Zion: Light of the New Moon, Ch 3.2 Doen
Zion - Light of the New Moon Chapter 3.2
Doen Get to Da'Cho Pah
Haldyn Rakken ran away from the Glass Hall (again) and has joined the caravan on its journey to Zion.
I must have been lost in my thoughts because I had apparently been ignoring my traveling companion.
"What do you think?" Narissa asked, pulling me out of my own mind. When my casual 'hmm?' didn't suffice she just chuckled, shaking her head, "I didn't think you were listening."
I wasn't about to lie, "I'm sorry, Lady Hearthsinger... but... Haldyn Rakken..."
"He's in the caravan." the tigress finished for me.
"Exactly." I confirmed.
"That bothers you?" she asked, glancing toward me with a smile, "Brother Zachary, I can hardly believe that such an outgoing, headstrong priest such as yourself would be intimidated by having a noble in the caravan..." her words were said with good humor rather than in a chiding matter, but I couldn't help but feel she got the wrong idea.
"What bothers me is that--" and I stopped mid-sentence; Haldyn had told me his secrets in private and in confidence... I couldn't break that trust, "--is that his father did not say a single thing to us before his son showed."
"I see..." Narissa nodded thoughtfully, "My understanding was that Lord Rakken negotiated the Lordling's passage with Dillan." The single sentence made me feel better immediately, and apparently it was visible. She glanced at me and smiled, chuckling, "What?"
I shrugged, "I don't know... it's silly I guess." I shrugged again, "I guess it's just good to hear... I mean... for all we knew the Lordling might have stowed away in the caravan in an attempt to escape the Wayside."
"You are one funny bunny, Brother." Narissa laughed, reaching a paw up to pat me on the head. I was still too relieved to know that Haldyn's father had given permission for him to join us to mind the otherwise-demeaning gesture.
"I suppose so." I responded, "After all, I can't imagine a young noble would have anything to escape from... right?" Whatever I said tore the smile right off of Narissa's muzzle and an uncomfortable silence settled into the space between our words. After far too long with the weighted void between us I moved to the edge of the bench before speaking up, "The next portion of the Highway travels through rough terrain... I'm going to consult with Lord Rust."
"I'll be right here." she noted in a far-too-neutral tone. I had no idea what I had done, but whatever it was had a profound effect on the tigress and I quickly fled the awkward interaction.
One of the laborers was quick to provide me with a mount and I trotted her forward through the line of wagons until I sighted Lord Rust. The echidna was walking alongside one of the wagons toward the front of the procession, '"Lord Rust..." I called out.
He turned to regard me, "Brother Zachary."
"I need to speak with you." I told him.
The echidna smirked and, without batting an eye, spoke up, "Why are you seeking one of Tah'aveen's servitors?" he inquired in a mock-ritualistic tone.
"Please don't be offended if I don't smile." it was the most courteous responses I was able to muster at his verbal jab.
The echidna's smile faded and he took on a slightly more serious air, "What's wrong?" he got straight to business.
"I feel uneasy, and I was looking for someone with whom to speak." I explained.
"You forget again that I'm not a priest?" he inquired, only a hint of humor to it, "I don't do confessions."
"I have nothing to confess." I explained, "I'm just looking for a connection."
"You can spend time with the Lordling." he offered, "He seems to like connecting with you."
"How so?" I inquired, "I think he spends his time talking with Jasper, Mr. Flynn, and Taggart."
"I wasn't talking about talking, Zachary." the echidna commented.
"I was." I corrected him. Though such a misunderstanding wouldn't normally bother me, something about the echidna's tone left me feeling put-upon by some undiscovered humor at my expense.
"He spoke with me earlier today." Lord Rust stated.
"About what?" I asked.
"Apparently he thought I was your senior priest, and wanted to commend you to me on your duties." the echidna explained.
"I'm surprised he'd think you were a priest." I admitted, "you don't really look the part."
"I was leading the congregation in a morning prayer... you do not have to be a member of the priesthood to do that." the echidna stated.
"I wasn't going to imply that you did anything wrong." I explained.
"You gave the Lordling confession?" he asked.
"He had much to say." it was a way of a priest confirming confession to another priest without supplying any information and it seemed a suitable response, even if Lord Rust was no longer ordained.
"And he had a lot to DO as well, apparently." the echidna pointed out.
"A Priest of Doen has many tasks he must fulfill." I offered, "Why do you have so many questions?"
"He provided very positive things to say about you, and was not shy in explaining what he liked." Lord Rust responded.
"And you corrected him and informed him that you were not a priest?" I asked.
The echidna chuckled at that, "You don't have to answer my question, but consider this: did Lordling Rakken give you any indication that he would be ashamed of the time he spent with you?"
I opened my muzzle to respond but then realized what Lord Rust meant. When I didn't respond he continued, "I thanked the Lordling for his praise of you and informed him that all Priests of Doen strive to bring joy and comfort in all they do."
"You didn't tell him you weren't a priest." I noted.
"I didn't tell him I was one." he added.
"A half-truth." I pointed out.
"May truth be your guiding light..." he recited, "Showing you your path and the path of others."
I joined him in the second stanza, "But even as truth reveals a new road remember that not all paths should be taken."
"And so it goes." Lord Rust stated, his explanation evident in the passage from the Book of the Dawn: Truth is something to live by and strive toward but it would be a folly to be completely truthful all of the time. The echidna's duplicity with the Lordling began to make sense.
"Thank you, Lord Rust." I noted.
"Don't thank me for the sake of another, Zachary." he stated, making it clearly evident that he was thinking of the Lordling's wellbeing.
"Understood." I confirmed, and I urged my mount onward. Despite the lack of Lord Rust's understanding, our meager conversation still somehow seemed to help. I crossed in front of the wagon and circled back around to the other side of the caravan, moving to the side of the highway as I let it pass me by until I could find a place to reenter the procession. As it turned out, I found a spot only a pawful of yards from Jasper and Zeke.
"I served for years but, when it came down to it, I ran." it was one of the few times I'd heard Zeke talk. Apparently the fox was not as mute when he was free of the watchful gaze of the priesthood. I still had no idea what had happened to him that had made him so afraid of the faithful, but it hurt to think that such an experience existed.
"And you haven't trusted anyone Of-The-Cloth since?" Jasper questioned calmly.
Zeke nodded quietly, "After having seen behind the curtain I couldn't bring myself to put it out of my mind." he sighed, "and after... after what happened with Father Meldrin, they realized that they didn't want me to serve the temple anymore." the fox slumped in his saddle.
"And that's when you were volunteered for the ritual?" the rat questioned him.
The fox nodded in reply, "We were put in single file... I was the fourth in line." Zeke paused when Jasper's ears went up at that, but he continued regardless, "I didn't do anything until I was standing in front of the altar."
"And that's when you escaped?" Jasper asked.
Zeke nodded, "I don't want to hate them for it..." he sniffled faintly, and that was when I heard the tone to his voice that revealed he was younger than I thought, "I just don't want to be afraid forever either."
"Not all of the holy men and women do as the high priests and priestesses in Myrh." the rat explained, reaching across the distance to pat Zeke on the back.
The fox let out a humorless 'ha'; it sounded helpless and hopeless, "I guess not... but the only time I found anyone in Myrh's clergy like that was when I was trying to get away... a Gray Robe helped sneak me out."
Jasper nodded, "Through the north gate after midnight." the rat stated knowingly, "That's when they change watches." he explained.
Zeke turned to regard his traveling companion, "The priest that helped me escape had a hood..."
The rat nodded again, "They give Gray Robes hoods in preparation for their ascension to the Black Robe of the indoctrinated clergy."
"I didn't get to see his face." the fox continued. Jasper just nodded again and Zeke reached across to grab hold of the rat's left wrist, "But he had a tattoo on the palm of his--" and the fox's words were cut off as he stared.
"That was the night I learned about the secret behind the rituals..." Jasper noted quietly, taking his paw back so he could gaze down at it, "I never got my Black Robe." the rat looked up and over at Zeke, "I left the morning after you did."
I saw something pass between the two of them as they met gazes and I could tell that the moment was not something that I had the right to be privy to. Despite not fully understanding the exchange between them, I realized that it wasn't my place to ask questions or to expect to get answers... so I moved on.
Glancing behind myself I saw that my wagon was only four back in line. I was content to wait for it, but after two wagons passed I was hailed by the third, "Brother Zachary!" it was Dillan, waving to me from the driver's seat. The young female cheetah holding the reigns paid no attention to me or to her employer, and continued on without pause.
I pulled my mount up beside the carriage, "Mr Flynn... good afternoon."
"Afternoon?" the ferret inquired with what I could tell was a carefully practiced small-talk tone of voice, "Why... I still thought we had time to go until lunch... we haven't even stopped for a noon-time repast."
I nodded knowingly, realizing that it was the merchant's way to imply that he was ready for a break, "I believe the caravan leaders want to get through the crags before we stop to rest."
"Crags?" Mr Flynn inquired, "I haven't seen anything even resembling crags. I believe everyone would be in a better mood to handle them if we were to have a chance to stop and fill our bellies before rather than after." he wiggled his ears, flashing a charming smile.
"Point taken, Mr Flynn... but that isn't my decision to make." despite myself I found his affable nature creating a smile on my own muzzle, "But I appreciate your concern for everyone's mental well-being."
"I'm glad you brought up 'mental well-being', Brother Zachary." the merchant's smile spread even wider and there was something calculating in the expression.
"Yes?" I invited.
I couldn't help but notice that you've spent most of the morning with a scowl stuck to you like a frowning costume mask." the ferret declared.
"My mind has been busy with a variety of issues that need to be thought through, that's all." I offered a reassuring smile, but the merchant was too astute to accept the answer.
"It didn't start until you saw Lordling Haldyn Rakken in our company." Dillan cut to the point; he was obviously a very observant ferret.
"That's been resolved." I explained calmly, "I heard that his father gave him permission to travel with us."
Dillan nodded knowingly, "Of course... I spread that rumor myself."
It took a moment for the comment to sink in, "What?!?" I would have liked to have offered something a little more intelligent, but I was at a loss.
"It would look unseemly if the entire caravan knew I was helping to smuggle him to freedom." he pointed out. All of the relief I had felt earlier left me... in droves. "You're looking pale, Brother Zachary." the ferret stated, "Come up into the wagon and rest for a spell."
Despite thinking better of it, I was suffering too much from stress whiplash to object and I climbed from my mount to the carriage and slid in through the door, which Taggart had opened for me. "Brother Zachary." the dog bowed his head in greeting.
"Taggart." I offered in as positive a tone as I could muster considering the circumstances; although the dog sat directly across from me, Haldyn Rakken was sharing a bench to Taggart's immediate right. The lion smiled in welcome as Taggart continued.
"Lordling Rakken was explaining to me how you gave him the courage to defy his father." the dog noted with interest. It seemed a wicked twist of fate that the first thing out of Taggart's muzzle after the greeting would cause me so much distress.
"What?" I think it came out as a demand because Taggart lowered his ears.
"When you told me about your own problems with the temple and how you defied them, you gave me the strength to follow my heart..." the lion smiled confidently, "and now, here we BOTH are." he motioned around the carriage.
"Tah'aveen works in mysterious ways." I confirmed. He took the quote in a positive way.
"Only one thing troubles me..." the lion commented, tapping the end of his muzzle, "Taggart and I were discussing it before you joined us."
"One thing is better than forty." I offered. He chose to take that comment positively too, which was fair, since he was the one who only had a single trouble.
"I'm worried about the Scattered Light Crags." he explained.
"Why does that concern you so much?" I asked.
"The Orgs there have a new Da'Cho." Haldyn explained.
"What's a Da'Cho?" Taggart inquired. Despite my misgivings something about the casual nature he was capable of acting around anyone, even a Lordling helped calm me, if only a little.
"A Da'Cho is kind of like a chieftain..." the lion explained, stretching an arm across the seat and around Taggart's shoulders, "in this case, the Da'Cho is a powerful shaman named Pah, and he's been terrorizing travelers on the Highway for weeks."
"Do you think we should choose a different route?" Dillan asked from the front seat; the fact that he could clearly hear us made me feel suddenly self-conscious for a reason I couldn't figure out.
"It's an option." Haldyn noted casually, "But, if it's all the same, I'd rather defeat the Org brigands and then track them back to their camp to end this banditry. It's the responsible way to handle it."
"There's also the conservative option." Dillan countered.
Haldyn looked to me at that, "Brother Zachary?"
Given the direction of making a choice would normally have started me worrying but, with all of the problems I couldn't address having the option of choosing our route felt oddly welcomed. I realized there were a number of choices we could consider, but Haldyn had a point; if the Orgs were hurting people then something had to be done about them... but, I also realized, the caravan wasn't the ideal force for taking the fight to savage humanoids. My options laid out before me, I decided to be decisive, "Let's gather the leaders and ask what everyone thinks." Well... it was decisive for me.
* * * * * *
The Doenians are now faced with a bit of a dillema.
Considering the nasty Org brigands ahead, the group will have to decide on the next course of action. Contributing Readers may vote on the following choices:
1) Fight off the brigands, follow them back to camp, and do battle with their shaman. GET TO DA'CHO PA!!!
2) Travel the road and fight off the brigands, and continue on the road once the way is clear... someone else can deal with the ambushers' leader.
3) There's probably a very thoughtful, insightful, tactical approach that can resolve this situation even if Zachary can't think of it. Every party member gets to make a Combat + Tactics roll, Target of 20. If at least one person gets a 20 or higher then the group comes up with an idea of how to handle the brigands without being inconvenienced. If the roll is over 25 then it is a particularly clever plan. If everyone fails on the roll then a seemingly good plan ends up turning sour and combat is made more difficult. Instead.
4) Orgs? Those things are DANGEROUS! To heck with that... go AROUND the Scattered Light crags.
Remember, contributing readers must get their votes in by Thursday, July 21st.