No Prayer At Midnight (Act III)

Sleep came fitfully through the remainder of the evening. Your mind was too busy to let your body rest. The anxiety of being found by the Baronness wasn't helping either. Tsiber having been a werewolf for so long, and being cogent in his beastly form went against what you knew of their kind, but the machinations of that were academic at this point. The real questions were far more problematic. How could you have missed it? There had to have been signs, hints, something out of place that could have shown you and the rest of the clergy what was going on.

More concerning than the failures of your perception as a mere child, are the questions of your Arch Deacon. How could someone in such a place of authority and responsibile for the care of so many put them at such great risk? How would we even know how to work with such poor souls? And what does his disappearance have to do with this occult prophecy? No answers came, only the dawn.

A shabby barn is cleared to allow for Tsiber to be prepared for burial, the task of which is left up to you and Dilancia. You felt honored to provide the service.

"We should prepare him as a member of the Phoenician Church, I think. He was close to Fearghus for so long."

"Prudent," the Colonel was being especially short with her words this morning. "I'll follow your lead."

Little was said in the small space. Dilah kept looking at you. You felt her prying into you, judging you in her way.

"What!?" You yell out. As much as you surprised yourself, she was unphased.

"Nothing, Demi." Her calm response started to fill you with guilt for your outburst. "Your mind is in a chariot race and your face is the lead horse. I don't want to pry as to the cause, although I have suspicions. I'm here if and when you feel like talking."

You let out a long sigh. Her clarity of mind and unflinching certainty was annoying sometimes.

"How do you do it?" You ask "how is it that you don't seem to get stressed by anything?"

She has the slightest of smiles "You're wrong to think that I never have those feelings. I have stress and fear and all of the things you feel. With practice, you'll develop your toughness and resiliency. This time, it was easy for me to let go.'

"How'd you do it?" You ask quickly but softly

"By trusting in you." She said with a smile. "This is your quest, not mine, but I have full confidence. I would march headlong into the hells with you."

"Thanks Demi" you nod a few times

"That brings us to the real issue, I think. Is this still about Doolyn, or is about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is this still a matter of ensuring his safety and returning him to his flock? Or are you driven by your desire to get answers to the mystety swirlinf around us? Or do you seek retribution?"

You knew, inwardly, that despite her directness, she was not being accusatory.

"I'm not sure, to be honest. This has become so much bigger than when we started"

"Are you prepared to face the possibility that you won't get what you want from this? Even if we do reach him?"

"I don't know." You take a clear breath and have a quick realization "I don't have much choice, do I?"

"No. Fearghus will likely be surprised and possibly even disappointed to see you having a change in faith, and you may be experiencing a lack of confidence in him. If you find each other, neither will look on each other with the same eyes."

"Right." You reply simply, mulling something over "what about us?"

"What do you mean?" She asks, her head turning slightly

"I mean, what is he going to think about us. Being together. He wanted you, and you denied him, and now you're in bed with one of his disciples and practically his daughter, who you're converted."

"I honestly have no idea." She says "I've known him to be incredibly stubborn, but I have not seen an opportunity for him to show jealousy. Does it matter what he thinks at this point?"

"Well, ya." You vocalize your thoughts as soon as they come to you "to a point at least. I mean, I want his approval, I want him to be okay with this. On the other hand, if its a choice between him and you, and I pick you"

"And I you, Demetria. You're sure you want to keep searching for him? These people need our help with the Baronness."

"Absolutely." You respnd "this prophecy sounds important. I think these werewolves are already planning an attack or something. When the time is right, we'll join their fight, if they'll have us."