Retribution (Drakenfeld 2) by Mark Charan Newton Read Free Book Online

this hour for a thorough search. I glanced up to a simple leaded window above the bed.
    ‘We do not encourage trinkets,’ Damsak replied. ‘Tahn always said that one cannot take trinkets to the heavens. Other than for purposes of identification, generally speaking our organization does not approve of such things.’
    ‘What about lovers?’ I asked, wondering if the priests were celibate like some other religions. ‘Was there any woman or man in the bishop’s life we should know about?’
    The glare I received was expected. ‘No. We do not socialize in such a way. There is too much work to be done and lovers can be something of a distraction from our cause. They are
frowned
upon.’
    ‘What exactly is your cause?’ Leana asked.
    ‘The work of Astran and Nastra, of course,’ he replied with a peaceful expression.
    I followed up Leana’s line of approach. ‘That work being . . . ?’
    ‘Guiding souls to the heavenly realms, ensuring that their lives are led in the appropriate way so that they may attain as fine a position in the next world as possible, and divining from the texts what people’s right course of action should be. We have a focus on helping farmers to nurture the land and occasionally we go out to bless their fields.’
    ‘No, the day-to-day work,’ I replied. ‘What did the bishop actually
do
as a priest?’
    ‘Sermons, administration for the temple, alms for the poor – though much of that was conducted in Tahn’s private time. Generally we ensure that Koton’s spiritual needs are met.’
    Vagaries. This was all I was going to get for the time being, so I let the matter pass. Perhaps Damsak would warm to the matter over time and divulge something that was out of character for the bishop, but at the moment these descriptions of habits weren’t helpful.
    ‘Who came to this temple?’ I asked. ‘Just those from this prefecture?’
    ‘Oh no. Those who can prove themselves honourable are permitted at certain times to attend religious services. The gates are opened and individuals vetted. Occasionally we might take our teachings to the street in the hope that we can steer one or two less fortunate souls onto a firmer, more divine path.’
    ‘And he was the only bishop in the city – no rivals tucked away elsewhere?’
    Damsak gave a gentle shake of his head. ‘No rivals, no other bishop.’
    Looking around, the place was too bare. I could perceive no blood on the floor or walls, nothing to suggest a struggle. I casually tested some of the walls for a loose block, though there were none, and the flagstones were sound underfoot.
    ‘Has anything been touched since the bishop’s disappearance?’
    ‘Not at all,’ Damsak replied. ‘This is the first time I have really set foot in Tahn’s quarters since the incident. It
still
does not feel right for me to do so.’
    Judging by his tentative movements, the fact that he loitered in the doorway, and the concerned look upon his face, he was probably telling the truth. The bishop really did live in such a pure way.
    ‘If you could see to it that this room continues untouched for a few days, we’d be most grateful. It is likely we will want to return.’
    ‘Of course. I shall see to it that it is not disturbed.’
    It is not as though I’m inclined to distrust a priest on instinct, but I thought it prudent for the rest of the day to interview people around the temple – metal traders who were going about their business, bread merchants, weavers – and visit any other place of interest I saw nearby.
    The surrounding lanes were well maintained, just as the rest of the prefecture. Walls displayed occasionally decorative frescos, but the colours of the street were simple and bold – red, blue and dark-green paint covered columns and walls alike. It was gaudy compared to the austere surroundings of the temple. Animal motifs had been painted in gold, each one a sublime representation of that creature in a noble pose – a far cry from the