15 Matters of Faith (1/2)
White on red on blue, the rugged, ice-covered cliffs along the Ostarian Coast resisted, with great bravery, the attempts at conquest from the Freezing Sea. Though in truth, the so-called 'sea' would just be part of one giant ocean, according to what Laqhis had taught them. Still, the war between waves and land was a spectacle Atau never grew tired of.
”Aah crap. You feelin' homesick again, footlicker?”
On the other hand, many things could could change in an instance, as he found out on this trip. Atau turned around and looked at old John, the deckhand who had spent so much time on this ship. In a way, the old man had been his mentor, had taken him in and shown him the ropes when he had started out as a sailor. Back then, John had only ever laughed and smiled his crooked smile as he taught Atau about all the quirks of the ship... and of course about all the superstitions any good sailor would need to know.
”Just looking out onto the waves, old John. You don't think it's impressive?”
Rather than answer, rather than show his smile and tell another tale of kobolds and gremlins hiding in the waters, the oldie simply spat past Atau, out into the sea, before he turned to return to his mates. Yes, some things truly changed. Once they were changed, they could never be brought back, lost irredeemably. With a frown, Atau looked at the men who had been his comrades before, at the men he had shared hardship with on four different trips before this one.
Since he had been picked as first mate to the captain, things had become dramatically different. No longer was he welcome in their quarters, no longer was he forced to drink along or be part of their songs. However, it wasn't because the men hated the authority of the ship's hierarchy. Rules were rules, and nowhere would rules be more important than at high seas. Even though he would only be first mate for this one trip, to prepare Atau for his own ship which would be waiting back home in Etra, the rest of the crew felt that he had used his connections to get ahead of them, and that he didn't deserve his position. If he wanted to hold the crew together and finish his final journey with them in a peaceful manner, Atau needed to do something. Soon, they would reach the Cape of Tears, the most difficult part of their journey around the south coast of Arcavia.
Thus, he decided to move towards the men, try one last time to turn back the clock and sit with them like before. Pretending confidence, Atau walked over to the circle of sailors as they drank their weak beer. Over the stiff breeze being caught in the sails and the creaking ropes he could hear their talks.
”Guess that's the great lords for ya. All they'll do is use the good Lord Arcavus to keep us down.” Polder, brave, hardworking and stupid, said before he took a swig of beer.
”Not all of 'em are bad. The bornish have been talking conversion too, ya know?” Rallo, the new cabin boy, replied. Polder waved his free hand in dismissal.
”A Lord being a reverer? Won't he get done in by his own?”
”Nah, they just understand the truth: That the great Arcavus is there for all us folk. Ya didn't hear what the priests are saying? In the end, we're all children of Arcavus. No word in the Halicion that we need to pay for new temples just so those guys take us along to their afterlife.” This time, it was old John's turn to answer.
”Ah, so what? They're the ones with the most blades. Nothing to be done.”
”So what if they're in charge? We're the ones doin' all the work, so why do they get to live in the castle? And even with all that, they still want to get at our coin so they can build a fancy crypt?”
”You're not wrong.” Atau had been closing in slowly, and finally old John had provided him with the ideal point to jump in on the conversation.
”Wadda ya want, footlicker? After takin our work you wanna take our fun too? We're not allowed to speak our minds off duty now?”
As an experienced sailor, Polder would know as well as anyone here that there was no 'off-duty' atop a sailing ship. Still, Atau ignored the cheap provocation. He wouldn't let the conversation get derailed here.
”I'm just saying, the ones in charge have no god-given right to rule over anyone. That's all just bullshit made up to make the common folk easier to control.”
”The crap does that mean? You tryin' to say that the Lords are all fake? Weren't you and your boss their slavers?”
”Just because we sell them wine? Why would that mean we're working for the Lords, Polder? In the end it's just us making exorbitant amounts of coin from the lords of Arcavia. All that money flows into Etra, to pay carpenters, brick layers, masons, and whatever else we need to build all those offices, warehouses and ships. We're redistributing the wealth from the ones at the top back to the ordinary people.”
Wide-eyed, Polder stared at Atau. ”So, ya don't work with the priests in Arcava or their First Son?”
All men in the circle spat on the ground in unison upon hearing of the filthy title. With a smile, Atau thought back to what his cousin had to say on the matter. ”You know how the Arcavian religion came to be? Back some eight hundred years ago, the great Arcavus had just ascended to godhood and left his sons with his territory, all that land splintered between his children. So the sons, in order to hold power, told everyone that daddy had gone to heaven to kill the old gods and that now, he was in charge.”
”He wasn't?” Rallo asked with wide eyes. Polder slapped his arm to shut the kid up before he asked his own question with a frown.
”Now how would you know?”
”I'm friends with the seer, you know?” Atau replied. ”I'm not saying Arcavus hasn't ascended.” Though he didn't believe a word of the Arcavian drivel, Atau found it better to be diplomatic here. ”But his sons also claim this: Only descendants of the great Arcavus could ever rule. No one else should even try. By now, how many gods do we have, huh? All those little lords, becoming saints and gods for having their soldiers kill the soldiers of some other little lord. What did those great rulers even do in those fights?”
As Atau looked around the circle, he found the men who would not even look at his face before were now glued to his lips. Self-satisfied he continued, secure in the knowledge that he was on the right track.
”The truth is: The lords didn't do anything. I mean, think about it: How did Arcavus become the great god? Easy, by being the greatest, mightiest conqueror who ever lived. In comparison, what did his descendants do to become gods? Being born? Doesn't that seem strange to anyone?
”Now think about me and my cousin, the seer as you call him. Think about our story you've heard in the taverns. How could it be that a common merchant like the old Fastgrade could speak to the gods and learn how to make the god's drink? Simple: He achieved a lot in his life. Some of you should know the old Fastgrade. Anyone know what kind of guy he was?”
One man raised his hand. Toldo, Atau remembered. ”Yeah, I've been on his ship a couple years ago. A good guy that one was. Proper gentleman. Not like our misers over in Etra.”
”Exactly. The old Fastgrade worked his way from the bottom all the way to a fortune. So how do you reach this close to Arcavus, learn secrets like how to make brandy? By being successful and by being kind. I mean, Arcavus himself wasn't descended from any gods and achieved all his greatness by himself. Why would the rules change for the sons?”
”That's right!”
”Isn't the other stuff a trick to hold us common folk down then?”
Satisfied, Atau looked over the riled up crowd. Even though it had all been improvised, he was sure that his ideas would change their opinions on him. After all, he was no longer the enemy. The enemy were the lords. According to Laqhis, the best way to unite was always through a common enemy.
”In the end, I'm as much common folk as anyone here. So how about we all work together from now on. Together, we'll get over to Eniila, pull some gold from the pockets of the masters and take it back to Etra. You guys with me?”