Song of the Saurials - Kate Novak [33]
Zhara leaned forward and watched curiously as the paladin's hands motioned over the table.
Once there was a paladin who served the god of justice, the saurial explained.
The paladin loved a priestess who served Lady Luck. The paladin was proud of himself and his service to his god. He felt there was no cause more noble than justice. He felt everyone should feel as he felt. Lady Luck was not always just, however; sometimes she was fickle. Occasionally she bestowed her favor on those who did not deserve it, and withheld her favor from those who did. The paladin demanded that his priestess lover serve his god instead of Lady Luck. The two argued about it, and the paladin insulted Lady Luck and the priestess, but the priestess would not leave her goddess.
Because the paladin loved the priestess very much, he knew that if he remained near her, he would soon grow to accept her decision and remain her lover despite her refusal to do as he wished. He thought that if this happened, he would be tainted by the priestess's love for her goddess. In his anger and pride, the paladin was determined that these things should not happen, so he left his tribe to serve his god's cause in the dark and evil region of Tarterus.
There the paladin was captured by a fiend who intended to sacrifice the paladin for a very evil purpose. As the paladin hung from chains in a dank dungeon, very close to death, he had a vision, or perhaps it was just a dream, in which Lady Luck appeared before him. The goddess said that she did not care if she ever saw him again, but the god of justice had asked for her help in sparing the paladin's life. If the paladin would agree to perform a service for Lady Luck, she would free him from the evil creatures who intended to kill him.
The paladin wished to live, of course, and since his god had intervened on his behalf, it would be arrogant to turn down the goddess's offer. The paladin had learned that even the cause of justice cannot always win against evil without Lady Luck's blessing. He agreed to perform the service, and Lady Luck sent a human to free the paladin and tell him what service he must per form. So the paladin lives yet to serve the god of justice, but he pays homage, too, to Lady Luck or to any other god or goddess who can further the cause of justice.
Dragonbait leaned forward in his chair. Zhara thought he was finished and was about to speak when the saurial began motioning once again with his hands. The paladin, Dragonbait signed, learned that the god of justice is also served by other worldly beings-merchant-mages, halfling thieves, arrogant bards-and even by the creations of worldly beings- commerce and government, history and tales, music and song. Thus the paladin learned to respect worldly things. Is it not possible that the goddess you serve is served by such things as well?
Zhara huffed. "Even if Alias's music serves the gods, it does not make it right for her to belittle them," the priestess insisted.
Dragonbait nodded in agreement. She has reason, though, he signed.
"What reason?" Zhara snapped.
Her taunts help her fight her fear of the gods, the paladin explained.
"If she were virtuous, she would have no reason to fear the gods," Zhara declared.
If you had ever lain helpless in the Darkbringer's power, as she has, you would know better, the paladin replied.
Zhara lowered her eyes, chastened.
After pausing several moments, Dragonbait chucked her gently under her chin.
You've had a long journey, he signed. You should rest now.
"Before I rest, I want you to tell me one thing," Zhara said. "Will the paladin in your tale ever return to the priestess he loved?"
When he has finished his service to Lady Luck, Dragonbait signed.
"When will that be?" Zhara asked.
When the Darkbringer is destroyed for all time, Dragonbait signed, and the paladin's sister need never fear becoming helpless again. Rest now. We will talk again. The saurial rose to his feet.
Zhara smiled up at the lizard. "Do