Fargas lay on a ridge, terrified.
What is happening? he thought. I am a good man. I pay my taxes to the prince and levy to the priests when I must. I treat people well, most of the time. Is the world ending? Priests claim the world will end in fire. I wish a priest were here to tell me what to do. I’m on common land. No prince, priest, or freeholder could fault me for being here.
Fargas was a trapper and tanner. A half-hour earlier, he was checking his trap line behind a ridge. A roar shattered the quiet of the day. Fargas looked up and saw a flaming pillar descending toward the ridge’s other side. He fell to the ground.
What made the roar? Fargas trembled. Great-grandfather told tales of his grandfather helping banish the dragons. Grandpa talked about the roar of the dragons. Did the dragons return? Everyone knows dragons can breathe fire. Can dragons make a pillar of flame? Grandpa didn’t say. I wish I had listened better.
Survey Ship Lovell landed in a meadow within meters of Fargas. Lt. Kiril Botezat commanded the Lovell. The environmental officer, Lt. Chasid Septimus, completed the ship’s roster. The crew wanted to land without starting a massive fire or alerting the natives. A circle of grass scorched directly under the ship kicking up a cloud of dust and smoke. The rest of the clearing seemed undamaged.
“Good landing, skipper,” Septimus commented.
“Piece of cake,” Botezat replied. “Let’s start checking out the atmosphere. I want to feel a breeze on my face for a change.”
The pair initiated the tests to analyze the atmosphere. Hours would pass before the land would cool enough for them to leave the ship.
The cloud of dust and smoke from the ridge’s other side made Fargas choke. Then nothing. The dust settled. Quiet returned. Fargas crept to the top of the ridge and looked over.
I saw a pillar of flame descend. Now I spy a metal pillar with mystic markings in the meadow. Is the pillar a chariot of the gods? Fargas asked himself in terror. Which gods are in the chariot? Do the gods know I’m here? Should I go to greet the gods, even though I am not a priest? Would I anger the gods if I fled without honoring them? The priests must have seen the flame. I hope the priests come soon.
Fargas froze where he was. No procession of priests appeared. Fargas watched the meadow.
The crew of the Lovell let out the gangway four hours after landing. Botezat and Septimus emerged from the ship loaded with equipment. Both wore standard duty coveralls. Botezat’s uniform was the blue of a line officer. Septimus wore the maize of an environmental officer.
“I don’t see any signs of life,” Botezat commented. “We need to be careful just the same.”
“Nice to see green plants,” Septimus commented. “Finding samples won’t be hard.”
“Chas, we’ve got to hustle,” Botezat commented. “I don’t believe most of the scuttlebutt, but we may not have five days to complete the survey.”
“You worry too much, skipper,” Septimus replied. “I will be careful and hustle.”
Shielded from Fargas, Septimus carried a small, spring-loaded tent. With a sweep of his arm, the spring opened the tent. The door of the tent opened into the meadow. Botezat and Septimus placed their equipment in the tent.
“I’ve got to inform the mother ship we are outside the ship,” Botezat said after checking his watch.
Septimus started working. He placed a soil sample in a clear plastic bag and returned to the tent. He collected plant samples with a laser pruner. Septimus was careful with the pruner as its beam was almost invisible in full daylight. He briskly circled the meadow, gathering samples from trees, bushes, or other plants. He put the specimens in clear bags. He returned to the tent and vacuum-sealed the bags. He chewed unhulled sunflower seeds as he worked.
I know I shouldn’t be chewing sunflower seeds, he thought. It won’t matter. Terrestrial seeds don’t grow on other planets.
Septimus heard something enter the meadow. Environmental officers carried side arms on unsurveyed planets as a precaution. He saw a deer-like animal. Septimus silently drew his weapon and shot the animal. The animal collapsed in a heap. Botezat emerged from the ship with his weapon drawn.
“What are you shooting at?” he demanded. “Are we under attack?”
“You said to hurry. I am hurrying. A deer entered the meadow, and I bagged it,” Septimus replied. “We get a tissue sample and maybe fresh meat for supper.”
“OK. Carry on,” Botezat replied as he returned to the ship.
Septimus made a mess butchering the deer, showing he wasn’t trained as a butcher. He bagged the specimen.
As Septimus approached the tent, a frantic Botezat emerged from the ship.
“Headquarters just ordered us to rejoin the mother ship. We need to leave now!” Botezat ordered.
“What? I’ve been out here for about an hour. I have less than thirty samples, and the bureaucrats demand at least one hundred samples,” Septimus objected.
“I know the survey isn’t complete. The sector next to this planet has rebelled. We’re to rejoin the Apollo,” Botezat said, regaining his composure. “All other survey and research vessels are being withdrawn.”
The crewmates hurried to leave the planet. The pair moved their equipment and samples to the ship. As Septimus headed for the ship, something crunched under his boot. He ignored it.
“We have not policed the meadow,” Septimus stated.
“We can’t do it now. I doubt we dropped anything,” Botezat replied. “We will properly stow the gear once we leave the planet.”
“What do we do with the samples?” Septimus asked as he boarded the ship.
“We will file an electronic preliminary report, promising to forward the samples,” the commander replied. “Hopefully the bureaucrats will give an extension to return to the planet.”
The men strapped themselves in their seats. The Lovell left the planet with a plume of fire and dust.
Fargas had not moved since he saw the pillar of metal. He kept watching for a procession led by the priests that didn’t arrive. Fargas became hot and uncomfortable. Fear froze him in place. He had calmed down to an extent until the ship’s door opened.
Are men coming out of the pillar? he asked himself. How could men get inside the pillar? The priests tell tales of the gods appearing in the form of men. The men must be gods. Solarious, the god of the sun, is always shown wearing yellow. Caelum, the god of the sky, is described as wearing blue or black. What do the gods want in the meadow? Do they want something from me?
Fargas could hear Botezat and Septimus talking. He could not understand what they said.
Why would I expect to understand the gods? he thought. Why haven’t the priests come?
Fargas almost shouted when Septimus opened the tent.
The building appeared out of thin air! I should not have doubted they are gods, a terrified Fargas thought. What am I to do? Where are the priests?
Septimus’ sample collecting heightened Fargas’ terror. The laser trimmer appeared to cut objects with a wave of Septimus’ hand. Items in the plastic bags seemed to float in the air. Shooting the deer almost destroyed Fargas’ sanity. He heard a roar, and the deer fell. He watched Septimus butcher the deer, but the blood did not stain his clothes.
I don’t understand what I am seeing, Fargas thought. How did Solarious make leaves and dirt float through the air? Did Solarious kill the deer with thunder? Did Caelum share his thunder with Solarious? The priests do not give the gods enough honor.
The ship’s departure was almost a relief to Fargas, despite the terror of a second pillar of flame.
The gods are gone, and I am still alive, he rejoiced. Priests never came. What could I tell anyone about what I saw?
The ship departed as twilight set in.
Fargas was tired and stiff. He wanted to explore the meadow. He decided to wait until morning.
“Skipper, I got the gear stowed,” Septimus reported.
“Good,” Botezat replied. We will rendezvous with the Apollo in about an hour.”
“I may have left something on the planet,” Septimus said hesitantly. “I was going to put new batteries in a flashlight before we decided to open the door. I removed the old batteries and stuck the thing in my pocket. It’s gone. I heard something crunch when we were loading the ship. It may have been the flashlight.”
“Don’t worry about it, Chasid,” Botezat said. “I doubt anyone will ever find those plastic shards. If they do, they will have no idea what they are.”
At first light, Fargas entered the meadow. He was cautious and nervous. Fargas saw nothing in the clearing at first. Then he saw a fawn standing by the body of the dead deer.
The prince allows us to take orphaned fawns, Fargas thought. If I don’t, some wolf or lion will kill it.
Fargas dispatched the fawn. He skillfully skinned and butchered the animal. Septimus’ inept butchery rendered the mother’s body worthless.
What next? Fargas pondered. Maybe I should look where the gods walked. I don’t know what I could find. Is the ground holy? Could there be a spell on those places? Did the gods leave spirits to guard the meadow? I hope not.
He found where the gangway’s feet made marks next scorched area. He remembered where Solarious walked. He walked cautiously with a keen eye. Where the tent stood, he found shards of yellow plastic, the remains of Septimus’ flashlight. The body of the flashlight was jagged pieces. The lens had popped out of place. The reflector was intact.
What are these things? He wondered. They must be gifts from Solarious as it’s his color. I won’t try to figure it out now. I will take them with me.
Fargas continued his circuit of the meadow. Where Septimus had used the laser, the tops of the plants were cleaved flat.
Mystery upon mystery, he reflected. No sign of a priest. No one would believe me if I told them what I saw.
Fargas went to check his trap lines after resolving to remain silent.
Fargas was silent for about six weeks. During that time, he examined the pieces of the flashlight. Fargas noticed the flashlight reflector redirected light. By luck or fluke, he lit some dried grass on fire. After he experimented with the reflector, he became proficient in starting fires. He preferred the reflector to his tinder box.
What a strange gift Solarious left, he marveled. It does not work without bright daylight. I suppose that makes sense since Solarious is the god of the sun. His gift only works in sunlight.
Fargas tanned several skins, including the fawn’s hide. He needed supplies and had to sell something. He went to the prince’s marketplace.
On a bright and windy day, Fargas laid out his wares at the edge of the market. Without thinking, he used the flashlight reflector to kindle a fire for brewing tea as the market opened.
Revekka, a busybody, passed Fargas’s stall. She saw the reflector and screamed. “He’s stealing fire from the sun!” she shouted. “He blasphemes the gods!” Her shouts attracted the attention of patrolling Sheriff’s Men.
“What is the problem, ma’am?” the Sheriff’s Man began.
“I saw him steal fire from the sun!” she ranted. “He has the pelt of fawn for sale.”
The Sheriff’s Man turned to Fargas. “What do you have to say for yourself?”
“The pelt was from an orphaned fawn. I found the fawn standing over its dead mother. The prince’s law allows the taking of orphans,” Fargas replied.
“What about the stealing fire?” the deputy queried.
Fargas produced the reflector. “Solarious gave me this gift to start fires. I did not steal fire.”
If Fargas had denied the fire stealing charge, the deputy would have dismissed Revekka’s accusations. Claiming a gift from a god changed the situation.
“The Lord Priest will have to determine whether you have a gift from Solarious,” the deputy said sternly.
Lord Priest, Godoy Dohotaru, held court on market day. Holding court meant staying awake while appearing to listen to peasants trying to evade the temple’s levy. Few escaped.
Dohotaru’s zeal for the gods did not lead him to become Lord Priest. He was the third son of a minor noble family. The priesthood seemed the best path to a good income without hard work. Dohotaru excelled at bureaucratic maneuvers, which landed him his current position. He cared more for his lavish lifestyle than anything else. Today, he nursed a massive hangover.
The Sheriff’s Man brought Fargas to the Lord Priest.
“My Lord Priest,” the deputy began. “This man was accused of stealing fire from the sun. He claims to have a gift from Solarious.”
“He did what?” the groggy priest asked. “Show me this gift.”
Fargas removed the flashlight reflector from his pouch. “This is the gift, my lord,” Fargas said.
Dohotaru had no idea what Fargas held. “How did Solarious give you this gift?” he asked.
I’m trapped, Fargas thought. Telling the truth seems to be the best option. I hope he’ll dismiss me without a lot of questions.
“Solarious came in a pillar of fire three fortnights ago,” Fargas began.
“I know nothing of this pillar. There was no such thing. You talk nonsense,” the priest retorted.
Dohotaru did not know anything about the pillars of flame. The day the Lovell landed, Dohotaru was incommunicado, with a hangover and a head cold. He did not leave his bed for two days. The Lord Priest’s subordinates knew correcting Dohotaru caused an eruption of temper. Dohotaru was probably the only adult in the prince’s realm who knew nothing of the pillar of flame.
“There was a pillar of fire!” a strident feminine voice shouted. Miciela, a well-known healer and midwife, elbowed her way to Lord Priest’s chair. “I saw the pillar, my Lord Priest. Did anyone else?” she demanded. A chorus of murmured assents rose from the crowd.
I can’t just dismiss this peasant, Dohotaru realized.
“Tell me of this pillar,” the priest began.
Fargas gathered himself and began his tale.
“I am a trapper. I was inspecting my traps. I was climbing a ridge when I heard a mighty roar. I thought maybe the dragons had returned. I fell to the ground. Looking up, I saw a pillar of fire falling. I buried my face in the dirt, thinking the world was ending. After the roar stopped, I crawled to the top of the ridge. I saw a metal pillar covered with mystic symbols. I was terrified. I hoped priests would come.”
Fargas was annoying Dohotaru by suggesting priests should have come. Dohotaru did nothing.
“I was afraid to move. I don’t know how long I watched the metal pillar before a door opened, and two men came forth. I thought what looked like men must be gods. I believed one was Caelum since he wore blue. His companion wore maize. I believe he was Solarious,” Fargas continued.
“Solarious made a small structure appear out of the air. Caelum went back into the metal pillar. Solarious cast a spell and made the dirt float through the air to the building. He invoked a different incantation making fruits and leaves fly through the air.
“A grey deer entered the meadow. Solarious pointed a stick at the deer, and there was a small clap of thunder. The deer fell dead. Solarious butchered the deer and made meat fly. Caelum emerged from the pillar. Solarious made the structure disappear and took his gatherings into the pillar. I saw the pillar of flame come from the metal pillar. The gods returned to the heavens.”
“Did you talk to the gods?” the priest demanded, trying to intimidate Fargas.
“No, my lord. I could not understand them. I am not a priest,” Fargas answered.
“Why did you say Solarious gave you a gift?” Dohotaru pressed.
“It was near twilight when the gods left. I waited until the next day to see what the gods did in the meadow. I stumbled on these yellow objects where Solarious’ structure stood. I know gods can give gifts to simple men. I thought these were a gift,” Fargas concluded, holding out the yellow plastic shards.
“Give me those things you hold!” the Lord Priest demanded.
“No, my Lord Priest,” Fargas replied.
“You oppose me! Why?” the priest sputtered.
“If you had come to greet the gods, they might have given you these things,” Fargas protested. “You did not come. I was there but hidden. The gods hid these for me, not for you.”
Dohotaru’s lackeys were getting nervous. Fargas was pushing Dohotaru harder than any of them dared.
“How do I know what you say is true?” the priest blustered.
How do I answer? Fargas thought. What proof can I give? The evidence is in the meadow. I must get them to come to the forest clearing somehow.
“Come with me to the meadow, my Lord Priest. The circle burnt by the pillar of fire is still there. Only a god can make a circle as perfect as the mark in the meadow,” Fargas suggested.
Dohotaru felt trapped. “How far is this meadow?” he asked, grasping for a straw.
“The meadow is not reachable by a carriage or horseback, my Lord Priest,” Fargas reported. “A party could ride to Zadok’s tavern before embarking on a three-hour walk through the forest to the meadow.”
Dohotaru did not walk through the woods for three hours. The priest spied an exit.
“The matter needs investigation. I cannot abandon my court. I will send one of my priests in my place. I also need time to consult the sheriff,” the Lord Priest replied.
The sheriff was already present. He quietly slipped into the crowd with some of his men.
“No reason to send for me, my Lord Priest. I am here,” the sheriff shouted. “I will send my deputies and a cart. The party can leave within the hour.”
Masters of the guilds were also in the crowd. They wanted to see what wonders the gods may have left. Several minutes of negotiations determined the membership of the party. The party to investigate the meadow would consist of Fargas, Miciela, Revekka, two sheriff’s men, Priest Tomas, two journeymen, and two apprentices.
The expedition left and proceeded to Zadok’s. Revekka chose not to go beyond Zadok’s Tavern. She wanted to stay where she could collect gossip. Tomas was a younger version of Dohotaru. The priest’s clothes and attitude were not well suited for the forest. Tomas trudged through the woods as he had no choice.
The party reached the meadow in midafternoon. The party was stunned by the perfect burned circle. In three fortnights, nothing had grown in the burned ground. Fargas displayed the remains of the deer Solarious had killed, buttressing his story further.
“Let us go to where Solarious’ structure stood,” Fargas suggested.
The party went around the circle. One of the apprentices lagged behind the party. He tried to catch up by cutting through the circle. After a few steps, he grasped his chest and started staggering. The apprentice barely made it out of the scorched patch alive. Priest Tomas had scant time for the Rites for the Dying before he died.
“The gods struck him down,” Tomas said in a shaken voice.
Maybe the gods did cast a spell here, Fargas thought.
The rest of the party followed Fargas’ footsteps as they skirted the circle. A few minutes later, Fargas located the marks left by Solarious’ tent. Before he could say anything, Miciela noticed an unusual flower. The flowers had large yellow blossoms which faced the sun.
“Were those flowers here before the pillar of fire came?” she asked.
“I don’t think so,” Fargas replied. “The flowers are where Solarious worked. He may have planted the flowers magically when he waved his hand.”
Fargas’s guess was close to what happened. The flowers weren’t there before the Lovell arrived. Septimus’ sunflower seeds took root.
“We should call them Solarious’ flowers,” Miciela suggested.
The flowers completed the shift in Tomas’s attitude toward the gods. He had never seen anything like the flowers. He knew the gods had visited the valley.
“We should build an altar to Solarious here,” Tomas bubbled.
“No,” Fargas retorted. “The gods came here once and may come again. We must preserve the site for their use. A shrine to Caelum and Solarious might be appropriate.”
The journeymen cut a pole to carry the dead apprentice’s body back to the road. He deserved a proper burial in the guild hall.
Fargas did not return to town with the rest of the group.
He thought, I don’t want to deal with the Lord Priest or that busybody. If they don’t believe Miciela and Tomas they won’t believe me. I know people who need leather, and I won’t have to pay my levy or taxes.
Three weeks later, Fargas passed through the meadows of the gods on his way to the marketplace. He was surprised and appalled.
Someone had tried to enlarge the hole Solarious dug. Fargas found broken Solarious flowers.
Selfish people are destroying the site, he thought.
Not everything was negative. At the mouth of the meadow, Fargas found numerous packages. People left gifts for the gods. Fargas found purses of coins, venison, lavender, deer skins, cherries, skunk cabbage, and other plants.
Fargas started a fire and roasted the venison before it spoiled. He counted the coins and scraped the deer skins.
How did people find this meadow? What can I do with all this stuff? he thought. It shouldn’t just be left to rot or for people to steal. I can’t use it as if it were mine. I feel responsible for the meadow. What if the gods return and find the valley ruined? I am not a priest. I need a living.
Fargas considered his options while the venison sizzled. After a while, he had a glimmer of an idea. He went looking for his brothers.
Miciela traveled to the meadow over four fortnights after she left. Tomas’ report had caused a furor. People pestered Tomas and Miciela for details.
I am tired of reciting the plants the gods harvested, she thought.
Micaela expected the talk to die down. Dohotaru’s rants denouncing the meadow kept the pot boiling.
I don’t trust the rumors circulating about the meadow, she thought. I am joined to that meadow somehow. I must know the truth. I am not sure of Fargas’ character.
Miciela found the path from Zadok’s broader than she remembered.
People must be visiting the valley, she decided. I’m surprised people found the path. Zadok may be giving directions. A horse will be able to pass soon.
After two hours, Miciela met an older woman hobbling along the path. The women struck up a conversation.
“I am Solaria,” the old woman said. “I have been devoted to Solarious all my life. I want to see where he walked before I die. Do you think the gods came down?”
“I have seen the meadow. I believe the gods came, mother,” Miciela replied. “I am going to the meadow myself. Let’s give each other company.”
“I will slow you down, dear,” Solaria answered.
“I have time,” Miciela said.
They walked and talked for over an hour.
Miciela was surprised when the forest opened to the clearing. She expected an open meadow. She was surprised. A gated wattle fence crossed the mouth of the clearing. Benches stood before the gate. A pile of packages and plants leaned against the barrier.
What is all this? Miciela wondered as she helped Solaria to a bench.
Miciela spied Fargas about fifty meters away in the meadow. She saw buildings rising over a hundred meters beyond the gate. She called Fargas, and he came to the gate.
“Miciela!” he began. “I am glad to see you. Who is your friend?”
“This is Solaria,” Miciela replied. “She needs to see where Solarious walked.”
“Come in, friends,” Fargas replied as he opened the gate.
Inside the fence, stakes and ropes marked where the ramp had opened and the location of Solarious’ tent. The Solarious flowers delighted Solaria.
Solaria repeatedly asked, “Did Solarious walk in the meadow?”
“I saw him, mother,” Fargas replied. He repeated his tale as he escorted the women back to the benches.
“What do I owe you for showing me where Solarious walked, good sir?” Solaria asked.
“You owe me nothing, mother,” Fargas replied. “Do you have food for the trip to your home?”
“I have a crust of bread and a little cheese,” the older woman replied.
“Wait here a few minutes,” Fargas answered. He went through the gate and came back with the package.
“You need more food for your trip,” Fargas said to Solaria. “The package contains some smoked venison and dried cherries. I also gave you some seeds from the Solarious flowers for your garden. The package includes a deer skin to shield from the rain.”
“I cannot pay for all that,” Solaria wailed. She knew how the priests worked.
“You will not pay for anything. Other people left these as gifts to Solarious and Caelum,” Fargas began gently. “I cannot make sacrifices as I am not a priest. I share these gifts with people showing devotion to the gods like you.”
Solaria burst into tears. When she composed herself, Fargas spoke to Miciela. “We need to talk privately. Let your friend rest.”
Miciela agreed. The pair walked over to the parcels.
“What is going on, Fargas?” Miciela asked. “I heard tales of you getting rich from the meadow.”
“Let me explain,” Fargas began. “I am not getting rich.” He told Miciela how he found the meadow.
“My brothers and I decided we needed to preserve the meadow for the gods’ return,” he began. “We were saving to buy a freehold. We found we could make the meadow our freehold with our savings and gifts. The land is away from town and was cheap. The notary thought we were crazy. We purchased over twenty hectares.”
Fargas continued, “My brothers and I agreed we would not exploit the valley for our gain. We agreed on some ideas.”
No stone buildings are allowed in the meadow.
We will build simple houses and workshops where we can raise families.
Our families will continue to work our trades. We will not live off people’s gifts. We may need to use some gifts for a short time.
None of us, nor our children, will marry nobility or become priests. We must remain working folk.
The valley will be free of charge to all who seek to honor the gods. We will charge no levy.
“The first building we raised was a smokehouse. We are getting a large amount of venison,” he said. “What I did for your friend, I hope to do for others in need.”
Miciela was pleasantly surprised. No gossip hinted at what she heard.
“I need your help, Miciela,” Fargas continued.
“What can I do?” Miciela asked.
“All these packages beside us are gifts to the gods,” Fargas said. “Even with the smokehouse and drying rack, much will spoil. You are a healer and encounter people in need. People who have broken an arm and can’t work, for example. Could you give this bounty to those people?”
“I can’t do that!” she exclaimed. “I could not help heal anyone or care for my family.”
“I don’t know why the gods came. We should not waste things people left of the gods. The gods would not ask you to abandon your healing or your family,” Fargas replied. “You know other healers?”
“Yes, of course,” she replied.
“I am asking you to talk to other healers,” he said. “Perhaps Solarious would want the healers to form a league of healing and charity. The healers would not abandon their families or their craft. They could draw some substance from the meadow.”
Miciela was intrigued by the idea. I do see much suffering I can’t address, she thought.
“I will not promise anything,” she began. “I like the idea. I will talk to other healers. If we healers can agree, I will let you know.”
“Perhaps you could form a sisterhood dedicated to Solarious,” he suggested.
“More likely the Daughters of Selenia, Solarious’ daughter,” she countered. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”
“I will wait for your answer,” Fargas replied. He took three silver coins from his purse.
“Use these to secure a room from Zadok for you and your friend,” he said. “The coins are also gifts to the gods. If you can use the herbs or venison, take them.”
Miciela accepted the money and made a bundle from the packages. She and Solaria started walking.
Solaria was deliriously happy. Miciela was planning.
Botezat and Septimus had no idea what they had started. They thought they were gathering plant and soil samples. Inadvertently they launched an avalanche with a small snowball.
Dohotaru fumed over the shrine. Tomas went from a spineless lackey to a fervent champion of the gods. Tomas has become a fanatic. Good lackeys are hard to find, Dohotaru brooded.
Dohotaru had other issues with the shrine. He and his predecessors had twisted tradition to make “sacrifices” only prime cuts of meat. The altar became a barbeque. People brought skunk cabbage, stinkweed, and tobacco to pay their levies. The gods showed they wanted such things by their actions in the meadow. When the weeds burned, the odor was gross. No one would eat meat cooked over that fire. Future Dohotarus were deterred from the priesthood, making lackeys even harder to find.
Ordinary people loved the shrine. If the gods wanted bothersome plants, the people gladly paid their levy to the temple with the plants. The plants were only valuable to the gods, diminishing Dohotaru’s income and lifestyle.
The shrine itself prospered. Nothing ever grew in the scorched circle. Fargas and his brothers were true to their principles. Pure hearts did not preclude problems. Dohotaru summoned Fargas to his court.
“Why are you not paying your levy?” Dohotaru demanded.
“We pay a levy on what we make in trade, my lord,” Fargas began. “The temple records will show we are faithful.”
“You are not paying a levy on your supposed shrine,” accused Dohotaru.
“My lord priest, the income of the shrine is not ours. The income belongs to the gods,” Fargas replied. “I have never heard of the gods paying a levy.”
Dohotaru wanted to rage but restrained himself. “You will bring a levy from your shrine. I will impose the same levy on other shrines.”
“As you wish, my lord priest,” Fargas replied.
Dohotaru’s decision was very unpopular. People looked for more subtle ways to avoid the temple’s levy. Fargas’ solution was simple. He bundled plants that couldn’t be eaten, composted, or turned into medicine. Fargas delivered bales to the temple. Dohotaru couldn’t say the levy was insufficient for fear of getting more plants. The relationship between the temple and shrine was stormy.
Common people became more devoted to the Shrine of Solarious. They were devoted to the gods, not the temple. Their devotion did not waver when Tomas succeeded Dohotaru and reversed his most unpopular decisions.
Miciela helped found the Daughters of Selenia. The order’s compassion and healing became legendary. Selenia became honored as a goddess of healing and charity. No one dared harm a Selenian. The order’s members wore a solarious flower broach as their insignia. A genuine broach contained a fragment of the yellow flashlight in the center.
Time passed. If Fargas’ descendants kept to his dictates, the shrine was favored. When they forgot Fargas’ principles, things like violent storms happened. It seemed the gods were angry.
The path to the shrine became a road. Stone paths marked where the gods walked. A village grew up in front of the shrine. The Daughters of Selenia built a place of healing and learning in the village.
The prince relaxed his law on hunting deer. The law still protected does and fawns. Nobles complained that the changes ruined hunting.
Solarious flowers did not grow outside the meadow. People said the gods wanted people to visit his shrine.
People continued to wonder whether the gods would return. Nothing grew in the scorch mark as if signaling the gods’ intent. The people waited in vain.
Botezat and Septimus intended to return. Upon reaching the Apollo, Septimus filed a preliminary electronic report. Rebel forces destroyed the Apollo before it reached a safe harbor. Another expedition never came. The computer managing the list of planets to survey would not send another survey team until it received the samples from the prior expedition. Perhaps the god Bureaucracius guarded the meadow. The ways of the gods are strange.
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Emerging Worlds is a Zealot Script Publication.
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