The Unexpected Heir: A Tale of Alus (11 page)

The brothers claimed to be servants, not only to their god but to the people in need around them. They cleaned the temple. Windows colored with a wash to create different lighting as the sun passed were cleaned regularly even though the stain masked the world outside. Pews were wiped down daily and more chores were performed to maintain the massive temple. All the work was done by those wearing the red robes. No other workers were hired to do the duty each had signed on to do by donning the red and taking the name 'brother'.

Stopping as they entered to look around as if they expected to find someone in particular, the soldiers led by their captain appeared a bit uncertain. Luckily one of the brothers came to them with a smile on his face and offered assistance.

"Can we help you, captain? You don't seem like one of those in normal need, but we are here to help all who come to us with Sordrian's blessings," the man in red greeted the soldier in the lead.

"Is there someone in charge here that I might speak with, brother?" the man questioned looking uncomfortable using the title to address the robed greeter.

A slight crinkle to the brother's forehead dissolved quickly before he smiled and replied, "For most, any brother should do; but Master Caldrefan is in attendance. He leads our order here in Yalan, well at least in this temple. There are two others since the city is so large and so many are in need.

"Have you seen how many poor there are? Perhaps you were one of them before joining the army of the king? Would that he fed all his people as well as his soldiers."

The rebuke wasn't what the soldiers expected, but they had been warned to treat the brothers delicately and ignore any insults. It wasn't like the men hadn't seen or heard those shouts on the streets. A standing order to watch but not hinder the brotherhood was even in place to avoid causing irreparable harm to the reputation of the king's soldiers.

Doing his best to ignore the man's backhanded insult, the captain answered without anger, "Caldrefan would be fine. We need to speak to someone capable of answering questions that might be above your standing in the order."

A slight insult to his being without necessarily intending it, the brother pulled back revealing indignation for a moment. "I will see if he can speak with you then. Wait off to the side, if you will. Those needing to relieve their worries and ask for help don't need a group of armored men standing here making them uncomfortable."

Turning on his heel, the brother didn't wait for the captain to respond. He disappeared into a side hall without returning to the armored men, but after several minutes which made the soldiers begin to feel impatient another man in a similar robe appeared from the same direction. A gold medallion hung from a chain in the center of his chest making him stand out from the other brothers around them.

The medallion was the first truly ostentatious thing to be seen in the temple and made more of an impression because of it.

Caldrefan walked up to the soldiers alone, but his presence made the captain swallow nervously as if the man was greater than most he had ever known. It felt like addressing a king in a way or at least a lord.

"I am Brother Caldrefan. You came to have a word with me, captain?" the man asked searching the soldier with his blue eyes. While his tone was neither warm nor cold, the captain thought his eyes could have been called icy.

Nodding the captain also looked to either side as if thinking there should be a place out of the sight of those starting to look their way from the pews and aisles around them.

"You may know that there have been a series of fires near the docks recently. We were sent to see if you or those who come here might know something of the identity of those involved or at least might have heard something that would help us find the arsonists before they harm anyone else."

Frowning at the captain, Caldrefan reminded the man, "Captain, the Brotherhood is a peaceful group. We serve our god by helping our fellow man, not by burning buildings needlessly."

Looking startled by the rebuff, the soldier shook his head and replied, "Oh, no, we weren't here accusing you of any such thing. We have been to the other temples and shrines in the area as well as through many of the businesses surrounding the affected buildings. The Brotherhood of the Blood is simply one of the larger organizations in the area. With the amount of people coming and going here, we were merely hoping that you or one of your congregation might have seen something.

"Obviously if someone chose to confess such a sin to one of the brothers, we would appreciate your telling us. There were people killed meaning that these arsonists are also murderers. Such men need to atone for their crimes. The families of the dead will want justice."

Caldrefan noted the man's stepping around any accusations, but answered, "Obviously murderers should be punished, but we don't have confessionals. We are here to serve the poor and weak. Those who have little usually don't burn down buildings, captain."

Shrugging as if he didn't care, the soldier answered, "If someone felt that they could benefit or had been paid to do it, they could be poor or rich. It matters little what their situation is, Master Caldrefan. We simply wish to prevent more deaths and remove such criminals from the streets before more crimes can occur.

"We would appreciate it if the brothers could get past their dislike for the king and help the people of Yalan like you profess to do. Surely your brotherhood would agree that crimes like these should be punished, so if you or any of your people know something or hear something that might help, please alert the authorities.

"Such reports will be kept quiet, if you are afraid that it would impugn the reputation of your church."

The captain's words were deferential in tone, but the master of the brotherhood noted a bit of disapproval in the man's eyes. Whether the soldier had been told to accuse them of being involved or not, Caldrefan thought it interesting that they had come to him so quickly. While he didn't know anything of the criminals involved directly, he feared that Karlaan might be involved. Luckily, even if he wanted to answer the captain's questions, Caldrefan didn't know anything for certain.

"I will be sure to spread the word among the brothers. If we hear anything, we will give you that information.

"Is that all that we can do for you?"

Blinking in surprise at the brevity of the conversation, the captain recovered almost without getting caught by the master. "No, Master Caldrefan that is all we request. The king expresses gratitude for your cooperation."

It was the group of soldiers which turned away to exit through the outer door without looking back. They had done their jobs. No one expected an arrest so quickly, but moving in squads was part of their presence in the streets. They gave the semblance of order and strength. A face for their leaders; the soldiers were an extension of the king.

The captain hoped that he and his men had accomplished their work properly.

Caldrefan spotted Karlaan sitting in one of the pews reading a tome with a title that the master couldn't see from that distance. Their eyes met. The boy hadn't missed the soldiers' appearance anymore than the other people gathered in the temple's sanctuary.

Turning to walk the way he had come was an invitation to Karlaan to follow without being too obvious to anyone around them.

The two men eventually returned to the room with the shrine and statue of Sordrian. It was large enough that Caldrefan didn't fear being overheard, especially after using his magic to cast a ward on the door.

Karlaan noted his use of magic casually. It was no secret between the two of them that the master could cast spells. The boy was even pretty sure that Caldrefan was more than just some wilder capable of magic.

"If you had something to do with those fires, then you had better confess it now," he demanded with dangerous eyes.

Karlaan didn't appear intimidated at all. Perhaps it was the brashness of youth or maybe the belief that he would be king that emboldened him in front of his master, but the younger man didn't respond immediately as he walked over to sit in a chair set beside the wall.

"I thought that the Brothers of the Blood didn't have a confessional," he answered with a smirk having caught at least that much of the conversation with the soldiers. When Caldrefan didn't respond, Karlaan added, "There are certain men that I have spoken to who come to the temple that were willing to listen to my ideas. A few fires among the king's properties will begin to cast a light on Orlaan.

"He and his family don't deserve to rule. When more and more tragedies and accidents happen around them, the people will begin to agree. If the gods hate someone, then maybe the country they rule would be best to get rid of them before that hatred spills over onto them."

Caldrefan understood the words. They were a mirror of his throughout the years as he had attempted to train this boy. Pushing Karlaan to want to become king and remove his father from power meant coloring his gaze to only see the slights passed onto him and his mother. It made the boy angry enough to believe even killing his wrongdoer would be justified before the gods.

"When I agreed to let you try your ideas, maybe I should have clarified for you. Don't do anything to draw the king's attention to the brothers. If the king sees us as a threat, it will hamper the possibility of helping you to take the throne, you little idiot."

He was angry and let slip the insult to Karlaan, who frowned in return.

"Since you aren't involved, how is it that you think they will blame the brothers? You had nothing to do with it and unless someone comes here to confess it to one of the brothers, you are truly blameless.

"What people do after hearing the brothers speaking out against Orlaan doesn't have any repercussions for you, does it?"

Wanting to yell at Karlaan or even strike him across the face to wake him up to the possible dangers of his current moves, Caldrefan found the boy's logic surprisingly hard to argue with; which made him angrier in spite of himself.

"If your attempts to poke the king cause him and the rest of his family to be on guard, how do you propose removing them discretely?"

Karlaan's face showed surprise at the comment, but as the younger man stood to answer, Caldrefan feared that such a look was an exaggeration. The boy almost seemed to have predicted a similar question and was quick to answer as he close the distance between them to half. He was still well beyond arm's reach, the master thought curiously.

"So now you have decided that removing at least some of the royal family is necessary? When I was asking such questions or demanding it before, you acted like I was being foolish.

"Have you come up with some theories as to whom and how that should happen?"

Caldrefan noted his demanding silence and the pause as Karlaan searched his face. Had he managed to teach the boy more than he realized? This was more the question of a man on a mission to tear down a king than some child feeling entitled to the throne. Had Karlaan been playing a part until now waiting to have a larger part in his future?

"Not everything needs to go through Yalan to weaken the king," he replied without truly answering the man's question. "Orlaan has chosen to spread his family throughout the kingdom as you know. At the age of twenty-five, he has made nearly every sibling and their children a lord of a city and castle.

"Duke Amaan was one of the few chosen to a different position that remained within the city. He had no children making the old man nearly harmless to Orlaan's and his heirs, but he had been his highest ranking general in his youth. Even in his old age, the duke was still a very fit soldier; but then there was the sudden heart attack that killed him.

"It was a surprise to most, but also not completely unexpected. Even young men can die of a heart attack, Karlaan. Other accidents can occur also, but if the accidents aren't just accidents, then whatever or whoever designs the tragedy needs to be unseen.

"If you continue to influence the city with fires, they start looking for arsonists and murderers. It is too obvious, boy."

"So if the accidents are more random, and spread out; then do you think that whatever shadow lingers over the king's house will be able to cause the tragedies easier?"

They were speaking in circles and Caldrefan knew it as much as Karlaan. Neither would accuse the other, even in a place where they doubted anyone would hear them.

"I will be leaving on a trip to Ylden and perhaps other towns to the east. The temples there need my guidance. If I leave you here while I attend to them, do I have to worry that you will let your exuberance get out of hand, Karlaan?"

"If you're asking me to stop the fires from happening, since it made the king look your way; I can assure you that no other building will burn because of me. If I was to do something to hurt the king, it would be more subtle and less repetitious; I assure you, Caldrefan."

Grinding his teeth at the boy's deflecting, the master knew that he only had himself to blame.

"Stay out of trouble at least until I return, Karlaan. You aren't one of the brothers, which makes you different. They won't follow you, so Zithas will be in charge of the temple. Try not to get in his way."

Nodding in agreement, "Of course, master, I will do my best to not make any trouble for Zithas. He and I have always gotten on well enough. I'd hate to have him give you a bad report on your return."