Minor Blessings and Heresies

The seventh day of the festival finished out the competitions and announced the winners that would gain minor blessings from the Gylltaine Stag. It was towards sunset that those who would receive the blessings were brought before the Eldest witch and a few others. Among them was Duchess Togeir, her heir, and her two duke consorts.

I had seen them from afar a few times when I attended events at the capital. But as a legitimized bastard I didn't fully participate and only looked on from the sidelines. She was an intimidating woman with flowing golden blonde hair with a blue and black gown.

Her son, while having similar features as her, had a different personality. He was warm with a disarming smile and was less than a year younger than me. Almost every young lady at the balls wanted to dance with him.

I noticed behind them were a few guards, one of them had a familiar build that took me a moment to place. When I figured it out I looked to Thelora who nodded to confirm that he was the black armored man that helped settle the succession of the Bandit Queen.

While I was always background at state functions, maybe she recognized me? I hoped there was another reason she specified that I be spared by her command.

By this time nearly every adventurer and noble in the north had gathered around Blueash. A few adventuring parties from the tops guilds had stayed near the major cities in case of an emergency. But that still meant the number of people here was now rivaling the size of a minor city. It was a massive undertaking by the Great Coven of the North and the representatives of the Adventurers Union.

One by one those who had excelled over the last few days came up to the platform. They quickly kneeled and the Eldest witch placed her thumb in a bowl of oil and ash and marked their forehead. As they left the other witches chanted to them and fanned them with the smoke of burning herbs. It was still overly complicated to my spiritual senses but Floriana advised watching spiritual spells whenever I could.

Some notable winners were Uhtric for the artificers; Master Bragi, who I helped deliver goods to, won for alchemists; Ketill, who I met at the Union entrance assessments, won the sparring for D rankers; and for some reason flugalanr mead won for best alcohol. A number of men cheered for that last one.

The crowd was mostly respectful but it was rather boring to watch the long line of people receiving blessings. I looked around and saw a number of adventurers that I knew from sparring and gave them a wave in greeting.

I also saw two different groups of the Followers of the Holy Light separated by a few hundred feet. One seemed to be led by Renata and the other by another female Holy Knight Commander that I didn't recognize. Though I did know a few of those behind her, specifically holy knight Turnus and Matrium Myrgol. They were both with Renata on her Relic Hunt.

"I'm a bit surprised to see them here." Floriana had come to my side without me noticing. I saw her looking in the direction of the Followers.

"Does the Church of the Holy Light not normally participate in these types of festivals?" I had been a little surprised when I first saw them, considering this was a festival related to a different religion. But no one else seemed to find it strange.

"Those led by Holy Knight Commander Renata are fine. They follow the Henrian heresy so they don't have a problem with Spirits and witches. The others are a little more puritactical in their dogma." Floriana said.

"I've never heard of the Henrian heresy." I replied. Since my family wasn't fans of the Church, I was only taught the very basics.

"I'm not surprised, the Church tries to keep the heresies under wraps. Those in power of their religion don't like disagreement unlike mine." Adalgard said.

"She's right. Before the unification of the kingdom, each region had its own leadership and differences in teaching. When the Kingdom was united, the church soon followed suit. However, their disagreements nearly kept that from happening.

"The first Holy Father of the unified church allowed six heresies to be believed within the clergy. He believed that over time they would fade and in many ways they did. But they persisted among a few. Now they are allowed among believers but they can't be openly taught within the Church's chapels." Floriana said.

"So while the official teaching of the church is that witches are evil, there are some that follow this Henrian heresy, and think, what, they're good?" I asked.

"There's a bit more to it but that is essentially it. The heresy says that the Holy Light created Spirits to watch over the more natural aspects of its creation. Witches are the servants of the Spirits and so shouldn't be hated just because they exist. But they do believe that witches and the Spirits should be subservient to the Church." Floriana said.

"Yeah, that's not going to happen." Lariss said.

"True but it does allow witches and Henrians to at least work together." Floriana said.

I bet if I asked, Ivarr would be a believer in the Henrian heresy.

"So if the others think witches are evil, why are they here?" I asked.

"That is a good question and one a number of people are asking." Floriana said.

When I looked again I saw a few adventurers keeping an eye on the other group of Followers, including Yngvarr, Runa, and Ludolf.

"The one in charge of them is Holy Knight Commander Bibiana. She reports directly to the Archbishop of Torinheim and is very loyal. Whatever she does here will be under his direction." Floriana said.

"Who is Renata loyal to?" If the Archbishop wanted to try and force me to join the Church, having allies that he disagreed with and that I could get along with would be good. Now I just wished I hadn't left such a bad impression on Renata.

"Bishop Hildingr of the city of Forisheim. He's the Archbishop's rival within the church in the north." Floriana said.

"We shouldn't have to worry about them. Too many of the powerhouses in the north are gathered here. If they really tried something, they'll take care of it." Even though I said that, I had a feeling that I would be dragged into anything that happened.

"It's always better to be informed." Floriana's face contorted before smiling at me, "I'll see you later darling." She brushed her fingers across my cheek as she left us. I then noticed Lord Barthurr Ordir looking through the crowd.

"I am a little curious how you gained the affection of the woman known as the Night Whisper Fox?" Thelora said.

"Is that who that is? I've heard so much about her but never met her. That has to be a story to tell." Adalgard said.

"I would also like to hear how the two of you met." Lariss crossed her arms as she stared me down.

"There really isn't much to it. I just happened to have a drink at the tavern she works at and we hit it off." I said.

"Haha, you really think we'd buy something like that. Either she wants to use you for something or you're really good in bed." Adalgard said.

"Maybe it's both?" Thelora pondered as they all glanced towards my lower half.

It was both actually! But I wasn't about to tell them that.

"Just be careful. She came over here to warn you about the divide between the Followers of the Holy Light. Which means she thinks you might get caught up in it and for some reason is worried about that." Thelora said.

"As long as you all have my back, I'm sure we'll be able to take care of it." I expected Lariss to slightly blush at the compliment, since she usually does. I was a bit surprised that Thelora turned slightly red as well.

"What a good sentiment." Adalgard said. "I wonder if the Elder Watchers want us to put a stop to some nefarious plan from the Church of the Holy Light. That might cause problems but I doubt a holy war will come from it."

"If they are up to something, a holy war might just be what they are looking for." I replied. Causing trouble at a festival of a Great Spirit would no doubt cause trouble with the witches of the north as well.

I glanced over towards the Followers again and for a brief moment made eye contact with Holy Knight Commander Bibiana. She had been looking specifically at me.

When I accepted that I would have a destiny filled with adventure and preventing problems, I made a mental list of foes I might go up against. Along with the Beast of Dera Dua and the witches of Nlorthen, I put the Church of the Holy Light on it. I played enough video games and read enough fantasy novels back on Earth to know that the large dogmatic religion would stand in the way of the hero.

Once the ceremony of minor blessings was concluded, the place turned into a party similar to the first night of the festival. However, now there were three to four times as many people. It was a lot more wild and Union representatives roamed the crowds having to break up fights and help those who had too much to drink back to their camps.

"Alright, let's not stay up too late. The C ranked qualifiers are first up in the morning." Adalgard said after a few hours.

With that we went back to our tents and settled in for the night before the real festival began.