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rainbowfic2016-04-24 11:11 pm
shadowsong26) wrote in rainbowfic2016-04-24 11:11 pm
Liver #3, Oliphaunt Grey #7, Crimson #17
Name: shadowsong26
Story: Currents
'Verse: Untitled Intrigues Story
Colors: Liver #3. ear, Oliphaunt Grey #7. Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, Crimson #17. God help you if you're wrong.
Supplies and Materials: novelty beads (If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future. - Winston Churchill), yarn
Word Count: 1858
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Jemairin, Nahrenyi, Kefarye
Warnings: Discussion of impending civil war.
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
Dear Sir,
There are so many things hidden up here, I hardly know where to start. I don't even know what you would care to hear about and what would bore you, so I confess myself at a total loss. I will note, what may be of some interest to you, that there are fewer temples here than in any other place I've visited, but the faith of the people still seems strong. It also seems to be a good place to reinvent onself, and the people coming to do so, from what the locals tell me, rarely seem to stay for long...
Jemairin read Neiali's letter three times, then carefully spilled wine on it, obscuring the potentially dangerous portions. Neiali was reasonably good at hiding his true meaning, or at least he was doing well for an amateur, but...
He would send a response, and find a way to advise Neiali to send a shareable letter along with his actual report next time. Fahletya would keep wanting to hear from their son, of course, and he could hardly hide when messages arrived and he would never be able to find a good excuse for keeping it from her. He would take enough hits for the wine stain, but he could take them. And he could explain the stain to her satisfaction.
He could handle Letya not speaking to him for a few days, outside of official Council business. Even the best of friends have fights like that at times, and this one would not be insignificant.
"Holy Father?"
He looked up. "Yes?"
His private secretary, Nahrenyi, poked her head in.
Nahrenyi was around Ahnrel's age, a priestess of the spirit goddess, eminently professional and discreet. She was a pale, almost washed-out blonde, who wore her hair in a simple knot at the nape of her neck. Jemairin had tried to interest Ahnrel--or, really, either of his older boys--in her, but neither had taken the bait. She, like almost all of her order, was impossible to read on the subject, but she hadn't seemed displeased or annoyed by the attention, at least. And she had remained fiercely loyal to him and to his career path for as long as she'd been on his staff. She'd joined him nearly two years before his consecration as High Priest; by that time, he was more or less a lock for the position, provided no disaster befell him before his predecessor died. So it was likely Nahrenyi was a woman of ambition.
Jemairin didn't mind that, though. Most priests and priestesses who pursued Holy City careers were. So long as her ambitions didn't amount to bringing him down--and, since she'd attached herself to his coattails, that was unlikely to happen without significant telegraphing, even for a spirit priestess--he was willing to work with them. He would even help her advance, when appropriate.
Of course, there were the inevitable rumors they were sleeping together. Jemairin couldn't help but laugh at them, behind closed doors. She was far too young for him--his sons were her age, for the gods' sake--and even if she had been an appropriate age, she wasn't his type. He preferred women with a little more spark to them.
Though, thinking of sparks, Nahrenyi clearly had her own ways of putting those rumors down, because he never heard them from the same person twice.
But, for now, she had a simple, every day message for him. "I apologize for disturbing you, Holy Father, but Kefarye is here to speak to you."
Or maybe not so simple and every day. He hadn't set any sort of appointment with the air priestess, they had never met socially before, and she wasn't exactly the most spontaneous person on the Council. Whatever reason she had for turning up unannounced, it had to be important. "Of course. I'll see her now."
Nahrenyi inclined her head and held the door open for Kefarye.
Kefarye strode in, her coat swirling around her. "I apologize for the interruption, Holy Father. May we speak privately?"
"Of course," he said. "Nahrenyi, if you please?"
She bowed politely. "I'll be outside if you need me, Holy Father."
"Thank you."
The blonde left the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Kefarye indicated one of the chairs. "May I?"
He nodded. "What is this about, Kefarye?"
She took a breath before speaking. "I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I began an investigation of my own."
He shrugged. "That is your prerogative. Tea?"
Kefarye shook her head. "No, thank you. But this is...a full-Church investigation you assigned elsewhere. Not exclusive to my own order."
Jemairin sighed. He had a feeling he knew what investigation she was running. "The one I assigned Kahleny."
"Yes. But I was looking for more than monotheists."
He arched an eyebrow. "And you found something?"
Kefarye hesitated a moment. "I'm...not entirely certain yet."
"You were certain enough to barge in here with no notice," he reminded her.
"True," she admitted. "There have always been splinter sects, you know that. Some Pillars seem to attract more than others."
"And air attracts quite a few."
"We've never denied it." She shrugged. "I felt that, if there was concern about monotheistic sects, or any other heresies, the air temples might be a better place to start than the earth ones."
"You do know why I gave it to her, don't you?"
"Of course," she said. "Kahleny does make a nuisance of herself at times, and this will keep her out of your hair. And it is important."
"Ah, it's not just that," he said. "But that is a discussion for another time. What did you find? Monotheists?"
"Some," she said, then waved a hand dismissively. "But they're mostly harmless. Look to the universities if you're worried about monotheists. Only academics take them seriously."
"You have a very circular way of getting to your point, Kefarye."
She gave him a wry smile. "I apologize. But the splinter sects I'm worried about are more...well, the ones that Kahleny would never consider a threat."
He grimaced. "Traditionalists?"
Kefarye nodded. "Yes. Some of them are getting militant. Holy Father, I know you have broader concerns, with Elanhe and Nandere, but they are stable for the moment. And I very much fear that, if we don't act quickly within our own houses, the Church will not be stable for much longer."
Jemairin leaned back, considering. The air god's priestess wasn't one to jump to conclusions, or fly into a panic. She was, in fact, far steadier than than her Pillar might indicate. True, air was less changeable than his own fire, and he certainly had no trouble focusing when it was important, but air was...flighty.
"You have evidence?"
"Circumstantial, thus far," she admitted, sounding almost disappointed. "But sir, what little I do have is...I don't know that we can afford to wait for more."
"Perhaps," he acknowledged. "But if you're wrong, I don't want to be the one responsible for destabilizing the Church." He sighed. "I'll take your information under advisement, Kefarye. And I will act--once I'm absolutely sure I have something to act on. In a way that will least destabilize things at home."
She shook her head, and pressed her point once more. "Holy Father, if you wait too long and the Church is overthrown by these extremists, it will discredit everything else you might accomplish."
"I'm aware," he said. "Believe me, Kefarye, I'm well aware of what's at stake. And if I move too quickly, I discredit everything anyway. I will keep an eye on this situation, and I will act. When it's appropriate."
She inclined her head, at last conceding the point. "Thank you for hearing me out, Holy Father. I'll get documents and other proofs to you as soon as I have them."
"I would appreciate that."
She rose, and he followed her gesture. "And you should set up discreet investigations into all of the temples. Not just mine and Kahleny's."
"Rest assured, Kefarye, I plan on it."
She bowed and headed out. He heard her exchange a soft word with Nahrenyi in the main office, then the outer door closing.
As expected, his secretary came to the door moments later. "Sir?"
"Join me," he said.
She nodded, and quietly shut the door behind her. "May I sit?"
"Of course."
She poured two cups of tea, and waited for him to ask the questions they both knew were coming.
"What do you think?"
"I think," she said slowly, "that you have far more problems than any one man can expect to deal with."
"So you think there's some merit to her fears?"
"Absolutely," she said, with a great deal more directness than she usually showed. "But I think yours have merit as well. And, Holy Father, though I know you don't like to think so, I believe that Kahleny has a point as well. Monotheism may be largely academic and nonviolent, but all it takes is one spark. And with two priestesses from two very different sects coming to you with fears of upheaval..."
"Whichever sect sets off the upheaval has the potential to set off the other as well," he finished for her.
Nahrenyi nodded. "Precisely."
"And on top of that, I have Nandere and Elanhe to worry about."
She nodded again. "And I don't think you can afford to lose focus on that, either."
"I know I can't." Both Ahnrel and Sefalin had reported quiet in their respective assignments, at least internationally.
Intranationally was another matter entirely. Sefalin was explicit about the nature of things in Elanhe. Ahnrel hadn't noticed any alarm bells ringing in Nandere, but with a childless king and a tightly-wound, ever-wary court in play, chances were it wouldn't remain quiet for long.
And once one of them fell apart internally, the other would pounce.
"Thank you, Nahrenyi," he said finally, forcing his mind away from such bleak thoughts of potential failure. His sons were good men, and he had trained them well, and Neiali and his mission were still his secret weapon. Even Nahrenyi knew nothing of the boy's quest. "You know how much I appreciate your advice."
She nodded, and rose. "I have some reports for you to review, when you have a moment."
He nodded. "Bring them to me in half an hour."
"Of course." She bowed and let herself out of the office.
Jemairin sighed, and rubbed at his temples. It was almost as if the peace on the continent, the peace that Gegalin had worked so hard to build nearly four decades ago, was slipping right through Jemairin's fingers, like sand. It was almost as if it was trying to get away, as if the Pillars themselves wanted war.
No. I refuse to believe that. He took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and forced himself to calm. He was not a child nor a fool, and he had never been one to back down from a challenge. Yes, the situation was complex, and growing more so by the moment, or so it seemed.
But he would not be the High Priest on whose watch the world fell apart.
Story: Currents
'Verse: Untitled Intrigues Story
Colors: Liver #3. ear, Oliphaunt Grey #7. Near is the hour when the Lost should come forth, Crimson #17. God help you if you're wrong.
Supplies and Materials: novelty beads (If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future. - Winston Churchill), yarn
Word Count: 1858
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Jemairin, Nahrenyi, Kefarye
Warnings: Discussion of impending civil war.
Notes: Constructive criticism welcome, as always.
Dear Sir,
There are so many things hidden up here, I hardly know where to start. I don't even know what you would care to hear about and what would bore you, so I confess myself at a total loss. I will note, what may be of some interest to you, that there are fewer temples here than in any other place I've visited, but the faith of the people still seems strong. It also seems to be a good place to reinvent onself, and the people coming to do so, from what the locals tell me, rarely seem to stay for long...
Jemairin read Neiali's letter three times, then carefully spilled wine on it, obscuring the potentially dangerous portions. Neiali was reasonably good at hiding his true meaning, or at least he was doing well for an amateur, but...
He would send a response, and find a way to advise Neiali to send a shareable letter along with his actual report next time. Fahletya would keep wanting to hear from their son, of course, and he could hardly hide when messages arrived and he would never be able to find a good excuse for keeping it from her. He would take enough hits for the wine stain, but he could take them. And he could explain the stain to her satisfaction.
He could handle Letya not speaking to him for a few days, outside of official Council business. Even the best of friends have fights like that at times, and this one would not be insignificant.
"Holy Father?"
He looked up. "Yes?"
His private secretary, Nahrenyi, poked her head in.
Nahrenyi was around Ahnrel's age, a priestess of the spirit goddess, eminently professional and discreet. She was a pale, almost washed-out blonde, who wore her hair in a simple knot at the nape of her neck. Jemairin had tried to interest Ahnrel--or, really, either of his older boys--in her, but neither had taken the bait. She, like almost all of her order, was impossible to read on the subject, but she hadn't seemed displeased or annoyed by the attention, at least. And she had remained fiercely loyal to him and to his career path for as long as she'd been on his staff. She'd joined him nearly two years before his consecration as High Priest; by that time, he was more or less a lock for the position, provided no disaster befell him before his predecessor died. So it was likely Nahrenyi was a woman of ambition.
Jemairin didn't mind that, though. Most priests and priestesses who pursued Holy City careers were. So long as her ambitions didn't amount to bringing him down--and, since she'd attached herself to his coattails, that was unlikely to happen without significant telegraphing, even for a spirit priestess--he was willing to work with them. He would even help her advance, when appropriate.
Of course, there were the inevitable rumors they were sleeping together. Jemairin couldn't help but laugh at them, behind closed doors. She was far too young for him--his sons were her age, for the gods' sake--and even if she had been an appropriate age, she wasn't his type. He preferred women with a little more spark to them.
Though, thinking of sparks, Nahrenyi clearly had her own ways of putting those rumors down, because he never heard them from the same person twice.
But, for now, she had a simple, every day message for him. "I apologize for disturbing you, Holy Father, but Kefarye is here to speak to you."
Or maybe not so simple and every day. He hadn't set any sort of appointment with the air priestess, they had never met socially before, and she wasn't exactly the most spontaneous person on the Council. Whatever reason she had for turning up unannounced, it had to be important. "Of course. I'll see her now."
Nahrenyi inclined her head and held the door open for Kefarye.
Kefarye strode in, her coat swirling around her. "I apologize for the interruption, Holy Father. May we speak privately?"
"Of course," he said. "Nahrenyi, if you please?"
She bowed politely. "I'll be outside if you need me, Holy Father."
"Thank you."
The blonde left the room, shutting the door firmly behind her.
Kefarye indicated one of the chairs. "May I?"
He nodded. "What is this about, Kefarye?"
She took a breath before speaking. "I'm sure you won't be surprised to hear that I began an investigation of my own."
He shrugged. "That is your prerogative. Tea?"
Kefarye shook her head. "No, thank you. But this is...a full-Church investigation you assigned elsewhere. Not exclusive to my own order."
Jemairin sighed. He had a feeling he knew what investigation she was running. "The one I assigned Kahleny."
"Yes. But I was looking for more than monotheists."
He arched an eyebrow. "And you found something?"
Kefarye hesitated a moment. "I'm...not entirely certain yet."
"You were certain enough to barge in here with no notice," he reminded her.
"True," she admitted. "There have always been splinter sects, you know that. Some Pillars seem to attract more than others."
"And air attracts quite a few."
"We've never denied it." She shrugged. "I felt that, if there was concern about monotheistic sects, or any other heresies, the air temples might be a better place to start than the earth ones."
"You do know why I gave it to her, don't you?"
"Of course," she said. "Kahleny does make a nuisance of herself at times, and this will keep her out of your hair. And it is important."
"Ah, it's not just that," he said. "But that is a discussion for another time. What did you find? Monotheists?"
"Some," she said, then waved a hand dismissively. "But they're mostly harmless. Look to the universities if you're worried about monotheists. Only academics take them seriously."
"You have a very circular way of getting to your point, Kefarye."
She gave him a wry smile. "I apologize. But the splinter sects I'm worried about are more...well, the ones that Kahleny would never consider a threat."
He grimaced. "Traditionalists?"
Kefarye nodded. "Yes. Some of them are getting militant. Holy Father, I know you have broader concerns, with Elanhe and Nandere, but they are stable for the moment. And I very much fear that, if we don't act quickly within our own houses, the Church will not be stable for much longer."
Jemairin leaned back, considering. The air god's priestess wasn't one to jump to conclusions, or fly into a panic. She was, in fact, far steadier than than her Pillar might indicate. True, air was less changeable than his own fire, and he certainly had no trouble focusing when it was important, but air was...flighty.
"You have evidence?"
"Circumstantial, thus far," she admitted, sounding almost disappointed. "But sir, what little I do have is...I don't know that we can afford to wait for more."
"Perhaps," he acknowledged. "But if you're wrong, I don't want to be the one responsible for destabilizing the Church." He sighed. "I'll take your information under advisement, Kefarye. And I will act--once I'm absolutely sure I have something to act on. In a way that will least destabilize things at home."
She shook her head, and pressed her point once more. "Holy Father, if you wait too long and the Church is overthrown by these extremists, it will discredit everything else you might accomplish."
"I'm aware," he said. "Believe me, Kefarye, I'm well aware of what's at stake. And if I move too quickly, I discredit everything anyway. I will keep an eye on this situation, and I will act. When it's appropriate."
She inclined her head, at last conceding the point. "Thank you for hearing me out, Holy Father. I'll get documents and other proofs to you as soon as I have them."
"I would appreciate that."
She rose, and he followed her gesture. "And you should set up discreet investigations into all of the temples. Not just mine and Kahleny's."
"Rest assured, Kefarye, I plan on it."
She bowed and headed out. He heard her exchange a soft word with Nahrenyi in the main office, then the outer door closing.
As expected, his secretary came to the door moments later. "Sir?"
"Join me," he said.
She nodded, and quietly shut the door behind her. "May I sit?"
"Of course."
She poured two cups of tea, and waited for him to ask the questions they both knew were coming.
"What do you think?"
"I think," she said slowly, "that you have far more problems than any one man can expect to deal with."
"So you think there's some merit to her fears?"
"Absolutely," she said, with a great deal more directness than she usually showed. "But I think yours have merit as well. And, Holy Father, though I know you don't like to think so, I believe that Kahleny has a point as well. Monotheism may be largely academic and nonviolent, but all it takes is one spark. And with two priestesses from two very different sects coming to you with fears of upheaval..."
"Whichever sect sets off the upheaval has the potential to set off the other as well," he finished for her.
Nahrenyi nodded. "Precisely."
"And on top of that, I have Nandere and Elanhe to worry about."
She nodded again. "And I don't think you can afford to lose focus on that, either."
"I know I can't." Both Ahnrel and Sefalin had reported quiet in their respective assignments, at least internationally.
Intranationally was another matter entirely. Sefalin was explicit about the nature of things in Elanhe. Ahnrel hadn't noticed any alarm bells ringing in Nandere, but with a childless king and a tightly-wound, ever-wary court in play, chances were it wouldn't remain quiet for long.
And once one of them fell apart internally, the other would pounce.
"Thank you, Nahrenyi," he said finally, forcing his mind away from such bleak thoughts of potential failure. His sons were good men, and he had trained them well, and Neiali and his mission were still his secret weapon. Even Nahrenyi knew nothing of the boy's quest. "You know how much I appreciate your advice."
She nodded, and rose. "I have some reports for you to review, when you have a moment."
He nodded. "Bring them to me in half an hour."
"Of course." She bowed and let herself out of the office.
Jemairin sighed, and rubbed at his temples. It was almost as if the peace on the continent, the peace that Gegalin had worked so hard to build nearly four decades ago, was slipping right through Jemairin's fingers, like sand. It was almost as if it was trying to get away, as if the Pillars themselves wanted war.
No. I refuse to believe that. He took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and forced himself to calm. He was not a child nor a fool, and he had never been one to back down from a challenge. Yes, the situation was complex, and growing more so by the moment, or so it seemed.
But he would not be the High Priest on whose watch the world fell apart.