by Ian Everett
The Seed of Apostasy
By Ian Everett
Copyright © Ian Everett 2013
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
oh the gods… how they writhe.
He woke up, sweat dripping from his forehead. He had a feverish nightmare, a terrible dream full of shadow and fear. It was still late; there was no light outside. The moonless nights were colder, especially in the winter. And yet the Temple was always warm. It was kind of hard not to be. He had no idea how many of the Firebrothers might be up, meditating, performing passion rituals or just roaming around in general.
He preferred sleep to the other methods of rejuvenation available to him. The passion rituals were… fun, but he never truly felt rested after them. Meditation he did not have the patience for.
He felt his heartbeat, listened to it for minute. His second heart he had to search for a couple of seconds before finding it. It was never in one spot on his body and the rhythm it beat to was odd. Today it was in his shoulder.
He lay back down to go back to sleep, but it was no use: he was awake for good. He got up to dress himself. The black robes of the Firebrothers suited him. He was a simple man and did not make a point of primping or dressing to draw attention to himself.
He left his room quietly, not intending for anyone to notice him. There were a few other Brothers and Sisters in the hall, walking around, talking with each other, or just silently minding their own business. One Old Brother walked by, whistling to himself. He bowed in reverence.
He found himself winding to the central chamber of the temple. The building was large and ornate, fashioned from stone and iron. It was circular in design, revolving around a central chamber. It was towards this chamber he headed. A large, iron door blocked his path, immovable by human strength. A small pipe jutted out at waist level next to it. He lifted his finger to it and searched for the second heart inside of him. It beat.
A small flame leapt from his finger and into the pipe. There was a burst of steam in response, and the iron door opened to the central chamber. He stepped inside, awestruck as always at what lay there.
The Old Brothers called it the Tumor Tree, a piece of flesh from He Who Basks In Flame. Every sect of the Five Gods had a Tumor Tree. It was a mass of fleshy tentacles with a central, fibrous trunk. It quivered occasionally, and small, spherical seeds hung from each tentacle and pushed out of pores on the main trunk.
He sat down to watch the tree, observing its grotesque yet appealing nature. It seemed to beat in time with his second heart. He heard footsteps come up from behind him. He turned to see Ushuon, his old childhood friend. The boy was tall, but his face was childish and friendly. His eyes were like ice, subverting the innocence his face gave off. He was bald and his skin was a dark tan.
“Hello, Jusong,” Ushuon said, greeting him in a friendly fashion. He appeared not to be bothered by the giant Tumor Tree, whimsically smiling as he watched it with unreadable eyes.
“Ushuon. You could not sleep either?”
“No. I am not one for the passion rituals, I decided tonight.” He sat down next to his friend.
“You’ll be breaking many of the Sisters’ hearts,” Jusong said, smiling at his friend.
“Yes, it is hard being the most handsome Brother.” He grinned, looking onto the Tree with a gleeful expression.
“I only tried the ritual once. It was not as restful as the Old Brothers led me to believe.”
“I had to try it a few times,” he said, hastily adding, “you know, to make sure.” He looked pleased with his joke.
Jusong rolled his eyes.
“Do you remember when we partook? When we became brothers?”
Jusong thought for moment. “The more vivid memory for me is when we first found out we were both accepted.”
Ushuon shook his head. “I cannot forget when I felt the second heart beat for the first time. The feeling of fire wrapped around me, the warmth in my veins.”
“Oh wait, I do remember you crying like a girl,” Jusong said quickly. Ushuon hit him in the arm, laughing, but was quiet again after a moment.
“These Seeds,” he said, plucking one of the small spheres from the Tree. Jusong gasped.
“You know we must not touch them! Only the Old Brothers can do that!”
Ushuon held a finger up to his mouth, shushing Jusong. “They’ll never miss one.” He examined it, looking it over. It was a small thing, connected to the very essence of He Who Basks In Flame, the God the Firebrothers worshipped and followed. He who gave them power over heat and flame, He, one of the Five Gods Who Slumber.
“I almost wish… to swallow it,” Ushuon said quietly, pressing his lips against it.
“No! It will kill you!”
“It’s hard to believe these are the second hearts in us, eh, Jusong? They look like normal seeds. If you did not see the Tree, you would not believe they were out of the ordinary.”
“You’re making me uncomfortable, Ushuon.”
Ushuon smiled. He threw the seed to the ground and pointed his finger at it. Fire roared from his fingertip at the sphere, consuming it in a second. Ushuon’s eyes glowed with light, breaking the cold ice that was normally there.
“You remember ingesting your seed, don’t you?”
“How could I forget? That I will never forget. But Ushuon… you aren’t suffering from the Insanity, are you?”
“The Old Brothers tell us that those who call it the Insanity don’t know what it truly is. They don’t know that they are ascending to be with the God we call our own. If I was ascending, you would be celebrating. And no, I am not suffering from it. Not yet, I think.” He sat down. “The Old Brothers tell me I may ascend soon though.”
The Insanity. Everyone who had a Seed in them and were connected to one of the Five Gods would develop it eventually. There was a higher rate in the Brotherhood of Fire, because He Who Basks In Flames had the most ambient energy of all the Five Gods. Those who followed He Who Rests In The Skies rarely developed the Insanity, but that was because their magic was too weak. Power had its costs.
An Old Brother, taller than either of them, weathered with age, skin wrinkly and hair white, came into the room, looking over the two boys sitting under the Tree. “Jusong! I wish to speak to you. Ushuon. The High Master wishes to see you.”
The two boys looked at each other, unsure of what to think. Ushuon shrugged and left the room. The Old Brother, Rhuikar, approached Jusong after Ushuon’s steps died out in the hallway.
“Jusong. How has your training been?”
“It goes well, Brother. I have enjoyed working in metallurgy.”
“Yes, blacksmithing is one of the finer, academic aspects of our faith. Tell me, what do you know of the other sects of our faith?”
Jusong thought to himself for a second. “It is easiest explain it around the five elements. We have He Who Basks In Flame who rules over the element of fire. He Who Lies In The Abyss presides over the power of water. He Who Rests In The Skies has mastery over wind. He Who Sleeps In The Earth is the lord of stone and rock, and He Who Dreams In The Stars is the influencer of mind and spirit.”
“Very good, Jusong. You may be wondering why we make you learn this, even after you’ve already become a Brother. The only thing that should matter should be your devotion to He Who Basks In Flames, yes?”
Jusong felt like it was a trick question. “What are you saying?”
“The Brotherhood expects its devotees to be versed in these things because they affect us. It is useless to deny the other sects of our faith when they too can express their powers. I know many Brothers, some of them Old, some of them Young, who wish to pretend that the world outside our Temple does not exist. I am glad you are not that
way.”
“Thank you, Brother,” Jusong said, blushing a little.
“Now, you may be wondering why I have asked to speak with you privately. Do you know who I am?”
“You are Brother Rhuikar, one of the Oldest Brothers, and the Brother chosen to represent us on the Emperor’s Council.”
“Yes, you speak true. What you may not know is each member of the council was asked to pick an apprentice.”
Jusong gasped, his eyes widening. “You mean-“
“Yes. I want you to be my apprentice.”
Jusong got onto the ground, bowing as low as he could. “Brother, you honor me.”
“Up, boy. Tomorrow you will accompany me to the Council. Get some sleep.”
Jusong rose to see Rhuikar already leaving the room. He stood there by himself for a second. Suddenly, Ushuon entered the room again. “Well that’s wonderful news!”
“You didn’t see the High Master?” Jusong asked, still in a daze.
“Not yet. I wanted to hear this first. I’m glad for you.” He grinned at his friend, slapping his back. Jusong chuckled nervously.
“I suppose I should get
