The King's Justice by Stephen R. Donaldson

Fool that I am, I did not think—” For a moment, he cannot continue. Then he asks, “How is such readiness possible? Do these shapers—?”
    Black cuts him off. “No. Shapers are not seers. They do notforesee. If they did, some among them would see cause for restraint. The explanation I seek does not rely on sorcery.”
    â€œThen how?” demands Father Whorry. “It is impossible. How was it done?”
    Black cannot answer. The priests must help him. He changes his approach.
    â€œJon Marker,” he states, “lost his living in Ing Hardiston’s store after his wife’s passing.” He does not tell the priests how he knows this. “You, Father Whorry, went to his aid. You found employment for him with a wheelwright named Haul Varder.
    â€œBut Jon Marker is not a temple-goer. He does not belong to your flock. Indeed, he scorns both temples and priests. How does it chance that you alone in Settle’s Crossways sought to aid him?”
    The Bright priest wants to shout a retort. He believes that now he is surely being accused. Yet he is out of his depth, and much of his anger is directed at himself. For that reason, he twists and cringes. How had he failed to grasp the unlikelihood of Tamlin Marker’s taking? He has spent too much time besotted with wine and women. Though Black does not compel or confuse him, Father Whorry cannot refuse to answer.
    â€œThe man needed help.” He is shamed by the smallness of his voice, or by his own smallness. “What else could I do? Bright Eternal does not discriminate. You say my god does not care. If that is true, it is also true that he does not judge. I offered Jon consolation, but he would not take it. Yet his need was severe. I did what I could.”
    To Black, Father Tenderson murmurs softly, “His service is pure. There is only kindness in his heart.”
    â€œAnd kindness in Haul Varder’s,” the Bright priest asserts more stoutly.
    The taller man turns to his friend. Still softly, he urges, “Be honest, Father. Haul Varder is not known for kindness.”
    The Dark priest makes Father Whorry squirm. He feels driven to bluster. “His childhood was one of misery. All Settle’s Crossways knows this. He did not learn kindness from his mother. Now his manner is dour and ungiving. What of it? He is known for self-interest, yes. He is much in demand, especially by caravans and wagoneers. But he could have readily found another to bend his iron and lathe his spokes. Settle’s Crossways does not lack young men who want work. It was kindness that chose Jon Marker.”
    With the mildness of affection, Father Tenderson says, “More honest, Father.”
    The small man surprises himself by blurting an oath. Then he recants. “Bright Eternal forgive me.” He speaks to his friend rather than to Black. “
More
honest? Well, if I must. For Tamlin Marker’s sake.
    â€œHaul Varder is also known for absences. He is commonly absent. If he did not have a good man to tend his forge and his iron, his business would founder.
    â€œBut”—Father Whorry sees a gleam of hope that he can win free of his friend’s insistence—“he was present on the last day of Tamlin’s life. The boy worked with his father, sweeping floorsand such. Jon Marker would not have sent his son home without Haul Varder’s leave. He is too courteous and diligent to be presumptuous with the man who pays his labor.”
    An instant later, the Bright priest claps his hand to his mouth as though he has just heard himself utter an obscenity. In his heart, he is crying, Bright Eternal! God forgive me! Have I
accused
Haul Varder?
    Father Tenderson spreads his hands. To Black, he says, grieving, “You see how matters stand. I do not regard the wheelwright as charitably as my friend does. He bargains meanly for his services. He treats men who cannot pay with disdain. He has neither wife