Chương 15: Church

Ch 15: Church We offer our prayers to the Herald. He who brings the gods closer to us and bears our messages to them even when we do not know to whom we are praying. May his wings carry our souls forward. A Common Prayer at the Church of the Herald Through the window of his carriage Solomon could see that it was a crisp and clear day. He could see a number of people dressed in their church best making their way to either the main church of the Herald or local shrines.

It was perhaps the cleanest he'd seen the residents of Moonfallow since he'd arrived. That's not fair. He scolded himself. These were people in hard situations that needed to do whatever they could to support themselves and their families. He shouldn't be holding them to a noble level of cleanliness and dress. He was meant to set the highest standard for them by example, not by critique.

They arrived at the front of the church and Solomon allowed Melissa to exit and open the door for him before stepping out, his fine shoes and walking stick making three distinct clicks as he pulled himself out. The church was filling quickly, but the regular citizens parted ways for him and his servants as he walked inside. The church was an old, but well maintained building of black brick, with a high steeple that led up to a belltower and windows adorned with scenes of the Herald and the Laborer.

That meant mostly vivid brown wings and trumpets, as well as hammers, bricks, and images of wide backs. Inside were rows of pews that were already filled with congregants as well as a large formal altar at the Church's head carved with yet more iconography of the Herald. He was the one who carried people's prayers where they were meant to be, so altars typically favored him.

In front of the altar, speaking to a small row of people in the front pew, was Luterne, the young priest Solomon had met when he first walked Moonfallow's streets. Behind the altar itself was a much older man in the brown vestments of the Herald. He looked wan and pale, with wrinkles that seemed to have wrinkles of their own, but was managing to keep himself steady with a well worn cane.

Solomon made his way to the front pew, which was always set aside for nobility, and Luterne gave him a wide and ingratiating smile.

"Master Morrow. I am glad to see you."

"Solomon is fine, Luterne. I'm sorry I couldn't attend the previous services. Many things to fix back at the manor."

"Of course, sir, of course. Well, I am happy you could be here today." The older priest called out to Luterne from that altar.

"Please excuse me," said Luterne with a bit of annoyance bleeding through his expression. Solomon looked at the others at the pew seeing an older woman with a severe face and a strong jaw as well as long white hair. She seemed to be the only other noble, and to her right sat a man in an older style of servants attire, with twin tails on his coat. He himself had an odd look to him, with nearly translucent white skin, pale blonde hair, and light eyes.

His features were so soft that Solomon would've confused him for a woman had he not had short cut hair and wore a man's suit. He looked as if all the color had been drained from him. Solomon guessed the woman was Dame Pryor, which meant that the man with her must've been his uncle's former servant. Solomon bowed low to the lady.

"Ma'am, would it be acceptable if I sat with you for the service?" This was an unnecessary question, but a polite one. The woman regarded him carefully, her eyebrow raising.

"You may sit, sir." He raised up from his bow and sat carefully next to her, his posture perfect in the pew, likely blocking the view of a few of the people seated behind him. All of the other pews were filled, and a number of people were actually standing. If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Dame Pryor," she said, offering a hand. Solomon took it gently.

"Solomon Morrow." The woman tutted.

"Really? A Morrow deigning to come down here and have service with his lessers?"

"I take it my Uncle never made the trek?"

"You take it correctly."

"Well, I apologize for his rudeness. He was not known to… like people. It was well known within our family." She frowned.

"Don't waste your breath apologizing for family. You'll soon run out of it." It was Solomon's turn to raise an eyebrow, but he chose not to pry.

"How do you care for the services here?"

"They're awful. Luterne spends all of his time saying prayers that amount to kissing different people's asses. The mayor's, the captain of the guard, even mine. I'm sure your own ass will be wet with kisses by the time he's done today." That was a deeply disturbing thought. He caught Melissa holding back a laugh in his peripheral.

"Is he trying to earn favors?"

"He thinks himself too skilled and handsome for Moonfallow. He asks me to send letters to my sons and daughters across the Empire, or even more distant family." She shook her head.

"If they responded to my letters, then they would've visited by now and he could've just asked them himself."

"I think I would dread a visit from family," replied Solomon honestly.

"It's different when it's family you made yourself," replied the Dame.

"They owe me time, with both them and my grandchildren."

"Well, Dame Pryor, if you'll permit me I'd be interested in visiting you sometime. It's only right for me to pay a visit to the highest of local nobles." She eyed him suspiciously.

"It would be the proper thing to do… I will have my man Threen here contact your people. We can have tea."

"That would be lovely," replied Solomon. His eyes drifted to her servant. The man's expression was neutral and unreadable, he showed no emotion at all. Solomon would, of course, like to get all the information he could right away, but interviewing the staff of a woman like Dame Pryor before a Church service would be an excellent way to turn her against him forever. Besides, if the servant did have knowledge of his uncle's occult leanings and chose to speak of them openly it could carry significant risk for him.

Luterne cleared his throat at the altar.

"I welcome you to this church, and I ask everyone to begin service today by offering a silent prayer to the Herald himself. A thanks for his tireless work as the messenger of the gods." Solomon bowed his head silently, offering a quick prayer while he thought through his next step. He had expected to see the First Watchman and the Mayor. Dame Pryor had just implied that they were typically found at Church, but there was no sign of them that day.

Solomon went through the usual humdrum church experience, having to deal with no small amount of prayers for the prosperity of the Morrow Manor on the hill courtesy of Luterne. He wasn't the happiest about that, but he kept his expression neutral all throughout. Once it was over Dame Pryor quickly made her way outside, seeming to want to avoid the crowd, or perhaps Luterne. Solomon himself found himself cornered while he was waiting for his servants to finish gathering themselves to leave.

"Lord Morrow, er, Solomon. How did you care for service?" asked Luterne as he approached.

"It was simple. Well organized. Would've preferred that you mentioned the best named of your congregation less, and those the most in need of prayer more." Luterne was taken aback.

"I, uh."

"Oh, I'm sure you were just trying to make me feel welcome. It's just a note," said Solomon with an empty smile.

"Ah, of course. Usually I'm far more focused on the common man here."

"That's good to hear," responded Solomon, a thought occurring to him.

"Do you have a board? Some way to give notice to members of the congregation?"

"I'm afraid Moonfallow is too provincial for something like that. Not enough people can read. Is there a particular message you wish to convey? Perhaps something I can bring up in my next sermon?"

"I need a number of temporary workers. Unskilled to assist in the garden and moving some things from different rooms. Skilled masons and woodworkers to repair a library, and train some apprentices. And perhaps some men to watch the grounds at night."

"Security?"

"My staff is mostly young women. Just a precaution to set their minds at ease." In truth he could not call them security. Every since the Dentus family's attempt at seizing the crown, all nobles were severely limited in who they could hire for protection. They'd gone from having small armies at their beck and call to hiring veterans as footmen and pretending they were only there to haul about luggage.

The further from succession one was, the less protection they were allowed as even one bodyguard could be meant as an assassin to usurp an elder sibling's birthright. As a fourth son he was meant to be completely reliant on the local watch and couldn't even outright hire the locals to do anything aside from 'watch the grounds'. Now if they happened to apprehend someone, who could blame them?

"There are a few church helpers who I can ask."

"Thank you. The pay will depend on the role… I'll be able to speak with them after next week's service."

"We can arrange that." He reached into his pocket and produced a single gold Drak, handing it to the priest.

"As a thank you." Luterne nodded, carefully taking the gold piece as if it was made of glass.

"Oh, and I'm also looking for any of the hunters or trappers that know the woods. I have a few questions about the area."

"I don't believe any of our congregants are of those vocations. They tend more to favor local deities. I'll see what I can do though." Solomon held his false smile. He didn't care much for the man.

"Thank you."