Chapter 37

  Snow had come for answers, and when he saw that a group of villagers were demanding the same, he decided to join them as they gathered before the town hall. From what he overheard, Elissa Tin was already inside discussing matters with other local leaders – except Sage. The fact that the high priestess was not invited spoke volumes. The temple’s importance was clearly visible on the faces of these people, but officially the village was trying to distance itself and play down its role.

  When Elissa emerged and spoke of rededicating the temple to the nameless high god, Snow knew the saviors were on a new course. It would start with religion but not end until the saviors were the new rulers in all but name. He had heard of such situations in far-flung lands, but never thought the saviors would have enough power and arms to start it here.

  Someone else had to be supporting them. They had to have a patron who was sponsoring this quiet takeover and Snow’s thought immediately turned to Korinth and Lord Atrion. The ancient city was half the size of Erbin but still commanded a lot of power. Built like a fortress with high walls and a castle overlooking a wide horizon, Lord Atrion was one step shy from calling himself king. It was only the ancient treaties that kept any high lord from trying to build himself a throne, but perhaps the old man was ready to throw them to the fire now.

  It had been ages since Emral had a high king. When half the continent died trying to secure that throne, the few remaining lords finally realized the cost. Within the span of two years, a delicate peace was made by the surviving houses – each swearing to be content with their holdings and never seek the high throne again. The agreement included an alliance, recognized border lines, and trade deals so that each lord could start to rebuild their lands and bring about a measure of prosperity. Laws were fashioned at annual meetings and armed forces were only kept for policing and general defense. No lord was to amass an army capable of war or risk the entire alliance turning against them. But, of course, the saviors had never signed those treaties and laws.

  Now, it would seem, Lord Atrion has figured out how to have his army without breaking the treaty. Instead of ‘king’ the man might call himself ‘high priest’ and rule through temples and churches, having sway over the masses and coercing other lords to bend to his will or face civil uprisings by local adherents.

  It was genius. It was evil. And Snow knew he was not immune to its impact.

  His trade was already a dubious matter, sold through whispers and happening behind closed doors. But if saviors were running things, he would soon find armed men searching for him the minute the whispers began to circulate. There would be no more resurrection for sale and he might find himself hunted if he dared step out of doors.

  As the group of villagers started to unhappily disperse, he turned to see a man sitting on horseback and quickly realized that Sage’s prediction had come. There he was – just sitting there as he too were lost in thought after listening to the exchange. And if it weren’t for the fact that he was still wearing the clothes Snow had bought, the magician would have lumped him in with the troop that burned the temple.

  Still… Snow was not sure if he was happy to see him here of all places.

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  When Titus’s eyes found his, the man’s brow shot up and his mouth fell open before he uttered Snow’s name in surprise.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  Titus’s mouth fell open again as if to reply, but instead he immediately dismounted and stepped as close to Snow as the magician would tolerate.

  “I know-” Titus didn’t get a chance to finished before Snow raised an accusatory finger.

  “You betrayed us.”

  “No!” the word shot out of Titus a little too loud. He looked about to see if it attracted any unwanted attention before continuing. “No. I mean… I didn’t intend to, but… you were right. I found it hard to raise a sword to them. I'm sorry. I said I would defend you and I didn’t. Instead, I tried to mislead them. I tried convincing them you weren’t a threat. That’s why Axl tried sitting down with you in Bellane.”

  Titus risked taking a step closer as he continued at a whisper, “But something is going on. Something is happening inside the saviors – some kind of plot.”

  Snow could easily believe that, and he wanted to believe the rest of it. That older savior did try to sit down and use words rather than swords. That was a first. Perhaps it was Titus’s influence.

  “And why are you here now?”

  Titus shrugged. “After I lost them, I wanted to find you again. I guess I got lucky.” Finally, that smile emerged again. A gentle tug at the one corner of his lips that gave his face a warm, almost rakish look. But Snow stared it down cold. He didn’t want to be taken in by it again.

  “And they aren’t waiting around the corner to ambush me? You’re not already plotting with the troop that destroyed the temple?”

  Titus sighed and his shoulders slumped. The smile evaporated.

  “I know you don’t have any reason to believe me, but I’m telling the truth.”

  Snow continued to stare into him for a long moment before saying, “And why do you want to find me? Just to tell me about this savior plot? To warn me?”

  “That,” Titus nodded, “And I’d rather be working with you than working with them.”

  “Why? And don’t tell me it’s the perks,” Snow replied.

  Again, Titus looked about the road to make sure their conversation wasn’t collecting an audience. His eyes landed briefly on the tavern’s dark windows and wondered if there were any eyes watching them from inside.

  “I learned more from you in a few days than I ever learned from them. And you look like you could use the company.”

  Snow scoffed. His eyes turned away and fell on the tavern as well. He too wondered if they were being watched out in the open like this, but at least the two of them looked no different than half the people moving about the village on this bright day.

  Snow eventually sighed and nodded to the tavern. “I need some breakfast. How about you?”

  That smile immediately returned and something inside Snow squeezed at the sight of it. Relief was in his eyes and Snow watched as Titus stood a little taller in relief. All of it looked so genuine.

  “I thought you’d never ask.”