Ageless

Chapter 29

The Tale of the False Pontiffs

Page 258, Passage 24

This is the story of how the FalsePontiff Bahn'ya came to wear his twisted black war-mask, as told bythe high scribe of the New Church.

For many years the High PontiffBahn'ya was renowned across the lands for his strength and power, butas a ruler, he was never loved. He would strike down his enemies withsuch ferocity that many came to fear him, but once the wild flames ofbattle tempered down into embers, none desired his personal company.And while his brother Klay had his share of enemies, he also enjoyedclose friendships and took many lovers. Bahn'ya saw the way his olderbrother was admired, and this made him jealous.

Klay was a clever man, and could seethat his brother was troubled. One day he came to visit Bahn'ya andasked him, "What ails you, brother? Why do you mope about with suchmelancholy when our enemies rise up to steal our High Crowns? We needyou to vanquish these men, yet here you sit, wallowing in self pity."

Bahn'ya was a proud man, alreadyplotting against his brother, but was also touched by his concern. Inhis state of vulnerability, he confided in his twin. After he hadfinished, Klay went over and reached down into the soil. In his handhe scooped out a mound of the earth, and with his fingers he shaped afine mask which resembled a beautiful hero of olde.

He gave the mask to his brother andsaid, "Wear this mask, and women will desire you. But you must wearit at all times, and tend to it like your own face, else the fleshwill blacken and rot."

The younger brother Bahn'ya placed themask over his face. Then Klay rose three Golems from the ground andset them loose on the country side. Both brothers watched as theypillaged small villages and killed the common folk, and the people ofLentempia cried out in terror. Klay turned to his brother, gave him aspecial jeweled sword and said, "Go and slay these Golems, onlythis sword will kill them. Do this whilst wearing the mask of thehero, and your people will love you."

So Bahn'ya took up the jeweled swordand hunted down each Golem, and after they had been slain, the peoplewere overjoyed. They saw the face of a hero, and for a time theypraised him.

Now one day Bahn'ya visited a smallfarm town on the outskirts of the Kingdom, the same hometown of theFirst Priest, wearing his special mask. A great crowd gathered in thecenter square of the town to receive Bahn'ya, and they gave him ahero's welcome.

But the First Priest observed this manfrom the crowd and was troubled. "That is not a real face!" heproclaimed, while he drank with his friends at the tavern later thatnight. "I can see that this face is made of clay." The otherscalled him a mad fool, and told him to hush, but the First Priest hadmuch to drink, so he did not stop.

"I will prove that this man is nohero," he swore. "For he is short in stature and smells of theGolems he claims to have slain. His face shifts before my gaze anddrips like mud. And also he is cruel, for he did not tip our goodbartender Jethro after being served meal and mead."

The bickering lasted well into thenight, the First Priest arguing with the rest of the town, and onlythe good bartender Jethro had his back. Finally, a bet was made. Ifthe First Priest could prove the hero wore a mask, then they wouldall throw rocks at the man until he left town. So the next morningthe First Priest disguised himself as an old lady and approached thehero.

Bahn'ya was surrounded by youngmaidens pining for his hand in marriage. When Bahn'ya saw the FirstPriest draw near he said, "Go away old lady, I am a great hero andI am busy. Do not bother me or I will kick out your cane and make youfall." But the First Priest did not yield, so Bahn'ya kicked outhis cane. The fake old lady lost her balance, and grabbed atBahn'ya's face as she fell. The clay mask came off in her hand andall the young maidens gasped.