The Earthrin Stones 2 of 3: Trials of Faith

by Douglas Van Dyke

  Trestan nodded. “I realize that it may sound strange that clerics under such a benevolent goddess would have angry animals in cages. Yet, we did not put them there. They went in on their own.”

  Cat turned a puzzled look towards the young man. Trestan explained, “Remember that a goddess is at work here. The rationalization is that if one of her faithful were to encounter this situation in the wild lands, would they find out only then whether they could succeed at such a challenge? Also, what value would you put on a cleric if they are unable to channel the will of their patron when it is needed? There may be a life on the line when a faithful has to use this miracle someday, so it becomes one of the challenges here.”

  She listened as he spoke. The way the young man calmly described it, he seemed different from the days when he swung a hammer at the village smithy. Yet here this same man was now much more knowledgeable about many things. While their earlier years felt like Cat had many things to teach and offer to him, lately he seemed to be showing her a lot of new ideas and concepts.

  “Last evening, as they have been doing every evening preceding an ‘Embarking’ in the hundreds of years this seminary has stood, the instructors left the gates wide open. By morning, as it has happened every such morning, the pens were found to be locked and filled with angry beasts. This was not done by the efforts of the priests here; this was the will of the goddess to test her proclaimed faithful.”

  The young acolyte Rhijin stood waiting to test her goddess-given miracles on whatever beast awaited her. The elders had selected one, and its growls were heard moving from the pens towards the sunken arena. Trestan caught her eye during his explanation to Cat. As he continued to talk to Cat, he offered Rhijin some comfort by performing a motion with his arms. The effect looked as if Trestan was hugging himself as he bowed his head to her. Among the followers of Abriana, this was akin to saying, “May the goddess keep you in her arms and watch over you.” Rhijin smiled in return, and then switched her attention to the gate that would admit the beast she would face.

  “As I was saying,” Trestan continued, “The creatures enter the pens under the influence of the goddess in the middle of the night. They each have some secret torment that pains and enrages them. They enter the arena below to stand face to face with a senior acolyte who attempts to turn their emotions around. If successful, the beast will not attack. It will be calmed by the acolyte, then led back into the wilds by the same acolyte to run free again. In effect, this display is not just for us. The test also has the benefit of nurturing the pains of the animal.”

  Cat waited for Trestan to add more. Obviously, Trestan hadn’t answered all her questions. She reached out and held one of his hands, “But, the acolytes don’t always succeed do they? What happens when they fail?”

  As they spoke, Rhijin’s chosen animal began to emerge from the dark tunnel to the pens. It was hard to see it at first, for the hunting cat that appeared was as black as the darkest panther. The creature slowly and cautiously allowed its heavy, muscular frame to appear in the light of the arena. It growled at the young woman. Whatever secret pains haunted its mind, the terrible visions were asking for a violent release upon the fragile human that stood nearby. Rhijin was afraid, but she did her best to keep her composure. This was no ordinary hunting cat that was tensed to spring. The creature that faced her was a wrelcat. Although it looked very much like a black panther, the wrelcats were known by the pair of long, sharp horns jutting forwards from their shoulder blades. The horns extended to a point just beyond the reach of the cat’s sharp teeth, and their purpose was to gore an enemy after the cat charged it. Wrelcats were known for their violent nature and fearsome attacks.

  Trestan patted Cat’s hand comfortingly as he edged a little closer to her. “If the acolyte fails, then the creature likely will attack.” Trestan felt the half-elf’s small hand increase the grip on his hand. “Don’t be overly worried, Cat. Look how many priests are standing about the arena. The moment a creature pounces, they use miracles to restrain it and then they take over the acolyte’s job of easing the creature’s pain. Sometimes the faithful who was tested is wounded, but none have ever been seriously injured. Any injuries are attended right away by one of the other healers present. The clerics of Abriana are able to completely heal the wound within a short time, so that the acolyte is refreshed enough to continue the rest of their challenges.”

  It wasn’t easy for Katressa to relax at his words. She looked into his brown eyes and saw what was hidden in his thoughts. Trestan was also nervous, and yet he was ready and determined to face this challenge that was laid before him. When she looked into his eyes, she remembered how many challenges Trestan overcame during their first adventure together. The young man had been willing to risk his life several times for the good of his friends and his home village. Trestan had even faced off with a minotaur, nearly dying in the struggle but nevertheless willing to endure the punishment it threatened in order to win the day. Trestan put a lot of faith into his path, and usually that was enough for Cat to trust him.

  It was hard to keep that trust a moment later, when they heard a loud growl coming from the arena. Rhijin had failed to calm the beast, and the wrelcat’s response was immediate. It went to attack the young woman. The senior acolyte of Abriana, seeing the creature pounce, screamed as her body attempted to get out of the way. The crowd gave a collective gasp as they witnessed the attack.

  CHAPTER 2 “Trestan’s Challenges”

  Almost as quickly as the situation erupted, it was put to a swift end. The clerics around the arena spoke hurried prayers in unison. The wrelcat froze where it landed. Its mind was immediately probed by one of the elders, who worked to calm the beast through a miracle. The creature suddenly lacked all desire or ability to attack its prey. Rhijin lay to the side of the black feline, breathing heavily after her close call. One of the wrelcat’s sharp horns hovered inches above, having barely missed her. She trembled slightly as she looked with wide eyes at the muscular beast that stood poised nearby. Another elder approached and helped her to her feet, leading her away from the arena. Trestan watched the scene as the drama ended, aware that Cat held one hand over her mouth. The half-elf had been witness to grisly scenes before but her mind’s concern was on what might happen to Trestan.

  They overheard the elder speaking to Rhijin. The young woman hung her head as he spoke, unwilling to allow others to see the emotions on her face. “You have failed, sister, but this is only your first of the day. Look to Abriana’s words and dwell not on this incident until later.”

  Cat decided it was best to observe some other event while they awaited Trestan’s name to be called again. She pulled at his hand. “Come show me anything else, something less worrisome. I have a lot of faith in you, Trestan, but I would rather not think about you facing that kind of situation.”

  They had not gone far when Trestan’s name was heard. An elder behind them raised his voice, “Senior acolyte Trestan, report to the arena for the challenge of the beast.”

  Trestan let loose a sigh as Cat’s worried eyes looked up at his. “My turn.”

  * * * * *

  The gate opened, allowing Trestan to stride into the arena appearing more confident than he actually felt. He continued to silently pray to Abriana. From the inside of the pit, he had to admit that the arena looked even smaller than when viewed from the stands. He took up a stance where Rhijin positioned earlier. On the sand floor he absently noticed the other footprints of previous acolytes, as well as the paw prints of the large wrelcat. The young man stood in that open space without his weapons, though he still wore armor. Across the short pit he stared into the darkness of the beasts’ entry. His eyes lingered there only for a moment. He resolved to not lose his gaze in the blackness of that portal. To stare and worry about what animal would come forth would only work to shake his concentration. Trestan glanced around for another image to strengthen his resolve.

  Above the arena, watching over him, was his lovely lady. Cat ke
pt the fear from her face, beaming reassurance just by her very presence. The Taef’ Adorina upon her brow winked sparkles at him in the daylight. Next to her stood Leander, who awaited his own turn at this trial. He had been a friend of Trestan’s since the young man had started schooling at the seminary. Trestan was also comforted by the fact that Rhijin came to stand beside them. The young curly-haired woman probably still had her ordeal running through her mind. She stood there despite that failure, offering Trestan the same hug and head bow that he had offered her.

  It was the message from one follower of Abriana to one they support, “May the goddess keep you in her arms and watch over you.”

  As much as Trestan wanted to go home with Cat this day, he realized he would lose this or another challenge if his thoughts focused in the outcome rather than his lessons. He had to prove his loyalty and faith in Abriana. In a moment, a beast would come forth that would seem threatening and fierce. Despite the danger, Abriana gave her followers a task which must be fulfilled. Find the beast’s pain, discover what the center of its anguish is, comfort it and once calmed set it free again. He had to think not for himself, but for the benefit of this fearsome creature. That was the requirements of one who follows the Goddess of Love and Healing.

  At this thought, a shape took form out of the dark entry across from him. A menacing growl barely preceded the appearance of a snarling set of sharp teeth. One clawed foot set down inside the arena, soon followed by another as the animal emerged. Its brown snout sniffed at the lone human as it stepped into the arena. Trestan stayed calm despite staring into the eyes of the bear. The ursine form shuffled slowly into the light, casting a shadow that reflected the few hundred pounds difference between it and Trestan. The hefty appearance alone was not enough to unnerve him. The young man had once faced one-on-one against an eight-foot, half-ton minotaur and survived the encounter. The onlookers were more than a bit nervous as the bear let forth another challenging growl.

  Trestan delved into his faith. He looked at the bear not as a menace, but as a victim who was in pain over something. Trestan reached out to the beast with one of the miraculous powers granted to him by Abriana. In his mind, he saw the bear’s sadness over a hurtful loss of some kind. The bear slowed its advance as it felt a presence in its mind, seeking its pain. Trestan sifted through a wall of the bear’s inner turmoil to sort what type of loss had spurred it to anger.

  The image came to Trestan.

  The bear was a female, mother of two small cubs. The acolyte of Abriana saw in its mind the images of it herding the two cubs into the cover of the woods. The cubs entered the relative safety of the trees, while the mother bear looked back at its mate. The male bear was standing on its back legs and threatening the approach of three humans nearby. The mother also began to move and threaten the small creatures for their presence so near to the cubs, when something frightening and unexplainable happened. One of the humans raised a hand and started speaking. The bear could not understand the nature of its language, but as the words ended there was a release of energy from the hand of that one small creature. The human let forth an energy that resembled a lightning bolt. Its mate was struck in the chest, letting loose a pitiful wail before it came crashing down. This frightened the female bear beyond the point of reason. It fled into the trees. By the time it emerged later, after leaving the cubs in their den, there was something resting in the spot where her mate had been struck. It was a mass of bone and flesh, and it smelled like her mate, but something was different. His fur had been scraped off and taken by the humans. A scent trail was left behind, and the female bear followed it with a heart heavy from its loss. Those feelings transferred into anger the more she walked. The bear wanted the blood of the humans on its claws.

  For some unexplained reason, the bear felt a calling on a different course. It walked into this arena, and into a cage…trapped there until the sun came up. It was ready to take its rage out on the first target that presented itself. It now stared angrily at Trestan, while at the same time he saw its tale as if he had lived through the events.

  Trestan spoke to the bear. It wasn’t a verbal communication that the others around the arena could hear. Trestan was communicating to the bear through the miracle granted by his goddess. He tried to give comfort to the bear for its loss, turning its attention by reminding it of the cubs that it left abandoned back at its den. The bear grew worried for its litter. When it responded to Trestan through emotions conveyed via the miracle, it spoke more from the pain of loss rather than the blindness of anger. Trestan shared with the bear his own memories and loss. He relived the night that his mentor Sir Wilhelm was struck down by the elvish wizard Revwar. The bear offered him a question after it saw the images. The question was not verbal, nor did it have words, but Trestan understood it all the same. The acolyte answered to the bear that although he lived to see the wizard fall with a terrible wound, that moment was never anything that comforted his loss. Trestan’s pain was eased only when he contributed to the good of his village by rescuing its kidnapped noble, and returning the holy relic which gave life and prosperity back to the village. His efforts followed a constructive path and in their fulfillment he felt the pain of his loss subside. Trestan urged the bear to turn its energy to something positive by raising its cubs on its own. He would like to see the cubs grow as big and tall as their father had been.

  Cat, Rhijin, Leander, and the other onlookers looked on with uncertainty when the bear slowly walked over to Trestan. No one could hear or experience the exchange between the paladin-aspirant and the entrapped bear. They saw the surprise results when the bear approached him and nuzzled him gently. It was showing its concern for his own loss, letting loose a pitiful moan on behalf of Trestan’s past tragedy. It was something that was completely unexpected to Trestan; however, the bear actually mourned Sir Wilhelm and shared in the pain he felt. Trestan felt the misery of the bear over the loss of its mate, and he mourned for its suffering as well. Trestan threw his arms around the bear in an embrace, as they shared their pain on a level that no one watching them could understand. The onlookers silently watched, amazed, as tears fell from Trestan’s eyes over the sharing of loss and the offers of comfort between them.

  When some time had passed, Trestan stood and asked for the gates to be opened. The challenge was concluded, and it was time to let the animal run free again. As with every successful attempt at this challenge, the acolyte would lead the animal away from the arena and into the surrounding fields to let it run free again. Cat watched with awe as Trestan walked beside the large bear. Man and beast left the arena headed for the open wilderness. The young man’s hand stroked the bear’s back as they continued to feel sympathetic towards the pains of the other. When they were far enough away the bear ran free. Trestan lingered there for some time longer, watching through tears as it went to rejoin its cubs.

  The elder who had let them out of the gate spoke to Trestan, even though he would not be heard at that distance. “Abriana watches over you this day, my brother.”

  Trestan had passed the test. Cat watched him in the distance as he stood quietly. This was one of the many things that she loved and admired about him. The test seemed such a little thing compared to the feeling Trestan must enjoy of setting a creature free of its pain. In a world such as Dhea Loral, miracles could be seen fairly commonplace. Yet, for all the times that she witnessed them, Cat had to admire that it was a special thing to see Trestan be able to call such powers forth and do wonderful things.

  * * * * *

  Cat remembered how Trestan seemed to beam with excitement over being able to help that bear. They had some quiet time to sit together and hold hands before Trestan was called for his next challenge. This test seemed easy by comparison to the first two. Trestan did not need to show a skill at combat, or risk injury with a wild animal for his third test. The third challenge was a set of questions involving the study of arcana. In Dhea Loral arcana represents “learned magic”, which includes the studies of magi
c that are undertaken by mages. Wizards, conjurors, sorcerers and others all study from a branch of magical sciences they refer to as arcana. This definition of magic conflicted with miracles, as miracles are a type of energy granted by the gods. While there are other sources of magic available in the land, arcana is the only one besides miracles that the priests could study and achieve some reasonable knowledge of its properties. While paladins aren’t required to study any amount of arcana in depth, they are still trained to have knowledge of some basic concepts.

  Trestan stood upon the raised platform as he was addressed by one of the elders who had instructed him in arcana. Cat stood nearby and listened as the instructor asked Trestan a few questions. The elder asked Trestan to define a ‘transdimensional bridge’, which was a subject that was foreign to Cat. Trestan’s answer described it as a gate or portal that joined different planes, worlds, or realities, thus allowing individuals to cross between the two. The conversation started to get more in depth and confusing for one such as Cat, who had never studied anything related to arcana. She watched Trestan as he spoke, and as she did Katressa perceived that her beloved was struggling to remember the subject correctly. Trestan gave an answer, but to the half-elf his tone sounded unconvincing.

  Cat listened with dismay as the elder pronounced the acolyte’s answer as incorrect. “You have failed my child, but this is only your first of the day. While others of my brothers may tell you to not look on this event until later, I feel it is my duty to Abriana to reveal the proper answer to you now.”

  Trestan tried to keep his head up and show no disappointment in his failure as the elder explained the true answers behind his question. “You are correct that in order to open a transdimensional bridge you need efforts on both sides of the portal. Whether by use of a spell or by the activation of a special device attuned for that purpose, parties in separate worlds must work together to open a rift in the fabric that separates the two worlds. In this way, a bridge is completed between a point in one world and a point in the other.