* * *
Gef paced as he waited for the Head Priest to come and tell him why he’d been summoned.
“Why me?” Gef asked as soon as Auras entered the room. “I’ve done yer bidding again and again. It’s someone else’s time.”
The Priest at least had the courtesy to look abashed. “You have the… ah… background to know how to accomplish this sort of thing.”
“Because I used to be a thief? I paid for that. I’m a good citizen now. Haven’t I paid my bloody taxes like I’m supposed to?” Gef seethed at this disruption to his life and the fact that the Priests would never let him forget his past.
“Yes. And that’s why we chose you. You have the skills we need from your previous life and now you’ve proven your loyalty to us. Now listen, a child appeared in a sacred vision and proved to be a vile threat to the Brotherhood and our village. Have you ever heard of the Prophecy of Silar?”
Gef blinked in confusion. “Of course, but the child in that prophecy is supposed to bring prosperity.”
“The Spirits have shown otherwise. This child will have wondrous powers and it will appear that she uses them to bring Good, but her true goal is to destroy the Priesthood and stand in our stead.”
Gef shook his head in dismay.
Auras glared at Gef. “She must be stopped. When we cleanse her here, before all the people, they will understand the importance of the Priesthood and thank us for our fearlessness in confronting this evil!”
“Kill ‘er, you mean. Kill the child of the prophecy that everyone’s been waiting for!” Disgust lined Gef’s face.
“Sacrifice. It’s the only way to protect our way of life. You may not realize, Gef, but the understanding of prophecy is a delicate matter. When a prophecy nears fruition, its true meanings often become clearer. You are the only one we trust to do this. We’re counting on you.” Auras rubbed his hands together.
Gef sighed. “What’s the plan?”
“We have a boat that will take you across the sea to Lysis, a three day journey. From there, we’ve arranged a peddler’s cart for you to take to Silar so you can spirit the child away.”
Considering the Priest’s offer, Gef said, “I’ll need help.”
“We have the funds for that.”
Gef thought aloud. “I’ll need someone to go with me to Silar. I’ll need extra hands on that job. And a woman, I think, to watch the child on the journey back over the sea.”
The Priest nodded in agreement. “We will pay you 6,000 getlaks. With that you should be able to hire a couple of lackeys and still have a fortune for yourself. We will pay you one third now. The rest will be paid when you return and hand over the child. And this is to be kept quiet. Do you understand the need for discretion?”
“All they need to hear is the coins jingle. They won’t want to know more.”
Gef roughly accepted the getlaks to hide his excitment. He never expected such an amount.
Once outside, Gef grinned as he headed home. He knew exactly who he wanted on his crew. Though no blood relations, Magdalah and Krell were the closest thing to family he had. This money would soften the years ahead for them all. Magdalah had been like a sister to him. And then there was Krell. Not too quick, except with his dagger, but always willing to help Gef when needed. Somehow, after so many years, they’d bonded into family. After this job, they’d be set for life. They could get out of Pentra and out of the reach of the Priests.
‘Yes,’ he thought, ‘life will be good once this is behind us.’