The Journal of Renault, Bishop of Valor
Chapter 6, Part 2
Part two time? Part two time. In Part 1, Renault and the guild travelled to Laus to take on a group of rogue fighters from the Djute Tribe in Sacae. Although they beat the Sacaen rebels, the guild lost something in return: their dear Captain. Although the last part ended with the guild returning to Ostia, grieving for their lost commander, where we pick up is once again in the present, in which Renault has a tough decision to make in regards to his future with the church of St. Elimine.
If you like this series, don't forget to leave a review and check me out on Twitter (codygulifanfics on Twitter, Discord link on there as well). Without further ado, let us begin Part 2!
Twenty-nine years.
That's how long it has been since Briar was killed in combat.
That's how long it's been since I met Nergal and got myself mixed up in his affairs.
That's how long it's been since I stumbled upon the Church and was taken in.
Twenty-nine long, damning, dragging years.
And I haven't changed in the slightest, physically or mentally. Perhaps Nergal's dark magic had stunted my growth. Perhaps it has made me, dare I say, immortal (what a foolish concept). Regardless, I still have a burning hatred for that man, a flame that continues to burn to this day. For almost thirty years all I could think about was watching that dastard suffer, to watch him take his last agonizing breath in pain and suffering. And yet I could not leave the confines of this church. I could not abandon the life and shelter given upon me by Saint Elimine herself.
That all changed following Saint Bell's death almost one and a half decades prior.
I could still remember sitting by his deathbed alongside Yoder, clutching his hand softly and muttering a prayer under my breath. And in that final moment, all Bell could do was chuckle and say "You've grown well, Renault…" before taking his last breath and passing on into the great beyond. I felt nothing in that moment. No sorrow, no pain, no anguish, nothing. Perhaps I had seen enough death to make me numb to the concept, or perhaps this was yet another side effect of Nergal's magic. It was the first time I had witnessed a proper burial since the death of my parents as a child. No one spoke a word, not even Yoder, as Bell's casket was laid firmly to rest in a special stone tomb in the cemetery. Outside the front of the church a large statue was erected of him, the epitaph reading "Saint Emetrius Ludveck Bell, Bishop of the Saint Elimine church, wise scholar, caring father. Born Year 891, Died Year 964. May he be forever blessed by Saint Elimine." Everytime I looked outside the church, I could see his statue looming over me, watching and protecting the church. I didn't know whether I should feel safe or weirded out.
Yes, these twenty-nine years have breezed by like a gale of wind in a harsh summer storm. The lives of the common folk came and went, but my life stayed the same day in and day out: wake up, morning prayer, breakfast, church service, afternoon prayer, afternoon service, dinner, evening prayer, bedtime. A continuous, flawless, boring cycle. Not exactly the life I was used to in the mercenary guild, but it was life nonetheless. I could have died at any point before now, but I'm glad I haven't.
Because if I did, I wouldn't be able to get back at Nergal for what he had done…
A knock came at my door, and a voice called from behind, "Renault? Are you in there lad?"
"Yes," I replied. "It's open."
The doorknob clicked as it turned and the door swung slowly open to reveal Yoder, much older than when we first met. He was dressed in his usual blue-drowned bishop attire, complete with the flowing silk robes and oversized headcap. His hands and face were wrinkled and creased like unfolded laundry, and he had an unfixable squint in his eyes. Using his cane he walked to my bedside and took a seat, grunting as he slowly descended onto the mattress.
"Are you well?" Yoder asked innocently. "You haven't been eating or sleeping right these past few nights."
"Fine," I muttered, not looking to make much conversation. "I'm fine."
Yoder frowned. "You're thinking of Nergal, aren't you?"
"How did you-"
"Just a hunch."
"...Yes. I am thinking about that wretch. I've been thinking about that fool for almost three decades now. I can't sleep without seeing that ugly face of his, hearing that demonic laugh of his, every living second I am reminded of him, haunted by him…"
"And you wish revenge on him, do you?"
"If not revenge on him, peace for me. I will not rest easily until I hold his head on a silver platter."
"Renault! Mind your tongue! Saying such things will anger Saint Elimine!"
I sighed in defeat. "You're right. Forgive me. However, I must defeat him. I cannot allow this...this black-hearted man use and abuse others like he had with me and my friend. He must be stopped, Yoder."
"I understand your reasoning, and I agree with you wholeheartedly. However, must you really leave the safety of the church just to seek out bloodshed?"
"So you're saying I should sit here and let Nergal manipulate people to his whim?"
"No, I'm not. However, violence and sin does not condone violence and sin. If I were you, I would consult the ever-knowing knowledge of Saint Elimine. She will guide you well."
"As much as I respect your decision to consult Her Holiness Elimine, I have already decided my course of action."
"Renault…"
"I'm sorry Yoder, but my mind is made. Even if it upsets Saint Elimine, even if I must confide myself to a life of regret, even if it makes me no better than him, I must find that man and make him pay."
"You understand that if you kill him out of spite and revenge, you will become no better than him?"
"I'm willing to take that risk. If not for me, then for Briar."
Yoder shook his head and sighed sadly. "Is there no way I can persuade you to change your mind? Even for a second?"
"None."
"I...very well then." Yoder stood up from the bed and slowly made his way towards the door. "Grab a satchel and follow me."
Yoder and I walked into Saint Bell's old bedroom, which was now empty aside from a small wooden coffer to which Yoder unlocked with a wrangled bronze key. From the chest he pulled out a large sack of coins, a few medicinal herbs, some cloth, a map, a compass, and what looked like a Divine tome. "Bell had a feeling you would leave the church at some point to search for Nergal," he explained. "He told me to give you these when the time came." He handed me the items quickly and proceeded to shut the chest again. "It really is a shame that you have to leave the church so soon, Renault. But of course, there really isn't anything an old man like me can do to stop you."
"I know. I'm sorry that I must leave you here alone and by yourself."
"Ohohoho no, Renault. I will never be alone. Not as long as I have the churchgoers, and Saint Elimine of course." He snapped his fingers suddenly as if something came over his mind. "That reminds me. Before you leave, we must pray to Saint Elimine for a safe journey and good luck." Yoder reached into his robes and pulled out a small stone depiction of Saint Elimine and then asked me to kneel with him. As we knelt, hands together in prayer, Yoder began speaking: "Saint Elimine, to whom we are bonded, to whom who shepard us from sin, to whom we pray by dawn and by dusk, to whom we drink and sing and cry to, to whom we are blessed to...O Saint Elimine, grant thy child Renault safe passage to his destination, and bless and protect him upon your virgin soul from the agents of death and sin."
"O Saint Elimine, grant me thy protection," I replied.
"Saint Elimine, for whose fruit we pray for and feast upon, for whom giveth us light and shelter from the wicked grasp of darkness, see that your child Renault shall be granted safety and hope."
"O Saint Elimine, grant me thy protection," I repeated.
"For only you, blessed Saint Elimine, who hath watched over and nursed your children of Elibe, who hath mothered the sick and elderly, who hath given us the gift of life and faith, who hath brought peace in times of chaos, who hath spread her arms of renewal to ward off the winds of death, shall watch over this dear child of yours and lead him to peace and prosperity in his time of despair and shrouded courage."
"O Saint Elimine, grant me thy protection."
"Amen."
"Amen."
The both of us slowly rose as Yoder handed me the small statue he had taken out, explaining "Take this icon of Saint Elimine with you on your journey. You may find a great use for it, you might not. Either way, take it as a token from the church."
"Thank you, Yoder," I replied with a forced grin and proceeded to walk out.
"Saint Elimine bless you, Renault! Saint Elimine bless you!" Yoder called out as I shut the church door.
With satchel in one hand and statue in the other, I took my first few steps away from the church for the first time in what seemed like ages. I gulped slightly as I put one foot in front of the other. I had been shut in the church ever since I stumbled upon it, never traveling with the pilgrimages and burying my nose in a wide array of books. And now, almost three decades later, I was far from the church. As I turned around I could see it still in the distance, much smaller than before and yet still standing tall. All the more I felt like I could feel Yoder and Bell's eyes watching me depart, half-smiles on their faces as they waved farewell. I turned my gaze back to what lied ahead and continued to walk.
Nergal, I thought. After all these years, I'm finally going to make you pay for the pain you have caused me. Be ready.
Chapter 6 is finally in the books! Not only will this most likely be the ONLY two-parter in the series, it will be the last chapter to feature a flashback from Renault's past as a mercenary (which I understand didn't get fleshed out a lot but hey. I'm not perfect, and neither is anyone). Either way I hope you are enjoying the series so far! Don't forget to follow me on Twitter (codygulifanfics) and check it for the link to the Discord! And as always, don't forget to leave a review if you like the series so far!