The service went on for, what seemed to Zia, a small eternity. Of course, zeal and enthusiasm were encouraged in the Church of Izkarzon, but she suspected her wiggling read impatient to those around her anyway. Never forget, though the Eyes of Izkarzon see all, that it is the duty of all lay acolytes, that is to say every citizen of Dragold, to report and even help uproot dissent. That sobering train of thought helped her to stay still, but made the remainder of the sermon an even greater eternity. She bowed her head properly to bow at the call for group prayers, ears ready for the juicy gossip which might be spread in knowing which noble family anticipated a happy—or unhappy—event. And sincerely, she enjoyed the periodic hymns which punctuated the service, singing loudly and even for a while forgetting her idea—but remembering it promptly as deacon Zidrist began talking again. Her favorite was We All Love to Serve Izkarzon, the opening lines of which were the same as the title, leading into, “We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!” Well, Izkarzon will think I’m neat from Heaven for the idea I’m going to put forth!
As the procession of priestess and supporting clergy made their way down the aisle, Zia found herself waiting for the music to end and everyone else to make their way past the priestess and offer her their praise for the service. She wanted deacon Zidrist’s undivided attention when she put forth her idea. Finally, the last aged member of the laity had made their way down the aisle and shaken Zidrist’s hand, and Zia rose to talk to the dark-skinned, gray-haired deacon. When she made it out of the chapel, she saw one person in quiet conference with Zidrist and tried not to sigh impatiently. She must have snorted just a little though, because both women turned to Zia and the stranger—I think she’s the chorister—kissed Zidrist on the cheek and said, “I’ll catch you later.” Oh. She’s her wife. Lucky. Having someone like that is so blessed.
“What can I do for you… Zia, isn’t it? You’re Krasna and Tik’s daughter, right?” Ooh! She got the gender right!
“I had an idea during the sermon. When we swore the Oath of Loyalty, I had an idea! I know it’s not good to think during the sermon, but I just had the one idea.”
“Relax, daughter, I recall you taking your Oaths of Fealty. While your attendance has suffered of late, I don’t think anyone questions your zeal for Izkarzon.”
“Well, you see, nobody will after the idea that I had! Izkarzon reigned from time immemorial, far more than a hundred years. And He hasn’t left Dragold in all that time. So what if Izkarzon had a mate, at some point? What if He had a kid? That dragon would be hundreds of years old, coming from before the Age of Loss, and have a rightful claim to the throne, and could end the whole civil war! Nobody could dispute it and the Church would be full again and… I can tell, you like my idea.”
“I think it is an interesting idea.” What’s wrong with just liking it? “It’s something I feel would be worth pursuing. But why approach me about it?”
“If we’re to go out into the world, I would need a deacon of Izkarzon, to take confession and report any improper thoughts. Not to mention, wouldn’t it be the place of His most close, faithful acolytes to identify His heir and verify their parentage?”
“You want me to come with you into the wider world, as… what, protection against corruption?”
“Exactly! You could bring your sweet—”
“She’s my wife.”
“Even better! No question of impropriety!”
“Zia, I admit the idea has merit. Certainly more than that of the spirit mages who proposed summoning and binding Izkarzon’s spirit into His rotting corpse.” Zidrist shuddered, and Zia shared her revulsion. To pull their God-King from His rightful reward in Heaven was an appalling blasphemy. “But the world is a dangerous place. Even Dragold itself can suffer unrest, can you imagine the dangers of the world outside the Church of Izkarzon?”
Okay, that’s a fair point. But I’ve wandered the poorer districts without any obvious weapons and been fine. And the civil war never enveloped me. I think we’d be fine. But if we need muscle—ah! “I can get muscle for us, if you like. I know a person who goes around armed and could protect us from brigands and the like.” Drexl wouldn’t mind, I’m sure. She talks now and then about adventure. And she’d get the status reward, maybe she’d be made wane or even hunger. Probably not ouroboros though. Unfortunately. Anyway. “So with her to protect us from the physical dangers, and you to protect us from the spiritual dangers, your wife, and me, we could all head out to find Izkarzon’s heir and restore the golden age of prosperity we’ve enjoyed since the Age of Loss that Izkarzon so kindly ended.”
“As I said, your idea has merit. I will pray on it, and we can discuss it later this week.” Zidrist laughed and gestured around the Church building. “You know where to find me, perhaps Tuesday or Wednesday?”
Zia nodded eagerly. She made the appropriate social sounds, expressing appreciation of Zidrist’s sermon which she wasn’t sure she remembered, and tossed out a name from the call to prayer that she would especially make sure to keep in her thoughts, before rushing out of the Church to talk to her parents.
“What do you mean, ‘You can’t get an abominable spider silk gown’?!”
“Zia, our fortunes are not what they once were, and trade has been unreliable with the unrest.”
“It’s a civil war, Dad. And I was talking to Mom.”
“We can’t afford it. Even your allo—pin money has been a strain, but we didn’t want to tell you about it.”
“How am I going to hire a guard if I can’t even get decent armor for myself?!”
Her Dad spoke up again, “I have an old suit of leather armor you could wear. I’ll even pay for it to be modified according to your, ah… tastes.”
He’s trying to be reasonable. But it’s not fair! I need armor so I’m safe, and I don’t know how I can convince… well, I can convince Drexl probably with the status thing, or an appeal to friendship, but. “But Dad! Mom! You don’t want anything to happen to me, do you?!”
Her Mom replied evenly, “You’re the one choosing to go on an adventure, Zia. I think your Dad’s offer is more than reasonable. We’ll even advance you next month’s pin money,” her face pinched as she said this, and Zia could tell she was doing sums to make the math work. We’re really in such financial straits that pin money and an old suit of armor is all we can muster?
Zia considered throwing a fit, but that had ceased to be an effective tactic a few years before she had come out. I may as well take what I can get. “I want to sell some of my jewelry. I need as much silver as I can manage, I don’t know how long this trip will take.”
“Zia,” her Dad said, “This is the first you’ve been talking about going on a trip—”
“It’s an adventure! And since Seasons don’t happen, maybe I’ll find someone while I’m adventuring, like one of those romantic adventuresses!”
Zia’s Dad shrugged. “It’s the first you’ve talked about it, and if you come back in a week and tell us it was too difficult, I think you would regret selling your jewelry. A lot of things aren’t retrievable.”
“I won’t come back in a week, and when I bring Izkarzon’s heir, I’ll be honored and wealthy beyond what we held even before the Dragonslayer came.” Unable to restrain her temper, and afraid of proving her parents right, Zia fled the room. It was only after slamming the door that she realized she was proving them right with that display of pique, rather than punctuating her leaving.
Her next stop was what her parents would have termed “the bad part of town,” the district of the town where buildings weren’t made of expensive stone quarried in the Stone Mountains to the east, but simple and rotting wood. The same neighborhood where she learned ditties and smelled strange, pungent fermented spices, where she went to dives, and most importantly where she found Drexl.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
Drexl was leaning against a building, looking at nothing in particular, when Zia found her. In one hand she held a plank with several knives driven through it, but she didn’t look particularly like she was spoiling for a fight. I’d imagine she’s just on a protection beat. Or whatever it is that gang members do when they’re not killing each other. Zia waved and Drexl looked over and waved back with her free right hand. Bread, Zia noted reflexively. As she always did. “Zia. You don’t normally come by to dive twice in a day, so I took on a job. Pull up some wall if you want to hang, I have to stand here until after moonrise.” We can’t go and sit somewhere? Sarx, that’s annoying. I guess I should get used to being on my feet, we’re probably going to have to go at least as far as the coast to find Izkarzon’s heir.
“I had an idea while I was at Church, and deacon Zidrist thought it was a good one. So I had to talk to you.” She seems less impressed with the prestigious deacon’s name than I expected. Strike one, I guess. I’ll convince her. I don’t want to hire muscle, I want my friend with me. Aside from the country seat I’ve never left Sasson. …and I can’t afford to hire muscle. “You’re not impressed. That’s fair. I guess gangers don’t go in a lot for faith. Actually, I don’t know if we’ve talked about it.”
Drexl inclined her head. “I’m faithful. Confess my sins every week. Takes about four sandglasses, according to the priest.” She smiled a cocky grin as she said this.
“It takes you a third of an hour to—wow. Okay. Um. But my idea. The city is falling apart, the trade routes are getting dangerous, and the ouroboros are tearing themselves apart…” Drexl shrugged as though this were not her problem. To be fair, I guess it’s not. The slums are left alone except to impress soldiers and after what happened last time we don’t do that to them anymore. “But my idea. It would get you status,” Drexl still looked bored. “And money, probably a lot of money.” Drexl raised an eyebrow, but now lacked the unfocused look of someone who is watching the crowd and instead was making eye contact with Zia. “What if we went and found the child of Izkarzon? Like, He probably mated at least once before becoming a God-King, even if He couldn’t share His throne. And He ruled since before the Age of Loss, so His daughter—or son, I guess—would be older than anyone else by a few-hundred years. And who wouldn’t want to be a God-King, or God-Queen, that’s the whole reason ouroboros has been tearing itself apart?” Drexl looked intrigued, though at the last sentence she returned to surveying the street. “And… and I would like to have someone along who is my friend.”
“Why bring me along? You’re ouroboros. I’m bread.”
“Because you’re tough.” Something clicked into place in Drexl’s gaze. Zia hurried on, trying to make the sale, “And, again, you’re my friend. I know of deacon Zidrist, but I don’t know her, and she’d be bringing someone with her and… I don’t know. I’d like someone who was on my side.”
“Why bring the deacon at all?”
“To keep us on the moral path, and to confirm the lineage of Izkarzon’s heir. The deacons and priests have actually met the God-King, they can, I assume, tell us if someone looks like His heir.”
“Sounds like a good graft. I’m game. Can’t leave before moonrise though, and then I’ll be sleeping.”
“Oh, Zidrist said to come talk to her Tuesday or Wednesday. You can catch up on your sleep. We… I’d like you to come with me when we meet her, but can you, I don’t know, wash your boots a day or two before?”
“Are you ashamed of my boots of all things, Zia?”
Oh dang. I misstepped. Dangit, if I cheese her off she won’t ever get with me, much less go on my adventure with me. Which, that might lead to the other, that happens all the time in bard stories. “Forget the boots. I spoke hastily. And I told Zidrist I could find someone tough, she knows—” I hope. “—that all the actual soldiers are occupied.” Drexl spat on the ground at the mention of soldiers. They’d come through the district more than once, shaking down citizens for “taxes” or just confiscating whatever they deemed “uncivil” weaponry.
“Alright. Tuesday. Which Church?”
“Upraised Right Claw of Izkarzon. On Fifth Ring.”
“Dang. Fancy pants. Five roads down from the castle? Yeah, I might wash my boots. And my jerkin. See you Tuesday.”
Excellent. I’ve got my spiritual wellbeing seen to, and my physical safety. Of course, I could just set folks on fire, but that’s not a deterrent like a broad woman with a plank full of knives. This is going to go great.
Tuesday came, and Zidrist met them in the narthex of the Church. She had her wife with her, introducing the fat, olive-skinned woman as Darka. “She’s the chorister for the Church, and she’ll be coming with us.” Zia reflexively noted that where Zidrist’s right hand bore a three-quarters ring, Darka’s bore only a half ring. She’s also wane, where you’re hunger. Interesting choice.
“I’m Drexl, and I’ll be the token muscle, evidently. What is a choir leader going to do while we’re venturing far and wide?”
“I’m coming because you’re not taking my wife anywhere without me to keep an eye on her. Her virtue might get the better of her and get her in trouble.”
“That’s what I’m here for.”
“Well you’ll just have to deal with an extra hand at the job.”
“Whatever. It’s Zia’s coin.” Oh. Dang, I didn’t even think of that. I don’t know how far my silver will get us. “So how are we finding this dragon child?”
Zidrist cleared her throat. “Zia. Are there any more members joining us?”
“Uh… no. Why?”
“Then we need a doll of some kind, as a fifth member. Four is an unlucky number.”
“I’ll sew one together tonight,” Darka said. And stuck out her tongue, face creasing with mirth. “Already useful. Darka one, Drexl zero.”
“Wasn’t competing, but go off I guess. Again, how are we finding the dragon? Zia? This is your idea.”
“Uhm… I was actually hoping someone else had connections or ideas. Izkarzon was an institution, I never learned about anything from before His time. I thought maybe the priesthood had legends, or maybe you, Drexl, had, like… secret society ties.”
Drexl burst out laughing. “You think I have ties? If I’m lucky I could ask my boss if her boss might one day make me his bootblack. And he might know someone who knows someone.”
“The priesthood holds no knowledge from before Izkarzon’s time,” Zidrist said blandly.
Darka grinned. “So how are you at bootblacking, Drexl?”
We All Love to Serve Izkarzon
A dragon rules over our entire nation.
We’re glad for it, He rules us well.
He shields us from others’ depredation,
As for our tithes, we pay them gladly.
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
A dragon rules over our entire nation.
We’re glad for it, He rules us well.
He shields us from others’ depredation,
As for our tithes, we pay them gladly.
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
We love that great dragon who shall lead us
Into a bright and shining golden Age.
We know that all our magic comes from Him
The last disloyal sorcerer, well He ate that miserable mage!
Lift your voice high and hymn!
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
We toil to build Him a glorious nation
A glorious castle, as He deserves.
Our architects give Him recommendations,
But Izkarzon He gets the final word!
We’ll spread His truth as a foundation
To every place throughout the world
We turn to Him that He might face us
The alternative to pleasing Him is death!
Lift your voice and support your breath!
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
A dragon rules over our entire nation.
We know He leads us as best He can.
In thanks we sing our dedication,
Wiser older bigger longer than any man!
Oh yeah!
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
We all love to serve Izkarzon (oh yeah baby!)
We all love to serve Izkarzon (oh yes we surely do!)
We all love to serve Izkarzon
We work all the time, that He might find, that He thinks we’re neat!
