Always a devout people, the Solamnics had grieved over the absence of their gods. Feeling an absence and a lacking in their lives, they were interested in hearing about this One God, even if they didn’t plan on believing what they heard. The adage goes that while elves strive to be worthy of their gods, humans require that their gods be worthy of them. The citizens of Solanthus were naturally skeptical.
Every day, the sick and the wounded came or were carried to the former temple of Paladine, now the temple of the One God. The lines for miracles were long and the lines waiting to view the miracle maker were longer still. The elves of far-off Silvanesti, so Mina had told them, had bowed down to the One God and proclaimed their devotion. By contrast, the humans of Solanthus started fistfights, as those who believed in the miracles took umbrage with those who claimed they were tricks. After two days of patrol duty, Gerard was ordered to cease walking the streets (where nothing happened) and to start breaking up fights in the temple. Gerard didn’t know if he was glad for this change in assignment or not. He’d spent the last two days trying to decide if he should confront Odila and try to talk some sense into her or if he should continue to avoid her. He didn’t think she’d give him away, but he wasn’t certain. He couldn’t understand her sudden religious fervor and therefore no longer trusted her. Gerard had never really been given the choice of worshiping the gods, so he hadn’t wasted much thought on the matter. The presence or absence of the gods had never made much difference to his parents. The only change that had occurred in their lives when the gods left was that one day they said prayers at the table and the next day they didn’t. Now Gerard was being forced to think about it, and in his heart he could sympathize with those who started the fights. He wanted to punch someone, too.
Gerard sent off his report to Richard, who was waiting for it at the roadhouse. He gave the Knights’ Council all the information he’d gleaned, confirming that Mina planned to march to Sanction.
Counting the reinforcements expected to arrive from Palanthas, Mina had over five thousand soldiers and Knights under her command. A small force, yet with this force she planned to take the walled city that had held out against double that Dumber of troops for over a year. Gerard might have laughed at the notion, except that she’d taken Solanthus—a city considered impregnable—with far fewer troops than that. She’d .taken Solanthus using dragons and the army of souls, and she spoke of using dragons and the army of souls to take Sanction. Recalling the terror of that night he’d fought the dead, Gerard was convinced that nothing could withstand them. He said as much to the Knights’ Council, although they hadn’t asked for his opinion. His assignment now completed, he could have left Solanthus, returned to the bosom of the Solamnic Knighthood. He stayed on, however, at risk of his life, he supposed, for Galdar considered him a spy. If that was true, no one paid much attention to him. No one watched him. He was not restricted in his movements. He could go anywhere, talk to anyone. He was not admitted to Mina’s inner circle, but he didn’t lose by that, for apparently Mina had no secrets. She freely told everyone who asked what she and the One God meant to do. Gerard was forced to concede that such supreme confidence was impressive.
He stayed in Solanthus, telling himself that he would remain to see if Mina and her troops actually marched out, headed east. In truth, he was staying because of Odila, and the day he took up his duties at the temple was the day he finally admitted as much to himself. Gerard stationed himself at the foot of the temple steps, where he could keep a watchful eye on the crowd, who had gathered to hear Mina speak. He posted his men at intervals around the courtyard, trusting that the sight of armed soldiers would intimidate most of the troublemakers. He wore his helmet, for there were those in Solanthus who might recognize him. Mina’s own Knights, under the command of the minotaur, surrounded her, kept watch over her, guarding her not so much from those who would do her harm, but from those who would have adored her to death. Her speech concluded, Mina walked among the crowd, lifting up children in her arms, curing the sick, telling them all of the One God. The skeptical watched and jeered, the faithful wept and tried to fling themselves at Mina’s feet. Gerard’s men broke up a few fights, hauled the combatants off to the already crowded prisons.
When Mina’s steps began to falter, the minotaur stepped in and called a halt. The people still waiting for their share of the miracles groaned and wailed, but he told them to come back tomorrow.
“Wait a moment, Galdar,” said Mina, her voice carrying clearly over the tumult. “I have good news to tell the people of Solanthus.”
“Silence!” Galdar shouted, but the effort was needless. The crowd immediately hushed, leaned forward eagerly to hear her words.
“People of Solanthus,” Mina cried. “I have just received word that the dragon overlord, Khellendros, also known as Skie, is dead. Only a few days earlier, I told you that the dragon overlord, Beryl, was dead, as well as the wicked dragon known as Cyan Bloodbane.” Mina raised her arms and her eyes to the heavens. “Behold, in their defeat, the power of the One God!”
“Khellendros dead?” The whisper went through the crowd, as each person turned to his neighbors to see what their reaction was to such astonishing news.
Khellendros had long ruled over much of the old nation of Solamnia, exacting tribute from the citizens of Palanthas, using the Dark Knights to keep the people in line and the steel flowing into the dragon’s coffers. Now Khellendros was dead.
“So when does this One God go after Malys?” someone yelled.
Gerard was appalled to find that the someone was himself.
He’d had no idea he was going to shout those words. They’d burst out before he could stop them. He cursed himself for a fool, for the last thing he wanted to do was draw attention to himself. Snapping shut the visor of his helm, he glared around, as if searching for the person who had spoken. He did not fool Mina, however. Her amber gaze pierced the eyeslits of his helmet with unerring accuracy.
“After I have taken Sanction,” Mina said coolly, “then I will deal with Malys.” She acknowledged the cheers of the crowd with a gesture toward heaven, indicating that their praise belonged to the One God, not to her. Turning, she disappeared inside the temple. Gerard’s skin burned so hot it was a wonder that his steel helm didn’t melt around his ears. He expected to feel the heavy hand of the minotaur close around his neck any moment, and when someone touched his shoulder, he nearly crawled out of his armor.
“Gerard?” came a puzzled voice. “Is that you in there?”
“Odila!” he gasped in relief, uncertain whether to hug her or hit her.
“So now you’re back to being a Dark Knight,” she said. “I must concede that drawing your pay from two coffers is a good way to make a living, but don’t you find yourself getting confused? Do you flip a coin? ‘Which armor do I put on this morning? Heads Dark Knight, tails Solamnic—’”
“Just shut up, will you,” Gerard growled. Grabbing her by the arm, he glanced around to see if anyone had been listening, then hauled her off to a secluded part of the rose garden. “Apparently finding religion hasn’t caused you to lose your twisted sense of humor.” He yanked off his helm, glared at her. “You know perfectly well why I’m here.” She eyed him, frowning. “You didn’t come after me, did you?”
“No,” he answered, which was truth enough.
“Good,” she said, her face clearing.
“But now that you mention it—” Gerard began.