Brian Anderson - Shadow of the Gods

After a time, Lydia entered the room. Dressed in a dark brown skirt that reached all the way to the floor and a white cotton shirt, she was tall, lean, and despite her advancing years, looked as if she could labor alongside any man. Her once-black hair was now streaked with gray and wrapped in a tight bun.

Lydia looked disapprovingly at Millet. “What business do you have in Lord Starfinder's chambers?”

“Fetch Barty, Randson, and Trevor,” ordered Millet. “I have something to tell you.”

“Trevor's cooking supper,” said Lydia.

Millet's faced hardened. “Then tell him to stop.”

Lydia glared at Millet for a moment, then stormed off toward the kitchen. A few minutes later she returned. A thinly built old man wearing a tan shirt and trousers trailed behind, covered from head to toe in flour. The old man beamed when he saw Millet.

“Good to see you, old friend,” said Trevor. He looked at Dina. “I see your taste in company has improved.”

Dina stood and introduced herself. Trevor bowed and started to take a seat on the couch.

“I'll not have you getting flour all over the furniture,” shouted Lydia.

“Calm down woman,” said Trevor. “I'll clean it.”

“You sit, too,” Millet said to Lydia.

The front door opened and Barty and his son entered. Millet motioned for them to sit as well.

Millet retrieved the parchment Lee had given him when they were all seated, and handed it to Lydia. She and the others read it for several minutes then handed it back to Millet.

“I don't know who Lee Nal' Thain is,” said Lydia. “But if you think for one minute that-”

“You know full well who Lee Nal' Thain is,” Millet countered. “As do the rest of you.” He stood. “Lee has given me rights to his lands and titles. That includes this estate.”

Lydia huffed. “And what do you intend to do with these ‘rights,’ might I ask?”

Millet thought he heard a slight quiver in the woman's voice.

“Before I reveal my intentions, tell me about the faithful.”

Lydia took a deep breath. “About a week after you and Lord Starfinder left Sharpstone, three oddly dressed men came to the door inquiring as to your whereabouts, and the whereabouts of master Stedding. They sounded like those folks from Baltria to me, but they wore black cloaks and kept their faces hidden with their hoods. I've never trusted people who won't show their faces. Anyway, I told them you had all left and didn't know where you had gone, or when you'd return. At the time I didn't think much on it. Lord Starfinder has had odd people call on him before, and he's always taken an interest in young Gewey, but when I went to market a few days later, I noticed they were still around, asking questions.

“Still, what could I do? They weren't causing trouble and no one seemed to mind them. All the same I told the staff to keep an eye on them.” She looked at Barty.

“Ah, yes,” said Barty. “When Lydia told me about these characters I made sure I knew what they were up to. I even had my boy follow them a few times. Like Lydia said, at first they didn't do anything other than ask questions. And other than causing rumors to fly, they didn't make trouble. In fact, the way they let their coins pass freely, people actually started to take a liking to them. Especially Mayor Freidly. He had them over at his house almost every night.

“It wasn't long before they started comin' 'round here again.” Barty's lip curled in anger. “This time they were more forceful. They insisted that someone here knew where Lord Starfinder was, and demanded to know.” He puffed out his chest. “Well, my friend, no one bullies me. I snatched up my shovel and ran them off.”

“And you were a fool for it,” snapped Lydia. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”

Barty ignored her comment. “After that, they didn't come back. I'd see them watching people coming in and out, but that was as close as they came. I guess I scared 'em good enough.”

“And it's the reason we don't know anything,” scolded Lydia. She turned to Millet. “If you work for Lord Starfinder, you had just as well be an elf. No one says a word to us anymore.”

“They still talk to me,” said Trevor. “One of the advantages to being an old man.”

Millet smiled. “What do they say?”

“First, you should know what went on after Barty ran those fellows off.” Trevor leaned back in his seat and crossed his legs. “From what I heard, they didn't like it too much and went to the mayor. Not much the fat lout could do about it though. Barty didn't hit them, and they were on Lord Starfinder's property at the time. I guess they decided to find a better way to watch us. It was only a few days later and they bought the land just next to here. They must have spent a fortune, 'cause they had a house built in just over a week. That was about the time their friends started showing up.”

“We ran into Martha Tredall on our way here,” said Millet. “She told us a little about what's going on, and said that there's about ten of them.”

“Sounds about right,” said Trevor. “They said they were here to set up a trading business, but no one really believed it. Especially with all their talk about the Reborn King.”

This caused Millet and Dina to shift in their seats.

Trevor cocked his head. “I see you've heard about him. Well, that's no surprise, if half of what they say is true.”

“And what is that?” asked Millet.

“Mostly that he's coming to free us from the Gods,” said Trevor. “Bring back the old days like before the Great War. Things like that. I thought they were just some new cult. But whatever they are, and whoever this Reborn King is, they sure do have a lot of gold. Not long after the rest of these faithful got here, they paid to have the market rebuilt, and started buying out anyone who'd sell. Even the folks who didn't sell took their gold on loan. Almost everyone in Sharpstone owes them something.”

“We can barely keep our cupboards stocked,” said Lydia. “No one wants to do business with us. They're either working for the faithful, or just too scared to cross them.”

“That's why most of the staff stays out at the Stedding farm,” said Barty. “They leave them alone out there, and they can get supplies. Master Stedding still produces more hay than anyone else in these parts, even if he's not around. People don't have much choice but to sell them what they need.” He leaned forward. “But you can bet they're watching everything at that farm, too. They ask as much about Master Stedding as they do Lord Starfinder.”

Millet bowed his head in thought. “Trevor, I want you to go into town after our meal. Say that I have returned to settle some business for Lord Starfinder.” He looked up and met Trevor's eyes. “Do not say anything else. Only that.” He turned to Barty. “I want you to secure the front door and windows, but leave the back open. Then take Trevor, Lydia, and your son to the Stedding farm. Stay there until I send for you.”

“I'll not be spirited away,” said Lydia, sternly. “If you're fool enough to do what I think you're going to do, then I'll¬”

“You will do as I say,” snapped Millet. “I cannot do what must be done, if I have to worry about your safety.”

“And what is it that must be done?” asked Dina.

“I intend to send the faithful a message,” Millet replied, darkly.

“If that's the case,” said Barty, “then you'll need me and my boy.” He stood up straight and squared his broad shoulders. “Lydia and Trevor may not be much good in a fight, but I can still swing a sword if need be. I've shown my boy how to take care of himself, too. You may be Lord of the Manor, but you ain't no Lee Starfinder. You're gonna need more than just you and a young woman if the faithful come callin'.”