IroFath Chpt 1

==Iron Father - Chapter 1 -==
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A rumbling unheard of by the current residents of Turbline broke out across the land. Farm hands, warriors, and rulers alike looked up and before their eyes an egg flared across the sky. It fell towards the Erktek mountains and the subsequent death valley. No one ever went into that area because of the fauna that lived there. Generations of rumors of giant creatures that snapped up the unwitting or unprotected were rampant. In fact the settlements were walled fortresses against the night haunts that roamed at sun down. Some did not know what to make of this portent. Time would tell as this world would change with its rediscovery by mankind.... 
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7 days previous...June 6th, 3068
<<"Jump in 5 minutes.">> blared over the intercoms. Phantom Adept Tau Corden awaited the departure from Terra. His mission to disrupt the battle lines in the Lyran state were straight from The Master. He clicked his metallic fingers against each other in rapt contemplation of how many people would die by his and the other Manei Domini brethren. The jihad had been going on and The Master spoke of a forced third transfer. The first jump would take them 29 light years out. Then a week of waiting recharging the jump drive, then another jump out. They would be going thru uninhabited systems to facilitate their shadow warfare.
<<"Jump in 2 minutes.">> came across the intercom again. Then reality changed as the jump drive engaged. Except it had been too soon. Reality twisted and bubbled. A sense of a long journey took effect then reality slammed back into Corden. This wasn't a standard jump. What should have been seconds felt like minutes.
Coming to his senses, Corden pushed off the deck and floated to the door. In the hall, no one was to be found. It was like they had disappeared. He made his way to the DropShip airlock to the JumpShip and proceeded onto the vessel. What met him was venting atmosphere. The JumpShip looked like it had shifted in on itself by a fraction of an inch. Sparks flew, lights flickered, alarms sounding off. "Abandon ship." There had been a misjump.
Quickly, Corden affixed an emergency oxygen mask to himself, but it wouldn't last long as the void robbed the JumpShip of its air. Corden made for the bridge and found a gruesome scene. All the crew there were also shifted an inch along their bodies. Bisected by the misjump then reattached. Like some horror movie, they floated in the air, their blood jetting out pushing them aloft. Thinking quickly, Corden made for the onboard HPG station. A rare device to be on JumpShip. It would send a message out in the same way the JumpShip jumps from point to point. He fired it up, recorded a quick may day message, then hit continuous send. He was unsure how long it would go or even if the onboard fusion reactor would last.
Corden then made for the DropShip. Getting aboard, he sealed the door and hit the release levers. The Union DropShip started to drift away from the JumpShip wreck. Corden then made it for the DropShip bridge. No one was to be found. None of his fellow Manei Domini. No straggling crew. No one but him. By Blake what has happened to them? Making it to the bridge, Corden interfaced with the onboard computer with his vehicle direct neural interface VDNI to take control of the DropShip.
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Instrument panels blarred and Corden concentrated on controlling the DropShip's decent. The vehicle link to his cybernetics was having a hard time controlling the semi damaged vessel ever since the misjump. No one else had survived the transition to the other side. It was only with Blake's blessings that Corden managed to make it to the DropShip and hurtle out into the void. Scans in the system indicated a habitual planet and he had made his way there. Only resting in small intervals, he had piloted the stricken DropShip to the planet. He would look at the other data later that was coming in, but the damaged DropShip required his full attention, and now more than ever.
The surface of the planet was coming faster he would have liked. He was a novice in training of this particular and should have paid more attention during his basic training on space flight. But as with anything, The Master decreed cross platform experience and training was a must. Corden now only cursed himself of his lack of foresight in the choosing of his time and now he might pay for it.
A valley seemed a good place to land based on the vector he was on. It would give him a little bit more wiggle room and the mountains would other wise impale the Union DropShip. The fusion drives bloomed and the Union slowed to a relative safe velocity before he engaged the landing legs. With a crunch the Union landed and Corden felt the impact. Damage indicators signaled that one of the legs would never work again, but the engines remained intact.
Blinking his biological eye, he noticed blood had seeped into it. Corden didn't realize that his forehead was bleeding and he had felt no pain because of the pain shunt he had been gifted by. Applying pressure to the wound, he managed to stop it in a few minutes. Meanwhile his mind sifted thru the data that was gathered in transit in the system. Seven planets, two possible habitable (he had chosen the 4th one), wreckage from another Jumpship at the nadir point, lots of asteroids, and fluxing gravity wells flowed into his head. The situation looked grim for Corden as he might be stranded but the JumpShip wreckage had intrigued him. From what he could gather, it was a primitive JumpShip, 100s of years old. Maybe before the star league. In either case, there might be civilization here and he hoped he had chosen the right planet.
The next order of business was to inventory what he had. Food and water he had plenty of as the number of people that had come on this venture were now in Blake's embrace. He had his Invictus Archangel Celestial mech stowed and it had survived just fine. There was also an unconfigured Preta that he could use. Some se'irim, nephilim, Tengu, and djinn battle armor were also aboard. For weapons he was not lacking either. Standard Mauser 1200 laser rifles and also some Wraith standard kit. Considering the nature of the situation Corden thought to take the wraith kit and rifle to scout out the area.
The one door that Corden estimated that wasn't damaged, creaked and exposed him to a daylight. Fresh air hit him but it came with a strange musky smell. He had landed in what looked to be a grassland valley. Exiting the Union DropShip, he put his palm on the doors and it slammed shut. It would only ever open with his protocols and he set off to learn his surroundings.
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4 days later.
He had circled the area, taking notes of the terrain, fauna, and flora. At night he slept under the memetic cloak and heard unusual sounds. His 2nd cybernetic eye made out large fauna that lived more out in the distance and towards the more forested mountainous area. Corden decided that going in the other direction was more expedient as his gut feeling told him that they were predatory. The Preta omnimech was now looking like a better option, but he pressed himself onwards. He suspected if he made contact with any humans here that the sight of a mech might be too shocking. Let alone his own blessings.
On the 5th day, he had found a way out of the valley. A small stone pebble gullet lead him to the other side of the mountains. From there, Corden ascended a little onto one of the mountains so he could see further out. He saw the forest went beyond and to the west was plains. In the distance he could also make out what looked like a village. Blake be blessed, he had chosen the correct planet. However what took his immediate interest was a group of people heading towards the very mountain he was on. Clearly they would be coming to investigate the DropShip. However their intentions were undetermined and so he would have to observe them and try to figure them out.
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Aaron sat near the fire that would need to be extinguished soon or the night haunts would easily locate them. Their horses were well trained to lay still at night and not to make a noise. Discipline was needed for expeditions out of the walls. The council had determined that the landing of the egg needed to be investigated. However with the proximity to the forest required stealth. So here he was. A guide to four others. A child was brought as a good luck charm. No more than 6 years old. The child knew the importance in following instruction and remaining silent. In fact, Ush might turn out to be a future guide depending on this excursion. Guides were rare men on this world for the fear of the night kept many behind the walls. None the less they would press on in the morning.
Conversation was brisk. The usual banterings of what the egg might be. The marriages that come the next season. Gossip. Etc. Aaron then put out the fire and rested. He was about to fall asleep when something felt amise. The usual feeling of a night terror stalking by was not there, but something was making his hair stand up. Slowly he pulled out his blade and stalked into the night. He had only killed a night terror once and it was a baby at best. Seven foot tall and soft skin fresh from the shell. He had kept a momemto of that beast and that was his blade fashioned from its claws. Able to part flesh and some metals with magical ease.
Pressing on with his own senses, he listened more than looked. The stars and two moons were not bright tonight so he had too be extra careful. Sensing a disturbance about 100 feet from him, he slowly moved in that direction...
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Corden watched this Aaron slowly approaching his position. The memetic cloak concealed him well, but every time he shifted, Aaron would change direction. An inevitability was approaching and Corden would have to either run or act. It was not a decision that he would have liked to make as his hand would be forced. Corden's true eye eye picked up movement to his right that he thought had been a boulder. He was dead wrong. One of the night fauna had been resting outside the forest...
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Aaron knew that the thing he sensed was close. It moved slightly here or there and he corrected his path every time. The sense of being watched was full on and he knew he would find it soon. Concentrating on his quandary he only then realized that it was too late for him on what happened next. The sudden shift of air was familiar to him. A night haunt stirred and was moving towards him. Aaron hoped that his death would save the others from this things hunger. He prepared himself for death and raised his sword...
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Corden couldn't believe the speed at which the beast moved. In a split second he made a choice. He furled back his cloak, went to a knee, raised his rifle, and engaged his true eye's laser site. He aimed for the beast's eye and set the laser rifle for a maximum power pulse burst. The night's silence was broken with a CRACK CRACK CRACK then a thud as the beast's brain boiled and its body collapsed five feet away from Aaron. Corden then got up and started approaching the mass of the creature all the while a dumb stuck Aaron starred in surprise. Corden looked at the creature and for good measure he pulled the trigger again. Another cRACK sounded as he put a bolt of light in between the eyes to make sure it was dead. Only then did he turn to Aaron and spoke in a whisper.
"I am Corden and you should not have left the safety of your camp."
"I... I... I am Aaron the guide stranger named Corden. I have never heard of that name nor seen such magic wielded ever. I owe you my life."
"What you have seen we will discuss in the morning. For now, go back to camp, I will watch over you as you sleep. You will have jitters from the adrenaline and stress. I have wanted to meet you, but under less dangerous circumstances."
Aaron said no more, he made his way back to camp with the stranger following him. What had he just experienced? A man wielding magic just saved his life and just after the egg dropped from the sky. One of his eyes or what he thought was an eye in the middle of this night had glowed red. That unnerved him. Despite that he sensed no malice from this man, and as a guide, he went with his gut. Aaron lied down to try and calm himself to sleep. He looked in the direction of the stranger Corden. The man threw his arm around himself and he just disappeared. Aaron knew he was still there, but had just winked out. Aaron might have gotten two hours of sleep before the sun rose in the morning.
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Morning came and a fire was started already. Rubbing his eyes, Aaron thought he had a dream. The carcass about 150 feet out from the camp proved otherwise. Aaron knew that Corden would be near and thus hoped Corden would wait to reveal himself.
"Brett, Mike, Ush, and Carol I need to speak with you. Gather around the fire."
All members of the group met up and sat. Aaron explained how last night went with the stranger that had saved his life and likely the party. It was at that time he called out Corden to reveal himself. Unmistakable foot steps started to come into the camp. Everyone but Aaron was unnerved by the sudden appearance of a hooded red robed figure with a invisible cloak hanging from his back. In his arms was the magical rifle of some sort. Only the nobility had rifles and black powder at best. His one eye that had glowed last night was unmistakable now. From what he could tell, metal covered the man's right eye. He had no hair as the upper forehead was also sheathed in metal allong with his hands. What sort of armor did this magician have?
"Greetings travelers. I am Phantom Adept Tau Corden of The Word of Blake."
Aaron thought, the Word... He almost sounded like a priest by the pronoucement.
"So Corden the stanger. Are you a magician or a priest."
"I am neither. But I see why you would consider me a magician and/or a priest. I walk the path of human enlightenment and speak for the word set down by the blessed Blake. As for being a magician, there is a saying. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. I assure you Aaaron, that what you saw last night and what you see before you is not magic, but technology made by mankind's own hand. Anyone saying otherwise is a heretic."
That was a shocking response to Aaron. Most magicians were tricksters and hustlers. Some had shown Aaron the truth of some of the tricks they did. He had seen some things made by some of the artisans in other towns. But nothing ever of this sort of... technology... had existed for centuries. There were legends of their origin. Talk of flying in the sky and the stars. Truly the legends were real? Was this proof that his order had been waiting for? Aaron had to press.
"The egg from the sky? Was that your's"
"The egg from the sky?... Ah, that." Corden thought. "Yes I am from that object. It is called an DropShip. I arrived on it, but it is now damaged. A catastrophe happened and everyone but me survived. I had to travel a great distance to arrive here. I must ask you now, how did mankind come to live here on this planet?"
Aaron was starting to get into territory that only the guides knew. Most other people did not know of the past and the legends. The order of the guides kept knowledge to themselves and awaited for the day they might encounter their brethren again. He couldn't talk in front of the others at this time.
"I do not know nor what you speak of. It might be possible to find more info in town. But this ship of yours? It can fly or does it just simply drop?"
Corden laughed. "It is just an euphemism. The DropShip can indeed ascend and descend from the sky. The only problem is that I fear is that if it takes off that it will not survive another trip dropping. HA HA!!!"
The group chuckled at the little quip. Next before anyone could say anything, the child Ush approached Corden.
"Excuse me sir, what is wrong with your eye? It glows red and it scares me."
"Be not afraid my child." Corden pointed to his eye. 'My right eye has been replaced by metal and crystal in order to see the world at night and see things others can not."
"It looks like it hurts sir."
"You are correct, it does, hurt sometimes. It is the price I paid to extract the sin from my flesh. However it is a blessing for people in my order to be marked thus."
Now Aaron was getting a little uncomfortable with Corden. Strange talk of technology, replacement of his eye, and there was more that Ush started to ask.
"Sir, your hands? Are they replaced too or is that armor you wear?"
Corden involuntarily looked at his hand and flexed the myomer. "Yes, they were replaced by metal. I was severely injured and was inducted into the order named Manei Domini. I serve them now due to these injuries by having proved my worth and my damaged body replaced with metal and myomer."
Carol the Medic spoke up next. "So how much your body has been replaced? No one I know has existed like this!"
"You forget what I said. Technology rote by mankinds hand exists and I am proof of that. I suspect that no one here can accomplish the same skill fashioning what I have in me and around me. As far how much of me is metal, a significant amount to that level of craftsmanship."
Ush the child tugged on Cordens sleeve. "May I feel your metal?"
"I don't see why not."
Ush reached up and touched the metal hand of Corden. It was cold and smooth. Next he tried to touch Cordens face but he was too tall. Sensing the little ones curiosity he took a knee. The child went to touch his head and felt the skull cap on his head. Then he made to touch his eye but hestitated. Corden nodded and the child touched his eye. Moving his finger on his eye, Ush felt the crystal was unusually warm. He then moved his finger in a circling motion and it made squeaking noises as he went around and around. Ush started giggling and Corden couldn't help but chuckle.
"Ok, that is enough, ush." Corden said as he stood back up. He took his sleeve and wiped off the fingerpints and grime the child had left behind.
Aaron spoke up next. "I think that is enough for now. What and where are you going?"
"Well, I was heading towards what i assume is your town. But I ran into you guys and I had to also assume you were heading towards the valley to investige the DropShip. I will tell you now that the DropShip is not going anywhere any time soon and no one may enter but me for now. Before you even consider going there. I spent 4 to 5 days in that valley and there was alot of the what you are calling the night haunts. You five wouldn't last a night in there. Thankfully I was blessed with technology to make the journey out. I intend to make my way to your town now. What you five decide to do is your own fate. I will leave for a few and come back to see where you will now go. I would like to have your company as you know who I am and seen what has transpired. And I could use some company."
With that Corden turned and left. He did not use the mimetic cloak this time and remained a distance away. He decided to examine the carcass he created last night more in depth.
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By the time Corden came back, the party had decided to head back. The DropShip if it was believed what Corden said, wasn't going anywhere. As a guide, Aaron had been trained in the nuisances in speech and inflection of deception. In fact this Corden had been vehemently truthful according to a guide's training. That had given him hope that the guide's long promise was close to fulfillment. For now he had to wait until he could talk to Corden alone and away from other prying eyes and ears.
Over a three days time of travel much conversation was extended. Some of what the Word of Blake was about and the nature of technology. The other hand of information exchange was the nature of this planet which Corden came to know as Turbline. Also that humans have been on this planet for about 50 generations. By some quick math, Corden estimated that was about 800 years. About the mid time primitive JumpShips were being used extensively. There was likely some written down information or even oral traditional history of the people's origin, but no one here seemed to know the full story. Corden hoped he would learn more as time went on.
They eventually made it to the town that he had seen. It was called Baltmare. It had stone walls that extended 15 meters high that were designed to keep night haunts out. But even these Corden would learn wouldn't fully stop one of the creatures. Sometimes a big one would be able to push past or even get over the ramparts where it turned into a complete massarce until the defenders fought off the creature or everyone hid in cellars. The cellars was by far the most effective as it would get hungry and move on.
They had to line up outside while waiting for other travelers from the neighboring settlements presented their reasons for visit and their manifests. Those who had a guide were always allowed thru without being bothered due to what the guides represented. But they still had to wait in line nonetheless. Corden's appearance in one of these lines would send wild fire gossip through out Baltmare. People would line the walls to gain a glimpse of the metal man. It became enough of a ruckus that extra guards had to be posted. Corden noted that these individuals wore chainmail and weilded medieval styled weapons. For man to have come so far to come so low appalled Corden. Mankinds birth right had been stripped by this world or some other machination. Sure, he knew the Word of Blake sought to control mankinds technology, but this?! This was too far. He was beginning to believe that a new path presented by Blake was upon him and it was no sheer accident that the misjump occurred.
As they approached the gate, Corden told Aaron that he would enter on his own accord and without the guide's advantage. A guard approached him nervously.
"Welcome to Baltmare. What is your purpose here... uh... metal man?"
"I am Phantom Adept Tau Corden of the Word of Blake. I am here to learn about this settlement and other knowledge of which I am limited on."
"Corden, you are from where then?"
"Jardine would be my home. However I have traveled far from there and am currently stuck here."
"Stuck, what do you mean?"
"My ship was cast adrift and I had to land here in the valley behind the mountains."
The guard was starting to put 2 and 2 together. He remembered seeing the egg dropping from the sky on fire trails. He would have thought this man insane and had him barred and chained. However these times were uncertain and he wanted to keep a cool head. The red glaring eye was starting to make him panic. He then recognized Aaron the guide smiling along with his party behind the metal man. Aaron just waved. No mere coincidences then, he must be telling the truth.
"Fine, I will take your story at face value because of the company you keep. Now I must ask about your slung... weapon?"
"You are correct."
"We ask that weapons be kept slung, sheathed, or otherwise empty while in the town. We do recognize the need for weapons when a call comes for everyone to man the walls, but we discourage their use in disputes. Self defense is another matter."
"I understand." Corden then pulled the power pack from his laser rifle. It made a slight whining down noise as he placed the power cell in one of his pockets.
"Because of the unusual cirumstances here, a guard will be posted to you. He will keep you in your place and any others in theirs. As you can see the rucuss that you have created just being here. Tim the guard! Come hither!"
With that Janus walked off and into a guard shack with shaking knees. He then sat and pulled out a wine skin and took a long draught...
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The next 6 hours were spent walking around town with a mob in tow. People shouted questions, gawked at him, smiled at him, squeaked when they saw him, all manner of reactions. The most being curiosity. Sometimes he would answer a question. Other times he ignored them. The rations he had were still extensive, but it was time to sample the local variety. Aaron and his party had departed his company so he was left with Tim the guard to guide him to a local establishment. A tavern of all places. Inside he asked what they had to eat and the fake smiling waitress gave him a run down. Horse meat was the most common item on the menu followed by vegetables. Of those vegetables, alot were familiar from other worlds. So mankind had managed to keep some home grown stock going on Turbline. Rather than risk a negative reaction with native vegs, Corden went with the horse and beans. A rather filling dish as he engaged Tim in conversation.
From him he learned that horse was the staple thru out the lands. The majority were bred to be silent during night time and any that didn't be quiet were quickly put down and put into the pot. Others were bred to the opposite end of the spectrum where they would make all kinds of noise and act as guard animals on the walls. Any time a night haunt would near the walls, their neighing would alert everyone. No other fauna was utilized as every creature on Turbline was hyper aggressive and attacked humans. Even the herbivores.
Corden had formed a plan and it was boredom. He remained at the tavern until night time. As night came, people dispersed as their quandry and curiosity became an absolute bore. Go see the metal man they said. Seeing him was one thing, but just talking to a guard about boring topics was another. It was when the mob was gone and insects made their noises did Corden make to find a place to rest for the night.
"Why don't you stay at my place" Tim the guard asked?
"Why should I? I have been nothing but a burden on you all day?"
"You haven't. I get to talk to the metal man and drink here." Tim sloshed his tankard full of ale. "Besides, ever since my wife died, I have had an empty room since."
"I am sorry to hear that Tim, if I am intruding, how did she go?"
"Night haunt got over the wall. It was one of the smaller ones with extra arms. Came into my home and... and..."
"Enough, there is no more reason to go over this. Let us depart"
Tim's abode wasn't too far. A simple four room hovel. He took Tim's dead wife's room and slept the deepest sleep he had in a long time. It allowed the cybernetics that needed to recharge off his body to do so. Waking up in the morning, Corden internally checked himself thru the various cybernetic interfacese. 99% power. He thanked Blake for his rest and had an idea. During the journey to Baltmare, he had asked Aaron about the religion on the planet. Apparently there was a place called the Keep of the Faiths where various denominations existed. Corden did not press at that time because Blake's word might disrupt and confound Corden's investigation. Stretching what biological musucles he had left, Corden asked Tim to take him to this Keep of the Faiths.
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It was a simple place. A few pews centered around an empty altar. There were different schedules posted to when worshipers could come to what ever service they wished to attend. Some how, a majority of Terra's faith had found its way here. Judism, Muslim, Catholic, Lutheran, Hindu, and a few other unknowns to him. The place was designed for anyone to enter and explore. Corden walked the side halls and looked at the different tapestries. Each one showed some particular aspect of each religion preserved here. What intrigued Corden the most was the Hall of Faiths. Inside there, each religion had a section dedicated to the vestments and symbols of that particular religion. Some articles were immaculate, showing their continued use. Others were so dust covered, it was like those religions had completely died off. Mainly the different protestant religions that had existed over the centuries. There were a few other Asiatic religions that also bore the dust of decades. Other alcoves were empty. Either cleared out or were planned Corden thought.
Starring at one of these empty alcoves, Corden reached into his robe and took out one of extra icons of the Word of Blake that he had taken from the dead on the JumpShip. He hung it on one of the hooks that were mounted on the wall. Down the hall was some incense he saw on a table. He took it and went back to the alcove. He then lit it with the various candles that lined the hall. He then got down on his knees and started to pray. He prayed for the dead. He prayed for guidance. He prayed for himself. He was there for a few hours before someone noticed him.
"What are you doing child." came a voice behind him.
"I am praying to Blake for guidance and understanding of my place here."
"Everyone has a choice to make in this world. I have seen many people come and pray to one god to only switch over to another. Some will find peace, others contrition. I am James, the Keeper of the Faiths. Facilitator of this repository and acting priest of all the religions. I have not heard of this Blake."
"You would not know of him." Corden stood and turned around. James appeared slightly surprised but smiled upon recognition of who stood in front of him.
"Oh, I think I know why now. Rumors speak much of you. Corden the Blake, the metal man, Corden the magician, Corden the etc etc. You have many names here."
"I do not like it. My name is Phantom Adept Tau Corden of the Word of Blake."
"So that is who you truly are. Corden of the Word. Corden of the Blake. So many titles. You follow our naming conventions to a degree."
"So I have noticed."
"Tell me more of this Blake. What and where did he come from."
"Blake is the saint of my order. He was from Terra. Detriot, Michigan to be exact. He predicted of clamity of which mankind would experience and regress in technology. He preached that the Lords of inner sphere would destroy all around them and he saw to it that we safe guard man and technology. That is what the Word of Blake is in a nutshell."
"So Blake is not a god then?"
"Correct, he was a man given vision. By what or whom has been a debate for 200+ years."
"So he is like Budda?"
"One could consider this a small blasphemy, but the comparison is certainly close. I would like to dedicate this alcove to Blake if you don't mind."
"I am Keeper of the Faiths. All faiths are welcome here as set down by the articles of religion. Yours is new and unusual, but we have Budda around here some where. I do not see why Blake can not remain in this hall as long as it doesn't subsume any others in hostility."
"Then the peace of Blake be upon you James, Keeper of the Faiths."
Corden then set down a copy of Word of Blake on the vestment alcove. He would be able to get more copies from the DropShip in time.
"Read what the blessed Blake has said and wrote. I would like to see and attend a service dedicated to him. Maybe others will understand who I am and also my proper name."
"It will take some time to read this book, but it is smaller compared to some of the others I have had to read by candle light." James chuckled.
"Read it and ask any questions you might. I plan to be around here for a few weeks before visiting other towns if the opportunity allows. I am staying at Tim the guard's place."
"I know who you speak of. He has been here many times. He hasn't found solace since his wife was killed."
"Maybe he will with a possible new option. I must go now. Farewell." 
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Chapter 1