Alcander's Fantastic Voyages Part 7

News travels faster than I do, it seems.

I was met by the cleric on the road home. He heard what I had done, and feared for my life should I return home.

He had my lion skin with him, my club and my lantern. He told me that they were now mine, and that none could command that I give them up.

He gave me the spell of atonement for my vows. It seems that, in Heracles's eyes, I have done what is right.

But my vow of obedience was troublesome, now. Those that I would obey have betrayed me.

The cleric said that he had the answer to this, too, but it would required proper initiation.

This he did. I cannot write of what occured. The cleric said that the true Rites of Heracles had been driven underground my order, except for a small group of Heracletians who had fled to Crete. These vows he taught me.

He taught me that I owe my vow to no man, save him that I find worthy.

I offered him my obedience, but he declined, saying only that I must be gone from Greece, and quickly. The city which I rescued can serve as a bastian against the order, but the order is still strong and I am unready.

He said, too, that if the comrades I left behind failed in what they attempted, then any success in Greece would be meaningless. I would not argue with him, so I agreed to go.

He gave me a note to take with me. He told me to go to the nearest port and find a ship sailing for Point of Origin.

The note was the greatest surprise of all. It was from my father, assuring me of safe passage on any of his ships, and commanding his men to head wherever I asked them.

There was a letter from him within the note, too. That he brought the rites back from Crete.

That he brought my club and skin out from the order. That he could not tell me his true intentions, for as a paladin I could not lie for him, and secrecy was needed.

By his lies, I have my freedom and my passage to where I must be.

It cannot be honorable, I think, but can it be good?

I will have much to think about on the voyage.

I can only hope that, some day, I will be able to set foot in my home land again. Perhaps this time I can liberate more than a single city.

Next time, I must face the rest of the order.