The Journal of Renault, Bishop of Valor

Chapter 11

YES, I'M ALIVE.

I apologize once again for the hiatus. I've been super exhausted from work and life, but the good news is I got a new job as of last Wednesday (at the time of writing this, that is)! Yaaaaaaay ( ;u;)
I'm also getting back into writing this series finally. I'm using whatever free time is available to me right now to try and continue writing, which is not much, unfortunately.

I don't really have much else to say here, so I hope you enjoy this chapter! If you do, be sure to leave a follow/review!

On to chapter 11.

"Arcadia you say?" Baron von Thaleis grunted. "What business does a priest like you have with Arcadia?"

I looked around at the faces staring at me. I had no reason to trust these folk with my true intentions, especially after what I went through in Eburacum. Sure, these nobles were kind and hospitable, but what if this treatment was a ploy? If I told them why I intended to go to Arcadia, what would the chances be that they would give it away to Nord's soldiers? But perhaps I was too harsh on them in my mind. They did take me in and nurse me back to health after I collapsed outside their castle. But no, I still had my doubts. "I am on a pilgrimage to Arcadia," I lied.

"A pilgrimage?" the Baron chuckled. "And all by yourself? I find that hard to believe."

"I had others with me. They...did not make it. Illness was the common cause."

The Baron's expression changed in an instant as he nodded. "I see. Still, your trip would require crossing the Nabata Desert, and that is certainly not a place I would expect a priest like you to travel to."

"And whyever not?"

"Nabata is a dry, humid landscape," Roartz spoke up. "If the bandits there don't kill you, the heat and sandstorms will."

"Prime Minister Roartz has a point," Gailla added, standing up and walking over to look at a painting on the wall. "Very few men can withstand the scorching heat of that desert. Those who can't become a permanent part of it."

"What do you mean?" I asked anxiously.

"The bones of many men lie within the sands of Nabata," Roartz replied. "Even the strongest of soldiers have found it difficult to traverse the desert. Some have lost their minds from the heat, reporting claims of seeing hallucinations, feeling constricted, lost."

"That won't happen. Not with Saint Elimine on my side."

"Pray as much as you wish," the Baron said coldly, "but not even your gods can save you from the dangers of the Nabata Desert."

"Regardless, Baron von Thaleis, I must go there. I must make it to Arcadia."

The Baron, Prime Minister, and Gailla stood silent for a moment. They looked at each other with concern and disbelief, then back to me. "My good man," said the Baron, "is there no way I can sway your decision?"

"None."

He sighed. "Then it seems I have no choice. Gailla, prepare a caravan for our friend here, destination Caledonia. See that it is packed with rations and other necessities, and ensure that it's well-guarded. I don't want this man to die horribly during his voyage. And speak to one of the guards about booking a passage to the Nabata Desert when they get there."

Gailla nodded respectively and exited the room swiftly. As he left, I turned back to the Baron, his eyes and Roartz's piercing my soul. I could sense an evil intent in the Baron's gesture, or perhaps it was superstition. After all that I had been through with Nergal and Nord, I could not trust these strangers so easily.

The convoy was being prepared when I arrived at the courtyard the following day. Bless Saint Elimine for these people, I thought, as I loaded my satchel on one of the carts. The guards were pointing and shouting orders to each other as they frantically loaded the carts with various supplies: food, water, clothing, arrows, and other necessities. As everything was getting ready, Roartz proceeded towards me as if he needed me for something.

"Do you have everything?" he asked. I replied with a simple nod. "Good, then perhaps I should pull you aside for a second."

Before I could answer, Roartz grabbed my arm and pulled me behind one of the giant columns in the courtyard. I tried to speak, but he silenced me immediately. He continued to speak to me in a hushed tone.

"Now I usually would not do this for any peasant, even for a member of the Saint Elimine Church. However…" he began as he reached into his pouch. His hand pulled out a shiny necklace with a ruby adorned on the plate in the middle. "I want you to have this."

I looked puzzled. "A talisman?" I asked.

"Yes. The sands of the Nabata Desert are cruel and unforgiving, however this talisman will give you good luck on your journey." He paused. "And there's one last thing I need to tell you. Do not, under any circumstances, trust the Baron or his men."

"Whyever not? He's been nothing but hospitable thus far. He's given me a warm bed to recover on, food to eat, a convoy to-"

"Forget that for a moment, priest. I know a little of the Baron's background, and I can tell you he is not as truthful and caring as you make him out to be."
"What do you mean?"

Roartz peered quickly over the column to glance at the convoy before turning his attention back to me. "I take it you already know the Baron owns the mines at Mount Eburacum. Do you know how he came to own it?"

"The thought never dawned on me."

"Simple: back when von Thaleis was but a noble, the last Baron of Jutes, Nevida, owned the mines when von Thaleis came to buy it. The two negotiated for days, but try as he might, von Thaleis could never come to an agreement with him. He wanted the mines from Nevida desperately, so he employed the services of an Etrurian Duke, Nord, to assassinate the Baron so that von Thaleis could take ownership. He then threatened to massacre everyone in Jutes and Eburacum if he didn't succeed to Baron."

"And he succeeded."

"Indeed. When word got out that the Baron of Jutes was murdered, Etruria sent a small recce of soldiers to Mount Eburacum to take over in his absence. However, under von Thaleis's orders, Nord threatened the families of those soldiers should they try and arrest the new Baron. Those same soldiers still serve him to this day, and now Mount Eburacum is in the Baron's possession, at least until I can persuade him to part with it."

"But what could someone like you want with those mines, Prime Minister?"

"Once I have gained complete control of Mount Eburacum and its mines, I intend to turn the ownership over to Etruria's King and mount a full-scale capture of Nord, von Thaleis, and their men. I will ensure they stand trial for the atrocities they have caused."

"I see. Tis a noble goal, Prime Minister Roartz. I pray that the gods can aid you in your goal."

"Prayer or no prayer, I have every bit of confidence that I will succeed." He turned back to see that the convoy was nearly complete, only needing the horses to be attached to the wagons before setting off. "Looks like your convoy is near completion. This is where we part ways, priest. Do try not to get yourself killed on the way to Arcadia."

"What will you do after you've bought the mines," I asked. "Will you join my cause?"

Roartz shook his head. "I have no time dabbling in affairs that do not concern me. Should you make it to Arcadia, should you complete your mission, then good for you. Should you die, well, there's one more life that has gone to waste. However, take what I said and don't forget it. Trust is a double-edged sword, and you'll always find yourself at the tip of it."

I generously nodded as I boarded one of the wagons. Roartz gave a solemn but respectful bow as the driver cracked the reins, signaling to the horses and the rest of the convoy to proceed. As I looked behind me, I could see the Baron and Gailla waving to me from the upper balcony. Two soldiers pushed the gates to Jutes open back in the front, allowing the caravan to pass through into the world outside. The carriages rocked and clunked slowly as we proceeded down the road towards Caledonia.

"Beg pardon, guard," I said to the driver, but how long of a trip is it to Caledonia's harbor?"

"About two-and-a-half days worth," he replied. "That is, barring any bandit attacks or other catastrophes."

"Other catastrophes?"

"Weather, illness, you know."

I slowly nodded in agreement. I secretly prayed to Saint Elimine that I would make it there alive. I've come too far to die now, and I refuse to give up until I make it to Arcadia.

If only the road there wasn't that long.

A shorter chapter than the others, but still some good progress since the last time I wrote. As always, don't forget to check out my Twitter (codyguliwriting) and be sure to follow this series for more chapters!