Chapter XXIV

“Kezib, my love, I’m scared.”

“There’s nothing to be scared of, Cilicia. Not anymore,” said Kezib.

Cilicia rolled over on her side and curled up to Kezib in their bed. “I know that the people of Kolob are your people, and that the True Way was the faith your father and mother followed, but I can’t help but feel fearful under their watching eyes.”

“They’ve put an end to the slave trade.” Kezib kissed Cilicia’s cheek. “Love, there’s nothing to fear anymore.”

Cilicia ran her fingers along the scars on her cheek, the same place where Kezib had kissed her. “Can you be certain that everyone they punished in the last few days was really involved in the slave trade? I find it hard to believe that every citizen in this city was involved. Most were probably just far too scared to do anything about it.”

“If they were too afraid to help those in need then they are just as guilty,” said Kezib. “As my people always say, fear is a sin.”

“Then…can you forgive me?”

“For what?”

“For being afraid.”

Kezib kissed her again. “There is nothing to forgive. You’ve not sinned against me.”

“But…if I am afraid and fear is a sin then who have I sinned against?”

“Against God.”

“But God is dead,” said Cilicia. “You told me that. The God who created Erets died a long time ago, with a heart full of sorrows because of the sins of the world. If he’s dead then nothing can hurt him anymore, and therefore I cannot sin against him.”

Kezib sighed. “Cilicia, I’m not in the mood for a religious debate.”

Cilicia sat up in their bed and looked away. “You’re never in the mood to talk about it, love. Don’t you ever wonder about these things? Worry if you really have picked the right path? Chosen the right faith to follow?”

“The True Way is just that; the true way.”

“And to doubt is sinful, so you’ve told me. Is there no room at all to consider another path?”

“Why do you ask?”

“The Divi Filius spoke to me again last night,” said Cilicia. “I heard his voice in my dreams. A voice so strong, so soothing that I felt like I was home again, like when I was a girl. He said that my brother is coming to rescue me.”

“To rescue you?” Kezib asked. “We’ve already been rescued. Cilicia…why would you want to go back to the home you knew as a girl? Your father sold you into slavery!” Kezib took her hands in his. “This is your home now. Our home. Be here, with me! I want to fulfill your needs. I want to comfort you and make you feel safe.” Kezib reached up and brushed his fingertips along Cilicia’s rough cheek. “Will you let me?”

Cilicia held Kezib’s hand as he caressed her face. She kissed each of his fingertips one at a time, the touch of his calloused hands on her lips a reminder of all the hardship this man had endured to keep the two of them alive and together. “I will. I’m sorry I doubted you.”

For a fleeting moment they were the only two people in the world, these two young lovers who had given each other all of themselves. All of their trust, all of their affection, and all of their secrets. The only truth in all the world that they knew was their passion for one another, expressed so perfectly in each tender kiss.

And then the moment was gone, shattered by three knocks upon the bedroom door.

“Yes?” Kezib called out.

“The Grand Inquisitor wishes to see you.”

Kezib sighed, “I'll be right there.” When he heard the man at the door walk away he turned his attention back to Cilicia. “I’m sorry, dear. I have to go.” He kissed her on the lips and stood from their bed.

As Kezib dressed, Cilicia pulled her knees in close to her chest. “Good luck.”

“I love you,” said Kezib, with his hand resting on the door’s handle.

“I love you too.”

The crowds parted as Kezib walked through the streets of Nox. With his blood cassock and his reputation all knew to fear and respect him. Even the other witch-hunters stopped whatever they were doing and got out of his way as he passed.

Yashen stood on the battlements overlooking the city’s gate. Two witch-hunters stood beside her, and she held a rolled piece of parchment in her hand.

Kezib climbed the stairs and said to her, “You wanted to see me, Grand Inquisitor?”

Yashen held out the rolled paper to Kezib. “We received that this morning.”

“I cannot read,” said Kezib.

“Oh. Terribly sorry,” said Yashen. “It’s a message from Lord Kenaz, the nobleman who rules over this region. The Arxians appointed him to put an end to the slave trade. Funny. We’ve interrogated many of the Vice Queen’s minions and have learned that he’s part of the slave trade. In exchange for a cut of the profits he re-directs patrols away from slave shipments, and has taken great steps to make sure slave owners are not caught.”

“So, what does the message say?”

“He’s demanding that we surrender,” said Yashen. “He says that our attempts to resurrect the Inquisition make us enemies of Arx, and he has every justification he needs to slay us all.”

Kezib kicked a small stone on the battlements in frustration. “Now he takes an interest in what happens in Nox? How convenient.”

“Not convenient for us,” said Yashen. “We have to ready ourselves for a siege. I’ve already given the order to lock the city down, no one gets in or out. I already have Gili working on some defensive strategies, but I need someone to lead the witch-hunters. That someone is you.”

Kezib smiled and shuffled his feet. “I’m flattered, but I’m not much of a leader. I always fought alone in the arena, often against many opponents at a time.”

“At the very least that makes you a symbol,” said Yashen. “I’ve seen you fight. In every battle you look invincible. You’ll need to be at the vanguard in order to give our people hope.”

“Always in harm’s way. Some things never change,” said Kezib. “Fine. I will lead the witch hunters.”

“Good,” said Yashen. “Now, if you’re going to lead the witch hunters there are a few things you must do. See, the people need to see you as a great warrior, but they also need to know that their leader is…morally pure.”

Kezib raised an eyebrow. “Meaning?”

“First, you must cut your hair. It’s a source of vanity, and a man so handsome in form as you are does not need more reasons to be vain.” Yashen scratched her head. “Then…there is the matter of your lover, Cilicia.”

“What about her?” Kezib said, his hands clenched into fists. “Don’t you dare! It’s none of your business that she’s not a believer!” he thought. In spite of his devotion to their faith, he suddenly found himself ready to attack Yashen if she said the slightest negative word about his love.

“You share a bed with her now. It’s no secret that the two of you...copulate regularly. That must come to an end. You must either marry her immediately or you must find a bed of your own.”

“Cilicia and I do make love, yes,” said Kezib, “But that’s not the only reason we share a bed. With all of the abuse she’s suffered she has constant nightmares, and trouble sleeping. When I’m there she feels safer. Can we not simply stop making love for the time being?”

Yashen shook her head. “People need to see that you are morally pure. If she cannot spend even a single night away from you then we will perform the wedding immediately.”

“Fine. I will let her know. We’ve been ready to be married for years now. The only reason we’ve not been wed is because we’ve not had a cleric to perform the ceremony.” Kezib did his best not to roll his eyes at Yashen when he agreed to her terms. They had a nobleman threatening them with war and her concern was whether or not Cilicia was technically Kezib’s wife? Whether or not they had undergone a ceremony in front of witnesses?

“Once the wedding is over,” Kezib began. “I assume you’ll need me to prepare for the siege?”

“We’ll all prepare for the siege,” said Yashen. “But yes, I’ll need you to talk to our soldiers. Gain a rapport with them. Only doubt and fear can defeat us now. You must be the reason that their hearts are full of hope and courage.”

“I’ll try, Grand Inquisitor,” Kezib said. “Beyond ‘get married and be inspirational,’ do we have a plan?”

“As I said, Gili is in the process of putting together most of our strategy, but I do have one idea that could help us,” said Yashen. “You know that before Sandalphon made me the Grand Inquisitor I was known as The Dream Merchant, right?”