"How does today's vote affect us?" asked Duke Jiardin after the room had emptied.
"I am not sure," answered Duke Everich. "Fredrik is one of my players, but I have never heard of the other two. That is why I decided to deliver the news to them. It will give me a chance to gauge them. I do not think the fools who nominated them even know them. So they are unknowns and I have dealt with the likes of them before. I think it may well strengthen my hand. Their election was certainly better than the alternatives."
"Which is why you decided we should vote for them," nodded Duke Jiardin. "I guess we can always eliminate them if they do not see what is good for them."
"That is what I thought as well," smirked Duke Everich. "The death of Duke Artur concerns me though. Dalgar has not been in town for some time, yet the message indicates that Dalgar ordered the assassination because Artur tried to assassinate Niki."
"Do you think Dalgar has men in the city that we don't know about?" questioned Jiardin.
"It is possible," frowned Duke Everich. "I have not figured out what Dalgar's game is yet. He certainly wanted Niki on this Council, and I have no doubt that he would murder the person who tried to kill her. I am actually glad that she is gone. While she professed to support me, I never trusted her or Dalgar."
"So you are fairly certain that it was her that fled on the stolen horse?" asked Duke Jiardin.
"Oh yes," nodded Everich. "It sounds like she had the help of those two lads that she used to ride with. I doubt we will see any more of her, and Dalgar cannot blame me for what happened. It is almost a perfect ending to her. She will probably get into trouble in some other city."
***
"The Sword of Heavens is vibrating so strongly that I can barely hold it," complained Arik.
"I thought we were going to Klandon," whined Niki. "Cleb is not nearly as large a city. Who would want to be queen of this dump?"
"We go where the Sword of Heavens leads us," retorted Arik as he stood looking at the temple.
"They sure let this temple run down," mentioned Tedi. "Both statues of the goddess Dora are nearly destroyed."
"Doesn't look run down to me," responded Arik. "Those statues were recently destroyed. There is no weathering on the exposed stone and look at the sword marks. Or perhaps axe marks. Somebody did not care for Dora very much."
Arik sheathed the Sword of Heavens and entered the temple of the Goddess of Soil. Tedi and Niki followed close behind. Although it was not a religious holiday, the temple was packed and the trio merged into the mass of people. The worship room that they entered was huge and it was packed with people. Most of the worshippers were on their knees facing the huge statue at the far end of the room. Three men stood in front of the statue and the center one was speaking loudly. Arik tried to make what the man was saying, but there was too much noise in the room to make it out.
"Look at the statue's eye," Tedi said excitedly.
Arik shifted his gaze to the statue and saw that it was not a statue of Dora. It was the statue of some one-eyed god that Arik had never heard of. What Tedi had seen, Arik realized, was that the one eye of the statue was a large diamond.
"Oh great," murmured Arik. "How are we going to get that diamond out of the statue?"
"Let's get closer to the statue," suggested Tedi. "Maybe it is not the diamond that we are after."
Arik nodded and led the group forward through the mass of bodies. Members of the crowd gave more than one glare as the Rangers tried to get close to the statue. Arik frowned and halted as the glares began to turn into shoves as they got closer to the front of the room. He decided that they could wait until the priest was done and people started to leave.
"Many of you have asked me about the proper way to worship Abuud," the priest was saying. "I will relate the words of Abuud himself. Hear now the words that Abuud said to me when I was stranded in the desert. Azmet, he said as he hovered before me, you shall be my prophet. Listen carefully and I shall instruct you in the ways to bring peace and harmony unto the world. I fell to my knees before Abuud and asked him to bless me with a gifted tongue. He smiled at me and granted my boon. Azmet, the Great God of Peace and Harmony said to me, you shall travel the lands of this world and spread my message. From this desert shall spring forth a likeness of myself that has been lost to the people for thousands of years. You shall carry forth this statue and place it wherever the people gather."
The priest, Azmet, turned and gestured to the statue with the diamond eye behind him.
"Azmet, the Great Abuud said to me, all of the world must unite in peace and harmony before any can share the bounty of my blessing. Your task is to inform the people that all must worship me before peace can be restored to the land. You must get the people to fall to their knees before my likeness so that I will know they desire peace. I looked up at the Great Abuud and asked him what to do if people did not desire peace."
Arik noticed that the room had fallen silent when the priest began talking about his visit with Abuud. No murmurs of prayers were being issued by the worshipers. No idle talk filtered through the room.
"The Great God of Peace and Harmony looked down at me and smiled. Azmet, my prophet, he said, all must believe in peace and harmony before my blessings will be delivered. If you find those who do not wish peace, but rather seek war, then bring war to them and force them to their knees before my image. If you find those who profess to love peace and harmony, but after reciting the vows do backslide and warmonger, slay them so that others might learn. For those who mock thee or my likeness, cut out their tongues so that they might pay mute testimony to my greatness. For those who refuse to let you preach, strike fear within their hearts and pestilence within their host. When their numbers dwindle to a fifth of their former greatness then they shall let you speak."
Arik looked at the statue of Abuud and shook his head as he listened to the prophet. He could not imagine a god of peace and harmony that issued forth such destructive terms. He noticed that others were glaring at him for shaking his head, and he swiftly covered his behavior with a cough and returned his gaze to the prophet.
"I looked up again at the wonderful image of Abuud and asked him how can peace and harmony be delivered at the point of a sword. He smiled benevolently at me and placed his hand briefly on my head. Holy Prophet, the Great Abuud said to me, peace and harmony are not easy to come by. Remember that all must worship before my blessing can be delivered. Would you have the world suffer because of those who seek to deny my blessings to the world? Do those few have the right to deny the many of my blessings? You shall slay the evil among your brethren so that the masses may rejoice in my blessings. Are not peace and harmony greater than life itself?"
Several people in the room shouted agreement and the prophet Azmet waited patiently for their shouts to subside before continuing.
"I gazed up at His Holiness and asked him about those of his followers that might fall in the struggle to bring peace and harmony to the world. His smile widened as he instructed me further. You are a wise man, my prophet. Let it be known that I will accept into my presence any who fall in the struggle to bring peace and harmony to the world. I have created a paradise for these martyrs where I reside. At the moment of their death they shall be transported into this paradise where they shall live by my side forever. The martyrs shall live like kings in this paradise with maidens and young boys to feed them lush dates and heavenly wines. They shall have servants to wait upon their every whim and all of their desires shall be fulfilled. This I promise to the faithful that fall in battle for my name."
Shouts of "Abuud is Great" echoed throughout the massive room and Arik felt conspicuous not raising his sword and shouting. When the shouting died down, Azmet continued his lecture.
"Once again the Great God of Peace and Harmony placed his hand upon my head and I felt all sorts of knowledge pass deep inside me. Azmet, he said, I have filled your mind with the Law of Abuud. This law you shall never forget. What my prophet says to the people of the
world is my law, and you will not be capable of uttering a falsehood. Let the people know that whosoever denies you also denies me, and the punishment for such denial is death. In your world, your word is my word. This day I will deliver up out of the sands of this desert the ancient statue of my likeness that was crafted by the first believers. It is ancient and rare, and you are charged with its proper care. Let no man defile it for it is my likeness, and it shall be the same as defiling me. You, Azmet, the Holy Prophet, are my voice among men. Go forth and spread my message of peace and harmony."
The prophet lowered his raised hands and turned to face the statue of Abuud, signaling the end of the lecture. Many worshipers bowed to the statue, and headed for the door. Arik moved closer to the statue and felt the Sword of Heavens vibrating in its sheath. He knew that he was within several feet of the Diamond of Edona as he stared up at the eye of the statue of Abuud. The Sword of Heavens that was strapped on Arik's back felt like it wanted to go through his body to get to the diamond. Arik scanned the front of the room to see if there was a way he could get behind the statue to verify that the eye was what was setting the Sword of Heavens off. As Arik walked closer to the statue, he felt a strong hand seize his arm.
"What do you have there, Nassar?" inquired the prophet.
"He is studying the statue," Nassar answered. "I do not think he is one of us. He did not join in the celebration of Abuud's words."
"Is that so?" Azmet said as he approached Arik. "Do you not believe in peace and harmony, lad?"
"This is the first I have heard of Abuud," Arik answered. "I fear my education has been lax in that area. What is it like to converse with a god?"
Azmet eyed Arik critically. He glanced at Tedi and Niki behind him and returned his attention to Arik. "It is not something easily described," Azmet finally answered. "Having heard the words of Abuud, do you accept him on his terms?"
"Actually I did not hear the entire message," Arik answered quickly. "I would like to hear it straight through. When is the next lecture?"
"The lectures are given five times a day," Nassar stated.
"If I may ask a question, Prophet?" posed Arik.
"What knowledge do you seek?" inquired Azmet.
"Have you ever heard of the Ancient Prophecy?" asked Arik. "The prophecy involving the Children of the Prophecy and the Sword of Heavens."
"I have heard of it," responded the prophet, "but it does not concern me. It has nothing to do with the words of Abuud. Why do you ask?"
"I was wondering if you thought that the Ancient Prophecy aligned with Abuud's desire for peace and harmony," replied Arik. "It does not stand to reason that there can be peace and harmony without the defeat of the Dark One."
"If Abuud requires that the Dark One should perish then it shall be so," declared Azmet. "He has not spoken to me about it."
"Is that something that you can ask Abuud?" queried Arik.
"Do not joke about Abuud," demanded the third man who had remained silent up to this point.
"I do not think the lad jokes, Halmud," stated Azmet. "Why do you seek this answer, stranger?"
"Peace and harmony are admirable goals," replied Arik, "but I do not think they are possible without the defeat of Sarac, and the Ancient Prophecy specifies that only the Sword of Heavens can kill the Dark One. That means that either Abuud agrees with the Ancient Prophecy or he thinks that the prophecy is false. I seek to know the answer."
"You seek to impose your worldly logic on the God Abuud?" Azmet asked sternly.
"I have only the logic that the gods deemed fit to give me," explained Arik. "I do not seek to duel words with Abuud. I only ask answers that will explain his desires to me."
"Seeking answers is the path to enlightenment," Azmet softened, "but this does not explain your keen interest in the Ancient Prophecy."
"I believe wholeheartedly in the Ancient Prophecy," declared Arik. "I have seen the end of the Darkness in Cordonia and the Disputed Area. These things were prophesized in the Ancient Prophecy. How could I ignore them after seeing the sun and the moon and the stars for the first time in my life?"
"Those are wonderful sights," admitted the prophet, "but you should not concern yourself with them. The sun, moon, and stars are visible every day in paradise. Put this Ancient Prophecy out of your mind and embrace the teachings of Abuud. I see that you carry two swords. You would make a fine martyr for Abuud."
Arik struggled to think of a way to approach the idea that the Diamond of Edona belonged in the Sword of Heavens, but he could not think of a way that would not offend the prophet.
"Perhaps I will come to a later lecture today," Arik finally said. "I will dwell on what you have said."
The prophet merely nodded as the trio turned and left the temple. Not far from the temple was a park and Arik headed towards it. He looked in dismay at what was once a verdant park and shook his head. The grass and leaves were yellow instead of green and dirt paths were worn from people walking on the fragile plants. He sat on the rim of a long defunct fountain and rummaged through his pack for a piece of dried meat.
"You did not believe that nonsense the prophet was spewing, did you?" asked Tedi.
"No," Arik shook his head, "but the worshipers in there sure did. They want peace and harmony if they have to beat it into you. How are we ever going to get that diamond?"
"Just tell them it is yours," suggested Niki. "When they see that it fits in the Sword of Heavens they cannot object."
"Perhaps you missed the part of the lecture about defiling the statue," Tedi shook his head. "Maybe I can go in at night and steal it."
"No," Arik said. "There must be a way without provoking a bloodbath started by the followers of Abuud. That prophet could create a frenzy if he found that gem missing. I do not want to be responsible for senseless deaths. We will find a way."
A figure entered the park and sat down next to Arik.
"Hello," offered the figure, "my name is Wylan. I heard what you said to the prophet about the Ancient Prophecy. Is it true that you have seen clear skies?"
"It is true," nodded Arik warily. He had hoped to discuss the situation in private with Tedi, but he would not discuss with an Abuud worshipper next to him.
"I would love to see that," commented Wylan.
"You only have to travel to where it is," suggested Tedi. "If you have a horse it will be much quicker. Perhaps you should leave now in case it goes away again."
"I have a horse," nodded Wylan. "What did you think of the prophet's lecture?"
"I don't mean to be rude," frowned Arik, "but we would rather be alone right now."
"So you didn't buy it either," chuckled Wylan. "I cannot believe that anyone does."
Arik looked around to see if anyone was listening to the conversation before responding to Wylan. "You should learn to control your tongue," Arik offered. "I did catch the part about killing those who refuse to accept Abuud."
"Yes, I have caught it every day now for weeks," sighed Wylan. "I am getting rather tired of hearing it."
"Then why do you continue to go?" asked Niki.
"I was a guard at Southland when these pilgrims tried to enter the city and spread their faith," scowled Wylan. "Baron Timor refused to allow them to enter the city. Azmet prophesized that eight out of every ten would die if they denied him entry to the city. The baron held his ground and forced them to camp outside the city."
"So you joined up with them and now regret it?" asked Tedi.
"Not at all," retorted Wylan. "I was tasked with watching them through the night. They have a wagon with a hut on it in their caravan. They had a volunteer enter the hut and then sent him into the city for provisions. That volunteer spread the Black Death throughout Southland. They were burning bodies by the wagonload when I left. Baron Timor asked me to spread the word to Cleb, but I got here too late."
"Pestilence," scowled Arik. "These fanatics are worse than I could have imagined."
"Why are you staying here if your task is no longer necessar
y?" quizzed Tedi.
"I really don't have anything to go back to," sighed Wylan. "I figured that if I could get wind of their plans, I could warn the next city that they plan to go to."
"They appear rather comfortable here," mentioned Arik. "Why would they go anywhere?"
"They cannot take over the world sitting in Cleb," retorted Wylan. "I suspect they will dally here for a while and leave a body of faithful behind when they strike out for their next conquest. They took over this city completely. They threw the worshippers and priests of Dora into the streets and defiled her statues. Now it is the temple of Abuud. I guess I have devoted my life to helping to destroy Azmet and his pilgrims."
"I wouldn't waste your life that way," responded Tedi. "I cannot imagine that many will fall for such nonsense."
"You do not understand people well then," declared Wylan. "Azmet will find foolish followers wherever he goes. He will reel in the poor and homeless and those who have lost hope a long time ago. He will force ten times that number to follow him, and they will for fear of their lives. The rest he will kill. You should join with me so we can stop this before it gets too big."
"You may be right, Wylan," agreed Arik, "but that is not the mission that we are on."
"What could possibly be more important?" quizzed Wylan.
Arik shrugged and Tedi ignored the question, but Niki offered, "Restoring the Sword of Heavens. It is certainly more important than some old priest."
Wylan's eyes widened as he looked at the two swords Arik had. "Is that the Sword of Heavens?" he inquired. "I mean the real Sword of Heavens? It really exists?"
Arik looked around nervously while Tedi glared at Niki. Wylan sensed their nervousness.
"I won't tell a soul," Wylan promised. "I can understand your need for secrecy. I am just excited that the Ancient Prophecy is true. That means that the whole world will have clear skies soon. Now I understand why you cannot be bothered by the likes of Azmet. Do you think I could help you in any way?"
Abuud: the One-Eyed God Page 10