Champion

Chapter 42

The man that had been standing next to the young priest approached the pair, as did Sapphire and David. The look of surprise on his face mirrored the ones on theirs.

As the two women again began to speak at the same time, they stopped and giggled at each other. "Still have to get the first word in Laur?" the priestess chided her. "Only because you never let me get the last Phoebs," the acolyte responded with a smile.

"Dear, care to enlighten the rest of us?" the man asked Phoebe with a gentle smile.

"Oh," she exclaimed, slightly embarrassed, "this is Laurena, priestess of Eros. She was my roommate at the Great Temple."

"I am still an acolyte," Laurena murmured to her friend, lowering her face to hide her embarrassment behind her hair.

The young priestess looked to her friend in shock, then after seeing her embarrassment she gave her friend a one armed hug. "Acolyte of Eros," she corrected, "and the favored acolyte of all Sanctuary Port I might add. I don't think there was a single faithful to ever refuse a Blessing from her." Laurena's head rose at this praise, and she gave a small smile to her friend in gratitude.

"I would imagine not," the man said kindly. "Your smile alone would bring half of this city storming through those doors."

Wagging her finger at the man playfully, she scolded him, "Have a care Varus, and remember where your silken flatteries should be directed."

"Yes dear," he said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it.

As Phoebe's cheeks pinked a bit in pleasure, she turned to address Laurena and her companions with a smile. "This charming man is Varus, Sheriff of Exitibus and my betrothed."

"Temporary sheriff," he corrected her as Laurena looked at her friend in shock.

"Betrothed?" Laurena asked.

"Yes," Phoebe replied with a shining smile. "This is the man that has convinced me to leave the clergy and become his wife." Yet, after she said this he cleared his throat and gave her a meaningful look. "Eventually," she added, sticking her tongue out at him.

"What my beloved means," he interjected with an amused look at his fiancée, "is that I have convinced her to wait two years before leaving the clergy and joining me in marriage. She spent her entire life working to become a priestess, and has only had the post for two years. I want her to be able to experience more of what she worked so hard for, before she gives it all up for me.

"Besides," he added. "I still hold the hope that Eros will allow her to continue leading the faithful as my wife. I know it is rare, but if there are any whom have enough love in them to do so it is my Phoebe."

The young priestess beamed happiness at her fiancé's compliment.

"That sounds wonderful Phoebs," Laurena overcoming her surprise and smiling at her friend's happiness. "David, Sapphire this is Priestess Phoebe of Exitibus; my former roommate at the Great Temple. And Phoebe, allow me to introduce my companions. This is Sapphire, a powerful sorceress and trader and David the..."

"First Lieutenant David Kennisham, Wa Army," David interjected extending his hand. Seriously, he thought to himself, it's like she has no ability to remember our cover story. You would think a woman like her could lie better. Of course, as he considered the idea, he realized she probably didn't lie much. In a society, where people could simply cast a spell to discern the truth, lies sort of lost their value.

With that thought in mind, David easily caught the barely perceptible movement of Varus' lips as he cast said spell.

"What brought you to Exitibus?" he asked them.

Realizing any lie would be easily caught, he resolved to start working on those damn protective enchantment ideas again. This was going to suck.

"I'm not from around here," he began, trying to cleave as close to a version of the truth as possible. "I met this lovely young lady on the road," he continued, gesturing at Laurena, "and she offered to guide me. We picked up Sapphire in Wolfsvale to help us navigate this part of Erosius."

Varus could tell he spoke the truth, but not the entire truth. He was holding much back.

Having noticed the spell as well, Sapphire realized they needed to change the subject quickly. "What happened to Priest Pelagios?" she asked the couple.

Phoebe's mirth died upon hearing her question. "We had heard reports of a few traders going missing on the Calavius road. It is rare, but not unheard of. Usually they are discovered by other travelers, victims of some unfortunate accident, but we could not find any word of them from others on the road. When the wife of one trader, who was known to Priest Pelagios, asked for his help he decided to look into it. I begged him to take me along, but he said that one of us needed to stay here for the faithful, and that he was far more experienced with things like this.

"He was found dead on the road barely a day's ride from the city. He had been stabbed to death in his sleep, and all of his possessions stolen," she explained, her eyes beginning to tear up as she spoke. "I was panicked. Who would kill a priest? So I sent a messenger to the Great Temple for help, but I have heard nothing since. If it were not for Varus I am not sure what I would have done."

"She was worried, for the town and for us," he took over the story as he gathered his fiancée into his arms. "Phoebe wasn't sure what to do, and neither was I. But I offered to help her try to find the culprit, and keep the peace until the Inquisitors could arrive."

"He has been an Eros-send," she continued, looking into Varus' face lovingly. "He organized the defense of the city, and assigned those sentenced to servitude to guard the roads. He truly believes that they should be given the chance to redeem themselves by protecting the people they once harmed. And it has worked. Many of the men and women who felt shame in their servitude have a new-found love for this city. They are thankful for their chance at redemption, and the ones they once wronged now look upon them with respect for their courage and sacrifice."

"But it has been two months since his murder; surely the Inquisitors should have arrived by now?" Laurena said. "I was in the Great Temple less than a month ago, and I heard nothing of this."

Both Varus and Phoebe looked concerned at her words. "We thought that the Inquisitors should have arrived by now, or at least some word of them, but we just assumed they were busy elsewhere. If our request has not yet arrived at the Great Temple then something may have happened to the messenger," Phoebe said, looking to her fiancé in concern.

"We will send another messenger tomorrow beloved," he comforted her, "a pair of them this time. We have done well these last two months but Inquisitors would be of great help in restoring peace to the city."

After calming the young priestess, Varus excused himself from their gathering. He apologized, and explained that he needed to check in with his representative at the office. Priestess Phoebe invited them to stay with her at the temple, and they graciously accepted. In return David and Sapphire offered to take care of Laurena's horse and bags so that she could catch up with her friend. Before he left he quietly reminded the acolyte of their deception with the sheriff's representative, and cautioned her about sharing too much. The priestess may be her friend, but she was also the fiancée of the sheriff, whose subordinate they had lied to not an hour before.

Phoebe guided Laurena to her priestess quarters, and the door had barely closed before they were catching each other up on their lives. Phoebe described what it was like to pass her priestess tests, and how she was chosen to come to Exitibus as the junior clergy member. In return Laurena explained why she was traveling to Calavius, glossing over her quest from Eros. It nearly killed her to keep that a secret from her friend, but she knew David would never forgive her for discussing it. She was already on thin ice with the Champion, and anything he perceived as a betrayal now would doom her chances with him.

"Your companions seem nice," Phoebe said, shifting the conversation.

"They are," Laurena agreed.

"Especially David," the priestess added with a smirk. "His rescue in the mountains was timely, and your own words describe him as strong and honorable."

"And your point would be?" the acolyte replied with sarcasm.

"Oh please Laurena, it is obvious you like him. And I have to admit, there is much about him to like. He is tall, strong, kind, and very handsome."

"I could swear you said you were engaged moments ago," Laurena teased her friend.

"Oh I am, but even a love besotted woman such as I can appreciate a hot hunk of man like that," her friend joked back. "How is he at Blessings?"

"I do not know," Laurena replied. "I have not worshipped with him yet."

"But you said you worshipped in Wolfsvale," Phoebe argued.

"He was not with me," Laurena answered. "Astinus asked him not to participate, because David was new to our faith and still learning our ways," she continued. It was not technically a lie, she just did not wish for Phoebe to know what had happened between them.

"Then you have to bring him tomorrow night," the young priestess said. "One Blessing with you and he will be all yours."

Laurena was glad they had arrived on a night when no services were scheduled. She was not sure she would have been able to convince David to attend tonight, but if she could get Sapphire to help she might just get him between her thighs tomorrow.

***

Shadow Lord, I have a task for you,came the voice of the Night Lord into Cassius' head. He was working behind the bar in his tavern, and the words shocked him. The Night Lord had never spoken to him during the day before.

Quickly calling a serving wench to take his place, he moved to the outdoor privy making sure it was unoccupied. "What do you need of me Lord?" he whispered softly.

There are three visitors to the city that may be a threat to our plans. An acolyte of Eros, a woman trader, and a man dressed in strange clothing. Contact Shadowmaster Blade and have him put his best people on them.

"The assassins?" Cassius asked, shocked. The assassins were rarely used, and never more than one at a time.

Pickpockets for now, the Night Lord corrected him. I need spies at the moment not killers. Find out why they are here, and what they want. Their presence is a complication I do not need, but the deaths of three visitors in my city would draw more attention than it is worth at this time.

Cassius relaxed a little at these words. Killing targets in town was a risky business. It was far easier to eliminate them on the road than to have an assassin arrange 'accidents' in the city. Their organization was profitable, but too much exposure would draw the Inquisitors. Cassius really didn't want that.

All the same, tell Shadowmaster Blade to ready his assassins, and have Shadowmaster Whisper ready a team of destroyers as well. We may not like what our spies find, and we will need to move quickly in that event.