All the temples dedicated to the Blessed One and his Companions look very much alike in their size, shape, and structure. Minus a few exceptions, all temples are small, square buildings made of white stone that depict scenes from the Great Book of Divine Knowledge. Inside, when one walks in, the temples have a main prayer room and donations basket. In the back the priests and servants reside. All temples have at least three priests, male or female, plus servants and apprentices, most of whom stay for about four years before going off on their own.
For safety's sake all temples are placed in relatively quiet areas to protect the buildings and make them easier and cheaper to maintain. This temple was quite typical in its looks and placement. It stood at the edge of the moors under the shade of trees. A small dirt road led past the temple, toward the harbors. The scene on the front showed the One's son hurting himself for his land; the way it was done made it seem almost magical. No matter how much the people tried, bloodshed popped up everywhere. According to greatest philosophers there was no way around it.
I walked down the dirt road heading South to the harbors. I could just see the temple from where I stood and it looked welcoming in the cold of a late February afternoon. I was cold, despite being dressed for walking the harsh weather. I wore a heavy robe over long pants and warm shirt. The robe was for warmth and to identify me as part of the Blessed Brotherhood. Ironic name since most of the Brotherhood was made up of girls and women. I carried a bag on my back and walking stick in my right hand. The stick was marked to tell what rank I carried.
Behind me I could feel the life of another, a male. He had been following for the last two days but wasn't apparently dangerous. So far he had plenty of chances to end my life and take my food and yet he never had. Since it was not my business what others did, I stayed alert and let things be. Infinity taught the way of patience and kindness, of letting things run their course.
Taking a deep breath I walked over to the temple and rang the bell that would call the local priest. He arrived in moments and nearly fell over with fear. Most priests didn't like inspections from the Brotherhood, but this was almost cute. He recovered quickly to my relief. I didn't feel like standing out here for any longer, and the wind was picking up.
"Welcome to the moors, Sister. Please come in," he said and promptly hurried inside.
I followed more slowly. I was only nineteen, but training had taught me to walk slowly and with pride. The Brotherhood trained people to become the messengers of the One's companions, and the training to get there was harsh, but educational.
"Thank you Brother, and you shouldn't worry; I'm merely passing by on my way to the harbors," I explained with a smile.
There were standard greetings for these kinds of meetings, but the man didn't look like he needed one right now. He looked afraid of me as it was.
"That is well and good. Tell me how is it in the city while the cook brings us some warm stew." At this he turned to a plump, happy woman and gave orders.
"Make it three bowls since my stalker would also like some," I said as I watched a man with lavender hair and eyes walk in; I could recognize his life force with ease by now.
The priest changed the directions, and the lady disappeared down a long
passageway. She reminded me of a matronly grandmother, someone who would give you chocolate cookies while speaking about baking.
I sighed and spoke, "Nothing much has changed in the last months, Brother. The temple still stands, and all is well with His Majesty. There was a minor uprising in the Upper Reaches, but it is over now, and peace has returned. I'm sorry to say the Speaker for the Blessed One has passed away, and the selections for the new one are coming up at summer's end. That's about all."
The priest nodded, thinking. The stranger, meanwhile, took a seat by the door and remained there. I looked at him in curiosity. He was just a few years older than I was, and other than strange eyes and hair he looked relatively normal. He had a large sword with him, and I guessed that he knew how to wield it. A smile spread across my lips, but I didn't say anything to him. It had taken him two days to become comfortable enough to sit this close and not run away. I was fully planning to give him his time for whatever it was worth. People are like wild animals sometimes. They may not be afraid, but they remain cautious until you prove to be trustworthy.
The lady came back with three bowls and spoons. My strange new companion sat down behind and to the left of me in a familiar position; I couldn't place it however. He sat far enough from me that he could reach me with a sword while I couldn't touch him. I guess he didn't know that my magic would be deadlier than his sword. The cook handed out bowls, and the priest and I said a small prayer. My companion waited until we were done before eating. "Clueless but with manners" was my overall assessment of him.
The food tasted wonderful especially since it was so warm and comforting after the cold dusk outside. After dinner I thanked the priest went outside. As nice as it would have been to stay in the temple I still had a long road ahead and wanted to get some more walking done before going to bed.
Outside it was dark and the road was barely visible in the temple light, and yet it was still three hours before bedtime. Terra rotates around its axis every thirty hours and ten of them are spent in darkness. Yet most people only need about six to seven hours of sleep in order to function properly.
I started walking while tugging the wool robe around me. My companion walked by my side, and I had to smile though he couldn't see it. I was thankful to the darkness for it hid my blushing.
"So, what's your name?" I asked
The man smiled and shook his head. I felt both and saw neither. For a moment I thought he might be mute or something. It was far too dark to see. Finally though he spoke which gave me another hint that he was not from around here and that he was not mute.
"Tobias and yours?"
"Well Tobias it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I'm Merry, which is short for Meredith. I'm going to stop around the next bend and look for a place to spend the night."
"Thanks for the warning. Mind if I join you? It's too cold to sleep on the ground," he said and I nodded; then I hit myself, cursing at my stupidity.
"Yeah, sure."
With that I headed off the road and began feeling around for a hollow. Hollows went on the side of the road nearly all the way to the harbors and that suited me fine. Upon finding a safe place to sleep I took a blanket out of my pack, spread it on the ground and lay down on it. I covered myself with my robe since it was the warmest thing I had. Tobias lay down next to me and curled up around his sword.
"Where are you from?" I wondered out loud.
"Sierra Nova."
One small response, so I figured he wasn't much for conversation. Sierra Nova was a province at the edge of Alexandria. Alexandria is my home and the biggest country on the northern continent. Little provinces border it on nearly all sides, but we have access to a number of harbors.
"You're far from home then," I said and felt a little sorry that anyone had to leave his home that far behind.
I walked around my home year after year, but it was home. I could always hitch a ride back to the capital. Hitching a ride to Sierra Nova was similar to trying for a ride to the moon.
"I wasn't welcome there because of what I look like."
He said that as if it explained everything, and in a way it did. In Alexandria, as well as other countries, people who look like Tobias are treated poorly because it is believed that their color marks them as god's chosen, for better or for worse.
"I can see why. What I don't see is why you're following me. I have nothing and if you want the leftover beef you can just ask."
He laughed at that. "I saw you back in the other town, about four days ago, and you looked like a person worth following. I've got nothing better to do, and at least this way I can put my skills to good use."
I just had to ask. "Skills?"
"I am-was a personal guard," he said and it all suddenly made sense.
The strange place he chose to walk was a guard's stance. I fought a temptation to hit myself on the head a few times.
"Guards and indentured servants aren't treated particularly well here. You might want to choose a new occupation," I pointed out, stating the obvious.
Slaves and guards were considered lower than average citizens. In part it had to do with the fact that both could be overcome by enlisting in the Blessed One's service or saving up money.
"Yeah, I know, and I am willing to be your servant or anyone else's if I don't have to go back to hell." There was conviction in his voice and I believed him.
"I'll think about it tomorrow. Good night." With that I fell asleep and dreamed.
My dreams are usually either scary or visions, and I usually opt for scary. I dreamed that night of myself running down a path with a monster chasing me. When I couldn't run anymore Tobias appeared and pulled out a sword, standing in front of me. With that I woke up and looked around.
It was nearly dawn and its first lights could be seen on the horizon. I smiled at the sounds of birds and took a good look at the moors. Most people assume that the moors are dead, but they aren't really; they are bursting with life that waits for just the right moment to bloom and live.
Slowly I stood up and stretched. Before my body had ached each morning, but it did not do that now. I folded up my blanket and shoved it back into my pack, after pulling out some cheese and beef strips. After finding out I was being followed I took the time to get extra food to accommodate two people.
Tobias woke up and turned to face me. "So what'll it be?"
I handed him half the meat and most of the cheese. "I'd be honored if you accompanied me as long as you promise to obey. I won't tell you to jump off buildings though."
He laughed at that and nodded. He began to eat, and I joined him having no problem with eating without prayer. He noticed that and raised his eyebrow.
"Okay. This is complicated." The sun was almost ready to step over the horizon and I looked in that direction. "Alexandria's religion is one based on belief rather than strict rituals and prayers.
"There are only two real things that must be done and only once. You must read the Great Book and meditate on it for at least twenty-four hours. That's all. Otherwise do as you wish. Saying a prayer is my way of verifying my faith, but it has nothing to do with it being law. If I could sing than my service to the Blessed One might include singing a song to each temple.
"Actually the religion of the Blessed One and his Companions is more complex than that, but most people try and simplify it, rather than go into gory details about why we do the things we do."
He nodded and looked at a flower below his left foot. "Tell me, please."
"Sure. The belief goes that the Blessed One made the entire world in about a week. His Companions came to the world and did services to the world in order to bless it. Then He chose to give His creations a life of their own.
"He and the Companions live in a different plane of existence and the only way to reach it is by believing in Him or any of His minions. So there is no need for rituals or anything of that sort. It's only pure belief that makes a difference. For example I'm a priestess of Infinity, and at the beginning he created mortality and the cycle of life," I explained the lessons taught to me years ago when I was still a child.
"It's much simpler here than Sierra. There they have a sort of hierarchy of Gods and Goddesses that each child must learn by their fifth birthday. People have to pray to all these deities at one time or another and perform rituals to keep them happy," he said.
He looked deep in thought as he said it, like he had been thinking about this for a long time. I knew a little about the religions of the provinces, but I couldn't name Gods or anything. As far as I knew Sierra Nova had a pantheon of Gods and Goddesses who either married or fought each other.
I nodded and stood up; he followed me. With one last look around I climbed onto the road and started walking. Tobias caught up to me quickly.
"Where are we headed Mistress Merry?" he asked and it made me turn.
"One: please never call me that. Merry alone will do. Two: we are headed for the harbors to solve a dispute, and because I need to talk with one of the practitioners there," I said and regretted being so sharp about it. "Sorry. I'm always like this in the morning."
"It's okay." He walked be my side for the rest of the day, which was uneventful.
Jeremiah BrightWaters Community Member 
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