Chapter Nine: The Holy Places
Again, after a week, they stood outside the slums of Belcourt, staring intensely at the horizon, which despite being hours away, was the center of the city, where the grand church was.
"What do you need to go there for?" Nairou inquired. "No one here is kind enough to think about anyone else, and they all act the same as soon as you leave the slums. Even the slums here are rich. It disgusts me."
"That is an ungrateful thing to say," Kiresk retorted, furiously. "This is Galaan's birthplace, and it was my home for most of my life. I served these people in the two hundred year war."
"Well,. I guess there are exceptions to every rule," Nairou laughed coldly. "But he is no exception."
"I have priorities," Galaan muttered. "And strangers aren't one of them."
They arrived at the church by dusk, but the city's buildings blocked the sunset, leaving an eerie glow of red and gold about the streets. Tired of walking, the five sat down, leaning their backs against the church's wall.
"Come in this time, will you Galaan," Salena asked him.
"I'll come in this time," Galaan echoed, with a quiver in his voice. "Only to... see the stain glass murals."
"Something the matter, Galaan?" Kiresk questioned. "You seem nervous. I hope that you are alright."
"I'm just a bit cold, that's all," Galaan told him. "I'll be fine."
"Here then. This should help," Salena said, smiling. Galaan felt his body warm up.
"Isn't the Belcourt Grand Church where the High Priests and Priestesses of the East reside?" Nairou inquired.
"Of course! Everyone knows that, Nairou," Zihera exclaimed. "Did you even have to ask?"
The conversation continued for some time after, reflecting on what has happened to the group. When all had been discussed, they went into the church. Galaan awed at the stain glass murals, depicting the eight spirits, though light would not shine through the glass, they were still as beautiful as in the daytime. They stepped heavily across the shadows towards the large door at the end of the corridor. Kiresk and Galaan opened the door, allowing for Salena, Zihera and Nairou to enter. The two followed, then pushed the doors closed. The room was well lit with candles, despite the fact that it was more than average height, even for a church. All the attention from the Priests diverted immediately to Salena, as whispers shot around the room, echoing about the walls.
"The legend must be true," a woman's voice exclaimed. "She has it, now!"
"The time of the prophecy is here!" a noble sounding voice proclaimed. "It is almost at its full, but tell us, which one of these people is your guardian?"
"He is," Salena stated, putting her hands in Galaan's shoulders. "This man here."
"I vowed to protect her with my life, and I have no intention of backing down from that promise," Galaan claimed.
"Will you please step into the center of the room then, brave sir?" a deep, hearty voice instructed. "There is something you must have."
Galaan stepped into the center of the floor as instructed, and faced the high priests. Two doors opened and a man came out with a short sword hanging from his belt. Galaan could see the Silver Phoenix crest on the hand guard. He removed the sword from his belt and presented it to Galaan.
"That, good sir, is the Sword of the Silver Phoenix," the same deep voice told him. "As long as you carry it, you should have no trouble protecting the life of the Silver Phoenix Woman."
Galaan knelt in respect and bowed his head in respect as thanks for the gift.
"Now, good people," began a gaunt looking old man wearing glasses. "Please tell us your names so we can record your deeds in history books. Such is our way of preventing these sorts of incidents from repeating."
"I shall be glad to introduce everyone to you," Kiresk explained. "I am Kiresk. The one to whom you gave the sword is Galaan, and the Silver Phoenix Woman is named Salena. Beside me in the blue dress is Zihera, and the one in black is Nairou."
The five told the priests and priestesses all that they had done from when Galaan and Kiresk met Salena in Dekar-nessen to the ventures to the Seabed Palace.
"The Seabed Palace is what is called a 'holy place'. It is sacred ground, and all who go there are considered to be great adventurers. If you are interested in finding more holy places, I would recommend trying to find the Crypt of Norrah, where the Spirit of Death and Solace is said to have first appeared. It is said to be a lone crypt near Dekar-nessen."
The man who gave Galaan the Sword of the Silver Phoenix showed them out of the Grand Church and to some lodgings. Having much to reflect on Galaan and Salena sat at a table in the lodge's dining hall.
"Galaan, I have to tell you something important," Salena began. "Will you listen to what I have to say?"
"Of course, Salena," Galaan responded. "What could be so important?"
"Well, it's about when we met," Salena began. "How long were you shadowing Kiresk for before you killed the lizardman?"
"About a quarter of an hour, why?" Galaan asked, puzzled.
"Because I wanted to know how much longer you knew me than I knew you," Salena told him. "I need to know how much me being there affected your decision to help him."
"You were the deciding factor," Galaan explained. "If I hadn't interfered, neither you or Kiresk would be alive now. He had poisoned darts in his hand."
Salena said nothing, but put her head on Galaan's shoulder and wept quietly.
Galaan awoke the next morning to a couple of angry sounding men hassling the man at the front counter.
"We know she's 'ere. Now tell us or we'll kill you and find 'er ourselves," an angry and obnoxious sounding voice snarled.
Galaan stood up, put a pair of pants on, grabbed his silver handled knife and headed down to the front desk.
"I was sleeping peacefully in my room until you started yelling down here," Galaan exulted, furiously. "Now, I know who you're looking for and I know why, so I suggest you leave here before you get killed."
"I'm not gonna listen to a little runt like you," a burly man exclaimed. "We're gonna have to kill you."
The two men tried to rush Galaan, but he calmly put his knife across the first one's chest. The second came at him, sword drawn and swung hard at him. Galaan, however, easily caught the blade against his knife, and stabbed his foe in the throat. He then cut some clean cloth from one of their shirts and cleaned the blade of his knife, and went back to his room to go to sleep.
Salena awoke to a light knocking on her door.
"Who is it?" Salena asked, while yawning lightly. "Come in."
The door opened and the desk clerk stepped in Salena's room.
"Miss Salena?" the clerk inquired, checking the guest list. "Some men came in early this morning, forcefully asking for you. One of your companions heard the noise and had slain them. I suggest you and your party depart as soon as possible. They are waiting for you out in the lobby."