Thaelyn (lvl3)

He wasn’t fond of installing locks, preferring to open them but they’d offered to clear his tab and Thaelyn was not one to turn down the idea of free beer even if it had already been drunk. So finishing his tankard he followed the lead of the bar tender and made his way upstairs to examine the what needed locking. In the third room on the left sat a cleric of Sarenrae and before him a chest which had obviously seen better days. Without a word Thaelyn walked over to the chest and began examining the lock and hinges of the chest with great care not to actually disturb the lid and open it.

“You must be the locksmith.” the cleric spoke a bit nervously attempting to break the silence that had filled the room.

“That’s what they call me `round these parts.” Thaelyn answered in a voice seemingly cold and calculated.

After a few more silent minutes Thaelyn stood, without moving his eyes to the cleric. His face gently twisted in quiet contemplation he raised a single finger to his lips. The cleric becoming impatient finally broke the silence, this time more agitated then nervous.

“Can you fix the lock or am I just wasting my time here?”

Thaelyn was finishing moving through the inner workings of the lock within his own mind when the cleric broke his train of thought. Agitated himself after such an interruption he retorted, “The wards have been bent and warped and the cylinder has been punctured. The lever is half gone and the latch is bent. Did someone try to bust the lock with a chisel and hammer?”

The cleric smiled at Thaelyn pleased with the knowledge the locksmith seemed to possess, “That’s not important, what I need to know is if you can fix it can you fashion a new lock?”

“Yeah, I have a few laying around at home. I’ll have to screw in a new latch and ring on both sides of your old lock though. Gonna look a might messy and.” Thaelyn replied with a hint of a grin.

“That’s fine.”

With that Thaelyn ducked out of the room and within the hour returned going straight to work on the chest. It wasn’t long until he had fastened the holds and slid the locks into place. Going over it all once more until satisfied he finally stood and handed the two keys to the cleric.

“Most excellent. . .um, I didn’t get your name.” the cleric smiled as he walked over to the chest and began going over the work.

“Might be because I didn’t give it.” Thaelyn replied in that cold voice once more.

“Ah, anyways allow me to thank you for a job well done.” he said putting out his hand.

With a bit of reluctance Thaelyn shook hands with the servant of Sarenrae when suddenly the cleric reached up and pulled the collar of his shit down over his right shoulder. Feeling his personal being violated in some way Thaelyn brought up a stiff boot and kicked the man in the stomach dropping him to his knees. Snatching up his jacket Thaelyn made for the door when the cleric started to laugh.

“I know about you Thaelyn Creed, of you and your daughter. You still bear the mark of Sarenrae on your shoulder.” the cleric managed as he slowly regained his breath.

Thaelyn stopped at the door and without turning answered, “If you know about me you know I will kill you here in this room if you so much as mention my daughter again. Now tell me why you have come. This is more than mere chance isn’t it?”

The cleric pulled himself to his feet and then back to the cushioned chair he sat in earlier before raising his hand to offer Thaelyn a seat.

“I’ll stand.” he replied seething with anger.

“Fair enough.” the cleric smiled. “Now you’re right, this is no coincidence. I was sent here to find you. See the Church of Sarenrae does not so easily let go their own. Even though it may seem the contrary, it is not everyday one of our most promising Priests in training runs off with one of our most favored clerics.”

“We did what we thought we had to.” Thaelyn interrupted.

“That, I imagine you did.” the cleric paused for a minute, “I believe you’re taking this visit the wrong way Thaelyn.”

“What other way is there for me to take it? A hound of Sarenrae tracks me down and I’m not to be defensive? Not to expect the worst and protect my daughter?” Thaelyn answered on the verge of shouting.

“You should know better actually. Father Cisco sent me, not the church itself. It is true there may have been difficulties with your union but nothing that could have been forgiven.”

With that Thaelyn grabbed the chair next to him and threw it across the room, shattering it against the wall, “There was nothing about our love that needed forgiveness!” he shouted.

“Of course not. Now I’m the one who is need of forgiveness,” his lips drawing up into a devilish grin, “for I have not chosen my word appropriately. See the man who took you in off the streets and cared for you after you ran away from home loved you the way a Father loves a Son. You were always special to him. He would have seen you take a different path and seen you stay. What I am truly here for is to give you this from Father Cisco. He would like to see you again, and the child he feels a love for already as if she was his true granddaughter.” the cleric pulled a sealed envelope from his vestments and held it out.

Slowly crossing the room Thaelyn took the letter and tucked it into his own shirt.

“Read it now, read it later. What you do is yours alone, but the old man wants you to come home.”

“Is that all?” he asked the cleric as the anger began to subside.

“Yes, and come morning I will take my leave of this town.”

“What will you tell them when you return?”

“The truth. The letter has been delivered and the rest is in your hands.”

“If only it was that simple.” Thaelyn sighed.

“Yes, it is.” the cleric smiled.