Book 1 - The Tyranny of the Night Read Online Free PDF

interest in the Connec. Connectens were
more concerned about events to the east. It was in that direction that the big
predators prowled.
    "Tell us what Hansel is doing," Pere Alain insisted. Pere Alain meant the Grail
Emperor Johannes III Blackboots, Hansel the Ferocious, supreme warlord of the New
Brothen Empire, the Anointed Fist of God. The Usurper Patriarch Sublime's bitterest
foe and abiding nightmare. Little Hans was a fierce critic of ecclesiastical
corruption, which ran deep and was almost universal in the Episcopal Church.
Johannes blamed all that on the Patriarchy, which defended the priesthood,
however heinous or egregious its crimes. He hated Sublime V and held today's
Patriarchy in deep contempt.
    The Emperor was almost always at war with the Patriarchy somewhere but only
desultorily because the Grail Empire could not finance a more vigorous campaign.
    Sublime V had been Patriarch for barely two years. In that time he had issued
numerous thunderous bulls excommunicating Johannes Blackboots and his captains,
frequently to the dismay of those nobles who worried that God might be standing
behind Sublime V instead of Immaculate II.
    Hansel tirelessly belabored the point that Sublime was illegitimate and his
decrees therefore no more momentous than those of other thieves and perjurers.
Only the Patriarch in Viscesment could issue Writs of Anathema and
Excommunication.
    Unfortunately, even patriotic Connectens admitted that Immaculate II was a
feeble joke who would fade faster than morning dew without Johannes behind him.
    Pere Alain asked, "Master, will you stay long?"
    "Call me Brother. Maysaleans consider all men equal. All men are brothers. We
suffer nothing from hierarchy." Hierarchy caused more trouble amongst Episcopals
than did any point of dogma. The Church and churchmen were hierarchical in the
extreme. And jealous of every little perquisite. Which offended a great many
layfolk, who retained the ancient values.
    "Will you stay and teach?"
    "Of course. That's my work. I teach, I witness, I perform acts of charity. And
I'm tired of traveling." Brother Candle grinned his winsome grin but did not
mention that other Perfects planned to gather in the village.
    They put him up in the chapel. St. Jeules did not have its own priest It was a
time of prosperity. Few Episcopals were taking orders. The smaller livings went
begging.
    The people of St Jeules trekked four miles to St Aldrain's for weekly service.
Once a month, old Father Epoine made the difficult climb to St. Jeules to deal
with baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals. When extreme unction was needed a boy ran
down and one of the donkeys of St. Aldrain's fetched Father Epoine up as fast as
might be.
    If good Episcopals were involved.
    A quarter of the folk of St Jeules belonged in that category, supporting
Viscesment. A third were Maysaleans. The rest were largely indifferent, though a
handful, all connected to the Ashar family, still favored the ancient ways,
bending to the Will of the Night.
    By day Brother Candle taught basic ciphering and the most rudimentary
fundamentals of reading, more Maysalean habits that scandalized the Church.
After supper he sat with those who were interested and helped them explore new
ways of thinking about the Creator, his handiwork, and the place the thinking
animal occupied in the worldly pit.
    One young man, who had been all the way to Antieux and was considered an
adventurer, said, "They say the wells of power are weakening. That snow keeps
piling deeper and deeper in lands where it's always winter."
    "I don't know. That could be. Maysaleans are more concerned with the ice
inside."
    Their vision mirrored the traditional. To a Maysalean Perfect this world was not
the handiwork of a kind and loving Creator. This world was an artifact torn
violently from the womb of the void by the Adversary, to become a weapon in His
great war with Heaven. Souls caught up in mortal existence