it at that. You call for delicate handling because you fear for your own purse!"
Yatol Peridan's eyes widened at the blunt accusation, but Yakim Douan was paying more attention to the other seven priests, who were sitting back and watching the rising conflict with obvious amusement. The only analogy the Chezru Chieftain could draw upon at that moment was that of a group of youngsters, encircling a pair that had squared off, calling for them to fight.
Yes, this was more than an annoyance. Yakim Douan wanted to begin the time of Transcendence, wanted a new and younger body. But how could he leave the Chezru flock so vulnerable when it was in such disarray, when even the Yatols, the supposed leaders of the Chezru, were bickering amongst themselves? The verbal sparring between Peridan and De Ham-man continued to escalate dangerously, until finally the Chezru Chieftain slammed his fists down on the round whitewood table and rose so force-fully that his chair skidded out behind him.
"Do you use the pirates, Yatol Peridan?" he asked, the bluntness of his on drawing gasps from all in attendance. It was one thing for a pair of to spar and accuse, but something altogether different for the Chezru Chieftain, the God-Voice of Yatol, to ask a question with such implications. ^ ?God-Voice, how can you ask me..." Yatol Peridan stammered clumsily. ?Exactly as I have asked you," Yakim Douan replied with all calm and confidence. ?Do you use the pirates, for your own gain or for the gain of the church?"
Peridan continued to squirm, obviously seeking an escape, but Yakim Douan fixed him with a withering glare - a look perfected over the cen-turies, a look that allowed no possibilities of dodge here.
"The pirates have tithed to my church, yes, God-Voice," Peridan finally admitted, lowering his eyes. The other priests all looked to each other with concern. Peridan's admission was not news to them, of course, for everyone there knew the truth of Yatol Peridan's relationship with some of the most notorious thugs sailing the coastline. But to hear the admission openly, in front of the Chezru Chieftain, was no small thing!
Yatol De Hamman sat back and crossed his arms over his chest, seeming quite pleased with himself.
"And you have used this... tithing, for the betterment of your church and flock?" the Chezru Chieftain asked, and all eyes looked at him then with continued surprise.
"I have," Yatol Peridan answered enthusiastically after the shock of the question had worn off. ?And I have spoken with many of the pirates about their activities, God-Voice. I try to alter their behavior. I seek to channel their strengths into the betterment of all."
"They are killers!" Yatol De Hamman cried out. ?Killers all!"
He started to spout on, but Yakim Douan held up his hand, halting the man. ?You speak truly, Yatol De Hamman," the Chezru offered. ?And I hold little sympathy for those pirates your warships have sent into the depths of the dark waters. But as they are killers, they are also an inevitabil-ity. The pirates have run their catamarans across the coral reefs and away from Behrenese warships for centuries. They have always been there and will always be there. Accept that truth, and you will come to understand that Ya-tol Peridan's profiting from the pirate activities is beneficial to the Chezru."
"Bless you, God-Voice," Yatol Peridan started to say. But," Yakim Douan said sternly, lifting his pointing, accusatory finger Peridan's way, ?do not confuse the issue. You complain that Yatol De Ham-man is sinking pirate ships, and thus sinking your profits, but to do so shows a disregard for the needs of Yatol De Hamman. How is he to rule his nock effectively if they do not believe that he can be trusted to protect them?
So come not to Jacintha with complaints that your fellow Yatols are upholding the laws, Yatol Peridan.
Come not to Jacintha with complaints that your temple will not be layered in gold."
Yatol Peridan again lowered his eyes. ?Yes, God-Voice."
"And for the rest of you, find some insight!" Yakim Douan went on. ?There are unpleasant inevitabilities to society, much as we see with the pi-rates off our coastline. We try to diminish these unpleasantries, indeed, b(it we are not wrong to find gain from them. As for you, Yatol Grysh," he saicL referring to, and looking to, the Yatol of the northwesternmost reaches of Behren, who presided under the shadows of the great mountains and the plateau along the borderlands of To-gai, in the great