Okay, you numpty… you got yourself into this… get yourself out…Peter inhaled, quelling his fear. He knew he was i, that he had dohing wrong and he was being lied about. Still, old fears y deep like pernicious roots. “I testify that I am i of all accusations made by those of the Church Luminous guard. I have been here for a week, if that, and have had only enough time to ‘train’ and sleep, taking it upon myself most retly to educate myself, so that I may educate my charge.”He did not, at this point, go into all of that pint. “I have barely ied with the people training here. Save for one person, at breakfast, my first full day in this world.” He inhaled, “If getting seds at a meal is an ‘abuse of power’ then I am, truthfully, guilty of that. Beyond that… I have not forced or threatened ao do anything. I have not demanded anything of anyone for my unfair advantage or fort or simir.” He paused, “If anyone has issue with my staying in that visitor’s suite let it be known I spoke with Shepherd d’Zaier himself with a of being too far away from my charge if she needs assistance or is in trouble. How could I do my supposed duty as bodyguard if I were not closer?” He asked, “It was his choiove I and my charge, and an aide, there. You should hat sihen, I have not made myself present at the dining hall. This is because of a less than subtle ‘suggestion’ to me from the Shepherd as well as a scious decision on my part to minimize my impa your resources. If my having a sed bowl of pe and more rasher at breakfast was wetting as upset over as the guard was… then how I, a new person to this world, do anything else but minimize my impact?” He asked the crowd, inhaling before tinuing, “Think. I implore you. Think back. Have any of you actually seen me doing or saying anything uncouth, rude, threatening… Have you actually spoken to the apparent victim of my crass as and forward attitude?” He paused, “Have you actually seen evideny f myself on someone, or striking someone when not defending myself or training?”

  Again, silence.Long, protracted, and heavy.Then, people began to shift, looking to the fellow o them, leaning over to whisper. To ask questions. To share information.A murmur coasted over the crowd like a ping against the shore. One voice, however, spoke out loud and angry.Hurrying to the field was Shepherd d’Zaier, followed by his fellow clergyman, Vaunn — both of the elders making haste. “What in Xtha’s name are you doing, otherworlder!” d’Zaier snapped, stopping short as Peter turned, meeting his gaze as well as feeling the weight on the practice field. “Ending the bullying I’ve been enduring this past week with a finality that is sorely needed.” Peter frowned as he turo the older men, “I assume you feel that weight as well?” “Mphm.” d’Zaier scoffed, looking away disbelievingly. “I .” Vaunn nodded, “What did you do?” “I called upon all dek—” Peter took a little pleasure in seeing the taller Shepherd flinch, “— of the Gods and Goddesses of The Family to judge my as and, if the accusations I have literally been fighting against were true… to punish me appropriately.” “Why would you…” Vaunn started to ask, but seeier’s eyes he nodded, “No, I uand why.” “Indeed.” Peter urning back to the assembled people, looking up at the sky and the single dark cloud that hung there. Meeting the eyes of the assembled guards as he swept from one edge of the crowd to the other he inhaled, “Well? Will aestify against me? Is there o, with Di’si’thy and Bel’i’nce, both, listening?”

  “You talk about being seen doing and saying these things…” Came the voice of the guard who had seemed to be enjoyiing oer, to put him in his pce for his ‘disrespect’, “Such w implies you haven’t snuck around to do so…” “Save that I also mentioned speaking to those I apparently fronted, assaulted, or what-have-you.” Peter shot back, turning to the crowd, “Speak now, my supposed victims. I am uhe watchful eye of all your deities. May I be struck down where I stand if I threaten you into silence. Let Di’si’thy’s presensure that Truth is revealed. May Xtha herself take me now if I break the sanctity of Bel’i’nce’s prote of Order.” Silence, again. Long, heavy, waiting.No one spoke, only shifting around, foot to foot, twisting to see if anyone would speak out against him safely uhe prote of the gods and goddesses. Yet no one spoke up; not even a whisper. “Then who do you accuse?” It was that guard again, smirking and sneerier wondered if this one guard in particur wao catch Peter in a ‘gotchya’ situation so he would be taken by the gods. However— “I do not accuse anyone.” Peter answered, projeg his voice “I have naught but suspi as to who might have goaded people, spread rumors, and the like.” He paused, looking to d’Zaier, “And the authority here iemple had their own, taking care of things, apparently. So I see little point in falsely acg someone myself.” “Mgh. You’re afraid, then.” The guard accused. “Of hurting another because of misunication, or ruining their life, or mine, due to a moment of anger? Yes. Of that, I am afraid.” Peter answered, “Again. Just because I am sure of my suspis does not mean I am willing to accuse without iron-cd evidence.” He paused, “Though… I only hope that after this whoever did rethinks their as and seeks fiveness from The Family.” “You keep ag like you’re weak and i!” The guard tinued, “Yowling about not knowing how to fight…” “I don’t.” Peter answered, “I was raihat doesn’t mean I won’t fight back, however haphazardly, to defend myself.” He eyed the guard, “Are you acg me, guard? Speak up, let the gods hear it!” It was a hing but Peter was almost sure that the weight around them, bing the training field, got just a little heavier as he enced the guard to have his say.He could imagine, however silly it may have been, a police-drama-style se in which Bel’i’nce was leaning over the witness in an interrogation room. “…”Peter coughed, “What was that? I don’t think anyone heard you.” “No, I said! Damn you.” The guard snarled, “I am not acg you of anything… I have witnessed, nor heard, of any such activity.”

  Hearing that made one of the uards, the one whom Peter had kicked away iomach, growl and shove his supposed rade, “You were the one who told us he had dohose things!” “I… well…” The guard stammered nervously, feeling a heaviness about him, “I was told he had dohose things… and if I…if I went along with it I would receive a promotion!” “You rat bastard!” The sed guard of the trio that had goer Peter hissed, “Now we’re fag a trial preceded over by all of The Family!!” They turo Peter, taking off their helmet and revealing a young-looking, well, youth… that was fairly androgynous in the armor they wore, “I swear to you… I was… he told me that you had…” They blushed, “I… don’t feel good saying it aloud.” They whispered. “So you were ‘just following orders’?” Peter asked, slightly ahe young guard ged, “… Yes. And .” They whispered, “I romised extra for my family if I went along with his as in… well, attag you.” They stood, waiting for something. Peter looked around and o himself, “You ’t be faulted for wanting to help your family.” He said simply, “The fact you still stand there shows that your words are true and yods are merciful.” He said. “They might be but your behavior is unbeing of a Guard of the Church Luminous.” Shepherd d’Zaier’s stern tone was heard, “And be certain that this will be spoken of… ter.”The young guard swallowed nervously, “S-Shepherd…” “We…” Vaunn held up a hand of assurance, smilily, “We will speak with you ter.”Though still nervous the young guard nodded. “Well… the’s get this over with.” Peter looked around him to the assembled crowd and the two Shepherds, holding up his hands, “No one has spoken out. I assume that the gods and goddesses have searched our hearts and souls on this issue.” He inhaled, “So… I stand ready for judgment. If I have itted any of the crimes I have been accused of…”

  As he spoke there was a gasp from the croointing… at Peter.Unsure he looked around himself and then down, right when he saw his shadow shimmer and ripple like darkened water before slick, almost slimy tendrils shoot out of his shadow and around his left hand and arm.Out of instinct, and no small amount of panic, Peter pulled against the bck ichor only to be pulled towards the ground with a strength that made his knees buckle and yank him to the grass with his arm sinking into the ground within his shadow. “What?” Peter gasped quietly in shobsp; “Hah! I k!” The accusatuard called out.Vaunn had stepped forward to help but a heavy hand from d’Zaier stopped him, shaking his head. “He did this to himself.” d’Zaier’s cool tone hissed softly, “He has no oo bme but himself, calling upon all of them, especially that one, on Her holy ground. Such a transgression could not be allowed.” “Damn you, Santis… this is no time to be sanctimonious!” Vaunn sounded pained.

  As quickly as they came the shadowy tendrils disappeared aer fell bato his rear as the momentum of him trying to jerk himself free carried over. He gasped, breathing hard, fused.He felt no different… he looked down at his arm and saw, to his joy, it was still there. However, while he did not lose his arm he did gain something.Gripped in his hand was a sword; a bde — half-again as wide as an arming sword — as bck as a starless night. Its razor-sharp edge fading from that to rich, royal purple with just a tiny, but bright, golden line where the spine of the bde started its taper.The cross-guard air of crest moons, back-to-back, so the points were outward, a diamond-shaped gem betweehe handle was almost long enough for two hands but… stopped just short; it was ed in a soft bck leather and topped with a moon-gray silver pommel that looked a bit like a fnge-headed mabsp; The most striking part of the sword was the fact it did not have a point — it ended in a ft, blunt, squared-off head.Peter recalled such a bde was called aioner’s sword.====================