The Divine Path Is Often… Cloudy ;)

Timestamp: Stoneshade Keep - Great Hall Evening

If that grey knight Sir Zane had been around, Voah would have surprised him in a dark corner instead of the Duke, though the man was over twice her age, if only to see his stoic, macho attitude break for 10 minutes and enjoy the evening. Men like that just seemed like they needed to let loose all those tense muscles. Where was he anyway? She got the sense that there was more unspoken contention between the knight and the Lord Commander.

With her carnal pleasures temporarily sated, Voah slowly returned to the great hall while reading Pahadron’s journal given to her by the Lord Commander.

It all seemed too good to be true, as if the gods themselves had steered her to Arcadia and placed her on a ”road” to the Duke’s office.

Where now would the divine path take her?

‘Smite mine enemies.’ The sentence transcended faith, not referring only to those against the gods but to one’s own personal enemies and Voah had learned to smite in many ways. Smiting did not simply mean killing.

One must gain insight and perspective to understand a person before they could truly know them as an enemy. Blatant heresy and witchcraft earned the immediate ire and nearly guaranteed a penalty of death. But things are never that simple, if they were, there would be very many dead, herself included. There was a saying in the Inquisition, the difference between hearsay and heresy is confirmation. Many times witnesses were cross examined to ward against those who would try to use the Inquisition to rid themselves of a problem with someone due to feuds, grudges, debts and all manner of other situations.

The death of the innocent did often occur and the details of investigations and executions were always recorded as a precaution. If an accuser or witness was ever discovered to have lied, they too would meet the same faith as the accused.

The faith taught firmly that Vastad’s Sword of Justice will always have a counter weight and Zinheim had special punishments for liars who had such foul intent and black hearts.

Before she realized it, she was out in the promenade in the fresh air again, book in hand and nose to the page. She looked up noticing the moonlight on the trees in the wild. She would have to speak with Blackwolf about bringing the cartographer and see about those two guards to learn a few Odsier words and phrases. It would be preferable to have some common ground to meet on.

The Arbiter closed the old tome and turned back toward the party to find another glass of wine when she bumped into Wim carrying a handful of red berries. She took one, popped it into her mouth and gave the lordling a playful kiss on his lips as she raised her glass and moved toward the dance hall.

Voah saw the Lord Commander entering from a terrace, escorting the buxom Lady Melandra who seemed to be well into her cups.

She met each of their eyes, gave a wry smile to the rogue and the playboy, put her lips to glass and tilted back. The night was young and she had some guards to find, not to mention a bit more dancing to do.