CHAPTER FOUR-HUNDRED THREE

Aranya

A short red kobold strides through the cathedral, her white silk robe subtly billowing, yet never obstructing the pendant at her neck with a small orange orb attached. It’s probably a bit vain of her to use the trickle of mana to achieve the dramatic effect, but walking through what will soon be Lord Thedeim’s public sanctum feels like an appropriate occasion for a bit of flare.

He’s not one to show off on His own, so it’s up to her and the others to do it for Him. Still, they strive to do so in ways He approves of. Gold and gems wouldn’t be difficult for them to get and cover every surface with, and though He deserves it, what He truly appreciates is craftsmanship. So while there is some gold and gems to be seen, they are tastefully incorporated into the whole, worked and placed by experts, and sometimes even by those still learning.

It’s the passion and desire to effect Change that matters, not the raw skill of those attempting it. All who wished to help build were able to contribute in their own ways, grand and small. By all rights, it should have come out a mess. But with everyone working together, helping each other, she feels the cathedral has come out beautifully.

All that’s left is to move the core. Well, that’s not true. While the core is the last major installation, Rezlar’s ‘funeral’ will come first. She completes her march to the dais and turns to face the other priests with her, taking a few moments to appreciate just how many are there. Not only are there representatives from the enclaves, but several people from Fourdock itself, all devoted to Lord Thedeim.

She would like to tell each of them that Rezlar lives, but only a select few know. A secret unspoken is a secret unheard. She nods at them all before speaking. “The cathedral is complete, save for Lord Thedeim’s core. He wishes we honor and remember Rezlar before He will move His core, so as to not distract and detract from his remembrance.”

The others bow in respect, even those in the know being careful to be properly mournful for the ‘fallen’. It’s odd to see Vernew look so solemn, the small spiderkin is usually so energetic, but the Huntsmistress understands the lengths one must sometimes go to catch one’s prey. Seeing Larx looking sombre is also odd, considering how cheery he usually is, like he’s just heard a cheeky joke and is considering sharing.

“Lord Thedeim will soon be sending out the invitations,” continues Aranya, once their heads raise.

“Will the Earl’s men be a problem?” asks Negul, an orc priest from outside the enclaves. Aranya smiles and shakes her head.

“No, they won't. Even if he had the numbers to surround all of Lord Thedeim’s territory, even if they were all expert archers, Marshal Poe will be directing the denizens. The entire town will be invited, as will the army of the crown and even the Earl and his men.”

“Do you think they’ll come?” asks Vernew, understandably nervous about drawing the Earl in.

“I don’t think he’ll have a choice,” replies Larx. “If the entire town comes to see off his boy, could he afford to be aloof? Even with his feud with Lord Thedeim, snubbing the funeral would reflect poorly on the elf.”

“And he wishes to collect his son’s body,” follows up Aranya. “Lord Thedeim would be willing to make a tomb for him here, and if the Earl doesn’t come to claim it, he’ll miss his chance to inter him according to his own desires.”

“What of Rezlar’s wishes? He was a follower, wouldn’t he want to be honored here?” asks Negul, clearly unhappy with the way things are likely to play out.

Aranya smiles at him. “While I do think he would, as far as I’m aware, he left no instructions either way. Would you take from a grieving father the chance to process his grief in his own way, without knowing for certain how Rezlar felt?”

The orc looks away, still not liking it, but hardly able to argue. Instead, a gnome steps forward, Frilky, and offers his opinion. “I don’t think we should invite the Earl at all! He’s trying to declare Lord Thediem as murderous!”

Aranya sadly nods. “He is a powerful man who finds himself suddenly powerless in this situation. Lord Thedeim doesn’t blame him for lashing out. He is hurting, and perhaps seeing so many others hurting with him at the funeral will convince him that’s not the way to honor his son.”

Frilky grumbles but doesn’t press the issue. He’s definitely the one most willing to speak out against the Earl, but he’s not the only one who thinks ill of the elf. Those like her, who know the truth, certainly hold no love for him, and it hurts to pretend he’s somehow a victim in this, but if he were to catch wind they weren’t genuine in reaching out to him, he’d probably take the excuse to skip the funeral, and then things might get messy.

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There is Change coming to the house if’Gofnar, and if not handled carefully, ‘messy’ would be an understatement. “Do we have enough seating for everyone?” Aranya asks, bringing everyone back to the pressing matter of the funeral. ṝÃΝỐВƐ𝘴

Ed, the Headmaster of the antkin, speaks. “Not right this moment, but pews are being carved as quickly as they can be. They’re forgoing the artistry for now, which makes things quicker, at least. It can be added later, instead of delaying the funeral on account of decor.”

“Norloke and the others are working on making cushions, too,” adds Vernew. “I think she wants to add special stitching and dyes after, but they’ll be ready enough to make the benches more comfortable.”

“We’re preparing for the wake as well,” informs Larx. “Many of the kobolds and other refugees from the Maw are helping us scale our dishes to be able to serve so many, and we’ve had volunteers from the town offer to help with food as well as cooking.”

Aranya nods. “Good. Food won’t soothe everyone completely, but talking over a meal will help everyone come to terms with the loss.” More accurately, they’ll have plenty of food to celebrate dealing with the Earl. She knows Lord Thedeim has His goals for what will happen to him, but she also knows He’s not the only deity the Earl has offended. She’s no follower of Order, but she has the feeling the mortal authorities are going to be the least of his worries once he’s exposed.

“Is there anything else we need to discuss?” she asks, looking over the gathered priests.

“Should we be worried about the Dungeoneers?” asks Frilky. “If they’re actually working with the Earl to try to starve Lord Thedeim, shouldn’t we do something?”

Aranya firmly shakes her head. “No. They have no evidence to declare Him murderous. It was a tragic accidental death while delving.”

“There’s rumors going around that Lord Thedeim kidnapped him and bungled him, dropping him out of the air,” points out Frilky, looking ill at ease. “Lies, of course, but would that be enough for them to do something? You said he’s a grieving dad, and a powerful man suddenly powerless, couldn’t he make something up and make it stick

, blinded by rage and grief?”

Aranya sighs and slowly nods. “It’s possible, but the townsfolk wouldn’t accept it. Lord Thedeim has been a blessing for Fourdock.”

“But there’s fewer delvers,” points out Negul. “What if they do abandon Lord Thedeim?”

“They won't," assures Aranya. “It’s merely the uncertainty that has them not delving as much. After the funeral, people will start to recover and return. A tragic accident is all it was, and they are still as safe as ever to delve, no matter what the Earl tries to say.”

Most look reassured, but a few are more like Negul and Frilky, worried that things might Change for the worse. Aranya gives them all an encouraging smile. “Have faith in Lord Thedeim. Things will Change for the better, if at all possible. The Earl may be working against that, but between him and Lord Thedeim… I know who I expect to come out on top.” Many still look pensive at that, but at least it doesn’t seem like anyone is considering trying something on their own now. “For now, please either help with the invitations or with the pews, or with whatever else needs preparing. We have plenty enough to do already without trying to worry about what the Earl might do. Leave him to Lord Thedeim, while we work on comforting those who have lost a friend.”

Most bow at that and disperse, though Larx and Vernew stick around, waiting for the others to be well out of earshot before the aged ratkin speaks. “Things are certainly getting interesting.”

Vernew snorts. “I’d like a bit less interesting, thank you very much.”

Aranya quietly laughs at that. “It’s the interesting times that make you appreciate boredom.”

Vernew grumbles before glancing around and lowering her voice even more. “Do you think everything will go well?”

Aranya nods. “I do. I don’t think things will go quite as Lord Thedeim might want, but I do think things will go well.”

Larx nods. “Which is why things often go so well for Him. He is always ready to Change to the situation at hand, and able to take the victories without demanding they be perfect. Which is why the Earl will fall. He is used to things going exactly his way. Failure is something that happens to other people, for him. He never even considers it, so he never plans to avoid it.”

Aranya nods with a wry smile. “Where Lord Thedeim prepares as if He’s facing Murphy himself. Things will go well because He prepares for the worst, and is usually pleasantly surprised.”

Vernew smiles as well, her hand drifting over the scar in her stomach, though the robe hides it. “Yeah… He does, doesn’t He? That makes me feel better about all this.”

Aranya smiles at her friend. “If there’s anything else you can think of to prepare for, don’t be afraid to share. But if not, why worry? Things will happen, and if we can’t adjust, we can only hope He can.”

Larx nods at that and motions toward the back, where several shortcuts wait behind closed doors. “Would you like to come with me, Aranya? I believe your grandfather is still helping with the food.”

Aranya nods as Vernew smiles wide. “I’ll come help, too! Gotta make sure the food’s as good as possible!”

The kobold titters and nudges her friend. “Oh? Did you get better at cooking recently?”

Vernew shakes her head with a grin. “Nope! But I’m great at tasting!”

They laugh as they enter the back room and head through the shortcut, following Aranya’s advice. Things are already moving, so why worry about being prepared? They either are, or they aren’t, and worrying won’t change much.