(Continued from Ch 32, Yieraun Castle)

The Chronicles of Rapina
Chapter 33, A Deed of No Importance


"Congratulations Rapina," Mortician Ranal beamed. "I have never seen a perfect score on this exam. Some of the knowledge is rather obscure. Then again no one has ever wandered into my temple just after lunch and spent twenty minutes begging me to administer the eligibility test for a deacon. Now if I perform the rituals of sanctification, you will officially be able to serve as a deaconess at any temple that might request one and your name will be registered at the central hall of records of the Church. Are you sure this is what you want?

Rapina nodded, and the priest began.

Thane looked at his ring. A tiny bolt of lightning flickered within the circular gem pointing towards his index finger. "Her choker indicates she is that way." Thane pointed at the temple ahead of him and looked at Rames. A leather mask looked back at him. 

"A temple of Mortaebius?" Rames asked.

"We are supposed to be in Mysthaven outfitting for next month's mountain adventure, now what is that girl up to getting up so early in the day and slinking out of the Inn?"

Rames shrugged, "I don't know Guardian. I'll let you two play the chess. I'm still enjoying checkers."

Thane chuckled, "Well it is the one place we should especially not be seen with her."

"Who's going to see us behind these masks we wear whenever we are out with her?" Rames asked.

"Heard or recognized then," Thane said. "Disguise your voice if you need to speak. Let us duck into the temple. I will find a closet and put my death mask on under the leather one. That should take care of my voice."

"...And by the authority vested in me as a living vicar of Mortaebius, I pronounce thee the life of death, Rapina a deaconess of Mortaebius." The priest finished the ritual with a last flourish of his hand.

"Congratulations deconess Rapina!"

"Yay! Thank you Mortician Ranal," Rapina hugged the mortician.

"Now, that you're a deaconess, Rapina, why don't you tell me a little about yourself." Mortician Ranal turned to the sound of approaching footsteps.

"The less you know, the more likely you will not be struck down by enemies of the church," Thane rasped.

Mortican Ranal looked up, his mouth dropped.

Thane straightened his left arm so that it was pointing at the floor. He then brought his left hand up in a sweeping circular motion from his left side up over the right side of his chest and then up across his jawbone. His fingers fanned as they swept in front of his face.

Mortician Ranal gasped, he remembered that gesture from seminary, and from the books he had read on church history. It was a seriously punishable offense and considered very bad form for a priest even to demonstrate it. The order it belonged to existed only in the holy wars of history.

Ranal was about to protest its use, when the man clad in dark robes pulled the leather mask he was wearing away from his face. The mask of death stared back at him.

Ranal gasped, "The Shroud."

"Nonsense Mortician, The Order Of the Shroud does not exist. It is just a footnote in history, an extinct order for which there are mysteriously no records, and an order that germinated and grew only when the blood of Mortaebius' priests was spilled on a grand scale.

Mortician Ranal inhaled, "As now in Avengene."

"What has this young lady been doing here, Mortician Ranal?"

"I have just sanctified Rapina as a Deaconess," Mortician Ranal said.

Thane looked at Rapina. 

Even through the mask she could tell he was glaring. 

"Rapina, how could you do this? I did not authorize it."

"Well, actually you did, when I asked last night."

"I did?" Thane asked.

You have explained to me that some things are simply not important to you, such as if I want to reorganize a cupboard while cleaning or buy a snack from a vendor. I should simply go ahead and not bother you with the details. Last night I asked you if I could become a deaconess in the Church of Mortaebius, and...

Death slapped a black glove over his face, "...And I replied, 'It is not important.'"

Rapina grinned.

Thane chuckled in spite of himself, "You really are too smart for your own good, my dear. Mortician Ranal, for your own safety, you shall record this deaconess as the wandering adventurer, Rapina, and make a note in your church journal that she came in off the streets as a complete stranger who soon left town. Do not attempt to find out who she is, or what acts of heroism she may have performed for the church. The less you know, the safer you are from our enemies. "Oh, and one more thing," Thane said replacing the leather mask over his face. "You never saw me or my associate. We do not exist. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir," Mortician Ranal said.

"Good day Mortician," Thane rasped.

"Good day, sir -- Guardian. Please give them hell for us."

"I assure you Mortician, they will not know what hit them." Thane and Rames turned and walked out of the temple.

Rapina grabbed Mortician Ranal and hugged him once again, then ran after her guardians.
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This ends, A Deed of no Importance, chapter 33 of The Chronicles of Rapina.
The story continues in chapter 34, An Oven's Abode.

Copyright 2001 by Rapina