Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 156907 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 785(@200wpm)___ 628(@250wpm)___ 523(@300wpm)
“You will be sanctioned,” Aron warned.
“I have no doubt,” Ry said.
“You will be cast out,” Aron threatened.
An expression of deep concern moved over the older man’s face before he controlled it, and on a release of breath, said, “With what is at stake, I cannot allow myself to care.”
Aron rose from his seat. “I will not be a party to this.”
“Luther, Florian,” True called to his men standing flanking the door. “Escort Aron to his chambers and then arrange for a military escort for him and his Go’Ella direct to the Dome City.”
“You will regret this when you need our healers, when you wish your citizens to enter the Go’Da,” Aron cautioned True.
“We have very good universities here,” True replied.
Aron looked to Ry. “You do this, you are a sacrilege.”
“I do not think Go’Bedi, Go’Vicee and especially Go’Chas would agree.”
“It is not yours to think for the gods,” Aron rejoined.
“It is not yours either, my brother. And yet it is. As it is mine. We have no choice but to follow our hearts to where we feel our gods are guiding us,” Ry said quietly.
Aron apparently had no retort for he stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.
“You make the right choice,” True told Ry.
“You do,” Alfie added, his two words far outweighing True’s.
Ry took in Alfie.
“I find you astonishing. If you were not here, so soon after what befell you…” Ry trailed off but shortly again picked up that trail. “I do not know if I’d have had the courage.”
Alfie looked to True.
True did not make his friend communicate it, even through an expression.
That “it” being that True had been correct.
There was much to live for, much he could contribute, even in ways he could not imagine until they happened.
He gave his attention to Ry.
“What do you have to tell us?” he asked.
“I can give you names. However, I hasten to note that these names I will give are only those I have heard in whispers of priests that are in Wodell, Airen and Firenze who might, might have ties to this Rising,” Ry said.
“We will proceed with that caution in mind,” True replied.
Ry nodded.
“I will tell you, though, I did know of the three you already…er, dispatched,” Ry shared and when True made no comment, he carried on, “And that there were murmurings of their ties to these agitators. And the ones that have been reported since, some of them, not all, I had heard their names too,” Ry shared.
True nodded, pleased to know they were on the right track.
Ry continued, “With this Rising, it will not negate the mistakes we have made, but I will share also there is a good deal of discord amongst priests in the Dome City in how to deal with it. Including many who wish to take a much more aggressive route to banish these followers from our ranks. And alongside this, there is a swell of support for an initiative to change the status of the Go’Ella. It is important you know all of that.”
“This is noted,” True said. “Have you heard aught of a treasury?”
Ry shook his head.
True drew breath into his nostrils and sat back.
“I do not share what I shared with you for this reason,” Ry went on. “However, it is important enough to me to bring it to this table at this time. A small number of Go’Ella have gone missing.”
True’s gaze moved to Alfie before hitting Apollo and then he turned it to Farah.
She was leaned forward into her elbows on the table, intent on Ry.
True looked back to Ry.
“It began with Marian. A very bright woman. I am old, but I could still see she was attractive. She is from here,” Ry told them. “Wodell, that is. Originally. She did not share, but I suspect she had some …troubles with an earlier priest to whom she was assigned. But she seemed content in our little family.”
“Family?” Farah asked softly.
Ry shrugged. “It is better than what they had before they came to us, and I would hope, at least with mine, they found peace after lives lived that did not offer such.”
“You elude to not a small amount of issues that might be disturbing as pertains to the Go’Ella,” Alfie remarked.
“Indeed,” Ry replied on a sigh. “And after this Rising is quelled, regardless of what befalls me, in dealings with the Dome City, I would make it one of your priorities to research a new ideology that is quite sweeping our own that our handling of Go’Ella change rather drastically and that priests can marry and take only one spouse. And I would hope, once you research this, that you would throw your strong support behind it.”
This was news, and not his business, but he would most definitely be looking into it.
Eventually.
“I will have this researched,” True promised him.