Soulbinder (Book 3) by Ben Cassidy Page A

said. “Many of the details were changed. It took me three years to figure out even a simple reference point, to even know where to start looking.”
    “Forgive me for interrupting,” said Maklavir, squaring his shoulders against the cold, “but isn’t the Balnosian Legacy considered a heretical work?”
    “Yes,” said Kendril. “It is.”
    “Heretical or not,” said Galla, “it was right.” He reached into his robe.
    Kendril tensed and lifted his pistol.
    The priest pulled out a scrap of paper. “I didn’t show you this. It’s a series of specific directions I cobbled from two different sources. One was written by a traveler over four hundred years ago. The other is from an inscription found in the great northern hall at Transpire. They both speak of a temple with a chamber buried deep underground, a temple that has been lost to history.” He paused, his eyes drifting towards the stone at their feet. “Those directions led me here”
    “This is crazy,” said Kendril.
    “I’m telling you the truth,” Galla pleaded.
    Joseph grabbed the paper out of Galla’s hands, examining it in the dim light of the lantern. Finally he looked up again at the priest, and handed the paper back to Kara.
    She peered at in intently for a moment, then handed it to Maklavir.
    “Alright, Galla, I’m listening,” Joseph said slowly.
    Kendril shot the scout a warning glance. “Joseph—”
    The bearded man shook his head. “Let’s hear him out.”
    Galla swallowed, relief showing on his face. He lowered his arms slowly, giving Kendril another nervous look. “Like I was saying before, this temple is over a thousand years old. I believe it dates from the time of the Second Despair, during the reign of Xenin Jovar.”
    Joseph’s face flinched.
    Maklavir’s eyes widened, and he took a step back.
    Kendril spat on the ground. “May he burn in the Third Fire for all eternity.”
    “Xenin Jovar?” said Kara in a small voice. “I’m afraid I don’t—I didn’t really have…”
    “Xenin Jovar,” said Joseph, “also known as the Great Heretic. He was the chief priest of Eru in the old kingdom of Arbelos.” He paused, as if the next few words were difficult to say. “His hunger for power was insatiable. He made a pact with Regnuthu, the Great Deceiver, and ushered in the Second Despair.”
    “But not before hunting down and killing all those who opposed him,” Galla said quietly. He pulled the sleeves up on his robe against the chill. “Especially the priests. Those that accepted his leadership were spared, but those who did not were killed.”
    “The lucky ones were killed,” snorted Kendril. “Those that weren’t were tortured, or forced to watch their loved ones killed before their eyes.” He tightened his grip on the pistol. “Jovar was a monster.”
    Joseph looked over at the Ghostwalker in surprise.
    Kendril didn’t seem to notice.
    “And some managed to escape, at least for a time,” Galla said, his voice still low. “That is what I believe this temple is. Some of the priests hid out here during the great persecution, performing the cleansing rites in secret where Jovar’s agents couldn’t find them. I suspect they had a part in the uprising that occurred against Jovar’s rule in this area, before the Battle of Archangel.”
    Joseph raised an eyebrow. “They built this temple?”
    Galla shook his head. “Doubtful. I suspect they found an old pagan temple, perhaps from before the Rajathan conquest, and modified it to fit their needs.”
    “So why did you lie to us?” Joseph “Why not just tell us the truth from the beginning?”
    “Simple. I did not know if I could trust you.”
    “You didn’t want anyone in town to know what you were really after,” said Maklavir suddenly. “Including us. I imagine there might be some rather valuable artifacts in that underground chamber, things worth a lot of money to the right people.”
    “But you still couldn’t risk transversing the wilds all on