The man in black robes spoke quietly and calmly which made the words all the more terrifying. "Your Majesty, allowing that you have many nobles who would discard the Law as if it were nothing is bad enough. What is worse is that I must report to the Chief Examiner that your incompetence allowed the heretic to escape. When I return, I will expect those who aided her to be put to the examination. If they are not, then perhaps we shall have to ask how high the heresy reaches? You would not want that."
The reigning King Karlath of the City of the Spires shivered at the words. By virtue of their roles as enforcers of the Law, the Examiners had the power to take anyone, anytime and put them to the examination. More than one noble had disappeared never to be seen again and while no ruling monarch ever had, the power of the Examiners had grown since their new Chief Examiner had taken control.
"Examiner, I did all that could be done and more. Even now, three of my warships give chase into the Islander waters, an act which could easily lead to war between our two nations. What more would you have me do?" the King pleaded.
"More? I would have had you do less. I would not have had you allow her escape, I would not have had you allow the failure of your guards to recapture her. You have done enough, I think. I will take your fastest ship and return to the Chief Examiner with my report. When I return, or one of my fellows in my place, I would suggest you try to be less...helpful." The Examiner spat the words out and the venom in them left no room for question. "Meanwhile, my fellows will put some of your subjects to the examination. We need to see if she had other aid and to see how far the heresy has reached."
With that the Examiner turned and walked out of the King's chamber. Fool and useless king. We had her and now I must report we do not. I will be lucky to come out of this with my own skin intact. Damn that woman. Why couldn't she had stayed dead and buried? The Examiner walked swiftly out of the castle and without speaking to anyone. In fact, although he cared nothing for the people, he was a zealot on a holy mission. That was all that mattered to him.
A carriage at the castle gate took him back to the local Examiner's Hall. He opened the door and walked in where three of his fellows stood silently waiting. He kept walking and the three fell in behind him. He opened the door to his office and when the last was inside, shut and locked it.
"So what is our course, Brother Geinn?" one of the three asked.
"I must return and report our failure. At first, I thought it to be a sign from the Gods themselves that we found her washed up on the shore. I was arrogant. In believing that the drugs we used would keep her from becoming aware enough to try anything, I was wrong. My pride made me believe only I should examine her and my pride made me believe we were in control. Now, I submit myself to the Chief Examiner for his examination."
"And what of us, Brother? What orders do you leave us with?" The speaker was a young man, fairly new to the Examiners but fully indoctrinated in their holy mission. He was eager.
Speaking to the one who had remained silent, the Examiner said, "Garront. You will take my place until another comes with orders. There is heresy here. The noble who was with me in the prison caves delayed us long enough for the heretic's cohorts to make for their ship. Put him and his family to the examination. If any other names come from them, do the same no matter how high up the persons."
"Even to the king?" Brother Garront was certain it was what he would do but he preferred Geinn to accept the responsibility for giving the order. Geinn was disgusted by his lack of courage but simply nodded.
"Anyone. We must purge the heresy before it spreads. We have all stood in the Hidden Hall. We all have read what is written for our eyes only by the ancients. We all know the prophecies. I would willingly give my own life to protect the Law and so must anyone else, king or common. You are dismissed to your duties but I warn you, do not fail in this!"
Brother Geinn of the Examiners went to his Spartan quarters and began to pack. There wasn't much, simply a few changes of clothing. He looked around the quarters. A lifetime of service to the Law ruined by a few minutes of failure. That is all it takes. A moment of weakness and a lifetime of good undone. Perhaps I will be spared. Perhaps not. I serve the Law. What matters is that.
The Law of Reading was clear and had been enforced for hundreds if not thousands of generations. Only the Healer's Guild could use writing and only as much as needed to insure medicines were accurate from one healer to the next. No one else was permitted to learn to read or write. In recent times, under the pretext of becoming healers, many noble houses had sent their younger sons to learn reading and writing. The 'healers' then returned home, ostensibly as healers but really to pass on what they had learned to their families. Secret books had been found, copies of diagrams and instructions on how to build machines of war, diaries and personal notes.
Every writer was eventually discovered, every book destroyed. The Examiners maintained a library where the oldest and most unique writings were preserved under the watchful eyes of the Guild. No one outside the innermost circles of the guild of Examiners even knew it existed. It was there that, many hundreds of generations ago the first Examiners had discovered the stone carvings that carried the Warnings. It was from other writings that the Examiners had learned of the prophecies. Putting two and two together, a Doctrine had been crafted. When she of whom the prophecies speak appears, she must be made to tell her secrets then killed. Any who are with her are to be killed. Failure will mean the end of the world.
Geinn wasn't certain that this Aeronwyn was the 'she' spoken of by the prophecies but the Chief Examiner was convinced and that meant the Doctrine was now in play. He had tried to get her to speak but under the influence of the narcotic all he had gotten was incoherent ramblings about Old Gods and magic. Meaningless. Still, at least he had that much to take with him back to the Western Kingdom.
It was a long way from the City of Spires downriver to the sea port. Now that the King was aware that there was a small harbour in that accursed heathen temple he would find a way to discover it's hidden entrance. Until then, the Examiners kept a fast courier schooner at the main sea port of Lathenia that would take him. The Island Kingdom allowed them to pass. Geinn understood there must be a secret treaty since no other ship from the Western Kingdom made it beyond the Eastern Islands. The courier ship had never been stopped.
Garront met him at the main door to see him on his way. "Brother Geinn, I promise you we will dig up the roots of this disaffection with the Law and destroy it. When you return you will be pleased with our progress, I am certain."
Geinn smiled grimly and looked at Garront coldly. "You mean, 'if' and we both know it. You have never hinted that you are ambitious for my position as head of this hall but you are welcome to it. If I return or if someone else is sent, you had best be diligent or it will not go well with you." Geinn had always hated the man. He was a sycophant. Garront bowed his head in acknowledgement.
The carriage that was waiting on Garront's orders fled the City of Spires. Geinn was going home but did not expect a warm welcome when he arrived.
