The Heavenly Host

“I have no idea. I did not ask. I am running at near capacity. I have been running back and forth between Oorstemoth and High Chamberlain Mericas in Justicia. I have finally gotten him to send church lawyers to work directly with these crazy people. Then, trying to provide hope and guidance to those who have been shaken, not to mention worrying myself as to why no Host has appeared to interrogate us as to this rather huge screw-up...” Iskerus was definitely looking frayed.

Iskerus looked at Barabus. “I need you to deal with the dagger and maybe work on some recommendations as to what to do with the priests who were possessed, along the lines of what you are doing for Rod members.”

Barabus nodded. “Not a problem.”

A knock came on the tent pole.

“Yes?” Barabus said, turning to the doorway.

“Sirs?” A Rod member stuck his head in. “I have the High Chaplain of Freehold here, along with another... gentleman.”

Iskerus sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. “Very well, show them in.”

The Rod member held the tent flap aside and in came the High Chaplain of Freehold, a man whose name Barabus could not recall. They had never met, but he had been told the man’s name in a briefing. Following the high chaplain was another man, a beggar — a very rank and gamy smelling beggar. Barabus backed up; the beggar appeared to be more a collection of festering wounds than a man.

The high chaplain bowed deeply to Iskerus and said, “Your Holiness.”

Iskerus nodded and gestured for him to arise.

“How may I help you, Uripes? Can I get a healer for your friend?” Iskerus asked.

The beggar seemed to take offense at this suggestion but before he could say anything, the high chaplain put a calming hand on the man’s forearm, which was luckily clothed in a very dirty robe.

“Actually, Your Holiness, I am afraid that is precisely the problem. This is Delapodos, our city’s beggar meister.” Iskerus nodded in greeting to the man. “It seems a high priestess of yours has been roaming the city healing beggars and depriving them of their livelihoods.”

“I would highly doubt that. The city is still under wards and I have not given permission to any of our people to enter it,” Iskerus said.

“Well, someone healed Rathbert up. Cured his blindness, got rid of his snotlung, all his boils and various other ailments, and claimed to do it in the name of Tiernon!” The beggar meister retorted angrily.

Barabus frowned. “Exactly how long did he lie there for this healer to do all of this? Could he not have escaped?”

Delapados looked at him suspiciously. “She just grabbed him while he stood there. It took but a few moments and he was all healed! He had no time to run; she was holding his hands mighty tight!”

“He was fully blind? Had snotlung, boils like your own?” Iskerus paused and Delapodos nodded. “And she cured all of this within moments from simply grasping his hands?”

“That’s what I said,” the beggar meister retorted, apparently angry that they did not seem to believe him.

Iskerus glanced at Barabus, who shrugged. “Well, I thank you both for reporting this! None of our people were authorized to be in the city; however, we shall certainly investigate.”

“What about reparations? He lost his livelihood! You need to order that priestess to put him back the way he was!” Delapodos demanded.

Iskerus grimaced. “I am afraid ‘putting him back’ is not something we can do. All of our priests and priestesses are sworn not to harm or cause disease. As far as other reparations: as I’ve said, we will investigate and get back to the high chaplain.”

“That’s not enough! She needs to make amends,” Delapodos demanded.

“We will work on that.” Iskerus was trying to get rid of the beggar. “High Chaplain, take down a description of the priestess from Master Delapodos and get it to me as soon as possible.”

The high chaplain nodded and began trying to drag the beggar meister from the tent. The man did not want to go and was most upset.

“Trust us, Master Delapodos, we shall get to the bottom of this and justice shall be done!” Barabus said as he closed the tent flap behind the high chaplain and the beggar meister.

They waited in silence for the two get out of hearing range. Given the loud complaints of the beggar meister, this was not hard to judge. Once they left, Barabus asked, “So do you have a high priestess who can heal that fast?”

Iskerus snorted. “Not likely. I could not heal someone with that man’s issues that fast. Disease is far more pernicious and harder to root out than simple flesh wounds.”

“So who is this woman?” Barabus asked.

Iskerus shrugged. “I have no idea who, or even what profession could heal that fast.”

“And would do so in the name of Tiernon,” Barabus added.

Iskerus sighed. “Only an avatar could heal that fast.”

“So you think there is an avatar of Tiernon in Freehold?” Barabus asked.

“Why would an avatar of Tiernon be in there?” Iskerus pointed to the warded city. “We are out here! Any avatar would come to speak with us first. Plus, no demons can get into that city; how would an avatar get in?”