by N E Riggs
Iwel smiled back. “So long as you saw nothing bad. Will you stay for the vows?”
Tresas sat down beside him. “Yes, thank you.”
Scatha opened a large box next to the table. She pulled a brown Sword Priest jacket from inside. While she was busy, David quickly whispered to Anur, “What was that about?”
She shot him an impatient look. “Visions, obviously. Only people who have something great in their future show in a Passion Priest’s visions, and not even all of them.”
“What was Bellon’s vision about?” he asked. Scatha had five jackets placed on the table, one for each of them.
“Lots of white, she said. Maybe he’ll become the Cardinal?” She shrugged.
Scatha put the empty box away, and Iwel and Tresas looked up from their quiet conversation. David stood straighter and pretended he hadn’t been whispering with Anur. He noticed Tresas looking at him again. She’d stared at him for an awfully long time. Had she seen a vision for him too? If so, why hadn’t she said anything? His fingers twitched. She must have seen something bad.
Iwel picked up the first jacket and stood before the table. “Steward Duran has requested that you join his sixth division, since he too was impressed by your performance. Since his numbers are so decreased, I have agreed. After sixth months, you may put in a request for a different position if you wish to do so. Acolyte Bellon Phera, kneel.”
Bellon stepped forward and went down to one knee before Iwel. Iwel placed two fingers on the center of his forehead and stared down at him solemnly for a long moment. Then he said, “Do you swear to love Aeons with all your heart, mind, and strength?”
“I swear,” Bellon said.
“Will you serve the priesthood and the people of Bantong for the rest of your life, forsaking all else?”
“I will.”
“Will you follow orders quickly, efficiently, and mercifully?”
“I will.” David thought he saw faint tears on Bellon’s cheeks.
“Will you obey the laws of the priesthood and the laws of Bantong?”
“I will.”
“Will you fight Nephilim and their minions?”
“I will, even if it means my death,” Bellon said fiercely.
Iwel nodded. “You are hereby bound forever to the life of a Sword Priest. May Aeons watch over you and keep you strong. May the Yesterlords welcome you into their army upon your death. Rise, Sword Brother Bellon Phera.” He lowered his hand from Bellon’s forehead.
Bellon stood slowly, briefly swaying. Rolan stood to Iwel’s left, and Bellon stepped over to him. “Welcome to the sixth traditional division, Brother,” Rolan said. He leaned forward, briefly touching his forehead to Bellon’s.
“Thank you, Steward,” Bellon said. He stepped next to Scatha, who handed him a brown jacket. “Thank you for your instruction, Vicar,” he said, taking the jacket she handed him. Then he walked over to the side of the room, holding the jacket close to his chest.
“Acolyte Conal Vikor, kneel,” Iwel said. Conal stepped forward, and they went through the vows again. Conal’s voice shook on some of the vows. After he took the jacket from Scatha, he embraced her and then he embraced Bellon as well, who hugged him back.
Niam was called next. Her face shone as she took her vows, and her responses were so fast Iwel could barely finish speaking. When she was done, she hugged Bellon and kissed Conal, who eagerly kissed her back. They didn’t stop till Scatha loudly cleared her throat.
Anur took her vows solemnly, voice steady, never blinking. She smiled once she joined the others, and winked at David where he waited alone. “Acolyte David Kemp, kneel,” Iwel finally said.
David walked slowly forward. Part of him had been sure he’d been left till last because someone was going to change their mind and say he wasn’t cut out to be a Sword Priest after all. But it was really happening. He trembled a bit as he knelt before Iwel. Iwel’s fingers were cool against his forehead, and David swallowed hard.
“Do you swear to love Aeons with all your heart, mind, and strength?” Iwel said.
“I swear,” David said. He sounded steady to his own ears, but he was very glad he was kneeling.
“Will you serve the priesthood and the people of Bantong for the rest of your life, forsaking all else?”
“I will.”
“Will you follow orders quickly, efficiently, and mercifully?” He couldn’t see anyone but Iwel, looming over him and looking terribly solemn.
“I will.”
“Will you obey the laws of the priesthood and the laws of Bantong?”
He had to force down the lump in his throat. He wanted to qualify his vow, say that he’d try his best. But he knew that wouldn’t be good enough. He made a silent promise to himself, and to Aeons, that he’d work on meaning the vow for real afterward. “I will,” he said.
“Will you fight Nephilim and their minions?”
“I will, even if it means my death.” That was an easy vow. The Traveler’s Guide to Bantong said it had been years since Nephilim had been spotted anywhere. David would never meet one.
Iwel nodded. “You are hereby bound forever to the life of a Sword Priest. May Aeons watch over you and keep you strong. May the Yesterlords welcome you into their army upon your death. Rise, Sword Brother David Kemp.”
David tried to stand and found he couldn’t. Iwel grabbed him under the arm and helped drag him to his feet. He was smiling indulgently, though, and David realized there was a huge smile on his own face too. Rolan took him from Iwel and touched his forehead to David’s. “Welcome to the sixth traditional division, Brother.”
“Thank you, Steward,” David said in a choked voice. Rolan passed him on to Scatha. She handed him his jacket, her expression unreadable. He had no idea if she was proud of him for making Sword Priest or upset because she hadn’t thought he deserved it. But then he didn’t really know Scatha, so he couldn’t guess what she thought. “Thank you for your instruction, Vicar,” he said, taking the jacket from her as quickly as he could and still maintain propriety.
He’d barely reached the others when Anur pulled him into a back-pounding hug. Niam embraced him next, followed by Conal. Even Bellon slapped him heartily on the back. David grinned at them all.
“Vicar Draste will show you to your new dormitories,” Rolan said, interrupting them. “You are expected to report for duty at eight in the morning the day after tomorrow.” He smiled at them then turned to discuss something with Iwel.
“We made it!” Niam said, hugging Anur again. “I can’t believe it!”
“I know,” Anur giggled. “It doesn’t really seem real yet.”
Conal laughed and draped an arm around Niam. “We’re gonna be amazing. I’m sure of it.”
They chuckled and continued chatting, but David wasn’t really paying attention anymore. Tresas stood a short distance away from Iwel, Rolan, and Scatha, watching him again, a slight frown on her face. He hesitated for a moment then walked over to her. “Um, Steward Res?” he said. “I’m sorry if this is rude, but you keep looking at me weird. Did you see something earlier?”
Tresas considered him for a moment. “Yes, I saw something,” she finally said.
David swallowed hard. “Why didn’t you say anything? Was it that bad?”
“It wasn’t bad. Just… strange.” Tresas shook her head. “Usually I know what my visions mean, or at least I have some idea. I can’t make sense of yours. When I looked at you, I saw a person lying on a bier.”
David caught his breath. “A bier? Who was it?”
“I don’t know. The image wasn’t very clear.” She shrugged. “A dead person is hardly an unusual vision where Sword Priests are concerned. Don’t worry about it too much. It probably isn’t you.” She patted him on the shoulder then wandered from the room.
Bellon frowned when David rejoined the group. “What were you asking her?” he asked.
“Nothing,” David shook his head. He couldn’t stop wondering about it, though. If the image of a dead
person appeared next to him, but it probably wasn’t him, then who was it? Was it someone he was going to kill? Or maybe someone important to him? Either way, he wasn’t very happy about the vision.
Scatha took the five of them two buildings over. Each division had their own building; the one for the traditional division was called Oisin Tower. Each unit took up a few floors – apartments (including rooms for priests with families), common areas, and a gymnasium to practice in. The sixth division inhabited floors 38 through 44. Scatha shooed them off the elevator on floor 41. As David and the others walked down the hallway, doors opened, and Sword Priests stood outside the doors, clapping. David saw Alosh, who winked and gave him a massive grin.
The rooms here were larger than what they’d had as acolytes, small apartments rather than dormitories. There was a bathroom and a small kitchen (which had only a cooker and a cleaner and a sink), plus a large bed, a desk, a book shelf, a paper-thin television, and plenty of floor space. “You need to clean out your acolyte dormitories by tomorrow,” Scatha said. “Congratulations again.” She caught David before he slipped away and handed him a com pad. Before he could make any assumptions, she said, “You’ll need it as a Sword Priest. Your first month’s wages will be garnished to compensate for that, and for everything you consumed between coming to Bantong and passing the test.”
David nodded and slipped the com pad into his pocket. He could play with it later. He almost tried to say something else to Scatha, but she left before he could think what to say. Whether she was deliberately ignoring him or just impatient to move on to the next thing, he didn’t know. He told himself it didn’t matter. He might never see Scatha again, and certainly not on a daily basis. They hadn’t had a real relationship. He’d moved on with his life, so it was okay to move on past Scatha too. Now that he was a priest, maybe he could finally find Brigid, apologize, and try again with her.
He smiled as he sat down in his own room. For the first time in his life, he’d accomplished something he’d set out to do. Maybe he’d only made it by a technicality, but he’d still succeeded. He wouldn’t let thoughts about Scatha or dead people drag him down. Today was a happy day.
Anur stuck her head into his room. “We’re being treated to drinks tonight,” she said, grinning. “Come on.”
“Definitely.” David followed her out. He deserved a celebration after everything he’d been through.
14
Glossary
Glossary
Avon: A district in Pardis, where the Beloved Priests live and work.
Bantonan Worlds: A number of worlds closely tied to Bantong. They have the same currencies, government, beliefs. Most Bantonan worlds are connected to Bantong by permanent gateways.
Bantong: The center world.
Gateways: A predictable, stable wormhole that connects one location to another, usually one world to another. Sometimes they only stay open for a time but others are permanent. Only blue gateways are safe.
Jod: A district in Pardis, where the Law Priests live and work.
Kumarkan: A district in Pardis, where the Lost Priests live and work.
Lilipan: A Bantonan world. Conal’s home world.
Pardis: The capital and largest city on Bantong, where Castle Eternal and the six priest districts are.
Shamla: A district in Pardis, where the Passion Priests live and work.
Takam: A country on Bantong, Niam’s home.
Thul: A district in Pardis, where the Heart Priests live and work.
Valal: A district in Pardis, where the Sword Priests live and work.
Vele: A Bantonan world, Anur’s home world.
15
Afterward
Afterward
If you enjoyed this book, please visit my website, neriggs.com. You can find my other works there, as well as free fiction and my newsletter.
Books by N E Riggs:
Shadows of an Empire:
0: Swift as the Wind
1: Tomb of the Moon
2: Bloody Fire
3: Into the Light
4: Twisted Minds
5: Caged Earth
6: Whispers in the Wood
Only the Inevitable:
1: The Center of the Universe