21: Machinations of a False Prophet
“Don’t throw your own life away, Katrina,” said Wotan.
“Good advice,” said the Patriarch, his voice calm, even in the face of Wotan’s betrayal, “What a remarkable coup d’etat you’ve staged, ‘Bishop’.”
To Phantasia, it was as if Wotan was suddenly alive. The stoic, statue-like mannerisms relaxed and his aura blossomed like a flower that had only just found the sunlight.
“He took the chance then.” Wotan sighed in relief. “Trust that Siegfried to try and be the hero.” He looked at the two girls and smiled, for once resembling the sort of man who could inspire loyalty from people. “Don’t worry; your friends will be safe now.”
Katrina sniffed back the last of her tears and brushed hair out of her face. In that brief pause they could hear the sounds of a struggle outside and Phantasia could feel the relief, which she passed on to Katrina to help soothe her spirit.
The Patriarch was unfazed by this display of solidarity, his rough lips curled into a sneer. “Don’t think your terrorist ways will win. These are nothing but the machinations of a false prophet, a deceiver of fools; Godhand does not tolerate such behaviour lightly. This town will burn for its heresy.”
Wotan laughed, a deep guffaw Phantasia never expected to hear from the manipulative bishop. “You call me a ‘false prophet’? That little snare you’re caught in doesn’t work on average humans. It’s designed to trap those whose internal chi has been manipulated beyond its natural level, which, I’m sure you’re aware, means someone who uses magic. Godhand rejects all forms of magic outside of certain forms of exorcism and prayer. Certainly someone like yourself would not have the chi that you do, if your followed the same doctrine that your preach?”
The two men stared each other down, the formally giant Patriarch receding into his robes as Wotan stood tall with a victorious grin. It had been a clever ploy by Wotan – Phantasia had to admit that – and she had no doubt the Patriarch’s aura was as enhanced as Wotan suggested. It was one of those things she could see naturally in a person – Wotan had it, as did Mr Payne and the rest of the teachers (except for Mr Smith, anyway) – and Phantasia had never thought different of it. It was natural, Queen Thetis had told her. Had she known from the beginning it was forbidden by Godhand, maybe things would have been clearer!
“And what do you hope to gain from all this, Mr Garland?” asked the Patriarch, “No one is going to believe a dead man. Soon you will be regarded a fraud, your allies will be dead, and the people here subdued into obedience.”
“I didn’t spend all these years in Godhand for that sort of payment,” said Wotan, “Believe me, this marks the beginning of the end for you Patriarchs.”
Then Wotan turned to the girls, ignoring the Patriarch’s seething, spitting retorts.
“You girls can go now. Escape through the back door and get as far away as you can. I’m sorry to have put you and your friends through all of this, but you must think of the lives this will save.”
The girls looked at one another. Phantasia could tell Katrina was thinking the same thing she was: why had Wotan kept them here all this time? To hear him explain his plan? He must have noticed their confusion because he jabbed a finger at the camera hanging around Katrina’s neck.
“And, before you go, maybe you ought to take a picture of that Patriarch. A little memento for that antagonistic headmaster rival of mine, if you would.”
The Patriarch was consumed with an inner rage when Katrina clicked the camera in his direction – something Phantasia hoped would come out when the image was developed. It wouldn’t be as shocking as her wings, but the sheer power of that aura would be enough to condemn the Patriarch and help prove what Wotan had been working for all this time.
The girls ran, leaving the two incognito mages to their verbal conflict, while the struggle outside began to ease.
~ Wotan anticipated his rival’s counter-attack all along?! Is this the end of Godhand? ~
~ Next: the battle escalates to a new level?! ~
