Role

Chapter 6

Speaking with Lady Baerinika was an enlightening experience. He hadn't sought
her, in the past, so busy with his own Captain and his duties to the Fortress
and the Thundering Maiden, and decided to rectify that.

He understands, now, that she would never accept an Acolyte as Marshall, and
after one question from the Spearmaiden, understands why he couldn't forsake
his Acolyte Oaths to become a Maran.

"If you had the choice between saving one of your brothers or sisters who is
on the verge of death, or striking the killing blow on one of the shadow,
which would you choose?"

To Una, the choice was obvious. He didn't even have to consider his answer.
He would save his brother. Apparently, a Maran wouldn't make that decision.

This took Unalethekai aback, as did her answer to his question about how he
can improve himself in his duties.

"You don't know the Creed of the Maran as well as you think you do." she had
said, her voice quiet and contemplative, clearly not chastising but instead
seeking to impart wisdom.

Unalethekai recognized her intent, and humbly vowed to rectify this lack of
understanding.

It was true, in retrospect. He had always believed that preservation of the
light should come before destruction of the shadow, and he lived that belief
every day. But he had also believed that the Maran felt the same way, that
they destroyed in order to preserve, and given the choice would save a
brother or sister in need over pursuing a foe.

He understands, now, that the Maran's duty forces them to make difficult
decisions, to consider what will serve the greater good. Although they would
never harm one of the Light, they would make the difficult choice, knowing
that those of the Fortress have resigned themselves to occasional death in
the line of duty. The Maran would seek to destroy the thing that threatens
the Light, so that it couldn't continue to spread evil and pain across Thera.
If it meant the sacrifice of a life......so be it.

Unalethekai knows he need not bear the title of Marshall to defend the
Redhorn gates, or to train the squire and scribes in defense. He had hoped
that having an Acolyte who was also a Marshall would be a symbol of unity,
but he has resigned himself to continue working as he has, striving to reach
out to each and every member of the Fortress, learn their strengths,
weaknesses, fears and hopes, and bring them more firmly into the flock of
souls he tends with compassion and care.

In retrospect, he laments that he was so confident in his knowledge that he
allowed himself to believe that the Creed was simple enough to be understood
solely through reading the texts in the Hall of Light, and the histories of
the Fortress.

He'll strive to speak to each Maran about what the Creed means to them, to
further his own understanding. Although he will likely never possess a heart
hard enough to make the choices the Maran must, it's important he knows the
Creed as well as the Maran, so that he can impart that lore onto the young
Squires and Scribes, and be better equipped to strengthen the bonds of
brotherhood within the Fortress of the Light.