Chapter 179
THE FORGOTTEN FIELDS (NOVEL) – CHAPTER 179
The woman looked toward the altar with eyes full of resentment, and then drew a provocative smile directed at him.
—Maybe I should come in a beryshin outfit next time?
His face tightened coldly.
The beryshin was a traditional oriental garment that left much of the upper body exposed. With the simple act of imagining her crossing the great nave of the chapel wearing a delicate silk robe that completely exhibited her shoulders and her back, he felt something boiling deep within his chest.
—Don’t even dream about it.
He said it with a low and categorical voice, so Talia’s countenance shifted to a frustrated one.
—It was just a joke. There is no need for you to get so serious.
He did not answer her; he knew all too well that she was not entirely joking. Even from before injuring her leg, she used to appear on occasions in garments that generated controversy and unleashed a stir.
The Talia of now seemed identical to that rebellious girl of that time. He could not manage to judge whether he should be glad for this change or beware of it. He did not want her to remain secluded in the castle evading people’s gazes, but at the same time he did not wish for her to go around causing trouble exhibiting her beauty everywhere. Particularly when he had to prevent her from clashing with the spiritual leader of the people of the East.
—I intend to meet with the high priest separately after concluding the ceremony, to discuss the matter of that beast… Khan.
He tilted his head toward her considerably to ensure that his voice would not drown among the melodies of the choir.
—I will negotiate well with him so that he does not dare to blame you because of Khan again, so I beg you to refrain from actions that provoke unnecessary friction with the church.
—… Actually, I did not intend to cause real trouble.
Bewilderment appeared on her face suddenly, and she lowered her eyes timidly.
—If they overlook the presence of Khan, I have no intention of infuriating that old-fashioned old man.
Varkas settled into the seat after calming down due to the docility of her posture. At that precise moment, the singing of the choir ceased and the high priest went up to the pulpit.
The clergyman began by pronouncing a prayer of blessing in the ancient language of Ossiria, then examined the attendees slowly before starting his sermon with a deep and resonant voice:
—Today, I wish to speak about temptation. There exist in this world innumerable temptations that lead humans toward sin. And we must always remain vigilant before them.
Soon, the clergyman began to elaborate speaking about the seductions of the flesh that guide man toward perdition, and the dangers of a captivating beauty that paralyzes reason.
Varkas, who contemplated with coldness the severe face of the high priest, observed the features of his wife. Talia, who at first looked relieved because the sermon did not constitute a warning about the dangers of beasts, began to tighten her face gradually. She seemed to have realized that the high priest’s darts were aimed at her, just when everyone in the chapel began to spy on her out of the corner of their eyes.
Varkas held the back of her hand, placed on the armrest of the chair, with caution.
—Don’t worry. I will not allow him to speak that way again.
Talia moved her lips as if she wished to utter some word, but she limited herself to nodding her head.
He returned his gaze toward the altar. The clergyman continued launching open and biting criticisms toward her with a potent voice. And it seemed that the majority of the faithful in the chapel found themselves absorbed in his sermon.
It was evident that he had to speak with him as soon as possible.
After forcing his wife, who insisted on waiting for him, to get into the carriage to return to the castle, Varkas headed directly to the residence of the high priest. As if the man had been awaiting his visit, a young clergyman who seemed to be his secretary led him to the reception room without delay.
—It is a pleasure to see you after a long absence, Duke.
Upon entering the modest and elegant room, the high priest received him wearing a simple gray tunic instead of the prayer robes. Varkas responded with a slight inclination of his head and then sat opposite. The clergyman placed before him a cup of tea from which steam was rising and drew a polite smile.
—News of your deeds in the north have reached our ears. I wish to express my gratitude for the dedication of the Duke in favor of the Empire. Undoubtedly the Creator has contemplated you with pleasure.
—I have not come here to listen to such hollow words.
The old man’s face darkened upon hearing the rude response while he raised the cup of tea to his lips. Varkas went straight to the point:
—Let’s get to the point. Stop the unjustified attacks against my wife.
—Why do you take for granted that they are unjustified? —objected the high priest with an incisive tone—. Duke, you do not know the reality of the facts. The church of the East is being tolerant to the limit right now. If it were not for my intervention, the courts of the inquisition would have already been established.
Varkas rectified his posture after having been leaning on the back of the chair. That constituted an explicit threat toward her safety.
Repressing the desire to crush the rigid face of the clergyman, he drew an expression as if he had heard a joke:
—You are exaggerating the matter far too much. My wife only raises a simple wolf. If one had to appear before a court for such a reason, the magicians of the continent of Loviden would have already gone extinct.
—Those treat beasts as simple materials for their experiments. But the Grand Duchess treats that “giant wolf” like a child.
The priest, who responded with a severe tone, let out a long sigh:
—Having turned a blind eye to the actions of the Duchess until now was born from my compassion for her state. Right after the loss of her child, I witnessed closely how afflicted the young Duchess was, and for that reason I feigned ignorance while she poured her affection over that dangerous creature.
—Then, continue feigning ignorance in the future too —replied Varkas with a somewhat coarse accent—. I will take all possible measures to guarantee that that wolf does not cause any trouble. Therefore, I hope no one bothers my wife again from now on.
—The matter does not concern only that horrendous beast —the clergyman left the cup of tea and let out a heavy sigh—. Undoubtedly Your Excellency will have received reports about the constant outings of the Grand Duchess since last spring. Perhaps it may have been to accompany the wolf, but… the Grand Duchess frequented the rural lands outside the walls of the castle.
—What problem is there with her going out for a walk outside the castle to clear her head?
—There exist testimonies of eyewitnesses that confirm the attendance of the Grand Duchess at pagan congregations celebrated in those remote regions.
A dreadful silence settled into the place. Varkas remained pinning his gaze on the face of the clergyman for a bit without moving, before letting out a subtle sarcastic laugh.
—Your joke is in bad taste.
—I do not dispose of enough time as to go around joking that way before the Duke —continued the priest with gravity—. This is not a simple comment from the rumors that run through the markets. It treats of the content of a report that the investigators of the inquisition themselves delivered to me.
Varkas launched a sharp response immediately:
—My wife finds herself rigorously protected by the warriors of the Shirkan family. Especially when going out, I ordered dozens of soldiers to escort her. Are you affirming that my wife mocked all those guards to attend a pagan congregation?
—According to the investigators, the meetings were celebrated at the edge of dawn. Is it not feasible that the Duchess sneaked out of the castle while everyone slept?
—That is a calumny and a defamation devoid of foundations —Varkas lowered his voice as if growling—. The high priest knows perfectly well that my wife’s leg is not in good condition, and that she is barely beginning to recover her health. Are you saying that she evaded all the lookouts and left the castle? —he let out an evident mocking laugh—. Even the argument written by a third-rate poet would be superior to this.
—I do not intend to verify the veracity of the matter here now. I only wish that the Duchess cease controversial actions before the problem increases.
The clergyman leaned back in the chair with tiredness:
—Additionally, I hope that the family of the Duke cooperates in suppressing the heresies that have begun to propagate alarmingly since a few years ago.
Varkas let out an exasperated laugh:
—Are you accusing my wife of heresy and requesting at the same time the cooperation of the family of the Duke?
—If the Duke eradicates the pagans in the East, the suspicions directed toward the Grand Duchess will vanish naturally —the high priest tried to convince him with flexibility—. Furthermore, according to recent reports, signs of complicity have been sighted between the pagans and the barbarians. For the sake of the security of the citizens, the family of the Duke must undertake a campaign to purge them.
Varkas brought a hand to the space between his eyebrows due to the succession of annoying news. He did not fully trust the words of this astute clergyman, but he considered that taking care of the matter by himself was preferable to seeing the heresy hunters sent by the pope of Ossiria committing outrages in the region.
After a prolonged reflection, he opened his mouth finally:
—All right. But I have one condition.
—Go ahead.
—Destroy that report that the investigators of the inquisition delivered. And if the day comes when the words you have told me today are repeated in the mouths of others… —suddenly, Varkas’s gaze deepened with coldness—, we will find ourselves face to face in an environment much less cordial than this.
The clergyman’s mouth tightened for an instant, and then he nodded his head:
—… I will take it into consideration.
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