Chapter One-Hundred Eighty-Two


    <strong>Rer</strong>


    The young noble isnt certain how he feels about paperwork. He certainly prefers it to peoplework, but thats not really saying much. He feels more confident about getting back in the ring with Rocky than he does with talking to people, generally. His acting at being one of his own guards is helping with that a bit, but hes longe to terms with the fact that hell never be the boisterous, outgoing type.


    On the other hand, he is feeling less fond of paperwork as ofte, probably because theres been more of it. Requests for funding for the small hold, financial reports for the proposed financial incentives to delve Thedeim more over the winter, so as to help with the problem the Southwood is having,ints from the masons guild about certain members being barred from participating in building Hullbreak''s lighthouse


    He has to smile a bit at that particr letter. He had even gotten some catharsis by penning a reply telling the guild that, if they have a method to force any dungeon to allow a member to join, let alone Thedeim, hed love to hear it. Of course, he tossed that draft into the hearth and wrote a lot of words thate to the same sentiment, just much more diplomatically.


    He should see if Rhonda and Freddie would like to go see the lighthouse being built. They still need to do the followup delve in Hullbreak for whatever it was Rhonda needed. Bubble kelp? Bubble weed? Hes pretty sure its bubble something, and hes positive itll be on her shoulders for them to get the correct ingredient.


    The pleasant thoughts of delving with his friends fade as he looks at the letter he received from the crown. He doubts the king himself wrote it, but he may as well have for all the power Rer has to stop it. At least it probably wont be too much trouble, its just a basic audit. In hindsight, he probably should have expected something like this. Tax revenue this year was up sharply, thanks to Thedeim. That kind of change in money is going to draw attention, even if everything is fully legitimate.


    Which, as far as Rer can tell, everything is. Oh, hes sure theres some minor embezzlement and other financial wrongdoing going on, but whatever people may be doing it, theyre keeping it subtle enough for him to not need to worry. He wouldnt even put it past Miller to have, if not a hand in most of it, to at least be keeping an eye on it. Much as it irks his sensibilities, that kind of thing simply cant be fully snuffed out, so its better to keep it manageable and not let it get obvious enough for a <em>real</em> audit to be called.


    Still, he should probably put into his schedule some time to check the books himself. He cant rely on Miller to do all the work, and being able to spot ounting oddities is one of his duties as Lord Mayor.


    But he should have plenty of time. If its secretly a deep audit, itll look better for him if they dont show up in a week with him tearing through his ledgers. No, hell take a look in a few weeks, probably after the Hullbreak delve. Any potential spies can see hes not worried, and hes more than happy to waste the time of imagined onlookers.


    For the rest of today he actually would like to visit the Church of the Shield. Hed like to hear their opinion of Thedeim and the fact he has worshipers, and what Rer should actually do about that. Not that he intends to interfere, but that he doesnt want to identally upset someone like Thedeim, even as a dungeon, let alone as a potential deity.


    He misses when he could stay out of theology altogether, but at least getting involved with Thedeim earned him his two most dear friends. He can step out of hisfort zone to ensure he doesnt somehow make a mistake that turns Thedeim against them, let alone the town as a whole.


    It seems pretty unlikely, but hed rather know too much than not enough. He had sent out a message early in the morning, asking if he could have some of High Priest Torlons time, and received a reply not long ago that he would be more than happy to receive Rer after lunch, or even during, should he desire.


    Hed prefer the informality of a meeting after lunch, and so sent the reply. A luncheon is always so weighed down by etiquette and formality. A lunch between friends is one thing, but he doesnt think he quite knows the kindly priest well enough for an informal meal.


    Is the young master ready to go? asks Miller as he enters the room, tidying and organizing the mess that it tends to get into when Rer is attending to the duties of his position.


    I think so, Miller. Is my horse ready? If he were just going as Larrez, hed just walk, but nobles are expected to walk as little as possible. He remembers asking Miller about it when he was much younger, and getting a smirk with the reply that, should a noble be in the rough position of not having a cushion upon which to rest their rear end, one should have enough padding to make do. The memory still brings a smile to his face.


    Of course, sir. White Waves is freshly brushed and awaiting you.


    Thank you, Miller, replies the young noble with a smile, looking forward to riding White Waves. He gets so little chance to take him out for a ride. His gait is incredibly smooth, better than any other horse hes had, hence the name. Riding him, at a walk or at a gallop, is like riding gentle ocean waves.


    Why dont you have a horse? he asks, realizing hes never seen his butler in a saddle. He thinks hes actually surprised the older elf, as it takes him a few moments longer than usual to respond.


    Horses and I only ever get along professionally, at best, young master. Theyll obey me when I drive the carriage, or when I put them up or wipe them down, but they have never epted carrying me. And, to be frank young master, I prefer my own two feet to their four, he soon answers, smirking at the end.


    Ah, thats interesting. Though that does make me wonder how you always get somewhere before me when Im riding.


    The butler gives a small smile to his charge. Thats a professional secret Im afraid, young master, only known to the most secretive ranks of the butling elite. Rer still isnt certain if Miller is joking when he talks like that, but at this point, he doesnt want to know either way. He wouldnt want the joke to die, nor would he like to dwell on the implications of the butling elite.


    He has enough vaguely-powerful things to try to understand, which is what this whole meeting is for anyway. It doesnt take him long to ride to the church, and the handlers there easily ept White Waves with no trouble. Before long at all, he enters the priests personal rooms, finding the gnome rxing in a plush chair with a book. He marks his ce and smiles at Rer once he enters.


    Ah, Lord Mayor! To what do I owe the pleasure? I admit I was surprised to receive your request with my breakfast. Please, have a seat. Would you like something to drink?


    Rer takes a seat on the wide couch and politely shakes his head. No, but thank you. And please, just Rer. I wanted to ask about well, a lot of things, actually.


    Torlon smiles and takes his seat once more. I take it youre not about to ask to take the initiate oaths? he asks with a smirk, and Rer shakes his head.


    Uh no. I mean, I appreciate what you and the church do, its just


    Torlonughs and waves a hand. I know, I know, its just not for you. Honestly, its not for most people, and a good priest needs to understand that. But I think your actual questions are along a simr vein?


    Rer sighs and nods. I usually try to stay beneath the attention of any gods, but did you know Thedeim is one?


    Ah, says Torlon, like that question exins everything. Well youve stumbled into a question all clergy have to eventually wrestle with: what <em>is</em> a god? Its one of the few questions the gods never even acknowledge, let alone answer.


    Rer furrows his brow at that. What? But Torlonsugh interrupts him again.


    Nobody knows why they dont answer it, either. Some gods are more than happy to answer various questions, but they all ignore that particr one, which only raises more questions. Personally, I believe it has something to do with how faith magic works.


    Rer looks lost, but stays quiet to let the priest continue.


    Most people think it must work like arcane magic, or even like martial magic, but just like those two are different, so is faith. Arcane magic is about understanding the world and how it works, and how your affinity works in the world. From what I can tell of martial magic, its about understanding yourself and exemplifying your affinity in yourself. Faith magic is


    He trails off for a moment, looking for the proper words, or maybe to see if Rer is following. The elf noble is leaned forward on the couch now, listening to every word, and Torlon smiles as he continues.


    Faith magic is more about <em>epting</em> and striving for an ideal. Not everyone finds their ideal in a god. Even here in the church, it could be more urate to say some peoples faith is more in a concept than the Shield. But gods are the mostmon ideal of faith, because they epass so many domains. That the Shield is protection is no surprise, and many pdins of the Shield may be cing their faith more in that than in the Shield itself.


    Rer is back to looking confused at that, and Torlonughs again. It sounds a bit heretical, doesnt it? But I think that the Shield provides guidance not just in how to protect, but <em>why</em> to protect, and cing ones faith in a specific aspect of the Shield doesnt lessen anyone involved. Which brings us back to your question about Thedeim.


    I dont think hes actually a god, though as a focus of faith, the difference is a bit academic. I think hes handling it rather well, especially with how he seems to be trying his best to handle it as little as possible, heh.


    What? escapes Rers lips before he can stop it. Hes handling it by not handling it at all? How does that make any sense!?


    Torlon just smirks. What would you do if it were you?


    What? says Rer again, confused to have a question aimed at himself.


    What if you were suddenly the focus of someones faith? If someone believed so utterly in what you do that their magic is focused by it. Heughs again as the elf nches.


    You cant even tell them to stop it! Someone with that kind of faith in you, theyd think they had done something wrong! he continues. So now you have quite a lot of control over someones actions, and I think as a noble, you might understand the weight of that responsibility better than most, and the temptations of abusing that responsibility.


    Rer slowly nods, and Torlon nods as well. Yes, something like that can cause a lot of trouble. Dark cults and more happen when someone misuses that kind of trust and faith. But Ive talked with both Aranya and Larx, and Thedeim has set really only one rule, and I think he could have done a lot worse.


    What rule?


    To love. To care, honestly and deeply, about the well-being of others. Torlon chuckles and shakes his head. A simplemand and yet not a simplemand at all, really.