[CHURCH]  COMPENDIUM XII
LEARNING NEW WAYS


	*****		*****		*****


After a while, they entered Thai's room. 

"Gee," noted Fran. "You don't look too thick at all. The Church ith
mean." A daring, perhaps foolish, thing for her to say. But, at any
rate, she had nothing to lose. Nothing at all. Her mommy and sister
were dead. Nothing was left.

Reggie! The nice lady in gray! Fran gasped, putting her hand to her
mouth. The nice lady would be worrying about her, and who would take
care of Reggie? Who knew all the cute little things Reggie did and
liked? Fran sniffed.

"I wanna go back to the inn! They'll be worried about me."
--Marie Kelly

Thai looked in surprise at Semareth, then back at the girl child. 
Who was this and why did she want to go to the inn? She smiled at the 
child anyway, and looked at Semareth for an explanation. By the time
she had taken the litle girl's hand, Semareth still hadn't done more
than shrug.

"Certainly dear. Its not far, I can have you there in no time. Do
you like horses?" 
--Phaedra Whitlock

Fran brightened a little bit. "I love horthies! I onthe had a horth! I
called her butterthcotch! She was all pretty and yellow and brown.
Mommy gave her to me and Lornie--thee's my thither--when I was three--"
Fran sniffed, and her eyes filled with tears. WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!
--Marie Kelly

Thai kept up a flow of words to keep the child from bursting into a
tantrum. What exactly was one to do with a child exactly anyway? She
needed to go to the inn anyway.
--Phaedra Whitlock

As Thai left the church tower she smiled to see that her 
acolytes had repaired the damage done during the rescue. Even the 
place where she had made an entrance to the dungeons was 
indistinguishable from the rest of the courtyard.

An Inquisitor held the reins of her warhorse nearby, 
waiting for her. The magnificent blood red stallion nickered softly to 
see her and pranced daintily in the chill of the morning. Thai hadn't 
ridden him since her original capture and he was full of energy.

Thai swung herself into the saddle and dismissed the 
guard. She wanted nothing of the church with her today. She was even 
dressed in her own clothes, not the black robes of a Deaconess.

Inquisitors opened the gates for her and she turned 
Shaitan down the Avenue of Triumph. 

The mageguard had rebuilt the buildings destroyed by 
Smith, and although posters of Proctor John were everywhere the 
town looked much as it had when she first arrived. Even the people 
looked the same. Although the church was gradually dominating their 
future, few realized it and fewer cared. 

The marketplace was full as she made her way through it. 
How long would it be before it too came under the church's control? 
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Well we'll just have to get you another horse then. MY first 
horse was grey with white spots. I called her Kitty cause she had spots too. 
What kind of horse would you like?"

The child started to sniff, then her eyes filled with tears.

"There's no need to cry. I'm sure that nothing's that bad 
that you need cry about it. We'll be back to the inn in no time and if 
you cry your face will be all red and your nose will be stopped up."

Thai stopped the horse and cradled Fran in her arms as she'd seen 
someone do once to help a crying child. It felt exceedingly strange, and 
she did too. It had been a long time since she'd thought about Kitty.

"Please, don't cry. I promise, everything will be okay."

She gently stroked the child's hair and kneed Shaitan into a slow 
walk, trusting her balance and Shaitan to keep her and Fran safe. What 
could possibly be causing a child this much pain? She'd have to ask 
Jarrad to find out.
--Phaedra Whitlock

As they left the inn, Fran caught sight of the nice crippled lady with
two church meanies. She started to wave, then stopped. She didn't want
the church meanies to see her. And why did they have that nice lady?
Unless that nice lady was a church meany too? Fran decided to tell the
nice lady in gray what she had seen.
--Marie Kelly

The ride back to the inn with Fran was brief [only a partial 
sentence]. She dismounted and lifted Fran down from the saddle, then
took her inside. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve sighed inwardly--but not outwardly--in relief as Fran entered the
inn with Thai. "Where were you?" she said brusquely. "I was worried
about you." 

Maeve then turned to Thai, her voice cool and distant. "Thank you for
returning her to the inn. She has had many difficulties in the past few
days, I am sorry if she bothered you in any way." It was clear that
Maeve was none too fond of Deacon Thai, though rumor had spoken of her
"change of mind".

Of course, Maeve was never quick to believe rumor.
--Marie Kelly

Thai straightened an inch and looked coolly at Maeve. So this was 
the child's mother. If she was anything like Thai's own, and she 
certainly sounded like it, then Thai could well understand Fran's 
unhappiness. Arabella had often said the same words in the same tones 
to her, but Thai had known better than to think the woman who bore her 
would actually worry if she disappeared. Arabella would care only because 
Thai's father would care. 

Where was this child's father?
--Phaedra Whitlock

Fran smiled happily (as happily as she could). "Hi Lady! Thee took me
home! Thee's really nithe! Thee had a horthe!"

--Marie Kelly

Thai smiled genteely, but the temperature between them dropped 
several degrees. "It was no trouble. In fact, I'd like to see her again, 
with your permission."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Fran turned to Maeve, a look of expectation on her face. "Oh, could I,
lady?"

"I don't know," Maeve said. "Francine, you hardly know her."

"Oh, pleathe, pleathe, pleathe!!!" Fran begged. "Thee's a nithe lady."
She lowered her voice. "When she smiles, she looks like... like.... 
Mommy!" Unable to stop the onslaught of tears, she began sobbing.

Maeve looked at her, and hugged her. It was an awkward hug. She didn't
know how to comfort children--she hardly knew how to comfort herself.
"There there," she said, although she knew it sounded lame. "It's ok.
Everything's ok."
--Marie Kelly

Thai smiled sympathetically, unthawing quite a bit. She understood 
the awkwardness completely, having been in that position only twenty 
minutes earlier. It wasn't like her to be so difficult, and she resolved 
to make this less hard for the serving woman. If this was not the mother, 
then had Francine been abandoned?
--Phaedra Whitlock

She turned to Thai, and once again spoke in the clipped voice. But it
seemed false somehow, and there was sorrow (a bit of empathy) in her
eyes. "Her mother and father and sister all have...left this
world..."(she couldn't say the word 'died' in front of Fran, even
though the girl wasn't really listening to her)" during the
'Cleansing.'"
--Marie Kelly

Thai's eyes flickered at mention of the Cleansing. Now she 
understood this woman's concern.
--Phaedra Whitlock

 She sighed. "This is very difficult. I am not used to
taking care of children." Her eyes flashed. "But I care for her and
I'll be damned if I give up on her?" Love? Did Maeve love Fran?
Perhaps. It had been so long since she had permitted herself to feel
anything that she just did not know.
--Marie Kelly

"One should never give up if one truly cares." Thai said quietly. 
"On anything."
--Phaedra Whitlock

While Maeve thought that over, Thai knelt in front of Fran 
sounding much friendlier, and possibly sincere although that was of 
course impossible.

"I'm sorry if I said something to make you unhappy. Its not easy 
to replace something special when its been lost but the things we love 
aren't really ever gone. They're just someplace else waiting for you to 
grow up and find them all over again."

Thai knew that made no sense, but it was what her father had told 
her when Kitty had died, that Kitty was with the gods because she had 
been such a good horse. He had taken her outside on the roof and showed 
her the stars in the sky, pointing out a gray fuzzy patch Thai hadn't 
noticed before. He had told her it was Kitty and then sat her down and 
told her all about how happy Kitty was. Thai had listened carefully and 
watched the gray patch until it was high in the sky and her eyes were 
drooping. Kitty hadn't left her, Thai watched her rise above the horizon 
every night, coming to watch over Thai's sleep and leave her never alone.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve had made up her mind. She still didn't quite trust Thai, but
saying no would be proving her trust, and that could be very bad
indeed. "Very well. You will be able to see her under certain
circumstances."

Fran brightened as she heard that. "Thankth, lady!" she cried, hugging
Maeve.
--Marie Kelly

"Thank you." Thai smiled fondly at Fran and the smile carried 
over to Maeve. "Fran was tired earlier, perhaps you should put her to bed 
if she's still exhausted, and then we can talk further."
--Phaedra Whitlock

"That sounds like a good idea," said Maeve. She turned to Fran and
spoke. "Well, now. Time to go to bed."

Fran shook her head. She didn't want to be a bother to any of the
others. "Oh, no. I'm not thleepy," she said. 

And promptly yawned.

"Yes, you are," Maeve corrected her. "Now, I'll have no nonsense. Now
to bed with you."

"Okay," Fran relented. She was *_really_* sleepy. The nice lady in gray
took her to her room, made sure she brushed her teeth, and tucked her
in.

"Ma'am. Can I have a thtory?" she asked sweetly.

Maeve was dumbfounded. A story? She did not know how to tell a story.
Still, if it would help the little girl go to sleep, she would attempt it.

"Once upon a time," she began. "In the far away kingdom of Timonium
there lived a beautiful little girl named Marie. She was six years
old--your age. She had golden tresses and bright blue eyes. She lived
with her mommy and daddy and her big brother--who sometimes wasn't very
nice--Dan." Maeve then, as best she could, told the story of the
Princess Marie, wonderful that she was. True, her stories were not all
that good, but it served the purpose. It put Fran to sleep, though
whether from interest or boredom it was non too clear.
--Marie Kelly

While she waited Thai went to find Hugh. As always the 
man was working behind the bar. Did he never leave?

She smiled disarmingly as she approached and bid him a 
pleasant good morning.

She smiled wider as the man wondered what church 
business brought her here. He hadn't failed to notice the two 
mageguards sitting in his inn for several days now, reporting on 
everything that went on. He was in fact surprised nothing had yet 
been said about the mob of prisoners who had suddenly appeared in 
his inn a few evenings past.

"Morning Deaconess. I'm glad to see you're recovered 
from the poisoning."

Thai smiled in gratitude and leaned closer to whisper. 
"No you're not Hugh, but thank you for lying. I'm not here to arrest 
you. I need you to tell Jarrad you saw me and give him this. It's a 
spell crystal. You'll do that for me won't you Hugh?"

Hugh smiled and replied "Of course.  Always glad to help you
and the Church."

Thai smiled again, letting Proctor John's glamour wash 
over the man. He should be confused enough already by her actions 
this morning to give Jarrad the crystal, but one could never tell.
Before she left she wanted Jarrad to be able to find her, 
hence the crystal. 

Thai watched the expressions float across Hugh's face 
until she saw the one she wanted, and then took her leave.

Shaitan pawed the ground with a massive hoof, eager to 
be off. Thai laughed and stroked his neck before remounting.
She had other work to do today.

Hugh would of course give Jarrad the crystal, along with 
a warning to watch his back....
--Phaedra Whitlock & Dave Womack

While Maeve was upstairs with Fran, Thai gave Hugh the crystal and 
the message, and ordered a meal from the other waitress, Fawn.

She spent the rest of the time sitting back and watching the 
other people in the inn, reflecting on the adventurers she had known, 
wondering who these people were and why they traveled.

She noted the two mageguards had regularly had their mugs 
refilled by the helpful waitresses, and smiled.

Her own lunch consisted of cider instead of the lemon water Hugh 
had given her at first, and sandwiches made from a variety of meats and 
cheeses.

If she didn't know better she'd think Hugh had spiked her cider. 
She did know Hugh though, and he had. 

She rather enjoyed it actually.

She did NOT enjoy seeing her mageguard drunk out of their minds 
on lemon water. When they both had passed out, she made no comment as 
Hugh directed a few church loyalists to take them back to the church.

She was torn between applauding Hugh's quiet rebellion, anger 
that he had done it to two of her own, and anger at the mages for 
allowing it to happen in the first place.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve tucked in Fran and returned to the Common Room. "She's asleep,"
she said to Thai by way of explanation. "Now, you wished to speak to
me?"
--Marie Kelly

Thai looked up from her brunch.

"You said I could see Francine again. I'm well aware that you want 
me as far away from her as possible but can't tell me so, so what are your 
terms?"
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve raised one eyebrow. So, Thai could tell of her mistrust. Very
well. She would simply have to be careful about what she said. "The
terms are as follows. You may not see her at night. She and you must be
in a public place. Either I or somebody whom I consider trustworthy
must be with you at all times." She thought over the terms. They seemed
very simple, direct, and easy to follow. "That is all."
--Marie Kelly

Thai thought about the terms, and didn't like them.

"I think you'd better sit down because I don't think that is "all"."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve pulled up a chair and sat next to Thai. Very well. She'd listen
to her.
--Marie Kelly

"First, I'll need a list of who you think trustworthy. Second, 
I'll need permission to take Fran riding wherever she chooses to go and 
permission to provide her with anything she decides she wants, within 
reason. I'll need to speak to these escorts as well, and they will have to 
accomodate my guards, should I have them with me."

"This will make a lot of work for you and for everyone Maeve, 
when all I think you really want from me is to make certain that nothing 
will happen to her, or take her away from you."

"The first I can provide you with a guaruntee, and unless I'm 
mistaken Fawn can verify that it will suffice. The other, Fran is young. 
I want to see that she has some good memories, not just bad ones. She 
can't stay in this inn all day with you, and you work. When she wants to 
go outside and play, what will you do then?"
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve was startled. What would she do with the little girl? She had no
idea. What had her mother done with her? Hoisted her off on her
Nursemaid, for it was improper for Ladies of Class in Ertiou to take
care of their children. Before Thai had said that, Maeve had been
convinced that keeping Fran in the inn where she could watch over her
and make sure she was safe was best. Now she was beginning to doubt it.

"I--I don't know," she finally managed. Roderick would probably have
let the child go out and play...he always was one for spoiling those he
loved. Maeve smiled dreamily.

But that was the past, and the past was gone. She quickly lost the
smile on her face, and sat upright.
--Marie Kelly

Thai had seen the dreamy smile and her anger drained somewhat.
It was easier to dislike this woman when she acted like Arabella...
--Phaedra Whitlock

	Thai shook her head. "Don't make this impossible Maeve. I want 
what's best for her and that's all. 
--Phaedra Whitlock

"So do I," whispered Maeve softly.
--Marie Kelly

I have a lot of things I need to make 
up for and this is a start. I know you don't trust me but I've 
done nothing to either you or to her. For now I have no choice but to 
accept your terms but you have to think about what's best for her."

Thai looked up at Maeve from where her slender hand stroked the 
rim of her cup. She realized suddenly that this cold woman could in 
time do her great harm. It was easy to hate people, to be angry and 
cool and superior, it wasn't easy to become involved with them.
She didn't want to like Maeve, didn't want to understand her.

Didn't want to risk another part of her soul as she had with 
Jarrad. The damage was being done, and the only way to stop it was to 
be cruel to the woman, but even though her hand was trembling 
slightly, Thai could not do it. 

When this conversation was over, she would leave. She would 
come to see Fran and not speak to Maeve. There would be no problem.

Thai's voice shook slightly as another piece of her armor 
cracked.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve sighed. "Perhaps you are right. I shall talk to Fawn, as you
advised me to."

She then stood up and walked over to Fawn. "Fawn," she whispered. "I am
speaking to Thai. She speaks almost as though she has...changed. I have
heard rumors of that. Are they true?"

Fawn concentrated, and nodded. "Yes. I sense Proctor John's Influence
broken down severely. Almost entirely gone. In time, it should be all
gone."

"How much time?" Maeve whispered back.

"I cannot say exactly...but a VERY short period of time."

Thanking Fawn, Maeve returned to Thai.

"Perhaps I have been a bit...hasty...in my dealings toward you.
Fawn seems to believe you have changed, and I trust her
judgement. Therefore, you may take Fran out riding where she
wishes. However, I shall trust you to use some common sense and
it must be during the hours of daylight. Also, the weather must
be permissable. I will not have that girl caught in a storm."
--Marie Kelly

Thai nodded. "There've been a number of magical storms 
recently, but barring those I will keep the weather in mind."

Thai nodded. "To force the child in any way would only 
make her unhappy, and then she would make ME unhappy." A 
slight smile crept across Thai's face.
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve frowned, none too certain what to make of that smile.
"I do care for that girl, and if anything ever happened to her..."
Maeve let her voice drop off.
--Marie Kelly

Thai looked straight into Maeve's eyes.

"Should anything happen to her, we'll BOTH kill them."

Thai drained the last of the cider and rose from her chair. "I 
have to be going now. I'll try to return in time for the evening meal 
and if its acceptable to you I would give her a present. I have in 
mind a gift for you as well, but it will take some time to prepare. 
Possibly a few days, I don't yet know."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Maeve sniffed. "I suppose you may give her a present. Although,
truth be told, I'm not one for such frivolties as gifts." {At
least,} she thought. {Not anymore. Not since...then.} Even now
she could not think of Roderick, or the earthquake, or her past
for more than a few minutes at a time. If she didn't care...if
she was unfeeling; she couldn't get hurt. Getting involved with
Fran was too dangerous. She could be hurt too easily.
--Marie Kelly

Thai smiled as she refastened her cloak over her shoulders 
and pulled her gloves from her belt, but her head was still bent as 
she spoke. "Thank you Maeve."
--Phaedra Whitlock

"You're welcome," Maeve said cooly, picking up Thai's cup.
--Marie Kelly

Thai stepped around the woman and exited the inn, pulling on 
her riding gloves as she stepped out into the autumn wind.

It would take her most of the afternoon to find Eldarion and 
Thai sincerely hoped he would make no demands on her. She would much 
prefer to deal with his hatred than any emotion of her own.
--Phaedra Whitlock

After the nights rest, Jarrad walked down into the church's common room. 
He was famished from the nights work, jaunting it seemed took a lot of 
energy. Even so it was amazing. That a talent believed lost in his land 
could be learned here. Then his mind swung on to Thai.

He had waited an hour then tried to return, but something blocked him. 
Something that Semareth had brought. He had noticed a swirl of .. 
emptiness .. accompanying Semareth, and it seemed he had left it in 
Thai's chambers. He would have to return this evening when it was a 
little less dangerous.

Ignoring the stares and whispers of the commoners who pointed him out to 
their friends, Jarrad approached the bar and called for Hugh.

"What has been happening lately Hugh? I spent a short time incarcerated 
in the church, but before I went the village was defiant. What has cowed 
them? What other news have you?" Listening to Hugh's news while eating, 
Jarrad nodded occasionally and asked one or two further questions.
--Paul Khangure

After listening to Hugh's information, Jarrad scowled then went up to his 
room. He needed to experiment with this jaunting talent. First he jaunted 
from one side of the room, to the other, a distance of 5 paces. He still 
experienced the vertigo, and for the same amount of time as a longer jaunt.
If jaunting was to be of any use in battles, he would need to work a way 
around that. He couldn't afford the two seconds delay.

Jarrad lay back and summoned in his mind, the matrix that allowed 
jaunting. Then he began to slowly disassemble it. It was ... incredible. 
Crude but amazing. The way a combination of the long distance 
communication matrix, the general telekinetic matrix and the mental 
enhancement matrix were combined. But there was something else here. 
Another matrix that he had not seen before or maybe two matrices.

They seemed to be the ones at the beginning and end of the procedure. 
Jarrad wondered what they would do if they were tried on their own. 
Knowing that experiments of this nature could often be deadly, Jarrad 
jaunted to a forest a few days away, one he passed through on his way to 
Montford.

Using the two matrices linked, Jarrad first set up a force wall to shield 
himself then concentrated on a tree stump. It seemed to drain him a 
little but nothing happened.

Then he tried just the first matrix. The stump shimmered, and then 
exploded, sending pure energy and fire in all directions. Jarrad flinched 
as the energy struck his force wall and he was extremely hard pressed to 
hold the shield. After the initial blast, he dropped the shield and 
redirected all of the fire from the surrounding trees into a ball which 
he let dissipate in the middle of the clearing.

Reforming his force wall, Jarrad tried just the second matrix to no 
avail. Logically, it would seem that the first matrix took the object and 
turned it into energy of some sort, to be reformed by the second matrix.
That would make the other three matrices the ones used to transport the 
energy. The long distance communication and telekinetics made sense, but 
why the mental enhancement?

Jarrad concentrated, and using the original matrix made a log jaunt 
accross the clearing. He experienced no vertigo, so it seemed that 
the vertigo only affected the object which jaunted.

Reaching out, he felt a rabbit a few hundred yards away, and by overriding 
its fear, he called it to him. When the rabbit was sitting a few 
yards in front of Jarrad, Jarrad made it jaunt accross the clearing. The 
rabbit appeared 10 yards away, and lay there, stunned for a couple of 
seconds, then rose and prepared to run away, before Jarrad quietened it.
Repeating this a couple of times, Jarrad ascertained that the rabbit was 
indeed feeling vertigo upon completion of the jaunt.

Calling the rabbit over again, Jarrad prepared to jaunt with it. Trying 
to apply the matrix to both of them was difficult, and it took Jarrad a 
minute to work out a way of doing it. Then they both jaunted. As the 
vertigo passed, Jarrad saw the rabbit bounding away and let it go. He 
knew now that he could carry another live animal, but there was still the 
matter of the vertigo.

Returning to the edge of the clearing, Jarrad set up his force wall again, 
then prepared to make a log jaunt, but without the mental enhancement. 
After a minute, Jarrad gave up. There were too many paramaters, and it 
would take an hour to work it out. Deciding to try the mental enhancement 
only for the preparation, Jarrad worked out a way of disengaging that 
matrix just before engaging the others and tried it on the log. The log 
jaunted as before with no apparant difference.

Calling a fawn over, Jarrad used the orignal matrix first, then tried his 
modified matrix. The second time, the fawn suffered no vertigo and tried 
to leap away immediately. Calming both the fawn and himself, Jarrad 
prepared to jaunt with the fawn. It took a much greater amount of energy, 
but it worked, without the vertigo.

It seemed there was a definate trade off in energy and efficiency to 
reduce the vertigo. Practising, Jarrad accustomised himself to the new 
matrix, and prepared a couple of tactics which would come in useful in a 
battle. By midafternoon, Jarrad was again famished, and he jaunted back 
to the inn for another large meal, before resting until the evening.

Jarrad went to jaunt to Thai's room and bounced. It seemed whatever 
Semareth had left there was still working.
Retrieving his stolen inquisitors uniform, Jarrad jaunted straight to the 
dungeons. He needed a human to try his abilities on.
--Paul Khangure

What sleep Cari got came in fit and starts as she curled in a corner of 
the cell; the chill from the stone floor and walls crept through the 
robe, and deep into her bones.
 
Dreams came. Some were of the half-orge, Grym, as he tore through the 
guards ahead of the resistance fighters and prisoners. Of Grym dying, 
shriveling in Semareth's grasp. As she watched the Redeemer's emblem 
on the High Inquisitor's cloak seemed to shift, and for a moment was the 
visage of a angry red-faced god, but Cari was not sure if the image as 
memory or dream.
 
Of the High Inquisitor dropping the mummified corpse and storming past, 
looking as if only his will kept him moving.
 
Of one of the other Inquisitors knocking her half unconscious and 
shackling her back in the doorless, but "damped" cell.
 
The memories of the cries and chaos in the dungeons blurred into 
memories of dreams from the minds of the refugees she had met on many 
roads, and whose nightmares she tried to ease. Never with success - the 
horror ran too deep. Cari whimpered and curled up 
even tighter.
 
A scraping sound entered her dreams, followed by the sound of boots, 
which in her dream belonged to an army on the road.
 
Cari found herself being yanked into a sitting position, and the aburpt 
movement forced her to consciousness. She blinked and found herself looking 
at black boots and knees. She looked up at the guard, who she 
could just make out in the dim light coming from the corridor.

The guard stepped to one side so she could see Semareth entering the 
cell; his massive frame filling the doorway and blocking the light. He 
approached till he stood a few feet from her, an Inquisitor scuttling in 
behind him with a torch. She doubted very much whether Semareth's strange 
eyes needed the extra light.
 
"How are you doing?", asked Semareth, his voice smooth and even.

Cari used the mold-slick wall as support as she stood up. She looked up 
at the High Inquisitor, touched her forehead, and then wall. She touched 
her throat and shook her head. She was grateful for whatever time the 
problem took to solve.

Semareth stood there awhile, not understanding, his arms folded as he 
looked down at her. Then he nodded.
"Kail, Hurth, return to barracks.", he said, his eyes never leaving Cari.
"But sir..", began Kail, still holding the torch as he stepped forward.
"Go. I do not need your protection. If anyone asks why you are not with 
me, tell them I sent you away. Now go.", he waited unmoving while the two 
men shuffled off.

When their footsteps could no longer be heard, he handed a clean brown 
robe to Cari.

"We are going for a walk where you can speak. Put this on over your clothes."

He leaned back against the side of the doorway and waited.

Cari stepped forward and took the robe; though her expression was one of 
controlled neutrality, the tenseness of her body betrayed her fear. The 
robe in hand smelt of strong laundry soap, a welcome scent compared to 
the smell of old straw and sweat. She went to the far back corner of the 
tiny cell, turned her back to Semareth, and with relieve exchanged the 
brown robe for the filthy one she had stolen an eternity ago, which 
itched with dried blood, all of which was from the bodies she had fallen 
over in the dungeon battle. Even during the brief seconds it took to pull 
the new robe on she felt vulnerable.

She turned back, dropping the old robe on the floor, and waited. She 
hoped he could not hear the rush of blood in her veins, which 
drove a frightened heart.

Semareth motioned for her to follow him as he walked out the doorway. His 
robes seemed to readjust themselves about his body as he moved.

He strode purposefully through the corridors, waving guards back to their 
duties. Not once looking back to see if Cari was following him. She would 
be. Finally he took a flight of stairs, and it was a short walk through 
the Church proper when they arrived in a small courtyard.

It was a bright day outside, and the gardens seemed to glow with 
their own light. Flowers and curved paths mixed in an exotic swirl 
which settled pleasingly on the eyes. Tall trees lined one side of the 
courtyard, providing shade over a small grassy rise.

Semareth strode slowly over to stand beneath the trees shade, and waited 
for Cari to speak.

She moved to where she could look up at the High Inquisitor without the 
sun being in her eyes, which were still trying to adjust from the 
near-night of the dungeons to the glory of the sunlight. Some part of 
Cari's mind was still trying to realize that she was truly seeing a new 
day, which she thought she would not view again.

When she stopped blinking and could actually see, she focused her 
attention on Semareth, trying to meet his eyes, but their oddness made it 
hard. "Lord Semareth," she thought to him, then stopped and 
lowered her head for moment. No matter what her instincts said about the 
truth of his words, seven years of hate and five years of fighting, 
clogged her thoughts. The image of him draining Grym and the strange 
picture of a red-faced deity or demon that had flickered on his robes, 
came to her mind. Finally she said,"I do believe what you said  . . .but 
the Church . . .to belong after all . . ." She looked up at him, with 
the conflict of belief and old pain showing in her green eyes. . . "In 
all those years, I never heard a believer speak as you have." Her fingers 
tangled tight in the heavy material of the brown robe. "Perhaps fewer 
would have died  . . ."

Semareth's mind was open to her. So much so that she was shocked not to 
find any barriers or traps of any kind as she gently probed at his 
thoughts. She could see true compassion in his thoughts, and a quiet 
agreement with what she said, but also the steadfast belief that he would 
not allow such things to happen in the future. He was dedicated to his 
beliefs... but something deeper seemed to be pulling at all of these 
threads, something powerful. Tempted, she began to probe a little bit 
deeper...

"I think that is enough for now, Cari.", Semareth said, his voice soft, 
yet as he spoke, she felt her probes being slammed back, finding 
nothing but blankness. His face softened, and he looked out at the 
multi-hued garden around them.

"It is true that the Church of the Redeemer has caused the deaths of many 
people. Deaths that could have been avoided.", he paused, and shifted his 
cloak. Cari noticed it was getting warm even in the shade. 

"But those deaths occurred for a _reason_, as do all things. You are here 
because of the horrific happenings around you, as the deaconess is here 
by more than chance, and so I am here... - ", his left handed gesture 
encompassed the courtyard, the Church and all of Montfort, but his eyes 
never seemed to see past his hand. He paused, and clenched it tightly 
before returning it to his side.

"As am I here for my own reasons.", he trailed off, his brow darkening.

The fear that had coiled around her heart began to loosen. Cari's gaze had 
not left Semareth, but her thoughts were on the realization that her 
instincts had rung true - that they had not been clouded by fatigue, 
fear, and lies. "Perhaps, he is right," she thought to herself, "There is 
a reason why each thing has happened." She had never really had a chance 
to think about the greater scheme of things; survival and strikes at the 
Church had been all that consumed her. Cari felt a deep sense of loss, 
for when she had studied with Leathian she felt awe at the patterns of 
life, and the threads of dreams, her teacher showed her. A time far too 
long gone. 

Cari glanced at the garden, surprised that such beauty existed in the 
Church grounds. When she looked back at Semareth she said to him, letting 
him feel the full committment of her heart in her thoughts, "Lord 
Semareth, I offer you my full service."

"It is not to me you should be pledging your service, Cari.", he replied. 
"I am not a god."
He thought for a moment, then added, "Nor is Proctor John. Too often do 
people confuse the wisdom and power which gods hand down, and attribute 
it to the person who wields it.
"Don't give me your pledge, Cari. Give it to my god... to your god.", as 
he finished his voice became a whisper, then nothing, but his voice 
continued in her head. Not a true telepathic sending, but a thought 
concentrated at her...

#Sh'aljien. Remember that name. For in him lies the true and only path to 
salvation.#

Semareth glanced up quickly at the tower in which Proctor John held 
residence, then back down at Cari. 

A light, warm breeze touched Cari's cheek as she stood lost in her 
thoughts, struggling to understand her emotions. To offer a pledge to a god 
was to offer your soul, and she knew not to be done lightly. She had never 
been a deeply religious person before, nor had she ever 
heard the name "Sh'aljien' until now, but she could not deny 
the blossoming of hope she felt. She had already believed Semareth's 
words that he planned to  change the church - that
he followed another god than the Redeemer gave added strength to 
those words. "What is to lose?" she asked herself, acknowledging 
the fact that it was insanity to offer yourself to an unknown god, 
"I knew that my road ended when I choose to stay and fight for 
Montfort." She also knew that her heart told her to take this risk, 
for she sensed that this new path offered her a haven of peace for her 
tired, battle-wracked soul. 

Cari pushed back the long, black strands of hair that had 
fallen in her face and looked up at Semareth, meeting his odd, 
silvery eyes. For a moment she wondered at the quiet radiance 
and wondered to herself, "Do your eyes show your god's touch on your soul?" 

To Semareth she thought, though her focus wavered with the emotion she 
sought to control, "Till this moment I have not heard of Sh'aljien . . .
But your words . . . his words have been filled with wisdom, and have 
been truly spoken. . . To Sh'aljien I offer my heart and soul." Tears ran 
down Cari's face, dampening hair that the breeze had blown against her 
cheek. Though she had stopped speaking she had forgotten to end her 
mental touch, and Semareth could feel the outpouring of her relieve, the 
years of weariness, and her hope.

Semareth stepped forward and placed his long arms around her. His cloak 
draped at his sides, enveloping her as she cried into his shirt. His 
clothes smelt of incense, Cari found the spicy smell somehow comforting.

"Everything is all right, Cari.", he whispered to her. "You are 
safe now.".

She cried herself out, and for a minute or two stood holding on to 
Semareth's solid form, accepting his strength and protection. Now she 
just felt tired, though much more at peace, having released years' 
worth of tears. 

Finally, knowing that there was still harsh reality waiting beyond this 
moment, she looked up and thought to him, letting him sense the full 
extent of her gratitude. "Thank you. . . even a moment's 
haven is precious." She reluctantly eased loose, though she didn't step 
back. "To survive here - what must I do? To serve Sh'aljien what is needed?"
Cari knew that she would treasure this rare memory of peace, for she knew 
that it would probably be all she had for a long time. The field and 
rules  may have changed, but there was still a battle to be fought. That 
she never could forget.

Semareth released her slowly, and reached into his beltpouch. From it he 
pulled a small metal disk, upon which a swirling pattern was engraved. He 
took Cari's small hand in his larger, and placed the disk firmly in her 
palm. He released her hands and stepped back.

"This is called the Zhinyan. The two intertwining swirls represent the 
two opposing forces in nature, and the small stars in the middle of each 
are symbolic of inner power. It is a mark of my religion. This particular 
one means, 'In search of peace'". The shadows where he stood were not so 
dark as before, the whole garden was awash in sunlight.

The Zhinyan reflected the sunlight off its metal surface as Cari stood 
looking at it in her hand. When she looked up there was the beginning of 
a smile touching her lips, though her eyes were grave as she looked up at 
Semareth. "Thank you. . ." she sent to him, "Though those are small words 
for a new beginning."
--Cathy Mosley & Nick Takayama

After Semerath led Cari from the Church gardens he handed her over to a 
Inquisitor with the instructions that she was to be taken to the novice 
quarters, but that the matron was to be informed that Cari was to be the 
High Inquisitor's scribe, and to attend him in the morning.

She tried to keep track of directions as she was led to where the 
female novices slept, but fatigue weighted her mind too much to follow 
the twists and turns of the corridors. The Inquisitor took her over to 
the Matron and gave the High inquisitor's instructions, and left. 

The Matron, in the Church's standard black robes, studied Cari critically 
from head to toe, taking in the tangled black hair and smudged, tired 
face. And the new brown scribe's robe. "What's your name?" she asked 
sharply.

Cari touched her lips and shook her head. 

"A mute?

She nodded. 

The older woman went to her desks and pulled out a scrape of parchment 
and dipped the quill of a feather pen in ink. "Here," she said, holding 
the pen towards Cari. 

Cari felt the Matron's critical eyes on her as she wrote, so though she 
was tired she steadied her hand and wrote with precision: I'm Cari.

The Matron nodded and resumed studying the girl with a knowing eye. 
"You've neither eaten nor slept, have you girl?"

Cari shook her head.

"First take these," the Matron said, handing Cari an extra robe, a towel, 
and soap. "Now follow me," she ordered, and proceeded to 
show Cari the mat she was to sleep on, the bathing room, 
and got her some left-over bread to chew on. After the tour 
she allowed the girl to head for her sleeping mat, saying, "It's no use you 
sleeping through services." 

Cari willingly collapsed, finding the smell of fresh straw a welcome 
change from the dungeons, and fell asleep with the Zhinyan held tightly 
in her hand. 

The next morning at the sound of the waking bell Cari awoke and tucked 
the small metal disk into the pocket of her robe, till she could 
get some spare material to make a pouch. She proceeded to bath, eat, and 
attend morning services. 

Once the novices had said their last, "Praise the Redeemer!" for the 
service and were let loose to their tasks for the day, Cari headed for Lord 
Semareth's quarters to learn what he needed her to do as his new scribe. 
She knew that only the fact that he would instruct her in the ways 
of Sh'aljien would keep her sane, but this knowledge she buried deeply.
--Cathy Mosley

Thai smiled, bemused, and shook her head, not certain why this child
was so important to her, but she was.

Thai looked around for Maeve and found her returning to the bar with
the remains of someone's meal.

Thai walked through the evening crowd, enveloped in her dark cloak as
were so many other females tonight, and sat down beside Fran, dropped
her hood.

"Hello Fran. How are you tonight? I said I'd come back for supper, I
hope I'm not too late."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Fran looked up from her drawing and put down her crayon. She shook her
head. "Gueth what? I found paper and crayons...now I can draw. I love
drawing. Lornie was alwayth a real good artist." Fran pointed to a what
appeared to be a person--evidently a little girl, with yellow lines
(sun lines) shooting out from her. "That'th Lornie. She doethn't really
look like that. It'th jutht a drawing.

"As thoon ath I'm finithed, I'd like to eat. I think I'll get macaroni
and cheethe. I love that. It'th yummy!"
--Marie Kelly

"What DOES your sister look like then Fran? Like you?"
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Yeth. She wath two minuteth older than mean. I mith her lotth." Fran 
began crying. "I hate thothe darn Church meanies! I don't underthand. 
You're nithe, but I heard you work for the Church." She lowered her 
voice. "Maybe you don't know thith, but the Church ith bad...and  
Mithter John ithn't a very nice man." [understatement of the year]
--Marie Kelly

"Oh Fran..." Thai hated to defend the church, but what else
could she do in this public place? 

"Churches help people when they get lost, like you did.
Sometimes the people in the church aren't nice at first but usually
they don't mean to be. I haven't been very nice to some people but I'm
trying to be better now. Semareth is scary sometimes too, but he's
very nice when he's not around many people."
--Phaedra Whitlock--

Fran sniffed.

"Maybe we can find your sister for you. Would you like a
present?"

"I'd love a prethent! And you can't find my thithter!" Fran began
babbling, yet extremely quietly...so quietly on Thai could hear her,
and even she had to struggle. "It wath the firtht cleanthing and we
were going to the Refugee Camp and-- I hate thothe Church meanieth!
Mommy...Lornie...even Daddy...They're--dead!" She began sobbing anew.
Suddenly, she looked up, her eyes wide open and a look of fear in them.
She clapped a hand to her mouth. "Oopth!" She wasn't supposed to tell
she knew where the refugee camp was.

Thai looked around for Maeve. She had promised to show her the
present before Fran, but...

"I never had a sister at all. My mother didn't like children and I
had to go play with my cousin. I miss her sometimes. We used to talk all the
time. Now I have to use a magic to do it."

Thai leaned over to look at the drawing again. "Have you showed your
drawing to Maeve yet?"
--Phaedra Whitlock

Shyly, Fran shook her head no.
--Marie Kelly

"Maybe you should do a picture of her and show THAT to her
instead. You can keep this one in your room and look at it whenever
you miss Lorna too much. That way its special."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Fran nodded, wiping a tear away.
--Marie Kelly

        "Maeve seems so sad sometimes. I think you make her happy
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Really?"

"Why didn't your mommy like children? Wath thee mean? I had a nithe 
mommy. She loved uth."
--Marie Kelly

"My mother was very busy with other things, and she and my
father never married. She wasn't ever mean to me, she was just...
busy. She taught me most everything I know. I talk to her too."
--Phaedra Whitlock

Thai turned back to Fran, and reached for her pack. She pulled out a
crystal and laid it on the table.

It glowed in the firelight, and there was a current of swirling
energy inside of it if you looked closely, giving off a faint
radiance. Thai had spent an hour earlier that afternoon enchanting
it. She hoped it was enough and waited for Fran to pick it up. It had
to be keyed to Fran, and there was no other way of doing so.
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Oooh, pretty," murmered Fran, picking it up. It was warm and
comfortable. She pressed it to  her cheek. "Thankth," she whispered."
--Marie Kelly

Now lets go find Hugh and see about getting you some macaroni and
cheese."
--Phaedra Whitlock

"Okay!" Fran looked at the 'gem' again. It was such a nice, pretty
present.

"It's time for your supper, Fran," Maeve said, walking over to her.
"What will you be having?"

"Macaroni and cheese, please."

Maeve then noticed Thai. "Oh. Hello, Deaconess," she said civilly.
"Wonderful day. Praise the Redeemer!"

Fran looked at Maeve. What did she mean? Maeve didn't like the
Redeemer. She didn't even believe in the Redeemer, as such. Fran stared
at Maeve, then back at Thai, and understood.

Thai worked for the Church. So Maeve was acting like she worshipped the
Redeemer. That was it. Fran was a smart girl. Still, there was
something she had to tell Maeve. She stood on the bench and whispered
it in Maeve's ear. "I...I told Thai about the Refugee Camp. I'm
thorry."

Who heard that? Maeve wondered. Most likely only herself, but
still...the walls did have ears. "Francine, you must stop telling wild
stories as though they are true," she replied sternly. "You are doing a
great disservice to both yourself and others."

There. Hopefully that would be enough. She didn't like to think of what
would happen now that a member of the Church knew about the Refugee
Camp--still, at least Thai could be (sort of) trusted, if one believed
Fawn.

Maeve then noticed the crystal in Fran's hand. "May I see that?" she
said, holding out her hand. Fran gave her the crystal. Maybe holding it
would make Maeve happy. It was so warm and relaxing and nice.

"Where did you get this, Fran?"

"Oh, thee gave it to me! It'th a prethent! Wathn't that nithe?!" Fran
exclaimed merrily.

"Yes, it was," Maeve said dryly. "Thai, may I talk to you?" She pulled
Thai a few feet away from Fran, where the little girl could not hear
the conversation.

"What is this thing? I thought we had agreed I would see each present
before Fran got it."
--Marie Kelly