T.H. Lain - Oath of Nerull

Well, I'm sure it's all right, rationalized the gnome. Aganon is certainly friendly, he thought.

With that, he pushed the doubt from his mind and turned it to preparing for his test.

The Motherhouse of the Enabled Hand was as grand as Ember remembered. An edifice of whitewashed stone, the structure was ringed around with elegant and overpowering relief sculpture. The frieze portrayed an ongoing fight of monk versus monk and stretched all the way around the building, creating an unbroken loop. The monks of the Hand were a legendary force, and few other groups in the duchy could claim such a prestigious and powerful membership, nor such a stately and arresting home.

Ember and Brek Gorunn walked down a long flagstone path through the colorful garden that surrounded the Motherhouse. The scent of rose mixed with sage and pine made her think of her youth. Together with the bountiful flowers and stately white building, the Motherhouse presented an air of serene strength. Ember felt sure that things would soon be made right. She especially looked forward to meeting her old mentor, Kairoth.

The wide door of the Motherhouse was open. Immediately inside was a large chamber, a salon draped with colorful linens and flagged with granite tile. Three novitiate monks sat, in apparent mediation, facing the doorway. As Ember and Brek Gorunn walked up, the foremost stood and bowed.

"Greetings. Welcome to the Order of the Enabled Hand." Recognizing Ember's dress, she ventured a ritual greeting of the order, "Weakness is pain."

Ember bowed. "But pain leaves the body."

The novitiate concluded, "And so weakness is purged. Welcome! From what chapter do you hail, sister?"

Ember said, "Until recently, Volanth Chapter. But that chapter is no more."

The novitiate paused, not understanding.

Ember said, "Sister, I must see one of the elders immediately. I bring dire news that may endanger the whole order."

The novitiate who had spoken looked back to the other young trainees who remained seated, a man and another woman. They had no answers for her except concerned expressions. The novitiate turned back to Ember and Brek Gorunn.

"Wait here. I will ask leave to disturb the elders in their inner dojo."

With that, she glided away.

Apparently things had changed a bit since Ember's days as a novice. When she trained, things were slightly less formal. She shrugged it off and looked at one of the remaining novitiates.

"Is this the first you have heard of troubles for the order in Volanth?"

One of the remaining two novitiates stood up. He wore the same simple white practice garment as the other trainees.

He swallowed and said, "No, nothing definite, but there were rumors."

The other trainee coughed and shook her head slightly.

The novitiate continued, "We were told that the rumors were groundless, and that we shouldn't repeat lies."

He looked into Ember's eyes, as if trying to read her intentions.

Ember nearly flushed. "Lies they are not. Volanth chapter is destroyed, and enemies of the Enabled Hand are abroad. You can repeat that all you like, because I speak only truth."

The novitiate backed up a step and muttered an apology under his breath. He looked down and refused to meet the gaze of limber or the dwarf.

After that, the minutes passed uncomfortably. The trainees said no more, and neither did Ember. She heard Brek Gorunn mutter a prayer under his breath, asking Moradin to bequeath the blessing of tolerance.

Finally the original novitiate returned. She said, "Sister, please proceed directly to the inner dojo, the Elders' Sanctum. Two await you, Elder Cestra and Elder Vobod."

The novitiate motioned back in the direction she had come.

Ember led her friend the dwarf down the hallway without a backward glance. She was still a bit angry, but knew it was not part of the Order's code to display negative emotions. She was slightly ashamed to have been so obvious in front of novitiates.

They passed several open courtyards where monks of various degrees trained. The sounds of their exercise soothed her. She and Brek moved down a long corridor lit with lamps on either side and numerous small, closed doors. Ember remembered spending many a long day in those rooms; meditation cubicles, where a student attempted to quiet the mind and enhance inner strength. As they approached the Elders' Sanctum, she wondered about her old mentor Kairoth and why he wasn't with the other elders. In fact, it was odd that the usual quorum of five elders were not assembled in the inner dojo.

They passed a richly carved oaken lintel and entered the inner dojo. Silk screens hid the walls, though warm lights and fragrant oils burned behind them, giving the space a special ambience. Three people stood within, their hands clasped in the posture of respectful waiting. Ember wondered what activity she had interrupted with her arrival. One of the three monks wore the sash of a teacher, not an elder. Though his face was as stony as the two elders, Ember thought she detected deference in his posture, as he stood a little apart and behind the elders.

Elder Vobod stepped forward. Ember remembered him from long ago, but only barely. His head was shaved, except for a braid of gray hair that hung down his back, though his eyebrows and thin mustache were dark. His green silk robe was elegant, embroidered with many flecks of gemstone. On his finger flashed a large ring inset with a strange symbol unfamiliar to Ember.

"Be welcome in the hands of the Enabled." He motioned to the instructor, who closed the door behind Ember and Brek Gorunn. Elder Vobod smiled thinly, saying, "We prefer to keep this interview private. We know of your plight-"

Despite the breach in protocol, Ember broke in, "You know that Volanth chapter was beset and destroyed by enemies of the Hand? Not according to the novitiates minding the door."

The other elder, a human female whom Ember recognized as Elder Cestra, raised a hand and said, "Your questions have answers. Sit, calm yourself. Your words betray your emotions. The Order has taught you better."

Cestra's hair was dark, long, and gathered into a braid much lunger than Vobod's. Her eyes were dark and penetrating. Her silk tube, while elegant, was less showy than Vobod's. Ember remembered her in a kindly way, though she'd had little contact with the rider during her training.

Censured, Ember sat and said no more. She motioned for Brek Gorunn to join her.

The dwarf continued to stand, saying, "Dwarves are not suited to such contortions. I will stand, if you don't mind."

Apparently, the elders did not mind; they ignored the dwarf.

Elder Vobod looked at Ember and said, "Sister Ember, we know about the tragedy in Volanth, and you have our condolences. We share your grief."

Ember looked back at him, puzzled.

Elder Cestra said, "Sister Ember, though your journey of warning is commendable, know that we in the Motherhouse are aware of our enemies. They revealed themselves prior to the attack in Volanth. We blame ourselves for underestimating the danger these villains posed. We assumed the threat was local to the Motherhouse. Had we known that our outlying chapter houses were threatened, we would have sent word to the elders of each. We have done so now."

Ember ventured, "Why do the novices at the door speak in ignorance, knowing only rumors and lies?"

Vobod spoke. "Though the threat seems extreme, we have determined that the novitiates and those below the rank of instructor should remain ignorant, lest they be moved to fear or unwise acts that would compromise our own investigation."

"Sister Ember," said Cestra, "even now, most of the surviving elders are looking into this matter, attempting to root out those who would do us harm. So, too, are our most trusted instructors. We anticipate soon putting this terrible event behind us."