Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3

by Mark E. Cooper

  Oh by the God, he was in trouble now! Keverin bit his lip thinking of ways to divert this catastrophe, but nothing came to him. He reluctantly continued his reading hoping to find the answer.

  Two charges were brought to my attention against Julia. Firstly, I will dispense with the charge of witchery. I have never, nor do I now, believe in witches. The Church has always held the view that they do not exist on this Earth. This is my view also. However, it has been suggested by the Bishop of Athione, that this woman is indeed a witch. Jymis points to her origins and magic as proof.

  Curse the man! Jymis must have written to the Holy Father before he came to Athione to make his demands. He had known Julia would not be turned over to him. All his posturing had been just that—posturing.

  The letter continued:

  In my opinion, the charge regardless of these so called proofs is without foundation, and her recent actions speak for her in this. She fights evil, she does not embrace it. Accordingly I have already dismissed the charge of witchery and ordered Dugan to record my judgement in the Holy Chronicle. Copies of this latest record have been dispatched to all my Bishops, but you will likely read this letter before they receive them.

  That was something, but what of the second charge, the charge of heresy?

  The charge of heresy is by far the harder to judge. I will first set your mind at ease by informing you that Bishop Jymis will not call anathema upon you or anyone without my permission. This is how it has always been and will continue to be. I do not like Jymis threatening you with this, and I will be making that plain to him in person shortly.

  Having said that, I now come to the bad news. Heresy is serious Keverin, more serious to the Church than invasion is to you. I can see your face screwing up in doubt as I write but it is true. The Hasians are a threat in more ways than one I fear. Many will die if they succeed in their plans for Deva, but though it sounds harsh, the soul is all that matters in the end.

  Conclave will be called to discuss this matter of heresy. It is the only way to proceed. Jymis will be recalled to Devarr to account for himself and the charges he has brought against Lady Julia. In his place, I appoint Father Gideon. I would be grateful if you would inform him of his temporary elevation so that he might arrange matters with those priests under him.

  That was good news. Perhaps Gideon’s elevation could be made permanent at some later date.

  In conclave it will be decided whether Julia should appear before us. If such a thing were to occur, I would have you there at her side and Gideon also, to provide testimony on the happenings in and around your fortress. I hope that none of this will be necessary, but if things turn badly—as they well might—you and Gideon may turn them back with your observations of the girl.

  “Find Father Gideon for me, Marcus. Have him meet me here as soon as he can.”

  “If I might ask?”

  “The charge of witchery is dismissed by the Holy Father. That is by his wish and backed with Church law. The charge of heresy is not dismissed, though he wishes otherwise, and will be debated in conclave. Jymis is recalled to Devarr to testify, and Gideon is temporarily raised to Bishop of Athione.”

  “That last is good news, but heresy?”

  Keverin grimaced. “If need be I will testify that I saw nothing heretical in any of her actions.”

  “I will also. All the men will do the same.”

  “Let us hope it doesn’t come to that.”

  Marcus nodded and left to find Gideon. Keverin sipped his wine and read the last paragraph of Farran’s letter.

  I had hoped to see you again under better circumstances my friend. Let us both pray that we may meet without a cloud of heresy above our heads.

  Ever your friend,

  Farran.

  “Let it be so my friend,” Keverin whispered and folded the letter.

  The candle was showing seventh mark. He would be late to Gy’s dinner, but he wanted to talk with Gideon before he did anything else. He paced his room waiting for Gideon to arrive and watched the candle flicker in the breeze he made. He spun when he heard the knock.

  “Come!”

  “Marcus said you had news my lord?”

  “Come in Gideon. Here take a seat,” Keverin said indicating the right most chair. He took the left one for himself before passing Farran’s letter over.

  Gideon frowned, as he read then looked up. “I’m sorry.”

  “Sorry for what? You’re to be bishop my friend. I hold this as good news, not something to be sorry over.”

  “I mean that Julia is under suspicion.”

  “Ah. Yes that is bad news, but at least the other charge is dropped.”

  Gideon nodded but he was far from happy. “True my lord, but I feel the charge of witchery was the easier to refute. Everyone knows that Julia fought against the Hasians not for them, and therefore cannot be evil. Everyone knows she has magic in the manner of a mage and does not use potions as witches are supposed to do. Do you follow?”

  “Yes of course. Farran—I mean the Holy Father intimated as much. He says in the letter that the charge of heresy is the more dangerous, and I agree. No one seriously believes in witches.”

  “You would be surprised what people in small villages believe my lord, but the point is mute. The Holy Father has ruled Julia is not a witch, and I’m sure I speak for us all when I say I heartily agree with him.”

  “Yes well... I’m sorry that Jymis took it into his head to accuse Julia of heresy, but I thank the God he didn’t try to confront her with it.”

  “He would not do that my lord. He’s afraid of her,” Gideon said with a smirk, but it wilted as he thought of something. “I have a confession to make my lord.”

  “Go on.”

  “It’s my fault that the Bishop came here and said what he did.”

  Keverin went cold. “Your fault... how so?”

  “When Darius died breaching the barrier I was angry. I couldn’t see the obvious truth that the God chose him to bring Julia here—”

  That was understandable. It would be more amazing if Gideon had understood when a woman was brought through the gate instead of a powerful sorcerer.

  “—wrote the lord bishop with my fears and—”

  “You did what?” Keverin said angrily. “You betrayed—”

  “It wasn’t betrayal my lord,” Gideon said hastily. “The bishop is my superior. I write to him all the time as all the priests in your lands do. If I need help or instruction, I write to him. If he can help, he replies or passes my question on to the patriarchs. Please understand, my lord. We, none of us, knew Julia then. We didn’t know she had magic, we didn’t know anything about her.”

  Keverin calmed himself and tried to look at things from Gideon’s point of view. A friend dies to bring someone through the barrier. The God had set the barrier to prevent just this type of thing, but worse than that the person brought through is a young girl—calamity! Gideon had believed that Darius imperilled his soul to breach the barrier, and that his sacrifice was wasted upon a girl. It was not until later that Julia found her magic, but by then Gideon had reported events to Jymis.

  “You told Jymis that Julia was guilty?”

  “No, thank the God,” Gideon breathed, and circled his heart. “I wrote the facts, but I admit to prejudice where she was concerned. I did not lie, but I did not soften my words either. I fear Jymis took my words at face value and acted upon them as is his duty to the God and the Church.”

  Duty? The man wouldn’t know duty if it had a sign painted on it. “I think you’re being too hard on yourself Gideon. I know you owe Jymis respect as your superior in the Church, but perhaps you don’t realise what the man is truly like. Do you remember the time when my father threw Jymis out of the fortress?”

  “I was a newly ordained priest back then my lord. If you will remember I had only been here a year when Jymis left.”

  “Left,” Keverin snorted. “My father told me he threw him out for preaching sedition against the crow
n.”

  “Sedition!” Gideon cried in shock. “I had no idea.”

  “Jymis was sent to Malcor Town where he apparently worked hard and rose to his present position. I’m sorry Gideon, but I just don’t trust that man. He supports only that which profits him, and to the flames with anything or anyone else.”

  “That is harsh, my lord. Bishop Jymis has done wonderful work for those in need.”

  Keverin raised a finger. “But not since he was raised to bishop.”

  “That’s true, but his duties are greater now. It could be that he doesn’t have the time any longer.”

  “Ah, but he made the time before.”

  Gideon frowned. He was unwilling to condemn the actions of his bishop, but he was having trouble reconciling the image of a hard working priest helping the needy, and a hard hearted bishop working purely for his own gain.

  “Do you say that Jymis will use Julia for his own gain?”

  “I might be... oh all right! What I’m saying is that Jymis expects his denunciation of Julia to help him in some manner. He’s not a fool, Gideon. He knew before coming here that I wouldn’t allow Julia to be taken. Coming here was a way to set things moving in the direction he desired.”

  “But why would he?”

  “Who can say? Jymis has been bishop for years now, maybe it’s time to take the next step.”

  “Patriarch?” Gideon squeaked.

  “Why not? Jymis has many years experience. If not for certain things in his past that only we two know about, he would make an excellent choice—on the surface that is.”

  “All this to draw attention to himself?” Gideon said with revulsion.

  “We cannot know for sure, but I think it a good possibility. A bishop discovers a heretic witch. He single-handedly accuses her and puts her on trial. What better way to make himself known to the other patriarchs?”

  “The Holy Father chooses who will be raised to patriarch.”

  “Yes, but he is only one man,” Keverin pointed out. “He cannot alienate those below him, indeed, he must often consult them and take their advice. Is this not so?”

  “It is so,” Gideon said reluctantly.

  “I called you here to inform you about being raised to bishop, Gideon, but I also want your help.”

  “What can I do?”

  “I want you to begin Julia’s lessons. You did mention that you would teach her. I dare not tell her about the charges against her—who knows what she would do, but I can prepare her without her knowledge. I want you to approach her as soon as you can. Befriend her Gideon, and teach her. Teach her quickly.”

  Gideon shifted uncomfortably. “I would be her friend if she wished it my lord, but the one time she approached me, I to my eternal shame abused her most grievously.”

  “Then if you would help her, I suggest you apologise.”

  “Will you introduce me again, my lord?” Gideon said hopefully. “Perhaps with you—”

  “I can’t, Gideon, I’m sorry,” Keverin said sadly. “You will have to do it alone. Whenever I come near the girl we argue and I always end up shouting. I would do you and her a disservice if I were present.” He glanced at the candle again. “We’re late to Gy’s welcoming. If you’re agreeable, let us go down now. We can speak more of this later if you wish.”

  “No need, my lord,” Gideon said firmly. “I will speak to Julia and apologise. I do look forward to teaching her. Perhaps I’ll learn something as well.”

  Keverin and Gideon moved to the door.

  “Nothing is impossible,” Keverin said. “Especially so in these days.”

  They walked side by side until reaching the tower steps. Keverin indicated Gideon should precede him, and then followed a few steps behind.

  “I must say it’s a little off putting at my age,” Gideon said.

  “What is?”

  “Learning that what I thought to be true is in fact not true at all. I find myself somewhat excited, my lord.”

  Keverin smiled at Gideon’s back. “I know what you mean, but exciting times can be dangerous.”

  “Oh yes indeed!” Gideon said as he opened the lower door. “I was in the chapel when the sorcerers breached the west wall, my lord. I thought the roof was coming down.”

  Keverin nodded. It had been somewhat worse for him than Gideon. He had just descended the gate tower and was walking toward Renard when the sorcerers struck. A blue light so intense it burned his eyes turned his entire world blue, but then had come the roar. The stones of the curtain wall had been sundered one from the other. In an instant, they were turned into a deadly hail of sharp rocks that slew all in their path. He was thrown to the ground and escaped most of the missiles because of that, but a piece of bronze clad wood from gates constructed a thousand years ago had speared his thigh. The agony was slow to come, but when it did, he could barely stifle the shriek building in his throat. All was chaos. Dust and stones were raining from the sky, and the ground was shaking. He awoke to find Julia’s beautiful face hovering before him—

  “My lord? Are you well?” Gideon said worriedly.

  Keverin blinked. They were standing outside the doors to the great hall. Inside he could here the murmur of conversation and the clink-clink sound of many forks against dinner plates. His people had started eating without him.

  “Memories...” Keverin said and pulled himself together. “Let us go in and face my mother’s displeasure.” He nodded to Moriz who stood guard outside the great hall with Halbert on this special occasion. “You two may go and find your own dinners.”

  “Thank you m’lord, but we had a bite a time back,” Moriz said.

  “Don’t you worry about us m’lord. We are happy to wait for The Lady,” Halbert put in.

  Keverin smiled and left them to their vigil. Gideon went his way to find his place, while Keverin continued on to the high table.

  Jessica had done Athione proud. Excepting those guardsmen on duty, everyone was sitting at the lower tables and eating heartily. Wine was flowing and good cheer abounded. His mother was sitting in the centre of the high table facing him as he made his way down the row left clear between benches packed full of his people.

  “God bless him!”

  “Hurrah for the lord!”

  “Hurrah!” The diners shouted and raised their glasses.

  Keverin smiled and waved a hand in acknowledgement of the good wishes.

  Jessica had been playing host in his absence. She was not pleased with him if he were any judge of expression. Julia was further down sandwiched between Mathius and Purcell. The contrast between them was startlingly apparent. One often forget Julia’s small stature. She was so full of life that she seemed bigger than she truly was, but beside Purcell she was tiny—as a child of five is tiny next to her parents. Purcell towered over everyone of course. At over seven feet, he was the biggest man Keverin had ever seen.

  Keverin mounted the single step onto the dais and walked behind Julia and his mother before bending to speak to Gylaren. “Sorry I missed the start, Gy. Something came up.”

  Gylaren lowered the piece of meat he was about to eat and nodded his acceptance of the apology. “May I ask?” he said and continued at Keverin’s nod. “Was it the sorcerers?”

  “Not them. Letters from Devarr.”

  “Morfran...” Gylaren growled.

  Keverin patted his friend’s shoulder. It didn’t take much to set Gy off where Morfran was concerned. “Yes, him and one from Farran.”

  “Nothing bad I hope.”

  “I don’t want to say in front of so many, Gy. Perhaps later tonight you and Purcell will come have a late drink with me.”

  “Honoured,” Gylaren said inclining his head.

  Keverin patted the shoulder again. “I’ll look forward to it.”

  Sitting beside his mother, Keverin tried to ignore the glare she directed his way, but finally acknowledged it with another apology.

  “Where were you? Gy was ever so hurt,” Jessica said.

  No he wasn
’t. Jessica was just trying to make him feel guilty about being late.

  “I apologised to him. I had a letter from Farran and I wanted to read it without delay.”

  Jessica’s face lightened at word of the Holy Father. “How is he?”

  “He’s well. He thanks you for the kind words about his poems and asks if you would like another volume.”

  “Certainly!” Jessica said with pleasure evident in her voice. “He’s very talented.”

  “He doesn’t think so, but I agree.”

  Jessica turned to speak with Marcus while Keverin availed himself of food and drink. As he ate, he watched Julia surreptitiously. She was picking at her food without much interest. She looked tired, and although Purcell was making a heroic effort to draw her out, she seemed withdrawn and uninterested in converse. Her eyes were sunk into dark pits, and her face was slack and pale. Keverin frowned as she drank a full glass of wine and started another, but it seemed to perk her up a little and she began smiling and talking to Purcell. Keverin was pleased to see her beginning to enjoy herself, and he set about doing the same.

  * * *

  Julia pushed her meat around her plate thinking about going to bed. She was in danger of falling face first into her food.

  “—like something else?” Purcell said with concern.

  Julia roused herself a little. “I’m sorry Purcell, I was miles away.”

  “Miles?”

  “An expression. It means I was day dreaming—thinking about things. I didn’t hear what you said.”

  “I was just saying that if the food displeases you I’m sure something else can be prepared.”

  Julia liked the sound of Purcell’s voice. He would have made a very good singer in her opinion. It was mellow and deep, and sent a tingle down her spine.

  “The food is fine. I’m just feeling a little tired. To tell you the truth I was thinking of retiring early.”

  “Please don’t do that, Julia. Perhaps a glass of this most excellent wine will revive you,” Purcell said and filled a glass with a deep red wine.

  Perhaps it would at that. “Thank you,” she said and quaffed it in one.

  Purcell’s eyebrows shot up as the wine disappeared down her throat. The wine lay leaden upon Julia’s stomach and the fumes took her breath for a moment. Purcell let out a grunt of surprise and refilled her glass.