“I apologize for My Lady’s atrocious conduct, Kinsman.”
Bili squirmed in his chair. “My Lord, perhaps if I had not asked the question of Bard Klairuhnz… ?”
“No, Bili,” the old lord sighed. “It was coming, and I well knew it. My Lady ever goes out of her way to offer offense to any Kindred I entertain, only showing her good side around folk of her own ilk. In the last few years, she’s become almost unbearable.”
“But, why… ?” Bili began.
Looking as if he needed to spit, Komees Hari answered before Bili finished asking. “Because among her innumerable other failings, my cursed wife slavishly bides by every one of the old Ehleen superstitions and practices, including some of the vilest of them. Oh, warm and loving Sun!” He beat one big fist against his wiry thigh, soul deep pain shining from his eyes.
“Why, oh, why was not my father more careful? Had he but known how rotten was My Lady’s blood with all the cursed, shameful Ehleen practices, this day would see me wed to her I truly loved, Vasko’s dear mother, not to that perverted, demonridden sow, Hehrah!
“Bili, all else aside, I know why you came. Rather, why you were sent to my hall, today. Your dear mothers are wise and were thinking straight and properly, but it was not really necessary, for your House has ever had my support in Council and you will always have it. I can speak for my brother, Drehkos as well, I believe. As for .. .”
But then Hofos, the majordomo, advanced up the hall, bowing and wringing his hands, to announce the arrival of noble guests.
CHAPTER III
Shortly, Bili, Vaskos, and Klairuhnz were seated with wine, cheese, fruit, and pipes in the Komees’s study-cum-armory, awaiting the arrivals of Lord Hari and his guests. Once the winecups were filled and the Bard and Vaskos had their pipes going well, Bili addressed Klairuhnz.
“All right, Kinsmen, what in hell happened in the lands of Komees Gafnee that caused Lady Hehrah to take such umbrage at the mere mention of it?”
“Well I-I . . .” drawled Klairuhnz, with an inquiring glance at Vaskos.
The officer chuckled. “You may speak freely, Bard. I hold to Sun and Wind, like my father. I may look like an Ehleen, but my heart is that of a Horseclansman. Further, having served the Confederation for so many years, I can spare scant sympathy for those who would see its dissolution. I know of the Gafnee business, of course, for I’ve talked with officers whose units helped to mop up the mess. Bill’s a right to know, for it would appear that matters are building up to a similar problem here, unless a certain Vahrohnos you two may be unaware of the fact that the same bastard was cashiered from our army and a passel of bloodthirsty priests are right speedily executed or banished.”
The Bard nodded brusquely, drained off his mug, then asked, “My Lord Bili, how much know do you of the Ehleen priests and their sect?”
Bili shrugged. “Damned little, I’m afraid. None of our 33 halls practice it, none that I know of anyway. And it is unheard of in the Middle Kingdoms the sword being worshiped there, though a few women do hold to the Blue Lady.”
Klairuhnz puffed at his pipe and eyed his audience through a cloud of bluish smoke. “The sect is old, Bili, ancient really. It’s at least as old as the first Ehleen kingdoms say, seven hundred years. But the Ehleenoee apparently brought it and its priests with them when they crossed the Great Sea and invaded these lands, and I have talked with Ehleen scholars who held that their religion was two thousand years old at the time of the War of the Gods. And men say that that calamity occurred nearly twelve hundred ‘years ago! Of course, many doubt that contention, but who can say truly, after so much time?
“Ere the Kindred came, the Ehleen sect had been slowly dying for a hundred or more years, and what few followers it retained were mostly lower or middleclass peasants, mechanics, tradesmen, small merchants, and suchlike. Most of the Ehleen nobility had adopted some odd and rather sinister cults the worship of monstrous animals, fish, and serpents, to whom they frequently sacrificed living humans. But as more of the Ehleenoee became dispossessed of their lands and cities, during the Wars of Confederation and the sporadic rebellions, the Eeyehrefsee advertised themselves and then religion as a rally point for those of their race, and many of the nobles went back to what they called the Ancient Faith.