Chapter 11: An Indulgent First Strike

Three days after the meeting with the pope Winston and Lillian prepare to attend mass at the church. Winston isn't all too keen on the prospect of facing the man who is attempting to undermine him. However, he had to agree with his advisers, namely Lillian and Vincent, that it is important he strengthens the God fearing, chosen king image and that means attending mass at the church.

Putting on a brave face and receiving an encouraging look from Lillian he leads her to their awaiting carriage in front of the castle. As Winston and Lillian are about to enter their carriage another is heard approaching. Seeing it Lillian stops midway entering their carriage and Winston helps her down. As they make their way to the carriage the queen mother exits it.

"Mother, you're back.", Winston speaks joyfully greeting her with a hug.

"Yes, yes how have you both been?", she says with laughter. She hugs Lillian carefully. "Oh, my dear you're about ready to pop.", she comments, noticing Lillian's belly.

"Soon. We are so happy you're back home safely. Did you have any trouble?", Lillian replies.

"No trouble at all. You are on your way to mass, yes?"

"We are and I see you are ready as well.", Winston answers her.

"Yes of course. I couldn't think of any better way to be welcomed home.", the queen mother replies. Winston looks at his mother. As always her clothing is the definition of elegance, yet since she is going to mass modest at the same time.

"In that case we should get going. Vincent and Selena will be waiting.", Lillian speaks.

"I can't wait to see them either. Honestly, the four of you are like siblings.", she says reminiscently as they walk to the royal carriage. She turns to Winston. "It really puts my mind at ease to see you so happy.", she tells him. Winston can't help, but smile. Without even trying his mother has set his mind at peace.

They arrive at the church just as the last few people begin to enter. Vincent and Selena are waiting outside for them by the steps.

"What kept you?", Vincent speaks as Winston and Lillian exit the carriage.

"I apologize. That would be me.", Vincent looks up to see Winston's mother exit the carriage. Winston smiles as Vincent's face lights up.

"Well I think that answers your question.", he replies with a sly smile. Ignoring him Vincent hugs Queen Grace.

"It's good to see you.", he tells her instead. "Why didn't you tell us your mother was back?", Vincent goes on to Winston as Selena exchanges greetings with Queen Grace.

"It's not my fault. She just arrived today. We met her as we were getting into the carriage.", Winston defends shrugging his shoulders causing Vincent to chuckle.

"We better get inside before the doors close.", Lillian lightly reminds them. Winston turns his head to her and nods.

"She's right. Come along everyone.", he says addressing everyone.

Agreeing, they follow Winston up the stairs. However, before either of them can enter the church the guardsmen block Winston's way with their spears. Before he speaks Winston thinks carefully. The last thing he wants is to make a scene. Though his relaxing mood quickly vanishes. Lillian looks back to Selena.

"What is the meaning of this?", Winston asks the guards calmly.

"I am sorry, your highness, but we have been ordered to not let you or any of your family into the church.", one of the guards informs him.

"For what reason?", Winston turns his head to Vincent as he is the one to respond before him. Winston senses the tension within Vincent and guesses everyone else is just as worried or surprised.

"Forgive us, but we must follow orders. All we have been told is that this is for the safety of the crown.", the guard replies.

"That is not enough.", Winston tells him.

"What is going on?", Winston's mother asks. It's then Winston remembers his mother doesn't know what is going on.

"They are not letting us in. No royal family members are allowed to enter.", Lillian answers her.

"Why on earth why?"

"Perhaps I can be of assistance.", the voice comes from behind the guards. Peering through Winston spots one of the clergymen heading their way.

"Archbishop Rederick.", Vincent speaks, causing Winston to look at him.

"You know him?"

"He showed me around when I came to inspect the church.", Vincent informs him. Winston nods in understanding as Archbishop Rederick reaches them.

"Archbishop Rederick.", Vincent greets him with a nod. "What is going on here?"

"In order to contribute to the safety of the king of Agion. The pope has decided it will be better for the royal family to conduct mass in the safety of the castle.", the archbishop explains to them.

"That is preposterous. The royal family has attended this establishment since its inception.", it's Winston's mother who speaks coming to stand directly behind Winston and Vincent.

"It is better to be safe than sorry and this decision comes directly from the pope, my lady. I can assure you of that.", Archbishop Rederick replies. He then turns to Vincent. "Sir Vincent, you and your family can proceed as normal. Service will be starting soon.", he goes on. Winston's eyes narrow. Whatever the case he is right; by now they are holding up service. They have no time to deal with this now. Winston curses in his head. They have no choice, but to agree this time. He turns to Lillian and his mother.

"We can't hold up service. We will just have to sort this all out later.", he tells them before turning to Vincent. He didn't want to hinder his friend plus it may be useful to them if Vincent remains a desirable target to the pope. "You go on ahead.", he says to him, placing a hand on Vincent's shoulder.

Understanding Vincent gives Winston a knowing smile and nods to him.

"Selena, come on.", Vincent speaks, turning to her and offering his hand. Selena looks to Lillian one more time before taking her husband's hand and following him inside.

As Winston watches them his mother places a hand on his shoulder. He glances at her before turning to lead his family back to their carriage. As he does so Winston fumes inside. So far he has lost in his first confrontation with the church. Now he must find out what his own first move will be.

It's not until they have reentered the carriage does Winston's mother speak to him.

"What is going Winston? What was that all about?", she asks him quietly. Lillian looks to Winston with concern in her eyes. She knows he is upset over how the exchange turned out. A moment passes before Winston brings himself to explain the situation to his mother.

"What is going on is Pope Clement is seeking to undermine me as king. He is seeking to reestablish the power of the church over the monarchies and since I am the first to do something like tax the church I am the embodiment of monarchical power that he fears. What occurred just now is his first move against me. Although I don't know what he could be doing.", Winston explains to her. A thoughtful look comes upon his face. Queen Grace scrunches her eyebrows .

"What on earth?", she says disbelievingly.

"It could be an attack on your image.", Lillian suggests thoughtfully. "It certainly wouldn't look good for you if you are never seen attending mass. Even if we do conduct it at home the people won't know and I doubt anyone from the church will say anything about it.", she goes on to explain.

"Yes. That very well could be it.", Queen Grace agrees. Winston admits that Lillian may be right, for if it did not harm his reputation of being a king among his people it could very well harm his image as a christian.

"We need to do something, but what?", he says quietly looking out the window of the carriage.

.....

Back at the church Vincent and Selena both are uncomfortable about what just happened, but say nothing as they walk away from Archbishop Rederick and the guards.

"I can't believe that just happened. That must have been so embarrassing for Winston.", Selena says just above a whisper. Vincent nods his head in agreement.

"At least there weren't a lot of people around to witness it. In the end he did right not making a scene and keeping the exchange low.", Vincent tells her. He looks back and sees that the doors are closed.

"That was interesting.", Vincent turns his head back in time to see whom the voice belongs to. It is Alexander. He has brown hair and eyes and is Winston's cousin on his mother's side. Alexander moved to the capital with his own family after Winston gave him a position on the royal council three years ago. He stands in front of the doors to the sanctuary facing them.

"You saw?", Vincent asks him with curious narrowed eyes.

"Yes I did. I had come out looking for you all when I heard your discussion with Archbishop Rederick.", he explains looking down as he adjusts his sleeve. He brings his gaze back to Vincent before continuing. "You know just as well as I that there is more going on than just the obvious, Vincent. The pope obviously doesn't want Winston to know his movements."

"We will just have to watch him for Winston then.", Vincent replies. Alexander nods his head in agreement.

"We should get inside."

As they go through the doors to the sanctuary a thought comes into Vincent's mind. He draws closer to Alexander who is in front of him.

"How did you and your family get in? I thought no relatives of the king were allowed.", Vincent asks him whispering. Alexander smirks.

"Come now Vincent you know when they said that they only meant Winston's immediate relatives.", he replies. Vincent falls silent as he realizes just how right Alexander is. Usually, people don't give any regard to any one in the royal family too far from the throne. Then there's the fact that not many people believe Alexander is truly on King Winston's side because of the well known fall out between their grandfathers.

As they reach their seats in the front Vincent wrestles with what could it be that Pope Clement is planning that he doesn't want King Winston to know, but wouldn't mind him or a supposed enemy of the crown to know.

The answer only comes at the end of service when Pope Clement prepares to make a special announcement.

"My fellow followers of Christ. I address you for the first time to say that it brings joy to me that I have been able to lead you through today's mass for the first time as your new holy leader.", he begins. "I want you to know that while I hold this position my focus will be to insure that as many souls as possible make it into the kingdom of God. And I prayed to God asking him how that may be accomplished. As a result he placed upon my mind an answer.", Pope Clement pauses for a moment before continuing.

"From henceforth the church has been permitted by God to offer salvation certificates. Parchments ratified by prayer from an archbishop or I and obtained by payment. With these parchments you will be able to significantly shorten your time in purgatory due to in advance forgiveness of your sins. Even before they are committed."

<i>Payment</i>, the word echoes with disbelief in Vincent's mind. It immediately becomes clear what Pope Clement is planning, but would he honestly trick people into thinking they could buy their way into heaven.

Vincent looks to Alexander. His facial expression clearly showing his thoughts, <i>Is that really possibly?</i>. Vincent looks over to Selena before taking in the people around him. The same question in their eyes and low hushed murmurs. He turns back to Alexander and shakes his head slightly.

At Pope Clement's departing words everyone begins to file out the building. Vincent, Selena, Alexander and his family head for the exit particularly quickly.

"We have to get to King Winston and tell him what's going on.", Vincent says to them. He feels unnerved by this development. "Even though this doesn't seem to affect King Winston in any way it still goes against the word of God and what it speaks. Who ever heard of buying your way into heaven to such an extent.", he goes on as they exit the sanctuary.

"It's obviously a way to get money in the church if that is the case.", Alexander comments.

"If anyone knows what's truly wrong or right when concerning the word of God its Vincent.", Alexander's wife speaks.

"Well really anyone who grew up at the Gordowe orphanage.", Vincent responds as they exit the church.

"I agree, but Vincent you can't deny that you have a well rounded understanding of the word. The fact you can read it yourself is rare. Let alone the fact that you've read almost all the known scriptures.", Selena speaks. It is then Vincent remembers that the majority of the people depend on the church to teach them about God. With that kind of spiritual influence it is far too easy for them to manipulate the people's perception of what is right and wrong.

<i>This is not good</i>, he thinks.