Chapter 6. A Child is Born

  As time resumed, so too did Eleina’s labor. She looked around, disoriented until a moan escaped her lips. Polly jumped, eyes darting from the priest to her daughter before leaping to her feet. “Hold her legs!” Polly scrambled to grab her daughter’s leg up to her chest while another woman shouldered Theodren out of the way to grab the other.

  Theodren took a step back, and then another until his back hit the wall and he slumped to the ground. “What have I done?” The priest suffered his crisis of faith in the relative privacy of a room devoted to a more important task than him.

  His thread was gone, replaced with a pool of Vitae, the depth of which he could not fathom. It seemed endless. But this newfound power was only proof of what he had done. He had committed an act of heresy the likes of which he’d never even heard of. He had damned himself to the depths of hell. He had betrayed the only god he had ever known.

  The cry of a newborn split the air. He had saved two lives.

  Theodren looked up from his knees to see Polly handing a wet and wailing newborn now wrapped in a fresh cloth to Eleina. Evan burst through the door, frantic, he locked onto his wife. Sinking to the floor beside his wife he reached a hand toward the infant. “She’s perfect.”

  Eleina had yet to say a word, staring dazed into the bewildered blue eyes of her new daughter. She reached out for Evans hand. “We need to name her.” Evan looked over at Polly who was sprawled in her chair dazed and exhausted.

  “Polleina? For your mom?” Polly shook herself from her tired musings. “No, I didn’t do anything, I couldn’t do anything. She gestured a tired hand at Theodren in the corner. “You want to honor someone? honor the priest. His thread is the only thing that pulled you back.”

  Eleina and Evan turned to Theodren who had collapsed in his exhaustion. He put up his hands. “I only healed what I could, you did the rest yourself.” Eleina considered his words, sensing he had left much unsaid. She chewed her lip and looked up at Evan. “Theviana. Her name is Theviana.”

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  ***

  Leagues away at the Holy Capitol.

  Cardinal Hardwright stalked down the marble hall of the conclave, the fine wooden heels of his leather shoes clacked against the floor as he considered what his words to the Patriarch would be. He stood beside the grand wooden doors waiting for his audience to be called upon. Hardwright was odd in his appearance, managing to be both lanky and short in his appearance. His spindly arms and legs flanked an oddly portly frame wrapped in the black and gold of the inquisitors sect.

  The doors eased inward silently on perfectly maintained hinges and the bishop strode inside. The room was immense in its scale, dwarfing any who dared to enter. The furnishings themselves were austere to say the least.

  two straight backed wooden chairs sat before the immense mahogany desk which itself was stacked with neat and orderly piles of reports and memos from each sect of the Church of Holy Order. Behind the desk sat the imposing figure of Gaius the Patriarch.

  The man himself was not possessed of any great size or attribute, but the strength of his gaze seemed to wither the very soul of whoever stood before him, and in this moment, that person was Hardwright.

  He bowed low to the Patriarch. “Greetings esteemed Patriarch. I come bearing news and requesting your mandate.” The Patriarch remained focused on the report before him. “What news, and for what?”

  Hardwright swallowed the lump in his throat. “A thread has strayed from the Tapestry.” The scratching of Gaius’ quill ground to a halt and the silence boomed through the large room. Suddenly the Patriarchs gaze was squarely on the Cardinal who strained under the sudden appraisal.

  “And the mandate?” Asked Gaius. “I request leave to send junior inquisitor Theina and her handler to investigate and shear the errant thread.” Gaius nodded. “I trust you understand the severity and finality of the task required.”

  Hardwright nodded back “Yes lord.” The patriarch lowered his quill and steepled his fingers. “And you would send only a junior? Explain yourself.” Hardwright swallowed yet again. “It is my belief that her skills are up to the task of any assignment. however she lacks field experience, and it would benefit her and the Holy Order for her to gain such experience in this town of no consequence.”

  Gaius stared down the fidgety Cardinal, allowing the silence to suss out any excuses or second thoughts the man might have. When none came he acquiesced. “Very well.” He stated, returning his gaze to the report in front of him. “You will leave immediately, you will supervise this task personally and you will return the errant thread to its place in the tapestry.

  Inwardly, Hardwright balked at the sudden travel plans, but he dare not show his displeasure to the Patriarch. “Very good my Lord.” Sensing that the meeting had ended he turned smartly on his heel and marched out of the room gritting his teeth. “Two weeks with that damned girl.” His head began to ache just thinking about 2 weeks in the saddle with the spirited young acolyte. Still, he would be glad to see how her manners improved after her task was complete at the nameless village.