The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

Chapter 9

“You’re too tense,” said Rose, usingher most soothing tone.

“Who could relax with someone hoveringover them all the time telling them that they’re tense?” respondedDorian with a bit too much emphasis.

Rose bit back an angry response andinstead removed her hands from his shoulders. She rarely lost hertemper, but that action was enough to communicate herfeelings.

Dorian caught her hand before shecould move away, “I’m sorry. You’re right.”

“You aren’t the only one under a lotof stress,” she reminded him.

“I know,” he agreed. “I just don’tlike the turn things have taken since Mort died.”

“Which things? The resurgence of thefour churches, or the Council of Lords putting pressure on theKing?” she asked.

“Both, but especially the new‘miracles’ that the churches are claiming. We know for a fact thatCelior is still sealed away in that magic gem of Mort’s, andKarenth is in the Iron Heart Chamber. So how can they be appearingand giving commands to their followers?” he said, restating some ofthe news they had heard.

Rose nodded, “You already know mytheory.”

“That one of the other gods hasstepped in to impersonate them?”

“Mm hmm,” she replied.

He studied her facecarefully. Dorian had been blessed to marry one of the mostintelligent women in the kingdom—one of the most intelligentpeople, man or woman. Hehad learned to trust her insights over the years. “There’s stillsomething missing though; the motive doesn’t make sense. If one ofthe other gods wanted to expand their power they should be usingtheir own name, to sway believers.”

“That depends on the agency behindthis, and their ultimate goal. Stealing followers would be the bestway to increase relative power, for one of the Shining Gods, butaccording to what Penny and Mort told us last year, Mal’goroth ison an entirely different level of power now. He might not care, andaccording to what we learned in the past, he cannot gain powerdirectly from human worshippers, not without sacrifices,” sheexplained.

Dorian rubbed at his neck, trying toease the tension in it. “So you think it’s Mal’goroth?”

She shook her head negatively, “Wecan’t make that assumption. I was merely giving one possibility. Wedon’t have enough information to guess at all the possiblemotivations the other gods might have. Perhaps Millicenth or Doronis trying to create civil unrest without drawing blame on their ownfollowers?”

“To what end?”

“Civil war. A change in our governancemight allow them to restore their former place within Albamarl andwithin our kingdom,” she posited.

Dorian sighed, “And no matter which ofthem is doing it, and for whatever reason, it’s creating a lot ofdifficulties for James amongst the nobility.”

“Which is the other side of the coin,”noted Rose. “One of the lords could be behind it, hoping to usurpthe throne with backing from the churches.”

“Only Tremont has enough power toclaim it, and he has no way to heal the sick or fake a divinerevelation,” countered Dorian.

“You are too honest, Dearest. You haveno way of imagining the deceptions some men are capable of,” sheanswered while leaning in to kiss her husband’s cheek.

Dorian chuckled, “Or some women,eh?”

She nipped his ear lightly, “Be gladI’m on your side.”

He grew more serious. “I am. Sincelosing Marc, and then Mort—I don’t know what I’d do without…,” hebegan.

“Shhh,” she abjured him. “Let’s notstart down that road. It only leads to dark thoughts and things aregloomy enough these days. I spoke to Father and his men have beenput on alert. Some of my personal contacts have reported strangemovements in the city.”

“Are you referring to Mordecai?”Dorian asked.

“No,” she said, waving her hand toindicate that she meant something entirely different. “Unusualgroups of people, usually men, congregating at oddhours.”

“A precursor to riots?”

“The city watch reported them first,and they don’t seem like mobs. The groups are too small, ten andtwenty at a time. My contacts within the city have indicated thatmost of the men in these groups appear to be strangers rather thancitizens,” she said, elaborating.

“Has there been an excessive influx ofpeople at the gates?” suggested Dorian.

“That’s the first thing Fathersuspected, but it’s difficult to tell. If someone is sneaking alarge number of men into the city, they’ve done it so carefullythat no one has noticed it yet,” she replied.

Dorian Thornbear’s jaw clenched for amoment, “I really wish James had listened to me now.”

“He rejected yourproposal?”

He nodded. “I don’t understand hisreasoning.”

Rose smiled, “He’s making a show ofstrength.”

“It won’t matter if he’s dead! Howdoes refusing my offer of protection show strength?” arguedDorian.

Lady Rose ignored his questionentirely. She went to the sideboard instead where she poured twocups of wine, the second cup she mixed with a portion of water froma pitcher. She handed the first to her husband, sipping from thewatered cup herself. “You’re getting upset again. Drink that. Itwill help loosen you up before dinner, otherwise you’re liable toget indigestion again,” she told him.

Her husband glared at her for a momentbefore accepting the cup. “You still haven’t answered myquestion.”

“Since Mordecai’s death his positionhas gotten weaker and with the new resurgence of miracles andappearances, the church is gaining power, not just among thecommoners, but also among the nobility. You, and the Knights ofStone, are seen as representatives of Mordecai, since he foundedyour order. Consequently you are presumed to be enemies of thegods. Your presence guarding the King would antagonize thepro-church nobles and stir more trouble with the populace. It wouldalso signify that the King believes his own men are no longersufficient to keep him safe,” she explained. Taking a long draughtfrom her cup she then finished, “Not accepting your offer avoidsthose problems and conveys a sense of confidence andstrength.”

Dorian considered her words. As usualshe made sense, not that it changed his opinion. “Why didn’t yougive me your argument before I went to see James thismorning?”

“Would you have altered yourplans?”

He laughed, “Not a bit. What would youhave counseled him?”

It was Rose’s turn to laugh then, “Iwould have tried to convince him likewise. I fear that the presentdangers outweigh the political exigencies.”

“You would have made an excellentqueen,” Dorian told his wife. He said it as a joke, but he meant itas a serious compliment. “Your mind understands both the politicsas well as the practice of ruling.”

“I would be a terrible queen. Ioveranalyze