A First Confessional

She is a nun. You can tell by her gait, by the sound of hobnailed boots on the polished stone, and by the way her rosary clinks against her sabre. ”Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” Her voice is soft and sultry, a perfumed whisper behind veil and habit. ”I have killed a man and maimed another.”

You clear your throat, momentarily taken aback. And you ask the expected question.

”I have done so for the good of Man, and by command of the Saints. But the deed weighs heavy on my heart, and their blood stains my soul.”

You impose a light penance but save yourself the trouble of vain admonishment. She is a nun and she will kill again. The Church, the Saints, and the Holy Writ command it. You instead speak of mercy and of forgiveness. Of the succour offered by time the healer, and of the lives saved by her bloody dedication to the greater good.

She thanks you for your kindness and begins to mutter the demanded prayers. You sit with her until she is done and you command the Saints to her side as she leaves.

No one else enters St. Martha’s on this day, and you spend long hours sitting your lonely vigil. Long hours for you to ponder whether you should return.

Your vigil ends. Not much time has passed.

{if The Passage of Time > 95} Your Time in Barenhaven is running out {elseif The Passage of Time > 80} Your Time in Barenhaven is coming to a close {elseif The Passage of Time > 60} You have some Time left in Barenhaven {elseif The Passage of Time > 50} Your Time in Barenhaven is half-way over {elseif The Passage of Time > 30} You have quite some Time left to spend in Barenhaven {elseif The Passage of Time > 15} You have a lot of Time left to spend in Barenhaven {elseif The Passage of Time > 5} Your Time in Barehaven has just begun {else} You are now spending Time in Barenhaven {endif}

And up, on the altar, St. Martha’s eyes burn silver in the light of a distant moon.