24. Keelan

Chapter 24

Keelan

I tugged at the tight, scratchy collar of my coat as the page announced my entry into the banquet hall. Most of the guests were already seated, and the chatter of hundreds echoed throughout the chamber. The chatter died to hushed tones at many tables as I passed on my way to my seat.

My collar might have itched, but the scrutiny of so many nobles made my skin crawl.

I was seated with several nobles and ambassadors from the smaller countries. Jess had been quite thoughtful in seating me with those whose interests most aligned with that of Melucia.

Our table’s conversation began with pleasantries surrounding the coronation and banquet but quickly turned to the Siege of Saltstone. Each of our eastern neighbors had heard varying accounts of the battle and the months that followed. Their representatives were eager to glean any new information they could from one of the capital’s top lawmen. When the dinner concluded and Jess left the hall, the men and women huddled closer around me, and the conversation turned as they asked more direct, inflammatory questions regarding our hosts in the Kingdom.

Thankfully, it only took an hour for the ambassadors from Pantrel and Amnel to decide the wine had gone to their heads. I relished the thought of escaping the festivities, but, as they rose to retire for the evening, a man in elegant brown robes appeared to stand behind the empty chairs at the table.

“Mind if I join you?”

I thought I sensed the others tense as the young man pulled a chair back and sat without waiting for their reply.

“You’re dressed like a holy man. We don’t see many of your lot around these days. What are you doing here on the Queen’s Day of Celebration?” the ambassador from Orn asked with a bit of a sneer.

The newcomer’s pleasant smile never faltered. “I am a Priest of the One, come to inform Her Majesty of my appointment as representative of the Order to the Crown.”

“The Order? I thought you said you were a Priest of the Temple,” a man to my left asked.

“Forgive me. The Order is what we call the movement behind the Temple’s teachings. Think of it as the new name given to the Children.”

I detected no falsehood in the man or his words, though my non-magical intuition vibrated with something uneasy I couldn’t identify. The man’s robes were consistent with what I remembered of the Children, though he wore no mask and did nothing else to hide his identity or intentions.

Something in his bearing felt so familiar.

I was sure I had never seen him before, but I knew him. Somehow, I knew this man. He played a role in some broader scheme I could scarcely fathom.

But still, I knew him.

“Please forgive our rudeness, especially at a royal banquet, but the Children’s recent history gives many of us pause when we see brown robes.” I paused a moment. “Where is your mask?”

The Priest cocked his head. “Ah, you know of our Order. The day comes when the One will walk among us, spreading his word and good deeds. We have shed our masks so everyone may know us. Our recent . . . history . . . no longer defines us.”

When greeted by questioning glares, the Priest continued. “We seek to care for the sick and poor, teach children their letters, feed the hungry. Through these humble acts, we hope to build bridges of Light in the hearts of the people we touch. Ours is a message of mercy and compassion with the goal of a brighter future for the Kingdom and our people.”

The Ambassador from Amnel snorted. “That sounds like wine and a song, very different from the Children’s aims only a few months ago. For centuries, your cult fed on the people’s ignorance and laid groundwork to return evil to this land. Why should you now be greeted as benevolent holy men instead of the murderers you are? The Queen’s justice couldn’t be too harsh for your lot, from what I’ve seen.”

“Gentlemen, you must let forgiveness enter your hearts.”

“Forgiveness?” I spat a laugh.

The Priest continued to stare at me, his face a mask of its own, so I decided to take a different approach. “Perhaps introductions would be in order.”

The Priest stood and bowed to the table. “I am a humble servant of the Temple of the One and will serve as the One’s Voice and ambassador here in the capital.”

I offered the ambassador a shallow nod and watched as the others at the table made their introductions to the Priest. None appeared to have warmed to the man or his tale of his Order’s new direction.

“Holiness? Father? Ambassador? I’m not sure how to address you. I am Guardsman Lieutenant Keelan Rea of Melucia.”

“Lieutenant, there is no need for titles or honorifics. Please call me Danym.”