City of Ruin - Mark Charan Newton [96]
‘Priest Pias,’ he whispered across the aged knuckles, ‘I seek your counsel.’
‘Rise, my boy,’ the priest replied. ‘Follow me.’
*
They drank tea in what seemed like a golden room: candlesticks, portrait frames, gold leafing on the chairs and plates – everything shimmered with wealth. So many times he had felt the same in Villjamur, even when, as a young child not knowing better, he was reluctant to go to church. Once again he felt spellbound by the beauty and the incense and the arcane texts.
When Priest Pias asked Nelum about his visit, the lieutenant told him about the allegations regarding his commander.
The old priest nodded gravely, a rhythm of deep contemplation. ‘That is, of course, a major sin in the eyes of the Jorsalir church.’
‘I understand, sir. The problem is that he is working wholeheartedly to unite people of this city into strengthening their defences, and he is training the local soldiers expertly. He aims to save this fringe of the Empire from falling into . . . From whatever evils lie beyond.’
‘Yes, I am quite aware of his intentions. He has already come here asking my help.’
‘Sir, I’m not sure I see the church’s role in any of this.’
‘Of course not.’ A smile. ‘Which means the old methods work! As the Empire evolved, it couldn’t simply rely on the whip hand any more to persuade subjects to behave in acceptable ways. One doesn’t build a policy of imperialism unless one is seen to be fair. There is democracy now, they would cry. There exists the illusion that they had a say in political affairs. So to control people’s minds they needed other means of persuasion. Including the Jorsalir church.’
Nelum was aghast at this blatant manipulation of people’s spiritual beliefs.
‘Do not lose your faith, my dear lieutenant. This is not to question the ultimate word of Bohr. Our synergy with the Empire has allowed our church to flourish over thousands of years. It is a symbiosis that serves everyone’s interests, and that’s why we remain so close – a link that helps keep cultists at bay too.’
The gold glitter in the room was suddenly overbearing, refracting the candlelight too harshly into Nelum’s eyes. ‘I was never aware of such a depth of rivalries between the cultists and the church. Granted I have spent many of my years in active service.’
‘We try not to make it all that public, but it is no secret that the church disdains those who propagate false histories – cultists especially.’
‘I had no idea . . .’
‘The threat of schisms exists. We currently have one developing on the more southerly islands, a sect led by a priest called Ulryk is promising to be quite the danger . . .’ The old priest paused and composed himself – has he said more than he should have done? ‘But let us now consider dangers closer to home: the nocturnal habits of the albino commander.’
‘Indeed, sir,’ Nelum agreed. ‘So, what do you suggest?’
The priest stared into deep space for a long moment before he began to quote. ‘“So Bohr let them go ahead to do whatever shameful things they desired. As a result, they did vile things with each other’s bodies. So they worshipped the things Bohr made but not Bohr himself, and Bohr left them to their shameful desires. Men committed shameful abominations with other men and suffered within themselves the penalty they fully deserved. Bohr abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should not be done. Their lives became full of many kinds of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behaviour, and gossip. They are haters of Bohr, insolent, proud, and boastful.” ’
The scripture was vaguely familiar to Nelum.
Priest Pias continued. ‘In our texts it is stated clearly that such acts are intrinsically wrong and against nature. The punishment according to the law of the Empire and to our own scriptures is execution of the guilty. Given his public position the exposure of your commander could bring shame and humiliation on your regiment, and on the army in general. Indeed, the whole structure of governance might be affected.’
‘Surely you’d be able to