Immortalis - By R. A. Salvatore Page 0,19

readily agreed, knowing that the insights he gathered from these nomadic merchants would likely provide a greater understanding of the true goings-on within Behren than anything the leading Yatols might tell him.

"The events in Behren are of great importance to the new king of Honce- the-Bear," Master Mackaront of St. Bondabruce, the longtime emissary of Abbot Olin to the Chezru Chieftain, told the new leader of the Yatols within Jacintha.

"I would think that your new King Aydrian has problems of his own," Yatol Mado Wadon replied with obvious skepticism.

Mackaront spent a long while studying the man, his posture, and his movements. Mado Wadon was an old man, older than Mackaront's fifty years, and the very foundation of Wadon's world, the religion and spirituality that had guided his entire life, had just been stripped out from under him. He was frightened, obviously, and likely doubting the decision that had led him to dispose of Chezru Chieftain Yakim Douan. The pressure was growing on him, clearly, as more and more reports of the gathering strength of Yatol Tohen Bardoh filtered into Chom Deiru, the Yatol palace in Jacintha. Mackaront understood his fears to be justified, given the many territorial disputes that had erupted throughout the fracturing kingdom, particularly those just to the south, where Yatol Peridan seemed to be taking advantage of the fact that many of his neighbor's soldiers had been pressed into service during the war in the west against the To- gai-ru and had not yet returned.

"You must understand that our new King Aydrian was guided on his ascent by none other than my master, Abbot Olin," Mackaront said, a statement that he had offered several times already during this important meeting.

"Olin, who befriended Chezru Douan," Mado Wadon remarked.

"Abbot Olin, who loves Behren," Mackaront was quick to correct. "My master befriended Chezru Douan because Chezru Douan spoke for Behren. He holds no anger over the events that led to his friend's downfall, though he is certainly saddened by news of Douan's death."

"A most pragmatic man." There was no mistaking the sarcasm in Yatol Wadon's voice.

"As he was saddened in learning that the Yatols chose not to look more deeply into this joining of beliefs, Abellican and Chezru, that seemed exemplified by the actions of Yakim Douan," Mackaront said, and Mado Wadon's eyes popped open wide.

"Douan was a fraud, and a murderer!" the Yatol cried. "He used the evil gemstone to steal the bodies from unborn children, claiming them as his own in his pursuit of physical immortality! Do not for one moment try to justify such a heinous act as that!"

"I do not," Mackaront said, shaking his head slowly throughout Wadon's tirade. "But do not deny that the discovery of Yakim Douan's actions have shaken your religion to its very foundations. Perhaps it is time to explore the possibilities of a middle ground here, between - "

"No."

The denial was not unexpected to Mackaront, and he realized that he might be pushing a bit too fast and too hard here. It was not really his place, at this time, to lay the groundwork for Abbot Olin's ascent to the leadership of Jacintha, but rather, to measure the level of desperation within Yatol Mado Wadon and use that desperation to pave the way for the first forays into Behren.

"Perhaps that is a discussion for you and my master on another day,"

Mackaront said.

"Doubtful," came the reply, the tone uncompromising.

Master Mackaront, no novice to the inevitably narrowed viewpoint of long- term clergy, accepted the response with a nod.

"Aside from that, my master is well aware that you are in dire need here," Mackaront said. "He is a friend of Jacintha, first and foremost, and as such, a friend and ally to Yatol Mado Wadon."

The man held fast his skeptical expression, but Mackaront could see the cracks growing in that fagade - cracks wrought of desperation, he knew.

"Abbot Olin is not without resources at this time."

"I would think that King Aydrian would need all of those resources and more, usurping a kingdom as mighty as Honce-the-Bear," said the suspicious Yatol Wadon.

"A nearly bloodless ascent, and one that has only added to Aydrian's considerable strength, I assure you," Mackaront explained. "Entel is secure - more secure than you can imagine - and Abbot Olin's position in the Abellican Church has never shone more brightly. We have resources to spare, and we offer them to you in this, your time of need."

"In exchange for?"

"As a gesture of friendship. The troubles of the Chezru religion are a

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