Faces in the Darkness - Part 1
It had been the better part of a month and a half since Erik had been made an Acolyte. It was only a technicality, he had been made an Acolyte at the age of fifteen. Tradition dictated that one must carry the light before embracing it fully. The Abbott had understood the situation, Erik's absence for years, adjustments had been made. A week prior, in a small ceremony attended by only his daughter and a few close friends, Erik was ordained a Priest in the Order of the Fury. The ceremony was quiet, in the cold chapel, lit only by the light of candles and the Great Seal of Halone, a seal carved from a large Ice attuned aetheryte crystal. Once it was over, there was silence, except from Lenna, who let out an echoing cheer which startled the entire gathering. Erik winked toward the girl and returned his attention to the Abbott, bowing to the old man, and then turning and kneeling before the Seal.
The events of a week ago were truly happy, these events were not. Erik had returned to the Coerthas on news of the Abbott's sudden death. He had been an older man, but seemed healthy a week before, but that was a thought for another time.
The large and normally empty chapel was standing room only, "Half of all of the Coerthas must be here." he muttered to himself. As he took a place in the back, and the prayers began to echo through the great hall, Erik noticed one of the men near the alter, an Elezen, the Inquisitor who had visited the Abbott sometime before, seeking answers about "fugitive heretics" as he called them. His suspicion grew until the end of the funeral, when from across the massive hall, among the throngs of people present, the Inquisitor locked eyes with the Sultansworn, and smiled a wicked smile.
Erik thought it best to leave as he and the others of the funeral party began to flow out of the chapel. From the crowd around him came a voice that caught his attention, "You there! Young man!" called an old Wildwood. Erik turned toward him and saw him moving toward him. "You there, big lad. Excuse me for approaching like this, but you look so familiar. What is your name?" Erik regarded the old man for a moment before answering, "I am Eirikir Mynhier, Sultansworn of Ul'dah, and Captain of the Red Wings." The old man clapped his hands with joy, "Fury keep me! I knew it, you look so much like your father, and your mothers eyes and hair for sure. Halone shields me, having you here." Erik's eyes shot open as the man spoke of his parents, and became confused by the rest. "You knew my parents Ser?" The old man stopped and looked embarrassed, "Forgive my manners, I am Julian Rigaud, and yes, I was a close friend of Ulrich and Heather, mostly your mother though. She and I were both servants of the House Fortemps, even though by rights she was of nobility herself. Please Son of Ulrich, come with me. This old man is in need of aid."
Julian lead Erik to eastern ramparts of the city, overlooking the grand inn. "I once was in love with your mother you know. But Ulrich was the dashing sort, but I hold no ill will, I was old even then." laughed the old man. "I saw that Inquisitor looking at you, am I wrong in thinking you are involved in something they would not like?" Erik guarded his reply, "It takes little to bother men like him." Julian thought for a moment, seeming almost lost in his thought, "I cannot speak of it even here. The day is still abound. Would you meet with me here tonight, I will tell you everything then." Erik seemed confused, "Everything of what?" The old wildwood lower his voice so much that even Erik's sharp ears could barely hear the words, "The Faces of Mercy......"
It had been the better part of a month and a half since Erik had been made an Acolyte. It was only a technicality, he had been made an Acolyte at the age of fifteen. Tradition dictated that one must carry the light before embracing it fully. The Abbott had understood the situation, Erik's absence for years, adjustments had been made. A week prior, in a small ceremony attended by only his daughter and a few close friends, Erik was ordained a Priest in the Order of the Fury. The ceremony was quiet, in the cold chapel, lit only by the light of candles and the Great Seal of Halone, a seal carved from a large Ice attuned aetheryte crystal. Once it was over, there was silence, except from Lenna, who let out an echoing cheer which startled the entire gathering. Erik winked toward the girl and returned his attention to the Abbott, bowing to the old man, and then turning and kneeling before the Seal.
The events of a week ago were truly happy, these events were not. Erik had returned to the Coerthas on news of the Abbott's sudden death. He had been an older man, but seemed healthy a week before, but that was a thought for another time.
The large and normally empty chapel was standing room only, "Half of all of the Coerthas must be here." he muttered to himself. As he took a place in the back, and the prayers began to echo through the great hall, Erik noticed one of the men near the alter, an Elezen, the Inquisitor who had visited the Abbott sometime before, seeking answers about "fugitive heretics" as he called them. His suspicion grew until the end of the funeral, when from across the massive hall, among the throngs of people present, the Inquisitor locked eyes with the Sultansworn, and smiled a wicked smile.
Erik thought it best to leave as he and the others of the funeral party began to flow out of the chapel. From the crowd around him came a voice that caught his attention, "You there! Young man!" called an old Wildwood. Erik turned toward him and saw him moving toward him. "You there, big lad. Excuse me for approaching like this, but you look so familiar. What is your name?" Erik regarded the old man for a moment before answering, "I am Eirikir Mynhier, Sultansworn of Ul'dah, and Captain of the Red Wings." The old man clapped his hands with joy, "Fury keep me! I knew it, you look so much like your father, and your mothers eyes and hair for sure. Halone shields me, having you here." Erik's eyes shot open as the man spoke of his parents, and became confused by the rest. "You knew my parents Ser?" The old man stopped and looked embarrassed, "Forgive my manners, I am Julian Rigaud, and yes, I was a close friend of Ulrich and Heather, mostly your mother though. She and I were both servants of the House Fortemps, even though by rights she was of nobility herself. Please Son of Ulrich, come with me. This old man is in need of aid."
Julian lead Erik to eastern ramparts of the city, overlooking the grand inn. "I once was in love with your mother you know. But Ulrich was the dashing sort, but I hold no ill will, I was old even then." laughed the old man. "I saw that Inquisitor looking at you, am I wrong in thinking you are involved in something they would not like?" Erik guarded his reply, "It takes little to bother men like him." Julian thought for a moment, seeming almost lost in his thought, "I cannot speak of it even here. The day is still abound. Would you meet with me here tonight, I will tell you everything then." Erik seemed confused, "Everything of what?" The old wildwood lower his voice so much that even Erik's sharp ears could barely hear the words, "The Faces of Mercy......"
To Be Continued....