Meeting

How could they have not told them yet? Even if you didn’t have an answer, it was expected that Ministra’s words would still be conveyed to the public when it happened. It was a moment to be shared by everyone.

In my shock, I caught up to my own thoughts finally. This wasn’t a normal message. It was Her final prophecy to us, however you want to view it. And a frightening one, more than any other that I’ve read before. They must have been scared how everyone would take it. Does that mean they are viewing things differently than Cathlin?

I looked back to the elder, I assumed he was one of the Priests, but didn’t say anything to that. “How is it being interpreted?”

He stepped back motioning towards the door, which was closed. “I think you should join us. We can explain it to you.”

“Very well.” There was a bit of an insistence about his words. I looked around the halls again seeing how empty it was. Is that why there’s no one around?

They moved to open the door and spoke into the room interrupting whatever was currently being discussed. I hurried in to see what I faced.

It was a brightly lit room, a bit small, but fit four individuals along with myself and the man that invited me, adding to the capacity. We did make it feel a little tight now. My pack and travel clothes suddenly became very awkward and large. I really needed to leave this outside or something.

So many eyes stared at me upon entering that I almost immediately broke out into a sweat. It completely locked up my mouth, but thankfully he stepped in for me. “This is Speaker Eshikra from Linoth. Speaker, Head Priest Hadrin, Priest Rion, Speaker Urila and Priestess Emilie. And I’m Priest Gerth.” He went around the table starting from the left and working clockwise around. As I expected, he was a Priest, but the Speaker was included as well.

The Speaker was a young woman who looked a little out of place, but still felt at ease in the company. But as like roles, she stared at me with curiosity. The amount of people staring at me forced me to shift away and look back to Gerth. One was far easier.

He smiled politely to me. “You can put your pack down here and join us. Head Priest Hadrin would you like to bring our young Speaker up to speed or did you wish to know what Linoth knows?” As I moved to where he directed me, I froze at the last statement. Don’t make me start. I don’t know any of you. Please talk before me.

I turned slightly back as I heard no answer from anyone. They were all staring at me like I didn’t belong. I don’t want to be here either! Cathlin should be here, blame him! Stop looking! But they didn’t. The eyes just got hotter and more uncomfortable as I sweated more. I’m going to smell so bad from the road and nerves. Their eyes were saying ‘Hurry, don’t waste our time’. Then stop looking at me. It’s not helping!

Fighting with the straps, I finally relieved myself of the pack and walked around to the open side of the table. There was a spare chair, but I stood next to it checking. Can I sit? But thankfully, he nodded to me.

“And what has Head Priest Cathlin said?”

Dammit. Swaying and shifting around in my wood chair, it groaned in the awkward silence. Just don’t mix up the words. “Um…we, he listened to Ministra’s words as I conveyed them. Upon his reflection, he believes there is a trial to understand in this Termination to avoid the outcome that She foresaw.”

“I see. So that’s how he interpreted it.”

“If I may, what have you determined?”

“We haven’t decided,” barked Priest Rion. An elderly man heavy with wrinkles and bald, who I think was even older than Cathlin. “There’s no consensus.”

“What are the options?”

Gerth motioned a little, lifting his hand as he crossed them over his chest. “There are none. We have already determined to do a plain Conveyance to the public. We just have settled on how to explain it to them. Everyone has a different thought on the matter.” Nodding, he gestured to the others to speak their minds. It felt a little odd that the Head Priest didn’t seem to have the lead at the table. Why?

Rion jerked back coughing a bit, maybe to signal he was going. “It’s over. Cut and draw, what’s so hard to see about it. Everything dies eventually, it’s time for our home to. Why’s that such a mystery?” Everyone else at the table shrank a little from his words. I see. There wasn’t even fear in his voice. He was completely different from Cathlin. He had already accepted it, almost eagerly. Just seeing him sort of calmed me a little, strange.

The Speaker to my left accidently pushed on the chair as she seemed to be backing away. “I think Ministra is departing and it’s a farewell to us. She’s pleased with how far we’ve come and no longer needs to watch us.” That doesn’t really explain the Termination, but the other parts of the message, the gratitude given fits there. Is she focusing just on the better parts?

“No, something is coming,” Emilie interjected, “It’s a warning. The Termination She spoke of will be our end if we don’t prevent it.” So she’s more in line with Cathlin. But she seemed less certain. She looked over to Gerth quickly afterwards. She’s afraid?

Leaning forward, Hadrin looked over at me rather than anyone else. Why? I recoiled, starting to sweat again. “She wants to see how we react. There is no end, it’s just all a test to see what we’re made of. It’s a psychological trial, a test of our humanity. Can we keep our reason and logic or will we become beasts. She wants to know if we were worth Her time.” I hadn’t considered that. It’s definitely valid that someone’s going to respond to death differently. I saw that in the Priests and myself. But at such a vast scale as all humanity. Only a God would make such a choice.

Gerth smiled still and nodded. “I’ve been trying to be the tie breaker, but no one can settle. So we’re at an impasse. What do you believe She meant?”

“Me?” He nodded. I did listen to everyone else. I should speak too. “Um…Ministra…uh…She historically is direct or cloaked in obfuscated words. When She’s direct there is clarity in Her words. Her words were concise and to the point. I think it was a statement of facts.”

“So you believe our home will end in one year’s time then?”

“Y-yes, That’s correct.”

“There you go! Even the youth get’s it! Why can’t you all see past your own fears and realize what is reality!”

“It’s not so simple, Rion! What will everyone think! You can’t just tell them it’s over and give them no comfort!”

“The comfort is knowing it’s coming and preparing for it. Not dying with regret because it took us by surprise.”

“Priest Rion and Priest Emilie, please.” Gerth motioned with his hand to split the arguing parties. They were nearly yelling almost immediately. I feel like they had been like that before. Is this all the emotions that they’ve been burning the last day? “We do need to come to a decision. Now that everyone has spoken, let’s vote again. Everyone in favor of Head Priest Hadrin?”

He proceeded to go through everyone at the table. As I sort of expected everyone voted for their view. Which was why they couldn’t make a decision. But when he got to Rion, Gerth stared at me. “Speaker, you're allowed to vote as well.”

“But I’m not part of Rastron. This is your decision. I’m only here to help understand Her word.”

“If you sit at the table you get to vote. That’s the way it works.” Is it really? He stared at me as did Rion. I sort of already made my opinion known, so my vote shouldn’t need to be shown. But they began to almost glare at me. It felt like they wouldn’t let it go until I raised my hand. Dammit! I don’t want a part of this! But I gave in. “Three for Priest Rion.”

Three?! I wasn’t even looking around to see that Gerth had included himself. I thought he was the tie breaker. Why was he deciding now? “Agreed then, we shall tell them with no suggestion to this being averted.”

Just like that? I decided the fate for all of Rastron? What’s going to happen to the people when they learn? I quickly began to sweat again as the myriad images that stormed into my mind.