They call this village Half Haven. It's a traveler's outpost serving the Coast Way. Merchants and teamsters stop on their way to Candlekeep, as well as the odd scholar.

Paul steps gently through the main road which is bustling with people.

I dismount in front of the tavern and enter.

"Father Shepherd!"

I'm greeted by Bardebus with a hearty handshake and a pat on the back.

"How was your writing?" he asks with a conspicuous wink. The man is about as subtle as a rothe.

"Just fine. I was able to get what I needed done. You have my thanks."

He takes me aside and leans into me, lowering his voice. "If it worked well for you, I can give you your next supply at fifteen gold. That's five doses."

"Steep price for paperwork."

"Not if paperwork is your livelihood, Father. It's an investment."

I straighten my lips. I can stretch it out. I only need it when I need inspiration. I pull out my pouch, handing over the coin. He slips the terazul into my hand and I swiftly pocket it.

I order a stein of beer and a piece of bread, seating myself in the back of the tavern. I pull a book from my robes. Of Myths and Men. An interesting study on the nature of man's ambition. I thumb open the dog-eared page and take a sip of beer.

A conversation grabs me from time to time. Mable and Winifred are having issues with moths in their flour. Franklin broke his hammer and Teddy, the smith, is charging far too much to get it fixed. Doris, the apothecary, is out of Moonwort. This has caused Theo's arthritis to become unbearable.

A shadow finally crosses my table and a man stands over me.

"You one of those Avowed?"

The man has shaggy red hair and a long face. He pulls out a chair and sits backward, leaning against the backrest.

"I am not. I'm just a pilgrim."

"Huh. Wizard or Priest?"

"I don't think I understand."

"Come on now! Wizard or Priest? It's a simple question."

I close my book and set it down. "Priest."

He scoffs. "Don't get cozy. Our last priest ended up dead in her own temple not too long ago. Someone around here don't like holy folks." He leans forward. "We ain't caught 'em, neither."

"Are you threatening me?"

"Don't get your robes rumpled. It ain't a threat, it's a word of caution. But, you're a pilgrim, and a big guy. You should be fine."

"What's your name?"

"Jonas. Pleasure to meet you." He reaches out a hand and gives me a firm shake.

"I appreciate the warning, Jonas. I'm Father Shepherd. Can you tell me about what happened?"

He gives me a shrug. "Her name was Unessa. She was a priestess of Tyr. Been doing her thing for a long time. Her congregation wasn't anything special, but they were loyal folks. It was a shock when the temple was discovered burnt to a crisp. Gareth was the one who found it." Jonas looks around. "Fuck, lucky us. Hey, Gareth!" He waves over a slender elf. Brown hair, angular face, and piercing green eyes.

"What is it, Jonas? Making nice with strangers again?" He's holding his own stein of beer, and takes a sip.

"This is Father Shepherd. He wanted to know about the temple fire."

Gareth's face falls and he seats himself at the table. "Why do you want to know about our misfortunes, Father?"

"A member of the clergy falls and no one knows why? It is of great interest to me, and I wish to pay my respects."

"That's very kind of you." He leans back in his seat, propping his ankle on his knee.

"She usually held her sermons early in the morning. I had been following her for decades, thus it was me who came upon the chapel in the early morning hours."

He sets his stein down and folds his hands in his lap.

"Still smoldering," he says in a low voice. "I found her body still in bed. Charred. I'll never forget the smell of it."

"I'm sorry you had to see that," I murmur.

"As am I." He glances up at me. "So, who do you serve, Father?"

"I am a priest of Bahamut."

He lowers his leg and leans forward. "Another just God." His eyes flick to Jonas.

"Look. Think what you like, it ain't none of my business!"

"Everything is your business, Jonas."

Jonas gives a slippery chuckle. "Maybe that's true, but I ain't about to talk about destiny or some shit."

I tap my finger on the table top. "I would like to see the temple, if I may."

Gareth nods lightly. "Yes, of course."

We walk to the outskirts of Half Haven.

Just past the borders of the village is a wide prairie. The sky meets the grasslands, unmarred. A light breeze passes over it, causing the grass to ripple with a hush.

Gareth leads us to a stone building: roof collapsed, door displaced and burned to near ash. He stands in front of it, staring up at the scales of Tyr, still hanging above the lintel.

"This is it..." he mutters, pulling off his hat and holding it over his heart.

The temple itself is modest. Only a chapel, a bedroom, and an office. I step through the door and look around. The pews, scrolls, and podium are all utterly ruined.

"Devastation." I lift the end of a pew and shift it to the side. "Perhaps I can offer to clear it out for you?"

Gareth steps through, looking around. "That would be awfully generous of you."

Jonas follows, nearly tripping over a fallen bookshelf. "Yeah, I guess I can help too."

"Great." Gareth grips one end of the broken door. "Then grab the other end and let's get started, Jonas."

He does, though he struggles to keep balance beneath the cumbersome lumber.

I lift a pew and hoist it over my shoulder, following them out.

It takes all day, but we get the place cleared.

Unessa's body still lies in her bed. "No one collected her?" I look to Gareth.

"No one dared. We're not worthy."

I carefully lift her corpse and lay her out on the altar.

"I'll perform a ceremonial burial for her, but I ask that I be allowed to carry it out privately. I will be more than happy to coordinate a funeral for her in the morning. Can you let the others know? Whoever might be interested in honoring her?"

Gareth wipes the sweat from his brow with his handkerchief. "Tomorrow? You'll have something ready that quickly?"

"I will."

"Thank you, Father. We'll be happy to inform the others."

Jonas is laying flat on his back on the ground. "I never said..." He takes a deep breath. "Yeah, alright..."

I shake my head and pick up a broom. "Get some rest. I thank you for allowing me to help."

Gareth walks up to me and takes my hand. "No. Thank you."