as he was overjoyed to be reunited with her.
Gerard held Odila at arm's length and studied her more closely. She had let her hair grow out from the short, martial cut she had worn during the war. Now it coiled in a pair of braids pinned atop her head. She smiled at him, yet her deep, brown eyes remained sad, and permanent frown lines tugged the corners of her mouth. Furrows etched her brow. She still wore the look of world-weariness she had acquired during the war, when Takhisis impelled her to confront whatever fears and longings inhabited the dark reaches of her heart. That experience had resulted, ultimately, in Odila leaving the Knights of Solamnia and becoming a cleric of Mishakal.
Evidently, Odila still bore the scars from her encounter with the dark goddess.
'How have you been?' Gerard asked. 'What have you been doing for the past year?'
Again she smiled the weary smile that was her trademark. 'I have spent much of the year studying in Palanthas, becoming proficient in the teachings and rites of Mishakal.' She hesitated before continuing. 'And healing a little from the effects of the war.' She brightened. 'But what about you, Gerard? I… I have heard that you left the knighthood as well.'
'I didn't realize that news spread so fast,' he said in a subdued tone.
'Palin told me. He also told me about the situation with your father. I'm sorry, Gerard.'
Gerard's mouth tightened. 'Yes, well, such a parting was bound to happen eventually, I suppose. If we hadn't quarreled over my leaving the knighthood, we would have disagreed about something else. My father and I just don't see eye to eye.'
'Fathers and sons seldom do,' she said softly. Then she laughed, for the first time sounding genuinely amused. 'Or so I've heard, anyway.'
'So what are you doing here?' Gerard asked, anxious to shift the subject.
'Overseeing the completion of the temple and preparing for the dedication ceremony. Come; let me show you what we're accomplishing here.' She pulled his arm, leading him up the six stone steps to the portico and in through the huge double doors, which were propped open for easy access by the workmen. Vercleese followed, but at a discreet distance.
Inside the entrance hall, all was cool and dark. The air bore the sharp tang of newly hewn stone and freshly cut timber. Two worship rooms flanked the hall, one on each side. Ahead stood a second set of double doors, also thrown wide. Odila led Gerard through these doors, their footsteps sounding sharp on the marble floor and echoing in the dim recesses of the building.
Once through the second set of doors, Gerard found himself in the central Chamber of Mishakal. A statue of the goddess dominated the chamber. The benevolence that radiated from the statue's face transcended the mere marble of a sculptor's art, and Gerard caught his breath. If he had been wearing a hat, he would have instantly removed it out of reverence.
The room featured no other ornament, only the clean, graceful lines of the circular chamber. Nothing was allowed to interfere with the effect of encountering the goddess's effigy in the center.
The staccato tap of other footsteps sounded behind them. Gerard turned to see a man approaching, the man Odila had been talking to outside. He was a short, stocky man of middle years who carried himself with an air of authority, although he greeted Odila with a show of obsequiousness. Gerard frowned, instantly taking a dislike to the man.
'Ah, Salamon,' Odila said, 'let me introduce you to my friends. Gerard, this is Salamon Beach, the architect for the building. A very good and important architect. Salamon is in Solace to take charge of overseeing construction and keeping everything on schedule.'
'Under the lady's direction, of course,' Salamon said in an oily voice, bowing to Odila.
'Gerard is the town's new sheriff,' Odila went on.
Something shifted, becoming furtive in Salamon's manner. 'I am honored to make your acquaintance, sir,' he said, though he never raised his eyes to meet Gerard's. 'Now I know whom to go to should anything untoward come up in our little world here.' He laughed mirthlessly as if he had just told a joke. 'Although we are quite insular and peaceable, and therefore in scant need of an officer of the law.'
'You wished to see me, Salamon?' Odila asked.
'Matters will keep, Lady,' the architect said, bowing unctuously again and backing out the way he had come. 'I wouldn't want to intrude on the lady's visit.' He nodded to Gerard; turned, almost colliding with Vercleese, and scurried away.
Gerard stood staring after the man. Salamon bore close watching, of that Gerard was sure. Although why the man aroused his suspicions, he had no idea.
The tour over, Odila led the way back outside. The bright sunlight struck with merciless intensity after the dimness of the interior. Gerard squinted around at the temple grounds, where workmen reclined, eating lunches taken from wrapped packets. A few workmen, apparently having finished their meals, lay stretched out on the grass, snoring softly. Under a tree, a pair played a game of Regal. The entire atmosphere was one of indolence and relaxation that formed a stark contrast to the tumultuous activity that had characterized the site upon Gerard's arrival.
Odila ushered Gerard toward a large pair of rounded rocks protruding from the ground, and motioned for him to sit. He chose one of the rocks and sat, and she took the other.
'So what do you think of our project?' she asked.
Gerard peered at her. 'The temple is most impressive.'
Odila beamed, again appearing free of whatever ghosts of the past haunted her. But it was only a fleeting look of pleasure, and soon the serious frown returned. 'We still have much to do before the dedication.'
'Are you concerned about being ready in time?'
'No, not really. Salamon seems a capable supervisor. He'll get the job done, I'm sure.'
But Gerard noticed that her voice lacked conviction.
Just then someone approached and handed a basket to Odila. 'Ah, lunch,' Odila said, taking out sandwiches and offering one to Gerard. 'Will you and Sir Vercleese join me?'
Rather than answering, however, Gerard was staring up at the young woman who had delivered the basket. It was the pretty serving maid from the inn the previous evening.
Odila noticed the direction of his gaze. 'Have you met Kaleen?' she asked. 'She's been a great boon to me. Not only does she keep everyone fed, but she has turned out to be an invaluable assistant.'
Gerard knew he was staring like a fool. He opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out Instead he turned his attention to his sandwich, cold roast beef on a bun.
'Oh, I've met Lord Porridge,' Kaleen said with a sly wink in Gerard's direction. Gerard felt himself flush all the way to the tips of his ears. 'He's staying at the inn, you know,' Kaleen went on. 'And I can tell you one thing, he simply adores Otik's spiced potatoes!'
Odila turned to look at him with a puzzled expression. But Gerard ignored her and tore off a bite of sandwich, which he chewed diligently, his mouth dry as the Plains of Dust.
That was the first time Gerard ran into Kaleen that day. Later that evening, when he went to the inn for dinner, he saw her again, leaning over a game board across from a thin, dissolute-looking man with shifty eyes. 'Gerard,' she called to him with easy familiarity, waving the sheriff over. 'Mott here is teaching me to play Regal. Ever heard of it?'
Gerard glanced around the large room, unusually quiet this evening, then crossed to Kaleen's table. He nodded to her before concentrating his gaze on the man across from her. The stranger's eyes darted shiftily this way and that, refusing to meet Gerard's.
'Yes, I've heard of Regal,' Gerard said, declining to mention that he once had been a regional champion of the game that was quickly replacing khas as the most popular in Southern Ergoth-as well as in Solace, apparently. 'You aren't working tonight?'
'Laura gave me the night off. I came by to help out anyway. So what do you know about Regal?' Kaleen went on, bubbling with excitement. 'Mott says I'm a quick learner. He says that at the rate I'm going, I'll quickly win back what I've lost, and then some.'
'Does he now?'
Mott awarded Gerard a sickly smile, then glanced away.
'And what, exactly, is it that you have lost?' Gerard continued.
