Serenity and Secrets (2)

Lilis led the two deeper into the church. The halls were quiet and empty. Anaroth looked around as they walked. Using his senses, he could tell most of the priests and knights were only beginning to leave their prayer. He furrowed his brows when they passed a certain room. He stopped. Lilis turned around with a confused smile.

"Is there something wrong, your majesty?"

"This room. It's a classroom, right?"

"Oh, yes. How did you know?"

"Through my mana. That's beside the point. Do the children not participate in the service? Why is it so quiet?"

"Well, the children here are very well behaved. Although most of the children are rowdy when they first arrive, the high priest calms them down. The children also pray during their classes. There's no need for them to attend the high priest's service yet."

Anaroth glared at her. "The children have all talked to the high priest?"

"Most of them. The children who misbehave fall under the high priest's jurisdiction."

He was appalled. This was worse than he expected. The worst case would be that the Malas had abused every child here. He clenched his fists and exhaled. "Please continue."

"If you insist…" Lilis turned back hesitantly. They continued to walk before coming to an open garden. Lilis led them to a small gazebo with a table and two chairs. She gestured for Anaroth to sit first. "Here will be a better place to speak freely."

Anaroth glanced at her before sitting down. The gazebo had mana stones embedded into the base. It was suspicious. Why did the church that condemns magic use mana stones? He could tell that the spell imbued into the stones was simple. It was only 'silence,' magic used to prevent sounds from being heard. Along with that, the stone drew in mana from the air to sustain itself.

"Saint Lilis, you have an idea of why I'm here, don't you?"

"Could it have something to do with the children?"

"That is moreso my personal opinion. What I need to talk to you about is the rift within the church."

She calmly knit her hands together. "Does his majesty plan to make me the leader of the church?"

Anaroth paused; He didn't know if Veridin desired that or not. "His majesty only wishes for the stability of the treaty. High Priest Malas is a threat to the peace of the Empire."

"His holiness is? I know he does not support the treaty, but that isn't enough to qualify as a threat."

"Miss Lilis, will you trust me? I only need your cooperation."

"His holiness isn't a bad person. I can't understand why his majesty would want to do this." Her eyes were downcast.

Anaroth's chest tightened. Lilis didn't know about the abuse. Had Veridin lied to him? While it didn't seem like something Veridin would lie about, he couldn't be sure. He couldn't say anything until he was sure. "Miss Lilis, I know you love this church. But you must rid the church of the high priest's faction."

"Your majesty… Please don't try to convince me that this will be best for my people. I'll decide that with my own eyes." She looked up, her eyes hardened and confident.

"If you could help me, I'll show you that it's for the best."

She shook her head. "Your majesty, please go back for today. If you wish to see me again, please send a message. I will send a letter to you first if I make a decision."

"Then–"

"I trust you, your majesty, but I cannot bring myself to commit such sins against his holiness." She smiled knowingly. "I understand that you do not know what his majesty's plans are either. However, when you return, I shall have to trouble you for an explanation from him. Please go back."

She walked out of the gazebo, turning her head when a shrill voice called out to her. In a moment, she was swarmed by children. The younger ones chirped compliments like baby birds. The older ones simply called her "sister" or "saint." She smiled and patted each of them on the head. When she turned back to Anaroth to speak, she saw his contorted expression; Sympathy, as he stared down at the children. Confused, she turned back to the kids but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Anaroth walked up to her.

"Saint Lilis, if not for peace. Then please, for the sake of the children."

She glanced at him, suspicion arising. "I shall think about it."

With a curt nod, Anaroth motioned Galwund to follow him. He clenched his fists. Each of those older children bore scars on their backs. Without his mana, he would have never seen them. Galwund spoke up behind him.

"Sir Anaroth, please slow down! I don't think this is the way to the exit!"

He stopped. Galwund was right. The exit was in the opposite direction. Anaroth could get there easily, but something was strange. The church felt lifeless. He could sense the occasional priest walking through the halls, the paladins training in their training hall, the saintess speaking with the children, and the citizens praying in the main hall. But there was a stifling silence. Even in a holy place, there should be some signs of life, of joy. One class of children shouldn't be all the church has. It was way too quiet, way too clean.

"Galwund, do you sense something strange here?"

"Um… We've been walking this far and no one has stopped us? It's very quiet."

"Yes. A church this large should have more than a few priests." Anaroth flinched. The inner sanctuary was filled with people. He could tell the high priest was also in that room. "Galwund. From here on out, everything you see will stay between us."

"What do you mean Sir Anaroth?"

"We're trespassing."

"HUH?"

Anaroth dragged Galwund along to the inner sanctuary. He wrapped them in a silence spell along with an illusion spell to conceal them. They reached the closed door of the inner sanctuary's prayer hall without any problems.

"Sir Anaroth, should we really be here?"

"Be quiet." Anaroth inhaled slowly, sensing the flow of mana inside the room. "Close your eyes."

Galwund obediently closed his eyes. When he opened them again, the two of them were standing inside the prayer hall, right beside a large stone statue. The high priest was standing in front of the statue. Galwund opened his mouth to speak but Anaroth cut him off. They could be neither seen nor heard, but Anaroth wanted to focus on the scene in front of him.

The high priest cleared his throat and began to speak, "You may be wondering why you're here. Many of you had duties you had to perform today, but this is of the utmost importance. Today, on our holy grounds, on our day of service, a heretic set foot in our church. That devil attempted to sway our believers. I urge you to remember who it was who killed your families! Destroyed our crops! It was the demons! Those heretics who refuse to repent! The king of those heretics set foot on our holy grounds and called our beliefs treason!"

Anaroth clenched his fists. Galwund spoke from beside him. "Are you alright, your majesty?"

"I'm fine. Just listen."

"Veridin, the poor boy, his mind has been tainted by his cursed body. The mana within him is driving him to make poor decisions. He has already been swayed by the Demon King! Is it treason to wish to save his poor soul? Is it treason to want to ease his suffering? We must guide him back on the right path. It is such a shame that that boy has fallen to his sins. I wish I had taught him better. I can only see this as my fault for not having taken care of that boy's mind. We cannot allow him to continue to make mistakes! Veridin cannot be king any longer! We must purge the palace of this heresy!"

Murmurs broke out among the priests. Opinion began to sway in favor of removing Veridin from the throne. Galwund couldn't believe it. With just his words, the high priest had convinced the majority of the church that his majesty was undeserving of the throne. Was this the power of belief? What would the citizens think if the high priest said this in public?

He was scared. His majesty had given him a chance to change his life. As an imperial guard, he was in the second highest order of knights. He was finally able to provide money for his younger sister and mother. He no longer had to worry about his sister having to join the army. The Empire was finally settling into peace. He wasn't going to stand by and watch as his majesty was slandered.

"Sir Anaroth. What do we need to do?"

Anaroth tore his eyes and ears away from the high priest. "Nothing. For now. We need to get Saint Lilis on our side. No, more than that, I need to show the priests that I'm not some evil person."

"Will that work?"

"It has to," Anaroth looked at him with a fearful smile. "Or else the war will start all over."

Galwund nodded. "Then we'll go back to the palace?"

"Yes. Let's head back."

Veridin dropped a cube of sugar into his cup, watching the amber liquid seep into the white surface. He turned his head to the side, looking out over the capital. A gentle breeze blew his golden hair in front of his eyes. The sun shone down blindingly. It was a beautiful day.

"Your majesty, why did you give Sir Anaroth such a useless task?" Raven looked at him.

"It's simple. If I execute the high priest without reason, I'll become what the people fear. If I turn the high priest into an object of fear," Veridin picked up his fork, "Then his downfall will be worth having waited ten years."

Raven flinched. Red oozed from where the fork had pierced the tart. Veridin smiled as he brought the fork to his mouth. It wasn't the food he was smiling about. Raven could feel the murderous intent behind his words and actions. For a moment, he felt sorry for the high priest. That sympathy disappeared a moment later.

"Your majesty, a verdict came in for priest Julas."

"Priest Julas? It took longer than I thought."

"He is currently being imprisoned for a time of five years."

"Five years is far too short, but it doesn't matter. You didn't mention him just to tell me his sentence, did you?"

Raven smiled. "Recently, I received word about the man who was captured with him. He went to the Golden Eye Guild upon his release, where he demanded a payment of ten gold coins. I was wondering if that had something to do with you, your majesty?

"Yes, it did." Veridin leaned on his hand. "How in the world did you go over all the information on my situation and find out about him?"

"I am your aid. It is to be expected."

Veridin chuckled in disbelief. "So, what about him?"

"He threatened to go back and tell Earl Wyner the truth, so he is currently residing in the palace jailhouse."

Veridin leaned back. The current "jailhouse" was repurposed from where the old king kept women who didn't listen to him. It was more accurate to say it used to be a slave pen. Just thinking about it repulsed him. Guilt from his argument with Anaroth also resurfaced. He pushed it aside. What was more strange was that Raven had only been here for one day. In that one day he had learned the layout of the castle, gone over the past incidents, and even captured someone who had been released for less than a day.

"Raven, who exactly are you?" Veridin stared at him.

Raven tensed. Bloodlust suffocated him. He could barely speak, even so he still smiled. "Your majesty, don't be suspicious of me. You saved my life, I can only repay you with all that I can do."

Veridin looked down and picked up his cup. "What are you hiding from me then?"

Raven relaxed, his heart still racing. "As you know, I used to be an assassin. I happened to take on the wrong mission and ended up in a desperate situation. I also happen to be the head of the Golden Eye Guild. I hope you find me useful, your majesty."

Veridin slowly set the cup down. The leader of that massive merchant and informant guild was Raven? He glanced at Raven, who's bright eyes stared back at him: Golden eyes. He ran his hand through his hair with a laugh. Didn't this solve half of his problems? What kind of lucky charm did he stumble upon?

"So you lead that massive company. No wonder you have information on me. I just have one question."

"What is it?"

"If someone offered you an absurd amount of money, or a lifetime of freedom, would you betray me?"

Raven grinned. There's no way he would take that. Not only did Veridin save his life, wherever Veridin went trouble followed. He wouldn't trade such an entertaining life for anything. "Absolutely not, your majesty."

Veridin scrutinized him for a moment before letting out a chuckle. He had gained a strange subordinate, but a loyal one. Maybe not just a subordinate, but a friend. A carriage approaching the palace drew his attention.

"It seems that Anaroth has returned." Veridin stood up. "Let someone move this to the palace garden and lead him there."

Raven nodded and followed Veridin out of the room. He ordered a few servants to set up a table in the garden. He quickly adjusted his attire while standing outside. He smiled as the carriage door opened.

"Welcome back your majesty. His majesty is waiting for you, please follow me."

Anaroth furrowed his brows. He had to listen to the high priest's drivel, and now he had to deal with Veridin. Could this day be any worse? He followed Raven through the palace, confused. Why was Veridin casually having tea in the garden? It was suspicious and unnerving. Anaroth was about to say something sarcastic when his eyes finally saw Veridin.

Even in the shade, his golden hair glittered. Slivers of violet sparkled beneath golden lashes. A calm smile stretched across his features as he stuck his fork into a sparkling white cake. He didn't look up when he spoke.

"Don't just stand there. Sit down."