“A Believer can be a layman enamoured of
religion and God, but is also priest and sage, one who seeks to bring the holy
down to earth. Me,” Jonah says. “Courtesy of Zanderin.” He wags an accusing finger
at the two men. “You Rhodry, and you Folly, and now me. Already we three are a
community and a sage is meant to bring peace to a community. What peace, I ask
you?” He begins to gesture wildly. “I can think of nothing else that binds us
except the Stone! We are paying for our sins!”
There is
absolute silence.
“Stone?”
Terra whispers.
And Folly
vents.
Terra
immediately realises he has needed to vent about this particular subject for
some while; he has that pinched look to the eyes her father has when he tries
not to say something, when all he wants to do is blurt it out.
“We were
eighteen years old! We did not know better! We thought we were men when we were
no more than children! How can that bitch come forward now, after twelve
years, and exact retribution! If anyone should pay it should be my father,
and yours, Jonah! And … bloody Kell! They were the ring leaders, they sent us
in!”
See also: