The War God's Wife

Chapter 18: Reunion

I skidded to a stop in front of the church, breathing hard.  It was a small, plain building, with white walls and dark, oak timbers.  Only the Crest of the Four Tel'mak on the outside revealed what the place actually was.  I stared at the Crest.  It was a triangular shield with four parts made by dividing cross:  First's circle with a shadow flame inside, my sword in a ring, Third's arrow crossing a crescent moon, and Fourth's diamond ringed by twelve small circles.  I felt a drop of apprehensive sweat roll down my back, but I shook it away.  I had to contact them.  I pushed open the door and stepped into the darkened house.

It was lit almost entirely by candlelight, with the only windows being two in the entryway and the stained glass ones in the Sanctuary in the back.  A priest in gray, wool robes turned at the sound of my entrance and stepped silently over to meet me.

"Greetings, brother," he intoned.  I blinked at him.  His voice was familiar.

"You were the priest for Jonathan's funeral," I said.  He dipped his head.

"I was," he sighed.  "Such a piteous loss.  But he fought his duel valiantly, I think.  I'm sure Lord Second granted him much favor when he went to the realm of the dead."  I nearly snorted.  It felt oddly strange to have one talk mythology to the one the myth was about.  But never mind that.

"Is there a mediation room I can use?"  I asked quickly.  "Something close to the Sanctuary?"  He nodded.

"We have a Confessor's chamber annexed to the Sanctuary," he replied, "if you'd like to use that?"  I cocked an eyebrow.

"You have Confessors here?"  I said, surprised that this small village would have the red-robed monks who accepted quests and requests for the four Guilds attached to the church, one for each Tel'mak.  The priest chuckled.

"Only in passing," he soothed.  "This village is too quiet to require the presence of the Guilds here."  I nodded, though his comfort was unnecessary.  Some mortals may feel uneasy with the presence of Confessors and their sell-sword reputation, but I personally liked them.  They served the people more than most would like to admit.

"I'll use it," I said.  He motioned for me to follow and lead me through the white-washed walls and into the Sanctuary.  Made of stone, it was a hollow tower that rose impressively overhead.  At the cardinal compass points were stained-glass windows of my siblings and me.  Below each was an altar bearing ornaments and gifts of things we liked.  I unconsciously noted that mine and Brother First's were notably barren.  On the ground was the Crest again, painted into the flagstones.  In the center, though, was a shimmering, multicolored crystal imbedded into the rock.  The priest opened a side door that led to a stone cell with a single window.  I thanked him and knelt as he shut the door firmly behind me.  Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and sank into my Well.  From the depths, I threw a lasso of energy to the crystal in the Sanctuary and activated the magic hidden in it.  It shimmered, and I felt the world shift.

"Brother?"  I opened my eyes.  Standing around me were my siblings.  To my right was Brother First, tall and lithe with his mop of ragged, brown hair over sharp, blue eyes.  He was still dressed in dark gray clothes like when we slaughtered the shadow mages that wrapped and wound around his body, never seeming to have a beginning nor an end.  In front of me was Sister Third.  She was shorter than me and Brother First and had a wild mane of curly, dark-brown hair that framed a round face that wore a near-constant smile.  She had a full figure that was wrapped in sleek, iridescent fabric that shimmered like sunlight on water.  Tiny gems and silver designs winked at me with every movement.  And that left Sister Fourth on my left.  The shortest Tel'mak, she was still striking with her long staff and dark purple robe.  She wore a black tunic underneath trimmed with gold and lined with sparkling jewels that hugged her shapely form.