The Fourth Messenger

3 - Rynaud

Rethsrond, Kingdom of Gadolin

Flowertide, 2339

King Rynaud gave Archbishop Gautrand a hard stare before returning to his meal. He glanced out the window at the sunny morning as he chewed. He did not view himself as a king who shirked difficult decisions, but he hated dark talk so early in the day.

"What do you have to say?" Gautrand asked.

Rynaud finished chewing before answering. "You can't be serious."

"I'm quite serious. Azra has gained a following larger than any priestess should have. More people are paying attention to her teachings than came to the basilica for Saints' Feast Day yesterday. Most false prophets of old did not have followings as large as hers."

"What is so wrong with a popular priestess teaching faith in God?" the king asked. "Was she not trained by Bishop Taviot, your own subordinate? Was she not previously a lowly nun at Avilmerg? What harm can she really cause that would make you suggest such plans, Archbishop?"

"Plenty. She is poisoning the minds of the faithful and thus twisting the fates of their souls. She's an abomination to Messengianism!"

"Your own inquiry did not find her guilty of heresy."

"On a minor technical issue. I fully intend to retry her, as I said, once you arrest her."

"If she worries you so, why not simply make a public condemnation of her activity?" Rynaud asked. "It would give her a final warning and perhaps scare off many of her followers."

"The Congregants lack a proper incentive," Gautrand replied. "Only her arrest would provide that. Yet another warning would be meaningless at this point. If she isn't convinced by now that she is playing with fire . . ."

"How can you be so sure she is not God's Fourth?"

Gautrand scoffed. "She is a woman and of humble birth. She lacks the wisdom and the—"

"Rumor has it she was born on the very day of the Raingreening Quake of 2319," Rynaud interrupted. "Third Messenger Ibelin was also born during a quake, according to his holy book. Is that correct?"

"Yes, but—"

"And before his death Ibelin prophesied that the Fourth Messenger would be unwelcomed by mankind, correct?"

"Your Majesty, please do not presume to teach the Archbishop of Gadolin the holy scriptures. Many false messengers have proclaimed themselves since Ibelin walked the earth. I'm quite certain Azra is just another imposter, though a determined one. Whether she is confused about her convictions or knowingly spreading the lies of Memelos makes no difference. If she will not stop her heresy, then we will stop her. And her ignorant disciples, too. All the disease must be cut from the body, even if some tissues must be sacrificed to save the body."

"I don't like it." Rynaud shook his head. "Her arrest would divide my people at the very moment I need their unity to prepare for war with Toninbern. As someone with close ties to our aggressive neighbor, I expected you to consider that before coming to me with this request."

"I have considered it. My cousin tells me Toninbern will invade despite the weakness of their king. I say, let them invade Gadolin. After you defeat them, I will support your bid for the crown of Toninbern, as will my cousin in his position as archbishop there. Then you'll have three thrones to your name, King Rynaud."

The king considered this.

"You know my heart, Gautrand—perhaps too well. The crown of Toninbern once belonged to my grandfather, and it should be mine. But the fact remains that my people would be divided over religion at a time when they are needed for war."

"Not only will we support your crowning, but the Messengian Church will fund your treasury for the task of defeating Toninbern. Help me remove Azra and purge her followers from the church body, and you will have enough gold and men to win your new crown."

The king sat back in his chair and stared at the archbishop.

"And what if we cannot fully purge them? Surely Azra and her closest disciples are enough—you're not demanding the death of every Congregant?"

"I have discussed the matter with the Patriarch of Eglamour. We are prepared to make the necessary sacrifices for the good of the church. The timing of a complete and thorough purge may depend on the progress of your war, but in time, the purge should be thorough indeed."

The king leaned forward. "If I agree to this scheme, then I want your Temple Knights to lead the purge. I'm not going to make myself a merciless tyrant. Either the church's knights are the face of this, leading my soldiers from the front, or none of it happens."

"The Temple Knights are sworn to protect me and the basilica," Gautrand protested. "They answer only to me and his holy father the Martinus himself."

"Then command them or find another way." Rynaud finished the food on his plate.

"So be it," Gautrand relented. "You'll have your gold and men, a new crown, and my Temple Knights. But Azra and her disciples must be taken care of swiftly, before the Toninberns invade Gadolin. Mopping up Azra's lowly, stubborn followers can proceed as required."

Rynaud glared. "The sooner this distraction is dealt with, the better."

"Azra is no mere distraction, Your Majesty. Sheis the most significant threat to Messengianism since the master hereticRildning. Do not underestimate her, and spare nothing in your efforts. She willdestroy the church if she is not destroyed."

Copyright © 2019 by Christopher C. Fuchs