Epilogue: The Kiln Brothers
You return to visit the Kiln brothers a few times over the next couple days. You can hear their thankful prayers and for a few nights you dream as if you were them.
The first time you return is the day following their triumph over Eloeklo. They stand in prominent positions as King Kalanystava himself appoints Arus Timmen as the new High Priest of Junil for Sanctuary. Arus is a good man although young for a high priest. He was found with nearly 2 dozen others jailed in the deepest levels of the Kings prison.
It is later that night, with less fanfare although with no less attendance, Lar’s host Caytus is appointed the Knight Commander of Junil by Arus. The paladins of Junil that fill the temple cheer and together renew their loyalty to Junil, the King and their new Knight Commander.
The city is at first shocked to hear of the level of corruption that it had been suffering from. Arus wisely tempers the new flames of revival with sermons on forgiveness and repentance. Many flee the city to avoid a lynching but an equal amount stay to face their judgment and to rekindle their faith anew. The former Knight Commander Orimor is one of the one who flees with a few men still loyal to him. He is perhaps the saddest case as he had the potential to be the best of paladins, turned dark as he was unwilling to follow the path his heart laid before him.
You return again 2 days later. This time you find the brothers barely able to contain their joy as they ride up to their fathers farm on weary horses. Valleda, the brothers parents and Hannah and Jessa run out to greet them. Caytus, dressed with the clasp of the Knight Commander, hugs his wife and whispers his forgiveness for scaring her. She only smiles beautifully at him and replies, “You stood there stripped of your sword and emblem of Junil but were never more a paladin, you literally seemed to blaze with righteousness and I feared only for those that stood against you.”
The last time you return is almost a week later. Savon and Geneel are preparing their warhorses for the long trek to Lachery. Savon wears plate mail now and is a sight sure to make any brigand take a second thought before waylaying the pair. This quest to Lachery to report on the need for a permanent appointment of a high priest and to investigate what happened during Eloeklo’s last visit.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come with us brother?” Savon says as he checks he pulls his saddle harness tight.
“I envy your task but there is still much that needs done here. I’m still worried that enemies may lurk nearby waiting again for us to slip into the melancholy of a comfortable life. Besides many who have lost some faith during Eloeklo’s fall find some comfort in my presence, although I don’t know why.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Geneel quips, “just say Jessa won’t let you go and be done with it.”
Geneel, still wearing the chain mail Mehan cut right through, dances quickly out of the way as Jessa tries to slap him. Although numerous offers were made to repair the breastplate Geneel choose instead to keep it the way it was. A reminder of what is possible and a question still unanswered.
Hannah gives both of her uncles as big a hug as her tiny arms can manage and then runs into the house for a last minute gift. She returns with the worn hammer from the supply closet of the Skilfin barracks, decorated with a pale blue ribbon tied around its handle. The hammer is nearly a maul in her tiny hands and its all the effort she can manage to hold it up to Savon.
“What is this for bumblebee?”, Savon asks as he solomely accepts the gift. By this point they had all heard the miraculous story of the flash of light and the explosion of the closet door but to this day haven’t figured out the signifigance of their spotting Julius (who they didn’t recognize) in the cells. Although Hannah had said quite specifically that an angel had knocked down the door the brothers had come to agree that Inah must have put some magical hex on the door that the hammer strike set off.
“Its yours,” she says proudly looking both at Savon and Khoel at once, “you may need it again if you find more bad people.”
“That sounds like good advice.” Savon says as he clasps the hammer on his saddle and gives his niece one last kiss.
“Keep an eye on our brother.” Caytus says as Savon and Geneel mount their horses and begin to turn away. “He has a way for getting into the thick of a bad situation.”
Savon turns to respond but Geneel just kicks at his horse and takes off down the road. Savon sighs and trades a look of resignation with Caytus before turning his horse and following.
