Aiduels sin, p.7
Aiduel's Sin, page 7
‘Hmmm, let me think,’ said Amyss. ‘I think I know who you mean. He didn’t give his name though. Said he was a pilgrim, and he wanted the honour of seeing the Angel of Arlais. We sent him away, of course, and said you’d be at the Cathedral on Seventh-Day, if he wanted to attend service with you. Why do you ask?’
‘I’m not sure. He just caught my attention. He wasn’t from Arlais, then?’
‘Not Arlais. Not sure where he was from exactly. He had a funny accent, like a mix of places. He seemed nice, very friendly, though I remember now that he smelled of alcohol, like he’d been drinking.’
Leanna was not sure why she had asked about him, but she was feeling tired, and closed her eyes. She hugged Amyss, and then slipped contentedly into sleep.
–
When Leanna awoke later that night, stirred from slumber by her recurring dream, Amyss was still in her arms.
Leanna opened her eyes, staring into the darkness, feeling agitated as usual by the visions within the dream which now seemed so familiar. The avatars of light. The winding path. The Gate.
But had she heard other words, new words, spoken by the figure in the Gate before she had awoken? Terrible words, which had come after that figure had raised a single finger? She strove to recall what had been said, but the detail of the memory was not there.
However, it was once again confirming to her what she now believed to be true; ever since the unleashing of energy at the pyre, she was seeing further into the dream. Deeper. Soon, she hoped that she would be able to comprehend and recall everything that was happening.
But until then, she had many other more prosaic matters to worry about, and she needed her rest. She closed her eyes, and sleep soon claimed her again.
–
Two days later, on Seventh-Day, Leanna was to attend Holy Service at the Cathedral of Arlais.
Prior to her salvation on the pyre, she had only occasionally attended services at the cathedral. However, in the aftermath of that event, the clamour from the people of Arlais to see their ‘Angel’ had become overwhelming. Leanna had therefore resolved to make a public appearance at the main Holy Service at least once per week, which seemed to satisfy the faithful of the city. However, she was rendered uncomfortable by both the size of the crowds in the city centre, and by the chanting of her new moniker.
That morning, she was walking through the city towards the cathedral, within a contingent of over fifty people. Half of these were militia guards, tasked with keeping any crowds back from her, and the remainder were priests and novices from the College. At Leanna’s side was Amyss, with Lorth Dormer also never more than a couple of metres away, his hand on his sword hilt whilst his agitated gaze roamed around them. He clearly did not enjoy that she did this.
A few streets from the cathedral, Leanna met up with her parents, Elisa and Jonas. They both looked nervous, as they often had recently when accompanying her on the latter stages of this procession, but she could also feel their immense pride that she was their daughter.
When their group reached the central square of Arlais, which was edged on one side by the splendid cathedral building, Leanna could see a crowd of hundreds. This mass of people was cheering, and many were wearing white cloaks with red spots on the shoulders. The militia started to clear the way through this raucous crowd, creating a pathway perhaps five metres wide whilst maintaining a protective circle around Leanna.
Lord Aiduel, please keep me humble, and always remind me that I’m but a vessel for your will.
Leanna proceeded with her colleagues through the centre of this channel. The emotions emitted from the crowd were unrelentingly positive, and their cheers were expressive of joy and veneration. However, every time that she experienced this assemblage of noise and people, it brought back darker memories of the terrible walk through a comparable massed throng, on her way to the pyre.
Leanna stepped carefully along the open pathway through the crowd, as she had on that other day, feeling the beating emotions of the gathered masses washing across her.
JOY. LOVE. AWE. JOY. LO-
Abruptly, the emotions disappeared. Leanna stopped walking, feeling shocked. She had learned how to subdue any external emotions, such that if she now elected to, she could barely feel them. But this was different. They were gone. Completely absent. The noise of the crowd was receding in turn, reaching her as if from the end of a distant tunnel. And she felt different, as if something had been drained from within herself.
Her surprise must have been reflected on her face. Amyss paused and looked at her with concern, and Lorth Dormer hurried towards her, saying, ‘Priestess Leanna. Please keep walking.’
Leanna shook her head, then looked to the side.
She noticed the hooded man immediately. He was less than three metres away, two of the militia standing between her and him. He was very tall and burly and, despite the hood, she could see that he had grey hair and a grey beard, with a wide nose and ruddy cheeks. She felt certain that he was the same man who had been standing in the queue at the hospital, earlier that week.
Her gaze found his, and she stared into bloodshot eyes. For moments, those eyes held hers, with no reverence or deference in his regard. The expression on his craggy face was enigmatic, but she experienced an immediate pulse of fear. She instinctively felt that the loss of her ability to sense emotions was connected to this man. Something about him. Something dangerous.
Then she glanced down and spotted the object held in his right hand. A mace. A lengthy weapon, the solid metal end lowered down towards the floor, resting on the cobbled surface.
Lorth Dormer must have noticed where she was looking, because he moved to interpose his own body between Leanna and the stranger, and shouted, ‘You! Back off!’ He then gave a gentle push on Leanna’s arm, and to Amyss urged, ‘Get her moving! Get her inside!’
These actions snapped Leanna out of her befuddlement, and she proceeded to move urgently along the cleared pathway to the steps at the entrance of the cathedral. Within moments, the emotions of the crowd were washing over her again, and the sensation of being drained had evaporated. When she had half-climbed the cathedral steps, she looked back towards the area of the crowd where the stranger had been, hoping to get a clearer look at him.
But he was gone.
–
Shortly afterwards, Leanna was sitting on a pew inside the cathedral, waiting for the appearance of the acting High Priest of Arlais.
When the man who was going to lead the Holy Day service appeared, he was flanked by two junior priests, who helped him to climb the steps to the pulpit above the altar. Leanna felt a tinge of sympathy as she looked upon this senior figure, who was attired in his holy vestments. Even from ten metres away, she could hear the strained wheezing from his damaged lungs. She could also observe the severe burn scarring which covered the entirety of his face, some of it hidden by the eyepatch which he was wearing on the left-hand side.
However, despite the severity of the wounds, she knew that she could only feel half-hearted sympathy. If she was being honest with herself, it could never be wholehearted, given the nature of the man.
Lord Aiduel, please aid in the ongoing recovery of Senior Priest El’Patriere, and help him to walk on a brighter path under your light.
The Holy Church in Arlais had been left reeling by what had happened on the day of the pyre, and its leadership had been devastated.
High Priest Comenis had not been struck by any of the flames and wood which had exploded out from the fire. However, Leanna had discovered afterwards that the senior churchman in Arlais had suffered a heart attack following the explosion. He had collapsed, red-faced and breathless, and had died unnoticed as the crowd had swarmed around him.
High Commander Ernis dei Bornere of Aiduel’s Guards had perished almost instantly, his entire body being consumed by flame. His fate was now talked about as justice for all of the people who had been executed by fire, on his command, since Aiduel’s Guards had arrived in Arlais.
That left Senior Priest El’Patriere, the man standing at the pulpit today. Until the day of the pyre, he had been the Senior Priest of the College of Aiduel, but he was now the acting High Priest of Arlais. The exploding timber and flame had not consumed El’Patriere, as it had consumed dei Bornere. Instead, his burns had been restricted to the face, neck and chest areas.
On the evening following the pyre, Leanna had come upon El’Patriere in the College hospital. The Senior Priest’s face had been a blistered mess, with red pustules formed across the skin, transforming the previously handsome visage into a hideous mask. He had been awake when she had arrived at his bedside, and his chest had been heaving with every wheezing breath. One eye had been sealed shut, but the other had opened as she had come close, and Leanna had realised who it was.
She had been exhausted by that point, having already healed many surviving Aiduel’s Guards who had been victims of the explosion. But she had still been able to feel El’Patriere’s emotions, pulsing outwards.
PAIN. PAIN. HATE. PAIN. PAIN. HATE.
Any sympathy which she might have felt for the man’s agony had been dampened by his malevolence. Nonetheless, she had reached her hand out, and had used her remaining traces of energy to heal him as best as she could. Her effort had reduced his pain, and had lessened the raw intensity of his burns. However, she had been unable to repair his damaged features, or to restore sight to his melted eye. She had been too depleted by then.
The next day, when she had returned to the hospital, El’Patriere had gone. He had moved to take over Comenis’s quarters at the cathedral, and had assumed leadership of the Holy Church in the city. Since then, he had not had any involvement with the College of Aiduel.
Priestess Corenna had taken on some of El’Patriere’s old duties, and Sister Colissa had continued to run the hospital, after Brother Perrien had been ordered to depart. But when a final decision on a College matter now needed to be taken, everyone turned to Leanna.
Looking upon El’Patriere now, as he stood on the pulpit, Leanna knew that she should feel more pity for the man. His face was disfigured beyond repair, and he had lost his left eye. El’Patriere had clearly taken pride in his handsome looks, but the ugliness of his soul was now matched by the hideousness of his face, an outcome for which he clearly blamed Leanna.
Lord Aiduel, please show him the way to forgiveness.
As Leanna listened and participated in the Holy Service which then followed, it was clear that El’Patriere’s voice and throat had also been affected. He had once spoken in tones which had been refined and melodious, but his voice now felt strained and sometimes croaking in nature.
At the end of the service, Leanna expected El’Patriere to wish them all to, ‘Go in the Grace of Aiduel.’
But instead, he smiled and said, ‘Holy faithful. Before you all leave, there is a herald here. A messenger who has travelled to Arlais on behalf of His Eminence, Archlaw Paulius. This herald would deliver a message, publicly, here in this holy place. A message addressed to our living miracle, Priestess Leanna, our beloved Angel of Arlais.’
Leanna shuddered upon hearing the pretence of sincerity within the latter words. If she had not known the vehemence with which El’Patriere detested her, she might almost have believed him.
El’Patriere continued, gesturing as he spoke. ‘Now, please welcome the Archlaw’s Herald.’
A diminutive and rotund man approached the altar. He was dressed in religious vestments, and was holding an ornate and formal-looking scroll, which he unrolled as he moved onto the pulpit. When he started to speak, his voice was booming, echoing off the cathedral walls.
‘This is an open letter from His Eminence Archlaw Paulius the Fourth, leader of the Holy Church, Aiduel’s Mortal Voice on Angall. It is addressed principally to Priestess Leanna, beloved Angel of Arlais, but is intended to be heard by all of the faithful of Arlais. I shall be repeating this message in the town square at noon today, and for each of the next five days, so that all of the citizens of Arlais may hear it. Copies of this letter shall also be posted in all public spaces across the city. Now, hear the illustrious words of His Eminence, Archlaw Paulius.
‘To Priestess Leanna of Arlais, the Angel of Arlais, Aiduel’s Holy Healer, Worker of Miracles, and she who was saved by Aiduel’s Own Hand from the unjust fire.
‘I, Archlaw Paulius the Fourth, am writing to you now, to offer my apologies, my veneration and adoration, and my pleas for reconciliation.
‘You have been done a great wrong, dearest Priestess Leanna, my beloved Angel of Arlais. You, and all of the people of Arlais, have been done a great wrong, at the hands of a man who purported to act in the name of the Archlaw and the Holy Church, but who acted only upon his own foul urges. You have all suffered at the hands of evil, but by Aiduel’s Grace you have emerged unscathed. You, Leanna, have been delivered from the flames as a worker of miracles, and tempered by that fire into a stronger, purer, sanctified and holy steel.
‘The Order of Aiduel’s Guards in Arlais, to my everlasting shame and regret, was tainted by the command and influence of a man who I now understand had lost his mind; High Commander Ernis dei Bornere. He corrupted their holy mission, the seeking out of evil heretics, into his own personal and insane pursuit of power. In the course of that mad and unholy pursuit, he placed the single most important person in the recent history of the Holy Church onto a pyre, where he intended to burn her alive.
‘Only by the Hand of Aiduel, and by His Divine Judgement against this depraved evil, were you saved from the flames, and was dei Bornere incinerated in an act of The Lord Aiduel’s retribution. But, by this act we can all be thankful, for He revealed you to us, and unveiled the miracle of your existence to the world.
‘And I, Archlaw Paulius, can now recognise and understand the mistrust dei Bornere’s actions must have created within you and the citizens of Arlais for the Holy Church, and of my benevolent love for you all. But such lack of trust is deeply misplaced, I assure you. Please believe me when I say that the actions of dei Bornere were carried out without my instruction or knowledge, and I was as appalled as anyone there when they were finally reported to me.
‘I have prayed to The Lord Aiduel for His and your forgiveness for my lack of oversight and control over these heinous deeds. I long for nothing more now than to see the Angel of Arlais, and the city of Arlais, brought back into the loving embrace of the Church. For us all to be united again, in our love for Aiduel, for the faith and for the institution of the Holy Church.
‘As part of that reconciliation and reunification, you will soon be able to welcome a new replacement force of a thousand Aiduel’s Guards to your wonderful city. Indeed, I have already dispatched this new contingent to you. By the time that you hear these words, they will have already arrived at the port of Boralais, and will soon be travelling onwards to Arlais. This force is uncorrupted by the insanity which gripped Ernis dei Bornere, and is headed by my esteemed colleague, Archprime Meira dei Corsi, third most senior member of the High Council.
‘She and they have two purposes in coming to Arlais. Firstly, to bring the city of Arlais back into the fold of the Holy Church, by helping to free it from the scourge of vigilante elements who have taken possession of the fortress of Aiduel’s Guards. And secondly, to find and offer their protection to you, Priestess Leanna, Angel of Arlais, and to form your honour guard on a return journey to Sen Aiduel.
‘To Sen Aiduel, centre of the Holy Church, where you will come into my presence, where the Angel of Arlais shall stand before Aiduel’s Mortal Voice, and I will venerate you. I shall recognise you as a Living Saint, the first person to be recognised as such for hundreds of years. And you shall take your position on the High Council of the Holy Church, as is befitting of a figure of such illustrious reverence.
‘Please be assured of my everlasting goodwill and respect, Priestess Leanna, and I shall await, as your faithful servant, the moment when we may kneel together, and may join together in blissful devotion to The Lord.
‘Archprime Meira shall be at the vanguard of your escort. She and a small support group will approach the city in advance, to prepare the way for the thousand Aiduel’s Guards who follow in their wake. She would like a meeting of peace with you, Priestess Leanna, within the sacred and sanctified walls of Arlais Cathedral. My herald shall provide the details of this.
‘I hope that you will receive the Archprime with all of the humility and love with which I have written this letter, Priestess Leanna. Please take my word that The Lord Aiduel has deemed that Arlais shall once again return into the fold of the faith, as a shining beacon of hope, and that the name of Leanna, Angel of Arlais, shall live in the Glory of Aiduel for evermore.
‘May The Lord Aiduel forever walk with you all in the light, and keep you from the all-consuming darkness.
‘And may you all go in the Grace of Aiduel.’
Having concluded these words, the herald’s tone of voice altered, and he announced, ‘Thus ends the letter of His Eminence Archlaw Paulius the Fourth, Head of the Holy Church, Aiduel’s Mortal Voice on Angall.’
Upon completion of that statement, the herald stood back, and El’Patriere came forward to announce his own parting words to the congregation, notifying everyone to disperse. As he concluded, Leanna could not perceive if the acting High Priest was smiling or grimacing, behind the contorted mask of his scarring.
However, her own heart was beating fast. She looked across at Amyss, and the concern on the petite priestess’s face mirrored her own. They both knew what the herald’s announcement truly meant, and that it reflected the matters that they had speculated about, just a few nights earlier.
Aiduel’s Guards were returning. The Holy Church had signalled its intention to reclaim the city of Arlais.
