-Chapter 21-
56 years after the Collapse
“Get out.” A guard opened the tailgate and released Leper’s bonds. Instinctively, Leper rubbed his wrists. Kia crawled over to him, eyeing the guards with fear as she held tight to her jerboa.
The Cathedral towered over them, a monolith that split the clouds. The front door, several stories tall by itself, cracked open and began swiveling slowly inwards as the guards led Leper towards it. Kia kept close, a hand on Leper’s leg as they entered.
Hundreds of hollering reverants, each dressed in savage black leathers, sat on bleachers on either side of the tall stone chamber. A strip of carpet led between them before climbing up eight room-spanning steps to a wide landing, ending at an ornate door.
Looking up, Leper could see to the top of the entire tower and it gave him an inverted sense of vertigo. Supports and beams spiraled upwards, leading to a bell the size of a small building with hydraulic pumps fastened to it. A slight tremor shook the ground, and the bell began to sway, counterbalancing the quivers of the tower. Reverants on all sides chanted and stomped as the bell rang above them, drowning them out. Flags shivered, and the length of the tower swayed as it undulated. It felt like it was alive.
Roman led the procession, and the reverants chanted his name. He held out his hands to receive his adoration. Then, the chanting stopped. Even the tremors seemed to hush.
At the end of the chamber, the ornate door had opened, and a figure emerged. Seven long white trains trailed behind him as he walked with his ring-laden hands pressed reverently together. He was ancient, and he was clearly revered.
White and gold robes draped from his torso, leaving his tattooed, muscular chest exposed before sweeping the floor at his bare feet. His long white beard could have been tucked into his belt, and his wispy hair, though balding, still reached down to his hip. When he lifted his gaze he revealed the triangle branded into his forehead. It was the symbol of Sol. The men stomped their feet as he approached. He arrived at the top of the stairs, arms spread out and palms facing upwards.
“Sol, compel us!” His dark, booming voice replaced the sound of the fading bell.
“Sol, compel us!” the reverants shouted in unison.
Roman knelt and bent his face towards the ground, “It’s an honor to kneel in your presence, high reverant!” His cocky, superior demeanor had dropped in an instant.
“Rise, my child,” the high reverant spoke. Roman stood and faced the imposing figure.
“Thank you, your revenance.”
“What have you brought me, Roman?” the old man asked. Roman gestured to his guards and they thrust Leper forward, knocking him down at Roman’s feet. Leper looked back at Kia. She stood in place, confused and scared.
Turning his face to the bleachers, Roman spoke, projecting his voice across the room. “I have brought us a transgressor! It has infiltrated our ranks, stolen our goods, and assaulted our men!”
“That is an andron,” the high reverant said. “Where is the master that controls it?”
Roman turned to face the old man again. “Your reverance, I do not believe this andron has a master.”
“What are you implying, Roman?”
Roman grabbed Leper by the neck and held him upwards, “Its worst crime of all, your reverance! This andron has a sentient soul!”
The crowd erupted. Roman grinned.
The high reverant silenced the room with a wave of his hand. “If what you have told me is true, then its sins are great indeed.”
Roman tossed Leper back to the ground, “Go ahead, andron! Show him!”
Fist clenched, Leper refused to give Roman a victory. “What is your request master?” There were murmurs in the crowd. Roman took the butt of his gun and bashed it against Leper’s face, knocking him back to the ground. “DO NOT TOY WITH ME!” Rising shakily, Leper barely felt the pain. He could have laughed.
“Processing request,” he said. Roman growled and struck Leper even harder. The reinforced glass plate over Leper’s face cracked, and a chunk broke off the edge. He felt dizzy. Kia whimpered.
Her eyes were tearful and afraid. Roman’s eyes were burning. What are you doing? Dull pain throbbed in Leper’s head, and the room spun. At first, Leper thought he could break Roman, but it was clear how far the reverant was willing to go. He was not simply stubborn. He was a zealot. Roman was not going to stop at anything, and the games needed to end.
“I don’t care what you do to me,” Leper said, “just leave the girl out of it.”
Audible shock rippled through the crowd. Surprise crossed even the high reverant’s face, replaced immediately with righteous fury.
“This andron is an abomination!” he cried, “You have done well to bring it to me, Roman!”
Roman bowed again. “May I receive your blessing, your reverence?”
The high reverant held out his bejeweled hand, and Roman ran up the stairs to kiss the sacred rings. With his other hand, the high reverant raised two fingers to his brow and then touched them to his chest.
“Sol bless you, child of light.”
The reverants erupted with cheers, and Roman turned around, pumping both fists in the air. He glided down the stairs, arms held out as he basked in a self-indulgent display of his own glory. Swiveling on the final step, Roman faced the high reverant again. A grin cracked across his face.
“And what of the andron?” he asked. Something in his voice hinted that Roman already knew the answer.
With an accusing finger, the high reverant pointed at Leper, and his words dripped with malice.
“Stone it.”