Improbable Supplication (standard:fantasy, 2283 words)
Author: Peacepipe	Added: Mar 15 2004	Views/Reads: 3014/1928	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This story is about a paladin who discovers corruption within his temple. It is a short-story, about 5 pages long.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

"My point is, Serasius, you had potential, and you threw it away,"
Gerron retorted. 

"I've thrown nothing away, I am not the one who has changed my friend,"
Serasius said defiantly. 

"And what are trying to say Serasius?" The High Cleric asked.  He leaned
back and crossed his arms against his chest.  "What is all this about?  
It is becoming increasingly obvious you did not come here to chew the 
fat.  If you have something to say, get it off of your chest." 

Serasius' mind began to drift back to the events that conspired earlier
that day. 

- -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

Serasius opened the door and entered the temple storeroom. 

He had been sent to retrieve a bottle of ceremonial wine for the service
being held later in the afternoon.  Not the most glorifying task, but 
nothing that Serasius was above.  Not to mention it gave him the 
perfect opportunity to wander the halls he had called home for so many 
years. 

The storeroom was on the first floor of the temple and was home to
everything from cleric vestments to holy water.  This room brought back 
a flood of memories for Serasius.  Many a time he had hidden in this 
very cellar to skip services, or avoid certain priests, he had even 
stole his first kiss here. 

Serasius smiled, life had been so simple then.  Everything made sense,
and Serasius knew exactly who he was.  All of that had changed in the 
last few years.  Life had gotten...complicated. 

Serasius shook his head and walked towards the back of the room where
the wine was kept.  Upon reaching the rack, he grabbed the bottle and 
headed back for the door. 

He was about halfway across the storeroom, when something caught his
eye.  Off to his right, he saw something that did not seem familiar to 
him. 

Serasius could not control his curiosity he had to investigate. 

Whatever it was had been stowed behind a very large crate of practice
weapons, and covered with a large cloth to try to disguise it's 
existence.  Serasius did not know why he was so compelled to see what 
was under that tarp, it was a probably nothing more than food for the 
upcoming Feast of The Invincible, or perhaps armor for the temple 
guards, but something told Serasius to look, almost pulled him against 
his will. 

Serasius stared at the cloth for a few moments, and then pulled the veil
away, revealing seven crates, each about two feet long, and a foot 
wide.  On the side of each crate was painted the symbol of Heironeous. 

"See, nothing out of the ordinary," Serasius told himself, "Probably
just some extra holy wafers." 

But, the compulsion inside Serasius was not pacified it wanted more.  He
had to know what was inside. 

Why did he care so much what was in a few wooden crates down in the
storeroom?  He had never worried over something so trivial in all his 
life, it was almost as if someone else was controlling his actions, 
urging him on, pushing him forward. 

Serasius pulled a dagger out of his belt, and began prying loose a board
on the closest crate.  The nail came loose and Serasius pulled the top 
off the box. 

The dagger fell to the ground. 

- -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

"Serasius!" Gerron yelled. 

The Paladin started from his memories and looked up at his former
mentor. 

Gerron was beginning to lose his patience with Serasius, "I will ask you
one more time, that is if you can stay awake long enough to answer me.  
Why did you request to see me, what was so important that it could not 
w-" 

"I saw what was in the storeroom," Serasius said flatly, showing no
emotion. 

Gerron went white as a frost troll for a split-second, but regained his
composure quickly. 

"I have no idea what you are referring to boy," Gerron retorted icily. 

"And my fodder is orange and sings at first dawn!" Serasius quirked. 

"That can be arranged, whelp!" the High Cleric spat rising out of his
chair. 

"How long Gerron?" Serasius asked his master, staring him straight in
the eyes, "How long has it been since you turned your back on your 
faith, or did you ever have any faith to lose?" 

Gerron dropped his gaze, "Aye lad, I once had faith.  Unshakable faith
that I thought would never fade, but that was many years ago." 

Serasius waited for Gerron to say something else, and finally asked him,
"So, what happened?" 

"Do you know what being a cleric means?" Gerron asked still averting the
paladins gaze. 

"Aye I do, should I explain it to you, lest you forget?" Serasius stated
firmly. 

Gerron looked up finally, anger burning in his eyes, "Being a priest
means everyone lays their burdens on you, and you get nothing in 
return.  Not one thank you, not one reward, not one damn thing!" 

Serasius spat at his former mentor, "Boo-hoo, so you sacrificed, what
did you want?  Gold, riches, pleasures? What?" 

"I wanted it all, damn it!  The power, the fame, the wealth, all of it."
Gerron shot back. 

"So you started selling opium?  When?  Why?" Serasius asked.  "There are
other ways to make money or fame.  Mission work, slay a dragon, 
something!  Not drugs." Serasius shook his head in disbelief. 

"I have told you why, and it has been almost nine years now.  I do not
actually sell it, I just allow it to be stored here, for a price," 
Gerron explained. 

Serasius dropped his hands, "So I guess that makes it all fine, huh? 
The saddest part is you don't even have the courage to sell it.  You 
let someone else do all your dirty work." 

"I never meant for you to find out," Gerron told his former pupil. 

"And why is that?" Serasius asked, not really caring. 

"You were always special to me," Gerron explained, "You gave me back
something to believe in, something real.  You gave me hope, you were 
like a son t-" 

"Just stop old man," Serasius screamed and spun around, "The Invincible
is real, Whether you want to believe it or not.  You are just too 
shallow and superficial to realize it, or maybe your lust for power and 
money has blinded you to the truth." 

"Alright Serasius, you've made your point," Gerron said half-heartedly,
"You know, and you've made your point, the question is what are you 
going to do now." 

Serasius turned to face the High Cleric, "I'm going to judge you, here
and now." 

"Ever the noble one, eh lad?" Gerron asked Serasius in a mocking tone,
"Do what you must." 

Serasius drew his sword from its sheath, the ringing steel echoed in the
almost barren room. 

"Am I to be executed?" Gerron asked smiling. 

Serasius laughed, "Oh no, I have a much better fate for you.  We are
going to the storeroom to pick up your stash, and then we will deliver 
it to The Council of Twelve and hear their remarks on the matter." 

Gerron rose to his feet and raised his arms. 

"So be it," Gerron said. 

- -  -  -  -  - -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  - 

Serasius paced the halls, waiting for word from The Council.  It had
been almost two hours since he turned over Gerron and the evidence that 
would condemn him forever, yet he was still anxious about testifying in 
front of The Council. 

A door opened behind the paladin, and a young cleric stepped out, "The
Council will hear your case now, Master." 

Serasius walked into the main audience chamber.  He had never been in
this room before.  The audience chamber was constructed of the whitest 
marble, and the ceiling reached at least forty feet above the paladin's 
head.  Stained glass windows depicting the deeds of followers of The 
Invincible adorned each of the many windows in the room.  The entire 
floor was one large mosaic of Heironeous' symbol. 

Twelve figures were sitting in a circle in the middle of the chamber. 
Two of the members stepped aside allowing Serasius into the middle of 
their circle. 

Inside the circle were two podiums.  Gerron was standing at one, his
head downcast and his hands bound.  The young cleric who had led him 
into the room motioned for him to approach the second podium. 

After reaching the podium, one of the members of The Council spoke up,
"Paladin Serasius, we are indebted to you for your discovery of this 
contraband, and the revelation of Brother Gerron's misconduct." 

Serasius nodded his head in respect and appreciation.  "I did only what
I thought was necessary in light of the events, although it breaks my 
heart to know that one of our own could be capable of such acts.  And 
the pain is worsened knowing the offender is my own mentor and the man 
I wanted to exemplify more than anyone else in this world," Serasius 
explained to the members present. 

"Your pain is understandable, Brother Serasius," one of the council
members told the paladin. 

Another member spoke up; "There is only one more problem that plagues
us." 

Serasius looked up slightly puzzled, considering all the evidence he had
supplied. 

"Anything I can do to help, master.  What problem can I help you with?"
Serasius asked. 

"I am not too sure there is much you can do," the councilman spoke up. 

The puzzled look on Serasius' face intensified, "I do not understand,
sir." 

The council members all stood up at once. 

"I am afraid you know too much of our operation here, Serasius.  Please
do not take this personally," the council member said in a sardonic 
tone as the figures began to surround Serasius. 

The paladin glanced over at Gerron, who was smiling evilly at his pupil.


The council drew their weapons as they closed in on the lone Serasius. 

"Thirteen to one...nice odds," Serasius mumbled. 

He looked down to the sword strapped on his hip.  The symbol of
Heironeous glowed brightly. 

Serasius drew his blade in a flash.  He kissed the symbol and smiled at
his ever-approaching foes. 

"Heironeous, give me strength...I'm gonna need it," Serasius prayed to
his deity. 


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