"We have a better idea of what's happening, maybe why it's happening isn't as important."
"Why things happen are always important," Holli noted. "Motivation leads to understanding."
"I agree," Rachael replied. "It's not just what you do, it's why you do it." The reader then focused on Holli. "What is it that's really bothering you about this?"
"Prilgrat is risking the lives of every human across the Great Valleys. He has to see this. His actions, however, do not reconcile with the underlying facts. He has already reached the lofty position of regional steward. He rules over the very humans he puts in danger. Wealth alone would be a small gain. He would be better served to safeguard his current status."
"Men seeking additional power make underhanded deals every day. Is it possible you are simply overlooking the obvious?"
"I do not believe so. I have seen Prilgrat and he is not one who would make a short sighted bargain. There would have to be something of great value offered for him to risk all the power he already has. The goblins simply do not have anything he needs."
"The prophecy states that he makes a deal with the twins."
"But we do not know who these twins are."
"I take it on faith that the twins are evil and have offered Prilgrat exactly what he wants. The words of Godson are clear-do not embrace evil-but it is always the same through history. Our leaders let us down. They say they mean well, but they often only mean well for themselves. There are very few you can depend upon, and even those will eventually fail in some way. No one here is perfect."
"There are times we all have to depend on someone," Ryson countered. "I mean, the members of this church count on you, just as they once counted on Matthew."
"I will not speak of Matthew, but I am not ashamed to admit I am far from perfect. As for depending on others, you can certainly have faith in your friends, but if you place your ultimate faith in something other than Godson to save you, you will be disappointed."
Holli wished to refocus the discussion on the prophecy and the valleys.
"I do not wish to show disrespect to your faith, but that does not help me with my problem."
"I think it does. You believe that leaders will act in the best interest of their people."
"No, believe me, I do not. I have seen first hand how leaders will disregard those they are supposed to serve."
"I didn't finish. When they don't, you believe they are acting in their own best interest. Is that not true?"
"Yes, it is," Holli allowed.
"Your error is not here, but in defining what would be Prilgrat's best interest. A corrupt individual will have corrupt interests. If you do not understand what he might want, perhaps it is a credit to your values, not his."
"Then, I will have to continue my search for the answer."
"We all do what we must."
"Thank you," Holli said. "You have sharpened my focus."
"It is Godson's will."
With that said, Ryson could not help but raise a question of his own.
"Don't take this the wrong way, but I need to ask. Why didn't you tell Connel's leaders of this prophecy when the refugees started arriving? Why didn't you tell Enin? Don't you think he would have wanted to stop this before it got this far?"
"Wouldn't that be very presumptuous of me?" Rachael responded. "In a way, I would be interfering in Godson's plans."
"If that's true, aren't you interfering now?"
"You came to me."
"That's kind of defining a pretty narrow border, isn't it?" Ryson wondered.
"Not at all. Look at it this way. What would happen if I went to some town leader that thinks everything we believe in is nothing but superstitious nonsense? Would he listen? Would anyone in power listen? No. If anything, they would be convinced that nothing of the sort was happening and might ignore the obvious just to prove me wrong."
"Enin would have listened," Ryson countered.
"And you believe that would have changed the situation, but I don't feel the same way. I believe in the prophecies. I can't stop them, you can't stop them, and Enin can't stop them, either."
Rachael knew she wasn't reaching Ryson. His dubious expression gave him away. She knew he wasn't really trying to find fault with her, but he was a delver. He actively sought the answers to all mysteries, while she placed her faith in a power that was beyond mystery. She offered one last explanation.
"It's not easy to have faith. I have to accept things I can't see or touch. I have to live in a land that seems to test that faith nearly every day. The Book I'm supposed to rely on often seems like one big puzzle. I try to fit all the pieces together, but I can't. I have to realize that it was never meant for me to grasp every little detail. There are certain things that are just beyond me."
"But this wasn't really beyond you. You were told what was going to happen."
"Do you fully believe in the prophecies?"
Ryson frowned. He didn't wish to cast doubt on Rachael's faith, but he had to speak the truth.
"I don't believe the future is already determined for us."
Rachael smiled. She appreciated the delver's honesty. She offered her understanding with the same sincerity.
"The prophecies don't mean we are free from choice. They just mean there are things we have to face."
"I've never been sure about that."
"And yet you think I should have spoken to Enin about the prophecies."
"You have a point," the delver admitted. "Maybe this stuff is just over my head."
"You have company. Even with the prophesies clearly interpreted for me, it doesn't help me figure out what I should do. Maybe I should have alerted people to what I knew sooner. It certainly sounds rational. As a member of this church, I should be concerned with helping others. At the same time, I have to honor a higher principle. I can't act as if I'm above the prophecies. I shouldn't try to stop them. Who am I to interfere? Maybe in some way I am interfering now, but then again, I believe Godson sent you here. To some degree, I think it's about control. I can't start acting like I know what's best. I have to leave that to Godson. I look for guidance and I hope I make the right decision. It's all I can do."
"I'm not sure I can agree with that," Ryson admitted, wishing not to focus on whether or not a prophecy was bound to happen, but rather on the most honorable course of action.
It was Holli who responded.
"You do not have to agree," the elf said firmly. "It is what she believes, and all you should do is respect it." Holli then turned to Rachael. "You have helped me a great deal. What you said is true, but I believe it goes beyond the book of your faith. Life is a series of puzzles and not all the pieces fit together, at least not for one individual. I have already learned that forcing them together is a mistake. I now realize that some pieces may not be part of the puzzle, or perhaps I was never intended to put them in their proper place. That had been my intention, but I must let it go. You have helped confirmed what I do know, and it is enough. Thank you."
"We're done here?" Ryson asked, slightly bewildered at Holli's intentions.
"Yes. We will explain everything we know to Enin, and though there remains a few holes, we know enough to act."
Chapter 23
The goblins stormed out of the warehouse in Huntston in such fury that the building collapsed before the entire horde had exited. Several were wounded, even killed in the crushing fall of debris, but their numbers were so great, the casualties were completely inconsequential. The dust cloud only served to add confusion to those that viewed the initial outburst.