Chapter 36

  With the inn being full, Max talked one of the local farmers into taking Titus in for the night. It was only a crude bed in a small barn, but it was better than nothing and Titus couldn’t begrudge the man for hesitating to trust a savior.

  That night, Titus had learned how the rowdy troop in the tavern had been tasked with eliminating the pagan temple of Ilone that had stood by the lake since before history was written in books. There was no announcement to the Tin family or any officials in the village before they marched down to those hallowed grounds with bales of hay to set the stone structure ablaze. The farmers told him how the smoke could be seen for miles and that they rushed to the scene to help only to be held back at sword point.

  Many feared the priestesses didn’t make it out. Wilem’s daughter served in the temple and, upon arriving, he rushed for the doors only to be knocked unconscious by a savior. The rest were told that the next one would die if they attempted to save the temple. The crowd erupted in sharp protests, but the group hesitated to do anything more until the Lady arrived.

  When the Lady of Tindale, Elissa Tin, finally reached the scene, she was surprised to find a sword soon at her own throat as she attempted to speak with the captain. It was the last straw for the villagers and if not for Elissa raising a quelling hand, they would have launched themselves at the men. Elissa knew well that bare fists were no match for swords. The temple was a loss, but the Lady would not allow a massacre to follow it.

  Later the villagers would learn that the high priestess had seen the horror coming and sent all priestesses and acolytes home before the saviors arrived. The community breathed a sigh of relief at that but still fumed that such a sacred space had been destroyed for no good reason. Some came back the next day hoping the stone had survived, but so much fuel had been stuffed into the main hall and antechambers that the heat cracked the walls and ruptured the ceiling. The only saving grace was that the temple stood away from the woods and homes or the whole village might have been set ablaze that night.

  Titus didn’t dare bother the poor farmer for any breakfast in the morning. He packed up his things and gave the man a polite nod of thanks as he passed by him already out feeding his chickens.

  Despite the steadily cooling temperatures, many of the farmers seemed to be out in the orchards this morning harvesting what’s likely the last fruits of the season. Apples mostly from the look of the trees. Titus had come this way in the dark of night with the farmer, but now he could see how the groves stretched this way and that. He briefly spun in the saddle to watch some happy kids run by and it was then that he saw the ruined heap of the temple.

  It sat in the distance like a raised, blackened sore near the edge of the lake. Standing so far away, he only had a vague sense of its size, but he could see the careful road leading to it and the manicured lawns surrounding it. He briefly wondered what it looked like before its walls cracked and its roof caved. Now it was only a reminder of how the saviors had taken a sharp turn down a dark path.

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  Titus turned back to the road he was on and decided he’d get another meal before moving on. With any luck all the rowdy men from last night were still hung over and half asleep in their rooms.

  Unfortunately, Titus wasn’t that lucky.

  In the village square, two dozen villagers were gathered in front of an official looking building and shouting with angry voices. Titus doubted anyone in the inn across the street could fully sleep through this. He paused to look between the crowd and the inn wondering if the men were just sitting quietly inside to wait out the crowd.

  Then the doors from the official building opened. A woman, formally dressed in fine clothes, stepped out onto the front steps and raised her hands to the crowd. Her gray hair was pulled back in a tight bun, but her back was straight and her shoulders square. Her clothes spoke of wealth, but her eyes had the focus of a leader.

  This must be Elissa Tin, Titus thought to himself. He sat quietly on his horse and watched as the woman began addressing the people in a long-practiced tone of authority.

  “I have spoken with their captain. They will be leaving tomorrow.”

  But it didn’t seem enough for one man who yelled, “and what about the temple!”

  Titus watched Elissa’s lips thin and her slender hands clench.

  “We will rebuild it. … And dedicate it to the High God.”

  The crowd swelled with cries and jeers at the idea.

  “This is the goddess’s lake!” one woman cried.

  “I won’t pray to their god!” a man screamed.

  Elissa raised her hands again, but it wasn’t enough. No one made an aggressive move towards her, but none seemed willing to accept the situation. Elissa tried to urge calm and surprisingly, she eventually received it despite their anger.

  “We can also clear the land if that’s your wish. Those are our alternatives,” she added with a sigh.

  “How could Lord Atrion allow this?” one man asked. Titus recalled the name. Atrion was the high lord ruling out of Korinth. He knew many of the surrounding villages and towns were protected under his flag, but he didn’t realize the royal house stretched out this far. He wondered if new lines were being drawn and if so, why wasn’t the ruler of Vernin protesting.

  A defeated look passed briefly over the woman’s face before she took in a deep breath and replied. “We will have a meeting tonight to decide what’s to be done with the grounds. Please spread the word. Thank you.”

  With that, the crowd started to disperse, none to happily though. Titus briefly caught Elissa’s eye as she turned and walked back inside. He continued to sit for a moment as he tried to decide whether it was worth trying to get that meal after all. His eyes casually followed the last of the villagers as they slowly walked away until only one was still standing in the street. That one, he soon realized, was staring back at him. His arms were crossed, and he clearly hadn’t shaved in days, but there was no mistaking those sharp blue eyes glaring up at him.