First, a necessary visit

He still had over an hour before dinner would be served. More than anything he wanted to oversee the actions taken to recapture the Oracle, but his direct oversight would arouse suspicion from the spies that surrounded him and also he'd have no-one to blame if the search took too long. Furthermore he had to do something just as important, he feared this encounter but it had to be done and done soon.

Not far from his suite was a small chapel, the room was his private place to meditate and pray. None of his staff dared bother him as long as he was in this room of reflection. The restocking of supplies was done when he was at his other duties, but the room was always spotless and well stocked. Entering his chapel hesitantly Beldan carefully locked the door behind him. He moved past the alter with it's fine cloth and gold candlesticks and empty offering bowl.

Behind the alter, hidden by a spectacular wall hanging showing the seventh lander as it splashed into the water on the shores of a white sand beach, was another door, Beldan didn't know what the room was for or why it was there, nor did he care. He took the small key that hung from his neck and slipped it into the lock. His hands trembled as he turned the key and pressed open the small door. Inside was his private sanctum, none but Beldan would ever enter this room. He bent low to slip through the arch but did not straighten on the other side of the door; instead he dropped to the floor and shuffled forward the last meter awkwardly on his knees.

"I'm sorry I haven't visited you sooner Mother, I have been trying to find someone perfect for you." He waited in the dark for a full minute before he tried again. "You were right about how dangerous those young initiates would be. Two assassins were posing as pretty initiates, but we'll catch them and then I'll make them beg for mercy." She was still cold and silent and he knew that he had not fooled her with his talk of capturing the sneaky little bitches.

Beldan could feel cold sweat dripping from his brow as he knelt in the dark. He waited trembling in fear waiting to hear Her speak, to belittle him and remind him of his weakness. His knees ached from supporting his weight on the cold hard floor, but after a few long minutes of silence felt his panic grow. Perhaps she knew about the Oracle's escape already.

Still keeping his eyes low, Beldan lit the thick candle in the brass holder at his side. Turning back to the table he could now see the legs of the statue rising from a mound of panties. More than a hundred of them covered the table; many were the rough linen of servants, some were silk lace worn only by aristocrats, but by far most were the white cotton undergarments issued by the Church to young initiates. Each of them was special, many were stained with blood and the ones that weren't had other special significance attached to them. When She let him, Beldan would sort through the pile, lifting the garments to his face and remembering the women who had worn them.

Not this evening, he could still feel Mother's stern disapproval. He lifted his face higher until he could see more of the statue. The idol was wrapped in a scarlet velvet gown. The dress was far too large for the statue, but it was Hers and it covered her more modestly than the thin garment carved into the marble artwork that exposed her right breast and nearly all of her upper thighs. The dress was covered in dust and grime but Beldan didn't dare remove it for cleaning, nor did he want to explain to anyone why the thirty year old dress had to be preserved. Dismissing the stra thought curtly, he turned his attention to how best to tell Her the bad news. She wasn't going to like it one bit, but he could put this off no longer.

"The Warden has let the false initiates I was telling you about free the old man." He waited in silence for her blistering rebuke. Mother told him when he first took the Oracle to kill him immediately, but he was sure he could break that pathetic fool and show her that he was worthy. Now he might have to admit she was right. She was still silent perhaps sensing his acknowledgement of his error.

"It will be for the best Mother." He spoke a little more confidently when once again she was silent. "They'll kill him like you want and then I'll have those two assassins absolutely under my control." Beldan could sense his mother's displeasure and he desperately searched his mind for something worthy he could share with her.

"I spoke to Maria Glendal this morning Mother." Beldan waited expecting to feel the wrath of her fury - Mother did not approve of the emperor’s whore - but when she remained silent he continued rapidly. "She will help us, her friends will push the Emperor to war." When she still held her tongue Beldan finally dared to lift his head the rest of the way. It was a mistake.

A porcelain mask, made for a masquerade years ago covered the idol's face, but Beldan could see the contempt in the eyes and could hear the scorn in her voice as she spoke.

“You bumbling idiot!” The voice was cold and sharp he dropped his face to inches from the floor “You pathetic pencil dicked clown.” Mother knew how he failed, she always knew. He could hide nothing from her. “That imperial whore is using you! She leads you around by the balls just like Victor, but you do what she wants without even getting to spread her slutty legs.” Her words crushed Beldan to the floor, he could feel them like a booted foot on his back grinding his torso to the ground.

“Please, I’m sorry!” He begged helplessly “Please don’t be angry!” But She was angry, and not just about his dealing with Maria; She was angry that he had failed to break the Oracle, and then let him escape. Beldan also knew that She was not pleased about his almost being tricked by the assassins. She had never liked the time and energy he devoted to corrupting the pretty initiates that came to the Church each year. Her next words making clear Her disapproval once again.

“Your little toys are nothing but poison! Remember how that slut Prudence almost made a fool of you?” Beldan collapsed again onto the floor tears flowing and his words coming in gasps as he sobbed about how he needed to feel the young Sister's love for him. He knew it was true, and that the sweet innocents that he bent to his will made him feel like a man but Mother was unconvinced.

“Not one of them is either sweet or innocent! Listen to them moan and beg next time you fiddle them you'll see they're all whores!” Mother warned “But for now you'd better pull your head out of your ass and make sure The Oracle is finished once and for all.”