[Prologue] [Chapter 1] [Chapter 2] [Chapter 3] [Chapter 4] [Chapter 5]
CHAPTER 2
The young brother woke. Breathless, he realized it was
impossible for him to speak to anyone about his dream. This
dream was more than a dream. It was a message. An urgent
message that was part of his calling. Not the doctrine the
abbey practiced. Within the abbey, no one spoke of messages
sent from the Dream Master. Only those in need of cleansing
revealed messages sent in dreams.
Opening the window, he studied the vague murals the
freshly whitewash couldn't cover. Thankful it was near
first cocks crow, the troubled man dressed and left his
cubical. On the way to the alter for first rise prayers, he
paused at alcove that held the eye of Talthria. Among his
many duties, he was responsible to note any changes in the
ancient artifact. Studying the archives, his mind drifted
to how the eye came to the abbey and how its creation.
Until a thousand cycles past, the abbey's only function
was a haven for visitors crossing the desert. In that
ancient time underground wells fed the small community the
brothers established. Located near the center of the
Sinsouls Desert the modest brick and stone buildings soon
grew into a walled abbey that welcomed travelers seeking
refuge from the elements. Two rises to the east travelers
could consult the Oracle of Xamarth. Four rises to the east
lie the small port settlement of Harth Hold. However the
oracle had long been destroyed in battles before the second
conversion. Ruins where all that remained of the oracle.
However, Harth Hold was now a prosperous city.
Returning to the present, he panicked. The eye opened.
Even though the young brother didn't understand the Dream
Master's message, he knew better than to speak to those
tainted with the ability to understand dreams. That
indiscretion could order his own cleansing. Through his
dreams, he knew these vile practices were about to end. The
dreams revealed two outcomes for the abbey. One was change,
the other - obliteration.
This information could not wait. Dougal began
searching for the Patriarch Brother. As usual Andar could
not be found. In matters of urgency, if the Patriarch
Brother was unavailable any decisions concerning abbey
business was left to the High Inquisitor. The brown robed
brother found himself standing in front of a pair of closed
door. Through the heavy doors he heard the screams of the
woman being cleansed. The innocent woman's screams tore at
his soul. However in matters of cleansing, not even the
Patriarch Brother interfered. Perhaps soon the Supreme One
would intervene and put a stop to this madness. Closing
his eyes, he hesitated before entering the enclosed
courtyard.
Horrified, the newly anointed brother watched the
woman, stripped to the waist, bound to a wooden archway,
begged for mercy. Big with child, Dougal could see the
outline of the unborn child move with each strike of the
five prong whip. The welts the woman's back and abdomen
told him neither the woman nor her unborn child would
survive this cleansing. But then, few survive if Chivezi,
the High Inquisitor, deemed the soul was too tarnished.
Quietly, Dougal wondered what sins the woman needed
cleansing of. Watching the woman, he wondered if the
hierarchy of the abbey was mad from power.
"My Lord High Inquisitor, the eye of Talthria opened."
Immune to the woman's screams, the portly man dressed
in red, paused before lowering the whip. Annoyed, he
glanced at the brother. "That is impossible. The ancient
scrolls have stated what will open the eye or awaken the
oracle. Two ancient houses must unite." He chuckled.
"What ancient houses?" Then continued. This union is to be
honored in the Seventh Land. No mortal retaining their life
force can enter the Seventh Land. It is also to be
witnessed by at least one Old-one." He gave a mock shrug
and smiled. Where are the Old-ones? There have been no
Old-ones since the war that began the last conversion. The
eye just fluttered, it often dose. You are young, and the
young often succumb when it comes to the ways of evil. You
have mistaken."
The brother stammered. "But the walled paintings from
the inner courtyard art bleeding through the whitewash.
There tis word from other abbeys that the Dream Master hath
given an announcement of the Old-ones hath returned.
"The wash is old. Speak to the Caretakers. Order the
walls and buildings rewashed. As for the Dream Master's
message - the Four Lords, even those tainted by evil - have
better things to do than to speak with mortal kind. It is
best to ignore what is tainted by unnatural or evil
talents."
The heavy man's face became as red as his clothing.
"How many times do you have to be told, the Dream Master is
an agent of Darcon. It is the duty of this abbey to ensure
that both the Dream Master and Darcon's influence are
cleansed from those who's souls we are sworn to protect."
Chivezi slid the whip across Dougal's cheek. "I will
hear no more talk about the Dream Master from you."
The young brother stiffened. "No, Lord High
Inquisitor."
The High Inquisitor eyed the young brother before
nodding. "Good, I will hear no more talk about the Dream
Master from you."
Dougal paled before nodding. He glanced at the now
unconscious woman. "What about her? Tis it necessary for
her cleansing to result in not only the loss
of her life force but that of her unborn child? Woulds not
the child's soul be pure due to the mother's cleansing
before its birth? If the child survives birth, and the
mother doth not, woulds it not be wise to supply a milk
nurse. You could raise the child so its soul and body
woulds remain pure?"
Rubbing the whiphandle against his chin, Chivezi
nodded. "Perhaps you are correct." Motioning for two
guardians to cut the woman down, he ordered, "Give her food
and drink. Cloth her body in appropriate garments.
However, do not tend the cleansing wounds. When it is time
for her birthing, send for a mid-wife and have the sisters
pray for her unworthy soul." The High Inquisitor frowned.
"Oh, Brother Dougal, just in case you have not mistaken and
the eye has opened, send out two patrols. Send one to the
west and the other to the east. Have them return with any
travelers. If they happen to find that old witch, have them
bring her to me with her life force still intact. Have the
patrols use the collars."
Grateful he had not felt Chivezi's whip, the young
brother bowed slightly, "As you order, Lord Inquisitor."
and hurried from the courtyard.
[Prologue]
[Chapter 1]
[Chapter 2]
[Chapter 3]
[Chapter 4]
[Chapter 5]
