Kimal still remembered when they had first met. It had been a chance meeting, in the city where Solque now was High Priest. But back then he had been a Novice.. and Kimal had been the stranger that kept to the shadows. The boy had done his very best to try to convert him to the Light. Preaching about the love and safety that came with worshipping the Light One.
The halfdemon chuckled faintly at the memory. Solque had been such an ignorant little fool back then...
It was barely dawn when Kimal finally arrived at the city gates. He had been on the road for weeks, constantly moving further and further south until he reached civilization. It was not by choice that he treaded these lands, but by necessity. He needed to resupply. Normally he would do everything himself, get his own food and fix whatever might have broken, but there were some things he just could not make on his own. So he was forced to travel to the city. Not just a small village either, because they never had the supplied he needed, but a real big city. With winding streets and people everywhere. People who seemed to have a fondness for yelling “Begone Demon!” Hn... He just wanted to get his supplies and be on his way as soon as possible.
With a slight movement, Kimal reigned in his horse and looked up at the City walls. There was the barest hint of pink on the horizon indicating that the sun was soon to rise, but according to the inhabitants of the city it was still Night. Everything was dead quiet except for the occassional barking of a dog. Not even the roosters had woken yet. That suited Kimal just fine. The less people in his path the better. He just wanted to get in, rent a room at some small Inn, take a quick trip to the market to resupply and then be on his way again by nightfall. The sight of those looming, dark stone walls was enough to make his skin itch. No, he was definitely not welcome here.
Dismounting from his dark brown horse, he led it by the reins in through the large wooden gates. The hooves of his mount clattered on the cobblestones, but his own were unshood and made next to no sound at all. He was barely visible in his dark woolen cloak on the dimly lit street. He just hoped he’d be able to pass unnoticed.
He moved through the dark streets at a brisk pace. He wanted to get to the Inn as soon as possible, but he never went so far as to reach the speed where he would make unnecessary noise. The point was to move around unseen, and preferably unheard... Althoug that was a bit hard with steel horse shoes and hard cobblestones.
Looking up ahead of him, he winced when his eyes fell on the glowing white temple and was temporarily blinded by the few rays of early sunlight that were reflected on the polished marble walls. He muttered a string of curses and lifted his gloves hand to shield his eyes from the unforgiving light. There was someone standing there on the steps leading up to the Holy building but he couldn’t quite make out who it was. Hn... it did not matter. It was probably just one of those righteous fools that called themselves priests. The halfdemon muttered to himself and made a quick decision to try to get past that cursed place as quickly as possible. He did not need another run in with the Church this month.
“Excuse me...” Oh, just wonderful. “Why aren’t you still asleep? You are not one of the novices, I can clearly tell. God wouldn’t like to know that you are spending your time lost in the dark, you do know that?”
Kimal had heard the voice calling out to him alright, but he did not stop. Instead he continued at the same pace, acting as if he hadn’t noticed the other man at all. His hood was still up, hiding his horns, and his cloak was long enough to cover his cloven hooved. There would be no reason for the Priest to be suspicious of him. Then again... having met many priests in his lifetime, Kimal was sure the silly little being would suspect him of something anyway.
He really had no wish to discuss theology, but something the boy said made the halfdemon sneer. ‘God wouldn’t like...’ He snorted to himself. Like that silly boy knew what his God wanted. The Light One had not been seen in decades and even back then she did not bother to give any orders to her followers. ‘I don’t like it when you sneak around,’ would be more accurate. But Kimal really couldn’t be bothered to tell the silly priest that. He could continue to be ignorant if he wished, as long as he left the tiefling alone.
“You shouldn’t be afraid that He will judge you, it could be worse. Everyone is doing mistakes, but if you are willing to redeem your faults, He is sure to bring you back into the Light again.”
Apparently the priest wasn’t going to give up. Kimal sighed heavily and finally came to a halt. His hand tightened around the reins of his horse but other than that he showed absolutely no signs of emotion. Not even on his face which was hidden behind the heavy wool of his hood.
“Why are you shunning the Light? If you just stay for a while longer, one of the priests might be able to help you find your way back on the righteous path.”
The halfdemon grunted . “Tell me, priest,” He said in a low, rumbling voice, “do you make a habit of ambushing people in the streets and accusing them of sin?” He did not bother to look at the other and remained, instead, with his back turned to both the priest and his precious temple. A quick glance down assured him that his hoobes were still hidden from view. He really had no wish to be chased by another foolish set of priests trying to smite him. And he certainly did not fancy another trip into the temple dungeons for simply walking the streets in the early morning. “Your God had nothing to offer me, so I will just be on my way.”
“Excuse me, but it is my duty to steer strays back onto the Path of Light! I am not yet a priest, but this is sure to prove my worth to them and my trust in my God.”
Kimal turned his head slightly to look at the boy – for to a creature like him the priest was only that – and the increasing sunlight reflected in his dark eyes. It did not matter to him if the other was not yet a full fledges Priest. Novice or High Priest, they were all the same ignorant fools. The only difference was that one was richer than the other.
“So in other words... you wish to convert me so that you might be exalted? How wonderfully selfless of you.” He replied, his voice remaining calm although it held a slightly acidic tone.
Gently stroking the side of his horse’s neck, he began walking, but was once again stopped by the boy’s words. “Are you a Dark one? One that has left the Light to serve whatever evil power the darkest shadows may contain?”
Slowly, the halfdemon started to chuckle at the ludicris notion of kowtowing to that murdering maniac. Dark and smooth was his laughter but it lacked any real mirth. And then it ended abruptly and his words were icy and deadly serious. “I serve no one but myself. Remember that priest.”
“... it’s Novice. And... Serving yourself? Isn’t that the more selfish choice? In the Light, not only are you serving yourself, but others as well! You should not be so hasty to dismiss the true powers of God.”
By the Nine Hells, the boy just would not give up!
“Everything a person does is for his own benefit. I am no different from you in that. But at least I have the courage to admit it.” Kimal said firmly. “I have no wish to serve any others, just as they, I’m sure, have no wish to serve me. It works out just fine. Now, I am going to turn around and be on my way. And you will stay right where you are, or go back to your precious temple without bothering me any further. Then, later on in the day, I am sure you will find some poor beggar that you can convert to your faith and your superiors will be oh so pleased.” With that said, he turned slightly and took a firm hold of his horse’s saddle and hauled himself onto the steed’s back. He had already spent too much time here and the city was waking up so there was no way he’d be able to get by without getting noticed. Wonderful. “Good day, Novice.”
“May the Light light up your way and keep the Dark of Hearts at bay... and remember, stranger, God and His Light are always welcoming you with open arms, whenever you feel ready to cleanse yourself and start anew.” It seemed the boy was finally giving up.
Kimal’s eyes narrowed slightly at how easy he was getting away. Normally, the priests would hound him until he left the city and sometimes even beyond that. But this Novice was just going to let him leave? It was odd... and Kimal was not about to trust it. He would have to keep his eyes and ears open for the rest of his stay in this city. One bad move and he might be headed for the gallows again.
Getting comfortable in his saddle, he arranged his cloak so that it would not get in his way, letting his hooves show in the process. Resting in the stirrups, they looked a dull black in the faint light. Darker cracks were visible here and there, and it only went to show that the halfdemon ought to take better care of himself. Unfortunately, personal grooming was a luxury that Kial could not afford.
“Keep your blessings to yourself, boy. I think you might need them more than I do.” He cast one last glance at the boy and noticed the strange look on his face. So he had seen his hooves, had he? Hn. For some reason, Kimal found his confusion highly amusing but he said nothing and just urged his horse to start moving down the street.
~~~~
The rest of the day went a lot more smoothly for Kimal. He went to the market as soon as it opened and, keeping all of his attributes hidded behind his cloak, he got everything he needed. Then he returned to the Inn where he stayed until the sun set. There was really nothing keeping him in the city so as soon as the streets were dark and empty, he went down into the stables and saddled his horse. The encounter he had had with the Noice Priest that morning still lingered in his mind. He was not nervous, just somewhat annoyed. Whenever he had an encounter with the clergy it always left him with the same foul taste in his mouth.
Taking the horse by the reins, he lef him out of the building and onto the street where he mounted. People were sure to hear him depart, but by the time they managed to react, he would be long gone.
It did not take him long to reach the city gates and there he stopped for a moment to make sure the guards wouldn’t cause him any trouble. A few words were spoken in hushed voices and then a couple of coins changed hands. Then, he was free to move along without interference. Corruption was a wonderful thing.
Kimal and his horse continued out through the gates at a trot and were just about to increase their speed to a gallop when the tiefling heard a familiar voice. His eyes narrowed immediately and a sneer tugged at his lips. He should have known something like this would happen.
“You are a creature of the Dark and Shadows, aren’t you? Is that why you will not accept the Light?”
“The reason I will not ‘accept the Light’ is the same as the one I gave you this morning, boy. The Light One has nothing to offer me and I do much better on my own. If that makes me a creature of darkness, then so be it.” Nudging his horse’s flanks with his hooves, he continued past the annoying little Novice.
“Have you ever taken the time to actually see what the Light offers? Isn’t it better to have people around you who will support you in the hard times?”
Kimal’s eyes narrowed, his body tensing up. “Yes, and I found it lacking. No, it is not.” He replied shortly but then turned to glare down at the Novice when he felt a tug on his cloak. How typical, the boy was staring at the cloven hooves he had revealed when he pulled on the wool. “Unhand me, fool, before you get hurt. Naturally it was a threat, but the halfdemon did not take kindly to people manhandling him in any way. Not even young boys.
“I wasn’t done, and as I said before, I am not a Priest. What is it that the Light doesn’t have, but you can find in solitude? Do you think you are stronger by yourself, instead of flanked by the Light? By everything that comes with it?” The boy was closer now, standing right besides Kimal and his horse. “Aren’t you missing the fellowship, the camaraderie, that comes with one united belief?”
“What is it that I find in solitude? Trust. Safety. There are no such things in your faith.” The tiefling said through gritted teeth. “But you, with your ignorance and your sheltered life, could not possibly know what I am talking about. With fellowship comes betrayal, with camaraderie comes pain and with united belief? There can be only death.” With that said he tore his cloak out of the boy’s hand and nudged his horse to start moving again.
They were approaching a crossroads and Kimal made a quick decision of which way he would go. Alone. One way or another the priest would be unwilling, or unable, to follow him any further when they came that far. All signs of the sun had disappeared below the horizon and the only light came from the cresent moonhigh in the sky. But that was enough for Kimal. His eyes adapted easily to the low light and was able to make things out as easily as if it was day.
“You’re lying!” The boy said defiantly and ran after him. “If all those things were true, how come none of that has happened to me? And even if we were to experience pain, betrayal and all that... Doesn’t that just make us stronger? To know that after the Dark, there will be Light?” The boy was walking backwards beside the halfdemon now, most likely trying to catch a glimpse of his face. “Do you not miss having someone with you? Aren’t you alone? Because united or not, death will come upon everyone. Isn’t it better to die together, with people you love than die alone, unloved?”
Kimal tried his best to ignore the foolish boy that ran alongside his horse. He did not have time for this. He wanted to get away from the city and civilization as soon as possible and back into the Wilds where he belonged... Not be stuck outside the city gates answering the questions from some sniveling teenage novice. But it did not work. The questions just kept on coming and eventually the halfdemon found himself replying. Despite himself.
“Why would I lie? What could I possibly gain from lying to you?” He asked slowly, his eyes still fixed on the road ahead. “You are just some lonely little boy who doesn’t know what he wants in life so he clings to desperately to his faith like a baby to his mother’s bosom. You do not have a single idea of your own in that head of yours and probably never will, so why on earth would I care what you think? Your ‘opinions’ are not even your own.”
“I am not a little boy, I’m an adult and is fully capable of making my own choices. And these are my beliefs, and God has done a lot to me, opened my eyes to see the World for what it is. You shouldn’t dismiss my beliefs so easily.” He’d seen the world for what it was? Kimal doubted it. This little idiot knew nothing about what went on beyond the city walls. And the boy didn’t stop there. “Why won’t you just listen? When has that ever hurt anyone? Let the High Priests give a try, they are far more educated and knowing in this than I am. Surely you would listen to them?”
Still, Kimal ignored all of the boy’s protests. In the end, no matter how old he was, or how highly he thought of himself, he still remained the same ignorant fool that the tiefling had run into that morning.
“I stopped listening to people like you when it became synonomous with ignoring all that is bad in the world.” He said finally. There was the slightest hin of regret in his voice. He pulled his horse into a full stop and, leaning forward in his saddle, he grabbed a hold of the Novice by the collar of his clothes and pulled the boy towards him with surprising strength. His hood was starting to slide back and his dark eyes glinted in the moonlight. The three red markings below his right eye glowed. Enough was enough. “Listen to me, and listen carefully. I am not interested in your silly religion and I never will be so you can refrain from your attempts to convert me. Instead, perhaps, you ought to worry about getting back into the city. The roads can be very dangerous after sunset. Who knows what kind of Dark creatures lurk in the shadows...” An evil looking frin stretched across his face and was multiplied in power by the big goat horns that protruded from the sides of his head.
The boy’s hands came up to clutch at the the ones holding him off the ground, his eyes wide and frightened. “L-let me go!”
Kimal’s eyes narrowed slightly and he kept his hold on the boy as he studied the scared expression on his face. “I almost feel sorry for you...” He began slowly and used his free hand to brush some of the Novice’s longer hair out of his face. “You fear me, even though I am no more dangerous than the people back at your precious Temple. To be so very ignorant... Not knowing anything of what is happening out in the world...” His voice had been low and almost gentle when he spoke and it still held that regretful note. “I suppose it is easier to fear a creature with horns on his head than an old man wearing a white robe... But appearances can be decieving. So very decieving.” His gaze traveled over the boy’s young face and for the first time he noticed the pointed ears. So he was an elf? Hn... They usually were not so judgemental. He shook himself mentally and his eyes finally fell on his own gloved hand that still had a tight hold on the Novice’s clothing. A look of disgust passed over his face and he let go, pushing the boy away from his horse in the process. Then he straightened in his saddle, the brass rings that pierced his horns glimmering in the low light. “Run along now, novice. I am done with you.”
“Wha-what do y-you mean, decieving?” He boy stuttered. “Y-you can’t say all those things and then just run off! Explain yourself!”
Kimal urged his horse to start moving again only to stop briefly to look over his shoulder. “What do I mean?” He asked with a rather amused chuckle. “Why, I’m sure you will be able to figure that out on your own. And if you’re having trouble with it, I am certain the high priests of your temple will be happy to help.” With that said, he turned back around and continued to ride down the left road at a brisk trot. Hopefully, this would be the last time he saw the Novice.
A small part of him itched with the urge to show the boy everything that was wrong with the world, but he knew better than to try. Modern folks were happy with leaving things just the way they were and the less they knew about the world outside of the city walls the better. This applied especially to the clergy. Those ignorant, moronic, selfish, selfrighteous....
His train of thought was interrupted when the boy called out to him again. “But I asked you! Fine! Just run away and hide, you probably don’t have any answers anyway! I would have hoped to help you, but suit yourself!”
Kimal only chuckled in response and shook his head. “Good luck finding your way back tot the city in the dark, Novice! If you’re lucky there won’t be anything lurking by the side of the road tonight. But then again... nobody is ever that lucky.” He called back over his shoulder and then laughed again. There were regular patrols on these roads and no wild animals in the area, Kimal knew... But he did not have to tell the boy that. Spending a couple of hours alone and scared in the dark might do the Novice’s ego some good.
Taking a firmer grip on his reins, he touched his hooves to the horse’s flanks, causing the creature to pick up his pace. He had a long way to travel and he would really prefer to do as much of it as possible at night. He was much more noticeable during the day and he did not want to run into any more silly priests.
Speaking of priests... he could hear the boy stumbling around in the dark behind him. “I hope the Darkness finds you and gives you fleas!” The novice shouted and then seemed to stumble again. “..crap!”
Kimal just laughed and rode on.
