Deceit

Silence once more captured us. Even composed, Geth appeared to be at as much of a loss as the other two. Which if I’m honest made sense. I don’t think age helps anymore with preparing yourself for death, especially when it’s forecasted clearly. Perhaps in a way, I might have thought they might have been more at peace with it, but they were all visibly shaken. If this affected them that much, how were we going to tell the village? How were they going to act? What would happen?

But worse for us was the time limit. I could just say what Ministra told me, but the fallout from everyone would be disastrous. We had no plan. It was going to be on us to answer questions and help, but how do you do that when you’re equally terrified? It didn’t make any sense.

I looked to Priest Geth holding my hands together to keep them from shaking. “Am I speaking to the village or did you want to change things?”

He nodded slowly. I wondered if he might have been even more frightened than the others, but just frozen. Geth looked pretty stoic despite everything. “You’re right… We can’t very well address them like this.”

“You can’t say that!” shouted Cathlin. He had recovered enough to find his voice once more. Though even as he spoke his voice rattled deeply. “Ministra speaks in riddles and complexities with meanings we can’t understand. All this will do is frighten and scare people! We must see the wisdom in Her words!”

“Head Priest, what hidden meaning do you see?” I think he was just too scared to admit the truth. But he was experienced. More than me. Did he see something that I couldn’t? The value of age illuminated more than learning sometimes.

The elderly man pulled away from Geth, somehow gaining some confidence. I didn’t know where he sought it, but he piled it on like layers of furs to keep warm. The shaking and pale skin washed away leaving only fierce certainty. Had he seen something actually? There’s a meaning within Her words? The end means something else, yes?

“It’s a trial for us. We must identify this “Termination” and in doing so we be able to succeed in preventing it from happening. She would never give us a prophecy that just ends.”

Dammit, he had no answers! “She says that She won’t speak further! This is the last prophecy from Her!”

“Because when we overcome Her challenge, we will be considered in no need of Her shepherding. We’ll be developed enough to no longer need Her divine guidance to survive.” The more he spoke the more firm and determined he sounded. He almost didn’t look like the same man as before.

I wish I could say that the way She spoke didn’t convey the words in such a manner, but it was even and measured, strictly maintained in perfect delivery. It was clear and direct without emotion. But She was beyond their understanding. They couldn’t apply human concepts to God. So I couldn’t disagree with his analysis. It was possible. “But we have no information to go on about what the Termination is. When She wants us to overcome something She gives us more clues so that we can solve it.”

“Such is the final test. We’ll have to find the answer on our own, Speaker.”

“If you’re right and we can’t, we’re still going to die!”

“We’ve continued all these centuries under Her tutelage, this will be no different. You’re still young, Speaker. You can’t see things as I do.” I saw things clearly enough before. You looked on death’s door itself only a minute before. I don’t know what shored up your body and mind, but that’s the only thing keeping you standing.

Turning to Geth and Flaita, they only had similar affirming looks. Had Cathlin’s reasoning given them the necessary strength? How can you be so certain of this answer? “What is it you wish to do then?”

Cathlin picked up my hands. He tried to give me a comforting smile even as I doubted everything still, but there was no fighting it. They all looked in agreement now. “We’ll take this burden upon ourselves, Speaker. You’re understandably shaken still by Her grace. We will give assurance to everyone.”

Assurance? What can you possibly assume right now? Even if you’re correct, you have no clue what the Termination is. You’ll have to call a meeting of the other Priests to even discuss this and who knows if they’re in agreement. We don’t know how they have interpreted Her wisdom.

But what could I do? When a message couldn’t be understood it came down to a decision between the four of us. And it didn’t have to be a consensus. They were the seniors and experienced in their own rights. I had to bow and follow.

With their agreement, we walked out of the Sanctum. The main chamber remained empty for our privacy. Far more decorated than the simple Sanctum, the walls had the Pillar along with scenes from distant lands claiming to be where Ministra descended. Not that anyone had seen such a place. But it was where Ministra’s Pillar was and what ours was based on.

Soon I saw heads peeking out from around the threshold. Everyone glowed with energy and expectation, just like the Priests before. Would that warmth still remain in them afterward? I could only pray for them.

“Head Priest! Speaker! What has She said?”

I remained at the rear with the three flanked in front of me. So I couldn’t see how Cathlin looked, but he had a firm grasp from what I heard as he spoke to the young Acolyte. “Ministra has spoken. Speaker Eshikra conveyed Her words to us. You’ll hear with everyone what we can look forward to this year!” I swear he almost sounded excited. How deluded had he built himself up? We still faced a great unknown in his interpretation. I don’t see that as something to be thrilled about. But I’m just the Speaker, I guess.

Outside, I saw the frightening sea of faces all familiar to me. Last year, I spoke to them all, my first time as Speaker. Ministra words had been a little difficult to understand, but I learned that a change in weather for a prolonged period would cause a seven month drought in the region. While I didn’t have to do anything myself, it did force trades and negotiations to survive the threatening year. We had enough stores and trade to survive, but this year wasn’t going to be like this.

I felt confident, but scared to speak before everyone last year. The Priests put the support behind me and gave every encouragement even as I fumbled through my words. But we persevered. I didn’t know if I could say the same thing this year. And yet Cathlin just walked out in unbroken step. How could he do that? Did he not feel anything about what he would say?

Geth and Flaita stayed on his sides as Cathlin came to the edge of the platform. A couple of steps rolled down connecting to the dirt road. He barely had even a head over anyone in the gathered crowd, but most could still see him. The village was small enough that it wasn’t impossible.

“People of Linoth, Ministra has spoken!” He paused letting the crowd’s eagerness for knowledge boil up. I squeezed my hands, keeping near the threshold just watching. Far to the right I caught mother and father out in front looking a little confused, no doubt hopeful for me. I’m sorry, I just can’t say it. Even if they insisted, I wouldn’t be able to deliver Her voice to the people with the shaking of my heart. I’m sorry.

Cathlin directed a hand back to me. “Speaker Eshikra brought us Her word! And She sees a great potential for us this year! She has seen to task us in our final trial that we must overcome together! Together in harmony, reason and logic will we see the path that Her words illuminate. It may be a sad day to know that this is Her last prophecy to Her children, but She believes in us to see the challenge complete. Together we will rise and She will be proud of what we have become!”

The Head Priest then raised his arms up to the sky in prayer to Ministra as everyone confusingly followed. They all gave blessings to the day and Her word.

I stared in disbelief. What was that? That was nothing! You told them nothing! They don’t even know that the challenge is to stop the Termination of our home!

What are you doing?!