The Mother Confessor-Alaric

[Anthony]

It had been a hard ride the past 7 days. Alaric knew he must hurry to catch the Mother Confessor before she left. He would meet with her and have her answer. They were on the edge of mud people land. He knew they were being watched. The Mud People were masters of stealth. Alaric stopped.

He spoke in the Mud peoples language. "I am Alaric Trabane. Alaric the bold, was the name I was givin here as a child. I spent 8 months among you learning stealth and the use of the Troga.

A Man appeared from what seemed out of thin air. Alaric dismounted.

"Greetings Alaric the bold." The man reached back and punched Alaric.

His men stured, not knowing what was happening. With a hand he calmed them. "Greetings" Alaric returned the punch. "I am seeking the Mother Confessor. I was told she is here. "

"Yes. He replied.She is here. You may enter our land but they must remain here." He said pointing at the 12 men Alaric had brought.

"These are my men. They will cause no trouble."

"No. If you wish to enter they must stay. No foreign army will enter our village."

"Fine." Alaric turned to his men. "You will wait here. Set up Camp and I will return when I have spoken with her."

The men knew better then to question his orders.

"Lets go." Alaric said.

****

They came upon the village and right away he noticed the commotion. Something was going on. Then he saw her. She was pretty woman. He thought to himself, to bad she is a confessor. He approached her. She turned and spotted him.

"Mother Confessor." He Bowed. " I am Alaric Trabane. Leader of the free peoples of D'Hara. I have sent a number of messages to you requesting a meeting. I know you are a very busy woman. So when I heard you were close I thought I would come speak with you myself."

She eyed him. "You are correct I am very busy."

" This is in the best interest of the people of the Midlands and D'Hara."

"OK I will listen."

They went to a room by them selves. Alaric had only one chance at this, he better make it good.

"Mother Confessor. The world around us is falling apart. The treaty that held the three lands together is crumbling. The old world is in constant war. Once a faction is victorious, were do you think they will look next. I have broken away from the Lord Rahl because of his inaction. I believe me must be ready. We must reunite the peoples of the new world. But before peace there must be war."

"What are you getting at General?" She asked.

"An alliance between us. Together we can unite the three lands again. With my knowledge and skill at war. Along with yours we can accomplish this. We can bring peace to the land. We can bring stability. The midlands is breaking apart. We can restore it. With my men you would have a force enough to put a halt to these renegade confessors. My men are well trained. They can hunt down and eliminate the treat they are causing you. But first I must ask for your help in uniting my own country."

He paused. "I will answer any questions you have, we can create the greatest alliance the world has seen in generations."

He stopped and waited for her. What would she say he thought.

[Mother Confessor]

"Tell me, Alaric, how can you be sure it is the people's wish to be united under a new rule? Lord Rahl is not a sadistic ruler, nor has he been negligent of his people's security. Why is it you have separated from him?"

Adela looked around for any sight of Dean, she had to get to the Bird Man and leave as soon as possible. She couldn't entertain this man for much longer.

[Anthony]

"You are correct. Rahl is not a sadistic leader. You are also correct that he is not negligent." Alaric looked strait into her eyes." He is however incompetent. He has tried and failed to many times to mention. Believe me, I saw it all first hand. What good is a leader that can not accomplish anything. What good is a leader who would talk, as border cities on the outskirts of D'Hara are raided by the old world. I am not alone in my action. The people of D'Hara are begging for salvation, they used to chant the devotion. Master Rahl guide us, Master Rahl teach us Master Rahl protect us, in you mercy we are sheltered in your light we thrive. In your mercy we are sheltered. In your wisdom we are humbled. We live only to serve. Our lives are yours, but he does none of these things for them. Travel thorough D'Hara and you will find these devotions are no longer chanted but in the peoples palace. The true people of D'Hara, the citizens who are left to fend for them selves because they are not a part of the big picture, have no faith in him. My Army grows everyday, more and more people join me to liberate them selves from his blundering of there lives. Think about it, a Rahl has ruled D'Hara for thousands of years. What does it tell you that people are rebelling? What does it tell you that THEY want change. This is not my war but theirs. I am the man they chose to lead them. I serve the people of D'Hara, I have their best interests in mind in everything I do. If I did not they would not be coming to me in the thousands. The free peoples of D'Hara will win this war Mother Confessor. With your help. Far less people will have to die to accomplish it."

[The Great Wizard]

Dean

---

"Mother Confessor" he called walking towards her." Th..."

Adela turned, glaring at Dean. He paused mid sentence.

"Please excuse me Alaric" she said.

She hurried towards him.

"Are the supplies ready?"

"Yes. Adela, mind explaining the plan?"

[The Great Wizard]

(fixed)

[Anthony]

Alaric was beginning to grow impatient. He had given her all the reasons. Now it was up to her how this would end.

"I will have your answer before you leave." Alaric said firmly, looking intently at her and the wizard. "This is not a game. This campaign is to important. It is in your best interest to choose to side with me. I have told you already Mother Confessor. I will win this war, but if you choose to side with him. I will have no choice in my actions, you will prove to be blinded. I have studied my entire life, the histories of great leaders. A quote from one of them sticks out to me now. From a true leader of D'Hara who took action when threatened. The only sovereign I can allow to rule me is reason. The first law of reason is this: what exists exists; what is is. From this irreducible, bedrock principle, all knowledge is built. This is the foundation from which life is embraced. Reason is a choice. Wishes and whims are not facts, nor are they a means to discovering them. Reason is our only way of grasping reality--it is our basic tool of survival. We are free to evade the effort of thinking, to reject reason, but we are not free to avoid the penalty of the abyss we refuse to see."

He looked at them both."If you choose to reject reason, then be prepared to accept the penalty of the abyss you refuse to see." His tone was cold. His piercing blue eyes fixed on them.

[Mother Confessor]

Dean appeared confused. He apparently did not expect to see the leader of the free people of D'hara and Mother Confessor speaking about the war in the middle of the Mud People's village. She turned to Dean.

"Wizard Reynalds, this is Alaric Trabane, leader of the free people of D'hara." Adela looked at Dean and scratched her ear. She was signaling to him that they would speak later. It was a signal they had used since they were children, planning their mischief in the keep. That is, if you could call sneaking out to practice their gift mischief.

Adela watched as Dean nodded in Alaric's direction and fell back a respectable distance, remaining within earshot. She turned back to Alaric.

"Alaric, This is Wizard Dean Reynalds. I am sorry for his interruption but it was not without cause, I must leave immediately. I have pressing matters to attend to and I am not prepared to discuss or accept your offer at the moment. I cannot yet make a decision without first speaking to Lord Rahl." A flash of anger flared through Alaric's eyes at the mention of Lord Rahl.

"As you know, there are two sides to every story and I only wish to choose the side that will benefit my people. Your base is currently located in the Azarith Plains is that correct?"

"Yes, Mother Confessor, you are correct," replied Alaric.

"After I have spoken to Lord Rahl, I will send one of my Confessors and her wizard to make arrangements for our future meeting.There I will give you my decision." If Alaric was exasperated at her evasive answer he did not show it.

"Thank you, Mother Confessor. My will be prepared for the arrival of your Confessor and wizard, and will allow them safe passage into camp."

"What is the name you were given by the Mud People?"

"Alaric the Bold,"he said in their language.

"Alaric the Bold, you must be an extraordinary person to be accepted by the Mud People. I will keep that in mind, along with everything you have said here. I am sorry but I must leave. I hope we can speak later in more detail."

"As do I, Mother Confessor."

She turned to Dean and he leaded her the Bird Man.