Twenty minutes later Kreet’s neck began to ache. She’d been staring up at the various things the Bishop pointed out. They were all impressive, but Kreet soon found there was only so much she could take. Fortunately, just as she began to think about mentioning it, the monks began to file in and the Bishop bade them to sit beside her chair on a couple of kobold-sized chairs that had been brought in.

“I’m sorry, Bishop Wynda, but I’m afraid I will have forgotten the protocol of the liturgy, and my husband… well, he’s not of the faith. Yet.”

“Oh, it’s fine Kreet. You just stay there. Later I’ll introduce you to the congregation, but you can just stand at that point. But now I have to go get ready. You two just stay here. The monks will begin chanting shortly and then the service will begin.”

Kreet took Kallid’s hand as the Bishop retreated from the Apse. Kallid was obviously nervous here. Of course Kreet had never been in such a church either, but she did trust the BIshop and it was hard for her to feel fear in a place so obviously filled with the Lord of Light’s spirit.

“It’ll be alright,” she whispered to Kallid. “I promise.”

She felt the answering squeeze, and then a lone monk began to sing. She didn’t recognize the words at first, but then she realized it was actually in the Common tongue, just so stylized that it was hard to understand. But the melody was beautiful, especially when the other monks began to join in.

Then the doors were opened to the Narthex and she saw the Clerics enter first, followed by the laypeople. The Clerics took seats on the opposite side of the Apse while some young monks began to light candles. It was all quite impressive. But soon the monks stopped singing and everyone stood up. Kreet and Kallid did so as well, and then the monks began singing a new song, an entrance hymn and the Bishop re-entered, flanked by the Acolytes that had lit the candles earlier. The Bishop stepped to the raised pulpit and made a brief introduction of Kreet, pointing out that the Lord of Light’s followers were of all types and it was the duty of all his followers to acknowledge the inherent worth of them all.

Next the service began in earnest. Some parts of it she recalled from her days in the monastery, but other parts she just watched. Finally the Bishop gave a much more detailed, impassioned speech in which she again acknowledged Kreet and Kallid. When she finished, the lay-people applauded the kobolds and they bowed to the audience - embarrassed but somewhat proud.

Later the service was ended and the BIshop and her acolytes left the Apse, and the monks filed out. Some of the people came up and greeted Kreet and Kallid, and that was the highlight of the service for Kreet. She knew she was a curiosity at best, but when the people found that she could speak - and speak well, they soon got over their racial bias.

Finally the Bishop re-emerged, now dressed in civilian clothes. Kreet barely recognized her at first.

“Well, I can’t go around in those ridiculous robes all day!” Bishop Wynda protested. “Now come. I know you want to visit the archives, but I really want you to climb the tower with me. Are you up for it?”

“Sure! I might be a bit heavier than I normally am, but I can manage, I’m sure.”

In fact, she did get somewhat winded as they climbed the circling stairs near the top, but the other two stopped for her to let her catch her breath for a few minutes, then they emerged at the top of the tower and looked out over the city.”

They were high above the trees here, and the wall surrounding the city was clearly visible in the distance, outlining it. To the south, it appeared the wall no longer contained the city as more buildings could be seen beyond it. Then the clouds overhead parted and a beam of light shot through to illuminate a swath of the city below, drifting slowly across the city like a searchlight.

“Oh that’s gorgeous !” Kreet cried, and hugged Kallid closer to herself.

“It really is. I come up here sometimes by myself, just to admire the view. And the breeze is cooling in the heat of day too. I’m glad I could share it with you. But there’s another reason I brought you here, Kreet.”

Kreet turned back to the Bishop, suddenly keenly aware of the tremendous height behind her.

“Bishop?” Kreet responded.

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s nothing bad. We are united under Pelor here. There are intrigues I have to deal with in my position. Sometimes I feel tainted by them. I still try to do the will of Pelor, but… it’s not always easy to see which way is right. I envy you, Kreet. Your path is clear.”

“It doesn’t seem like it’s clear at all.”

“It is though. I’ve prayed to Him about you. You are doing very well in your life’s task, Kreet. Better than I am, I expect. But not all tasks involve wielding magic or fighting evil directly that would lead to an autonomous level increase. Sometimes the darkness we fight doesn’t take the form of a monster or a sorcerer. Sometimes it’s a more insidious darkness. We don’t get much credit for that, Kreet. But we should.”

Kreet looked at Bishop Wynda. She didn’t understand at all what the BIshop was getting at.

“I know, you still don’t understand fully. And you will face more hardship. Though I don’t know the form, I know it will be heartrending for you. I will not be there. You will be alone in the darkness. But I want you to remember this. You are not alone. Pelor is always with you and he IS the Lord of Light. In the darkness, light is hope. Have hope, little kobold. Don’t despair. As long as you have life, there is hope. And hope is not always misplaced.”

Kreet looked at Kallid, who only looked back at her, squeezing her hand again with a worried look on his face.

“Sorry Kreet. I only know what the Lord has revealed to me. But he has given me another power. The power to raise you to the rank of 4th level Cleric. Think well on the new abilities he offers you, and choose those which you think will best guide you on your path. Please bow now, Kreet of Pelor and allow me to bestow this blessing on you.”

Kreet did so, and felt the touch of the Bishop’s hand on her head as the power of Pelor flowed into her again. She felt the beam of sunlight on her at the same time and knew she had been raised again. Twice before she had felt this power. Now it surged through her, and as before she could see the choices before her. But she didn’t have to make her choice right now. It was enough that she could see them. She opened her eyes.

“I will choose later, Bishop. I need to think about them. Thank you, though your words worry me.”

“I know, Kreet. I wouldn’t utter them, but that I think they may do you some good someday. But come now. The archives await and I understand the archivist has found something that may lighten your mood!”

****

They descended the stairs of the tower, but when they got to the ground floor the Bishop opened a hidden door at the base of the stairs.

“Everyone knows about the archives, but few people have ever seen them. We prefer to keep it that way. Come, I’m afraid there are more stairs to climb down.”

The lower stairway circled down much as the tower stairs had, but eventually they came to the bottom and stepped into a lighted space, And there behind a low desk sat an elderly gnome. It took Kreet a minute to realize what she was seeing. She’d gotten so used to humans around the city, she’d almost forgotten that there were other races in the city at all.

“Kreet, Kallid, I’d like to introduce you to our Archivist. This is Mr. Feltix.”

“Ah! The kobolds! I’ve been expecting you! Oh yes. Oh, it’s so exciting to have something new to research, yes! Kobolds. Don’t get a lot of calls to go digging through the kobold books, you know.”

“Well now,” the BIshop said as they walked into the room. “I’m sure you’ll learn a lot from Mr. Feltix. You have the run of the archives for as long as you’d like, Kreet. But I have things I have to attend to. Good luck on your research! I’m sure Mr. Feltix will take good care of you. Also, don’t forget to eat. There’s a small restaurant just down the road opposite the palace. Free for all clerics and monks of Pelor. Mr. Feltix won’t eat while he’s researching, but you must. You saw the secret door. It’ll be open for you.”

“Thanks, Bishop. For everything!” Kreet said as the Bishop nodded and went back out to the stairwell.

But Mr. Felitx was wasting no time as he began to examine Kallid.

“Ah, you must forgive me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a live kobold!” he said as he began to grope Kallid, who stood not quite sure what to do.

“Hey, stop that Mr. Feltix! I heard you found something for me?”

The gnome hopped over to Kreet. He stood about the same height as Kallid. “Ah yes! I have indeed! Oh, look at those!” he said, prodding her breasts.

“HEY!” She complained, simultaneously with Kallid.

“Ah,” said Mr. Feltix, turning back to his table. “You’ve been out of the caves for a long time haven’t you Missy? And pregnant too. I don’t suppose I could see…”

“NO! You can’t!” Kallid said, saying what Kreet was thinking.

“Well, sorry. I’m a researcher you know. No time for niceties. A pity. I’m quite a good artist you know. Written quite a few books of my own over the years down here too. I could add whole chapters to our books on kobolds if I could just get a peek. No?”

“No!” Kreet affirmed.

“Pity. A real shame,” said the little gnome, who then hopped back up on his stool. In front of him lay a multitude of books, but also a very large scroll.

“But you came for knowledge, not to give it I suppose. It’s not fair. Really it’s not. Take and take and no give. Is that a kobold trait? No, humans aren’t any better. They come down here of all sorts of ages and sizes and kinds, but do they let me examine them? Do they pose for me so that I can add to our archives here? No! They do not! And then poof! Seventy years and they’re gone. All the knowledge I could have added gone with them. And what did their modesty accomplish, hmm? The worms get to see them - inside and out! Oh yes, but to help their posterity? Oh no. Mustn’t let anyone see! Mustn’t let anyone KNOW . Only the worms…”

Kallid stepped up to the desk as Kreet followed. “How old ARE you Mr. Feltix?”

The archivist looked up from the book in front of him. “Me? I am three hundred and twenty seven years old, friend kobold. Three hundred and twenty seven. My birthday is next week! Would you like to come to my birthday party, friend kobold?”

“Three HUNDRED?”

“...and twenty seven. Yes. Three hundred twenty eight next week. Miss Tribi is only a hundred and ten. Practically a child. Of course you are babes in a crib. But you learn fast. Good thing too, what with death practically a moment away.”

“Miss Tribi?”

“Apprentice,” said the archivist. “She’s back in the crypts now, looking for another book on kobolds in fact. Should be back there. You’ll meet her later. But here, let me show you what I’ve found. Here, take this end of the scroll, male kobold.”

“Kallid,” he said, but helped the old gnome as he took the large scroll off the desk and began to lay it out on the floor.

“You want me to remember your name, give me something to remember it by! Now you are male kobold #1. Now look here, female kobold…”

Kreet looked closely where the gnome was pointing, and soon she realized that what she was looking at was a map. A huge map! The entire Royal City was just a dot that the archivist was pointing at.

“Ah, this is the Royal City here, see? Now it took some time, but we finally found your monastery. It took quite some effort. Good thing you remembered the Abbot’s names. That was the key, you know. We found the key in the archive of abbots. Your monastery is far off in the Dunis district. Waaaaaaay over…. Male kobold, if you would be so kind as to continue to open the scroll that way? Ah yes. Good…. So your monastery is waaaaaaay over… here.”

At that the gnome pointed a gnarled finger at a spot far away on the map. She peered at the little dot and then looked back across the scroll to where they’d started. It looked like an awfully long distance.

“Um… how far is that? From here?”

“Oh! Oh… um. Well, let me think…” the archivist began. “I’m great with research, you know. Not so good with math.”