Ascension Chapter 3

     "This is not your time to die."
     She was being lifted upwards.
     We have things to do.
     The second voice completed the sentence of the person behind her. It was not from another person, instead it was something inside of her. It melded with her spirit, infested it for heartbeats and washed away. The temple walls began to fade from view, the sounds distorted and far off. The shouting soldiers, the searing pain, none of it was significant; there was nothing left to see. The ethereal essence faded from her core and she allowed the dark to consume her.

                                                   Ascension Chapter 4

     “It matters not hat your argument is. You have committed reason. You have disobeyed your Church and your government.”
     “I have done no such things!”
     “You spared the life of a terrorist and a worshipper of a false faith.”
     “I have acted as a vessel for our God! It was Torm’s will and it is my job as his sacred Paladin to uphold his desires.”
     “Heresy! You speak as if you are the mouth of Torm itself.”
     “I speak as a true believer of His faith. This petty squabble is nothing more than the needs of a few greedy old men.”
There was an audible gasp from the audience.
     “You have renounced your faith and abandoned your church.”
     “I have done no such thing!”
     “Enough. Does this martial court find Hypatia High Paladin of Torm to be guilty of heresy and treason?”
     “I have done neither of what you have accused me of. I have acted upon the divine energies of our Lord. My hand was stayed by forces beyond my control, bringing her to the safety of our fortress was His wish. To slay this young woman would be an unjust act. Torm would-”
     “Enough! I will not have a Paladin of the Order speak this way. What does this martial court demand?”
     “Imprisonment!” A knight of the order shouted.
     “Exile!” Called another.
     The audience erupted in demands. Some wished her death, others her life caged, some for her to suffer for the remainder of her existence.
     “Order, I will have order in this court.” The High Judge bellowed above the crowd his mace crashing with his shield. “I understand there are strong feelings as to how to deal with this matter but we must remain composed. As a traitor and heretic I feel the only option available to us is death. Does this martial court agree with this decision?”
     The court mumbled among itself.
     “It does High Justice.”
     “Fine then. Hypatia, High Paladin of Torm you are hereby sentenced to death. Your execution shall take place at the morning prayer. May you be an example to the rest of the city; due to our current state of emergency, actions like yours will not be handled with a feathered hand. As for the soldier you transported back with you, she shall be put to the sword at the evening ritual. May she send a message to those who would oppose our faith and our freedom.”
     “You cannot  do that!”
     “Silence her! She speaks out of turn and spews nothing but blasphemy from her teeth.” Bellowed a lower judge of the order. Knights moved to remove her from the court.
     “By Ilmatuer’s Merciful Law, I beg of you to hear me through.”
     There was grumbling from the crowd, although Torm did not align himself with the Crying God his followers remained present in the audience. To ignore her plea for Merciful Law would put the Church of Torm in jeopardy.
     “Speak.” The High Judge spat.
     “Exile, surely that would be an equivalent sentence. We would no longer be a bother to the city or the church. Exile not just from here but from the every Church aligned with Torm and any city, town and village that claims him as their patron God.”
     “How do I know you will follow this law. It is not good enough. You are both a threat to the safety of this church and city.”
     “The Hunt then. Tie us up, blindfold us and leave us to the creatures that dwell within the old Oaken Forest.”
     The audience mumbled. The followers of Torm wanted her executed, the followers of Ilmatuer were unsure if the Law had been upheld and those of Helm felt the overpowering fist of Torm closing itself around them. The High Justice spoke.
     “Fine. Now I am through with these negotiations. The two of you will be transported tomorrow at dawn. Get them out of my sight.”
Hypatia looked toward the woman. She lay still unconscious next to her in the defendant’s wagon.
     “He must have something special planned for you.”