Meriah's note, like always was short and to the point. Her handwriting was like Renn's, a little too nice, and she had notched three little marks on one of the corners of it. To imply she herself has checked this cache three times since putting this note in.

A rarity. At most I usually found notes with only a single notch, maybe two. But three…? Odds are she's been frequenting here and the nearby coastal areas often.

But how could I blame her?

I was alone in the graveyard. Likely thanks to the rain. It was a cold rain, fitting for the moment. I could hear the hustle and bustle of the city around me though, even with the rain. Like most port cities, a little rain wasn't enough to truly stop people from living their lives.

Reading the note one last time, I wondered how I was so calm. I'd expected something terrible, something that would have made me break something nearby. Maybe the gravestones. Especially since more than a single person has told me Meriah has been looking for me. Yet even this had been out of my expectations.

"I'll be traveling along the coast. Find me. The sisters cannot be trusted. Fox village burnt by Light."

Crumpling the note, I squeezed it so tightly it tore and shattered.

A heavy accusation.

One that would demand absolute proof.

But I knew Meriah. I knew her well.

Even though she hated the church, particularly the Chronicler and the rest of her ilk, more than even Lilly did… I knew Meriah would not have claimed such a thing without the necessary proof. If anything, it was her very distaste and hatred for the Chronicler and the Church of Songs that made me lack any doubt of her accusation.

She herself was as ardent a believer as Rapti or Abel. Randle even admitted when it came to faith, Meriah's was unflinching. She hated the people who had shattered her family, but would not have manufactured such false lies.

Still… a part of me hoped, maybe even prayed, she was wrong.

Maybe I would get lucky and Meriah had finally broken. Maybe her hate had finally corrupted her, or maybe she had simply misunderstood or…

"Like hell," I said as I turned and stepped away from the gravestone where we hid our little messages.

Lomi's village had been burnt by Light.

It made no sense. Light may have schemes, maybe even against me… but why would she intentionally harm our own people?

I myself had only met Light on a few occasions, when she had been younger, but she had not seemed like someone with such a cruel heart. But I knew better than to think it was outright impossible for her to have become so estranged. After all she was a saint. Half the saints I knew had gone down the path of such destruction… thinking they knew better, or that it was…

"A prophecy maybe…?" I wondered.

It was the only explanation. What if Light had believed the village had to have been destroyed, less something even more horrible happened…?

But then why not contact me? Why use the church?

I needed to find Meriah fast. To find out more.

"Renn's going to be furious," I said as I left the graveyard and stepped out onto the stone road. I was in the north of the city, not far from the docks. A lot of the buildings around me were warehouses or buildings where people did business. I could smell a butcher nearby, and probably some kind of soap manufacturer. I could smell fat being boiled.

Slowing a little, I shook my head and glanced down at my hand. The little letter was a flat mess. I had been squeezing it so hard, and for so long, that it had even torn and shattered. It was already in dozens of little pieces.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to fight through my mind that was whirling.

This was heavy.

Because if Meriah was right, and Light really had burnt down Lomi's home…

Then I would have to kill her. And anyone involved.

Had Randle known…? Surely not. He had gotten so frustrated and worked up over their changing of their bible… I couldn't imagine him not throwing an even greater fit over this. Something like this would have undoubtedly been brought to my attention.

Had… had the Chronicler known…?

What had she said when I had reported it? How had she acted…?

"Wish Renn would have… been…" Wait… had she been there?

I couldn't remember. I think I had allowed Renn to enter the Chronicler's office first, when we had first returned to Telmik after Lomi's village had been destroyed… but had we talked about the village in question then?

Surely, right?

Maybe Renn would remember, or know.

She would. Her memory was flawless.

Returning to walking, now with more purpose, I picked up the pace as the rain began to fall even harder.

As I walked I slowly allowed tiny pieces of the note I had crushed to fall from my hand. I dispersed tiny pieces all over town, allowing them to fall into puddles and on the road where they'd get stepped on and ruined.

Should I check the church first? Or Rapti's home? Which was closer?

Her house.

I turned down a road, heading deeper into the town and away from the docks. I ignored the few people I passed, my mind far busier and too distracting.

Meriah was claiming Light had killed our own people. Burnt a whole village down.

"Heavy," I whispered at the idea. I've had many people over the years come to me, to tell me about hidden schemes and terrible deeds of other members. Told to me in secret, since they feared telling anyone else. A few of those had resulted in my having to kill and or banish our own members. After verifying their claims were true.

This one though…?

This may be one of the worst I've ever had propositioned to me.

By my parents I hoped she was wrong.

But if she was…

"Such false accusations would require some form of penance…" I whispered. One did not accuse someone else in the Society such a thing falsely and not suffer the consequences.

As I walked through Nevi, heading for Rapti's home, I felt strangely cold. And not because of the cold winter rain.

Fate was heading in a direction I did not want to go.

Prophecies. Monarchs. Possibly even Gods…

And now such schemes and betrayal in the Society like this…?

It was as if I was being tormented every which way.

If not for Renn I would feel desolate, like lost out at sea without sail or compass.

Slowing a little as I stepped onto the road that Rapti's home was on, I frowned at myself as I wondered about that.

I didn't have just Renn.

That was an emotional thought. A mockery of reality.

Although I no longer had many of my old allies and friends, such as Miss Beak, it wasn't as if I was actually alone. I had even found strange allies in odd places, such as with Randle, recently.

Yet…

There was no denying Renn's importance to me. And the comfort I had found in her.

It was too bad the drama wasn't over. I still had Rapti to deal with.

"Makes me miss the wars," I whispered as I approached Rapti's house.

The windows were dark, but there was some smoke now coming from one of her chimneys. No… the second one as well. Maybe one of them was warming up the bath?

No matter.

Approaching the door, I paused a moment to listen in. To judge how my next few moments would go.

For a few seconds I held my breath, and noted the light chatter coming from beyond the door and walls.

Chatter that sounded relatively fine. I heard no screams. No cries. No strange pitches of voices.

Though that didn't mean those things hadn't already happened, or wouldn't happen the moment I walked in.

Taking a small breath, I sighed at my current life and knocked on the door.

As I did I noticed a single piece of the note left on my hand. Stuck between fingers. I pried it out and stared at the tiny piece, one that was rolled up and unnoticeable now thanks to it being half soaked and half torn.

The door opened, and I lowered my hand and stared at two looks of pure worry.

Rapti stood at the door, and Renn behind her down the hall. Renn was peering at us from around one of the doorways, and her ears were flickering wildly in stress… and Rapti…

"Vim…" Rapti said my name with a low voice, one that told me more than her look of utter heartbreak did.

"Rapti. Normally I'd not ask, but I've found in today's time it is needed. May I come in?" I asked.

Rapti's look of worry shifted into one of confusion. "Wait… ask what?"

"If I can come into your home…?" I asked again. Was she going to tell me no?

I ignored Renn's odd look as Rapti shifted and stepped back. "Of course you can Vim… are you saying recently there have been members who have denied you entry into their homes?" she asked with an odd tone.

"Mhm…" I nodded as I entered, and made sure to not get too close to her. I was soaked, having stood in the rain so long.

I went to undo my outer layer, to hang it up near Renn's heavy cloak nearby as Rapti shut the door behind me.

"So it's already gotten that bad…?" Rapti whispered as she locked her front door.

Renn stepped out into the hallway as I finished taking off my outer layer and went to take off my shoes.

"How have you been Rapti? I'm glad to see neither you or her are a sobbing mess," I said lightly.

"Oh my! But we had been, just earlier!" Rapti said happily, which made me glance at Renn.

Renn smiled and nodded at me. "We cried our hearts out already, Vim. You've been gone for a few hours."

Have I been…?

Possibly. I had stood in that graveyard for some time, stunned.

"Glad I missed it," I said as I finished taking my shoes off. As I went to walk into the house, I noted that my right sock was wet. I shifted a little, and realized it wasn't just wet… it was soaked.

Which meant my right shoe had ripped somewhere. Renn and I had gotten new travel gear in Telmik, before leaving. We had shopped together for them, yet…

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"Did you step in a puddle, Vim?" Rapti asked as she watched me take off the socks.

"Not that I know of."

"Then you need new shoes," Rapti said plainly.

"What! Again? Already?" Renn complained.

Ignoring the two, I sighed as I turned to look at Rapti.

She stood up straighter, her eyes narrowing at me as I noticed the tells of her earlier weeping. Her eyes were slightly red, and her cheeks had been recently wiped with a wet cloth.

"Know that no matter what has happened… or will, Rapti, I do not blame you. I do not fault you. You, just like everyone else, have the right to ask questions. Even if the answers to those questions hurt, or can't be given," I said.

Her eyes widened and she took a small breath, but said nothing. She stood there for a moment, staring at me with eyes of wonder… as I nodded gently at her.

"I swear, on my parents, I'll make sure that no matter the outcome of all of this… You will be okay. I vow it," I said.

The sound of nails on wood drew my eyes, and I found Renn had reached out and grabbed the wall. She looked odd standing there, holding herself up, but seemed fine. I looked away and found Rapti had bowed.

Uh oh.

That was not a bow of forgiveness…

"O' Great One… thank you for your mercy… And please, may it extend to what I must say next."

I shifted, and heard Renn make an odd noise. I didn't glance at her though as I stared down at Rapti who slowly lifted her head, but only enough to look me in the eye. She still was bent forward, still bowing.

As if I was one of those bishops or statues she prayed to.

She seemed to wait for me to say something, but I didn't.

I couldn't.

Not yet.

Rapti must have taken my silence as acceptance, for she then took another small breath and nodded… and then looked back down, bowing further again.

"You need to stop hiding your existence. The Society crumbles as you play mortal. It is an insult to not just our loyalty and desire, but your purpose. If not take the crown, at least take the pedestal. So that the Society may flourish," Rapti said.

Oh boy… here we go again.

The worst part was she had spoken so fluidly. So smoothly. This had not been rehearsed, or well the words may have been considered, but the act had not been. That little request had come from her soul. It had been pure. Honest.

Real.

It made me sick.

I had not thought Rapti the one to do this next, but in a way it made sense. She was so very faithful to her religion… and well… Sometimes those like her misunderstood. But it was not their fault, not entirely.

I was so private about certain things. I kept so many secrets… so I understood how they made such mistakes. I really did.

"Rapti…" Renn whispered, lowly enough that odds are Rapti may not have even heard her. Especially since I could hear Rapti's heartbeat, even with the rain loudly falling onto the house and world around us.

"Raise your head, Rapti," I said gently.

She didn't.

Reaching out, I gently placed my hand on Rapti's shoulder. She didn't even twitch at my touch, which told me how steady her heart and soul was at the moment. Most others would have faltered just then. I'd seen it before.

"I… hear what you are saying, Rapti. I do."

She finally shifted. She lifted her head a little, to meet my eyes. Her pupils were wide, as if in awe.

I nodded at her. "You are not the first to say such things to me. And… I'm sure you will not be the last. Far from it," I said.

"Then…!" Rapti stood up a little more, and I squeezed her shoulder a little and shook my head at her.

"I will be honest with you Rapti, if you promise to take what I am about to say to your grave," I said.

She blinked, and Renn stepped forward.

Holding her eyes, I saw the devotion in Rapti's eyes. Not really to me, but her faith. Her beliefs.

She nodded, and I believed her.

"I'm not a god, Rapti," I said. Her eyebrows furrowed, in a way that told me that she had not believed me at all. Yet before she could argue, I raised a hand to stop her. "That being said… I am special. In my own way. Imagine me as something between a monarch and a normal man. Or well, normal non-human," I said.

Rapti clenched her jaw as she glared at me for a moment, and then sighed at me. "You made me vow to secrecy and that's all you reveal? That you're a little special…? Without even the how or why?" she asked.

"Right!" Renn agreed with her, making both me and Rapti to look at her.

"Don't take her side," I said exasperatedly.

"Oh I am! That was absolutely rude, Vim. Though… I think he's basically saying he's something similar to a monarch, Rapti," Renn said.

"I figured. Yet Vim… you once told me monarchs are akin to the angels in my gospel. Gods in their own way. You basically just admitted then, that you are indeed, a form of a god," Rapti said.

What…?

Had I said something like that?

Maybe. I sighed as I stepped away from Rapti and deeper into the house. I walked down the hall, passing Renn who was giving me a look.

"I'm going to sit down. My head hurts."

"Don't run! This is serious!" Renn shouted at me.

"I'm not running. I'm in fact sitting, the opposite of running," I said as I entered the small living area. The fireplace was going, and the table between the chairs and couches already had plates and cups of food and drink upon it.

I noted Renn's inner layers on one of the chairs in a slight mess. Some of her bags were there too. I went ahead and put a few of my own down next to them, and then went to sit down in one of the single chairs. So that neither Renn nor Rapti could sit next to me and bug me.

"I see what you mean, Renn," Rapti said softly as she and Renn entered the room.

"Vim…!" Renn yelled at me as she hurried to stand in front of me. I smiled up at her, relaxing in her glare. It allowed me to not think about anything for a moment as she fumed at me. "This isn't a time for you to be so…!" Renn made a noise as she gestured at me.

So what…? I wanted to ask, but knew she didn't have a word to really describe me. At least, likely not one that wasn't very rude.

"I'm not a god Renn. I really am not one. A god can do things you can't even imagine. If I was capable of such feats, trust me I'd be using them right now," I said. First thing I'd do is wipe out every monarch still left, for one.

Renn hesitated as Rapti stepped past her and went to sit on the couch across from where I sat. She did so gently, with grace. A far cry from my wife who looked as strung as a cat.

Her tail was twitching around like mad, and it almost made me want to reach out and grab it. It sometimes got close enough for me to do so, since it was so long.

"Even if you're not a god, Vim, you are still something greater than us. So my statement still stands, and it is still the truth. If you just took your rightful place in the Society, no… the world, then a lot of our problems could not just be dealt with but avoided altogether," Rapti said as she sat up straight and proper.

I sighed at her. "You are telling me to enforce my will onto others, Rapti. Even disregarding everything else, you should know full well what I think about such a thing."

She nodded. "I do. But I also know, as per the words in my gospel, that the will of the higher powers are divine. Your will, even if imposed with the rule of force, is the correct one. So it is justifiable," Rapti said.

Damn zealot.

"You'd be okay with Vim forcing the Society to do what he wants?" Renn asked Rapti.

She nodded, rather simply. "Yes? Especially since it will put an end to all the chaos and conflict. Just think of how many deaths, how many losses, could be avoided if Vim just… took his rightful place?" Rapti asked.

Renn shifted, her tail slowing in its twitching and swaying, and I was glad to see the utter discomfort so readily visible on her face.

She really didn't like Rapti's idea, at all.

And that made me rather proud.

"I'll not force my will in such a way, Rapti. And before you argue that a god has divine right over us lesser creatures, then I'd like to formally introduce you to those at the Summit or the many other locations who had suffered terribly under such rule," I said.

Rapti shifted, her eyes narrowing in a way that told me I had touched a nerve. "I… do not argue that gods can be cruel, Vim. But I know you are not that kind of evil. You may need to do a few… questionable things, I'm sure, to right the course of the Society but…" Rapti raised her hands, as if to somehow explain how I could do such a supposed thing.

See…? Always the same arguments, without any of the actual steps to fulfill such tasks. They always either neglected outright, or spoke in roundabout ways such as Rapti was doing.

Yet the moment I tried to do what they wanted, the minute I started killing or beating submission into the world around me, they'd be the first to cry foul.

Been there done that.

"As much as I hate to agree with her Vim… Rapti does have a point," Renn then said.

"Oh not you too," I said, unable to keep my real thoughts to myself.

Rapti tilted her head at me, but I ignored her as Renn's ears fluttered and she nodded at me. "Yes. Rapti might not be… saying these things for the right reasons, with her misplaced belief, but the fact is you are more than you appear to be Vim. If you just… slightly, somewhat a bit, forced people to listen to you I bet you could do a lot of good," Renn said.

"This is why some societies don't let their wives mingle without supervision," I said.

Renn gave me a look. "What…? That sounds horrible. Do you actually believe such a thing?" she asked.

"Well… no…" I admitted. "Okay, that had been a bad joke. But my point is Renn, don't let Rapti and the rest corrupt you. I have many faults, and am more than happy to sit and talk about them, but my lack of forcing my will on people is not one of them. And that is a hill I will die on, a thousand times over," I said.

"I'm not saying you should actually force your will Vim… just… be a guidepost. Something for our people to look up to, a higher power is a great unifier. Even you have to admit that," Rapti said.

"I do. Most of the greatest nations to ever exist did so by rallying behind a great figure. People get a strange sense of fulfillment when following someone they consider divine, or of great importance. To the point they'll endure things unthinkable, and accomplish feats impossible. But my agreement with Celine, to the Society, was not for me to lead. I protect. That is all I do. I am the protector, not the king. Not the ruler. Not the founder or symbol," I said.

"Is… is that what most of this is about for you? The fact your contract with Celine doesn't include such duties…? Does that mean if it had, you'd be willing to attempt fixing the Society?" Renn asked with an odd voice.

My first instinct was to scoff at her, but then I realized she was right.

Hesitating a moment… I frowned at myself and then begrudgingly nodded. "Yes… I suppose you're right. If I had agreed to it, then yes, I would have done so. But I would not have agreed to it, Renn. No matter what, in any form, or any circumstances. I did that once before. It almost caused the world to end. I'll not do it again," I said.

Renn tilted her head ever so slightly at me, and I noted the way her ears perked up… and then I realized what I had just said to her.

Kicking myself, I glanced at Rapti and found her staring at me with intense eyes. Fully focused on me.

Shit.

Taking a small breath, I feigned a sigh… as if I hadn't cared that I had just revealed something very important.

It was one thing to reveal it to Renn. But Rapti…? Even if she had vowed to keep it a secret…

Coughing, before Renn or Rapti could say anything, I gestured lightly at myself. "It doesn't matter. None of this does. The vote, won't matter, because I plan to…" I was about to say it, but Renn shouted wordlessly and rushed towards me.

I sat up straighter as Renn planted her hands over my mouth, rather roughly, and she hissed at me. "Don't you dare say it!" she shouted at me.

Stunned, I found myself lost in her huge eyes as she kept pushing onto my mouth, as to keep me from speaking. She was doing so hard enough that had I been a normal man she may have just broken my neck.

"You…" Rapti whispered, and Renn went stiff. She and I glanced at Rapti, and I watched with interest as I saw the obvious look of shock on her face. "You plan to step down!" she whispered in shock.

Renn let out a loud whine of a groan as she slowly released my mouth. "Damn you, Vim," she said worriedly, her face contorted as if she was about to cry.

"What…? I told you Renn, and…" she reached out to grab my mouth again. This time though she did so gently, too gently to actually stop me from talking… yet I went silent all the same.

She held her hand over my mouth as she looked to Rapti. "Yes. He plans to step down as protector. He foolishly believes the chaos will end if he does, or rather that the chaos and discord will grow worse if he doesn't," she said.

Rapti shook her head as she stood up. "That's foolish!"

"I know! But he's so damned obstinate!" Renn shouted in agreement.

I glared at the two. "You tell me to impose my will and are now upset I'm doing so?" I asked. My voice sounded odd since I spoke into Renn's hand.

She gave me an odd look, one I kind of liked for some reason. Was she bothered by the feel of my breath on her hand?

"That's not imposing your will Vim, that's you running away from the problem," Rapti said.

"Right!" Renn agreed.

I rolled my eyes and leaned back a little as I grabbed Renn's wrist. She didn't fight me as I pushed her hand away a bit, yet she kept it in front of my face and didn't pull it back.

"Listen… that might not even be what happens anyway… not after what I might learn soon," I said.

The two glanced at each other and back at me. "What do you mean?" Renn asked.

"When was the last time Meriah was here, Rapti?" I asked.

"Not long ago. She's been waiting for you for months Vim. She's stressed, though as you know she never tells me anything. I know it's serious though, since she's been coming around more often than not. You know what she's like, so for her to visit so often is telling," Rapti said.

I nodded. That sounded right. "Well… a lot can change depending on what she has to say to me. So I'll reserve words until I meet her, but just know, Renn, things might change. A lot," I said.

Renn frowned at me as her ears fluttered. "In… in a good way? Are you now considering staying the protector?" she asked, hopefully.

"Maybe. We'll see."

She instantly relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness."

"Yes. I take back what I said earlier. You need not declare yourself a divine authority, Vim… just don't leave. Please," Rapti said as she clasped her hands.

Renn made a noise as she squirmed a little, as if she wanted to walk away or something.

While the two acted oddly for a moment, I sat back a little and released Renn's hand. The moment I did she hurriedly snaked her hand into mine, clasping it tightly.

Renn gave me a strained smile as she nodded, as if telling me she agreed with Rapti.

"By the way where's Crane? I don't even smell her," I said, realizing I didn't smell the bird at all.

Rapti startled… and then slowly sat back down with a sad smile. "I no longer call her my friend, Vim. She's not been here in months."

Oh…? I glanced at Renn, and she squeezed my hand without looking at me. She was staring at Rapti with a sad look. One that told me she had already heard about Crane.

I see. They had already had long talks about all of this, hadn't they?

Made sense. It had felt like they had tag-teamed me just now.

Though the way neither of them were hurriedly bringing up Meriah's information told me that neither knew. But that wasn't surprising. Meriah wouldn't tell anyone but me such a fact. Even if it had been of far lesser of importance, she would not have revealed it to anyone. She didn't trust anyone.

Which was why I trusted her.

"And the book I gave you?" I asked, right before Renn was about to say something. She flicked her head towards me, and I wondered which had offended her more. My interrupting of her, again, or what I'd just asked for.

"Well…" Rapti hesitated, which made me frown, but Renn laughed at me.

"She gave it to me. I knew you'd ask for it! I'll let you destroy it Vim, but only after I've read it," Renn said with a grin, one of victory.

My eye twitched.

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