with a chuckle, one that melted any forthcoming questions from the obvi-ously stunned Merwan Ma. The tapestry in question, a beautiful and vi-brant work, and one of Douan's favorites, depicted a great sea battle, in which the Jacintha fleet chased the ships of Honce-the-Bear back to the port of Entel.
"Abbot Olin will like it!" Douan said to the stunned Merwan Ma. ?He have discussed that ancient battle in great detail - he insists that Entel that battle, sinking the Jacintha fleet before it could return. We know truth, of course, that our proud ships had won a great victory over the If rior Entel ships, bottling them in their harbor and sinking most. On glorious return to Entel, though, they happened upon a great storm, i ? and many were lost. He paused and chuckled again. ?Ah yes, we all have our own truths."
When the pair had gone, Yakim Douan stood staring at the door, a grin tamped upon his old face. What a strange and momentous few weeks it had been. First comes news that the Chezhou-Lei wish to march south to do battle with the Jhesta Tu, and now the Abellican Church had just thrown aside the plans of Abbot Olin. Douan knew that this latest news from the northern kingdom should have troubled him, should have once again denied him that which he so desperately wanted, Transcendence. And yet, with these two events, the old Chezru Chieftain felt somehow more alive than he had in so many years.
His had become a cautious existence.
Merwan Ma returned a short while later, his expression showing that he was still perplexed about Douan's reaction to the news from Mackaront and the decision to give away such a prized tapestry.
"Abbot Olin was in need of my consolation," Douan explained.
Merwan Ma seemed to wince a bit at that.
"You wonder why I care?" Douan asked. ?He is Abellican, after all. You have never been comfortable with my relationship with the Abbot of St. Bondabruce."
"God-Voice, it is not my place - "To question me? No, it is not, and so you do not - openly. But in your heart, my young friend, you have questioned me often."
"No, God-Voice!" the younger man declared.
Yakim Douan held up his hands to show his attendant that it was quite all right, that there was no offense here, and none taken. ?Abbot Olin's faith has been shaken yet again by the Abellican Church, and not surpris-ingly," Douan explained. ?Often has he been disappointed by his peers, as we would expect, since they follow a wayward path. Our generosity toward the man has always acted to push him farther from the heretical beliefs of his Church."
"Do you believe that Abbot Olin might be brought to the light of Yatol?" Merwan Ma asked incredulously, and Yakim Douan laughed heartily at that thought.
"I believe that he understands much of the truth of our ways," he ex-plained. ?I expect no overt conversion, nor would I desire one, for that would cause the Abellican Church to excommunicate the man, and likely burn him at the stake. No, the transformation of others to the way of Yatol may sometimes be done with abrupt force, as with the pitiful To-gai-ru, but with the more cultured and entrenched societies, such as Honce-the-Bear our victory will come over the years, the decades, the centuries, as their own failings dishearten them. Abbot Olin was not the first abbot in Entel sym-pathetic to the way of Yatol, nor will he be the last.
"In the end, we will win, because we are right, my son."
Merwan Ma's smile was genuine, and Yakim Douan knew that he had once again satisfied the man that he was indeed in the presence of a God-Voice, that the machinations of Yakim Douan's actions were far beyond his immediate comprehension.
It was a bluff that Yakim Douan had perfected over many lifetimes.
"What is it?" Yakim Douan asked his attendant, seeing the curious look upon Merwan Ma's face.
Merwan Ma shook his head and seemed embarrassed.
"Tell me, son," Yakim Douan said comfortingly, and he moved over and patted Merwan Ma's shoulder, uncharacteristic behavior that seemed to confuse Merwan Ma even more.
"You seem happier of late, God-Voice," the young man admitted.
Yakim Douan stepped back, surprised by the bluntness, and in truth, sur-prised a bit by the accuracy of the observation. He was feeling better, and was possessed of more energy of late. It was the gemstone, he knew. Falling into its magical swirl every day was filling him with health and