CHAPTER THIRTEEN: FAITH FOR THE FUTURE

  Standing inside the main sanctuary of the Temple of Elion in Valtross, Jace and Iniah waited patiently amidst others that prayed and studied books dedicated to the god of all creation. The father and daughter mercenary team looked ahead at the two clerics walking toward them that would soon bestow a prayer of safety and blessing before they traveled to Tanisgroth to defend the city.

  “I finally leave Valtross and instead of Anya we get that old dwarf Hemslia and that juvenile Florian!” grumbled Jace, as he stroked his braided, blonde beard after attaching his large battle axe onto his back.

  “Oh stop it, father. You are just angry that you do not get to see Anya’s beautiful face,” replied Iniah. “Hemslia is just as good as Anya and Florian is no juvenile. He is as old as me.” Then Iniah placed her bow on her shoulder and smiled as the clerics moved closer to them. “Besides, Florian is sweet and handsome.”

  “Handsome!” exclaimed Jace. Then he laughed as he looked at the slim, fresh-faced young man in white robes coming to meet them.

  “A man is more than broad shoulders and strong arms,” replied Iniah. “They can be gentle and caring.” When Jace scoffed, Iniah patted her father on his cheek. “Like you are with me.”

  Seeing his daughter, who had begun to journey with him only recently after his wife’s death, Jace’s face softened. Then he touched his daughter's short, blonde hair. “You are right. You are smart. Always have been. You get that from your mother.”

  “Jace. Iniah,” greeted Hemslia with a polite nod. Then the dwarf gestured at the young cleric beside her. “Florian here says that you both are on your way to Tanisgroth. When he told me the news I assumed it was to visit The Cloud Shroud Mountain for the treasure, now that the dragon Firebaugh has been destroyed and King Ironhearth and my people are defending the mountain kingdom.”

  “No. I do not wish to climb that death trap,” assured the big human with a laugh. Then he cleared his throat and smiled uncomfortably. “Where is head cleric Anya? She has not been seen for days and days.”

  “She is on a special journey. We do not know when she will return, but we have faith it will be sooner than…” began Florian, softly.

  Iniah watched as Hemslia placed her left hand on Florian’s back and he quieted.

  “Florian tells me that you and your father are going to Tanisgroth to defend the city, in case Lord Grimdall takes The Dwarven Mountains,” prodded Hemslia, with a small smile on her face.

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  “Yes, Hemslia. We hope to see our friend Garrick there as well,” replied Iniah. “He left a while back and should be there now, unless he has moved on. We only saw him here for a short time.”

  Jace watched as Florian looked up suddenly at the sound of Garrick’s name. Though Hemslia’s face never changed.

  “He left around the same time Anya did, if my recollection is correct,” pondered Jace. “He was more secretive about his business than usual, but then again he was with a wizard friend. You know how they can be,” nodded the warrior.

  “Your friend Garrick. Is he a fellow mercenary?” asked the dwarf, her face moving from a polite smile to interest.

  “Did he and Maldrin visit the temple before he left? He would be traveling also with a beautiful, black mystic wolf,” asked Iniah excitedly. “The wizard has a pet squirrel, though if you did not see her, she may have been hiding in a pocket of his robe.”

  Hemslia was quiet for a moment. Jace could tell she was not only hiding something, but uncertain of what to do. Then the cleric sighed.

  “Because you both are well-loved citizens of Valtross, and you, Jace, always help with the repairs of this temple, I will tell you. Go on to Tanisgroth, but you will not find your friend. He is with Anya,” announced Hemslia.

  “As are a few others. Garrick and Maldrin have joined Anya on her journey,” added Florian, smiling sweetly at Iniah. “Or I should say that Anya and her sister have joined them.”

  “Deelah as well? This is most interesting!” exclaimed Jace.

  “Florian has said more than enough,” replied Hemslia, with a polite nod at her fellow cleric.

  Seeing Iniah looking at him, trying to cover a smile, the young cleric gave a quick smile back before lowering his head. “I am sorry, Hemslia.”

  “You are forgiven, my friend,” assured the dwarf. Then she looked at both Jace and Iniah, and lowered her staff toward the ground. When the mercenaries dropped to one knee, Hemslia stood over Jace, and Florian stood over Iniah, and together the clerics recited the prayer of safety and blessing.

  “May Elion protect you in your upcoming battle. May the god of all creation bless you with victory.”

  As Jace stood, he noticed that Florian helped Iniah up. And that the cleric’s eyes were locked onto hers. Then the big man smiled.

  “Thank you both,” said Jace as he ran a hand over his long blonde hair. “For the prayer and for the news of my good friend.”

  “Think nothing of it,” said Hemslia as she patted the big mercenary’s hand.

  Jace and Iniah watched as both clerics walked away. Then as the mercenaries turned to leave, Hemslia stopped and grabbed the medallion of Elion that hung around her neck. After a few moments they watched the cleric turn around. When Jace and Iniah turned to face her, the old dwarf spoke one last time.

  “Elion is mysterious. His ways are beyond ours. But for some reason, even though you will not see Garrick in Tanisgroth, somehow, even though I do not know where, I do know that you will see him again, soon after his journey is complete.”

  Then after a short bow of respect, Jace and Iniah walked off, surprised but encouraged. After they left the temple and reached the street, Iniah put her arm around her father.

  “To Tanisgroth?” asked the young archer.

  Iniah watched as, without hesitation, her father grabbed his battle axe from his back and held it out. Then as he stared at it.

  “To Tanisgroth,” agreed Jace with assurance, as he rubbed his daughter’s short hair playfully. Then he looked back at Iniah, took a deep breath and finished...

  “And to wherever we are needed.”