would burn it later.
Then she opened the report given her by the nameless Kingdom noble and read it. She put it down, picked it up again and read it for a second time.
Standing up she shouted, Willoby!
Within a moment, the cleric appeared, Yes, sister?
Three things: First, do I have a second-in-command?
The question seemed to startle him for a moment, as she was known to be the Father-Bishops second. Why, no, he said, I mean, you are the second-in-command, but with the Father-Bishop goneI mean, no, theres no designated person now.
Very well, she replied. You are my second, as of now.
He blinked, then said, I suppose thats all right.
Well, since I am currently the highest ranking member of the Order west of Malacs Cross, you can be sure its all right.
He seemed to take her forcefulness in stride as she stood up and put the report under her tunic. Next, have my horse made ready with a weeks provisions.
Your horse? asked the clerk.
Yes, said Sandreena. I need to depart on a mission today.
But who? he began, then saw her looking at him.
Youre in charge until I get back, she said.
Me? He was almost speechless, but nodded and said, Ill have your horse made ready, Sister.
She waited until he was gone then allowed herself a low growl of frustration. You bastard, she said softly with Creegan in mind. She had mistaken his kiss as a signal of the passion they had withheld over the years, but reading the report had rid her of that notion. It was merely a kiss of apology.Of course he wouldnt tell me what he would do about this, she thought. Sandreena had no choice other than to do exactly what he would have done anyway: send herself on a mission that would most likely get her killed.
Swearing at the curse men had proved to be in her life, she moved out of his office and headed to the armoury to see if her newfound rank would provide her with better armour and weapons.
CHAPTER FOUR Death Magic
PUG HELD UP HIS HAND.
The two black armoured guardsmen at the door to the ancient temple were startled to see the three men appear out of a grey void that had not been there moments before.
Pug said, Were here to see the High Priest.
Amirantha looked up at the sky and saw a clear, starry night. Were somewhere in the east, arent we?
Jim said, Rillanon. This is the temple of Lims-Kragma.
Amirantha said, That makes sense.
On the world of Midkemia, no one had more knowledge of dying and the dead than the High Priest of the Goddess of Death. The two guards still looked unsettled by the sudden arrival of the three men, but their duty was to defend the portal only when there was an obvious attack underway. Their time was usually spent making sure that those arriving to offer prayers for their dearly departed remained orderly. Finally, one of them indicated that Pug and his companions were free to enter with a wave of his hand.
They passed through a large antechamber, replete with frescos of the Death Goddess. The exquisite brush strokes portrayed the final judge of every mortal being as a warm, benevolent figure, welcoming them into the vast hall of the main cathedral. Benches for contemplation and prayer by the faithful had been erected along both sides, while against the back wall two large shelves held hundreds of votive candles, most of which were alight; each flame had been placed to light the way of a loved one into Lims-Kragmas halls.
Pug took a moment to regard the heroic statue, some twelve feet tall, of the goddess, that dominated the cathedral. She held out one hand in a welcoming gesture, and in the other held a silver net. The symbolism was obvious: no one escaped the drawer of nets, but she welcomed all equally. Personally, Pug found the sentiment slightly ironic, since he had proved very adept at avoiding her embrace so far, although his bargain with the goddess was taking its toll on his mind and heart.
Three priests prayed before the statue, while on one side several petitioners seeking the goddesss mercy for a recently departed loved-one lit candles and offered prayers. As the three men approached, one of the priests turned and rose to greet them.
Pug, he said, in a neutral tone. What brings you here?
I need to speak with High Priest Marluke, said Pug. The matter is most urgent.
It always is, isnt it? said the Priest, dryly. Yet I am certain the Holy Father will consider it urgent as well. Please, follow me.
He led them past the statue to a small door between the base of the edifice and the first row of burning candles. He opened it and motioned for them to go through, then followed, closing the door behind.